the fate played

51 - from ground zero

Hailey Robinson

The dull throbbing sensation in my head had subsided after the medicines from previous night but I could still feel the tightening of a ring round my head. Though the medicines helped me, but to a certain extent I was still in some sort of physical pain.

According to the nurse, I woke up from my unconscious state the previous night but I had a milder memory loss so they had to sedate me again to help me with my restlessness. She even mentioned me speaking in gibberish. Though I don't remember much. They gave me medicines one more time, early in the morning when I truly woke up.

The door to my room opens, Nick and Jenny walk in with small smile on their faces. I was sitting with my legs extended and back partially supported by the recliner bed. Nick was standing at the foot of the bed. "hey H", he says. Jenny looks at him and makes a wide eyed expression, turns to face me and says, "How are you feeling, Hailey?"

A humorless chuckle escapes my lips, "Jenny", I call with exaggeration on her name. "I am a doctor myself" -her eyebrows frown- "I am fine."

Nick shakes his head, as if this was the time he actually came to his senses, "Are you kidding H ! because you had 2 bullets taken out from your body" -fear voicing his words- "they really thought you were not going to make it and the first thing you say when you wake up after almost a week is 'I am fine'. Again are you fucking kidding me!"

"Nick", I say. "Don't fucking Nick me", he shakes his head. "Nicholas Reid Martin" I say in a commanding voice. His eyes meet mine and with a sigh I say, "I am fine. Truly, though just a minor headache."

Jenny clears her throat, in a synchrony we look to her, "You should not shout on her like that, I hope you know that we are now dealing with....." I couldn't quite catch it but Nick nods and walks near me, his gaze questioning and lingering on me, "Are you sure you are fine, H?" I nod.

"very well" -he nods to himself- "we are saved" he says in a chirpy tone. Maybe my headache was about to be on the verge of worsening because I couldn't understand one thing he was saying. I shake my head once and ask him straight and direct, "Where is Chris?"

Both of them look at each other with wide eyes, Jenny nods and Nick gulps. There was a silent exchange between both of them that I couldn't quite put my words to. I ask the same question, "Nick, where is Chris?"

He clears his throat and stammers while answering, "well..actually...he...ummm......went...", before he could complete we hear a click sound and the door starts opening. Our gazes locked to the door and a second later, Chris walks in.

An involuntary sigh of relief slips past my lips. He shuts the door behind him and walks in, stands in front of me. My lips part slightly, vision doing a necessary scan on him. He looks terrible with his eyes dark indicating the lack of sleep. The frown on his face starts dissolving. The air around us dissolves, I breath in feeling lighter seeing him safe and sound.

He was perfect, not even a scratch on his skin. His steps slow and safe, gets beside me and gently grabs my jaw with both of his hands. He was as gentle as he could possibly be. The thumbs caress my cheeks. I blink once, "Chris!"

"You are here", he says, voice croaked and broken. I nod, "I am."

The door behind us clicks and shuts, signal that Nick and Jenny left us alone. Chris turns to face me; with all my strength I scoot a little for him to sit beside, he protests, "NO, you need rest." I blink, "please, stay close to me."

The hands on my jaw drop to his sides. Jaw bunched and fists curled, the struggle clear in all those signals, I grab his hand with both of mine and whisper, "please" He shakes his head with a raised eyebrow and I pull out my best puppy face and blink once while holding a strong eye-contact with him. He sighs, "Can't disagree to you, woman, Can I?"