This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to ANYONE is completely coincidental. Anyone who engages in any "activity" is well over the age of 18.
Author's Note: Authors love hearing from their readers and I'm no exception. I apologize for the cliffhanger; I just couldn't resist a little drama. Dave and Amy's story has become a little personal to me though I don't have a sister and in the case of my children *I* am the adoptive parent. While there is some of my family in these characters, I wouldn't read too much into that. Inspiration is where you find it after all. To the "gentleman" who said Lys's kid wouldn't be Dave's relation because there was no blood shared, I can tell you that you couldn't be more wrong. I hope everyone enjoys this next installment and forgives me that this will probably be the only installment for a little over a week. I'll be away this coming weekend when I normally get most of my writing done.
Amy -- Summer Begins: The Second Week
I don't know how long I was out but I woke up and my head and left knee were singing an aria. It took a few moments before I remembered what happened. I remembered Clare telling me she was fine with me sleeping with her mother, my sister, and then tripping and face planting into the parking spot back stop. I could feel the itchy presence of an I.V. needle in my left arm and a fuzzy, worried-looking face came into focus.
Amy was sitting near me looking very, very anxious. "Nurse," she called out, "Tell Doctor Drake he's awake."
"Oh fuck," I said, "I feel like I got hit by a car."
"No, you just fell and hit your head. You have a concussion and you sprained your knee. You're damn lucky, it could have been a lot worse."
"Who are you," I asked trying not to let on I was fucking with her.
"That's not funny, David." I marveled at how much she sounded like Mom.
"Sorry, you're my sister and the best thing that's happened to me in years. I love you."
"I love you too, asshole," she said. She looked tired. Very tired. In this light she looked a lot like Mom, too. The look of worry etched deep into her face was just like Mom's. I'd only recently understood why Mom always had that look.
"Sophie is my doctor?"
"Yeah, she's stayed late keeping an eye on you."
I was never going to live this down.
Sophie walked in and said, "Ah, there is Mr. Coordination. You might be able to get him dancing but he can't walk to his own car." Haha. Real fucking funny.
"Bring me my stuff. I need to get home," I said though speaking hurt a bit. It sent seismic waves up my skull. "What time is it?"
"It's almost one in the morning. You've been out for a few hours. And as such, you are not leaving this bed until at least when I get back here tomorrow afternoon."
I started to call bullshit when Amy grabbed my arm and said, "Don't argue with your doctor. You're hurt. Do what she tells you."
I snapped my mouth shut and fixed both of them with a glare. They were right. I didn't fucking like it but, they were right.
Sophie shined a light in my eyes, "You have a pretty good concussion. No computer work for at least two days. Jags can handle it. Got it?"
I nodded.
"Good. You also sprained your knee but if you *behave* yourself you'll be able to dance with your girls on Saturday."
Trying to sound tougher than I felt I said, "I expect to be discharged as soon as you get here tomorrow."
"And you should," Sophie said. "Now, do you want something to help you sleep?"
"Yeah, please," I answered. "Sophie, what room am I in?"
Sophie's eyes grew sad. "302, Dad. I wouldn't let them put you ... I wouldn't let them do that to you. I'll get the nurse to come in with the sleeping meds. I love you and I'll see you tomorrow. Try not to fall out of bed."
"What's that about," Grace asked as Sophie headed for the door.
"Mom died in room 312," Sophie said and left.
Amy grabbed my hand then kissed and squeezed it. "I'm sorry," she said.
"Where are the kids? Are they okay," I asked.
"They're with Rose and Steven," she said. "Clare is beside herself and blaming herself for your fall. What happened?"
"Shit," I said, and I laid back wincing in pain. I told Amy what Clare had said to me right before I tripped.
"We have a fucking mess on our hands," Amy said taking a seat by the bed.
The nurse came in and put a needle in the I.V. input valve...thing. "You have to go now, Miss," she said to Amy.
Amy stood up to leave and leaned over and kissed my head. It hurt. "Sophie made them let me stay until you woke up."
"It's okay, Sis. Go get some sleep."
The nurse left the room and Amy whispered to me, "I'm going to sleep in your bed."
"No," I said. You're going to sleep in *our* bed."
The sleep medicine took me.
Newsflash: I woke up alone.
My head still hurt but it was nothing compared to the early morning. My knee was down to just a dull throb but it was a constant dull throb. Grabbing my phone, I looked at the time. It was only 8:30. Fuck it, that was close enough to noon for me. I sent Sophie a message, "I'm bored and I've got stuff that I need to take care of. Please get me out of here."
I put my phone down and began to look for the remote to turn on the television.
The nurse came in while I was looking around and I asked where the remote was, "Sorry, Mr. Drake," she said, "concussion patients don't get screen time."
"Are you kidding me," I bristled, "I'm not a frigging toddler."
"No, Mr. Drake. I am not kidding. And Doctor Drake called and said if you don't stop using your phone, I'm to confiscate it." She smiled and retreated from the room. Sophie was fucking loving this, I knew it.
Amy and Chris came in at 10:00. By then I was so starved for something to do that I'd have been happy to see Dean or Cal. Both gave me a careful hug.
Chris filled me in on his sleepover at Rose's and I handed Amy my phone.
"I'm not allowed to look at the screen," I growled.
I gave Amy my code to unlock the phone and asked her to call the mechanic in my contacts to set up an inspection for the R.V. on the following Monday. Then we spent time calling campgrounds near Gettysburg until we found one that still had a site for June 30th through July 5th.
"You can get the time, right," I asked, and she assured me it would be no problem. For his part, Chris was overjoyed that we were going camping somewhere he'd never been. I was more than a little surprised to still get a site for the holiday but I was happy that it meant me getting back out in the camper again. I always loved when I could take someone on their first trip.