Page 56 of Playing the Game
“Shit!”
Trey turns my way. “I’m sorry, Ms. Fisher. I didn’t expect you to leave at this hour.”
“It’s okay. I’m jumpy anyway.” I pull the door closed and make sure it’s locked. “Can we go to the hospital? I need to make sure my friend is doing better.”
“Of course.” He leads me out to the parking lot and guides me into his car.
For once, I’m grateful he’s driving me around. My nerves have me practically ripping off my skin. I’d probably wreck my car if I were to drive myself.
Once I’m at the hospital, Trey and the other two men who are watching over Jami gather outside his room. The nurse assigned to him doesn’t appear pleased I’m visiting so early, but she doesn’t stop me.
I pull up a chair and take his hand in mine. “You need to fight and get better. I’m not sure I can take watching you hanging on by a thread much longer.”
He stirs and moans. He seems to be in a ton of pain just from moving slightly. I release his hand and adjust his covers.
The monitors he’s attached to are silenced, so the only sound in his room is his labored breathing. I get settled in my chair and watch him as he continues to fight for his life.
Occasionally, a nurse or doctor walks by his room, but other than that, it’s quiet and sterile. I’ve never had an opinion on the way a hospital smells, but now I’m grateful for its medicinal cleanliness.
Which reminds me. I stand and go to the hallway where the nurse is stationed between the two ICU rooms. From what I can tell, there’s one nurse assigned to two patients, and they always sit outside between the two rooms working on a movable computer station.
I approach her as I leave Jami’s room. “Hi, I’m Dori, Jamison’s girlfriend. He had a fever, and I was wondering if it’s gone away.”
“Hi, Dori. He’s fighting off an infection, so he still has a mild fever.”
“What does that mean for his prognosis?”
“We started him on a stronger antibiotic, and we’ll watch to make sure it clears up the infection.”
“How long does that take?”
“We should know relatively quickly if he’s responding well to it.”
I glance back at him. He’s pale and weak looking. It’s enough to have my mood plummet lower than it already was.
I turn back to her. “Is he doing okay other than his fever?”
“He’s had more pain, but we’re adjusting his medication as needed.”
“Is there anything else I should know?”
“Nothing as of right now. He just needs to rest and let us take care of him.”
I nod and lower my head. “Thanks.”
I start to go back to Jami’s bedside, but the security guards stop me. They ask if two of them can be excused to get some food. I agree with it, even giving them the choice to take off for a couple of hours so they can get some sleep.
I’m not leaving Jami’s side, so one guard is plenty. They’regrateful for my suggestion and leave as soon as I’m planted in my chair by Jami’s bed.
He wakes around 6:30 am. “What are you doing here so early?”
My muscles relax with his words. I like it when he’s awake and responsive. It makes me believe he’ll be healthy with time.
I sit straight and smile. “I just needed to see you.”
“How long have you been here?”
“A couple of hours?”
