Page 33 of Avalanche (Endless Winter #3)
Across from us, the nurse looks notably smug.
“Well it seems like you’ve got everything you need,” the nurse gives the officer’s notebook a pointed look.
“So once you’ve given your contact details to this nice young man,” she pauses here to give Eddie an approving smile, “I’d appreciate it if you could let my patient have some rest.”
For a brief moment, I think the police are going to object.
Instead, they stammer out their apologies to the nurse, give Eddie their contact details, and leave.
The nurse follows after them, presumably to make sure they actually exit the building, warning us over her shoulder that she ‘expects to see Seth resting when she gets back’.
“Fucking ridiculous,” Eddie hisses when the sound of their footsteps has faded.
“I leave you guys unattended for five minutes and you’re incriminating yourselves?
Are you fucking insane?” He pauses, then shoots me an apologetic smile.
“Not you, of course, missy. You didn’t do anything wrong.
I’m talking about these idiots. The recording, Liam?
Really? You were just gonna offer that up?
To a couple of cops? Have you even listened to that thing? ”
Liam shakes his head.
“I’ll give Seth a pass since he’s clearly a bit fucked up,” Eddie continues.
Seth snorts out a laugh that ends on a pained whimper.
“But you have no excuse, mate. You’re just gonna sit there and tell some cops that Matty beat the shit out of Tom? Really?”
Liam sits back in his chair, heels kicked out in front of him as he drags both hands over his face.
“Wasn’t his fault,” Seth argues weakly, the words muffled behind swollen lips.
“Please don’t fight,” I say, reaching out to settle one hand on Liam’s knee. “I doubt Liam meant anything by it.”
If anything, Liam was probably just trying to help, giving the police all the information he thought was relevant. Information that would show how likely Tom was to be the one to attack Seth. That he had a reason to attack Seth.
He wouldn’t have thought about how that information could harm Seth, too.
Footsteps sound outside the door. We all fall silent, like school kids who know the teacher is coming. The nurse narrows her eyes at the four of us, looking us over with sharp-eyed skepticism. The brunt of her ire seems to land on Liam.
“Next time you want to call the police, you speak to me first.” She points one manicured finger in Liam’s direction. “And I’ll tell you if my patient is fit to give a statement.”
“I asked him to-” Seth begins, but the nurse cuts him off with a dismissive tsk tsk .
“You’re supposed to be resting. And of course you wanted to make your statement. But those two officers were…” she trails off, lips pursed as if she isn’t quite sure of the words to say.
“Your parents are on their way,” I tell Seth, hoping to change the subject. “The should be landing in Salt Lake in a few hours. I’ll go and pick them up when they arrive.”
“Oh no,” Seth groans. “Seriously?”
“Don’t you want to see your parents?” the nurse chides.
The door swings open before Seth can answer, a drawn-looking woman in scrubs rushing in.
“Well, this is quite the welcoming committee,” the newcomer deadpans, surveying the crowd of us with surprise.
“Doctor King.” Liam straightens at the sight of her, one hand of his covering mine where it rests on his knee, squeezing. I find myself staring at the unexpected burst of affection, of feeling.
“Oh, the brother from another country.” The doctor’s mouth twists as she tries—and fails—not to smile. “Hello, Liam.” Then, turning to Seth: “How are you feeling?”
“Sore,” Seth admits. He reaches one hand out, resting it lightly on his thigh, pointing towards his left foot. “Especially my leg.”
For some reason, that has the doctor smiling. Liam’s grip tightens almost painfully on my hand, his other hand flying to his face as he tries to stifle a choked-sounding cry.
“We’ll get you some morphine,” the doctor promises, nodding towards the IV line hanging by Seth’s bed. “That should take the edge off. Now, how about your other leg?”
Seth frowns in confusion, trying to peer down his body and look at his right leg. “It’s fine.” He lifts his right knee slightly, then drops it back down on the mattress. “Why?”
The doctor’s smile widens even further.
Liam is sobbing now, sharp, wracking sounds that he’s trying to hide in the crook of his shoulder. I look at him in alarm, then at Eddie. Surely, Eddie will know what to do. He always knows what to do. But Eddie’s staring at Liam in stunned silence, his eyes so round the whites are fully visible.
“That’s good.” The doctor gives Seth’s right leg a gentle pat. “That means the operation went well.”
“The operation?” Seth echoes, his voice raw. But his attention is fixed on Liam, concern unmistakable behind swollen eyelids.
“We had to operate on your spine,” the doctor explains. “We’ll give you the full details once you’ve had a chance to rest. But everything went well, Seth.” Another smile, this one aimed at Liam. Liam, who is desperately trying to pull himself together. “Really, really well.”