"Route for the Home Team"

Chapter 7

The smell of antiseptic only served to make Lidia nauseous as she sat faithfully waiting in the chair beside Altan's bed. The doctor had said he'd be waking up anytime now, yet he still lay there with closed eyes. He drew ragged breaths in and out, and for the first time in her life she worried more than she thought healthy. Two broken legs, three broken ribs, fractured arms...the list kept going on. Her heart thudded painfully against her chest as she watched him. He was so full of life, why had this happened to him? Biting a lip thoughtfully, she decided that whatever it took for him to get better she was going to be there to help.

"Stop staring, that look could raise the dead." muttered Altan, his lips moving slowly.

Feeling like she'd pushed a key into an electric socket she watched him, "Well my my my, look who's ready to wake up."

"Not so much, the world being dark was much better than staring at a hospital room and feeling what I feel." he whispered before turning to her. "Although, from this angle it's not a bad view."

She wished she could slap him without hurting him, "Aw, shut up."

His lips tugged into a grin as he watched her, "I'm serious, you're all I thought about while I was laying there, Lid."

"Well," she said scooting her chair closer to the bed, "would you believe that I thought of everything but you while you were gone?"

Chuckling now, he shook his head, "No way, Jose'."

"The name's Lidia..where did those nurses go? I think you've got amnesia too."

"Oh this is Ludia all over again!"

She found herself laughing so hard at the old joke that she could hardly stay seated. "I still hate her." she added decisively. He'd made Ludia up a long time ago, yet the years seemed to fade away when they were together.

His eyes met hers in that brief moment, "I know you do." he uttered with a smile.

A shiver ran through her limbs as she stared into his dark eyes, what was going on with her?

--

Altan sat staring at a now sleeping Lidia, a smile crossing his face briefly before confusion clouded his mind again. When he'd come back into her life he'd expected for them to pick up with being friends and shameless flirting, however now he was feeling much more. Could the things he felt for her be put into words? How could he feel so much without even a first date? His heart confirmed what he felt, kicking up against his sore ribs. Taking in a deep breath he kept his eyes fixated on her, vowing whenever she awoke to kid her about the soft snoring that he now found endearing. Comforted by her presence, he closed his eyes and felt himself drift off into the nowhere land that was his dreams.

Opening his eyes what seemed like minutes later, he took in the empty chair and the breakfast tray that lay on his bedside table. Where was she? Ears tuning to a soft melody from a slight distance, he moved his head to find where she was.

"I'm over here." came the soft voice he'd dreamt about.

He felt himself smiling, "Hey, did you know you snore when you sleep?"

She blinked from her spot arranging baskets of flowers on the window ledge, "I do no such thing."

"Okay, you believe that, Lidi..."he let his voice trail off, "Who are the flowers from?" He was confused, no one knew it was him missing yet, did they?

"My family and friends." she put in quickly, turning toward him wearing a large smile.

"That was awfully nice of them." he felt unworthy of the gifts they'd sent. What had he done, aside from crashing a plane into the mountains?

"Stop thinking like that, their glad you're okay. That's all." she read his mind.

They both settled into the comfortable silence between them, until a nurse came in and she scooted out to get something for herself to eat.

"Your girlfriend is quite pretty." put in the nurse as she took his blood pressure and inspected his wounds.

"Thanks..but..." he tried to correct her, but the nurse simply wouldn't shut up about all that Lidia had done during the night.

Did he really want to correct her? His brain spun in the cloudy sea of confusion, yet one thing remained sure. He loved Lidia. Heart pounding, he listened to the nurse babble on, yet his eyes were fixated on the door waiting for her to return.

--

Jazzelle cornered Lidia in the hospital corridor outside of Altan's room, "How is he?" she asked, leaning against the wall and very much aware of her spot in Lid's way.

"He's fine. I'm falling faster than I've ever fallen before." she relayed dejectedly hanging her head.

"Hey," said Jazzelle, lifting her friends chin with her hand, "Come on, Lid, we've had it rougher than this. Remember Howard?" She could almost see the gears working in Lidia's head as she conjured up an image of the awful blind date Bethanie had set for her.

"Oh my, do I..who could forget Howard? He's an awful memory." decided Lidia, gaining more of her usual sparkle to her eyes.

"Well, that man in there is much better than Howard could ever hope to be. If he likes you even a tenth of as much as I can see that you still like him, you've got a chance." she enthused, feeling much like the cheerleaders she despised.

"You think so?" her friend, very much like a younger sister looked at her with eyes full of doubt and questions.

She smiled and nodded, "I do." She watched as Lidia turned on her heel and walked back toward the room. "Now if I were only so certain about my own love life, we'd be set." she added decisively before turning on her own heel and walking back toward the waiting room.