Touched by a Phoenix (30 page)

“No ma’am. I’m not moving.”

“We can bring the chair over by the bed. You need to get some rest. You’ve both been through a lot tonight. If you don’t rest, you will be of no use to Mr. Scott when he does wake up.”

The nurse rolled the chair beside the bed. She laid the blanket and pillow in the seat. “Miss Saunders, I know this is difficult, but I’ve been here a longtime and your mother made sure Mr. Scott was in the best hands. Doctor Anderson is the best in the country. Please try not to worry.”

Alexis was quiet for a moment, “Thank you, but I can’t help but worry. He is my…,” her voice broke, “everything.”

The nurse smiled kindly, “Then you have nothing to worry about, I’ve seen how powerful love can be, love makes the difference between life-and-death. I understand Mr. Scott was hurt trying to save you. Obviously, he loves as much as you love him. While it might sound sentimental, I’ve seen the power of love. I’m sure he’ll pull through just fine.”

“Thank you.”

“Now get some rest. I’ll be back to check on him shortly.”

In his dreams, the angel beckoned him to come with her. Alexis’s sweet voice filter through the dense fog with her loving words.

“I live because of you—you are the only reason, you are all the reasons,” she whispered against his check.

I must reach Alexis. She called to him…begged him not to leave her…telling him she could not live without him. She revealed her soul to him and showered him with love.

Children laughed and played. He wanted to be with the angel…yet there was her sweet voice again.

“Your love revealed my existence and you have shown me the purpose of my life. It is to love you with all that I am. My life is no longer my own…it belongs to you.”

The angel turned to him; she was with child.
How was it possible?
his mind wondered. Yet, the sweet voice kept calling to him.

“It was you who found me. Through the power of your love, I became whole. Please do not leave me for I would have to follow…I cannot live without you.”

A crushing sensation filled his chest. Alexis was in pain. Her hot tears burned his cheek. Was she the angel? Why did he feel so torn? He felt her pain as acutely as if their bodies were one. He finally knew the full meaning of love. One heart, one soul…sharing two bodies. Yes, he thought, it was possible that one would die of heartbreak without the other. He had to get back to her.

His lashes barely fluttered. He was so tired. Sleep, I just need some sleep.

Alexis pulled the chair closer to the bed. She laid her head against his hand. Exhaustion took hold.

I’ll just close my eyes for a few minutes, she thought.

The doctor and nurses woke her several times throughout the night when they checked on Brad. The light from the sun began to peek across the sky when she thought she felt Brad’s hand stir.

“Sweetheart,” she murmured quietly.

His beautiful dark lashes fluttered, but did not open.

“It’s okay, sweetheart…just relax. Everything will be all right. I’m here,” she assured him, more calmly than she felt as she gently kissed his lips.

A soft moan escaped him as he struggled to wake.

Alexis called for the nurse. “Hold on, love. The doctor is on his way.”

The concern in her voice touched his heart. She whispered how much she loved him. He couldn’t open his eyes or move his arms to comfort her.

Dr. Anderson entered the room and stated, “Alexandria, please step back and let me examine Brad.”

For once, she did as she was told without hesitation. When he had finished examining Brad, he stood back, “Alexandria, as I said last night, Brad took a hard blow to the back of his head. He will likely be unconscious for a while longer. When he does begin to regain consciousness, he will slip in and out of it for several hours, if not another day or so. We will run a few more tests on him later this afternoon, perhaps early evening based on how he is doing. Please try not to worry, everything appears to be fine. He just needs to rest.”

She settled back down in the chair beside him, holding his hand as he slept.

He tried to fight through the fog, but the pain was too great. His head hurt. Comforted that she was with him, holding him, he felt safe…so he slept.

In his dreams, he saw Alexis…all that she was. The innocent child who had suffered; the young woman tormented by fear and pain. The beautiful vixen she had become in his arms. Her sweet laughter filled his head and those eyes…
God those eyes
…they told him everything he had ever wanted to hear but most importantly…they told him how much she loved him. Her kisses soothed his soul and her body fed his need. He loved her more than she would ever know.

