For a moment, all Alex was aware of was that pain, and then she realized she was being dragged across the icy ground by one arm. She was trying to gather herself to struggle again when bright light suddenly splashed over her. She heard what sounded like the skidding of car tires and then a loud horn blaring before her hand was released and she flopped loosely to the ground. Moaning, Alex curled into a ball on the frozen ground and grabbed for the back of her skull, trying to hold her exploding head together.
The blaring horn stopped abruptly and was followed by the faint sound of a door opening and rapid footsteps approaching. "Alex? Are you okay? "
She forced her eyes open to see Bev squatting beside her, looking her over with concern, as she muttered, "Thank goodness I forgot my glasses and came back. That guy was attacking you."
"Yes," Alex agreed, though she couldn't have said if she was agreeing it was good Bev had forgotten her glasses and returned, or that, yes, indeed, that man had been attacking her.
"Can you get up?" Bev asked, glancing nervously around.
Realizing that the girl was worried her attacker might return, and that it was a distinct possibility, Alex forced herself to uncurl and sit up. Bev immediately moved to help her, taking her arm over her shoulder and clutching her about the waist as she stood upright. Working together, they managed to get Alex upright and on her feet just as second car pulled into the parking lot.
Alex glanced toward it, frowning when she recognized Cale getting out of the vehicle and hurrying toward them.
"What happened? Did you fall on the ice?" he asked with concern, moving to her other side.
"I'm fine," Alex said rather than explain.
It was Bev who blurted, "Someone attacked her."
Alex grimaced, and then waved her hand when Cale turned sharply on her. She repeated, "I'm fine. Bev forgot her glasses and came back and scared him off."
Cale glanced around as if prepared to chase after theculprit, but apparently not seeing anyone, he turned back, then paused to bend down, and she heard the jangle of keys. He'd found hers, she realized, as he straightened with them. Holding them in one hand, he used his other to catch her chin and tilt her face up to his. "You're bleeding."
Alex didn't know how on earth he could tell in the darkness surrounding them, then frowned as she realized just how dark it was. She glanced toward the light over the door that usually lit up half the parking lot.
"What's wrong with the light?" Bev asked, glancing that way now herself.
"I don't know. I'm sure I turned it on," Alex muttered, and then started to shake her head but pressed a hand to her forehead at the pain that caused. "We'd best go in and get your glasses, Bev, so you can get home."
Not waiting for an agreement, Alex started toward the door, grateful for Cale's supporting hand at her arm. Her legs were a bit shaky still. At the door, he used her keys and unlocked and pulled it open, then ushered her inside.
"Where's the light switch?" Cale asked, pausing inside the door.
"I've got it," Bev said, and the overheads suddenly flashed to life, making Alex wince as the bright light knifed right through her eyes and into her head. She heard the other woman flip another switch several times. "You did have the outside light on, Alex, but it's not working. It was on when I left though," she added, a frown in her voice. "Maybe the bulb burnt out."
"I'll look at it before we leave," Cale said grimly,urging Alex forward. She moved willingly enough, but was grateful when he drew her to a halt in the kitchen and didn't make her walk all the way to her office. Movement seemed to just exacerbate the pain radiating from the back of her head, and she couldn't hold back a moan when Cale suddenly caught her at the waist and lifted her to sit on the counter.
Of course, he didn't miss the sound, and she noted the concern that crowded onto his face as he peered her over. When he then began to move his hands through her hair, Alex guessed he was looking for a bump, and said, "It's in the back."
Cale immediately moved to her side and began to feel around the back of her head. He paused at once when Alex sucked in a sharp breath as his fingers found the lump.
"It doesn't appear to be bleeding," he muttered.
"Your cheek is bleeding though," Bev said, peering at her worriedly.
"I think it was his watch, or a ring," Alex said, recalling the sharp pain as his hand had dragged across her face in the struggle.
"You need to go to the hospital," Cale decided.
"Is the cut that bad?" she asked, reaching instinctively to her cheek, worried it might be some horribly disfiguring wound that would scar.
"No, but the bump on the back of your head is huge and still growing," he said grimly, and then glanced to Bev. "Could you get some ice and put it in a towel or plastic bag or something? "
"Of course," Bev murmured and moved off at once.
"I don't need to go to the hospital," Alex said quietly. "I didn't lose consciousness or anything. It's just a bump."
"You could have a concussion," Cale said firmly. "It's better to have it checked to be sure everything is all right."