The Anchors Strength (s04 Liam Dunbar) Book 1

Bloody Night

I was in a hospital bed breathing hard and wincing with every breath. Blinking I couldn't help but look around the room for my parents. "Mum? Dad?" I ask in the air and I saw them curled up in the hospital chairs fast asleep. Dad opened his brown eyes and blinked a couple of times before resting them on me.

"Hey humming bird," he sighed and pulled away from mum, coming to my side. "How are you feeling?" I stared up at him before shaking my head. With every move my side erupted into fire.

"It hurts dad. With every breath and movement it hurts." His face saddened before he sat on my bed and took my hand. "How am I suppose to play lacrosse? Or soccer? Even football when we catch up with our relatives in Australia?" Tears streamed down my face and I looked away from the brown haired man next to me.

"It's not the end of the world hummingbird. Remember what we always say Strength and Courage aren't measured in medals and victories. They are measured in the struggles they overcome. The strongest people aren't always the people that win they are the people that don't give up when they lose." Turning back to him I smiled as he wiped the tears away from my face. "Do you understand? This isn't the end but it will be if you sit here and cry about it."

Smiling I nod as he kisses my forehead. "I'll go get the doctor and see if you can have some pain killers. Your mother and I will be back tomorrow to take you home with your antibiotics, after all it's your first day at your new school." I rolled my hazel eyes at him just as my mother put her hand on my leg and forehead to check my temperature.

"How are you feeling sweetie? Not to hot? Do you need some water? Maybe some extra pillows? Maybe we should ask the doctor if we can bring Oscar in for a quick second?" My mum is a worrier and doesn't know when to stop.

"Mum, mum! I'm fine really. Dads just going to ask for some pain killers before they knock me out for the night ok?" After a quick second she nodded her blonde head which I inherited and her hazel eyes as well. "Ok, now go home you guys have done enough for three days and need a good nights rest."

"Are you sure sweetie? I mean we know how much you hate this place....." She trailed off and I smiled at her concern.

"Yes mum I'm ok now go, I mean what could go wrong? It's a small town after all." She smiled at my optimism and kissed my forehead before being dragged away by dad. "Mothers," I muttered under my breath as I swing my legs over the side of the bed.

Being an athlete on my dads side I can't stay still for long, I have to keep moving. Sucking in a ragged breath I grabbed ahold of my IV pole, that held my drip bag, and pushed myself up off the bed. Leaning against the cool metal for a couple of seconds, getting used to the pain, I began to walk out of my room and down the hallways.

I kept walking until I saw the doctor and nurse who treated me in my operation a week ago. I began walking towards them and listened to their conversations. "..... This hospital has seen a bazar amount of damage and the insurance isn't going to cover it. We have to cut back." The doctor was saying as they continued to walk. The nurse looked tired and needed a desperate holiday.

She said something about pulling money from somewhere when I sucked in a breath and had a coughing fit. I coughed so much that I nearly vomited. I felt pressure on my back as the doctor sat me on the ground. "Phoebe? Phoebe can you hear me? It's ok your just having a panic attack ok? Just breath and calm down, follow my lead. In, out, in, out." The nurse said and I followed her every move.

I felt calmer until I saw the doctor with a big needle. "What the hell!? Ah!" I scream as he jabbed it straight into my side causing me to suck in a huge amount of desperately need air. Breathing hard I looked around before leaning against the wall. "What happened? That wasn't a panic attack."