Kerrie lifted a shaky hand to Bette's wrist, holding it gently. She nodded to nothing. "He's okay. He's safe."
"Yep," she confirmed again, running her other hand through Kerrie's sweat-soaked hair. "Will you do me a favor, babe?"
The nodding continued, exhaustion quickly taking over now that the momma bear within her had been appeased.
"Will you lie down? Let these ladies do their job. They just want to make you better so you can go home."
It took Kerrie close to a full minute before she gave a final nod. "Fine."
Bette stepped back to let the two women carefully coax Kerrie back into a lying position. They checked her IV and instructed both of them on how to call the nurses' station if they needed anything. As Jayla was walking out, she leaned into Bette with a smirk on her face. "Sister, huh?"
Bette blushed, trying to hold back a smile but failing. "It worked, didn't it?"
Snorting, Jayla shook her head, following the other nurse out. The door shut behind them.
"Come here," Kerrie lightly demanded. She held her hand out. There was a hospital bracelet around her thick wrist.
Bette complied, biting her lip to hold back tears that suddenly sprung forward. Her strong, invincible girlfriend looked so weak. Her eyes were sunken. Her skin was ashen. There was no jovial spark. It never occurred to Bette that Kerrie wasn't superhuman. She was a support person for so many people. The mentor to some. The one that rescued her from the humiliation of going to the graduation alone. The one that offered her a place of her own to give back her independence. The one that snuggled her and made her feel safe. And now the woman didn't look like she could manage taking two steps.
She sat gingerly on the edge of the bed, and Kerrie wrapped her hand around the inside of her thigh. Kerrie whispered, fear in her eyes. "Is he really okay?"
"Yeah, he's really okay. I would never lie about Kenny to you. You scared the hell out of me." Bette leaned against Kerrie's hip, placing her hand over her gown-covered stomach. "Nice outfit."
Chuckling weakly, Kerrie looked down at herself and then back at Bette. "Pretty damn sexy, huh?"
"Definitely sexy. I'm shocked I didn't have to pull the nurses off you."
"Nah, I told 'em I have a hot honey at home," Kerrie teased in a tired voice. "I don't remember what happened. I remember helping Kenny get ready for bed, but that's all."
"Well, he came down the basement stairs—"
"Alone? He knows not to go down there alone."
"He was terrified, Kerrie, and wanted to get his sister help. He did really well. He was yelling for help. I was asleep and got to him before he made it down the stairs. He even helped me remember which of you has high blood pressure and let the police in. He did everything right. I found you in the bathroom. You only had your boxers on, so I think you were changing for bed."
Furrowing her brow, her eyes went back and forth as she tried to remember. "I don't remember any of that. I remember finishing Kenny, and then it goes blank."
"Well, the important thing is you're getting care. I'm going to stay here with you tonight. I'll text Tyler in the morning that you'll be out. I'll go in to help with notes and things for a few hours, though."
Kerrie opened her mouth to protest, but Bette placed a hand on her chest as she shook her head. "Please don't argue. You need to get better. You need this medication. Please. You're no use to anyone if you're sick."
Chapter 28
Kerrie felt someone standing beside her in her sleepy state. Or was it her pounding head that woke her? Cracking her eyes open, her headache increased with the addition of light. She saw a woman in green scrubs hanging a bag of clear liquid onto a pole. A pole? And a nurse? What—the hospital? It slowly came back to her. She was in the hospital. She jolted wide awake with panic. "Kenny?"
The nurse looked down, puzzled, but warm hands touched her arm on the other side. "Shh, Kenny is okay. He's home with Mabel. I talked to her about 30 minutes ago. He was up and watching Paw Patrol and having coffee."
It took a moment for the words to register, but then relief flowed through her tight chest. He was okay.
She closed her eyes and smacked her tongue against the roof of her mouth. She was so thirsty. Her mouth was sticky, and her lips were dry.
"Here," Bette said gently, as Kerrie opened her eyes to find a cup of water before her.
The nurse and Bette helped her sit up enough to drink, her head swimming. Taking a moment to settle herself, she nodded, and Bette pressed the cup to her lips. It was the most refreshing drink of water that had ever passed her lips. The coolness hitting her sandpapery throat could be felt all the way down to her stomach. She drained the cup and was helped to lie back on the bed.
"When can I leave?"
Bette's mouth dropped open, and she shook her head. "You can't even sit up. You're not in any shape to leave."
