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Chapter 5

Dick woke up in an foreign room, wearing foreign clothes, surrounding by foreign noises, the only thing vaguely familiar was the dull ache in his skull and body. He tried to move, wincing in response to the resistance in his shoulder, he bit his tongue in an attempt to avoid crying out. The metallic taste of blood seeped through his mouth as he began to take in his surroundings. The clock on the wall above the door indicates it was 2:30 but he had no idea what day it was. He took a deep breath, overwhelmed by the smell of disinfectant as the door opened, revealing a smart young woman with a long ponytail, ice blue eyes and a clipboard in her hands, followed close behind by a doctor with 'Kidd' written on his name tag. "Mr Grayson," she smiled, "my name is Rose Carter, I'm a Patient Assistant, I work with trauma patients,"
"I'm a trauma patient?" He croaked
"Your arm was examined last night, when you came in, your body had gone into shock and you were unconscious, heavy trauma caused the break in your left shoulder," the doctor interrupted, "I'm Dr Kidd, I'll be consultant until further notice," he didn't seem too happy about his job
"My shoulder is broken..?" Dick managed
"Uh, yes," Rose sat down in the chair beside his bed. He gazed past her, noticing civilian clothes, his phone and wallet beside him, much to his relief. Memories of before he woke up in the hospital started flooding back, "you said I came in yesterday?"
"Well early hours of this morning,"
"You know who I am?"
"Well you were carrying ID... And most people know your face," Rose replied, her cheeks flushing. "Miss Carter," Dr Kidd scowled, his tone almost warning. She almost cowered back, nodding and sinking into her chair with an apologetic expression. Dick frowned. "Now if you don't mind, Mr Grayson, I just need to check your vitals and then I'll be off, Rose you can deal with the rest," Dr Kidd waved her off, getting his stethoscope from around his neck and doing the tests he required. He prodded at Dick, who sat patiently while his arm was poked and stared at Rose, looking at her properly for the first time since she's walked in, since his head had toned it down with the spinning. She had long, tawny coloured hair and freckles dotting her cheeks and nose and he realised instantly how gracious she was. The sunlight from his open window made her glow, as if she wasn't even real. "All done, your vitals are fine, you can leave later today after discharge, make sure you sort the rest out Rose, come and see me if you have any problems," Dr Kidd informed Dick, leaving without another word. Dick raised an eyebrow, his eyes following the doctor out. He looked back at Rose, letting out a deep breath, loud on purpose for her to hear. "Are you alright Mr Grayson?"
"Bewitched Miss Carter," he answered, one corner of his mouth curling up into a smile.
"Please, call me Rose," she blushed, looking downward
"Rose," he tested her name slowly, still not accustomed to the croak in his voice, "how long am I immobilised for?" He asked with a smile
"About six weeks," she answered
"Do I need checkups?"
"Every two,"
"Will you be conducting those?"
"No.." Dick nodded in disappointed understanding, "I'll be there though,"
His face lifted again, "I'm sure a beautiful face will help the healing process,"
Rose laughed softly, "and who's face is that, Mr Grayson?"
"Please," he smiled smugly, "call me Dick,"
Rose raised her eyebrow, "well, Dick?"
"Yours," he stated simply, beginning to rise out of his bed, towards his clothes
"Painkillers causing hallucinations..." Rose commented behind him and he twisted his neck to face her, pulling his briefs up his legs.
"Mmmm," he mused, turning back to his clothes, dropping his gown to his feet. Rose swallowed, trying not to stare but her eyes wandered away from her, focusing on the muscles curling under his skin on his back... Under the tattoo of eagle wings the extended from his spine, over his shoulder blades and right the way down to his elbows. She admired the way his movement added life to the ink while he struggled to get his jeans up. "Where are you going?" Rose asked, finally finding her voice
"No where like this.." Dick laughed, turning around to reveal his struggle with his fly. Rose couldn't stop the giggle escaping her throat. The sling on Dick's arm was the only support for his broken bone, that had been poked and prodded until satisfaction before sunrise that day. He pushed his wallet into his back pocket and his phone into his front one, turning half heartedly to his shirt, "can you help me?" He asked sheepishly, but flashing her a killer smile to make up for his incompetence.
"Well.. That is my job," she grinned back, standing and taking it from his outstretched arm, laying it on the bed and making a beeline for for his sling. He stood still, holding his breath while she undid it, "hold your arm like it is," she instructed as the sling slipped off.
"Okay," he answered through gritted teeth, instantly feeling the weight of his disability. He closed his eyes, allowing her to push the sleeve over his injured arm. Rose noticed another tattoo, of an acrobat, over his heart. She glanced at it momentarily while adjusting his shirt then offered it to his other arm. He shrugged the sleeve on, cringing at the pain his own movement caused him, receiving an empathetic smile from Rose. "So, what's his problem?" Dick asked finally, watching her do the buttons up, from top to bottom and fixing his collar when she finished.
"He's always been like that," she answered, helping him with his sling, giving him instructions on how to put it on himself. He helped her with it to prove he was capable and draped his coat over his shoulders. "Is he always that condescending?"
"He's not that bad,"
"Are you two a thing,"
"Oh god, no," Rose laughed awkwardly, "he likes to think so and often won't take no for an answer," her eyes darkened as she stepped back from Dick
"I'll show him no for an answer," Dick offered with a threatening shrug
"I can take care of myself Mr Grayson," Rose smirked, adjusting her dress, "Is two Friday's from today okay for your check up?" She asked him, retrieving her things from where she'd put them down on the chair.
"Yes, that's fine," Dick smiled, scooting around the bed
"11:30?"
"I'll be there,"
"I just need a contact number, before you leave?" She asked professionally, offering him the pen she had
"Only if I can have yours?" He smirked, writing his mobile number on her sheet anyway
"Uh, I don't think so--" she trailed off when she noticed his wink, indicating he was teasing her. She blushed.
"After I'm all fixed then?" He compromised
"I'll think about it,"
"Fingers crossed," he winked again and walked out the room. Rose watched him go, rushing after him suddenly when she realised she needed signatures before he could leave. "Mr Grayson!" She called out, watching his back go around a corner. He smiled to himself, but kept walking. "Mr Grayson," she called out again, he slowed but didn't stop, "Dick?" She said finally.
His smile widened as he turned, "Rose?"
"I need you to sign,"
"Okay," he didn't stop smiling, signing the page
"Thank you, just one more signature from the doctor and you're free to go, wait right here," she smiled cheerfully and wandered off. Dick stood, rocking on his heels while he waited. He apologised to a passing wheelchair who's route he was blocking, then decided he wanted to leave and began following the signs to the ward office.

Rose appeared around the corner, flustered after losing her patient, until she found him, standing at the counter of the ward office, carelessly leaning forward and gazing with hooded eyes at the nurse behind the desk, Lacey. She blushed furiously with a laugh and after a few clicks on her computer, she was watching Dick's back disappear into the elevator. "Letting patients leave without their paperwork..?" Rose mused, coming up behind Lacey and laying the pages on her keyboard. Lacey flicked her head back with a startled laugh, "oh, sorry sweetie, he's just so.."
"Charming." Rose interjected. Lacey nodded, "he's yours then?" She asked, with a smug smile.
Rose offered her a sarcastic laugh, "just for the next two weeks,"
"Broken shoulder," Lacey read over the file, "that's 6 weeks Rose.."
"I'm resigning," she replied blankly
"Dr Kidd?"
"More or less, anyway I'd better get back to work,"
"I won't see you, I'm in A&E until 7 tonight,"
"Sounds horrendous," the pair shared a laugh and Rose left, dreading her next meeting with the doctor