For the Love of Gracie (29 page)

A doctor came into the waiting room. He walked up to the desk and the receptionist pointed at us. I grabbed Derrick's hand tightly. He put his arm around my shoulder, as the doctor approached. 

"I'm Dr. Jordan, I operated on Mr. Collins. His injuries were pretty extensive to his arm, but could've been much worse.  He has several fractures in his right arm from where the motorcycle landed on him."

"He has several abrasions and contusions along the right side of his body, but those should heal up just fine.  We performed surgery to repair his arm and he has sutures for cuts along his torso.  He was wearing a helmet and protective gear, so he was quite lucky.  He can have visitors, but only one at a time, to keep the noise level down and allow him rest. He will be unconscious for a few hours.  We'll keep him here overnight for observation to make sure nothing else pops up." 

I sighed with relief. "Thank you so much."

He nodded. "If you have any questions, make sure the nurse finds me and I'll be glad to speak with you."

Gavin and Cameron walked in as the doctor was walking out.  Derrick filled them in on what was said. "Derrick or Gavin, one of you can go first, you're family," I said.  They both looked at me shaking their heads. 

Gavin spoke up, "No way, girlfriend.  You go in there and tell that man you love him. It's your voice he needs to hear right now."  

I started to cry and Gavin wrapped his arms around me. 

"Sweets, none of that now. He's fine.  He has a gorgeous woman to wake up to."

Cameron chimed in, "You better go clean that face so it looks gorgeous again when he wakes up because, right now, you look a hot mess." 

I burst out laughing and moved to hug Cameron. "You're the best." 

He squeezed me tight. "I know girl. Now get." 

Chapter Twenty-Three

As I walked the long hallway to Ashton's room, I wiped my face clean.  I could hear the machines beeping from the door that was slightly ajar.  I inhaled a deep breath of courage and walked inside. 

My hands went straight to my face, covering my mouth, as I gasped when I saw him.  His arm was in a cast and his torso was wrapped in gauze.  His muscular arms were both littered with scrapes and bruises. The handsome face that I couldn't get enough of, was covered in scrapes and his right cheek was swollen.  I moved to stand beside him. 

Carefully, I palmed his face as I studied his injuries.  I leaned in close and kissed his cheek cautiously.  I reached for his hand, stroking it with my thumb. 

"Baby, it's me, Gracie-bug." I choked back tears.  I moved the reclining chair closer to the bed.  I took his hand in mine, kissing his knuckles.  His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm. 

Ashton had always been the strong one.  He was always smiling and flirting with me; that's what I needed right now.  I missed his voice, his smile, his touch.  He looked so defeated in this hospital bed. 

I pressed his hand against my heart. "Feel that?  My heart beating for you?  Being in the same room with you always makes it race."  

I pressed his hand to my lips as I sat and watched him sleep.  Running my fingers through his hair, I whispered, "I know you need to rest. I just want to see those blue eyes of yours." I rested my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. 

After sitting there for a few minutes, I needed to let someone else have a turn.  "I'm going to be back here in a few minutes.  I don’t want to leave you.  You can only have one visitor at a time, though. Derrick and Gavin both want a turn.  I'll be back shortly. I love you, Ash."  I kissed his forehead and walked out of the room. 

The guys all stood when I approached the waiting room.  "One of you go in there and see him. He's sleeping peacefully." 

Derrick patted me on the back as Gavin sent him to go first.  I sat with Gavin and Cameron. 

Cameron put his arm around me. "There's something you should know, babe." 

I faced him. "What?" 

Cameron grimaced. "This wasn’t an accident.  Apparently, someone literally ran him off the road, on purpose."

"How do you know that?" 

He jerked his head to the side to an older woman in the corner. "That woman was a witness. She's here because she ran off the road, too, and her husband is being checked out.  She said there was a car behind Ash's bike that sped up and clipped his back tire to send him spinning off the road.  She told the cops she thought it was a road rage incident.  I think it was something else."

