Page 55 of Nailing Heat

I sit in the back and watch the city fly by. I have no idea what time it is, but it feels like it’s late. There’s barely any traffic on the roads and we reach BayCare in no time.

“This place looks closed, almost,” Andie remarks as she gets out of the front seat.

“Looks like August pulled some strings,” Dex replies before moving over to the back to get me out of the car. “Let’s get you out and see what they say.”

I reach for his arm and clutch it tightly. I can feel the desperation crippling me, it’s eating at my chest, and I’m so scared right now.

“I have you. You are going to be just fine,” Dex tells me, taking my hand that was gripping him. He pulls it up to his lips and gives it a gentle kiss. “I promise.”

I hear Andie murmuring something, but I can’t make out what she is saying. I do my best to maneuver out of the car and stand, holding onto the doorframe for support. Andie hands me my crutches and I begin to make my way into the hospital.

“This probably could have waited until morning; we didn’t need the special treatment,” I tell them. The only other noise in this section of the hospital is the clicking of my crutches and their footsteps.

“We sure did. It’s fine, August has friends and called you in a favor. Let’s get some answers tonight. I promise you that it will help you sleep at little easier.” Dex places a hand on the small of my back. “Now follow Andie because she knows where we’re going.

We head down a long hallway that is barely lit. I see a man in a white coat approaching us as.

“Dr. Haldman,” Andie says, waving her hand at him in way of greeting.

He comes into focus, and I can see that Dr. Haldman is tall, bald and looks like he could be a former athlete himself. “Good evening, folks. Who do we have here?”

“This is Amelia West. She was injured tonight during the Blaze game.” Dex tells him. I can tell he’s in full on professional mode. He’s standing up straighter, and the tone of his voice is more serious. The soft playful tone he has been using with me is gone.

“What is your preliminary diagnosis?” Dr. Haldman asks him.

Dex sighs. “I think it’s a tear in the outer meniscus. She’s not able to straighten it the whole way, there’s a clicking sound and she’s in a lot of pain.”

The doctor nods. “What have you done so far?”

“I gave her a prescription ibuprofen, ice and put her in that brace.”

“Are you a doctor?”

“Physician’s assistant,” Dex clarifies.

“And you work for the Blaze?” he questions Dex.

“Yeah, I do.”

“Interesting. August must have paid a pretty penny for you,” the doctor replies.

“Let’s get back to Amelia,” I hear Andie say from behind me.

Once we are in the exam room, the tone is turned more professional as Dr. Haldman assesses my knee and consults quietly with Dex. Their conversation is low and hushed.

“Yeah, that was what I thought too,” I hear Dex say to Dr. Haldman.

“Okay, I’m going to order an MRI and see if anyone in imaging is still here.” Dr. Haldman turns his attention to me. “Sometimes they are in after hours because of our patients. If not you’ll have to come back in the morning.”

He leaves the room and takes Dex with him.

Andie comes up to my bedside. She’s been quietly sitting in the corner, observing everything that has been said. “How are you feeling, kiddo?”

I grin when she calls me that. “I’m doing alright. The pain is better with the medicine, but it aches,” I admit to her.

She nods. “I get it. Hopefully, we can get you a scan tonight and get some answers.” She studies for me for a moment. “Don’t worry about the team, the playoffs or anything like that. The only job that you have is to rest and get better, okay? Rehab that knee and you’ll be back with us in no time.”

I nod and sniffle a bit. “I want to go back and do something differently.”