Breathless (13 page)

“I’m his sister, Lainey.” She thanked Manny and rushed over to the doctor. “How is he?”

“Jonathan is in recovery right now. We managed to repair the damage to his collarbone and cleaned up the stab wound, which appears to have missed any vital organs. He’s stable, but in a critical condition.”

Lainey nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. “Can I see him?”

“We will be admitting him to the hospital, and once he is in his own room, a nurse can come take you to him. He’s heavily sedated and probably won’t wake up until morning.”

“Thank you.” Lainey moved back towards her chair, picking up her cell. She thought of calling home, but she wasn’t ready. She had to see Jon with her own eyes to make sure he was okay, and she still wanted to do it alone.

Another hour passed before a nurse came to take her to Jon’s room. She didn’t say much, but made sure Lainey washed her hands before entering. Jon was apparently at risk for a serious infection and they didn’t want to take any chances. Lainey stepped into the room, closing the door behind her. It took her a full minute to gain the courage to walk past the door. She could hear the heart monitor beeping and the sound of the other machines. Jon’s shoulder was wrapped in bandages and secured to his chest by a sling. It left quite a lump under his blanket. He was receiving oxygen through a tube under his nose, and a light sheen of sweat shone on his forehead, accented against his pale skin.

“Oh, Jon,” she murmured.

Lainey stepped up to the bed, taking his hand and being careful not to bump the IV. A bag of fluids and a bag of blood were flowing into his body. She fell into the chair beside the bed.

“I’m so sorry.”

Jon didn’t answer. His chest continued to rise and fall in an even pattern. Lainey leaned over to kiss his forehead before taking her phone out of the room. It was a little after four in the morning, but she knew her parents were still awake. Peter answered after one ring.

“Lainey?”

“He’s in a critical condition right now, but they think he’s gonna make it. I just wanted to tell you.”

“Do you want me or your mom to come sit with you for a while?”

Lainey shook her head before remembering he couldn’t see her. “No, that’s okay. I’m just gonna stay with him for a while and try to fall asleep. I’ll call you later in the morning when he wakes up.”

“Okay, but you don’t have to do this alone, Lainey.”

“I know. I’ll call you later.”

She pressed the end button before he could talk again. She took a deep breath before going back in into Jon’s room. She pulled the chair closer to the bed and settled in. Her hands shook as she took Jon’s hand, listening to his even breathing until she drifted to sleep.

*~*~*

“You look like an angelfish when you sleep.”

Lainey opened her eyes slowly, wincing at the pain in her neck. She stared at the white wall. The memories came flooding back and she sat up quickly. Her body hit the floor with a loud thump.

“Are you okay?”

“Jon!” Lainey scrambled back into the chair, taking Jon’s hand. “You’re awake.”

Jon smiled. “I think so. I don’t know for sure. Since I’m with you, it feels like a dream.”

Lainey couldn’t help herself. She leaned in and kissed him hard on the mouth. He responded with intensity, reaching up and running his free hand through her hair. Lainey’s hand went to his cheek, her thumb caressing his skin.

“Now I know I’m not dreaming. You don’t kiss as well in my dreams.”

She laughed, leaning back in the chair. “Thanks, I think that’s a compliment.”

“It is.” Jon sighed, closing his eyes and swallowing. “I’m gonna fall back asleep. Sorry.”

Lainey whispered softly to him. “I’ll be here. Just rest.”

His breathing evened back out, and she knew he was asleep already. Lainey went into the bathroom to freshen up a little and splash some water on her face. Her stomach growled. Not knowing how long it would be until Jon woke up, Lainey decided to get some breakfast. Her watch said it was a little after seven. No wonder she was still exhausted.

The cafeteria was fairly deserted. A few of the overnight shift nurses and doctors were drinking copious amounts of coffee and eating in silence. One family sat at a table crying. Lainey grabbed a bowl of strawberry yogurt and a cup of coffee with extra sugar and sat down at an empty table. She stared at the food, not eating. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and scrolled to Peter’s number. Her finger hovered over the button. She took a deep breath, pressed the button, and put the phone to her ear.

