Page 8 of Code Trauma

“Holly?” Andy pushed his way to the center to find Holly on a gurney with a hand to her head. He stopped beside her. “What happened?”

Her eyes widened when she saw him. “Andy? What are you doing here?”

“We can talk about that later. Now, what happened?”

“Someone attacked me,” she said. Tears formed in her eyes and coated her lashes.

He reached for her and pulled her into his arms. “I’m here now.” He looked up at the others. “You all can go back to work. I’ll take it from here.”

“’Bout time you showed up,” Penny hissed at him.

“Penny?” Holly frowned at her friend. “How did you...?”

“Know to come out here? I didn’t. I was coming to find you because you weren’t answering your texts.”

“Oh.”

Andy took a look at the back of her head. “The skin isn’t broken.”

“I know, thanks.”

“Well, where’s a doctor? Someone needs to examine that.”

“Take a deep breath and relax,” she said, her eyes dark with pain and something else, but he wasn’t exactly sure what. “Someone went to get a doctor. I’m just going to wait here and try not to throw up, okay?”

Andy took the deep breath she suggested.

“Holly, are you all right?”

He turned at the question. Rachel, a nurse he’d met several times during his visits to see Holly, walked up and placed a hand on Holly’s shoulder.

“Yes. I’m fine.” She started to touch the back of her head, but stopped short, dropped her hand, and grimaced. “Or I will be.”

“We’re getting her examined by a doctor, and then I’m taking her home.” Andy looked at Rachel. “And if a doctor doesn’t show up soon, I’m going looking for one.”

Rachel raised a brow. “If she said someone is on the way, then someone is on the way.”

“I need to make a report and get my stuff,” Holly said. “And let my boss know what’s happened. Has anyone talked to Dr. Kirkpatrick?”

“I covered that,” Penny said. “He said he would find someone to cover your shift for as long as you needed.”

“He’s a good boss,” she whispered.

Rachel shifted. “I can help get your stuff if you want.”

“Thank you, but I’ll get it.”

“Okay, well, if I can do anything, let me know.”

Andy stayed at her side while one of the doctors checked her out. “No concussion, and the person didn’t break the skin so no stitches. You’ll be fine, but you’re probably going to have a nice headache.”

“I don’t know that I’d call the headachenice,” Holly said, “but I agree that I’ll be fine.”

“Take it easy for a couple days, and call if you have any nausea or vomiting or changes in your vision. You know the routine.”

“Right. Thanks.”

After the security officer took her report, Andy said, “I’d like to see the footage leading into that supply closet. It’s only accessible to someone with a badge. Let’s see who swiped a badge right after Holly.”

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