My Brother's Beta » Teen Wolf

twenty seven

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"She's a little tough one ain't she?"

Light floods into my eyes, the brightness taking me off guard. My brain is still heavy with sleep, but my eyes force themselves open.

"She's awake!" Someone says. I squint and try to make out faces but they're all blurred.

I'm in a hospital bed. Everything around me is white and bright and busy. My head spins. A scratchy blanket is tucked over me tightly, binding me onto the mattress.

A face swoops into my vision, peering into my eyes. It's a lady I've never seen before, with big brown eyes and deep wrinkles. She's wearing nurse clothes-like my mom.

"Jessica!" She says excitedly, like she knows me. I blink at her. She smiles. "Do you feel strong enough to sit up, dear?"

I will my tired muscles to tighten and push myself up off of my sore back. My whole body feels numb. Especially my shoulder.

I glance over at it, confused at the weird sensation. Then I see it, and almost throw up with realization. The memories of that might come flooding back.

I stare at my heavily bandaged shoulder with wide eyes. The bullet wound.

"We removed the bullet, but it was still pretty damaged. You'll be up and out of here very soon though." The lady says to me in a sing song voice. I can't help but gape at her. I got shot.

"Where's-" I start to say, my voice dry and cracked. "Where's my mom?"

"There have been quite a few people in and out of here to see you. Your mom, I know. Then two tall brunette boys, one was sheriffs son I believe. They came in once with a redhead girl. And another shorter blue eyed boy. That one was just in here a couple minutes before you woke."

I nod and force myself to take deep, calming breaths. The lady smiles sympathetically at me and walks out the door. There are a couple other people in the room working on equipment all around me.

My eyes are heavy, even though I feel like I just slept for ten years. I let my eyelids fall.

"Jess?"

I snap my eyes open at the sound of my name. A man stands at the side of my bed, who I first don't recognize. Then he comes into focus and I sit up.

It's Liam's stepdad. I try to manage a smile at him but it probably comes off as more of a grimace. He pats the edge of the mattress. "You're gonna be just fine, don't you worry."

I nod breathlessly and stare back down at my lap. "How long have I been here?"

"About a day and a half. We thought you wouldn't be up for another 48 hours or so. But no, that Jessica McCall. Tough as nails!"

Yeah, not really.

He takes a step back from the bed and rubs his chin. "I should tell Liam you're up. He's been wandering all around this place waiting. Be right back."

He rushes out the door and into the busy hospital hallway. I look around and study the room. A blonde nurse catches my eye and turns away from the computer. Her voice is high pitched. "Your mom's going to be here soon. She's working a doosie right now but she's trying to make it here as soon as possible."

"Thank you." I say quietly, looking back over the door. The nurse smiles at me then stands up and walks out of the room. I realize it's now empty.

Outside the window is unusually bright. I assume it's midday, maybe a little bit earlier. The sun is shining directly into the room, illuminating the white bed and white walls.