| |
He should have walked them both out. He should never have assumed that because she wasn’t alone, she would be safe.
Rafe and Allen took over caring for Nikkie Jean, who was in and out of consciousness. He suspected she’d done some damage to her shoulder and her neck, if not the back of her head. He never should have let them go out there alone. Not with someone after Fin.
Fin was on her feet, but she was injured. He scooped her up like he’d done just about every night since the Barratts’. She didn’t protest, just clung to him as he carried her across the parking lot toward the ER. “Virat, he almost killed us.”
He nodded. “I’ll call Dom when I know you’re inside and safe.”
“She pushed me out of the way. I don’t know what happened after that. To her. We have to help her.”
“She struck her head. We’ll get her inside, get her taken care of. She’ll be ok, sweetheart. I promise.” They were moving Nikkie Jean to the ER now. Virat could hear the gurney as it rolled over the pavement. Rafe and Allen were taking control of Nikkie Jean’s care. Izzie walked beside them, holding Nikkie Jean’s hand.
Virat was going to see to the woman in his arms.
He carried her inside. Cherise was working the intake desk. “Virat? What happened?”
She came running over, one hand beckoning toward Jillian and Annie. “Exam rooms A and B quickly.”
“Hit-and-run,” Virat told her quickly. “Nikkie Jean took the worst of it.”
He carried Fin into the exam room.
“I’m ok, Virat. I promise. I just scraped my leg and bruised my elbow. I want to check on Nikkie Jean.” She shot him a wild look. “I need to know she’s ok. She pushed me out of the way. I need to check on her.”
Virat the lover warred with Virat the physician. This time, the physician had to win. “First, out of the ruined clothes and into the gown. I’ll have Annie grab you some scrubs to wear home. I need to see the leg.”
“Technically, you shouldn’t be treating me right now.” A stubborn look slipped into the blue eyes. “Considering our relationship.”
“Ok. Stay put.” Virat stepped out of the exam room as Annie stepped in. The first female physician he passed, he commandeered. “Dr. Kaur? In here, quickly.”
The obstetrician diverted and came toward him. They’d had two dates over a year earlier before deciding that while they were friends material, it would stop there. “Virat, what do we have?”
“Fin. And I can’t treat her.”
“Oh?”
“Personal involvement.”
“When has that ever mattered around here?” Layla asked with a small smile. “I don’t think Holden-Deane will write you up for this.”
Fin had a stubborn look on her face; Virat stepped out of the exam room.
Virat stayed near the exam room. He just didn’t want to let her out of his sight. Too much had happened in this very ER for him to ignore the fact that something could happen to her—right there in the midst of everyone.
But she wasn’t ready to shout to everyone what was between them. And he had to honor that.
“Virat?”
He turned. There she was, in a light-blue hospital gown. He stepped back into the exam room.
And held open his arms before he stopped to think about it.
Fin practically jumped into them. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her as closely as he could.