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Chapter Ten
Even with Matthew’s influence and persistence, it was a couple more hours before Regan was transferred to White Plains General.
“Still waiting on a room,” was the standard answer.
Another shot through the IV and Regan was out, his handsome face relaxed as he slept.
Finally, the paramedics arrived to transport him. Ayla rode in the ambulance with him, while Dan and Matt followed.
Once the paramedics signed off, Regan was transferred to a small, private room. The paramedics lifted him by the sheet he lay on, and shifted him to the bed. A large, smiling African-American woman oversaw them.
“I’m Gloria, I need to get some information from you, ok?” she asked. Regan nodded wearily.
Ayla sat in one of the chairs as Gloria took the other. She carried what looked to be a tiny laptop, which she rapidly tapped on to enter the information.
Listening carefully, Ayla made notes of his medical history. Rarely sick, no childhood diseases, no allergies. Thrown from a horse one time when he was sixteen, broken arm.
Matt and Dan arrived, carrying large take out cups of coffee.
“Bless you,” Regan muttered, taking the cup from his nephew.
“And who makes decisions if you can’t?” Gloria asked.
“The boy there.” Regan looked at Dan, who rolled his eyes.
Dan gave Gloria his information, to which Regan added his signature.
Matt handed Regan a bag from a fast food joint.
“Dan thought you’d like some real food.”
“Yes, please.” Regan gratefully took the bag.
“Okay, everyone, visiting hours are way past over, so I do need you all to clear out,” Gloria said gently. "You can keep the food though."
Ayla leaned over and gave Regan a soft kiss good-bye. “I’ll come by tomorrow.”
Worn out and drugged, he nodded. Ayla hated the heavy shadows under his eyes.
“This is your remote, phone, and call button. They’ll all be right here next to you, okay?”
Regan nodded, trying to ignore the slow throbbing in his back.
He nibbled on the burger, finding he had no appetite, though moments before he was starving. Moments later, he felt the rush of Dilaudid hit his bloodstream and he drifted off.
***
Two hours later people outside of his door awakened him. The fluorescent light was shining painfully into his eyes, as his bed faced the door. The clock hung next to it.
“Hey, can you close my door if you’re going to stand there and talk?” he called out crossly.
“Sorry!” His door was quickly shut. Closing his eyes, he drifted back to sleep.
An hour later, his door opened and someone came in dragging a machine with several monitors.
“Mr. Regan, I’m going to check your vitals.”
Regan grunted as something was slipped over his finger and a thermometer stuck under his tongue. Cloth was wrapped around his arm and he felt it inflating as they checked his blood pressure. He blocked the throbbing pain from his mind, trying to convince himself it wasn't that bad.
While it seemed he had just gotten to sleep again, it was another two hours when the door opened and his vitals were rechecked. The pulsing in his back had him bordering on tears, and he realized he was clutching the sides of the bed.
“Can I have some pain medicine?” he asked tersely.
“Sure thing, honey, I got it right here with me,” was the soothing reply.
It was morning when he was woken again by an orderly bringing him a tray. Wondering how much sleep he really had gotten, he pushed the button to raise his bed, studying his room. The walls were pale blue, and the room was small. Regan guessed maybe seven feet across. He couldn’t see behind him, but he knew there was a window from the light coming into the room. The clock was next to the door, the TV was positioned in the corner on his left side from where he was, and a tall wall cabinet was on his right. There were two chairs that he could see, but past that, he didn’t know what was behind him. Over the chairs was a white board with various squares for information, including the date, nurse name, tech name, allergies, and a schedule for medication that he saw had been filled in throughout the night.
Once he was upright enough to eat, he pulled the wheeled bedside table over, grimacing through the pain that wracked his pelvic area. With a scowl, he lifted the cover.
To his pleasant surprise he discovered scrambled eggs, hash browns and a biscuit, accompanied by orange juice, milk and coffee. Regan ate quickly, despite the bland flavoring.
When the door opened again, it was a new nurse, a petite, slender girl with cropped, brownish-red hair.
“Hi there,” she purred. “I’m Lindsay, I’ll be your nurse today.”
