enemy to doctor - the hating game

7 - waking up again

When I next have the strength to flush my eyelids open the light around me is dim. I turn my head to the left. Josh is sitting there, head in his hands, elbows on his knees.

"Josh"

My voice is barely more than a whisper.

"Lucy. You're awake."

His hand is on my forehead, checking my temperature and two seconds later his fingers are on my neck feeling my pulse.

"God you scared the living hell out of us when you passed out. But then your heart rate didn't change and at least you couldn't feel the pain anymore. So we finished the wounds. It's all done, no pain anymore Shortcake."

My mind is still foggy and I need a few seconds to focus.

"How long- where is-"

"Half an hour. And Leo has gone to get me more bandaging material. I'll disinfect and rewrap the wounds every few hours to make sure no infections spread or develop. We tried to make the direct environment as sterile as possible but it's nothing compared to a hospital. I also put you on antibiotics and more ibu."

My hand moves to his and the next thing I know is that I'm kissing his palm. "Thank you" I whisper and let my hand slide into his, fingers entwining. His gaze shifts onto our hands.

"I made you food."

He leans forward to grab a bowl as I try to sit up. But he doesn't let me, pushes me down softly.

"How am I supposed to eat then? Hey, I'm not dying here so I think it's best if you just-"

"Right now you shouldn't be doing anything that enhances abdominal muscles. Luce, do you have any idea what you've just been through within the last 8 hours? Because I sure as hell remember. You soaked my blanket in blood and passed out from pain. If you haven't realized I'll fill you in again: we're visiting my brother first thing in the morning and you're probably going to need surgery even if only to make sure that you're not suffering any inner bleedings as the blood in your cough and vomit indicate. For once, please take this situation seriously."

His words drive tears into my eyes.
He puts the bowl bake onto the table.

"Fuck Lucy, do you have any idea how god damn scared I was? I didn't even know what was wrong at first, why your fever was rising and-"

Guilt is rolling through my veins and down my cheeks in the shape of tiny little droplets. Realization, fear and guilt- I swallow them down.

"do you even know how horrible it was for me to see you in pain at my hand? So don't you dare tell me ‚you're not dying' and pretend you could do anything on your own right now."

I feel so bad. So so bad for my behavior and the situation and the position that I have put him into. And to add to it, I'm crying again.

"I'm so sorry Josh, I-"
I'm searching for fitting words, so desperately, trying.

"Come here."

Joshua lifts my upper body just enough for him to slip the pillows aside and his own body behind mine. He positions me between his legs so that my head rests upon his chest. Then adjusts my hair, stroking the lost strands out of my face and carefully slides his arms around my body. The hug is being followed by a kiss on my left temple and suddenly his mouth is next to my ear and I'm almost too aware of every spot where our skin touches.

"I didn't mean to scare you Shortcake. I am just- exhausted. I'm sorry."

Joshua Templemann- tired. That exists?

"I don't recall ever having seen you yawn. Do you even require sleep?"
My voice is raspy and the last few words diminish into a whisper.
He huffs a laugh and then I turn my head and look up into that immaculate face.

"I'm not a vampire Luce, of course I sleep. And that's exactly what we should do now or soon. I'll just rewrap the wounds once more and finally feed you this goddamn soup."

I snicker lightly. Josh shifts to the side and grabs a open kit. Then he softly lifts up my shirt- wait a second.

"You changed my clothes??" Busted.

"I had to!" he defends himself.

"Nothing I haven't seen before so don't kill me. That thing was soaked in blood and I felt like one of my shirts would be more convenient."

Holy shit I'm wearing his shirt. I'm tempted to smell the fabric but resist myself.

"Is that... okay?"
A hinge of doubt swings within his voice.

"Sure, that's fine yes. Thank you Josh."

"Anytime."

And then I feel fingers making it's way to lift my shirt. Three huge medical compresses are taped onto the severely bruised skin. A pair of hands carefully begins to remove them singularly and I inhale at the sight of the freshly stitched wounds. Dry blood covers the edges and the thread is more than visible.

"Holy shit."
I cant hide my shock.

"That'll go away. Once we clean you up and remove the threads in a week it won't look this- extreme."

Josh sprays disinfection ointment onto a cotton wipe.

"Bare with me here."

I don't understand at first but then he is carefully cleaning the skin around the wounds and even dabs the stitched gashes lightly and I grit my teeth.

"I know it's extremely uncomfortable, just try to relax the muscles. There you go."

He finishes quite fast and then lays a compress onto each of the stitched areas. Then wraps tape around them and even slings a bigger bandage around my whole stomach.

"All done."

We spend the next ten minutes exchanging barely a word while I slowly eat the soup and drink some water. He also makes me take some disgusting medicine. Then he grabs a blanket and slides further down into the cushion, pulling me into his arms.

"We should sleep now. If there's something- anything wrong, please immediately wake me. You did a good job Lucy, I'm proud of you."

Warmth spreads through my limbs and I nestle into the fluffy blanket that Josh is now spreading over us.

"Thank you for doing this Josh. For me. You should get some rest too."

"I will Shortcake. Eventually."

I frown and look up at him. I'm definitely having a hard time keeping my eyes open.

"But you need-"

"Shhh", he lays his finger to my lips. "Sleep now."

His voice is so soft and with that I fall into a deep and comfortable sleep. On top of my enemies chest. While he watches over me.
But I can't help to think, how can I consider him an enemy after everything that has happened?

How could I possibly hate him?

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How do you like Josh in this chapter?

The process of writing this story is like getting to know him... it's so much fun!

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter <3