Season's Change: Summer: A Goddess Legacy Companion Novel (Goddess Legacy 1.5) (20 page)

"Okay."

"How do you feel?" Don asked while Chrys stroked my arm. "Like I got hit by a train."

I heard the door open.

"Season, I'm Dr. Johnston. How are you feeling?" "Not good. It hurts to move."

"We're going to put you on a morphine pump now, so you can disburse the medicine when you need it. I want you to sleep as much as you want today, but when you're awake, try to stretch out in the bed. Tomorrow, we're going to get you up and around. Depending on how well you do then, you may be able to go home that afternoon. Can you open your eyes for me?"

I opened and shut them quickly. The light was too bright. The doctor turned off the overhead light, and I opened them a little. Then he took his light and examined each of my eyes. They felt puffy and sore.

He continued examining me, so I turned my head and stared at Don for the first time. His eyes were red and swollen, too, like he had been crying for days. He looked so tired and weak.

"You look sad," I whispered to Don as I faintly rubbed my thumb on the side of his hand.

He sighed, and fresh tears formed. "It's been a long week."

"I'm sorry you had to go through this." I didn't want him hurting, no matter how much pain I was in.

"I'm sorry I couldn't take your place." His tears spilled over. "Do you know what happened?" the doctor asked.

"Um, I remember being at work. The roof was leaking, and I was mopping." I turned my head to look at Chrys. He seemed just as bad as Don did. I sighed and glanced at the doctor. "Then I remember being here and screaming."

I remembered more than that, but I didn't want Chrys to hurt any more than he should. I could tell he had beaten himself up enough already for our fight and for his mother's involvement. And Don was apparently trying to be understanding and let Chrys stay. If Don knew about the fight Chrys and I had when the lightning struck, his leniency would vanish. Even though he looked as if he could barely stand, he'd

probably find enough strength to throw Chrys right out of the room with his bare hands.

"You were struck by lightning. You're very lucky," the doctor continued. I nodded slowly.

"Hit the call button if you need anything." The doctor and the nurse vacated. I yawned.

"You should try to go back to sleep," Don whispered.

I slept peacefully with both my hands being held. I was happy to have Don and Chrys here with me. I didn't like the fact that I wanted Chrys here, but I didn't argue with myself. I was just glad Don swallowed his pride and allowed Chrys to comfort me, too. I woke up sometime later and heard Don and Chrys whispering.

"I'm not saying I don't believe you," Don said. "What I
am
saying is you're done." "I won't allow that."

"You don't have a choice." "Neither does she."

It was obvious they were talking about me.

"Stop fighting," I breathed as I turned my head to Don and opened my eyes. He straightened in his chair, stroked my head, and gazed at me apologetically.

"I'm sorry. We didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't." I turned toward Chrys. "Be nice." "Sorry," he mumbled.

I looked at the ceiling and slipped both my hands from theirs. "What are you doing?" Don asked.

I didn't say anything. I just stretched my arms over my head, arched my back, pointed my toes, and winced with the effort.

"Okay, that's good," Don said.

"No." I shook my head. "How do I get the bed up?"

"Here are the controls. This one's up, and this one's down. Just be careful."

Don and Chrys both stood up and watched my face as I set the bed in a more upright position, leaving it slightly reclined. I winced a few times, and they both put hands on my shoulders, comforting me.

"Don, I can barely lift my legs."

"That's because you're still sedated. You're not supposed to get up right now." "I'm not trying to get up. Can you just move my legs around for me?"

"Of course," he whispered.

Don stuck his hands under my blanket and lightly grabbed my ankle with one hand and put his other hand under my knee. He moved my leg back and forth and around in circles. Then he did the other leg. "Is that good?"

"Yes, thank you." I yawned and blinked but didn't open my eyes. "Season?" Chrys asked.

I heard him but didn't have the strength to answer. "Just let her sleep."

"Do you think we should put the bed back down?"

I didn't want to move. This new position was too wonderful. "No. Just leave her be."

Good. Don knew what I wanted. Then I fell completely under.

The next day came quickly. As I opened my eyes, Don and Chrys were there with Melissa and Chloe. I was asleep every time Melissa and Chloe had been there the day before, so I was happy to see them.

Melissa stood beside Don with a determined look in her eyes. Right. I had to get out of bed today.

"Season, how do you feel?" Melissa asked. "Better."

"Good. Let's get you up and move you around."

Thankfully, I had to move just a little to sit up completely. Don and Chrys had their hands behind my shoulders in case I slipped back, and Don put the arm rail down.

"Chloe, make sure I'm not flashing everyone, Okay?"

"Sure thing." She made sure my gown was securely fastened while the guys averted their eyes.

After she was done, Don stood right in front of me. He put one arm around my back and the other on my waist, and he gently pulled me out of the bed while I struggled to push. Once my feet were on the floor, I held onto his arms, feeling woozy. I tried to take a step but stumbled slightly, and Don grasped me tighter. I heard someone rushing around the bed.

"I've got her," Don said curtly.

I glanced over, and Chrys looked panicked. "I'm fine," I assured him. "Just dizzy."

Chrys nodded and stepped away but didn't go back to his spot. He stayed far enough away to give me some privacy but close enough that he could probably reach me if Don's grip slipped.

Chloe followed us with the IV stand, and after several steps, I was doing better. When I looked up, Don was watching my feet but glanced up to see if I was in any pain as we started to make oure way back to the bed. When his eyes met mine, I smiled.

"Does this count as dancing?" I joked.

Don almost laughed, but with the condition I was in, he wasn't going to. "I'd be holding you much closer if we were dancing."

As we circled the room, I noticed there were a lot of flowers in here. One table had many different arrangements, and another table had several different vases filled with a dozen roses in each. Each of the rose arrangements contained a dozen roses dedicated to a just one color. I grinned and sighed.

Don stiffened, his eyes flashing to my face. When he saw that I didn't sigh in pain, he relaxed. "What are you smiling about?"

"All the flowers."

"Oh." He smiled back, and we started walking again.

"Who are they from?" Though, I had a pretty good idea who brought the roses.

"Everybody in here. My mom, Melissa's co-workers, and Kim and Emma sent you some, too."

I glanced over at Chloe, and she shrugged. I should have known that Kim would use my near-death experience as an opportunity to kiss-up.

"How many roses are over there?" I whispered.

"Seven dozen," he murmured. "One for each day. I didn't want to throw out the old ones. I remembered the last time I tried to do that."

I chuckled, and he smiled.

"Do you know what each of these colors represents?" I asked, glancing at the table full of roses.

"Umm, yeah." He looked at the table and described them from left to right. "Peach is for innocence and purity. Pink is for elegance and grace. The purple ones identify love at first sight. Yellow is for familiar love and everlasting joy. White is for everlasting love. Orange represents the fire of passion and desire. And red is for true love—those are my favorite to give to you."

"Wow. I'm not sure if I can remember all that."

"You don't have to. I explained each one in the cards attached to them." He glanced at me and smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

Once we made it back to the bed, I hesitated. "I think that's good," Don said.

He stepped closer to help me in the bed, and I slid my hands off his shoulders to the tops of his arms. But instead of taking my hands off him to grasp the mattress, I wrapped my arms around him, laid my head on his chest, and weakly hugged him. His breathing spiked, and he gently wrapped his arms around my back and barely squeezed. He held me gingerly for several seconds before kissing me on the top of my head.

"I love you," he murmured.

And I knew that his love was all I would ever need.

S
ince Melissa's
SUV was too tall for me to comfortably climb into, Don drove me home from the hospital. He held my hand and watched me more than he watched the road. He didn't speak, probably hoping I'd sleep since he walked me all over the hospital before I was released.

Melissa was in the kitchen on the phone giving someone an update on my condition when we walked in, so Don took me up to my bedroom. He tucked me in, pulled my desk chair up to my bed, and sat right by me, holding my hand. I felt like I was about to fall asleep, but Don seemed almost zombie-like.

"You don't look like you've slept at all over the last week," I mumbled. "I haven't really." He rubbed the back of his other hand on my cheek. "You can't watch me twenty-four hours a day, Don."

"I'm not leaving you. Please don't ask me to do that." "I'm not." I hesitated. "Why don't you lie down with me?"

Don's breath caught. "Um, I don't want to hurt you. I'll be fine."

"You won't hurt me. I want you to get some sleep, and I'll sleep better with you beside me. Please?" I breathed, shutting my eyes, feeling tears form.

Don tilted his head and rubbed the back of his neck, deciding. Then he let go of my hand and walked around my bed. He climbed in and, staying on top of the covers, propped himself up on his side to face me. It felt like he was being very careful not to touch me.

"Now, go to sleep, please."

I took the arm that was pinned to his side and pulled it over to rest on my waist.

Don relaxed and scooted over until he was right up against me. I lifted my head, grabbed his other arm, and slid it under my head. Now his arms were around me, his head on the pillow, and his face right in front of mine.

"That's better," I whispered. "I've missed you."

His breath hitched, and he tried to control it. But he began to cry. "I . . . was . . . so

. . . scared." He said very slowly and gently hugged me closer.

"I know." I reached up and stroked his face while the tears that formed in my eyes started to spill over. He was hurting because I was hurting, and now I was hurting because he was.

He took a deep breath, but it was jagged. "Please try to go to sleep." His voice was still thick with sadness as he leaned his forehead against mine.

We needed to comfort each other before either of us would fall asleep, and I knew how I wanted to do that.

"Will you kiss me goodnight?"

Don's eyes opened wider as he searched mine. I guessed he was trying to see if that was what I really wanted. If so, he got his answer. He leaned his head over and gently touched his lips to mine.

He kissed me softly, but it was too much. I started to cry, and he tried to pull away. I assumed he thought he was hurting me. He wasn't. I turned toward him, threw my arm around his back, and clenched him to me as strongly as I could, which was still pretty weak.

He kissed me passionately, but we both cried. I knew he'd been so upset, so worried over the last week, but he tried to stay strong for me. Now that I was safely home, he could let himself grieve for what I went through, for what he went through with me because I did not go through it alone.

We fell asleep in each other's arms, and it was the best I'd ever slept. I didn't dream; I didn't toss or turn. I woke up in the same position that I was in when I fell asleep.

When I opened my eyes, Don had a blanket over him. I figured Melissa covered him up after we fell asleep, and I was glad she didn't make him get up.

I shifted slightly, testing my pain while trying not to disturb him. When I did, he lifted the arm he had wrapped over me, and I looked up.

"How long have you been awake?" I asked.

"About fifteen minutes." "How did you sleep?"

"I got to hold you all night," he whispered while he stroked my hair. "It was the first time in my life that I've ever felt whole. I'm sad because of the circumstances, but it was still wonderful being with you like that."

He appeared better, like he'd slept all night, too. After an emotional week, we both needed the night to heal our souls.

"How are you feeling?"

"A little sore. Kinda achy. But the stabbing pain seems to be gone." "Good." Don smiled. "We need to get you up and around." "Yeah, I need to brush my teeth," I said, making a face.

Don chuckled. That was the first time I'd heard him laugh since our double date.

It put a smile on my face.

He helped me to the bathroom, and I gave him one of the spare toothbrushes from the dentist's office. He kept one arm around me while we brushed our teeth; he didn't want to take any chances with me falling.

Then I realized it wasn't just my teeth that needed cleaning.

"Can you see if Melissa is here? I want to take a shower. It's been a week, and I feel sort of gross."

He frowned. "Melissa and Chloe took care of you in the hospital." "But I'll feel better after showering."

"I don't think that's a good idea. You don't need to be standing alone in a slippery bathtub."

"Melissa can stay in here while I shower."

