Chapter four

Instead of sitting down, he stood back up, hurrying his way to the bathroom. Pushing the door open, glad it was unlocked, he shouted, “What the hell did you do?” Looking over at where he expected her to stand under the shower head but not seeing her, he looked down at the other end of the bathtub.

When he took a step forward to see what she had done, she moved away from him. It reminded him of that night at the centre. A little confused he took a step back; he could read the shocked look of fear and pain on her face. Then he realized it was him that had scared her but he was more worried about her pain than her fear. She hadn’t screamed or cried.

“Sarah, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to… I’m just… Are you okay?” He asked, walking closer to her. “I’m not gonna hurt you. I just panicked. Are you okay?” He continued.

When he finally stood next to the tub Sarah seemed to notice him again.
“Yeah, I’m okay.”

Richie tried his best to keep his eyes on her face. He wasn’t going to take an accident as the chance to see her naked.

He knelt beside her, “Did you bang your head?” he reached out to the back of her head to feel if it hurt or if there were any bumps, luckily there wasn’t any blood to be seen.
“I don’t think so.”
“That’s good. Let’s see if you can stand up, you need to rinse out your hair.” He shook his hand, making water droplets fly away then took her hand to help her sit up.

The change of position, the movements made her dizzy, she could feel herself slipping away.
“Sarah.” He noticed her face going pale but the call of her name was enough to snap her out of it.

He watched her a second, making sure she was ok before he stood up to turn the shower head. The water was still turned on and they were both getting wet. Sarah needed to get out of the bath, he knew she couldn’t just sit there, she needed to get out so he could see how bad she was hurt.

To be able to help her up, he stepped into the tub, ignoring his back getting wet. He was relieved she didn’t have any visible cuts or bruises but she must be hurting somewhere. “What hurts?” He needed to know before he could help her up without hurting her more.

As if the question finally made her realize what had happened, Sarah started to feel the pain. Her back and neck hurt along with her arms and shoulders but most of all her left ankle hurt. Along with the pain she also realized she was naked in front of him. She wrapped her arms around her chest, hiding her breasts, wincing at the pain the movements created. Finally she answered his question. “My ankle.” Forgetting the rest, it hurt the most, so much she actually wondered if it was broken.

Richie reached out to her chin tilting her head so she was looking at him, her arms still wrapped around her. “I’m not looking, not ‘til you want me to.” He assured her.
Sarah simply nodded, not sure to believe him yet.

“Now let’s see if we can get you up.” He locked his arms under her shoulders and pulled her up to her feet.

When he let go, Sarah grabbed on to his shoulder, not sure if she could stand, not wanting to try it either.

Richie moved her around a little until she was half under the water. He tried his best to rinse out her hair as he tried to keep his eyes focused on hers.

When he thought her hair felt only like water, he turned off the shower. Making sure again if she was alright, he stepped out of the bath as Sarah grabbed a hold of the safety bar on the wall.

Richie grabbed the bathrobe, that Sarah had left lying close to the towels, and wrapped her in it. Only then he finally looked down to her legs and feet, checking for damages. Seeing her ankle already turning black and blue made him gasp.

Instead of letting her step out on her own, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and one behind her knees.
“Richie.” She said surprised when she was lifted off the ground.
“Your ankle is all bruised; you can’t walk on that, so come on.”

Obediently she wrapped her arms around his neck as he walked out of the bathroom.

Back in the main room, he carefully laid her down on the bed. Then walked around to his side of the bed and took the pillows to raise Sarah’s foot.

“Are you comfortable like that?” He asked, still concerned.
“I’m good.” She answered him, still uncertain about it. She was still hurting but at least everything was covered up now. Only minutes ago she was feeling the soft texture of the towel and the bathrobe, wondering how it would feel to be wrapped in that softness but this wasn’t the way she wanted to feel it.

“There’s an ice machine at the end of the hall, I’m gonna get some ice for that,” he pointed at her bruised and swollen ankle, “then I’ll see if room service has cold packs. You ok on your own for a minute, sweetie?” He asked.
“I’ll be fine.” She nodded, as long as she didn’t get up or moved, the pain wouldn’t get worse.

Richie finally felt the wetness of his shirt as he relaxed a little and pulled it over his head before leaving the room with the ice bucket.

