Page 12 of Smoke
“Well, let’s make sure you remember this one,” Lennon said, reaching into her pocket. “This is my favorite stuffie. He’s a miniature koala named Larry. You can hold him to help you on the ride. He’s a good doctor. He has alla the right koalafications.”
Ashley smiled at her silly joke and closed her fingers around the tiny bear. “Thank you.”
The medics followed another employee in and knelt down beside Ashley. “Thank you, Lennon,” I told her. “You really helped us today.” I turned to look at Kay. “Can you help her get home?” I asked, not expressing my concerns over what she’d seen. Shock could hit her once she got home. I knew Kay would understand.
“You got it,” she whispered, taking Lennon’s hand and helping her stand.
***
Ashley
“No,” I said, shaking my head despite the pain it brought.
“Honey, we really need to get a better IV started. I promise it will make you feel so much better,” the older nurse said. I understood, but I wasn’t letting them do anything to me until I could see Dawson. The paramedics let him ride in the ambulance with me, but I hadn’t seen him since then.
“No. I want my brother.”
“He’s not allowed back here, sweetie. I’m sorry, but it’s the rules.”
“Then I want to go home. Please bring me paperwork to sign so I can be discharged.”
“That is absolutely not happening, Little one. Smoke would beat us both,” an older doctor said as he walked into the room. He had dark hair, skin that looked freshly tanned, and enormous muscles. He wore a silver wedding band on his left hand andhis right hand. How odd. “I’m Dr. Elliot and I’m going to be checking you over tonight,” he said.
“I want Smoke,” I told him, my voice breaking.
“I know, Little one. I’ve sent my nurse to go get him, okay?”
“You did?”
“I did. It’s not going to do any good to treat you when you’re so scared. If having him here will help you feel calm, then I’m all for bringing him back,” he said, sitting on my bed and looking over the IV site the paramedics had placed.
“She said it wasn’t allowed.” I nodded my head toward the other nurse.
They both chuckled. “He owns part of the hospital, darling. He has a lot more pull than I do.”
“Hey, sweet girl,” Dawson said, walking into the room and sitting on the opposite side of me. He placed his hand on my foot since one arm was wrapped in a loose brace and Elliot was holding the other.
I already felt myself calming as I breathed in his comforting scent—cedarwood and smoke.
“That’s a good girl, just relax for us,” Dr. Elliot said, standing. “Let’s try and get that new IV now.”
***
Ouchie!”
“Dammit, Elliot,” Dawson growled.
“Don’t yell at him, he’s doing his best,” I scolded even though it felt like a blow torch was being held to my face. Dr. Elliot was trying to use glue to secure a gash in my face, close to my eye. So far I had a concussion, a deep laceration, a broken radius, and we were waiting for a machine to be free to check for any brain bleeds. It had not been a super fun night. Thankfully some pain meds had at least made it where I didn’t think I was dying anymore.
“And she just showed up at the shop, with no warning?” the police officer asked, still writing things down. He’d been talking with us for a long time.
“Yeah, Smoke. I’m doing my best,” Dr. Elliot mocked, ignoring the officer.
A loud smack filled the room. “Did you just hit him?” I asked Dawson incredulously.
“I did,” Dawson admitted.
“He did,” Dr. Elliot grumbled.
