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Bret groaned with a pounding head. He felt like he was drifting away on a sail boat. The water rocked him and it turned his stomach. Feeling green, he forced his eyes open. He stared straight up at the ceiling of a helicopter. He was strapped down to a gurney and the burning hot sensation of pain ripped through his leg.
He tried to grab it but couldn’t reach thanks to the straps across his chest. Was he alone? “Hello?” His raspy voice called out. Man, he’d kill for a drink of water right around then. “Anyone there?”
“I’m here.” Her soft voice surprised him. It was familiar but he couldn’t place it. A few moments later, her face came into view and the softness of her brown hair fell over one of her shoulders.
His vision fuzzy, he couldn’t make out her features except for the curve of her brow and a slight crinkle around her eyes. She took is hand, her fingers gently stroking across. His skin tingled and Bret wanted to remember who she was and when they last met.
“We’ll be at the hospital soon. Do you remember when we came to get you?”
Bret shook his head. Maybe she was a nurse. He always had a thing for a woman in a uniform.
“I didn’t think you would. You were rambling. The fever that had set in did that. You probably have an infection but the doctors will get you cleaned up.” She leaned forward and stroked is forehead. Bret thought he wouldn’t mind being sick if she stuck around. He inhaled deep, smelling her lavender and honey shampoo. He felt comforted just by being with her.
“Stephanie,” he murmured before he even realized it. He remembered her and her kindness. How she had been afraid and he helped her across the bridge. How he had awoken scared in the middle of the night alone and how he feared for her safety. Then the mountain lion...
The mountain lion bit him. Oh boy, what an injury that had been.
And it had been Stephanie who helped him get back to the cave. She had rescued him. It wasn’t something he’d soon forget.
“I’m here.” Stephanie took his hand and wrapped hers around it. “What can I do?”
“Water,” he croaked out.
Stephanie found a water bottle and twisted the cap. She slipped a hand under his head to slowly lift him and held the bottle to his lips. The water felt like a blessed gift and the best tasting thing he could remember. It was amazing but he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
Maybe he could tell her about Jamie. Maybe it was finally time to tell another human being. Or maybe he was on his way to meet her for a final time.
“Landing in five minutes!” Richie yelled from the front.
Stephanie threw a glance toward the front. “Okay! We’re almost there. Hang in there, Bret.”
“How bad is it?” He asked.
Stephanie shrugged. “You lost some blood. I expected you’ll be back on your feet in no time. How about you rest for now, okay?”
Rest? When was the last time Bret had really allowed himself to rest? He wanted to shake his head that he couldn’t but slowly his eyes closed and his vision began to fade but he remembered Stephanie’s hand. And how she never let him go.
*****
He awoke again, this time when being wheeled through the hospital. There was a lot of chatter and commotion. Staring up at the ceiling moving by so fast made him dizzy. Bret was overcome with nausea in his gut and he groaned but then someone took his hand.
Stephanie’s face came into view. Her soft brown eyes held major concern and compassion. “It’ll be okay. They’re just taking you to prep. Your leg is going to get better in no time.”
“Steph,” he whispered. He felt the overwhelming urge to say something to her. He wanted to tell her about his fear of hospitals and what had happened to Jaime. Why he tried to keep people at arm’s length. It was a stupid impulse. He wasn’t in his right mind. She’d just end up putting it in her story. Everyone would know what a coward he was.
Plus, there was no time.
“You have to wait out here,” the doctor said to her.
Stephanie nodded, a hand stroking the side of Bret’s head. “I’ll be waiting out here. Good luck.”
“Don’t leave,” Bret muttered and never felt anything stronger.
Stephanie glanced at the doctor and then back at Bret. “They’re taking you into surgery. I have to wait on this side of the door but I promise I won’t leave the hospital. I won’t leave until I know you’re okay.”
It sounded like a fair compromise. Bret tried to tell her thank you. He tried to tell her how much he cared for her and how much it meant to him that she stayed. None of that happened. Instead, he tried to eek out a quick good-bye but instead only got off a bad wink. A moment later, his gurney crashed through the doors and he was taken into the prep room. The nurse leaned over to introduce herself. “That’s a fine strong woman you have there.”
Bret knew they weren’t together but the true explanation would take too long. So, instead he just nodded and mumbled. “Don’t I know it.”
Was lying to yourself always so bad?