Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46805 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46805 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“You did a job on yourself, Brooklyn.” Mark’s voice was deep and calm. “We’re going to get you fixed up. Can you tell me what happened?”
“I hit my head.” Brooklyn hated the sound of her voice. Why did she sound so weak? She tried to roll over, but froze when she felt like she’d throw up. “Sick.”
“Are you nauseous when you move?”
“It’s bad.”
“So, let’s not do that right now. Lie still and let me see what’s happening.”
His voice quieted as he talked to someone behind him. “Give me a neck brace and find a towel or something to wipe some of this blood up.”
“Did you fall off the chair?” Mark asked, turning back to her.
“Yes.”
“That sucks. I’m sorry, Brooklyn. I’m going to put this around your neck to protect your spine in case you hurt it.”
Giana held Brooklyn’s head stable as Mark guided the neck brace into place.
“Do you have any idea when you fell?”
Brooklyn tried to think. She’d planned to search for something for dinner when she finished. “Four?”
“Did everything go black when you hit your head?”
“White. Then, black.”
“Let’s get a board and get Brooklyn out of here. She’s hung out in the pantry too long,” Giana suggested.
“Could I get a bandage? I don’t know where they are,” Brooklyn whispered, feeling tears roll down her cheeks. Her head hurt so badly. “An aspirin? I don’t know where those are either?”
“We’re going to get you something for the pain,” Mark promised. “I bet you have a whopper of a headache.”
“Worst ever.”
“We’re going to roll you over, Brooklyn. Don’t try to help us. Just let us move you,” Giana told her.
“No!” Brooklyn protested urgently. She gagged as her world whirled around her and her stomach lurched. In a few minutes, they had her secure on a stiff board. “Please don’t move me,” she begged.
“I’m sorry, Brooklyn. We need to take care of you and this protects your spine,” Giana explained, brushing Brooklyn’s hair from her eyes.
“Let’s get her out to the bus,” Mark said softly.
Brooklyn braced herself.
CHAPTER 15
All the movements blurred together until they set her on the stretcher. She blinked in the cool night air. When had the sun set? That question disappeared from her mind as they eased the stretcher down the stairs, jostling her. Brooklyn swallowed hard, trying not to throw up.
“I got you, Brooklyn,” Giana assured her and held a bag near her mouth.
When they lifted her into the ambulance, Brooklyn lost control and retched. They tilted the board behind her to the side to keep her from choking. When she finished, they settled her back gently.
“You’re okay, Brooklyn. We’re going to get you put back together. I promise,” Giana told her. “Big ouch now, as they start an IV. Do you want Fluffikins?”
“Ow! I wish Da… Caden was here,” Brooklyn whispered, still with it enough not to blurt “Daddy.”
“Caden would want to be here too. Fluffikins?” Giana checked on her earlier question.
“Let Fluffikins stay at home. I’m too messy. I want him safe.” Brooklyn closed her eyes. Giana was here now. Brooklyn wasn’t alone. She could rest.
“Uh, uh, Brooklyn! Keep those eyes open. No sleeping for you,” Mark demanded.
Sighing, she followed his directions. Maybe she could doze with her eyes open.
“Talk to me, Brooklyn. Tell me about your family,” Giana interrupted her plan.
Between Mark and Giana, she didn’t have a chance to snooze. That became even more impossible when they reached the emergency department. The flurry of activities overwhelmed her. She clung to Giana’s hand as her lifeline between tests, injections, and stitches. Her headache never got better.
Completely exhausted and overwhelmed, Brooklyn sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for her discharge papers. She pulled at the stiff, blood-soaked neckline of her shirt, suspecting it would never be the same. All she wanted to do was take a shower and sleep forever.
They wouldn’t send her home without someone to stay with her. Giana had to return to the firehouse to take care of the paperwork, so Aspen and Pippa had already packed a change of clothes and necessities. They should be there to pick her up by the time the hospital released her.
“Little girl…”
Her head popped up at the sound of his voice. Surely, she was imagining it. That quick motion made her weave with dizziness.
“Whoa, Brookie. Take it easy.” Caden steadied her with his powerful hands on her shoulders.
She stared at him. His skin and uniform were dirty, and he smelled like he hadn’t showered for days. She reached a hand up to grab his shirt. “You’re here? I’m not imagining you?” Brooklyn asked, almost afraid to find out she was hallucinating. The material felt solid in her fist.
Caden leaned forward to kiss her lightly. “I’m here. I got home and found a lot of blood smeared on the floor. Are you okay?”
“I fell. My head split open. They had to shave part of my head,” she told him as tears ran down her cheeks.