Logan

28. Ups And Downs

Alex was the first one to ask questions, after they'd finished the scans and brought me back to the room

"Doctor, how do fractures happen? Could it happen if she was pushed?" The attendant on-call was Dr. Wood, a striking blonde with a tight ponytail and killer heels. How she worked this long in those heels was beyond me. That's why I wanted to be an EMT instead, no way was I about to strut around the hospital like that.

"Alex!" I was so mad that he would assume it was all Logan's fault.

She looked between me and Alex, "It would depend. How did you say you were injured?"

"I fell." I said, which was true. I did fall. But part of me wondered if it was because Logan pushed me off him in the heat of the moment, or if it was because I fell.

"She was pushed, then she fell down." Alex looked at me, then gazed back up to the doctor. She hesitated for a moment before asking Damien and Alex to leave the room so we could talk.

"Do you feel safe in your house?" This was ridiculous, but I knew she had to ask these questions.

"Yes."

"Are you in any imminent danger?"

"No."

"Do you fear for your life?"

"No."

"Do you have anything else you'd like to tell me?" She looked at me, her kind brown eyes were telling me to tell her the truth.

"My boyfriend and his brother were getting into a fight. I tried to stop it, and I was pushed. When I went backward, my leg tripped on a shoe and I went down pretty hard. I tried sticking my arm out for balance, which was probably pretty stupid..." I looked back up at her, "I don't want this to be his fault. I have a history of domestic violence with another boyfriend, and Logan's been docile this entire time. He's never hit me. His family just has...issues. I just need you to tell me, that this wasn't his fault. Our relationship might never be the same."

My throat was dry when I spoke my last sentence, because it was true. Ever since the accident we'd been great, and I had forgiven everything that happened between him and Victoria because I needed to be okay without having to worry about everyone else.

Dr. Wood started to put a hand brace on, "Well you will have to wear this for six to twelve weeks, and you'll have to get it taken off at your primary care doctor's office. As a doctor, I would recommend you not get involved in fights, but as a woman I would say this wasn't his fault. Gravity was also a factor in this, and based off your weight and the way you said you fell, it was just simply an accident." I ignored when she said my weight, I held on to the fact that this wasn't Logan's fault. It just couldn't be.
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When they sent me home, we cleaned up the mess and Scarlet brought the rest of Damien's things over to our house.

"Are you sure that you don't want to talk to him? He's pretty upset." Scarlet spoke softly but Damien interrupted her.

"Skip, don't push it."

Scarlet looked back at me, putting her hand on my knee. "I'm sorry we didn't tell you about him, Nat. I wanted to tell you so many times, but every time I thought I could bring it up, I just couldn't. So the lie grew bigger and bigger."

"Just, don't lie to me anymore okay? We never keep secrets from each other, and we're not going to start now." I said.

She gave me a small hug before turning and waving at Alex. He only glanced at her, and then she was gone. Damien's phone ringing made all of us jump, and he answered it.

"Hello? Yes, this is he. What? Tonight? $700 for both of us? Holy shit, yes, we'll be there. Thank you so much!" Damien's phone landed on the couch as he stood up and giggled almost maniacally.

"NATALIE! The Brass Kettle wants us to perform tonight, some kind of wedding party thing going on tonight. They loved us from last time and they want us to play! We're getting $700 each, can you believe that? I've never been paid that much in my life!" I jumped up, screaming and what felt like crying. Damien scooped me up into a hug, lifting me off the ground before putting me back down. "We've gotta practice! Let's go!"

He looked around for his flimsy sweater, which I had secretly confiscated once we got home. "Aww man, you know, I think I lost your sweater, Alex." He frowned, upturning pillows and throw blankets on the couch.

I sprinted to my room really fast, coming back with the big bag that held his coat and I stood with it, smiling, and slightly out of breath. It had been such a long day, for all of us.

"Come here, Damien." When he came back over to the counter, I scooted the bag to him. "Open it."

Damien's shoulders slumped for a moment, before sizing up the bag. "Whoa, this bag is huge. You got me something? You really didn't have to." He pushed the tissue paper back to reveal the brown pilot coat I picked out, and the look on his face was completely worth everything. His eyes glinted with happiness and shock.

"No way, Natalie. You did not get me this. When did you buy it? Did you buy it at the mall? Clothes there are expensive!"

"You said you like to look nice, and as great as that is, I want you to be warm too! It's getting cold now, and I wouldn't feel good if you were walking around freezing. Try it on." He put the coat over his shoulders and slipped his arms through the sleeves, and it fit perfectly without looking too baggy. When he put his hands into the pockets he jerked his head, giving me a look of excitement.

"You didn't, Natalie." His voice cracked as he pulled the two kerchiefs out of one pocket, and the eyeliner and the fingerless gloves out of the other. "Oh my, gods, seriously. You didn't, this all must have cost a fortune!"

I shook my head, "Don't worry about it, dude. It's a gift, from me, for all you've done. For your kindness, and patience, and for your friendship."

His eyes were welled with tears, his voice a shallow whisper when he said, "No one has ever done anything like this for me before. I don't even know how to repay you, I don't even know how to thank you. Thank you would just not be enough." He threw his arms around me, enveloping me in a strong hug. It was warm and comforting, the scent of cedar and musk around me.

He buried his face in my neck, and I wrapped my arms around him in return, whispering, "It's okay, Damien."

He pulled away, looking at me for what felt like an eternity before placing a kiss on my cheek. "As much as I'd love to give you mouth kisses, you're off limits, and I'm not that kind of guy." He chuckled, marveling at his new coat.

Alex's eyes were welled up too, and when I looked at him confused, he half-yelled, "I get emotional too, okay?" and laughed as he wiped his eyes with the top of his shirt.

Damien gave him a hug and kissed his cheek too, "Your family's alright, buddy."