"It hurts," Grace said, wincing as she shifted.
“Easy," Carey said. "You just had major surgery."
"I'm glad you're here," she said, blue eyes locking with brown.
"Think I'd let you go through this all alone?" Realizing what she was doing with her hands, Carey stopped playing with the short blonde locks and gripped the bed rails.
"What happened?"
"You were in a car accident," Carey said. "The doctor said you must not have been wearing a seat belt."
"Car?" She shook her head. "I don't remember."
"You were with two girls," Carey said. "Michelle something..."
"Michelle Blake?"
"That's it," Carey said. "I don't remember the other girl's name."
"June?"
"Could be. I really wasn't paying attention to that part," Carey said. "I was more worried about you."
"Are they okay?"
Carey reached down and took the teen's hand in hers, careful of the tubing. "Their injuries were minor compared to yours," she said. "They've already been released."
"I can't remember any of it," Grace said, holding her hand up to look at the IV tube sticking out of it, but refusing to release Carey's fingers. "I really did it this time, didn't I?"
"You're alive," Carey said. "That's what matters. Grace, you were thrown around pretty good. You broke two ribs and ruptured your spleen." She took comfort in feeling Grace's hand squeezing hers after hours of being still while she waited for Grace to regain consciousness. "You were in shock by the time they got you here."
"Ruptured?" She licked her lips. "Doesn't sound good. Can I have some water?"
"I don't know," Carey said, reaching for the nurse button. "It's not good, but it could have been much worse. They had to remove it."
Grace closed her eyes. "That really doesn't sound good. What does the spleen do?"
"Helps fight infections and clean the blood," Carey said. "They're giving you antibiotics through the IV." She pointed at the small bag piggybacked to the larger bag of fluids.
"Carey?" Her voice sounded small and scared, making Carey want to take the young woman in her arms and protect her from harm. "Can I live without a spleen?"
"Yes," Carey said, rubbing her thumb over the back of Grace's hand. "The doctor said you'd be more susceptible to infections but after a while your other organs will compensate and that problem will be minimal." She reluctantly released Grace's hand and moved out of the way as the nurse came in. "She wants some water."
"I'll check her chart," the nurse said, glancing at the monitor mounted on the wall. "Miss Waters, how are you feeling?"
"Tired," Grace said. "Everything hurts."
"I'll check to see what pain medicines you're allowed," the nurse said, picking up the clipboard hooked to the foot of the bed. "I'll let the doctor know you're awake as well."
Carey kept her vigil by Grace’s side throughout the rest of the night and into the next morning, getting up only to get more coffee and to use the restroom. It was now approaching noon and the lack of sleep was catching up to her as the yawns became more frequent. Still, any movement brought Carey to full alertness. "Shh, easy now," Carey said, gently touching Grace's forehead as the teen groaned in pain.
"Hurts.”
"I know," Carey said. "They said the pain would come and go for a little while."
"Tell it to go."
"Do you want me to leave?"
"No!" Grace opened her eyes and tried to sit up.
"Easy," Carey said, pressing on Grace's shoulder to get her to lie back down. "Relax. I'll stay for a while longer."
"Promise?"
"I promise." She turned her head at the sound of people entering the room.
"You'll do anything to get out of one of Spinnaker's tests, won't you?" a thin blond man said, setting a small basket of flowers on the tray. He stopped when he saw Carey, his eyes widening. "Ohmigod! It's you!" He reached out and took Carey's hand in both of his, shaking it rapidly. "I am so pleased to finally meet you. I'm sorry, I'm Tom and this is my boyfriend, Stuart." He turned to the older man standing next to him. "Stuart, this is the one and only Carey."
Carey looked at Grace, who was blushing furiously. "What did you tell them about me?"
"Nothing, nothing at all," Grace said, trying to sound innocent and failing miserably. "Tom, don't you say a word."
"You finally let me meet her and you expect me to not speak to her?" He made a tsking sound. "Forgive her," he said. "I try, but you know these young dykes. You just can't tell them a thing about manners."
"Stuart Masterson," the older man said, holding out his hand. Carey guessed him to be in his early forties, gray dominating what was left of his short curly hair.
"Hi," she said as they shook hands.
"So, Carey, did she show you her stitches yet?" Tom asked, earning a smack on the arm from his lover. "Ow. Don't hit me. I didn't ask if she showed her the tattoo, did I?" His eyes widened. "Oops."
"Tattoo?" Carey gave Grace a stern look. "Don't give me the deer in the headlights look," she said. "Where is it, what is it, and does your father know about it?"
Grace looked around her to Tom. "You know when I get out of here I'm going to kill you, right?"
"Don't worry," Stuart said, slapping his hand on the young man's shoulder. "I'll kill him for you."
"Grace," Carey tapped her nails on the bed rail. "I'm waiting."
"Um...it's a heart with a double woman's symbol in the middle," Grace said, looking down at her gown. "Do you know how many stitches I got, or if they were staples?"
"I didn't ask," Carey said. "And you didn't answer the rest of my question."
"Oh, Tommy boy, you are in big trouble," Stuart said.
"It's um..." Grace blushed all the more and crooked her finger. Carey leaned closer. "Let's just say I'd love to show it to you but the boys would have to leave the room first," she whispered.
Carey swallowed as her mind raced with possibilities. "I think we'll let this one drop for now."
"Good idea," Grace said. "The pain is coming back."
"I think you're giving me an excuse," Carey said.
"If you really want to see it," Grace offered, reaching for the neck of her gown.
"No, no, that's quite all right," Carey said, giving the teen a look for teasing her. "You behave," she whispered so the men would not hear.
"I'll be good, I promise."
"I've heard that one before," Carey said, though she settled back down in the chair.
"So," Tom said, deciding it was safe to approach his bedridden friend. "Spinnaker said you can do a make-up after you get out."
"Thanks," Grace said. "I'm still going to kill you, though." She reached for Carey's hand, intertwining their fingers. "Can you stay a while?" she asked.
"A little while longer," Carey said, rubbing her thumb absently over the back of Grace's hand. I'm going to owe Sue big time for this. “Do you want some water?"
Grace swallowed and licked her lips. "Please."
Carey went to reach for the pitcher. "Um, Grace? You have to let go." She wiggled their linked hands.
"Oh yeah, like that will happen," Tom said.
"I don't want to," Grace said as she let go and tried to sit up.
"Stay," Carey said. "I'll help you." She poured a small amount of water into the plastic cup, then added a bendable straw. "Do you want me to raise the bed or help you sit up a little bit?"
"Help," Grace and Tom said at the same time.
"Thomas Michael, stop it," Stuart reprimanded. "You're embarrassing Grace."
Carey gave Grace a soft smile. "Nice and slow, all right?" she said, putting her right hand behind the blonde head. "That's it, easy." She waited until Grace had drunk her fill, then helped her settle back down.