morning.”
Dad and Tommy are still outside the room when we return.
“Anything?” Alana asks.
“No, but the second nurse didn’t stay in there long,” Dad answers. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” he asks, rubbing my left shoulder.
“Scrapes and bruises.”
“We should get you checked out.”
“Dad, Alana’s a nurse,” I remind him.
“I just saved you an enormous hospital bill, Andrew,” she says.
He hugs her from the side and holds on to her. I’m glad he came with her. With Mike gone, she needs another adult to lean on, even if she won’t show her vulnerability right now.
Dr. Green steps out and joins us with Jason’s chart in hand. “It looks like he’s going to be okay. All the reflex tests are good. He remembers what happened before being hit on the head. He does have a headache, which is normal, and we gave him something for it.” He folds his hands in front of him. “I want to keep him until morning and repeat his CT to make sure. You can go back in once the nurse is done. He’ll probably end up sleeping the rest of the night, though.”
“You should go back, Tommy,” I say.
“Probably, but I’m staying if you’re staying.”
“Sweetheart, go home and get some sleep,” Dad says.
“I’m good. I want to stay with Jason. You and Alana can go back to our place and crash if you want,” I offer.
“I might take you up on that,” Alana says. “I haven’t slept in a while.”
“Just let me know and I’ll give you guys the keys.”
“I want to see him before I go anywhere,” she says.
The nurse comes out a few minutes later. “You can go in now,” she announces.
Alana heads in first. We resume our places next to the bed and remain standing, with Dad next to Alana and Tommy next to me.
“Hi, honey.” She kisses Jason on the cheek.
“Mom, what are you doing here?” he asks sluggish, almost slurring.
“I came up with Andrew as soon as Sara called. You’ve had us all worried sick.”
“Thanks for coming with her, Andrew.”
“No problem, Jason. Just rest up.” He pats Jason’s shoulder.
“Where’s Parker?” he asks, his gaze still glued to them. “Did she go home?”
“Right here, J,” I say, weaving his fingers between mine.
He turns his head with care. “Oh, hey…Tommy.”
“Hey, J. The guys were all here earlier.”
“They didn’t have to do that.” He gives my hand light pressure. “I’m sorry for picking that fight.”
“I started it. Not you.”
Dad and Alana leave the room in silence. Tommy brings me a chair and he joins Alana and Dad outside the room.
“No, you were right. You did what I should have done,” he says.
I caress his jaw. “How about we just agree that we could have handled it better? I was afraid I was going to lose you tonight. I don’t want to argue anymore.”
“What happened to Mandy?” he asks, his speech clearing from the sluggishness.
“She’s in jail.”
“The cops found her?”
“I tackled her before she could run off. Being friends with Damian finally paid off,” I jest.
He lets out a laugh. “Ow.” His free hand splays against his head. “My head hurts like hell.”
“I’ll try not to make you laugh anymore. You should get some sleep.”
“So should you.”
“I’m staying here with you.” I run my thumb across the back of his hand.
“Go home and sleep, Parker.”
“You’ll have to kick me out of here to leave you and you’re in no condition to do that, so you’re stuck with me.”
“I like being stuck with you.” He yawns. “I’m sleepy. I think they gave me something for my headache.”
“They did,” I confirm. “I’m going to step out for a minute.” I lay his hand on the bed and kiss his forehead.
I join everyone in the waiting area. “He’s sleeping,” I tell them, then fish the keys out of my purse and hand them to Dad. “There’s leftover lasagna in the fridge. Help yourself to anything you need in the kitchen and bathroom.”
“Thanks, honey,” Alana says, standing.
“Tommy, you can go if you want. I think he’ll be sleeping the rest of the night.”
“I’m not leaving if you’re not leaving.”
I hug Dad and Alana as they leave. “I still have Jason’s cell if you need to reach me.”
Tommy and I return to Jason’s room. Tommy carries a chair over and settles down next to me.
“Do you need anything?” he asks. “All you’ve had was the coffee hours ago.”
“I’m okay.”
“I don’t want J accusing me of letting you wither away to nothingness.”
I snort and cover my mouth. “I hardly think I’ll wither away