by Toni Aleo
He was worried about her and he hoped she hadn’t seen the hit, but he knew she probably had. He didn’t know what was worse, the pain he was feeling or the pain of knowing that Elli was probably worried out of her mind.
“I’m hurting. I’ve got only two questions for you doc,” the doctor nodded as Shea moved awkwardly in the bed, trying not to move where he would hurt more. “How long will I be out?”
“You have a grade two acromioclavicular joint injury, no surgery is needed but with PT and rest, you should be on the ice in six weeks time.”
Shea nodded his head, it didn’t sound as bad as it felt. Six weeks, though, that sucked. “Okay, is there anyone waiting for me?”
“I would say so, since I just got cussed out by some woman because I wasn’t giving her the information she needed.”
“My sister is a little hard to deal with,” Shea said with a shake of his head.
“Oh, no, your sister was very nice, it’s your girlfriend that tore into me.”
“Elli?”
“Yes,” the doctor laughed, “Eleanor Fisher, and she can have my license if she wanted.”
A slow smile came around Shea’s face, damn woman and her temper. “I want to see her.”
Elli was freaking the hell out.
After basically being carried out of the arena by one of her uncle’s guys, screaming, she was brought to the hospital where she had been pacing for the last hour. She was so scared, so freaked out. Shea had woken up when they started moving him off the ice, but Elli was already being moved out of her seat, while everyone stared and talked. Elli knew this was gonna happen, ever since Jakob had gotten hurt, she had this feeling in her gut that something like this would happen to him. She didn’t know how to handle the feelings she was feeling, except to cry and freak out.
Grace had came a little after her, and she was calm as a cucumber as Elli freak out. Elli guessed it was cause Elli was freaking out enough for the both of them, but it did bother her that Grace was fine while God knows what is happening to Shea. When the doctor came out, with no information at all, Elli cussed him up one side and down the other before she threatened him.
Not like she really could get his license taken away, but damn it, she needed to know if Shea was gonna be okay! All he would say is, ‘We are assessing the situation.’
How long did it take to assess? And why the hell was he out talking to them when he should be assessing!
Elli flung herself down beside Grace. Grace was still grinning from Elli’s freak out earlier and it bugged Elli to pieces. Shouldn’t she be in tears? Shea could be dying for all they knew!
“Grace, I have to say, I’m a little upset with you.” Elli said, on the verge of tears.
“Why?” Grace said looking over at her. James sat on the other side of her; he showed up after the freak out from dropping the kids off.
“Shea is back there, and we don’t know what’s wrong, he could be dying or is dead or has no arm, we don’t know!”
“Elli, I’ve done this many times. If I do what you are doing, I would be a basket case by now. So do me a favor, shut up.”
Okay then.
Elli blinked a few times and then looked towards the doors that would bring someone to tell her something about Shea. They sat for another hour and the waiting was killing her. Harper had texted to see if they knew anything since her and Jakob were worried, and they couldn’t come to the hospital because they were on their way to New York to see Jakob’s parents for Christmas.
“Elli,” Elli looked over at James, he was leaning on his knees, looking over at her as Grace was texting her mom, “What are your plans for Christmas?”
Elli knew what he was doing; he was trying to take her mind off everything. He was such a great guy, “Going over to my parent’s house for the whole shin dig.”
“That’s nice. I’m off work for the next three weeks, so we are going up to Boston to spend it with Jenna and Mark.”
Elli smiled, “That’s nice, y’all will have a great time.”
“We always do, the kids are so excited,” he said. Elli saw out the corner of her eye, the door open and the doctor she had cussed out walking out with Bryan towards them. Elli stood up confused, why did Bryan get to see Shea before her!
“Is he okay?” Grace asked as Elli glared at the doctor, Bryan cut her a look and she stopped but she wanted it known that she was very angry.
“First let me introduce myself since I couldn’t get two words out before getting yelled at last time,” the doctor said. Everyone cut Elli a look, while she turned deep read.
