Alex's eyes blink open to a white ceiling. She feels hands on her body, turning to her side to actually confirm the fact that people were touching her.
She reaches for the oxygen mask on her face and someone slaps her hand away. Honestly!
She bats at the hand and finally pulls the thing off her face, breathing in fresh air.
Her attempt to sit up is thwarted with more severity than the oxygen mask fiasco, and it's then she notices the piece of rebar sticking out her chest.
“--still, there's a rod through your heart.” she slips back from her subconscious just as the black paramedic is saying.
Paramedic. Ambulance. Hospital. Oh, she couldn't have that.
Alex raises to a seating position and yanks the rod out so quickly, her eyes swim.
She groans loud and long in pain, feeling the hole in her chest knit back together. Shaking sanity back into her head afterwards only to realize the two women in the van with her are each pressed into different corners of the ambulance wall away from her, mouths slacked in twin gapes.
“Wrong side.” she informs them of the location of her heart. And if they don't understand what she's referring to, that's their concern.
Next order of business, Kids then Akio. Phone.
“Where's my phone?” she asks. Repeating the question a bit louder, when she doesn't get a response immediately.
“Th-there wasn't any wh-when we found you.” the other nurse speaks for the first time.
“Was I the only one pulled out?” Alex asks again, this time dreading the answer.
“No. Male, early 20s, he had to go in the other van.” the black paramedic answers.
Akio headed to the hospital wouldn't be as scandalous as her headed there. She could detour, check on the kids, grab Chris and then head over to the hospital to see Akio. Crisis averted.
She lifts off the little bed, inching towards the van door.
“Where are you going?” one of them asks, still pressed into her corner like a frightened rodent.
“Checking out. I think I feel much better now.” with a wink at them, she tumbles out the van, landing gracefully on the ground, before rolling to a crouch.
She stands to watch the van drive away, the early evening breeze a welcome feeling, before turning on her heels and heading towards her home.
Chris curses softly as he swipes his car keys off the kitchen table. He'd like to curse up a storm, perhaps relieve himself of some of the frustration threatening to spill, but the kids are right there. A sleeping Ginger clung tightly to Novik's throat, and a frantic Jo who refuses to do anything at all until she sees Alex and Akio.
“What hospital were they taken to exactly?” he asks Viktor.
He shrugs, “I just called 911, and left with the children.”
Chris wants to retort with something particularly scathing, but decides against it. The man had watched over the children and called an ambulance, he was already leagues beyond the regular Good Samaritan.
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He instead struggles his phone from out his jeans pocket. He'd make a call to people who could find out, and then things would be back on track.
He's just about to dial the number when the front door swings open and a dusty Alex stalks in. Jo bless heart, rushes over to engulf her in a hug that is returned halfheartedly. Alex shooting Jo a small smile before starting up the stairs.
“Are you alright?” he can't help but ask.
“Satisfactory. Clothes are a mess though.” she throws over her shoulder before disappearing upstairs, the slam of a door signalling the end of the conversation.
Chris chances a look at Viktor, who looks completely out of his element, and a small need to put an end to the man's confusion, arises in him.
“Believe it or not, this is a regular Tuesday in the Jordan household.” he says, smiling at the gawking look Viktor turns on him.
Now he had a call to make.
The ride to the hospital is mostly silent, with some terse explanations thrown in here and there. Akio had been acting weird, Alex had tried to 'talk' to Akio, Akio had collapsed the warehouse on the both of them.
They had taken an SUV this time--Viktor in the passenger seat, Alex snuggled between the kids in the back and Chris at the wheel--That way if Akio would be coming back home with them tonight, it wouldn't be much of an issue.
Chris lets out a silent prayer in thanks as soon as they pull up to the hospital. If he had to hear another sigh from Viktor again, he was going to puncture his own eardrums with a pen.
Alex gets out before he can finish parking, Jo slipping her tiny hands into Alex's to ensure she isn't left behind. They catch up to them after Viktor grabs Ginger--the sudden attachment was throwing Chris for a loop--the sliding hospital doors opening dutifully for them.
Alex halts in her step as soon as she clocks the receptionist, eyes drifting shut in what is either regret or constipation. Chris was going with regret.
The receptionist takes Alex in much more cheerfully than her counterpart, a small smile flitting onto her face as she sizes Alex up fondly.
“As I live and breathe. If it isn't the Alien General!” she says. In some sort of funny greeting.
Alex covers the remaining distance to the front desk. “I'm not a General.” she replies.
The receptionist quirks a brow. “But you are an alien.”
Chris stares Alex down pointedly, eyes flicking to and fro in question. Who the hell was this lady, and why was she in on their business?!
Alex sighs in exhaustion. “Is this really the place to discuss this?”
“I'd suggest over coffee, but I wouldn't want you to disappear for another 5 years.” the receptionist remarks, and Alex's exhaustion gives way to remorse.
“I had to go away for a little while.” she says, fingers drumming on the desk. “I am sorry I didn't reach out when I returned.” she finishes.
The receptionist studies her for a moment before returning to her computer. “Jordan, yes?”
Alex nods. “No gum this time?” she asks. And the receptionist laughs.
“They were nicotine. I was trying to quit.”
“Did you?”
“I actually did.” she lets her eyes dart to Jo beside Alex and the dozing child on Viktor's shoulder. “Husband, kids?” she inquires.
Alex shudders at the query. “Not Applicable.” she responds, the receptionist laughs again.
“402. You're upstairs this time.” she says with a smile.
Akio heaves a sigh of relief as his family troop into the room, Jo scrambling to join him on the bed, Ginger with Alex.
Chris grabs his chin to inspect his bruises, frowning as he focuses specifically on his reset nose and the stitches across his forehead. The black eye had cleared up, most of his other injuries superficial.
“Are you still feeling murderous?” he asks, and Akio can't help but let his gaze shift to Alex at the question. She was stood sentry by the door, mouth and eyebrows a straight line, with Ginger in her arms.
“My head is clear now, thank you very much.” he replies Chris, who relaxes.
“Are you coming home with us?” Jo asks from beside him, pushing through the yawn threatening to over take her.
Akio pushes the button by his bed. “Let's see if we can't talk the doctor into a quick discharge.” He says.
Viktor sat out in the waiting area, piece of paper clutched tight in his hands. He'd made the decision to wait outside and not impede on a family moment. They had been through a lot and deserved-- whatever it was loving families did in their free time.
He relaxes back in his seat when Alex drops into the chair beside him, eyes scanning and not seeing anyone else other than her, he asks.
“Shouldn't you be celebrating?”
Alex huffs out a breath. “Bit hard to be celebrating with my current temper.”
He makes an affirming noise in his throat, the paper in his hands crinkling when he shifts. Alex's eyes dart to it, and she inclines her head in question.
“A letter.” he answers, “From Erik. Seems I am finally rid of him after 29 years.”
Alex studies him for a moment, noting the pensive look on his face, “Shouldn't you be celebrating?” she finally asks.