“I need you here with me. I’m sorry, and I don’t wanna be alone.”

She heard Peter mumble something to her mom and move around in the bedroom. There was a thump as he ran into something and cursed softly.

“I’ll be there soon. What room is Jon in?”

“Room 324, and thank you.”

“No problem.”

Lainey returned her attention to her breakfast, forcing herself to take a few bites before grabbing a chocolate pudding cup to take up to Jon's room. He'd mentioned to her at dinner that he loved chocolate pudding. It was one of the only foods that felt comforting to him.

Jon was still fast asleep when she entered the room and took her place beside him. Hopefully he'd wake up soon and they could go home. It wouldn't have to hurt so much anymore. Lainey had so much to tell him about Becca, and about learning to let go.

Peter arrived about thirty minutes later, and she could tell he'd taken a rushed shower to come sit with her. Not long after, Jon woke up again.

“I brought you some pudding.” Lainey held out the small cup with the red lid.

“Is it okay to eat it?”

“It should be all right,” an unfamiliar voice chimed.

A doctor stepped into the room, holding a paper chart on a clipboard. “I’m Doctor Rose. How are you feeling?” the woman asked.

“I’m fine. I can’t really feel my shoulder right now.”

Peter laughed. “That would be the heavy painkillers talking.”

“It’s good to see you, Peter,” the woman said, laughing along with him. “I see it says on his paperwork that Jon is Lainey’s brother, but I know you don’t have any sons.”

“It’s my fault. I lied,” Lainey interrupted. “I knew I wouldn’t be allowed to see him if I wasn’t family. Sorry.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Doctor Rose pulled a pen from behind her ear and held it over the paper. “Do you have any family you would like me to contact, Jon?”

“No, my parents died when I was very young. I grew up with a foster dad, but he passed away recently. It’s just me.”

“I’m sorry about your loss.” She quickly returned to her professionalism, and Lainey was grateful to see how genuinely kind the woman was. “I’m sure you want to know the extent of your injuries. Your collarbone was broken quite severely, but we managed to repair it. It will take several weeks for it to heal and you’ll need physical therapy. As to the stab wound, no vital organs were hit and we have you on an antibiotic in your IV to combat anything you could have picked up from the ocean. Do you wanna tell me how you sustained those wounds?”

Jon shook his head before answering. “It was an accident. I took a pretty awful tumble from a boat and almost drowned. Lainey saved me. I owe her my life.”

“I was just returning the favor.” Lainey grabbed his hand.

“Well, we’d like to keep you for another twenty-four hours for observation and to make sure the wound doesn’t become infected. We’ll switch you over to an oral antibiotic and prescribe some painkillers for you. With some luck, you should be discharged tomorrow.”

Peter stood up and shook her hand. “Thank you so much, Doctor Rose.”

She left them alone. Jon squeezed Lainey’s hand.

“I’m gonna get some coffee. I’ll be back in a little bit.” Peter stood up and excused himself.

Lainey waited until Peter was gone before asking the pressing question. “Did your foster dad really die?”

“No. Well, in a way he did. I can never go back to that life and it’s like he died. I’ll never see him again.”

A sob formed in Lainey’s throat, but she pushed it away. She didn’t want to cry anymore. “Did you talk to your dad about me?”

Jon nodded. “I told him everything about you. I told him how you saved me and I saved you, how the sunshine lights up your face, and when you interact with your sister, I can see how much you love her. I told him about the candy necklaces and dancing in the rain. My dad understood most of it. He was a lost soul too, but doesn’t remember much of his life on land. Like most of us, he spent some time watching the surface before accepting it. Anyway, he said I would be a fool if I stayed when I could have a chance to be with you.”

I shook my head. “Why would he say that? He lost you.”

“Love, Lainey. Without love, there’s no point in going on. My dad knew if I stayed with him I would have been unhappy for the rest of my days. I gave it up to be with you because I love you.”

