Unexpected Rendezvous

A Clean Slate

I couldn't deny the feeling, but I felt becoming more restless and annoyed each day that had passed. Yes, I had caught up with my sleep. But after 3 days of doctors and nurses coming into my room, checking on me every hour or so, I was becoming more edgy. All the tests they put me through were just a tedious routine I had to endure. I was grateful that my father and Rowena had decided to stay with me during my 'imprisonment' time in that bloody hospital. But enough is enough. I couldn't and refused to spend another day at that dull white hospital room. I felt healthy enough, despite my broken bones - which will heal gradually. 

"Tell them to discharge me today," I whined to my father and Rowena who were sitting in the visitors' sofa. 

"We need to wait for all the results to come back," Rowena said then rolled her eyes. I knew she was worried about me, and me being stubborn about wanting to leave the situation might have got her on her nerves.

"Rowena is right, Alex. They need to examine you further. We're not taking any risks of bringing you home, if you still have any risk of getting into another cardiac arrest or if your internal bleeding might re-occur," my father added. 

Having my father's attention and love was still a feeling I still couldn't get used to. I didn't mean it in a bad way, but after years of his father figure's absence, it was just odd to have him around, moreover showing his affection and care towards me. I felt like I was pure and back to being a kid. Not as the Hammond's heir or as THE Gallert Alistair Hammond's son, but just a son to my perfectly normal and loving father. 

I rolled my eyes annoyingly as one nurse was checking on my pulse, while the other just took God knows how many vials of blood out of me. 

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I spent the next few hours watching the news with Rowena, while my father was out to see every specialist that had handled me as my patients. Bryan and Lucius came some times ago and now they were both seated on the visitor's sofa, exchanging banters. Rowena had moved to the chair next to my bed. Her hand never leaving mine. I could feel the warmth of her hand on mine, it felt like it was giving me the strength or perhaps reassurance that I would be okay. No... That we would be okay and things were getting better for our family. 

All eyes darted to the door, when we heard it scraping against the marbled floor. My father strode in with a doctor following behind him. Both of them had big genuine smiles plastered on their lips.

"I guess you'll get what you wanted," My father said with his typical charming grin.

"I'm being discharged today?" I asked with a tilted head. 

"Yes... but..." My father continued.

"If you'll allow me," the doctor behind him moved next to my father and continued, "But we can't allow you go back to London. Meaning you'll need to stay here in Wiltshire at least for a Month. We will need you to do your control visit every week to determine whether if you're fit enough to travel back to London and if you are healing properly"

Rowena had known that I had made amends with my father and now we were both on a good terms, but she still couldn't help herself but to shot me a concerning look. I knew what she meant. Whether if I was willing to go back to the Hammond manor. 

I kept my gaze on my father and sighed, "Dad, would it be too much of a hassle if we stay with you for a month?"

He shook his head excitedly and smiled "Nonsense. You stay as long as you need. I'll be glad to have both of you as my companies. It's your home anyway."