The Bridge (Para-Earth Series) (5 page)

             
“That would be uncomfortable,” the fellow nodded.

             
“Especially, since she’d be wrenching your arms behind your back to do it,” Alex added.

             
Veronica laughed while the doctor stood up saying, “I think he’s going to be all right.  But, I would like to get him on the table…”

             
“Hang on, I’m not one of your regulars,” Alex interrupted weakly, “I’m still breathing here.”

             
Ronnie playfully slapped him on the arm, “Dr. Wells is the Medical Examiner and he’s perfectly qualified to deal with the living, you twit.”

             
“Police brutality,” breathed Alex, appealing to the older man.  “You saw it…”

             
Wells chuckled, “We’ll talk about that later.  Here comes your ride.”

             
A tall young man with red hair brought up a wheelchair and a moment later Alex felt himself lifted into the contraption.  From there he was wheeled into a nearby office.  In spite of the attentions of his girlfriend and the doctor, Alex could still feel that terrible cold.  It wasn’t as severe as before, but he felt it linger deep inside.  And the cry he had heard was still echoing in his head.  But the thing that had left him rattled the most were the emotions he had sensed.  Rage, fury, hatred and something else… anguish. 

              Veronica watched her love shiver and said quietly, “Alex?”

             
“Sorry Luv…” he apologized with a forced smile. “I’m not sure what happened back there…”

             
“I think I do,” said Wells taking his pulse, “You don’t usually come to places like this, do you?”

             
“Not, if I can bloody help it.”

             
The older man nodded and pulled out a small light to check his patient’s eyes and ears.  “I see some swelling in this ear on the left.  Have you been coming down with anything?”

             
“You were complaining about a sore throat yesterday,” Veronica remembered.

             
The M. E. nodded and felt around Alex’s neck.  “Uh-huh, your nodes are a bit swollen.”

             
From nearby, Charlie began to sing.  “Nobody nodes, the troubles I’ve seen…”

             
Wells shook his head, “Hard to find good talent these days.”

             
“You should see the recruits we get over at the station,” Veronica told him, while studying her lover closely.  His face looked drawn and very pale. 
What happened to you back there,
she wondered.

             
Ten minutes later the Medical Examiner finished and said, “I think it’s safe to say our young friend has been coming down with a touch of flu.  Has he been getting much rest lately?”

             
This was question was directed to Veronica.  She glanced at Alex who was giving her one of ‘those’ smiles.   The kind that harkened back to handcuffs, showers, and four poster beds.

             
To her credit, she did not blush.  “He’s been pretty active lately.  Do you think he should just stay put for a while?”

             
The doctor nodded, “I do.  Especially he should avoid heavy exertion for a about a week or so.”

             
Ronnie glanced over and saw the smile leave Alex’s face upon hearing that. “Bugger that,” he said and jumped down from the table, only to find his legs unwilling to support him.  Luckily she was quick enough to catch him before he hit the ground too hard. 

             
With Charlie’s assistance she got him back into the wheelchair.   While Dr. Wells offered to arrange an overnight stay in the hospital for her lover. 

             
Immediately Alex shot an imploring look at her while shaking his head. 

             
It was obvious he was in bad shape.  But to make him stay overnight could make things much worse.  “I think he’d be better at home with me,” she said finally, hoping she was making the right choice.  “I’ll keep an eye on him and make sure he stays put.”

             
Wells nodded, but insisted she bring Alex back to the hospital if there were any signs of him getting worse.  She readily agreed.

             
With that settled Veronica remembered the original reason for her visit and asked about the two teenagers.

              With the attention of the others finally off of him, Alex thought about what had happened.  He was still badly shaken by his experience, but the lingering chill was finally starting to dissipate slightly.  Nothing had ever left him so weak or troubled before except… Harlequin House.  He mentally shook his head.  He didn’t want to think about that place right now, or ever again.

             
Just then Veronica turned to him and said, “Dr. Wells and I are going into the Examination room.  Stay put and don’t try getting up again or you’re toast.” 

             
Alex knew better than to cross her and simply nodded.  Besides, he needed to be alone with his thoughts for a while.

              Twenty minutes later they were back in the car and heading home. 

             
“Are you okay?” Veronica asked him after they’d left the parking lot.

             
“I think so,” he answered honestly.  It was warm in the sun, but the chill seemed to have left an imprint, and he shivered again.

             
Veronica must’ve noticed because she offered to turn on the heater.  But he shook his head and said, “I don’t think it would help.  It goes deep.”

             
“Maybe we should go back and have you stay overn….”

             
“NO!!!  Please…” he begged, “I’ll be alright.  I just need a bit of a lie down that’s all.”

             
His lady’s mouth became a thin line of disapproval.  “Is there anything I can do for you?” she asked.

             
“Yes,” he said quietly, “lay with me once we get home.”