“I’m sorry you had to give up the one person in your life who is family.”

“I didn't. I have Peter, Courtney, Rachel, and you as family. Though I don’t think of you as my sister.”

Lainey laughed, leaning in close to him. “Good. It’s not okay to kiss your sister. That’s usually called incest and is pretty gross.”

Jon shook his head, keeping his face close to hers. “Just kiss me, girl.”

“As you wish.”

The heat from his lips was brief and Lainey pulled back laughing. Jon frowned. He started to laugh too when he heard the heart monitor beeping faster. Kissing probably wasn’t the best idea in a hospital while one person was barely alive and still connected to a heart monitor.

“You have a lot more time to kiss me,” Jon whispered.

“I’d better.” Lainey brushed Jon’s shoulder, getting him to move over so she could sit next to him on the bed. “I have another question for you. Actually, I probably have a million questions, but I have one big question for you.” She pushed her hair behind her ear. “What happened that last night? At the fair. Why did you have to leave so quickly?”

“Ah, that one is a bit harder to explain. I couldn't stay on land forever. Everyone is given so many days to spend on land and most choose not to use them. I saved mine and used them all up at once. As soon as the sun set on my final day, I had to return to the water.” Jon tried to push himself up so he was sitting at Lainey’s height, but his bound arm stopped him. “Does that make sense?”

“Not really. Would you have died if you didn’t return to the water?”

Jon nodded. “Yes. But first, I would have sprouted a tail in front of a bunch of strangers at the fair. Merpeople can’t live without water. I would have lasted a few minutes, but that’s it. Anyway, the people could have sent a mob to kill me.”

“A mob? I think you have outdated information there. They probably would have just stared at you like you were crazy and run away. People aren’t always good with weird.” Lainey sighed, kissing his cheek. “It’s a good thing I’m great with weird because I love you.”

Somehow the notion of her step-father helping her boyfriend get dressed so he was no longer naked under his hospital gown wasn’t incredibly awkward. It was almost a bit normal. Lainey leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath. Jon was being released from the hospital and was going home with her. She was practically jumping up and down. A male nurse came down the hallway pushing a wheelchair and stopped outside of Jon's door.

“Is the patient ready to disembark?” The young man laughed.

“I think so.”

The nurse knocked before entering the room. Lainey stayed back until she saw Jon was fully clothed and sitting on the edge of the bed. The borrowed button-down shirt covered him, but it looked like he only had one arm since his other arm was still bound to his chest and would be for some time. Lainey gave him a warm smile.

“Are you ready to get out of here?” Peter asked.

“I’m more than ready.” Jon grinned, winking at Lainey.

The nurse and Peter helped Jon into the wheelchair while Lainey waited.

“Do you like my ride?” Jon asked, raising an eyebrow. “It’s not a five speed bike with a water bottle, but for now it comes with this nice man pushing it.”

Lainey burst out laughing. “It will have to do for now. I do expect you to get me a pumpkin at some point, and some talking mice, though it would probably be easier to you to finding me a talking flounder or lobster.”

It was Peter’s turn to laugh. Jon simply looked confused. Lainey made a mental note to pull out her collection of Disney movies for Jon to watch while he was stuck on the couch recovering. It would be a great education and they could compare notes on merpeople. Somehow she doubted they sang all the time and had talking animal friends, but maybe they did. She’d probably believe anything at this point. Lainey moved to stand beside Jon and took his hand. Together, with the nurse pushing the wheelchair, they left the hospital. Peter went first to get the car and pull it up to the front. “You sure you’re doing okay? You aren't in pain?” Lainey asked as she and Jon waited.

“Yeah, I’m sure. Ask me again in a few days when I come off the good painkillers.”

Lainey was tempted to shove his good shoulder, but decided against it. Peter pulled up a second later and the two nurses helped Jon into the backseat of the station wagon. Lainey sat next to him, letting Peter sit alone in the front.