Page 89 of Alluring

Jack lightly brushed away her tears. "Ditto, sweetheart."

The next hour was a bustle of people coming and going. Someone had produced a knife, cutting the tape that bound Alexis to the chair. Right as she was freed, she threw herself in Jack's arms and wouldn't let go. Jack had taken off his blood soaked dress shirt and an officer had found a T-shirt for him to put on under his suit jacket.

The police had wanted to separate them during the questioning of the events, but Alexis had clutched so tightly at Jack's suit, there was no prying her loose. Officer Blake had finally relented and let them make their statements together.

Alexis had found her eyes traveling to Sabrina's lifeless body several times during the interview. She had a difficult time believing this madness was truly over. She didn't have to be scared any longer, but she felt more fear now that it was over. For those few seconds that Jack was motionless after the gun had gone off, and she didn't know whether he was alive or dead, those feelings would haunt her. The anguish she had felt, she knew she would never survive if she lost Jack. And that was scarier than a thousand Sabrinas.

After the interview with officer Blake, they were told they could leave. Jack carried her to the helicopter and they were flown to the hospital. All the while, she never let go of Jack. He was like her lifeline and the thought of letting go filled her with unnatural anxiety. She knew that wasn't healthy behavior, but she couldn't bring herself to care.

Jack still carried her as they traveled through the hospital to the emergency room, and still refusing to let him go, sat on his lap as they waited for her name to be called.

She was cold, her body shaking. She looked down at herself, not remembering what she had been dressed in this morning before her mad dash out of the house. She wore a pink T-shirt, cutoff jean shorts and flip flops. No wonder she was cold. Hospitals were notorious for their air-conditioning. Something about keeping the germs away. Jack must have felt her shivering, he leaned her forward and removed his suit jacket. He draped it over her body and she snuggled into its warmth. She was suddenly so tired.

She closed her eyes, and Jack gave her a little shake. "I'm not sure you should sleep, after that nasty blow to your head."

She was so warm, covered in his jacket, pressed close to his chest. His scent surrounding her. Her eyelids were so heavy. "Just a few minutes," she mumbled. She felt his chest rumble with a chuckle followed by a light kiss on her forehead.

"I'll watch over you, sweetheart, don't worry."

She wasn't worried. As long as Jack was holding her, she knew she was safe.

Alexis awoke and opened her eyes. Jack carried her down a brightly lit hall and into an exam room. Steph was at his side, chattering away.

Steph noticed her eyes were open. "Sleeping beauty is awake," she told Jack. "How are you feeling?" She asked Alexis.

"I'm okay," she said, snuggling closer to Jack as he sat on the exam table.

He kissed her forehead again. "The doctor should be here soon."

"I just want to go home."

"Need to get your head looked at first. Then we can go home. We'll take a long hot bath, then sleep for a week."

"Sounds perfect."

Steph spoke up. "You guys might want to make that two weeks. You're all over the media right now."

Alexis groaned. Jack just sighed.

The doctor walked in, all jolly smiles and cheer. He looked to be in his mid-fifties, short, portly, he kind of resembled Santa Claus. Alexis couldn't stop the giggle.

He was holding a chart in his hand. "Well, young lady, what seems to be the trouble?"

Jack spoke. "She was hit in the head ..." He paused, not knowing how she got hurt.

Alexis filled in the blank. "With a gun." Jack gave her squeeze, then once again kissed her on the forehead.

The doctor seemed to take this news in stride. As an ER doc, Alexis was sure he's seen worse on a daily basis. "Let's take a look, shall we." If he found it strange that she was cradled in Jacks lap, he didn't say anything.

He parted her hair and Alexis winced when he brushed over the injured spot. "Got a nice goose egg with a small laceration. Head wounds bleed a lot. Doesn't look like you need stitches. We'll just clean it up." He pulled out an ophthalmoscope. "Let's take a look at those beautiful brown eyes."

Alexis turned her head to give him better access. He looked at her eyes from all angles. "Looks like a mild concussion. Nothing to be worried about. Just wake her every few hours tonight. Ask her a simple question, she would know the answer to. If she gives the right answer and she's acting normally, let her go back to sleep. If she starts vomiting, gets a severe headache or starts acting funny bring her back in."

Jack held out his hand to the doctor. "Thanks, Doc."

The doctor shook his hand. "The nurse will be in, in a minute, to clean the wound."

The doctor closed the door on the way out. Alexis looked over at Steph. She didn't see any signs of physical injury. "How are you doing Steph? I'm sorry, with all the drama, I forgot to ask."

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