A Helping Hand

Ch.7- At Your Request

"He what?" I asked shocked.

"He asked for you." Mrs. Sheila repeated.

"But- why? He can't be ready for physical therapy, he just woke up yesterday! How does he even know my name?"

"Darling, I'm sure he just wanted to know who the beautiful woman he saw was. After all, you were the first thing he saw when he came to." She smirked.

Wow. I was just getting ready for the day when I got a phone call from the hospital.

I didn't necessarily plan on going in today being they really had nothing for me to do until Dr. Somers' next patient began therapy.

But Sheila said that Luke Allen had been requesting to see me all morning.

I couldn't believe it.

Maybe he was in shock?

Or perhaps I looked familiar to someone he knew before he came in.

I got to the hospital in about 30 minutes thanks to Janiece driving me halfway into the city.

Greeting the nurses at the front, I spotted Dr. Somers.

"Good morning! Sorry I didn't check in too much yesterday, I figured you were busy." I said.

"No worries, and I'm never too busy for you! It was a little hectic with the insurance companies and outpatient services, that's all." She huffed.

"You shouldn't even have to deal with that, right? Isn't there a whole department dedicated to that?" I asked.

"Well, yes. But they don't always have all the right answers even though I outline everything for them in the paperwork. So I rather them forward calls to me when there's trouble." She said, shrugging.

"Wow. I literally want to be just like you someday." I said semi-seriously.

"Oh, please. You'll be better." She winked. "Now I heard our newest patient has been looking for you. Wouldn't want to keep him waiting." She said slyly.

I looked at her a little worried before dismissing myself.

I knocked gently on the door to room 216. Hearing a faint, come in, I quietly entered the room.

"Hello, Mr. Allen. I'm Ammarie. The person who-" I began.

"Woke me up." He rasped. Clearly still getting used to using his voice.

"Sorry about that." I smiled apologetically.

"Are you my nurse?" He asked trying to sit up.

"Careful, here let me help you." I spoke, quickly using the panel to raise him up so that he was sitting up a bit more. "And to answer your question, no. I'm just a volunteer here, for now. I'm working in the PT department. You're due to start the program in a couple days when you're ready." I explained.

"Right, they mentioned that. Well, thank you. For the bed." He said softly.

Well as soft as his rugged, deep voice would allow.

I could tell he had bass in his voice.

"Of course. I know it must've startled you to be woken up so suddenly."

"I felt like... I was supposed to wake up. I haven't felt that before. How long was I out again? 12 days?" He asked.

"Yes, about that time. They said you were in a car accident. There was some trauma that caused you to slip into the coma. You were banged up pretty bad."

"I feel like I was hit by a truck." He chuckled, wincing in what looked like pain.

"Slow down there. Your ribs are still healing." I told him, reaching out you feel them.

He tensed up when I applied pressure, feeling their position.

"Sorry, am I hurting you? They'll be a little sore since you haven't been able to experience the sensation yet." I spoke.

"Oh- no, uh, it just surprised me that's all." He said giving me a small smile.

We ended up talking for close to an hour before the nurse came in and gave him some more pain medication.

He was getting groggy so I tidied things up and began grabbing my things.

"No, don't leave yet. I need my nurse to make sure I'm all better." He slurred.

Oh my God, he was so attractive. Taking to him felt like we've known each other forever. I wish I could fill him in more on what happened, but no one knows. His charts only stated his injuries and the cause.

"Mr. Allen, Jane is your nurse. She just gave you all this loopy stuff. You'll feel better once it kicks in a knocks you right out." I giggled, placing a hand on his arm.

He slowly raised his hand, grabbing mine weakly.

"Allen. Lucas Allen. But you can call me Luke." He said a little drowsy.

"Okay, Luke. Well you rest up. I'll come check on you in a few days. Maybe you'll be ready to work on a some movement by then." Smiling, I wished him well and quietly made my way out the room, shutting the door behind me.

Walking towards the elevator, Micheal was there waiting.

"Well isn't it the lovely Ms. Raye. How are you?" He said, showcasing those pearly whites.

"Doing well, and yourself?" We both walked into the elevator.

"Better now that I'm seeing you. Were you on your way to lunch?" He asked.

I almost didn't answer. Because I couldn't speak for a second.

"I was actually heading out for the day, just came in to handle some things." I said.

"Oh, is everything alright?" He questioned.

"Yes, of course. Thank you again for everything, I'm going to say that a million more times." I laughed.

"You don't have to. Your resume is amazing. If I didn't snag you up, someone else would have in a hurry. I'm just glad I got to you first." He winked. "Did you need a ride back?"

"No, my friend is coming to pick me up."

His face dropped a little. Almost like he was disappointed.

"That's nice of him, I'll see you next time, then?" He asked.

"Oh no, it's a she. My best friend and roommate." I explained.

"Ah, right. Well, next week, I've got you for lunch. Have a good weekend, Ammarie." He said, heading off toward the parking lot.

That was kind of weird.

Shaking it off, I looked up after hearing Janiece honking.

"Girl, today was crazy." I said shaking my head ready to fill her in.