The fight to push the wheelchair back to Heather’s room lasted several minutes and was eventually won by AJ....
There was some debate over where exactly home was going to be!!
Nick wanted to just take her to Florida..
Kevin pointed out they had tour commitments to fulfill
He shot Heather a look that Nicky caught and interpreted as anger...
Nicks own protective instinct flared up instantly...
Accusing Kevin of thinking she deliberately threw herself down a mountain to disrupt the tour
It was decided by Heather who curtly requested that they stop treating her like she was deaf, mute and a cripple...and start treating her like she had a brain.....
In fact Kevins fleeting glance had been of concern...but Nick was on overdrive
He dropped to a crouch beside her chair his eyes asking her tenderly what she wanted
“I want us to go back to where you were when this happened... I want us to go back to normal ....to how things were...Nicky please just let’s carry on...I need to forget this.”
Nicks heart melted.
AJ grasped the wheelchair firmly once more and made toward the room that had been Heather base for the last two weeks....
Cora was waiting for them..
She favoured Alex with one of her frosty stares “I hope you haven’t tired her”
Heather leapt to AJs defense “No Cora he hasnt ..”she reached up for AJ’s hand
“He’s been a doll!!”
AJ blushed and whispered.. “I’ll leave you to pack up your things babe”
He kissed her cheek and turned to find Nick leaning nonchalantly on the doorframe grinning at him!
“WHAT???”
“OH nuthin Age...”
AJ punched him on the arm as he passed him.
Cora handed Heather a kleenex as she noticed tears slowly trickle down her very special patients face. “What is it honey?”
Nick moved as if to enter the room...but Cora waved her hand to shoo him away.
Reluctantly he obeyed .... he had come to learn that when Cora said go she meant GO!
Heather struggled to find the words she needed and wanted to say...”I...I just wanted to thank you ...and to say ...I’m gonna miss you”
Cora smiled ... “Honey it was a pleasure looking after you...and that bunch of
crazies out there” She inclined her head toward the door indicating Nick and the guys!
Heather giggled “Bit of a handful were they??”
“You could say....but I can understand Nick being that way...the guy is crazy alright ...about you”
Heather fondled her ring and smiled.
She looked up at Cora’s kind round face....and for the first time she found a serious look coming back at her...
It was Heathers turn to ask what was wrong
Cora thought about the professional implications of what she was about to suggest but ...this was between the two of them..and she felt a certain bond here that she’d not encountered in her
many years nursing...
Sure she’d grown attached to patients before ....but this was different somehow..
She seen two lives rebuilding slowly over the last two weeks...
She’d watched these guys crowd around and support Nick like good family should.
Cora pulled her chair so she was facing Heather...she started slowly ..hesitantly..
“You don’t have to answer this..but...what do you remember about the assault?”
Heather shuddered...totally not expecting the question
Cora touched her hand..”I’m sorry ..I shouldn’t have asked ..I mean I know you have
talked to a psychologist and the investigators”
She started to get up from her chair..Heather’s hand stopped her
“NO...I...I told them what I thought they needed to know ..just enough to keep him away from me...from Nick...the rest of the truth I kept in...”
Cora sat down again...her brown eyes soft with compassion “Have you more you need to tell...perhaps to someone who isn’t gonna write it all down..someone who’s just gonna listen?”
Heather’s fingers twisted in to the damp kleenex as she took a few deep breaths..
before beginning her real and painful recollection of that night ...recollections that she badly needed to offload..
Over in the doctors private office Nick was discussing the final plans for Heather’s release...
He had listened intently to all the suggestions for her continued recovery and her medications...
her check up’s for her fractured arm...when the cast would need to come off...etc
Now all he wanted was to take her away from here and forget.
Nick stood up and stretched his hand out to Dr Reynolds
“I can’t thank you enough Doctor......you don’t know how much she means....”
Dr Reynolds interupted him...”Nick...I think I do know...or at least have a pretty good idea...
now go take your fiancee home ok?”
Nick smiled...
Outside the door the investigator handling the case, Mike Connery stood waiting for Nick to emerge....
He too stuck out his hand to Nick for a handshake ...with his other hand he presented him with a small oblong card....bearing his name and ALL his contact numbers.
Nick stared at it...”What’s this for?”
his voice barely containing the repressed anger at the man’s persistence
“In case she remembers anything else”
Nick pulled his hand away from Connerys...
His eyes boiled with gathering fury..”She has TOLD you everything she remembers..now leave her alone dammit ...He’s locked up..what more do you want”
It was not a question but Mr Connery gave Nick an answer anyway
“I think she was holding back Nick..I think there is more locked inside her”
Nick glared at him feeling his own heartbeat rise at this man Connery’s suggestion ...
and at the implications of what could be buried in Heather’s subconscience.
Nick pushed past him but felt a hand on his arm.. “Nick we can get him for so much more if only she’d tell us!”
Nick turned....his eyes full of loathing “Fuck You Connery....now get out of my way!!”
Connery let go of him and watched as Nick scrunched up the namecard and threw it in a nearby trashcan