“Hi.” He sighed. The young woman approaching him had a smile that made Regan feel uncomfortable. A pixie with light green eyes and rectangular glasses, she adjusted the blankets around him, tucking them in and around his body.
“How do you feel this morning?” she asked, giving him a coy smile.
“Uh, all right. Didn’t sleep worth a damn with people in and out all night.” He shifted restlessly in the bed, ignoring the pain in his back.
“I know that makes it difficult,” she said soothingly. “If I’m here tonight I’ll make sure you sleep really good.” She smiled.
Regan just nodded. There was something off base about this lady.
He watched her write her name on the board, and another tech came in to check his vitals.
“Do you guys have to come in every two hours and wake me up?” he groused.
“Yep. Sorry about that,” the tech, a young man named Steve, answered. Regan noted how Lindsay hovered while Steve checked his vitals.
“How’s your pain level?” she asked.
“Not too bad,” he grunted, lying through his teeth. He could handle this, he thought.
“Well, I’ll fix that.” She gave him a big smile. The now familiar rush hit him and he relaxed, coasting on the floaty wave. Somewhere he heard a soft voice.
“. . . sponge bath later . . .”
When he opened his eyes, it was to the smell of fresh coffee, and he saw Ayla sitting in the chair, leafing through a magazine.
“Hi Cupcake,” he said sleepily.
“Hey baby.” She got up quickly and leaned over to kiss him. He caught a whiff of her shampoo and fervently wished she was lying next to him.
“You’re a sight for sore eyes.” She wore his favorite halter-top, which just made him wish harder she was in his arms.
“I brought you some coffee and some muffins. I didn’t know what they’d feed you.” She placed the bag on the bedside table, since the tray had been taken.
“It was all right. I’m not too hungry at the moment but I will be when this wears off.”
Ayla’s soft hand touched his cheek and he caught it with his, kissing her palm gently.
“What’s that for?” she asked with a puzzled smile.
“Just because.” He smiled up at her. With a smile that made his heart roll over, she kissed his lips gently.
Lindsay, the nurse, cleared her throat and was frowning at them from the doorway.
“Mr. Regan shouldn’t be agitated,” she snapped.
Ayla did a quick once over of the nurse and understood.
“I’ll kiss my boyfriend when I feel like it,” she replied coolly. “It’s only his lower back that’s hurt, not his lips or his hormones.”
Regan smothered a laugh as the nurse looked offended and stalked out of the room.
“Was that some catty woman thing?” he asked.
“Yes. She was eyeing you. Had to mark my territory,” she said saucily.
Regan just shook his head. “I knew there was something odd about her.”
“She better not get overfriendly if she gives you a sponge bath.” Ayla’s eyes narrowed.
Laughing, Regan took her hand and kissed the palm again. “Don’t worry. She’s half your size. Just stuff her in the laundry basket.”
Ayla laughed as she ran her hand over his hair. “Really, though, how are you feeling?”
“All right,” He looked up at her, and she noted the fatigue in his face. “Pain’s not too bad right now.”
“I’m glad,” she smiled at him. “You’ll probably get a lot of visitors. Dan called the girls.”
“Great,” he groaned. “I don’t know that I can handle them all today. Bobby will bring all the twins-”
“Of course they will. They all adore you.” She smiled softly. She had encountered Bobby Belden, Terry and Larry Lynch several times, three whirlwind teenagers always on the go many times.
“Mr. Regan?” A short, slender man in a white coat was in the doorway.
“Yeah,” he grunted.
“I’m Dr. Hollowell. I’m the neurologist assigned to your case.”
“Hi,” Regan replied.
“Has anyone explained your injury to you?” he asked.
“Broken lumbar one,” Regan answered. “Fractured number two.”
“More like crushed,” Dr. Hollowell replied. “As well as broken right through. I want to check your feet again.”
Regan went through the now familiar routine of pushing against the doctor’s hands with his feet.
“And you have no pain other than your lower back and pelvic area?”
“Right.”
“No numbness, tingling, shooting pains?”
“Nope.”
“That’s good. Unusual, but good. You’re a lucky man. However, to be on the safe side, I want a full MRI. Are you claustrophobic?”
