Take Over || (n.j.) || Sequel to Closer

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine--
I've been in the hospital for a day now. Nick stayed with me last night, and had his parents watch our daughter for the time being. Currently, I'm laying in the hospital bed, trying to rack my brain of remembering anything that happened. It's impossible.

"I can't remember." This is the first time I had spoken this morning. My throat was sore and I was tired. Nick looked over to me, his brown eyes looking tired as well. There were dark circles under his eyes. I haven't seen him like this since we were divorced.

"It's okay Marni." He grabs my hand and his thumb gently rubs the top of it in a comforting manner. I find myself feeling helpless, empty. I just looked at him, and he offered me a smile.

"Do you k-know what happened? N-Nick?" I stuttered a little, and heard my voice cracking. He shook his head sadly, and looked down at the bruise on my hand that he was stroking his finger over.

"I'm sorry Mar, I don't." I just bite my lip in with tears silently rolling down my cheeks. Breaking the silence, a nurse comes in the room and says that she's going to check my vitals and whatnot. I nodded and Nick let go of me, leaning back in the chair. I winced in pain when she touched my head, and Nick looked ready to help at any time.

"Is that where it hurts most?" She asks, gesturing to my temple and forehead. I nod and close my eyes right before opening them again.

"Okay, we have confirmed that you have a concussion. You'll be okay though, just as long as you take it easy. There's going to be a man coming in, and he's going to be asking you some questions." The nurse tells me gently, her voice making me somewhat sleepy. I don't answer, and so my ex answers for me.

"Alright." The nurse nods her head and leaves the room. A minute later, a man with a notebook and a camera around his neck comes in the door. He sits down in the chair on the other side of my bed.

"Marni?" I nod to him, hardly being able to keep my eyes open.

"Alright, I'm just going to ask you a few questions." I listen to him blabber on about things and then he gets go the last couple questions.

"Do you remember what happened Marni?" That question hit me. I started to cry and bite my lip. Nick leans over and whispers to him.

"She can't remember, and she's taking it a little hard." I'm instantly grateful for him and his way to butt into conversations. The man nods and then sits straight up in his chair. I lift up my hand and wipe my tears away slowly.

"Last question," before he continues he looks over at Nick and nods toward the door. My ex gets up and leaves us to be alone," are you back together with Nick Jonas?" He presses his lips together and awaits my response.

"I don't think I should answer that." I say solemnly.

"Just answer it please." He presses on. My voice rises.

"Why are you badgering me?!" It was a little painful to yell, but I had to defend myself. Nick comes in the door instantly, his jaw clenched.

"Is there a problem?" He asks us, looking between the both of us. By now, I was fully crying and not being able to contain myself. My whole body shook and the man asking me questions doesn't seem to care one bit. Nick went over to him, clenching his fist and raising it.

"Alright, alright. If you won't answer it." He stands up, his hands raised in a defensive way. Nick stands beside to let him pass by. Tears were still racking me and I didn't know what to do. Nick comes over and wraps his strong arms around me. I lean into him, my tears landing on his arm.

"Sshhh, it's okay. It'll be okay." He kisses my hair and whispers in my ear.

"I can't remember anything." I sob.

"It's okay Mar." He kisses my cheek once more and then goes to sit in his chair. I wipe my eyes and cheeks, trying to calm down a bit.

"If you don't mind me asking, what did he ask you?" Nick softly asks, holding my hand.

"If I was back together with you..." I quietly said to him.

"What did you....?"

"I said that I don't think I should answer. He prodded and then I asked him why he was badgering me. Then you came in." I breathed in and out slowly, calming myself. He nods and looks to the side, thinking about it.

"Hello Marni," a nurse came in and had a clipboard," we're going to have to keep you one more night to back sure you're okay to go home. Is that alright with you?"

"Yes, that's okay. Thank you." The nurse stiffly nods and smiles to me, walking out of the room.

"You can go home if you'd like." I let Nick know, leaning my head back into the pillow. He shakes his head no.

"I'm staying here with you."

"Alright Nicholas." I chuckle and fall asleep.

I feel a weight on the bed next to me, my eyes still shut.

"Mommy, mommy." Someone tugs my arm and hits a spot where it hurts. I open my eyes wide and lightly smack whatever touched me, crying out in pain. I see my daughter move off the bed quickly and go onto Nick's lap, and I instantly feel bad.

"I am so sorry." I whisper, rubbing my arm. I was getting emotional, and so I started to cry. Eliza buried her face in Nick's chest. He looked at me, not seeming mad at all. At me anyway.

"Baby, I told you to not climb up by mama, but you didn't listen." Nick scolds our daughter, looking stern. I lean back into the bed.

"Hi sweetheart. I'm sorry." I tell my little girl, feeling my cheeks get warm. Eliza smiles, forgetting the whole thing. She walks over to the side of my bed and I kiss her forehead lovingly.

"What happened to you mommy?" She asks me very concerningly.

"Hmm.....I don't remember baby girl. Mommy really doesn't remember." This time, I didn't shed a single tear. Eliza looks sad, and I looked over to her father, and he looked like he hadn't slept in days. I mouthed to him in concern.

"You should go home and sleep." He mouths back to me.

"No, I'm staying here with you until you are released." I look away, partially defeated, and sigh.

Hours later, Nick is wheeling me out of the hospital. Eliza is running next to us, a smile on her face. We get to the car and my ex helps me in the passenger seat, a nurse taking my wheelchair. Eliza tries to climb in her seat, Nick having to help her. My head still hurt, but not as bad. I had bruises on my legs and arms, and they didn't look pleasant.

"How did I get these?" I ask myself out loud.

"You're going to stay with me until you're better. Okay?" Nick told me, starting the car.

"Okay....?" I shrug and put my hand on my thigh.

"Marni, you know you're not going to able to stay at home by yourself with your condition." He did have a point. I nodded with his statement. We got to his house in not too long of time, Nick helped me out of the car and to the door.

"You should probably lie down. You can use my bed or one of the spare rooms." He assures, making sure that his dog doesn't jump on me. I nod and Eliza takes my hand while I use the railing to support my walk up the stairs. I choose to go in Nick's room, laying on the bed right away and pulling up the covers to my chest. I snuggle into the pillow, smelling him in it. I smile and sink deeper in the bed, falling asleep.

I wake up some time later, feeling arms around me protectively. I lean into them, knowing that it's my ex husband no doubt. I smile and feel the warmth of him and the bed. I look out the window, seeing that it must be the middle of the night.

"You okay?" I hear Nick's deep voice.

"My head hurts Nick." I whimper, feeling tears climb up my throat.

"I'll go get the painkillers since you didn't take them when we got home." He gets up off the bed and walks out of the room, only his boxers on. Home. It really felt like home again.