He shook his head slowly. "I think it's too dangerous in your condition." "Well, I can take a bath, then. I can't fall if I'm already sitting down."

"I guess that's true," he said reluctantly. He helped me sit on the side of the tub and went downstairs to get Melissa. I heard two sets of footsteps coming up the stairs,

and figuring she was here, I turned on the water to warm it up. Then I heard someone running up the stairs.

"Season!"

The bathroom door was open, so Don ran in. "What?"

He saw me sitting on the bathtub where he left me but with my hand under the water faucet, gauging the temperature.

He shook his head but sighed in relief. "How are you feeling, Season?" Melissa asked.

"Better. I'm still sore, though and I need to take a shower." I saw Don's face and corrected myself. "I mean a bath."

"Okay. Take one of these, so it can get into your system." She handed me a pain pill. "I'll go get you a change of clothes."

She left, and Don stood against the counter, watching me. "Please be very careful while you're in there."

I wasn't so out of it that I completely lost my playfulness. "Hmmm . . . you wouldn't let me get hurt. You could always take one with me."

He chuckled, which was what I was hoping for. "You should have suggested that

before
I got Melissa."

I laughed, and it felt good.

"What are you two laughing about?" Melissa asked as she came into the bathroom with some clean pajamas.

"Oh, nothing."

Don left me alone with Melissa while I bathed, but I did turn the shower on while I washed my hair.

After I dressed, Don came in and helped me to the living room where he'd arranged some pillows and blankets on the couch.

Once I got settled, my medicine kicked in, and I slept for at least a couple of hours. When I opened my eyes, Don was sitting at the foot of the couch with my feet in his lap, wearing different clothes.

"Did you leave?"

"Yeah, I went to my grandma's and showered after you fell back asleep and before Melissa went to work. She went to the office to catch up on a few things but made some muffins before she left. Are you hungry?"

"A little."

Don went to the kitchen and brought us some muffins and milk. "I talked to Chloe. She'll be over here in about an hour." "Okay." I took a bite of my muffin.

"Chrys is probably coming with her," he mumbled.

There was a lot he didn't know about Chrys and my mom. I felt like I needed to be honest with Don, but I was worried how he'd take everything, especially his reaction to Chrys. Don seemed civil in the hospital, but now that I was out, I wasn't sure if he'd tolerate Chrys coming around. Don didn't seem too keen on Chrys coming over now. I couldn't put this conversation off.

"Was he there the whole time?" I asked, looking down at my food. "Yeah. We were both there all day during visiting hours."

"But they let you in that night Melissa called you."

"Yes. They didn't have a choice." And from the sound of his voice, I knew he was right. He wasn't going to let anyone keep him from me when I asked for him.

"What was said when I was unconscious?" I asked as I finished my muffin.

Don sighed. "Um, I asked Chrys what happened, and he said you were mopping when you got electrocuted."

I knew this already. "What did you two say about me?"

He exhaled heavily and stared up at the ceiling. "I told him you no longer work at the store." He paused and looked at me. "You don't."

I nodded. I'd heard the order when he originally gave it. "I meant what was said after I woke up, and they gave me the medicine." When I was asleep and didn't actually hear the conversations going on.

"We talked about a lot of things. After they sedated you, I could tell Chrys wasn't going to leave. I was too distraught to force him out. He just wanted you to be well, so I let him stay." He shifted and looked at me. "I didn't want him there. I didn't want him holding your hand and touching you. But I knew it wasn't about me. It was about you and doing whatever was necessary for you to feel comforted."

"What else was said?"

Don sighed and took my plate from me to set it on the table. When he returned and sat down, he gently rubbed my feet while he spoke.

"We talked about his feelings for you, my feelings for you, and his mother."

He leaned back and looked away. I could tell he didn't want to go into the specifics. Time for me to quit stalling.

"Don, I, er, remember everything up until the doctors knocked me out. I heard voices, felt touches. It was like I was paralyzed, not truly unconscious. It wasn't until the doctors came in and asked everyone to leave that I was finally able to break through that state I was in and squeeze your fingers."