Asshole.
“My name is George Hansen; I am the chief orthopedic surgeon here at Vanderbilt. Mr. Adler is going to be okay, it’s a grade two acromioclavicular joint injury, and luckily he won’t need surgery”
“In English please,” Grace cooed with a dazzling smile. Doctor Hansen smiled back while James glared over at Grace. Elli would say that Doctor Hansen was hot, if he wasn’t such an asshole.
“His right arm is separated from the joint,” Both Grace and Elli took in a sharp breath, before they listen to him explain the injury and watch as he drew little pictures, “his arm is completely unstable right now, and will be for a couple weeks.”
“How long will he be out?” Grace asked.
“Six weeks at most, the first two weeks I want him to rest, third week he’ll start intense PT since he is pretty darn eager to get back on the ice. I just got done taping him up pretty good, he won’t be moving that arm at all, so he might need help with getting dressed and taking a shower, it just depends on what he’ll let you do.”
Grace let out a small laugh, “Which is nothing; he is so damn hard headed.”
We will see about that, Elli thought as the doctor went on, “I am more worried about the concussion than I am the grade two. He seems fine, but we need to watch him. I want him to come in after the holidays for a post visit; I have some paper work printed for the signs of a concussion, so you know when to bring him back.”
“When can we see him,” Elli and Grace said at the same time, they looked at each other before looking back at the doctor.
“Only one person can go back right now, and he wants Elli. He’ll be released soon enough, so everyone will see him soon.”
Elli glanced over at Grace and wasn’t sure about the expression on her face. It was somewhere between irritated and angry, maybe both. Elli got up slowly, looking down at Grace, but she wouldn’t look at her.
“Um, Grace do you want to go? I can’t wait until you come out,” Elli said softly, Grace looked up at her, putting on a fake smile. Elli’s heart actually hurt at the sight of it. For the first time Grace was mad at her, and Elli didn’t like it one bit.
“No, Elli, he wants you, so you go ahead.” Grace got up, gathering her things as Elli and James watched. “I guess call us when you guys get home,” she said, then looked over at the doctor, “Thank you for everything.”
Elli watched as James took Grace’s hand as they headed towards the door. Elli didn’t know what to say or do, so she let them go before walking back to Shea’s room. When she pushed open the curtain, Shea had his eyes closed and was breathing evenly. Her heart filled with the sight of him. He was safe, a little beaten up, but safe. She walked towards the bed, taking his hand into hers, looking over his naked chest and the tape that held his arm against it. He had dark red and black bruises all over his shoulder and some down his bicep. Elli didn’t even realize she was crying until her tears fell on her forearms while she was moved her fingers over his hand.
When Shea opened his eyes, she tried to smile but it looked more like a grimace. “Hey, beautiful,” he said before moving his hand from hers and cupping her cheek, moving his thumb over her cheek, catching all her stray tears. “Come on, Elli, I’m fine.”
“You’re hurt.”
“I am, but I’ll be fine. Don’t cry; it makes it hurt more.” She smiled at his grin, trying to stop the tears, but she had been so scared, so fr
eaked out, that even knowing he was okay still didn’t help, and tears came faster.
“I was so scared.” A sob ripped from her, and Shea shook his head, pulling her with his one good arm up against his side, “I was scared I would never hear you laugh again, or see you smile, feel your lips against mine, I was just so freaking scared, Shea. One minute you’re fine, the next your face down on the ice.”
“I know, baby, I know. Calm down. I’m fine.” He moved his hand smoothly up and down her back, as she cried against his chest. “It's okay, baby.”
Not once did Shea remind her that this stuff happens; he just held her. They stayed like that until Shea was released with a bunch of paperwork and lots of meds. Elli was a wreck trying to get him home, and even more of a wreck when she got him into the condo. She woke up at least nine times just to make sure he was okay. The next morning she was so tired that it was hard to keep her eyes open as she followed him around the condo. He moved freely, like nothing was wrong, and would get mad when Elli would try to do everything for him.