He wanted to see her beautiful face. He sensed she was in pain but didn’t know why. Why did he hurt like hell? What had happened? Was she all right? Suddenly, it all came flooding back. It lurched, it screamed. Flashes of falling—the sound of the elevator slamming into the pit. The God-awful whistling breaking the dead silence as the cables whipped through the air as they descended on them like whips cracking against bearskin. He couldn’t remember what happened next. Was she alive? He had to wake up, he had to know if he hurt. If she was gone, he wanted to go with her. The angel can’t be Alexis.
Noooo,
his mind screamed…I need her.

He fought with all his might to push through the pain, to find his way through the fog. He felt her lips on his.

“
Shh,
sweetheart. It’s all right,” her voice, her presence, was exactly what he needed to calm him down and lull him back into a peaceful slumber.

The sun felt warm against his skin as he drifted from the fog. He still hurt all over. His eyelids were heavy—very heavy, as he struggled to break through the impenetrable fog. He forced himself. Alexis was there, he could feel her. His love had been right here with him the entire time.

“Easy sweetheart, easy,” she cooed softly. “It’s all right. You’re going to be all right sweetheart.”

Her voice was soft and musical. He fluttered his lashes again, trying desperately to wake. Her tears fell, landing softly on his cheek.

“Alexis…,” he stammered.

“I’m here, baby. I’m here.”

He knew those soft words. She called him ‘baby’ when he loved her, when he was taking her to new heights…when she couldn’t resist him. He would battle the demons of hell to get to her if he had to. His lashes fluttered again—this time, they opened. His vision blurred, but there she was. He tried to focus on her golden eyes.

“Alexis…,” he murmured brokenly.

“I love you,” she stated. Her voice broken with thick emotion as the tears streamed down her face.

Through the fog, even as the pain ripped through him, he knew everything would be all right. She was safe.

“I love…,” he struggled as if even the smallest movement caused pain.

“Easy sweetheart, easy,” she whispered. “Don’t try to speak just yet.”

The doctor came in, and Alexis whispered, “I have to let the doctor examine you but I’ll be right here. I promise.”

As the doctor finished, he said, “Brad will need time to heal, but it looks like he will just fine. I will have the nurse give him some medication for the pain. He will sleep off and on throughout the day. This would be a good time for you to go home and get some rest. I’ll call you if anything changes.”

“I’m not leaving,” her tone was firm as ever.

They took Brad downstairs for more tests shortly after two. Alexis stepped into the waiting room to visit Catherine and Phillip for a bit. Catherine met her halfway.

“The doctor said Brad was awake. How is he?”

“He will be okay,” Alexis replied quietly. She was exhausted and mentally drained.

Phillip came to her side. “My dear, why don’t you let us take you home so you can get some rest?”

She stiffened. “Dad, let’s get something clear—I am not leaving this hospital until I can take Brad home with me,” her tone was tight and unyielding.

He had seen his daughter’s determination in the past—just yesterday as a matter-of-fact—but this was different…she was more than determined. His heart ached for her. For the first time in his life, he was afraid. He could have lost her altogether had it not been for Brad. He had been helpless last night when he saw the blood soaked clothing laying in the elevator floor surrounded by broken—broken everything, lights, cables…the elevator itself.

“Why don’t you take Mom home and the two of you get some rest. I’m sure you both are exhausted.”

“Alexis honey, we are not leaving,” Catherine insisted.

“Mom, there is nothing you can do right now. They are running several test and the doctor said he might be downstairs for hours. If the test results turn out okay and he is doing better, they may let me take him home late tomorrow afternoon.”

“All right, honey. Would you like us to run get you a few things from the house?” her mother asked.

“If you’re coming back later, I would appreciate clean clothes, but please don’t make a special trip,” Alexis said sweetly as she hugged her mother.

Phillip began, “My dear, we will go get your things and bring them back now. Would you like something to eat? We can go home afterwards for a little while and come back later this evening.”