Page 55 of Punk Rock Reflection
“My husband fell and may have hit his head,” Jessi explained. “He has an aneurism clip.”
Tommy was escorted inside the ambulance where he had his vitals taken and the size of his pupils examined. There wasn’t much else they could do and didn’t think he needed to visit the Emergency Room, even though Jessi kept insisting he go to the hospital anyway.
As soon as they stepped out of the ambulance, Brandon and his husband, Cam, rushed toward them.
“Sick shit,” Brandon said, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m just glad everyone’s OK. We just saw Damien. He’s lucky he walked away with only a few stitches. I heard he was buried under a huge piece of steel.”
It could have been so much worse, and Tommy paled at the thought. “I haven’t seen him yet. He’s OK?”
“Yeah. As surly as ever.” Brandon said, with a smile.
Cam glanced at the ambulance behind Tommy. “Did you get hurt?”
“No. I’m fine,” Tommy replied. “I fell when it first happened, and the wife just wanted me to get checked out.”
“I heard you rescued someone,” Brandon said. “It’s all over the news. That’s rad, bruh.”
It must have been less than twenty minutes since Tommy had the conversation with the journalist, and the story already hit the airways, thanks to modern technology.
“Obviously, the rest of the awards ceremony is canceled,” Brandon said. “But the All-Star Jam was moved to one of the other ballrooms. We’re going to check it out. You guys up for it?”
Tommy just wanted to go home and be with his family. “Nah, man.” He grabbed each of Angel and Jessi’s hands. “I think I just want to keep my family close tonight.”
“I hear ya. Give me a shout tomorrow. Maybe we can get together before we head out.”
“Yeah. Sounds like a plan.”
Brandon gave both Tommy and Angel a one-shoulder hug and kissed Jessi’s hand, then he and his husband left to rejoin their friends.
The rush of adrenaline that had been coursing through Tommy’s veins dissipated all at once, and he was exhausted. He turned to Angel and rested his head on his husband’s shoulder. “I want to see Damien, and then I want to go back to the hotel.”
Angel rubbed a soothing hand up and down Tommy’s back and placed a kiss on his head. “I think that’s a good idea.”
Damien was only a few yards away, sitting in the open back of an ambulance with Alyssa clutching his arm.
“Damien!” Tommy ran full speed and wrapped his arms around his friend. “I’m so glad you’re OK!”
Miraculously, other than a white rectangular bandage over his eye, a few scratches on his face, and rips in his T-shirt and jeans, which were covered in dirt, he looked fine. His Mohawk was even still standing upright.
“I heard you were looking for me in there. Under the wrecked stage,” Damien said. “Thanks. I owe you one.”
Emotion clogged Tommy’s throat, and he hugged Damien tighter.
“Whoa.” Damien lightly patted Tommy’s back. “I’m good. I got a hard head. A little I-beam ain’t no match for my noggin.”
“Damien . . .” Alyssa said, softly. “That’s not funny.”
Tommy pulled away from Damien in order to look at Alyssa, unused to the gentle tone of her voice. She had tears in her eyes, and her dark black liner was slightly smeared.
“Relax.” Damien nudged her shoulder with his. “I’m fine.”
“I want you to go to the hospital.”
“For what? A couple of stitches.” He touched the bandage. “It’ll look cool.”
She frowned and fingered the shaved part of his head. “You could have a concussion.”
He pursed his lips to the side and shook his head. “I hate hospitals. I ain’t goin’. Sorry.”