“A bit.”
“That’s all right. We can sedate you if it’s be a problem. They’ll come get you for it in a few hours, probably.”
“I’ll come back when I have the results. In the meantime, we’ll keep you as comfortable as we can.”
“That Dilaudid stuff is pretty good,” Regan said.
The doctor laughed. “Yes, it’s good stuff.”
A moment later he was gone, and Ayla was left alone with Regan.
Their comfortable silence was broken as two familiar figures appeared in the doorway.
“Hi Regan!” Trixie and Honey appeared, bearing a large bouquet and balloons.
Regan just smiled at them.
“Bobby and the twins will be by later.” Honey was dismayed to realize the only table was behind Regan, so he wouldn' tbe able to see his flowers or balloons.
“But we had to come see you.” Trixie took a seat and was joined by Honey a minute later.
“I’m fine, really,” Regan answered.
“I know Moms is bringing you something later, too. She said you couldn’t live on hospital food.”
Regan smiled at the thought of Mrs. Belden’s home-cooked meals.
“And I think Mother and Daddy are coming later, and Miss Trask sent these, courtesy of Cook.” Honey handed Regan a box that he sniffed at appreciatively.
“Cinnamon rolls.” He smiled.
Ayla made a mental note of his fondness for them. Usually, by the time she saw him in the morning he had had breakfast. As Honey and Trixie chattered on, Ayla found herself smiling. Regan often spoke of the girls with a mix of fondness and aggravation, and though she had met them a couple times, she could now see how much they adored him in turn.
They were all shooed out of the room when orderlies appeared with another gurney, and Regan was transferred to it for his MRI. He was taken downstairs.
Regan felt his body relaxing from the sedative, and a cloth was placed over his eyes. He was grateful for the sedative. Even with his eyes covered, he could feel the closeness of the machine. Every so often a voice blared through the speakers, telling him “not much longer, you’re doing great”. The loud whirling and clicking didn’t bother him due to the relaxed state he was in.
His mind drifted to Ayla, and he smiled as he thought about her. Though it had only happened twice, he loved waking up with her in his arms. Her hair would be wild and tangled if she didn’t braid it, but he liked it. She had a smile for him first thing in the morning, and she would wrap her body around his until they were both awake. She had surprised him in the shower one morning, which had led to a whole new experience for Regan, one he wanted more of.
He was bordering on sleep when the loud voice blared that it was finished. He felt the table moving, bringing him out of the tunnel.
“See, that wasn’t so bad,” one of the nurses said. Regan just murmured his answer. He wasn’t sure how long it took for two more orderlies to arrive to move him. He opened his eyes once as they rolled along, but all he saw was ceiling tiles. Closing them again, he drifted in and out sleep as he was rolled along the corridors.
Dan had arrived by the time he reached his room, as well as Tom and Celia. Regan groaned inwardly at the crowd of people, wishing it was just him and Ayla at home in his bed.
The orderlies transferred him back to his bed, where he used the remote to raise the bed up into a sitting position.
“He’s still sedated, so why don’t you all step outside please, it’s time to clean him up.” Lindsay the nurse had returned, and was looking grumpily at the crowd.
Regan opened his eyes slowly, wondering if he could protest, but the petite nurse had run everyone out. His eyes were closing again as he saw Dan put his arm around Ayla and hug her.
“You have quite a lot of friends,” Lindsay commented as she began pulling his sheets back.
“Can you give me a towel or something to cover myself?” he demanded, trying to pull the short hospital gown down.
“It’s nothing I haven’t seen before,” she drawled. Regan didn’t like the gleam in her eyes.
“Yeah, well, it’s indecent!” he exclaimed.
With a slight roll of her eyes, Lindsay handed him a small towel. “I have to get you out of the gown you know, to give you a fresh one.”
“It’s perfectly fresh,” he replied testily.
“Uh uh. Rules are rules. Now try not to move around while I wash your legs.”
Regan clenched his teeth as she rolled him onto his side at one point, supporting him with rolled up towels as she washed his backside. It unnerved him that her strokes became slower when he wasn’t looking at him. With a face as red as his hair, he grabbed the washcloth from her and washed his pelvic area himself.