“Elli, honey, I’m fine. I can do this.”
“I know, but I just want to help. I don’t want you to strain,” Elli said, pouring him a glass of tea.
“Fine,” he said exasperated as he lowered himself onto the bar stool by the island. She laid his glass in front of him, and smiled, waiting for him to say or try to do something. She covered her mouth as she yawn loudly. “Baby, why don’t you go take a nap, you’re dead on your feet.”
“No, I’m fine,” she said quickly before moving towards the sink to do the dishes.
“Elli, I’ve been hurt before. I can’t take care of myself.”
Elli turned, sending him a pointed look, “Didn’t I say that when I was sick?”
He smiled, moving his fingers through his messy hair, “Touché.” Elli laughed before turning back to the sink, feeling pretty satisfied with herself.
“So I guess we’re gonna have to wait on the whole looking for a house, huh?” she asked.
“Why would we need to wait. I’m gonna be home for six weeks with nothing to do except be pissed off I’m not on the ice.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s true. We’ll get started after the holidays then.”
“Sounds good to me,” he said just as his phone rang and Elli listened as he picked it up.
“Hey mom, yeah, I’m fine, no big deal. Yeah, I know that, but my shoulder is okay. Mom, I’m fine. Yes, Elli is here, yes, she is taking care of me. I don’t know yet mom, I just got hurt yesterday. I know that mom, Oh my God, yes mom. I will let you know in a few. Okay, yes, okay, I love you, too.” Shea hung up the phone and Elli just grinned down at the sink, he was so flustered and it was only day two of being hurt.
This was not going to be an easy recovery.
“Jesus, women drive me nuts,” Shea said under his breath, between his mother, his sister, and his girlfriend, he was going to go crazy. It was simple: yes, he was hurt, but damn it, he could take care of himself! He didn’t need someone taking care of him 24/7, he didn’t need his mother calling to say she wanted him to come home so she can take care of him, and he definitely didn’t need his sister calling cussing him out about not wanting to see her first.
Damn women.
Shea got up and cringed a little as he moved to take his glass to the sink. Elli stood wearing one of his old buttoned up shirts with only panties under it. He watched her for a moment, loving the way she moved and the way she pushed her hair off her shoulders. She was so hot that even with all the pain he was in; he still wanted to take her to bed.
He didn’t know what she had planned for Christmas, since he wasn’t supposed to be there but in Chicago, but he needed to ask. His mother wanted him home, even if it was only for Christmas. It would at least shut her up and leave him alone for the length of the injury. As he watched Elli, he wondered if she would come home with him. He hated being away from her and the fact that the studio was closed until the beginning of the New Year, he didn’t see a reason why she wouldn’t want to go home with him.
Except that she might want to spend time with her family for Christmas. After the birthday party, Elli had talked to her mother twice. Both times were good, Elli actually hung up smiling. Shea didn’t want to come between the reunion of mother and daughter, but he also wanted her to come home with him, show her around Boston. He didn’t get to spend Thanksgiving with her, and he definitely wanted to spend her favorite holiday with her.
When Elli glanced up seeing he was watching her, she smiled.
“I know that look, Shea Adler, you aren’t getting any anytime soon.”
A slow grin went over his face, she knew him so well. “Come home with me.”
She looked up at him, confusion all over her face, “I am home.”
“No, I mean come home to Boston with me for Christmas. My mom wants me to come home since I’m hurt, and I wanna go, but I don’t want to leave you.”
Elli blinked a few times before looking down at the sink, “I have Christmas with my family, though.”
“I know and I know things are good right now with your family, but this is probably the only time we’ll be able to go home for Christmas. I really want you to come spend some time with my family, get to know them.”