I covered my mouth with my hands. "Who would do that?" I asked the question and realized the answer at the same time. "Hudson?" 

Cameron shrugged, "That'd be my guess."

"Then that would mean he isn't in jail." I said, fear rising in my chest at the thought.

Cameron's voice hardened, "It wouldn't be the first time he avoided jail time, we both know that too well." 

Gavin switched off with Derrick, a few minutes later.  I was still reeling from what Cameron had told me. I couldn’t concentrate on anything else.  Gavin came running back in to the room, pulling me from my stupor. 

"He's awake! The nurse is checking him over.  Gracie you need to be the next face he sees. The minute he stirred, he was saying your name." 

"Really?" I asked, elated. 

He nodded his head excitedly. "Yep, he wouldn't stop asking for you." 

I sprinted to his room and made it as the nurse was leaving.  She smiled at me. "I hope you're Gracie.  If not, he's going to be disappointed."

I grinned. "I'm Gracie."  She held the door open for me.  I peered around the corner and his face lit up as our eyes met. 

He held his hand out to me.  I ran to his side, grabbing his outstretched palm. I leaned forward touching his lips with mine, very gently.  He put his hand behind my neck and pulled me in for a deeper kiss.

I chuckled, pulling back from him.  "Easy there tiger." 

He grinned. "I missed you." 

I smiled, "You're on some good drugs aren’t you?"  He smiled and nodded.  

"I wanted to see your beautiful face."  His palm glided along my cheek over and over, as though he was petting me. 

I grinned at how cute he was all doped up. "Gavin said you asked for me." 

He nodded. "Yep. I mean, Gavin's cute and all, but he isn’t my type. No matter what you may think."

He gave a manly sort of giggle and wiggled his finger at me.  I'd never heard him giggle before.  It was a husky, gruff, giggle but it was adorable, nonetheless.

I laughed and said, "Derrick was in here before that. Cam's in the waiting room with both of them."

"What happened?" he asked. 

"You don’t remember?" 

His eyes drifted upward as he thought about it. "I remember being on my bike, did I wreck it?"

I nodded. "You ran off the road. You scared me to death, ya know." 

He took my hand. "I'm sorry, bug."  There was a knock on the door. 

The doctor came in and said, "Gracie, I need to check him over.  Mr. Collins, are you alright having your girlfriend in the room?" 

He grabbed my hand. "Of course. I share everything with her." 

I kissed his hand. "Actually, I'm going to go check on the guys. I'll come back in a bit."

Derrick met me halfway down the hall, "Hey, I was coming to say goodbye to Ashton.  I'm going to go meet Mary Jane to get Katelyn home.  She's down the road about a mile. Would you want to take a break and go meet her?" 

I glanced back at the hospital room. "Since he's conscious, do you think we could bring her up to see him?"

Derrick thought about it a moment. "I think it'd be alright, now that we know he's going to be fine." 

Derrick left to go pick them up while I waited for the doctor to finish his exam.  When he came back with Katelyn, Mary Jane was with him.  They were talking and seemed to be getting along great.

Katelyn was a beautiful little girl with straight black hair and blue eyes.  I walked over to meet her. 

Kneeling down to her level, I held my hand out and said, "Katelyn, I'm Gracie.  I'm a friend of your Uncle Ash's." 

She smiled and held her arms out for a hug.  I wrapped my arms around her. 

Katelyn
grinned. "You're Ash's girlfriend." 

I smiled. "Yes I am.  And you're beautiful." 

She grinned. "Thank you."

I glanced up at Derrick. "Would it be alright if I take her in there? I asked the doctor and he said it'd be fine." 

Derrick seemed fine with the idea of taking Katelyn in myself. He seemed content to want to talk to Mary Jane more. I lifted Katelyn on my hip and carried her to see Ash. We slowly pushed the door open and peered inside.

He looked up and grinned widely. "My two favorite girls." 

Katelyn's face dropped, she turned her head, laying it on my shoulder.  "What's the matter, sweetie?" 