He hurried down the hall unnoticed and filled the box with ice cubes before making his way back. It was obvious there was a show tonight, it was quiet and empty, most likely because people were getting ready, just like he was some 15 minutes ago.

Back in the room he placed the bucket next to Sarah’s ankle while he picked up his bag, put on a clean shirt and started picking around in it, muttering, “Gotta be in here somewhere.”

Sarah watched him, confused at what he was doing.

Finally he retrieved a ziplock bag.
Sarah gave him a little confused look.
“They’re very useful.” He opened the bag and started picking ice cubes out of the bucket and putting them in the bag. Once he thought it was full enough, he ziplocked it and placed it on Sarah’s ankle, covering the whole bruise.

“Do you think it’s broken?” He looked up at her from where he was sitting at the end of the bed.
“No,” Sarah answered, “it’s just sprained.
“I think it’s broken, just look at all those bruises.” Richie persisted even though he didn’t really know what a broken ankle looked like.

Before Sarah could tell him again that it was just sprained, there was a knock at the door. “Are you almost ready? We gotta go.” Came from the hallway.

Sarah looked up surprised in the direction of the door.
“Don’t worry, it’s just Jon.” Richie said as he went to open the door.

“What’s up?” He opened the door to let Jon in.
“Should be asking you. Everyone’s waiting for you two.” He looked into the room, over at Sarah. His voice sounded worried when he spoke again. “Oh what did you do?” Jon noticed her foot propped up on the pillows with a bag of ice cubes.

Along with Richie, Jon stepped closer to the bed.
“She fell in the shower.” Richie answered for Sarah.

With them both staring at her foot, Sarah felt a little like an animal at the zoo. Being there but not really being acknowledged.

“Think it’s broken?” Jon looked up at Richie with his question.
“Might be.” Richie answered.
“It’s not broken.” Sarah repeated more persistent.
“You don’t know that, you’re not a doctor.” Richie’s answer came sharper than he had meant it to be.
A little bit shocked, Sarah didn’t keep her answer back. “But you know I could have been!”
Surprised by her answer Richie looked up at her, seeing a little hurt and anger in her green eyes, he realized she was right. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to but we should really get it checked out.” Richie urged.
“But the concert.” Sarah pointed out.

Her comment got Jon and Richie’s attention, making them look at each other.
“I need you to play.” Jon pointed out.
“I know.” Richie knew he couldn’t just miss out on the show.

What were they going to do? Richie had to perform but Sarah needed to go to a hospital. She wasn’t going without Richie, they both knew that fact.

“It’s not so bad now. We can still go to the concert.” Sarah said, anything than a trip to the hospital. She much rather heard him play while she had her own spot to enjoy the concert than go to a hospital where a bunch of people would be a lot closer to her.
“We?” Richie asked surprised.
“Yeah, we can still go.” Sarah repeated.
Richie chuckled softly. “The only place you’re going is a hospital.”

Jon interrupted them both. “I’m gonna go tell the guys we’re not going out. Maybe we can get room service.” He said, looking away from Sarah’s foot back up at Richie.
“Good idea, we can eat here.” Richie suggested. That way everyone could still meet Sarah.
“’Kay. You should get some ice packs for Sarah.” Jon said, reminding Richie of what he had to do. “Like the ones we got for my leg last summer, remember?” Jon asked.
“Yeah, yeah, room service must have them.” Richie said annoyed that Jon would think he didn’t know about it as he opened the door to let Jon out.

“See you later Sarah.” He called back in to the room before pulling Richie closer. “You have to take her to a hospital.” He whispered.
“I know but she’s not going without me.” Richie explained, even though he hadn’t discussed it with Sarah, he was sure she wouldn’t go without him. If it wasn't just for him, she wouldn’t even have gone to the airport.
“Just let her go with someone from security.” Jon urged, thinking Richie was just being protective.
“No, I mean, she doesn’t want to go without me.” Richie tried to make it clear.
“Someone needs to stay with her while we’re gone.” Jon brought up the next problem.
“I know, I’ll find someone to do that.” Richie wanted to go back inside for Sarah.
Jon noticed. “I’ll see who we can miss. See you in a bit.”

Richie watched him open the door across the hall before turning back in to his own room.