"Season! Do you remember anything else?"

"Yeah. My mom came to me and talked to me." I told Don everything she said.

Even the stuff about Chrys.

"Wow. I don't know what to say."

"I understand if you don't believe me."

"It's not that I don't believe you, Season. This is just a lot to take in. Besides Hades being a threat to you, Chrys's mom is Medusa, or a likeness of her, and she's a threat to you, too. I don't like you being in danger." He shifted, cutting his eyes to me. "So your mom thinks you're bonded to Chrys, too?" he asked softly.

"I
am
bonded to him," I murmured, looking down. "But I think I'm the link that bonds us all together. When you were both holding my hands in the hospital, I could feel how much pain you two were in. I wanted to comfort you both."

"He's in love with you."

"I know. He's just a friend to me, but I can't deny the fact that we're connected.

Don's eyes looked sad, and I hated being the reason for that, especially since I was about to make him mad.

"Um, something happened with Chrys—"

"What did he do?" Don asked, saying each word slowly. "We were arguing when I got hurt."

He relaxed, gently rubbing my toes. "That's why he kept saying he was sorry. I assumed he was apologizing for his mom. What happened?"

"Chrys was angry when I got to work, and I thought it was because the roof was leaking again. He was short with me up until he called a roofer. Then he asked me about our double date. He didn't like seeing us together."

"He doesn't have to like it," Don said angrily.

"I know, and I told him something to that effect. He said you had some nerve telling him to respect me when you treat me like a
conquest
."

"Hmph! Our relationship is
none
of his business."

"I agree. We were yelling about that when it was storming, and then he mentioned our plans to go hiking. I knew I hadn't told him about that, so I screamed at him, asking if he called me in to ruin our plans, and that's when I got hurt."

"He told me about bringing up our hiking plans with you. He said he heard about it from his mother. He was worried she'd do something to harm you, so he called you in to force you to cancel. But after your accident, I think he feels like that was his mother's plan all along, that she purposely fed him information to get you to the store."

"Oh." Knowing Chrys did it to protect me made me feel better than thinking he did it to keep me away from Don. Even if Chrys's plan did backfire.

"But he did
not
tell me you two were arguing when this came up. Nor did he tell me he was angry with you because of our relationship."

"Don't be mad at him. You saw him at the hospital. He has suffered enough." "Season, I'm not going to tolerate his behavior. It's one thing if he's a friend of

yours who's looking out for your best interest. It's a completely different thing if he's a guy trying to befriend you to be with you."

"I know. I understand how you feel, and I'll agree to not working at the store and to taking other steps you feel are necessary for my safety. But Chrys isn't out to hurt me, and I don't want to treat him like he is."

"You may think he's not out to hurt you, but he
is
out to hurt me. That's what'll happen if he succeeds in taking you away. You letting him stay in your life is just inviting that possibility."

"Don, I want to be with you. I don't have any romantic feelings for him at all, but I
need
him in my life."

Don sighed and shut his eyes. "You know I really don't like this."

"I know, and I know my friendship with him hurts you. I'm sorry about that. I wish you understood my connection with him just like I wished he understood my connection with you. You are my love; he is my friend. But I need you both."

"I'll do this. For you. I'm not going to like it, and I'm not going to pretend that I do. I don't want him to be a constant focus of our lives. If he steps over the line, then I'm going to put him in his place."

"I can live with that." I smiled.

When Chloe and Chrys arrived, they sat across from Don and me. We all talked, and I brought Chrys and Chloe up to speed on what I'd learned about Hades' plan, which admittedly, wasn't much. Chloe and I talked easily. The guys' conversations were strained; neither one liked the other being there. I'd have to get used to this. But first, I needed to clear the air with Chrys. When I asked Don and Chloe to give us some privacy, Don flashed narrowed eyes at Chrys and looked quickly at me. He nodded, stood, and kissed me softly.