It seemed to Regan he was trapped for hours with Lindsay and her predatory expression, but he had to admit he felt better once he was clean.
“All done,” she sang, putting fresh blankets over him.
“Good,” he grunted. “Can you make sure my girlfriend comes in? She’s the tall gorgeous blonde out there.”
Her smiled faded. “Sure,” was the sour answer.
Ayla was first into the room, smiling as he held his hand out to her.
“Hi Cupcake,” he murmured as she brushed her lips against his.
“You okay?” she whispered.
“I am now,” he smiled. Ayla touched his cheek gently.
Another nurse arrived with a shot of his pain medicine, and the hubbub of voices dimmed. He knew Ayla was holding his hand, and stroking his hair. Tom and Celia had arrived during Regan’s sponge bath, with an update on the stables. After Tom informed Regan with the news of a temporary replacement at the stables that he only vaguely processed, he and Celia left. Trixie and Honey left shortly afterwards, and Regan had Ayla alone for a few minutes.
“That little nurse is weird,” he told her. Ayla smiled.
“The little one who eyes you like a piece of meat? Yeah, I don’t like her much either.”
Regan didn’t give her the details of the sponge bath. Instead he kissed her hand.
“I’d much rather have a Cupcake.” He smiled.
Ayla chuckled. “I’ll be sure to bring you some.”
“Is there anyway you can fit on here with me?” he asked.
Ayla burst out laughing. “Not a chance, Bill. If I was the size of that nurse, maybe. And don’t you dare try to slide over.”
Regan growled. With a mischievous smile, Ayla leaned over him and pressed her lips against his. Eagerly Regan kissed her back, reaching up to pull her closer as their tongues met.
“Tease,” he groaned when she pulled away slowly.
“Sorry honey, anything else and you’d be in real pain,” she said softly.
“I’m willing to risk it,” was the dry answer. Ayla chuckled.
“I wish.”
Matthew, Madeleine, Peter and Helen arrived then, and sure enough, Helen had brought Regan dinner and plenty of cookies and goodies for snacks.
Ayla hung back shyly. She had encountered Madeleine Wheeler at parties, and knew her mother practically idolized the woman. Madeleine was surprisingly down to earth, and gracious. Helen struck her as the mother Ayla had always wished for. Warm and caring, she was the supportive type Ayla’s mother wasn’t. Peter, too, was an ideal father figure. While not imposing like Matthew, it was obvious he adored his wife and children. Dan was very much adored by all four parents, she could see, remembering Dan had been with Regan since he was fifteen.
Ayla and Dan were the last ones when the end of visiting hours announced Dan waited outside while Ayla said a private goodbye to Regan, who had just received another shot of Dilaudid.
Ayla shut Regan’s door behind her, and Dan smiled.
“Ready?” he asked. He didn’t want her walking to the parking lot alone.
“Yeah.” She smiled back.
“You all right?”
“Just tired. I got here about nine this morning.”
“You don’t have to spend all day here, you know. Uncle Bill isn’t used to someone being around all the time.”
“I know. I just feel so guilty.” She sighed.
“Guilty?” He stopped walking and turned to her. “Why the hell do you feel guilty?”
“Regan was distracted by me,” she began.
“Uncle Bill knows Pluto better than anyone, even Jim, who originally bought him and started training him. And he had no idea Pluto would get spooked. There is no way he blames you for this. No one does.”
“Just me,” she said unhappily.
“Ayla, listen.” Dan turned her head so she was looking up at him. “You didn’t make this happen. Uncle Bill is a very experienced rider. Anyone could have gotten thrown.”
“But he was-”
“Stop,” he said firmly. “This is not your fault. You need to believe that.”
Ayla sighed and nodded. “All right.”
***
That night, Ayla lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling. Rolling onto the other side, she reached for the pillow Regan had used, and curled up against it. It still smelled like him. Resting her head on the soft sheets, she fell asleep, wishing he was holding her.
***
Author Notes
-A big thank you to my editors, Mary (especially for the last minute edit!) and Robin. Any mistakes are mine!
- Linds, I hope you enjoyed your guest star role!
-Word Count – 3,159
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