Sami gulped and put her hand to her mouth. Bile was forcing its way up her throat and she wanted to vomit.
"Don't you dare," James whispered in her ear. "Breathe through your mouth and don't let him see how much this is hurting you."
She glanced up at him quickly and complied, swallowing. After a couple of deep breaths she felt able to talk. "Yeah, well you make it pretty hard for me not too, lying there half naked and all."
He closed his eyes and held out his hand. She stepped forward and linked her fingers with his ignoring the blood from multiple scratches and lacerations. "Thanks, I think I owe you one."
"How about we call it even? I don't know what I'd do if I had one up on you."
A small smile curved his lips and her stomach did a flip.
"I can think of a few things." The smile quickly turned to a frown and he groaned aloud again. "Don't go."
A nurse walked over and checked him before offering pain medication. "It will be a little while before we can get you into theatre so it might be a good idea to have some morphine to get you through." She turned and spoke to James and Sami. "We need to plate the leg so he's booked into theatre. We'll get him down as soon as we can. Ready for this?" she asked Mason.
"Yes, please. Get rid of this pain."
Sami watched her put the syringe into the junction in the drip and press down the plunger. "This will take the edge off your pain very quickly." She looked up at Sami. "It might make him a bit sleepy too, so don't be surprised if he drops off."
"Thanks."
James touched her on the shoulder. "I'm going to go and call his parents. Do you want me to give Garth a quick call too?"
"Thanks, that would be great."
"No problem." He pushed a seat toward her and she sat down gripping Mason's hand in hers.
Chapter 20
Sami sat holding his hand while he slept through most of his pain. Periodically he would grimace and groan but he didn't wake. Time passed as she watched hospital staff running around the emergency room doing their jobs.
James returned and then left, telling her to call him when she was ready to come home. She still had Mason's phone and he told her to use it for the time being.
She lay her head down on the edge of the bed and mentally whipped herself over and over for what had happened. If only she wasn't so bloody stubborn he wouldn't be laying here now.
For a short time Sami had thought she had found someone to grow old with. Sure they had great sex and they got on well in general. Not her fault he already had a girlfriend in the wings. But it hurt. It would have been nice to have the relationship go further. No wonder he hadn't promised anything other than trying.
Can't blame the guy for trying I guess. Damn it, yes I can. I wanted more from you Mason. I wanted it all and thought I could have it for a small period of time. Thanks for ruining the dream.
The curtain was whipped aside and a hand grabbed at her. "You little bitch. This is all your fault." Rupert gripped her arm and glared at her.
Sami tried to pull free but he wouldn't let her go. He dragged her away from the bed and out into the corridor.
"If you had done as I asked this wouldn't have happened. I'm going to make sure you live to regret this. Now get away from my son and stay away." He pushed her roughly and Sami fell to the floor.
As she tried to slide away from him, Rupert advanced on her and she cried out.
"Stop, this instance." A doctor stormed into the corridor and stood between them. "This is not acceptable behaviour in this hospital. Get out."
Rupert straightened up his jacket and tie. "She is leaving. I though, am not."
He turned and walked back toward Mason's room.
The doctor reached down and helped Sami to her feet. "Are you okay, love?"
Tears ran down her face and her lip trembled. "No. But there is nothing you can do about it, thanks anyway."
She stumbled away and found the door. Pushing it open she walked out into the sunshine. A few steps away from the door Sami leaned against the wall and let the tears fall. Her sobs were ripped from the gut, and the bile she had forced down before now met the pavement in a long draining vomit.
With shaking knees she stumbled away from the mess and walked aimlessly toward the car park. A row of shady trees separated the cars from the road and it was where she went. She collapsed to the ground and leaned back against the rough bark of the tree.
Sami cried until she could find no more tears. Exhausted and sad beyond reason, she sat with her arms around her legs and tortured herself with the ‘what ifs’ and ‘why nots’ racing through her brain.
Garth had always said her stubborn attitude would be the downfall of her and he had been right. There was no way she could make this up to Mason. His ability to work was gone for now at least. Her brother would never forgive her for this if it meant he no longer had a job. She doubted she would forgive herself.
The phone in her pocket rang, vibrating against her breast scaring her. With shaking fingers she took it from her shirt and looked at the screen. A picture of James was on the screen. A trembling finger slid the screen open and she lifted it to her ear.
"Sami, hi. It's