Shea watched as she nodded, moving away from the sink towards the fridge. “I,” she stopped moving in front of the island. She then leaned against it as she looked over at him, “Yeah, okay.” Shea had a huge grin go across his face as Elli went on, “I’ll have to call to have Adler boarded and I’ll have to run to Clarksville to drop off the gifts I got my family. So can we leave tomorrow?”
“That’s fine. I’ll call my mom and get us tickets while you do what you need to do.”
“Okay,” she came over to him, kissing him softly before walking towards the bedroom.
Shea had a feeling she wasn’t happy, though.
The next morning, Shea boarded a plane with Elli after spending an hour trying to get dressed. He learned quickly that he was going to look like a one armed man while he was hurt since he couldn’t run around with no shirt in 30 degree weather. He was embarrassed by the way he looked, but what was he supposed to do, put a fake arm in the other sleeve? It didn’t seem to bother Elli, though; she just smiled, holding his other hand as they walk through the airport onto the plane. He hated that she had to put their carry-ons in the space above their seats, but again it wasn’t like he could do anything, he was a one armed man.
Elli hadn’t said much since their conversation in the kitchen. She took Adler to the boarding house before running back to Clarksville to drop off gifts for the family. When she came back, Shea could tell she had been crying, but when he asked, she said everything was fine.
“I figured we could go shopping when we land, before heading to my mom’s. I haven’t bought anything for my family yet.”
Elli nodded, “I already packed my gifts for them, but I don’t mind going shopping again. We all know I love to shop.”
“You already got my family gifts?”
“Yeah, like a month ago.”
“What did you get?” he asked, as she smiled over at him.
“Stuff. Why?”
“Cause I didn’t get squat! Plus, I thought maybe we would do it together,” he said with a shrug.
“You were supposed to be in Chicago. I was just gonna send the package up to Boston.”
“Oh, well I guess that makes sense. Getting hurt has messed up a lot of people’s plans.”
Elli shrugged, “It’s no big deal, I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“No, you’re mad because you’re not home with your family. I bet the only reason you’re here is because you’re worried about my arm, and you probably don’t even want to go home with me.” Elli cut him a look, surprised by his outburst. Hell, he was surprised by it. She narrowed her eyes, taking in a deep breath.
“Um, for one, I’m not mad. Yeah, I’m gonna miss my family during the holidays, but I realize that my life is chang
ing. I can’t worry about just me anymore, I have you now. Second, I do want to go home with you. I love your family and you know I do. Third, if you don’t lose your little attitude, I’m gonna kick your ass.” She smiled sweetly before pulling out her book and started reading. He couldn’t help the scoff that escaped his mouth, but he wished he had because Elli looked back over at him, madder than hell. “Are you laughing at me?”
He shook his head, “Never.”
“That’s what I thought.”
Shea smiled and the side of her mouth lifted a little, but not much as he said, “I never thought I would be scared of something so small.”
“I’m not small, you’re just huge.”
He laughed at that, causing her to smile, “God, I love you.”
He was rewarded with a dazzling smile before she took his hand in hers, kissing his cheek and laying her head on his shoulder, holding her book against his leg. He leaned his head against hers, loving the feel of her hair against his cheek. Just loving her, all of her.
Even her sassy little temper.
Elli stood in the freezing cold, outside of General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport while Shea yelled at the rental guy about the Prius he thought he was gonna give them to rent. Shea was livid, Elli wasn’t sure if it was cause he was in pain, or if he really did hate the car that much. Elli thought it was cute, plus it wasn’t like Shea was gonna be driving it.
“It's a chick car!” Shea yelled. They both looked over at Elli, and she shook her head, cuddling into her jacket.
“Sir, this is all we have in less you want a BMW which is almost $300 a day.” Shea looked at the dude like he was the biggest idiot on earth.
“Give me the BMW, please,” Shea said through gritted teeth. The guy nodded and Shea walked towards Elli, beat red from either his angry or the cold.
