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“I’m fine, it’s a sprain nothing else.”
“Yeah, that’s why you were about to collapse before they hauled your skinny, stubborn ass in here,” Joel said coming in behind her.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it all a million times before. Get us out of here Caleb,” she called.
They landed and she sighed with relief that he hadn’t taken her to the hospital as the boys had requested. Joel slid out and reached in for her, lifting her down and keeping her in his arms as he crossed the area towards the tent. He sat her down on a chair as a medic hurried in after them.
“Really?” she sighed.
“You refused to go to the hospital so we made sure there was someone who could assess your injury,” Jesse stated.
She gave in, allowed the medic to check her ankle, and wasn’t surprised when he suggested she visit a doctor for x-rays. Having suffered a broken leg before she knew what it felt like and there was a good possibility that it was fractured. The look in Joel’s eyes when he heard that pushed away any arguments, she might feel like putting up and she allowed him to come with her to the hospital to see Tami and to get her ankle checked out fully.
She refused the wheelchair they offered her in lieu of a pair of crutches after they’d determined that there was a small hairline fracture. She knew everyone would make a big deal out of it, which was one of the reasons why she chose the crutches. She wasn’t an invalid who needed someone to cater to her. She’d managed to do her job with a broken femur she could deal with a hairline fracture.
“Paige, take it easy. There isn’t a race to see who can get there faster,” Joel said as she made her way towards Tami’s room.
“I’m fine. You don’t have to come with me Joel.”
“And let you find a way to hurt yourself some more? I don’t think so. Your dad’s going to kill me for leaving you there in the first place.”
“Not unless you tell him…slides happen. I got out and Tami and Nicole are safe. That’s what’s important,” she said turning to him as they reached the room.
“Damn it Paige…”
“Ooh sounds like Paige is being her normal self,” Tristan laughed as he spied them in the doorway.
“Auntie Paige?!” Nicole said scrambling off the bed where she’d been sitting with her mother. She raced over and threw her arms around her waist burying her face in her chest as she squeezed.
“Easy there Nic,” Tami said lightly sending her a smile.
“I thought you were gone. I told Daddy what you did, and he said that was typical Paige and that you were too stubborn to not make it back, but the helicopter was bouncing around so much, and we couldn’t see anything but the fire…”
“Breathe Nic,” Paige laughed leaning over and kissing the top of her head. “I’m fine. How are you and Mom?”
“Clean bill of health for this little one,” Tristan said picking up his daughter and kissing her cheek, “and Mom’s going to be just fine thanks to you.”
“I didn’t do anything,” she shrugged as they headed into the room, and she accepted the chair he offered.
“Bull, you carried Nic up the pass and protected her when that slide happened not to mention risking your own life by unbuckling yourself from the rope to get her up. Paige…half of me wants to yell at you for being so stupid but the other half can’t help but love you more for it,” Tami sighed.
“Now you know how I’ve always felt,” Joel laughed as he sat down on the arm of the chair and massaged the tension from her shoulders.
“Is that why you refused to admit that you were a couple to her dad?” Tami said shooting him a look that said she wasn’t sure about him.
“That wasn’t exactly what went down, it’s a bit more complicated than that Tams. I’ll tell you all about it later,” Paige said reaching out and squeezing her hand. “Right now, I think you need to get some rest and Nicole and I have a pizza date don’t we sweetie?”
“Pizza? Can I Mom? Please…” Nicole said looking up at her parents.
“I suppose we can allow that. Behave for your Aunt Paige though, she might be an old pro on those things, but it’s been a couple of long days,” Tristan said hugging her.
“I promise,” Nicole said dancing around the room.
“Why don’t you and Joel go grab the car while your dad helps Paige down?” Tami suggested. “They’ll be right behind you.”
Nicole nodded and Joel reluctantly agreed but she tensed waiting for whatever her friends were about to say.
“Paige…” Tami stated staring at her as tears welled in her eyes.
