Luke's Recovery

by Angela Franklin

Callie and Chase walked with her to the waiting room to sit again and wait. She went to a corner needing a moment to get herself together. The reminder she had nowhere to go, and then having to explain even the short version to someone was taking its toll on her. Gina came over and gave her a bottle of water, and a few throat drops before going back out to tend to her patients. She could see Chase and Callie talking, but simply leaned her head against the wall to wait for Luke. Her heart had slowed knowing he would be okay, but she still needed to see him.

  *****

  Luke was trying to open his eyes, but it felt like they had been slathered in tar. His mind was giving the command, but his body just wasn’t responding. He couldn’t remember the last time he had slept this heavy. His body felt heavy, and achy. Maybe he had the flu. He tried to relax hoping that his muscles would untense and he could wake up. Taking a deep breath, he heard the beeping. Why on earth was that sound in his cabin? He must have fallen asleep with the TV on one of those medical shows.

  He tried again to open his eyes, but still nothing. He started feeling something tighten on his arm and tried to pull at it with his other hand. The result was a lot of pain and his eyes finally snapping open. He looked around confused. Why was he in the hospital?

  “Mr. Collins? Do you know where you are?” A woman in scrubs asked him.

  “I think I’m at the hospital.” Luke replied, but his voice was off. Much deeper than usual, and he sounded like he had swallowed a load of dirt and gravel.

  “That is correct. Do you remember what happened?” She asked him.

  He tried to think back to the last thing he remembered. He was at the firehouse with Jacob and Tray, and they got a call. Something was different about this call, but he couldn’t remember what. Where had it been? Thinking harder he remembered feeling a panic when the address came across. Was is Chase? The machine started beeping faster.

  “I need you to relax, Mr. Collins.” The nurse told him.

  Luke took a deep breath and tried to calm down. It wasn’t Chase. He was sure of that, but what else could have sent him into… Oh no, it was Lindy.

  “Lindy. Please tell me Lindy is okay.” Luke practically begged her.

  “She is in the waiting room and she will be fine.” The nurse told him with a smile. “So, you do remember. I will take you to your room now.”

  Luke kept trying to remember what happened after hearing the call. He remembered running to the firetruck, but that’s it. After that he had no clue what happened. The nurse moved him slowly and he felt every little bump in the carpet. Damn, this hurt. What had happened to make him hurt this bad? As the nurse wheeled him in, he grunted in pain.

  “Are you hurting, Mr. Collins?” The nurse asked him.

  “Just tender, I’ll be fine.” He told her.

  “Let me know when you want your pain medicine.” She told him then walked out of the room. It was only a few minutes later when he heard footsteps.

  “How are you feeling?” Chase asked walking over to him.

  “What are you doing here? You should be home with the babies.” Luke told him frowning.

  “Chasity has them.” Callie told him walking into the room behind Chase.

  “You should be with them. I’m fine.” Luke told them and Chase cocked and eyebrow at him like their father use to.

  “Luke.” Hearing her voice, he closed his eyes. It was rougher that it should be, but it was so good to hear it and know she was okay.

  “Lindy.” He whispered.

  “Luke, do you remember what happened?” Chase asked him with a frown.

  “I remember getting the call at the firehouse to Lindy’s place, and I remember getting in the truck, but that’s all.” Luke told him. Chase looked back at Lindy, then looked back to him.

  “Did they tell you anything in the recovery room?” Chase asked him.

  “No, they just brought me in here.” Luke told them. Why was Chase asking so many questions? “What’s going on?”

  “Lindsey, I think it’s best if you tell him what happened.” Chase said and stepped aside for her to get closer to the bed. When she got close he could see the clothes she had on were too small, and her eyes were puffy like she had been crying with dark lines under them like she hadn’t slept.

  “Hey.” She whispered.

  “Hi.” He said back smiling at her hoping it would make her smile back, but what he got back was the saddest smile he had ever seen.

  “You’ll have to ask Jacob what I don’t know, but let me start by saying thank you. I was upstairs in my apartment when the fire started. By the time I knew there was a problem, the door handle was too hot for me to grab it. I went and got in the bath tub. I was sure I was going to die there.” She whispered the last part so soft that he wasn’t sure anyone was meant to hear it. “Then I heard you yelling my name. I was getting dizzy and it was getting hard to breath from all the smoke. You came into the bathroom and picked me up, then you carried me out of the apartment and down the steps. You looked toward the back door, but must have thought that wasn’t a good option because you moved toward the front door. There was fire all around us. You kept telling me you would get me out. When we got close to the door you threw me and then yelled for me to run. I looked back, but you yelled again so I ran out and got Jacob. I wanted to go back in and help you, but Tray held me outside while they got you out.” She stopped and looked over at Chase.

  “I can do this part if you can’t.” Chase said walking over and putting his hand on her shoulder. Luke looked back at Lindy and saw the tears running down her cheek. He reached up to move them away and noticed the bandages on his hand.

  “When you threw me,” she started taking a deep breath, “you went down. I had no idea what happened. Jacob said you must have heard the beam popping and knew it was going to fall. It fell on your legs.” She paused trying to wipe away the tears and taking another deep breath. He wanted to comfort her, but he didn’t know how with his hands bandaged. Chase must have known what he wanted, because he pushed Lindy closer so that Luke could lay his arm against her.

  “It’s okay Lindy. I’m fine.” Luke told her smiling again. He knew for her to be this upset something was wrong and she had said something about his legs, but he could feel them, so that was a plus.

  “But you’re not. Luke, I’m so sorry.” Lindy said then pulled away and ran out of the room.

  “What the hell happened?” Luke asked as he tried to push up and go after her. Pain shot through him knocking the breath out of him and stopping him from going to her.

  “When that beam fell, it broke both of your legs. The left is in a cast, but they had to put a rod and some screws in your right leg. You also have severe burns on both of your hands. You will be okay, but it is going to be a long road.” Chase told him laying a hand on his shoulder for comfort.

  “What about her?” Luke asked looking at the door she had ran out of and wishing he could go check on her.

  “She is fine.” Chase told him.

  “Physically yes, but if a beam fell I’m sure the building is a total loss. That was her job and her home.” Luke told them. “I need to go check on her.”

  “You can’t. You can’t walk for a while.” Chase said gesturing to his legs.

  “Make her come back. I need to talk to her and make sure she’s okay. I’m sure she is worried about everything right now.” Luke told his brother firmly. If they didn’t make her come back, he would find a way to go after her.

  “I’ll go talk to her.” Callie said and touched his arm before walking out.

  “Luke, did you understand what I told you, about your injuries?” Chase asked him.

  “Yeah, it sucks, but I’ll be fine.” He told him. He knew the risks when he became a firefighter.

  “You’re right, it does suck, but why are you so okay with this?” Chase looked confused.

  “I’m not really okay with it, but it can’t be changed. I still have everything. I have my family, my home, and anything else I could need.
Did you stop to think about everything she just lost?” Luke asked his brother.

  “But she is okay.” Chase said shaking his head like he didn’t understand.

  “Physically yes. Did you ask her if she wanted to leave the hospital?” Luke asked, knowing most people didn’t think beyond this very second to what came next.

  “Tray asked if she wanted to leave but she said no. Taylor went to the ranch and got some of Callie’s clothes for her, and she cleaned up and changed in the bathroom.” Chase told him still not getting it.

  “Chase, think it through. Her whole life was in that building. Her clothes, her money, her home.” He said and watched the light come on in Chase’s eyes.

  “Damn.” Chase whispered.

  “I still have everything. I will have lots of pain and a long road ahead of me, and I will probably never be able to go back to the firehouse. The difference is, I have my home, my family, my clothes, and money.” Luke wasn’t stupid, he knew he would have a lot of bad days. He would have days he hated the world and everything in it, and some days the pain would be unbearable, but he wasn’t alone.

