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“Cody Ellsworth?”
“Yes, ma’am.” The nurse runs her finger down the page, eyes trailing in pursuit. “It looks like you are due for another dose of pain reliever. Your cracked rib and broken cheekbone will still be tender, but this should relieve some of the discomfort.”
“Am I free to leave?” The nurse shakes her head, tapping a spot on the page.
“The doctors have you booked for one last MRI scan at noon today. If the swelling in your brain has gone down, you are free to leave.” Cody nods and I take the pills the nurse extracts from her scrubs.
“They’re extra strength, so only take two every six hours.” I look at the bottle and bite back a smile. It’s none other than your average Advil found at any local convenience store. Hope Cody wasn’t counting on the strong stuff.
“Thank you.” The nurse takes her leave and I pass two pills to Cody who swallows them dry.
“Vector did a number on you, hey?”
The demon eye turns my way and I swear I see a hint of a smile, “Nah, this is what I look like every Sunday morning.”
I chuckle, shaking my head, “God help your future wife.”
Cody laughs, then breaks into a painful wheeze. Giving him a second to catch his breath, I whip out my phone and text a response to Trip.
ME: He’s in rough shape. I’m not sure he’d want Stella to see him like this.
TRIP: Did you ask?
Busted.
“Stella’s wondering if she can come visit,” I blurt out the question before Trip can guilt me from fifteen blocks away. Something flashes in Cody’s eyes at the mention of Stella’s name, and I immediately feel bad for bringing it up.
“You have Stella’s number?” The sharpness in his tone brings me up short.That’swhat Cody’s worried about right now? Me having his girl’s number?
I wave my phone innocently towards the bed, “Trip’s my messenger.” Cody’s bruised face immediately softens and I feel a smirk tug my lips.
“Would there be a problem if I didhave Stella’s number?”
Rolling his visible eye at me, the cyclops grumbles, “I change my mind. You’re not charming, you’re irritating.”
My smirk turns into a full-fledged grin, “But you are charmed by my irritating abilities, aren’t you?”
Getting a groan in return, I decide to let him off the hook. “Just playing with you, Cap. For real though, do you feel up to having visitors?”
Closing his eye momentarily, I get a glimpse of how much agony Cody is in. From the outside, it looks as though his body has been through a ringer, and that’s only a reflection of the inside damage. Considering his face looks like it got trampled by an elephant, I can only imagine what it must feel like on the inside. Even if visitors mean more suffering, knowing Cody, there’s no way he would turn them away. It’s not in his people-pleasing nature.
“You know what, why don’t we put the visitors on hold until you’re back home and able to move around. Chances are you’re being released tonight, so you’ll be able to celebrate your survival with everyone soon enough.”
Cody slumps against his pillow in relief, and I can tell he’s already drifting off to sleep.
"Thank you, Wes. For everything.” His breathing starts to get deeper and I take my cue to leave. Reaching for the door handle, I pause as incoherent mumbling hits my ears.
“What was that, Cap?”
“Can you tell Stella…” I lean closer, straining to make out the rest of Cody’s sentence. “…things will be different.”
“Different how?” Leaving my question unanswered, my battered captain falls into a deep slumber.
Lou
Stella didn’t take the rejection well.
“What do you mean I’m not allowed to visit Cody? Isn’t Wes with him right now?” My tiny roommate paces our equally tiny living room in frustration.
