"You wanna go somewhere tomorrow?" he asked.
"Anyplace in particular?"
"Nope, you can choose." he said.
"Actually, there is a art place opening up downtown and I'd like to check out their galleries. But I doubt it would interest you." she said.
Nick laughed lightly, "No, it sounds great. Want me to pick you up tomorrow?"
"Yeah, at the college. Near the west wing. We'll go straight from my class, okay?"
"Okay, bye Claire."
"Bye."
Claire looked at the clock and it was 8 pm. She got up from the couch and took a long shower. She got out, dried off and changed into comfortable pj pants and an oversized t-shirt. She went to sleep but was awakened at midnight by the phone ringing.
"Hello?" she answered it sleepily.
"Hey, it's Nick, I know it's late and I'm really sorry, and please don't laugh, but I fell down the stairs and I think I may have broken my ankle and it's really swolen so I can't drive and I -"
"You rambling." she said in a singsong voice, "Need a ride to the hospital?"
"Yeah, if you don't mind. I called Aj and he fell asleep while we were still talking."
"Okay, I will be right over. Don't move cause you might hurt your ankle more." Claire instructed before hanging up.
Claire went into the bathroom and brushed her hair and teeth. She looked down at her pj pants and wrinkled t-shirt and just shrugged. She didn't have the time or energy to change. She walked outside to her car and drove quickly to Nick's. When she got there she walked up to the front door and stuck her head inside. She saw Nick sitting on the couch holding ice on his ankle, so she stepped inside.
"Hey." he said.
"Hi." she said walking over to him, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's probably just sprained but I should get it checked out."
Claire nodded and helped him stand up and he put his arm around her for support, then they hobbled out to the car.
Thirty minutes later, Claire and Nick were sitting in the waiting room of the hospital. Claire looked over at Nick and had to giggle to herself. She was worried what she would look like with pj pants on, when Nick was sitting next to her in sweatpants, an old journey shirt and a bucket hat, pulled down low so no one would recognize him.
A nurse stepped out from the ER, "Miss Bennet, the doctor will see you now."
Nick had Claire put the registration under her name, Claire Bennet, so again, he wouldn't get noticed.
She helped Nick up and they went to the assigned room in the ER. Claire turned to leave after she got Nick settled, but he grabbed her arm.
"Will you stay with me? Doctor's kind of make me nervous." he said.
Claire couldn't help but smile at the innocence that showed through him at times. She sat down at a spare chair in the room.
Nick was just about to say something when the doctor walked in.
"My name is Dr. Loralle, what seems to be the problem tonight?" he asked.
Nick explained how he was going down to the kitchen to get a drink and as he was on the stairs, his pug ran in between his feet, causing him to fall down the stairs.
The doctor nodded while taking notes, then he walked closer to Nick. He took the ice bag off his ankle and pulled the sock down. The doctor examined Nick's ankle and poked at various spots, causing Nick to flinch in pain.
"Alright, well I don't think it's broken, but we are going to need x-rays to verify that. So if you could remove your clothes and change into a johnny, I will bring you down to the x-ray department." the doctor said.
Claire stood up, "Well, that's my cue to leave. If you need me, I will be in the waiting room."
Nick nodded and she left the ER, to go to the waiting room.
An hour later, Nick came out with an ace bandage on his ankle and crutches. Claire rubbed her eyes tiredly and stood up.
"Is it broken?" she asked.
Nick shook his head no, "Just a bad sprain."
"Good, well not that it's sprained but good that it's not broken cause I-"
"Your rambling." Nick said as she did to him earlier.
She smiled and just started to walk out of the ER. They both walked outside and got into her car.
She pulled up to Nick's house and looked at the clock, 2 am.
She asked him if he needed help getting inside but he said he'd be fine.
"Thanks so much for everything you've done tonight." he said.
"Your welcome, get a good night's sleep and keep up your ankle up." she said kindly.
"Yes, Mom." Nick said jokingly.
Claire laughed at Nick's comment as Nick kissed her cheek and got out of the car.
"Now all I have to do is think up a more exciting story of how I hurt my ankle. Tripping over my dog isn't exactly doing it." Nick laughed.
Claire laughed and rolled her eyes at him.
"Goodnight Nick."
"Goodnight."
