The Winter Guest *Complete*

Chapter 11





Time seemed to go by slowly, and running forth between doctors and nurses trying to find out what exactly was going on and what I could do to help, had made me tired and hungry. I sat at his bed once again, filling out some forms. I couldn’t even hold the pen properly and I had to blink more than usually to keep my eyes opened. He was still fast asleep, he wouldn’t notice if I’d just closed my eyes for a second. Just for a bit, I’d definitely would notice if he woke up. I lowered my head on the bed and closed my eyes…..



Fingers wrapping around my wrist woke me with a start and I jerked my head up. Alan was looking down on me, a smile playing on his lips.



“So, you’ve come to the rescue?”



I had to control myself because I nearly flung my arms around him.



“Well, they called me. I was so scared that you’d be really hurt.”



I wanted to ask why he had asked for me but couldn’t and said: “How d’you feel?”



“Well, apart from the splitting headache and this bloody thing around my neck I feel fine.”



“What happened?” I asked while I still felt his hand on my wrist.



“This stupid stunt which involved me hanging upside down in what-should-like thin air, a cable that snapped and a concrete floor. Oh yes, and,” while rubbing his temple, “the end of the cable with the iron ring that came down as well. And after that I don’t really remember a thing.”



Would he even remember he’d asked for me?

“You’re pretty lucky, you could have broken your neck.”



“Is this necessary?” He pointed at the tube going up his nose. He groaned and grasped his shoulder. I felt relieved though, he was awake and was talking normal. I didn’t want to think about how I would have felt if his condition had been worse.



“I’ll ask the doctor.” I pressed the little button next to his bed, and within a minute the doctor that let me in arrived again.



He seemed content with him being awake and asked him some questions, what day it was, who I was, what his name was.



“I feel like an idiot,” he sighed while the doctor made him look and follow the light from his tiny flashlight. He gave me an update so I could translate it for him.



“You’ve broken your left collarbone in two places, your shoulder has been dislocated but they’ve put that back but it’ll probably be still sore, and you have a severe concussion. They didn’t see anything strange on your neck in the x-rays, so he’ll take of the brace in a minute. He will also take you of oxygen but the drip stays, it’s painkillers. You also have to wear that strap for your collarbone for at least 4 weeks.”



Alan looked relieved as the physician took of the brace and asked him something.



“He wants to know what you do for a living.”



“I’m an actor.” Alan smiled at the doctor, knowing that he would probably understand that.



The doctor returned his smile faintly and spoke to me.



“He says you should get really famous, so you can hire a stuntman.” I suppressed my laughter.



“Tell him I’ll try. When can I leave?”



“They are waiting for a brain scan to return, and if that’s ok you can go. You need to fill out some things.” I waved the papers and he took them from me, filling in his insurance details.



The doctor left and I felt a little uneasy.



“I’m going for some coffee.”





Out in the corridor I sighed. Gathering my thoughts I stood at the coffee machine. He really had been very lucky. Rubbing my eyes I heard a familiar voice.



“Oh good, I’ve found you.. where is he?”



I didn’t realise it was Gary when I first looked at him. He was wearing the most shabby clothes I’d ever seen and his hair was a mess. His shirt hanging open revealed a tattooed chest and I looked at him in disgust.



“Sexy isn’t it?” He grinned and I pointed to Alan’s room.



Entering a few seconds later with my coffee, I saw Gary was sitting in the chair and so I leaned against the bed. I felt a bit useless as they were talking about the movie.



“I’m getting too old for this, just look at me, honestly… “



“You should have let the stuntman do it.”



“Ah, come on, it was only hanging up side down, if he had been the one who fell down he would’ve had the exact same injuries.



“Perhaps. You want me to call Ri..”



“No! No, I uhm….,” Alan interrupted him clearing his throat and glancing at me.

“No, she’ll only get worried over nothing, I’ll call her tonight.”

He spoke softly as if he tried to hide for me who he was talking about. My throat felt thick and my heart jumped when the physician opened the door and gestured to me. Happy to be leaving the room, I followed him out to the corridor.



He told me Alan couldn`t go home yet. They wanted to see how he would get through the night. I started to get worried but the doctor assured me that it really was only routine.



I stayed out on the corridor, hesitant to go back inside. I heard Gary’s voice from the room.



“Why did you ask for her?”



That was an interesting question, and I pressed myself closely to the door, not wanting to miss this.



“Ask for who?”



He had forgotten it.



“You asked for Kate, you’d fallen and you kept calling out her name, so I made them ring her.”



“I can’t remember.”



“Obviously, but can you think of a reason why you did?”



“Yes, I can.”



“Well???”



“We’ve just been in contact the last couple of days. So maybe that’s why.”



In contact? He called that in contact? I would like to know what he did with the people he called his friends.



“Contact, my ass,” muttered Gary.



I coughed loudly announcing my entrance, and I saw Gary and Alan exchange glances.



“They want to keep you overnight. They didn’t see anything on the scan, but he said you blacked out a couple of times so he wants to be sure that you’re ok. I uhm, could get you some things, so you’re comfortable tonight. If you want me to,” I added feeling nervous as both of them looked at me.



Gary narrowed his eyes and looked from me to Alan.



“You two have been shagging!” He said triumphantly.