Page 33 of Gemini
Andrea grimaced as she glanced at Dom. She brought over a chair and sat before rummaging through her bag.
She took some antiseptic and a cloth, gently dabbing at a cut on my lip. Her fingers brushed over the swollen parts of my face, tender to the touch. She took a light and shone in my eyes, checked my ears and mouth for damage, then had me lift my shirt. The skin was red, bruises already starting to form. I winced as she pressed against my stomach and ribs. She had me breathe deep and, though it was uncomfortable, there was no immediate sharp pain.
“I don’t feel any damage to the organs,” she commented. “Probably only a bruised rib or two by my judgment though we can’t know for sure unless we X-ray…”
“No hospital.”
Her eyes flicked over to Dom, then back to me. “Any reason for that?”
I licked my lips, trying to say the words slowly. “Don’t…want…family to…see me.”
Concern flooded her expression. “I know it’s embarrassing—”
“Not…that.”
“Is there something going on I need to know?”
I didn’t meet her gaze and she sighed. Her hands drifted to my legs next and she started to massage them. Carefully she had me bend them and a burning pain seared up my left leg, making me hiss. She had me roll my ankles, then move my legs slowly up and down.
“Nothing broken,” she said.
“You…sure?”
“You wouldn’t be moving it this well, otherwise,” she assured. “But there is bruising and a little swelling. Some of the healing from your accident might have been reversed.”
I let out a shaky breath and felt Dom’s arm hug me lightly. “D-do you think…I’ll need a chair again?”
She shook her head. “But it might hurt walking. For a little while.”
I trembled. If I couldn’t walk right again…I didn’t know what I’d do.
Andrea got some ice from the kitchen and made an ice pack with the towel. “Start with resting it and icing it.” She helped me take off the braces so I could press the ice to my knee. “After a few days, try walking but with assistance and with the braces on. I assume you had rehab exercises, so stick to those at a regular.” She started to pack up her bag. “I’d run a lukewarm bath so you can get the blood off, and to help with the soreness.” From a side pocket, she took out a little pill bottle. “Take some of these tonight. No more than needed. After, over the counter should do.” She set the pill bottle in my lap.
I wrapped my shaky hand around the bottle. “Thank you,” I whispered.
She laid her hand over mine. “I know it’s none of my business, but if you need help…”
“I’ll…call.”
She squeezed my hand. “If you’d like, I can take you home.”
Dom seemed to stiffen behind me. He signed something to her and she frowned.
“I think that’s up to her,” she said.
I pursed my lips, then flinched at the sting of the cut. “I’ll…stay here.”
“You sure?”
I nodded. “Yeah.” Better to not go back to the apartment. At least tonight. If those men knew where I worked, they definitelyknew where I lived. As much as it might hurt to admit, being here made me feel safer.
She gave me a sad little smile before releasing my hand. “Alright. You can call me any time, got it?”
“Got…it.”
She turned to Dom and gave him a stern look. “Have her cleaned up. Make sure you have a comfortable and quiet place for her to sleep. And make sure she gets enough water.”
He signed at her as she closed up her bag. “Feel better, Lena. And whatever is going on, I hope this isn’t the twins getting you into trouble.”
