Open Arms

Chapter Twenty Six

The buzzing of the lights woke her up first. Then the door slamming shut. Then Angus taking a sharp breath. He sat on the other side of the room on a chair that looked very uncomfortable. His eyes fluttered and his head rested on his hand. Hannah looked down at herself. Resting on her lap was a white blanket. Her arms had been re-bandaged while the old ones sat on a table, covered in blood. There was an IV in her arm, and she felt very groggy.

Looking up from the ground, Angus saw her. Wiping his nose with his hand, he stood up and met her at the side of the bed holding a pink hair bow. "The nurse found this in the lobby," he croaked holding it out to her. With unsteady, gentle hands he put it in her hair and brushed a stray lock aside. "It's good to see you."

One eye was black and purple. Both eyes were red.

"Did you sleep at all?"

"No," he said clearing his throat. "Thought I might let you have the bed." He smiled, but it was pitiful. Full of love and concern. "How are you feeling?"

"My muscles ache," she admitted, keeping very still. Angus placed a hand on her arm, touching the bandages. Gently, so gently, he picked up her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing each finger. "How are you?"

Angus stared at the curtain covered window. "Hungover," he said. "Kickin' myself, waitin' for you to file divorce." Hannah frowned at him. "If my husband yelled at me like the way I yelled at you I'd leave."

"I won't leave," Hannah said wrapping her fingers around his thumb. They were both such small people. "I love you too much."

"I never should have yelled at you," Angus said but Hannah pressed his hand.

"I never should have made you feel worse, you already felt like hell." Angus smiled. 

"I look like hell."

"We both do." 

Angus didn't like the slow repetitive sound of the heart monitor. It should have been quicker and lively, making his own heart race. The sun, just starting to come up, cast a glow on the curtain and shadows in the room. The only indication of life in such a timeless place. Hannah's breath was as slow as her heart and her hands were cold. "Mal an' Linda are on their way. I called them."

"I don't remember much how I got here," Hannah admitted. Her fingers twitched as she fought the urge to scratch her bandage. Angus took one of each in his own. "I just feel so tired..."

"You need a good rest, is what you need," he said sitting on the bed next to her. "Soon as they let you out I'm takin' you home an' making the biggest pot of tea the world has ever seen, we'll be showerin' in it." The heart monitor picked up her laugh. 

"I can't wait," she mumbled, her eyes closing. Chest rising and falling softly and a strand of hair falling in her face, Angus could have sworn she fell asleep. He put a hand to his eye, gingerly feeling the swollen skin. Throbbing, aching. It'd be purple in no time, eventually a sickly yellow. Though if it meant Hannah getting her color back, he'd turn into a whole rainbow of ugly hues. "I love you."

Angus snapped out of it. "Hmm?" 

"I love you, Ang." 

He rested his forehead against hers, putting both hands to her cheeks. "Love ya' too, sweetheart. You'll be right as rain in no time." He wanted to believe it too. 

"Can we get a dog?"

Smiling, and speaking ever so quietly, "Course we can. We'll get every dog in the store. Drive home in our sled."

"Pugs?"

"Sure. If you want."

"Basset hounds?"