             
“The doctor said you needed rest,” she pointed out with a grin.

             
“I didn’t mean it like that!”

             
“I know,” she wrinkled her nose at him, “I’m trying to take your mind of what happened back there.  I’m worried about you.”

             
“So am I,” he chuckled grimly.  “So am I.”

             
After a mile of driving in silence, Veronica asked, “Are you up to talking about it?”

             
He nodded and told her everything.  Once he’d finished she said, “I really wish I hadn’t let you come.”

             
“I did insist, Luv,” he pointed out. 

             
“Why?”

             
“I told you earlier why I had to co...”

             
“No,” she broke in, “I mean why did this happen?  You’ve never had this kind of thing happen to you before.  Why now?”

             
Alex shook his head, “I’ve been asking myself the same exact question and I keep getting the same answer.”

             
“You don’t know, right?”

             
He nodded.

             
“I don’t want you getting involved any further,” she told him firmly. 

             
He looked at her in surprise.  “Shouldn’t we try and find out why this happened?  I mean, there’s got to be a reason…”

             
Once more she cut him off saying, “And as a Police Officer I will investigate and find out what it is.”  

             
He wanted to protest but there had been definite finality to her voice.  So instead he just gazed at his lady. 

             
After a while it started getting to her, “What?”

             
“You’re bloody marvelous you know that?” he smiled.

             
“Just doing my job,” she told him.

             
“Is taking care of me a job all of a sudden?” he asked in mock dismay.

             
“Not exactly,” she smiled and explained, “As a Police Officer it is my job to serve and protect right?”

             
“Right.”

             
“But when it comes to you, it becomes my solemn duty.”

             
Alex raised an eyebrow, “Your solemn duty?” he repeated.

             
“Yes, because then I’m answering to a higher authority,” she told him as they came to a stop sign.  Then she turned to him and said, “I’m answering to my heart.”

             
He looked adoringly at her and said, “Will you marry me?”

             
Her expression changed instantly.  “No.  I’m sorry but...”

             
“Still not ready,” he nodded. “I understand.”

             
“No you don’t,” she snapped and stared straight ahead.

             
He sensed her tension. “I’m sorry, Luv.  I didn’t mean to upset you.”

             
“Now or back at the Morgue?” she asked all businesslike.

             
“Just now,” he murmured, a little confused.  “I thought we agreed that I’m allowed to ask you to marry me at least once a month.”

             
“True,” she nodded. “And you’ve been good about that.  But you know I’m not going to say yes, so why bother?”

             
“Ummm… hope springs eternal?”

             
Veronica kept her eyes on the road. “Look, I don’t usually mind you asking.  But your timing wasn’t exactly the greatest.”

             
“How do you mean?”

             
With a sigh, Ronnie pulled the car over and turned off the engine.  Then she turned to face him and said hotly, “You propose shortly after collapsing in front of me Alex, knowing I’m worried sick about you.  That’s really classy.”

             
As her words sank in he lowered his eyes, “Oh God I’m sorry, Luv.  I didn’t think…”

             
“Obviously!” she snapped.  After a moment she continued in a more tender voice, “I know you love me now, but what about in ten or fifteen years?  Will you start noticing my age more?  Will you begin to wonder why you tied yourself down to someone so much older than you?  The thought of one day seeing regret, instead of love, in your eyes scares the shit out of me.  If we just stay living together and it happens that’s one thing.  But to be married and wake up to find my greatest fear has come to pass, that would kill me.”

             
“It won’t happen,” he told her honestly.  “I gave myself to you four years ago knowing you’d always be older than me.  But I also knew that I wanted you in my life, forever.”

             
Deep inside, he could sense his words were chipping away at her resolve. 

             
“Don’t you want children?” she asked quietly.  “I can’t give you any.”

             
He knew she was referring to the car accident she’d been in back when she was only sixteen.  She’d been sitting between the driver and another passenger in the front seat.  The engine had been pushed into them and she’d barely survived, but minus certain reproductive parts.

             
“I’ve seen you with your nephew and how much fun you have with him,” she murmured quietly. 

             
“Only because I get to take him places and fill him up with sugar,” he pointed out. “Then, when he’s bouncing off the walls, I get to give him back to my sister and let her deal with him.”

             
“Uh-huh,” Veronica nodded, “So basically you see your nephew as a toy that doesn’t need batteries.”

             
“Precisely.”

             
Shaking her head and laughing, Ronnie started the car again.  “You are so bad.  As soon as we get home I’m taking you straight to the bedroom.”

             
“Yes!” he cried, punching the air.

             
“Then, I’m going back to the station. I should be back around dinner time,” she finished as they pulled away from the curb.

             
Alex frowned, “I think I missed something.”

             
“Must’ve been when you collapsed,” she replied glancing over at him, “You’re going to get some rest okay?  You scared the shit out of me before.”