  “I’ll talk to Callie. We will have everything set up for her.” Chase said, but he laughed. “What?”

  “Chase, she has been on her own a long time. She isn’t going to let you just give her money. She is proud. We will figure out a way to make this better, but for now, she can use my place.” Luke told him.

  “I will have her stay at the ranch with Callie. Maybe if she can help with the babies, she will feel useful till we figure out what to do.” Chase said and Luke nodded.

  “You wanted to see me?” Lindy asked when she walked in.

  “Can we have a minute?” Luke asked Chase and Callie. They nodded and walked out. “Come sit on the bed with me.” Luke told her when they were alone.

  “I’m okay standing here.” Lindy told him.

  “Come here, or I will get up and come to you.” Luke told her knowing she would cave.

  “You can’t. It could hurt what they have done to fix the damage.” Lindy told him as she rushed closer.

  “Then you better sit here with me.” Luke raised his eyebrows going for the commanding look Chase sometimes used on Callie.

  “Fine, but if it hurts you I will get up.” She told him trying to sit on the very edge.

  “You aren’t going to hurt me.” Luke told her leaning his arm so it laid across her leg.

  “Luke, why did you come in after me?” Lindy asked him solemnly.

  “Well, for one it’s my job.” He told her trying to joke with her, but she just nodded. “Lindsey, I couldn’t not do everything in my power to get you out.”

  “I do thank you for saving me, but you got hurt pretty bad Luke.” Lindy said shaking her head. “You shouldn’t have come in.” She whispered.

  “Lindsey, I will give you a pass this time because I’m sure you’re tired, but I don’t ever want to hear you say that again. Are we clear?” He asked her and she nodded. “I said are we clear, Lindsey?” He demanded.

  “Yes. You are bossy for someone who can’t get up.” She said giving him the evil eye.

  “You haven’t seen anything yet.” Luke told her as Chase and Callie came back in. Lindy shifted and his arm fell off her leg and she bumped his hip accidentally causing the bed to shake and move his leg. Luke couldn’t hold back the hiss of pain that slipped out.

  “I’m so sorry. Are you okay? Do you need anything?” Lindy asked rubbing her hand over his arm above the bandage.

  “I’m good.” Luke told her through gritted teeth. She narrowed her eyes and studied him.

  “Luke Collins, you are a big fat liar.” Lindy fumed and pushed the nurse’s button on his bed.

  “Can I help you?” The voice asked.

  “Hey Gina, can you get Luke something for the pain please?” Lindy asked. Luke started to refuse, but she slapped her hand over his mouth.

  “I’ll be right there, babe.” The nurse called back. He licked her hand to make her move it, but she just looked at him before slowly moving it away.

  “I don’t need that.” He told the nurse as she walked in. She looked over at Lindy, and Lindy nodded at her.

  “Sure you don’t Champ. Let me just take a look at your IV.” The nurse said as she picked it up and pushed the needle into the proper place.

  “Dammit.” Luke said and glared up at Lindy.

  “He will be out in a few minutes and won’t wake up till this evening.” The nurse told them.

  “Why did you listen to her and not me?” Luke asked while he still could.

  “Because she is a CNA and I trust her judgement.” She replied before leaving his room.

  “Y’all might as well go. Lindy has made sure I will be out all day.” Luke grumped at them.

  “He’s right. I will stay here with him.” Lindy told them.

  “Nope. You are going with them.” Luke told her, already feeling his eyes getting heavy.

  “I am fine right here.” She fussed back.

  “Sweetheart, stop arguing and just go with them. You are welshcome to my cabinnnn. Damn you, take your cute butt hommme.” Yep, the drugs were working wonderfully. He was slurring his words and it looked like she was holding back a giggle.

  “Luke, we will be back later today.” Chase told him, patting his shoulder before going to the door. Callie came over and gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked over to Chase.

  “Bye, Luke.” Lindy said.

  “Wheresshhh my kisssshhh?” He was starting to like this medicine.

