Nick was still holding Alex when the ambulance came driving up. Nick was in shock and really didn't know what was happening. He watched, really not seeing anything, as the paramedics Tried to stop Alex's bleeding and but her in the back of the ambulance. "Go with her!" Brian said with a little nudge. Nick climbed in and sat next to Alex holding her hand, still not believing that any of this was happening.
*****************
Alex tried to move but she was strapped down. The pain was all she could think about, it ripped thru her body like a fire. She tried to open her eyes and figure out what was happening. Her eyes slowly opened and she saw Nick, he looked tired. He was holding her hand, but she couldn't feel it. She tried to move her arm but couldn't. Fear charged thru her, why couldn't she move her arm?!
******************
Nick glanced up and to see Alex’s eyes open. He squeezed her hand and leaned toward her. She was trying to say something, "What is it Alex?"
"I..I can't..I can't move my arm.."
Nick looked up at the paramedic sitting across from him, "She can't move her arm."
"The bullet may have torn some muscles. Relax, we are almost to the hospital."
Nick leaned close, "Alex, its going to be alright."
*************************
Brian called Mr. and Mrs. Paine. He tried to explain to them, calmly, what had happened.
"Which hospital are they taking her to?" Mr. Paine asked trying to calm his wife.
"Central I think." Brian answered.
"Well, be there in 15 minutes."
*************************
Nick had worn a hole in the floor, walking back and forth, by the time the doctor came in. "Is she alright?!?"
"Are you family?" the doctor asked
"I'm her fiancée." Nick said lying.
"Well, she is stable and resting comfortably in a room. It looks like someone was watching out for her."
"What does that mean?" Nick asked not letting him finish
The doctor cleared his throat, "The bullet went clean thru, and only tore a few muscles. She could have been severely hurt."
"So she has some torn muscles, what does that mean?"
"Well, it means she won't be using her right arm anytime soon, and even after the muscles completely heal she won't be able to use it extensively."
Nick's heart sunk, that was Alex's pitching arm, and the doctor just told him that she couldn’t pitch.
Just then Mr. and Mrs. Paine came running in, "Nick, where's Alex?" Mrs. Paine asked frantically
"She's resting in room 345. I'll let this young man fill you in because I have my rounds." the doctor answered
Mr. and Mrs. Paine looked at Nick, he rubbed his neck and then looked at them, "The bullet went clean thru, she has only a few torn muscles and that's all. She will be fine."
Mrs. Pain gave a sigh of relief, "I want to see my baby."
They walked down the hall and Mr. Paine watched Nick closely, "There’s more isn't there?"
Nick nodded miserably, "The torn muscles are the one's for her right arm. She won't be able to pitch." he answered softly so that Mrs. Paine couldn't hear him.
Mr. Paine looked at the young man before him and thought of his daughter, what would this do to her?
