It's always unsettling when you wake up in the hospital and can't remember how you got there. The last thing Erik remembered before waking up in the sterile white room was the drive home on Thursday when he got the phone call from his boss. He was driving home from work and his cell phone rang. It was his supervisor, David, letting Erik know that the board had decided to go with his project and that he was assigned to head up said undertaking. Along with a pay raise, he would also become a junior vice-president with the firm and report directly to the CEO. After he had thanked David for the call, Erik ended the call with his (now former) supervisor and let out a whoop. He had been working practically non-stop on this proposal for over six months and his toils had paid off. He would now be able to afford to move out of the one-bedroom flat he shared with his girlfriend, Tara, and buy the large split-level ranch they had been eying for months. Erik couldn't wait until he got home to let Tara know the good news. He had to tell her now. The last thing he remembered was reaching for his phone on the passenger seat. After that, everything was like being submerged in an ocean of black ink.
Erik heard the beeping of the heart monitor and felt the sticky patches on his chest that sent his vital signs to the machine. There was an oxygen tube resting on his upper lip that fed the gas to his nostrils. He removed the tube and looked at himself lying in the hospital bed. Both arms and legs, as well as hands and feet, were still attached, but his left arm and leg had seen better days. Erik's left leg was in a cast to his hip and his left arm was also encased in plaster to his elbow. He reached up to his head with his right arm and felt the bandage on his head. That was most likely the cause of the wicked headache he was experiencing. There was an IV tube in his right hand that inhibited his movement and he had been catheterized. Erik was relieved that he had been unconscious for that procedure. He turned his aching head to the right and saw a wheeled stand with a red call button on it. He reached over and grabbed the corded signaler and pressed it. Exactly two minutes later, the woman that would change his very existence walked through the door and into his life.
"Hello. I'm glad to see you're finally awake. I'm Dr. Janet Ellenson. Can you tell me your name?"
"Erik. Erik Decker," his voice sounded hoarse, like a frog might sound if it could speak. "Dr. Ellenson, why am I here?"
"You were involved in a car accident, Mr. Decker," the doctor answered, "A particularly nasty one, I'm told. You were hit broadside when another car ran a red light. Your left forearm was broken in two places and your left femur was broken in three places. You have multiple contusions and lacerations and you suffered a concussion. All in all, you're pretty banged up, but with a little physical therapy, I believe you'll make a full recovery. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for the person that hit you. He did not survive the crash and died at the scene."
Erik winced at the thought of that person's tragedy. He had seen and heard enough death and violence when he was in Iraq to last two lifetimes. He composed himself then spoke again in his croaking voice, "Doctor, how long have I been here and has anyone contacted my girlfriend?"
"You've been here for three days, Mr. Decker. You regained consciousness a few times but I doubt you remember much from it. You were very heavily sedated. We contacted Miss Denton a few hours after you arrived and she has been here almost every moment she is permitted. Her and I have spoken about your condition and I assured her that you were going to be fine after you regained full consciousness. Visiting hours are from 10am to 8pm. It quarter to ten now. Miss Denton will be here in a few minutes and I will update her on your condition."
"Please don't," asked Erik, "I'd like to surprise Tara and be awake when she comes in. One more thing, Doc. How long will I be laid up in here?"
"I believe you'll be here for another week to ten days then we can let you go home. But you're going to need physical therapy to get that arm and leg back to 100% after the casts are removed in six weeks. I won't lie to you, Mr. Decker, it's not going to be pleasant. I'll show Miss Denton in now."
Erik watched as the doctor walked away from him and out of the room. There were many parts of his body that didn't work right now but his eyes were not among them. He chuckled internally as he thought, my doctor is HOT! Dr. Janet was about 5'5" and looked to be around 130 lbs. She had shoulder length chestnut brown hair and piercing blue eyes. Scrubs aren't always the most flattering clothes for women to wear as they tend to hide curves, but Dr. Janet didn't have that problem. Under her yellow V-neck top sat two large breasts that didn't seem possible for a woman of her size to possess. If Erik had to guess, he'd have said they were 42 DD's easy, maybe even larger. He couldn't get a good look at her ass though. Those doctors always wore those damned long white coats!
As he heard the door open, Erik closed his eyes and feigned sleep. Hopefully the doctor obeyed his wishes and didn't tell Tara he had regained consciousness this morning. Erik heard Tara walk toward the bed and sit down in the chair next to him. She put her hand on his and slowly massaged his fingers. "Hi, baby..." Tara whispered.
Erik turned his head to her, opened his eyes and said, "Hiya, beautiful!" At that, Tara leapt to her feet and sent the plastic chair with the metal legs skittering across the tiled floor and into the wall.
"Erik! My God! I'm so glad you're awake! But you scared the hell out of me!" Tara cried.
"I've been awake for a couple hours now. I spoke with Dr. Ellenson and she filled me in on what happened. I asked her not to say anything to you so I could surprise you. I think I succeeded." Erik said with a devilish grin and a small wink. His eyes worked just fine, but he must have had a cut on his mouth because smiling was painful.
"Oh, baby!" Tara cried and hugged Erik gently. "I know the doctor said you'd be OK but I was still scared to death when she said they were going to keep you under for a few days to keep an eye on that concussion. Do you hurt much?"
