The nurse told us that Jefferson had a mild concussion and that he was confused about what had happened. He didn’t seem to have any memory loss that they could tell but because he was a football player the doctor wanted to do a CT scan. He also had a pretty big cut above his eye that they were putting stitches in.
I asked if they needed me to fill out any paper work but she told me Gunner had filled out most of the paper work and I just needed to sign a few papers. I looked up at Gunner who just gave me that crooked smile and my heart melted again…. . how will I ever survive without him in my life now?
“When can we go back and see him?” I asked the nurse.
“Once he comes back from getting the CT scan I will take you back there. If the scan comes back normal we will start the process of discharging him. ” The nurse said with such a sweet smile. Of course I did notice how she kept eyeing up Gunner. I guess that is to be expected with how damn good looking he is.
I thanked the nurse and walked over to where Ari was still sitting. She had her eyes closed and her music was blaring out from her iPod. She was going to end up with a massive headache if she kept listening to the music that loud. I sat down next to her and touched her arm. She jumped and opened her eyes. As soon as she saw me she pulled the ear buds out.
“Well? Is he okay…. . will he be alright? Do we know what even happened to him? What did they say?” Ari and her nervous jabber.
“Um…. well…. he is okay. He has a mild concussion and he is a little confused but they don’t think he suffered any memory loss. He has a really bad cut that they are putting stitches in. They did take him to do a CT scan just because he’s a football player and the doctor just wants to make sure everything is okay before they discharge him. ” I saw Ari’s whole body relax just a little and she let out a small sigh.
“So he can go home today?” She asked as she looked up at Gunner and then back down to me.
“Yes, if the scan comes back normal but I’m sure it will. I have seen him take a lot harder shots in the head then what he took today. ” Gunner said with a small smile.
“What happened? What is he doing fighting?!” Ari asked Gunner as he took a seat on the other side of us.
“Yeah, what is this all about…has he been sparing every day? I didn’t think Jefferson had boxing as part of his workout routine. ” I said as I reached for Ari’s hand.
I pretty much already knew the answer before I asked it. I remembered Jefferson sparing in high school to let out steam. It was always after our mother had gone on one of her drunken escapades. Jefferson took a bad hit once and walked around high school with a black eye the whole week. I asked him to stop doing it and he did. That is until Sunday morning.
“Um…. . well…. . I guess this is just his way of letting off a little steam. He was pretty upset with himself the day after the party. He stayed in his room almost the whole day until he told me he was going back to the gym to do a little sparing. He’s been doing it at least twice a day. I tried to tell him he was goi
ng to get hurt but he told me he needed to do it. ” Gunner had been looking everywhere but at Ari and me. Ari squeezed my hand and looked at me.
“Just like when he was in high school. ” She said as a tear rolled down her face.
“What do you mean just like in high school?” Gunner asked.
“When my mother use to go on a week, or sometimes more, drunken binge Jefferson would head down to the Y and starting sparing with a few of the guys that were training for fights. He got hit so hard once time that he got knocked out and it caused him to get a black eye. I made him promise me he wouldn’t fight anymore to let off steam. That’s when he took to running. ” Just then the nurse walked up to us.
“Miss Johnson? Your brother is back from his scan and he’s asking for you. He can have two visitors at a time. ” The nurse smiled a small smile at me and turned to Gunner and gave him a wink before she walked off.
I just rolled my eyes. Gunner didn’t even flinch or give her a smile back; he just kept looking over at me and Ari.
“Do you both want to head on back?” I’ll wait here. ”
Ari shook her head no. “No, that’s okay. I’m fine waiting out here for right now. I think the two of you should go on back first. ”
I leaned over and gave her a kiss on the head. “Be back in a few minutes sweets. ” Ari gave me a weak smile as Gunner and I turned and walked towards the nurse’s desk.
When I walked behind the curtain and got a look at Jefferson my heart jumped in my throat. Oh. My. God. He looked terrible! I let out a gasp and threw my hands up to my mouth.
He opened his eyes and looked at me and then at Gunner. He looked behind us like he was looking for someone else……. he was looking for Ari………
“Hey there little sis, what brings you here today?” He said with a chuckle.
“Dammit Jefferson this is NOT funny! You scared the shit out of us! You promised me you would never do this ever again. Why? Why did you do this?” I asked him trying to bite back the anger I was feeling.
“What do you mean us?” Jefferson asked me.
“What?” Oh God…. he is confused.
“You said us…. you scared the shit out of us…. . who is us?” Jefferson asked me as he kept looking over my shoulder.
“She’s in the waiting room. They only let two come back at the same time so Ari had Gunner and I come back first. ” I said, knowing now what he was asking.