Dakota (Ch 16)

My eyes finally came open. I seemed to remember waking up in this bed before. Holt was there. Or at least, I thought he had been. I didn't remember what we had talked about or if we had talked at all. I just remembered that he was there. It could have been a dream. I wasn't sure. My head was still sore. My arm ached. It more than ached. The pain was excruciating. I squeezed the button in my left hand. Medication began to flow into my system. I couldn't remember all the details. But I knew what had happened. I fell. I hurt my arm. Janie fought me. I was thrown down the stairs. I hurt my arm again; I hurt it much worse. And I was in County Med.

I wasn't sure what had happened to Janie though. I was concerned for her. Maybe Holt had decided to arrest her after all. Maybe she too got injured. Maybe she was sitting at home alone. Maybe she was gone. I had only doubts and suppositions. I felt around on my chest and lap. I wanted to call the nurse. I needed to know if my sister was alright.

I tried to lift my right arm. The pain grew exponentially. It shot up my arm, through my shoulder and neck. I grimaced.

"Ugghhh. What was I thinking? Just sit still."

I continued searching for the call button. My fingers traced the cord to the side of my body. It was beneath me. I was lying on it. I shifted my weight to the right side of my body, as much as I could anyway. I tugged at the cord. The device slowly slid out. I lifted it up and searched for the button that would summon the nurse. I pressed firmly. In a moment, a kind face entered the room.

"You're awake! We've been waiting for you to come around. Feeling comfortable?"

I opened my mouth and spoke. Whispers and grunts came out. My mouth was dry. She walked around the bed and picked up a cup of ice shavings. She placed a few between my lips.

"There you are. That'll help. Now try again. And take it slow."

"I just want to know where my sister is. My sister. Janie Samuels."

"Well, you're the only Samuels on this floor. Let me check in the computer. I'll be back. Did you need anything else while I'm here?"

Her smile helped. I could already tell she was good at her job. She cared for people. I knew that she was truly concerned for me.

"No. I'm fine. Just my sister."

"Sure thing. I'll be back in a minute. Don't go anywhere."

She chuckled to herself. I almost rolled my eyes. Instead, I countered back with my own witty remark.

"You better hurry then."

I could feel that the sheets were damp against my back. My head rested at an awkward angle. There was one too many pillows behind me. My right side and arm still ached. I could feel blood pulsing through my arm, healing the wound. I closed my eyes. The light coming through the blinds was too bright. The sound of the machine to my right was annoying. I just wanted silence. I heard soft footsteps enter the room.

"Mr. Samuels?"

My eyes flashed open. They searced the room again, for that kind face.

"Yes. Is she OK?"

"Sir it looks like she was treated in the ER. She was dehydrated and intoxicated, alcohol and narcotics. She was treated and released."

My mind raced. Where would she have gone? Why wasn't she here waiting for me? How could she have gone anywhere?

"Did you see the Sheriff here?"

"Yes. He was here just after I came on. He said that you could call him when you felt up to it."

"Can you get me the number for the Sheriff's department? And the phone?"

"Yes sir."

"You can call me Jake. I have a feeling I'm going to be here a while."

"Well, Jake, you can call me Karen then. I was worried about you."

She kept eye contact as she headed for the nurse's station. One last smile. Was she flirting? That was odd. Maybe she was just being nice. Maybe it was the drugs.

She returned with Sheriff Holt's card. She moved around the bed and picked up the phone. She punched in the number and placed the receiver in my left hand. It was ringing. He answered. We spoke only briefly. He was already on his way. He had hoped I would finally be awake. I extended my arm and she took the phone.

"Everything alright?"

"I'll know when he gets here. When was I brought into the ER? Yesterday?"

"Mmhmm."

"I never thought a broken arm would hurt so much."

"Well yours is a rather unusual case. It doesn't come to this very often."

"Come to what?"

"Extensive surgery."

"For a broken arm? Why was that necessary? I just fell down the stairs."

"Perhaps, but Jake, your forearm was broken before you landed. Impact fractured your wrist. Your forearm break compounded, punctured the skin and impaled your right side."

"How is that even possible?"

"It's a rare outcome, but clearly it can and does happen."

"That explains why the pain is so extreme."

"Your forearm was completely shattered. The doctors couldn't just put it in a cast and send you on your way. They had to insert a steel rod. And pins for your wrist. They had to sew up the wound to your abdomen as well."

"That's pretty intense. My arm is going to be fine though, right?"

"From what they tell me. You're going to need a good deal of physical therapy. Like I said, I was really worried when they brought you in last night. I was just about finished my shift when the bus rolled in."

"Why so worried? I'm just another patient. Part of your job."

"True, but I don't know all the patients."

"Know the patients? I'm sorry but I don't think we know each other."

"Don't you recognize me Jake?"

I studied her face. I hadn't been in Dakota for a long time. Nothing jumped out at me. I didn't know her. She was mistaken.

"I'm sorry. I don't."

"Jake, it's me, Karen. Karen Watts. Well, Karen Jamison now. Wessington High Class of '93."

My mind recharged. Synapses reconnected. My capacities restarted.

"Oh, Karen Watts. Karen Watts! How are you? I don't think I've seen you since a couple weeks after graduation. No wait, there was that class at
SD State. Freshman year. Before I left for Chicago."

"Yeah. I'm good. I mean, I'm divorced. That was a huge mistake. We were together for almost ten years. I woke up one morning and he was gone. Left me with his lousy dog and close to a hundred grand in debt. The only good thing was there were no children involved."

"I'm sorry to hear that Karen. Love sucks. Just end up getting screwed."

"I'm not quite that cynical. But yeah, he sucked. He was an ass. I should have known."

"Don't beat yourself up."

"Don't worry. I should really check on the other patients Jake. I'll stop around in a little while. Try to rest. The sheriff should be here soon anyway. But don't get too worked up. You need to keep that arm still. And I'll be back with breakfast in a bit if you are up for it."

"Alright, thanks Karen."

"Need anything before I go?"

"No. You're smile is enough."

She blushed and went on her way.

"That was stupid."

I muttered to myself. What was I thinking? I sighed and closed my eyes. I was energized. And I was hungry.