  “Fine.” She said shaking her head and walked over. When she bent to kiss his cheek, he turned so that she kissed his lips. If his hands weren’t bound, he would have wrapped them around her neck and held her there. She pulled back and glared at him, but he just smiled back.

  “Bye, Shhhweetheartttttt.” Luke told her, but she walked to the door before turning around and flipping him off. He laughed, but then the world went dark and he went to dream land.

  In his dreams, Lindy came to him willingly and cuddle up against his side as they laid on the couch watching TV before they went to bed. The sweet smell of her body wash teased his nose, and he buried his nose in it taking the scent deep in his lungs to savor forever. She would tilt her head and smile up at him before leaning up and pressing her lips to his. Wow, this was amazing medicine. He wouldn’t fight it next time if it gave him Lindy in his dreams.

  Chapter 3

  Lindy had decided to stay in the main house with Callie and Chase. She figured she could help with the twins so they could rest, but after Callie showed her to the spare room, she went straight to sleep. She had only meant to lay across the bed for a second, but when she woke up and looked at the clock she had been asleep for three hours. Hearing a knock at the door she realized that’s what woke her up. She got up and went to answer it thinking she could have slept until the next morning.

  “Sorry to wake you, but I wanted to drop of these clothes. I figured you would want to take a shower and put on fresh clothes before going back to the hospital and Chase said he was leaving in two hours.” Callie said walking through the door and over to put the clothes on the bed.

  “Thanks, I didn’t mean to dose off. I had planned to take care of the babies so you guys could rest.” Lindy told her trying to finger comb her hair.

  “You needed much more rest than us. If you aren’t feeling up to going back to the hospital, it’s okay. I’m sure you need more rest, and I know there are lots of things you need to check into after what happened last night.” Callie said sitting on the edge of the bed.

  “It’s already late today, and I need to get a laptop so I can deal with the stuff I have on order for the boutique. The insurance agency can wait till tomorrow. I know Chase is going to make sure he’s okay, but I need to see him myself.” Lindy told her as she looked through the pile clothes.

  “Okay, I will do whatever I can to help you. Just come down when you’re done, and I will have you a bite to eat ready.”
Callie told her and hugged her before she walked out, shutting the door behind her.

  Lindy went to the bathroom and as she undressed she looked in the mirror and noticed how rough she really looked. She still had soot on her body, and dark circles under her eyes. No wonder Callie had given her two hours to get herself together. She didn’t have any of her personal belongings, but then again, she no longer had any. That was a sobering thought. She had been trying to get her mind off it. Luke was the main concern here. He was hurt, but she had only lost her physical possessions.

  After she had scrubbed every inch of her body to the point she was rubbed raw, she got out and dried off. Callie had told her there was an extra tooth brush and hair brush in the cabinet. After she looked in the bottom of the cabinet she found a hair dryer. Callie and Chase really were amazing to help her right now. They had thought of everything. Callie had made sure she had all the personal items she could need and considering she didn’t have the time, or way to go to the bank to talk to them about drawing out money, since her wallet and all of its contents had been destroyed, she was thankful for what was here.

  As she dried her hair she thought of all the things she had to do. She would need to borrow a laptop so she could put a hold on all her orders for her shop, and then after she got a way to the bank she would need to have a key made for her car and go to town to ask the shops near her to accept any deliveries that she couldn’t stop. She actually had one scheduled to arrive today. Her stomach growled loudly as she put the hair dryer away reminding her Callie said she had food waiting. She finished dressing quickly and brushed her teeth before going to the kitchen.

  “Hey, you are looking better.” Callie said as she walked in.

  “I’m feeling better. Can I borrow a phone? I have a delivery coming for the boutique today and need to have someone get it till I can get a key made for my car and get over to get it.” Lindy told her.

  When Callie gave her the phone, she walked into the living room to make her call. She called all the shops close by and they said they would take anything that came and to call if she needed anything else. By the time she walked back in the kitchen, Callie had her bacon, eggs, and toast ready and waiting.