Chapter title:
"Joe! I need you to sign these discharge papers," I hurry to him as he's about to walk into a patient's room. "Yes, of course!" He quickly signs them and I walk back to get them registered.
"Help! Somebody!" A man runs in, looking frightened.
"Sir? Is there anyone I can help you with?" I ask walking to him, he takes one look at me. "I'm gonna get murdered! By anyone! By you! By the doctor! By the surgeon!" He grabs my throat and squeezes it. I slap his hands trying to get them off me.
Some doctor grabs him but before the man lets go of me he slams me into a wall. I hit my head hard and I can see Joe rush to me. "Claire? Hey Claire?" He shakes my shoulder gently. "Jamie," I whisper softly. "Don't call him," I pass out, everything goes black.
~~
I'm sitting on the couch scrolling trough my phone when Joe calls me. Strange he never really calls unless Claire her phone is dead or if something's wrong. "Hello?"
"Jamie, you must come to the hospital. Some mental unstable man has hurt Claire," he says, sounding panicked. I shoot up. "What? How?" I grab my coat and practically run out of the door almost forgetting to close it.
"I don't know what happend and Claire has passed out," he says. "I'm coming right now, I'll be there as soon as possible," I start the car and drive to the hospital as fast as possible.
I run trough the door and to the counter. "Claire Beauchamp? She's a nurse here but she's hurt? Where is she?" I demand and I hear Joe his voice from behind me. "Here Jamie,"
I follow him and see Claire, sleeping or unconscious in the bed. "Oh my god, is she okay?" I ask grabbing her hand. "She's fine! She's waking up soon enough, she's just asleep. She woke up 5 minutes ago,"
"But she'll be fine?" I ask and he nods. "Yes, just give her some time," he walks off again and I sit down beside her. "Hey love, I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm not leaving until you're coming with me," I whisper and her eyes flutter open. "I know,"
"Claire.... How are you feeling?" I ask worried kissing her hand. "Fine, a little headache," she smiles faintly. "I'll cancel dinner, ye canna have people over like this," I grab my phone but she stops me. "No please stop, you can have dinner. I'll just sleep so I'll be fine tomorrow,"
"Are ye sure lass, I want to be there for you," she places her lips on my knuckles and nods. "Yes, I'll be fine. If I need something I'll text or call," she reassured me so I nod. "Alright, I want to take you home,"
She sits up and I help her stand. She's a bit wobbly but manages to stay. "Want me tae pick ye up?" I ask her but she shakes her head. "I'll manage,"
She quickly says goodbye to Joe before she takes her seat in the car. "Drive slowly please,"
"Ofcourse Sassenach," I say softly and the drive home takes 30 minutes, normal it's 15. When we arrive home she's asleep so I pick her up and take her in the house. I bring her to our bedroom and carefully lay her in the bed.
I take of her coat and shoes, give her a gentle kiss and tuck her in. "Love you lots," I whisper before going to the kitchen to get dinner started. Half an hour later the doorbell rings. I run to open it to find everyone standing outside. Mom, dad, Jenny, Ian and the bairns, William and Julia.
"Come in, I must run for the food. Make yerself comfortable," I hurry back to the kitchen before anything can burn. A minute later Jenny comes to the kitchen. "Isn't Claire here? She still at work?"
"No she's sleeping. Accident at work, hit her head hard," I tell her and the worry is in here eyes. "She's fine Jen, don't worry," she sits down on one of the barstools. "She's not joining us for dinner, is she?"
I shake my head, putting out the fire. "She has a headache and she wants to feel well for tomorrow," I put the plates and the food on the table. "I'll check in on her, you inform everyone here,"
I quickly walk upstairs and quietly open the bedroom door. Claire is sitting up staring out of the window. "How are you feeling?" I ask sitting beside her. "Good, that little nap really helped, still have a headache but I took an aspirin so I should be fine,"
"Well get some more rest," I give her a kiss on her cheek but she doesn't let go of my hand. "I'll come with you, I'll be fine for an hour,"
"No Sassenach, Joe told us ye needed rest," I protest but she won't hear it. "I'll be fine, if I don't feel good I'll tell you and you can take me back to bed," she stands up and I support her down the stairs.
"Claire, Jamie told us ye weren't feeling well, what are ye doing here?" Mama asks when she sees us. "Claire was tae stubborn, she said she felt fine," I say and we both help her to get seat.
"That, James Fraser, is because I am in fact feeling well enough," she says and I give het a quick kiss. "Well, fine! But if ye dinna feel good tell me," I ask her and I notice how much worry there is in my voice and so does she. "I promise,"
I give her a smile and put the last things in the table. "Let's eat!" Everyone takes their seat and we all start eating and talking. Claire is unusually quiet but I don't blame her, she must still have a headache. I look at her worried a few times but she just keeps giving me sweet smiles.
When dessert approaches she walks with me to the kitchen. "I'm not in the mood for ice cream. I'm just gonna go to bed," she gives me a kiss on my cheek but I grab her elbow. "Ye want me tae help ye Sassenach? I dinna mind,"
She smiles but shakes her head. "I got it, it's close by," she squeezes my hand and leaves the kitchen. I can hear her go upstairs as I serve the ice cream.
"What happend wi' the lass? Ye said an accident at work?" Dad asks and I sit down. "Apparently there was this crazy guy yelling at her that 'they' were gonna kill him and then grabbed her throat. A doctor managed to get him of het but he hit her against the wall,"
"Christ! Why would he do that?" Mama asks, looking worried and upset at the same time. "I dinna ken, they'd taken him away before I arrived. Joe called me after it happend,"
"Ye must be gentle wi' her Jamie, she could be scared," mama warns me but I already thought of that myself. "Aye, when I'm going to sleep tonight I'll make sure I dinna scare her in any way,"
"If there is anything we can do for her please tell us," Julia says and I nod. "Ofcourse... actually there might be something,"
~~
I've been asleep for at least a few hours when Jamie comes in bed. "How are ye feeling Mo Grádh?" He asks softly and I mumble. "Good enough, wish I got some more sleep,"
He takes of his clothes and climbs in bed. I turn around and Jamie puts his arms around me and draws me close to his chest. "I'm here, no one is gonna hurt ye,"
I chuckle. "I know, I love you," I whisper and he kisses my head gently. "I love you tae lass," I smile softly and curl up against Jamie's bare chest. Feeling safe like I always do with him by my side.
