Chapter 5

When the nurse comes in she looks at us surprised. 'Wow, Ms. Suarez you finally woke up. What wonderful news. How are you feeling?'

She came over to the bed and with the electrical receiver turned the headboard up a bit. Betty lets out a groan. Her whole body hurts.

'My whole body hurts, like really bad', Betty pushes out through laboured breaths. It doesn't help that she just moved the headboard.

'On a scale from one to ten? One is the smallest amount of pain you could think of and ten the worst. What do you say how strong are the pain', the nurse asks getting Betty's charge to document everything.

'You sure it's just one to ten? It feels more like a fifteen, like I'm run over by a truck', Betty rasps.

'So the worst imaginable pain. I will get a pain killer for you in just a few seconds. But before I have to ask you a few questions', the nurse presses on. 'Can you tell me who you are?'

'I'm Betty Suarez, I'm 28. I live in Manhattan, though my family lives in Jackson Heights, Queens. I'm a Juniors Feature Editor at MODE Magazine'

'And who is this man with you?'

'Daniel Meade', Betty is getting more and more confused. What the hell is going on, and why wasn't she getting anything for the pain. She's dying here.

'What's your relationship status?'

'He's my best friend. Not that it's any of your business', a low chuckle rumbles through the small space between them. The smile delightful and pleasant. And her heart skips another two beats.

'What year do we have, Ms. Suarez?'

'2010 and why are you asking all these questions?', Betty grumbles, the pain getting worse by the second she gains more consciousness. She breaths hard through her nose, tries to control the pain through breathing. It doesn't work.

'You had a brain surgery and were unconscious for four days. This is standard protocol to eliminate any side effects like amnesia', the nurse explains further. 'Can you tell me who's the president of the United States?'

'Barack Obama', Betty groans, her face getting paler by the second. She is in so much pain.

'Ok, couldn't you give her the pain killer and then ask those questions?', Daniel asks urgently, seeing how much pain Betty was in.

'I'm sorry, but this is protocol. One last question. Do you remember what happened to you?', the nurse says firm. There was no arguing with her.

'Yes, I was run over by a goddamn truck. Well, the cab I was sitting in. I was out at lunch and was running late. I thought taking a cab would be faster.', Betty groans, her eyes rolling back and forth from all the pain.

'Really, Mrs., this is torture for her', Daniel insists. The nurse shuts him up with one look.

'Please Ms. Suarez'

'I remember seeing the truck right next to my door seconds before he would hit the cab. I was thrown over against the other door when the cab swirled on the road. Everything went so fast. We crashed into the car next to us. The last thing I remember is both doors being pushed into the inside of the cab. Then everything gets fuzzy and black', Betty sighs. Her left hand rubbing her temple.

'Thank you, I will get the pain killer for you now', the nurse excused herself. When the door closed with a soft thud Daniel moves over to her bed. Looking down at her.

'The police came to my office. It is classified as an accident on the way to work. I had to sign some formalities. They showed me a picture of the cab. They had to cut you out of it. Literally. I can't believe you survived that. The space left from the backseat could've barely fit you', he whispers, sits down in the chair and takes her hand in his again. The tears pool in his eyes.

Her heart monitor picks up, the feeling of his skin against hers so warm and soft. The emotions in his voice and eyes so raw. She has to close her eyes. It's all bittersweet. But it's better to focus on her feelings. That he drives her absolutely crazy. That she loves his sweet caring side, while being beyond turned on by it. God, she shouldn't feel like this. She just had an accident. It's torture to feel like this and not do something about it. But it takes her mind off of the pain. And for that she is more than thankful.

'I want you to promise me something', he says small. Looking over her pale face with all the cuts and bruises. Opening her eyes she takes in his worried expression. Wet eyes, quivering chin. 'Promise me, that you never take a cab again. Take a towncar if you have to. And when your in walking distant and run late? Then run late. Your safety is more important then you being on time', his voice is strained, a lonely tear making its way over his cheek. And before she could respond he speaks up again. 'Do you understand me, Betty. This is an order'

Ordering her around like that, always made Betty feel like an unruly child. As if she can't take care of herself. She's a grown woman, for crying out loud. It's not her fault that this happened. But being ordered around by Daniel like that? It makes her feel special. Wonderfully loved. And in a comical way, she feels safe and protected. So she can't hold it against him. If their roles were reversed. Don't think about it, Suarez, or you open the floodgates. She takes her hand from his, cups his chin and wipes away the tear on his cheek. Examining his face for a good few seconds. 'Alright', she chokes out, barely makes a sound. But he understood. He nods and takes her hand in his again. Cups it with both his hands and brings it to his lips. Placing a lingering kiss. Never looking away from her eyes. The air heavy between them with unspoken feelings. They're going to be ok. They know what's going on. And not having the talk right now is ok, though she promised herself.

They're not dumb. They both recognize what's going on. It's a soothing knowledge that this is happening to both of them. They don't need to speak about it right now. The change of feelings in their relationship won't change. It won't run away. They would have all the time in the world to explore this further.