Page 55 of Revived

“As long as they did a good job of repairing the damage, it will be fine. It just means that he’ll have a few extra things he won’t be able to do during recovery because he won’t be able to risk more damage.”

“You really should be obtaining this information from a medical professional,” the doctor attempted to inform John.

“I am,” he told her, again with a very dismissive tone. “You didn’t want to speak with the other medical professional here, so now, we’re done with you. Send someone to let us know when Mr. Northman is able to receive visitors. Thanks.”

“You didn’t need to do that,” I quietly told John.

“She was rude. I’m not sure why she thought it was okay to be rude to someone I specifically said was family and would find out anyway, but there was no need for that. We deal with people like that a lot, unfortunately. The only way to nip the behavior in the bud is to be rude right back to them and let them know that it’s unacceptable.” John seemed angrier than necessary at the situation, and a little lost in thought after he spoke. I wasn’t sure what that was about, but I also knew I wasn’t going to delve into his business while waiting in the hospital after all the drama that had taken place.

“I get that,” I told him as we sat in the waiting once more. The simple answer was probably the best thing, so that we could all just get lost in our thoughts for a bit while we waited. Tim didn’t bother to sit though.

“Anyone need coffee? I’m going to run and grab some.”

“Black, and make it a fucking really big cup, man,” John requested before turning back to his phone and texting.

“I’m good.”

“Mel, I’m bringing you something back. You’re shaking. If you need a sweatshirt, I can grab one from the gift shop,” he stopped and thought about that. “Maybe not, since they’re probably closed, but I could have Ev deliver one to us here.”

It was then that I realized I was shivering. The hospital was a chilly place, and my body was starting to come down from the shot of adrenaline that spiked through me as soon I saw that gun aimed toward Wen and Gabe. I nodded to Tim. “Thank you. Maybe just a hot chocolate. I don’t need the extra caffeine right now.”

“Sure thing.” He took off after that, leaving John and me there to sit quietly as I shivered, and my teeth started to chatter.

“Jesus Christ, woman, get over here.” The words were a demand as John pulled me as close to him as he could get me. The plastic arm rest of the chair dug into my side, but I ignored it as John tried to give me some of his body heat by rubbing my opposite arm while keeping part of my body up tight against his.

“It’s just the come-down from adrenaline. I’ll be fine in a few.”

“When do you think the kid’s gonna get here?”

For the first time since we contacted Chevy and Kendra earlier, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone. “Looks like they’ll be here about the time he’s able to start getting visitors.”

“I hope you plan on sticking around to see him too. Gabe’s not going to be very happy if the only woman waiting to see him when he wakes up is his long ago ex-girlfriend.”

“You know it’s not like that with them. They’re close and they are both Chevy’s parents,” I argued.

“Mel, I think you read too much into their friendship at some point.” He squirmed a bit in his seat, so I knew he at least understood one of the reasons I felt that way. “You should really talk to Gabe and let him explain a few things to you.”

“Why? So that I can eventually end up as crazy as Wen’s wife?” I asked.

“She was crazy long before he was ever a rock star,” John argued. “Besides, I think the only thing going on between you and Gabe is a series of really shitty miscommunications and misunderstandings.”

“That may be so, but I don’t think it’s the right time to hash all that out. He’s laid out in a hospital right now after just getting shot. The rest can wait.

“Nah, I think it’s the perfect time,” he countered.

“There you guys are!” Ev came running over to us and offered me the sweatshirt she held in her hands. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get here with this sooner,” she offered as she noticed John was trying to warm me up as my teeth continued to chatter a bit.

“You got here quicker than I expected,” I told her honestly. “Tim couldn’t have called you, but maybe fifteen minutes ago,” I glanced down at the time on my cell phone. “At most.”

“Actually, I went to go grab you one when I heard you hopped in the back of the ambulance with Gabe.” Ev shrugged. “Hospitals are always so cold.”

By the time Tim got back with coffee and hot chocolate, the drinks were barely lukewarm. He didn’t even offer up an explanation as to why it took so long. John had been busy texting someone, probably his wife, who I still hadn’t met yet. She had a child and was pregnant with another one, at their home in California, so she hadn’t been able to make it on tour with the guys. I shrugged it off and when a nurse came to get John to take him back to see Gabe, I pushed John and Tim to go first.

The men were in there less than ten minutes before coming back out. “Did they kick you out?” I asked.

“No, but I need you to do us a favor though,” John mentioned.

“What?”

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