Her arms held my neck tightly as she whispered, "Is he ok?" 

I patted her hair. "He's fine.  He's a bit sore, but he's just fine." 

I carried her over to him and sat her on the edge of the bed. 

"Hey boo, it's going to take more than a motorcycle to take down your Uncle Ash, ya know." 

He tickled her and she giggled. She leaned down and kissed his cheek. 

He whispered, "Be easy on the love, Gracie gets jealous."  She giggled again. 

She threw her arms around his neck and he cringed in pain. I reached to pull her off of him, he waved his hand to tell me it was fine. 

He rubbed Katelyn's back with his good arm as he smiled at whatever she was telling him.  He was great with her, I could tell she meant the world to him.  Every now and then, Ashton cringed when Katelyn hit a sore spot.  He refused to let her see it though, or complain out loud. 

Derrick came in a few minutes later. Concerned, he said, "Katie, you need to be careful…"

Ashton held his hand up to stop him, Derrick quieted the same as I had. 

Katelyn sat up and looked at Ashton. "Did I hurt you?" She sounded so worried at the thought. 

Ashton smiled. "No way, Boo.  You always make me feel better." She giggled and kissed his cheek. 

Derrick picked her up, off the bed.  "We need to get home and grab some dinner."  Ashton glanced at Mary Jane who was in the doorway; she had walked in with Derrick.

"Hi, MJ. Come on in, sweetheart," Ashton said. 

She smiled timidly and walked over. "I'm glad you're okay." 

He smiled. "Thanks, sweets." 

Katelyn
beamed up at Mary Jane. "She played at the park with me today. Mary Jane's my friend." 

Ashton smiled. "Wow, you don't
usually make friends so quick, Boo.  Mary Jane is pretty special, though. She's my friend too." Katelyn laughed. "I like her." 

Derrick was staring at Mary Jane admiringly. 

Ashton noticed and said, "You're not the only one it seems." 

Derrick subtly reached back and flicked Ashton's arm.  Ash chuckled at Derrick's blushing cheeks. 

"I want Mary Jane to come to my birthday party." 

Derrick's eyes met with Mary Jane's, she blushed and said, "I'd love to, if your dad doesn’t mind." 

Derrick spoke up before she finished her sentence, "Yes. Of course."

He turned back to Ashton. "I need to get Katelyn something to eat so we're going to head out."

When he turned back he looked at MJ and said, "I'd love to treat you to a bite to eat, as a thank you for earlier.  If you're not busy?" 

Mary Jane grinned. "That'd be great, I'm free." 

She gave me a hug before leaving, I whispered, "He told me he thinks you're beautiful and sweet.  Go get him girl." 

Mary Jane gasped and whispered, "Really?"  I pulled away and nodded.  She mouthed, "Do I look alright?" 

I laughed. "Gorgeous.  Go, have fun."  Once they left, I went to Ash's side again. 

As I started to move the chair over, Ash said, "Don't bother with that, curl up next to me in this bed."  He moved over a bit.

I hesitated. "Are you sure?" 

With a firm voice he said, "Get over here now." 

I grinned and climbed onto the bed beside him.  His hand pressed against my back, pulling me forward for a kiss. Ashton smiled at me. "You're the best medicine, you know?" 

"I think Katelyn was your cure.  She adores you," I said. 

He smiled lovingly. "She's an angel. I love that kid.  I thought my brother was crazy when he decided to take on that responsibility at age sixteen. One look at that sweet face though and I couldn’t blame him." 

I kissed his cheek. "You're more amazing all the time." 

He grinned slyly. "You're pretty amazing yourself.  So, did you set up Mary Jane and Derrick?" 

I shook my head. "Not really.  I offered her up to watch Katelyn. While we were waiting on your surgery to conclude, Derrick told me he thought she was beautiful and sweet.  I told him I'd hook them up when you were well again.  I guess he took matters into his own hands tonight.  I hope they hit it off.  I think they'd be cute together."