The Bully

Chapter Twenty Six

"Ach, lassie, you do get yourself in some scrapes." I looked up and a smile came automatically to my lips as I recognised Dotty coming through the door. The sleep had done me good and when I woke I remembered everything, but I felt wary of everyone. I didn't want the nurse, with his smiling face and soft voice in the room. I didn't want Bret there either; his intensity unnerved me. But Dotty; I wanted Dotty with me. She took a seat in the chair beside the bed and looked at me critically.

"Just look at you. Your poor wee face. Look like you've done ten rounds in the ring yourself. Bret told me what happened."

"What did he say?" I asked, curiously as I hadn't quite pieced that bit together myself. Dotty smiled sadly.

"You were up on the ring apparently with your camera taking pictures. His opponent wasn't keeping a close enough eye on where you were and threw Bret into you accidentally. Bret hit you with all his weight; he couldn't stop himself and you were knocked down. You hit the ring steps on your way. Oh lassie, he thought you were dead at first. Said you were lying there so still, all the colour gone from your face and blood pouring from your head. You gave him quite a fright."

I felt a shiver run down my spine. I remembered that feeling of trepidation as I followed Mark to the ring, remembered how pissed he had been about the documentary crew and my concern if he wasn't focussed on the match he could hurt Bret. That he would make mistakes and it appeared he had. I shifted under the sheets and a small groan escaped my lips. Dotty got up quickly and helped me to get comfortable.

"Apparently now I'm here they will probably discharge you to my care," Dotty said. "Bret has found us an apartment to stay in not too far away while you recover because they have already had to leave the city for the next show. He's devastated to not be here though, Angelina."

I blinked and looked away from her, more upset by this than was entirely rational. Rationally I knew he wouldn't be able to take time off and that he would have had to move on to the next venue but hurt swelled my heart and tears came to my eyes. Dotty sighed and took my hand gently.

"I'd love to give you a big hug right now, lassie but I'd only hurt you more. That boy of yours is devastated, Angelina. He wanted nothing more than to stay here with you, but he couldn't get the leave time. Said he'll be back though in four days and then he's managed to get a week off so that he can stay with you for a short time, ok?"

I nodded bleakly and she sighed. But then she brightened a little.

"Just look at all these cards though, Angelina. Bret has taken all the flowers back to the apartment because they don't like them in here. Isn't it lovely so many people are worried about you? Do you want to look at them?"

I nodded and she put them all in a little pile and passed them across to me. While I read through them she started to organise my things ready for when I was discharged. There were several from colleagues and I was surprised to see one from Bret's folks and another from Jackie and John. He must have been in touch with them to tell them what had happened to me. But then I stilled as I picked up one which had a picture of a cake on the front of it. There was no signature and it just said, 'All my love forever.' A chill went through me and I put it down. I didn't recognise the handwriting and I knew it wasn't Bret as I'd seen his card at the top of the pile. Dotty smiled and took the cards from me, packing them into my bag. She was oblivious to my discomfort though.

***
The journey to the apartment was thankfully only ten minutes but it was about the worst ten minutes of my life as I was in agony. Dotty helped me up the steps and into the apartment which was thankfully on the ground floor. The flowers she had told me about were all in vases and dotted around the living room area with little cards attached. There was an enormous bouquet from Bret and a similar sized one which I was surprised to see was from Mark. Dotty scowled at that and put the little card down with a humph.