Chapter 41

41

Genny was finally catching her breath, after she’d defeated the darkness for a moment or two. Her arm stung, her collarbone. But… she was going to be okay. For a minute there, she wasn’t certain that was going to be the case. But she’d be okay. Probably tomorrow even.

Just not right now.

Aubrey was pulled away. Aubrey needed help herself. Caine was there to take over for Aubrey with Genny instead.

Genny just looked up into his far-too-handsome face. He had that reassuring, everything-will-be-okay, kind of thing about him. Even though he was built like a Hummer and could be kind of growly and intimidating when he was angry.

“I’m okay. I think.”

“You will be. I’m sorry this happened.” He went to work. Genny tried not to watch what Caine was doing, though logically she knew exactly what it was he was doing.

She just wished he wasn’t doing it to her right now, thank you very much.

Caine was prepping her to move up to Surgical, she knew that. Caine and Hadassa were taping the scissors in place so they could remove them in the operating room and sew her back together again. Without doing more damage to her on the way up. So blood didn’t get everywhere.

She hated when blood got everywhere.

It was just so messy.

She was only vaguely aware of just where her brain was going right at the moment. She looked around.

Chad… Chad was somewhere. She wanted to see him.

Genny refused to look at the scissors impaling her right now.

“I don’t know what happened, or what exactly was going on,” Caine said.

“Not much to go on, really, boss. Hodges… he… hates Chad. I didn’t realize how much until he thought I was telling him no just so I could be with Chad. Where is Chad? He thought Chad and I were involved. Knew we are, actually. It made him really angry. And he wanted Chad to pay for something… It’s rather a simple story… I think… where’s Chad?” They’d yanked him off of Dr. Hodges, and then Chad had just been gone. Genny’s head was swimming now. She looked over. “Where’s Chad? He should be here. Dr. Hodges didn’t hurt him? Is Chad okay?”

She tried to sit up. Caine nudged her back down gently and gave her a look, while Chloe kept working on getting an IV in place.

It would keep the fluids up, until they could give her a transfusion, if needed. That meant… “AB+, by the way. Make sure I get the right flavor fruit punch when I get upstairs, okay, boss?”

“It may be a simple story, but it shouldn’t have happened. We’ll get you upstairs and taken care of soon.” Caine… really was a good boss. She’d keep him. Well, not like his Nikkie Jean kept him, but… as a boss, anyway. Genny… was going to keep Chad. As soon as she could find him, anyway.

She really… wanted Chad right now.

“Where’s Chad? Did I already ask that?” She wouldn’t admit it, but the idea of anesthesia still scared her. Being that out of control. And… She knew the risks of any procedure. “I have things I want to say to Chad. Before I go… under…”

Caine looked down at her, from those dark eyes of his. So reassuring, the captain of her hospital. It helped keep Genny from freaking, anyway.

She’d always hated… impalement . Ick. That she was the one impaled with scissors at the moment—she really was struggling not to freak out here.

“Too late, kid. I think you’re about to go under now. But your brother is here. He’s going to ride the elevator with you. When you wake up, everything will be all taken care of. I promise.”

“I just want to tell Chad… I just want Chad… I have to tell him something… I just… can’t remember… what it is…”

“Tell him later. Trust me, if he loves you enough… he’ll wait.”

Caine just kept holding her hand, until the darkness took her completely.