Jim watched Brian closely, his chest so tight he doubted he could take another breath. It seemed like an eternity before Brian smiled.
“She has a cut on her forehead; it’s stopped bleeding, and also a concussion. She has a couple of cracked ribs, other cuts and bruises on her body. Her shoulder was bruised in the impact and she is currently experiencing some double vision, which I expect to pass. Other than that, she is alive, awake, and worried about you. I am under orders to ‘get your butt in there yesterday’.”
Jim felt the relief flood his body and he literally sagged under it. Brian put another hand on his shoulder and helped support him.
“She’s really ok? She is going to be ok?” Jim asked anxiously.
“Yes she was extremely lucky. She is going to be fine. We are going to keep her over night for observation, and then she can go home.”
Jim grinned then and hugged his friend.
“Thanks Brian!”
Brian clapped him on the shoulder, and they let go of each other.
“Now get in there, or she is going to be out here looking for you. I want her to stay in bed until that double vision subsides. They’re going to move her upstairs soon.”
Honey hugged her husband as they watched Jim walk to Rachel’s room. Jim pushed the door open, and stepped into the room. The door shut behind him and he stood there, next to it. Looking at her lying on the bed. Rachel had her eyes closed and he wondered if she was sleeping. He took advantage of it, and looked her over. There was a bandage on her forehead and her right cheek was slightly bruised and scraped. She had bandage wrapped around her right wrist. The rest of her scrapes and bruises were hidden beneath the gown she wore, and the sheet covering her.
Rachel’s eyes opened and she saw him standing there. She smiled sweetly, and reached her left hand out to him. Jim stood where he was staring at her, and she frowned.
Closing her eyes, and then opening them up again, she said, “Lose that look on your face Frayne!”
Jim blinked in surprise, “What look?” His voice sounded rough and raspy.
“The look of guilt. You didn’t do this to me.”
Jim looked at her with blood shot eyes. Rachel felt an overwhelming need to comfort him. He looked as bad as he felt.
“I want you to come over here Jim, but if you can’t stop feeling guilty, and then I am going to hit you.” She said quietly, and seriously.
Jim stared at her yet again, then blinked and slowly smiled.
“That may be difficult since Brian said you were experiencing some double vision.”
“Well, then I won’t take any chances. I’ll hit you both to make sure I get the right one!” She grinned and held out her hand again. This time he walked forward to take it. He held her hand tightly, and then over come he buried his face into her neck.
He felt her injured right hand come up to softly run her fingers through his hair. Comforting him, and holding his head close to hers. When he felt her warm lips on his cheek, he felt a sob welling up inside of him.
Rachel felt his body shudder slightly, and she wrapped both arms gingerly around him. Rubbing them lightly up and down his back, and his head, she comforted him. Finally Jim raised his head, moving to wipe his cheeks of the tears that were there, but Rachel beat him to them.
He sat on the edge of her bed and looked down at her. She was slightly pale, but looked wonderful.
“I thought I lost you. For a few minutes, we thought you were in the car.”
Rachel smiled softly, “I almost was. It was a close one.”
Jim’s face suddenly turned cold.
“If I find out it was Jonesy, I am going to kill him this time. With my bare hands!”
Rachel placed a warm hand on his cheek, caressing softly, “No you won’t. But you don’t have to. Let him get put back into prison if he’s guilty. Don’t leave me alone while you end up there yourself.”
Jim stared into her green eyes. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
Jim leaned down to kiss her lips softly. Rachel tried to deepen the kiss, but they were interrupted by a couple of orderlies and a nurse. They wanted to move Rachel up to her room. Jim kissed her hand that was still grasping his, and let it go, “I’ll meet you up there in a few minutes, Princess.”
“I’ll hold you to that!” Rachel laid back on her gurney and the orderlies maneuvered her out of the room and into the hall towards the elevator.
Jim followed but saw Dan and Trixie standing in the hall talking to Brian and Honey, and his parents.
“Jim, we’re so happy to hear she is going to be ok!” Trixie said when she saw him.
Dan added his happiness too, and Jim thanked them both.
The group looked nervously at each other.
“You said you’d be back when you had news. Do you?”
Dan looked at Trixie and everyone saw her nod.
“Yeah, we found some evidence pointing to the bomber.”
“Jonesy?” Jim asked.
Trixie placed her hand on his arm, and looked up at him, “Yes, it looks like it was Jonesy.”
“What do you have?” Jim asked even though the confirmation made him pale slightly.
“The fire squad dug the bomb out of the rubble. It was set up, to set the bomb off with a combination of the car starting and the door being shut.” Dan said.
“And, then we found
out that Jonesy snuck back into Sleepyside two nights ago. He had a room at the
hotel on
“How could he sneak
back into town? Didn’t you say that the
“Yes and they lost him. He disappeared. They notified Sleepyside PD this morning that they should be on the watch out. Unfortunately, he snuck in under their noses.”
“And got close enough to set a bomb up in my car? That is ridiculous. We were all at the Manor House! Didn’t he think he’d get caught?”
“It’s Thanksgiving. We were all preoccupied with the holiday.” Trixie told him.
“But he got close enough to all of us! There could be bombs in all of the cars.” Jim wiped a hand down his face.
“We had them checked. A couple of them got damaged in the explosion. But there weren’t anymore bombs.” Dan said.
“So he was trying to kill me, and he almost killed Rachel.” Jim said quietly.
“But Jim, he didn’t succeed. Keep that in mind.” Matt said to his son as he joined them.
Jim sighed, “I have to go up to Rachel’s room. I promised.”
Dan nodded, and said, “Just so you know, we are putting a guard outside of her door tonight, and there is one waiting to take you home later. Then the Manor House will be under surveillance tonight.”
Jim nodded and thanked them for their help today. He hugged his parents and sister and Brian walked away, stating he was going to check on a patient before they left.
Jim got into the elevator and rode it upstairs to the third floor. He shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked down the hall, lost in thought. His fingers closed on a small box in his pocket. He’d almost forgotten. The nurse had told him to go to Room 312, and he pushed the door open to see Rachel resting on the bed. He thought she might be asleep, but she opened her eyes when the door shut.
“Hey you! I thought you stood me up.” She smiled sleepily.
“Never!” Jim kissed her lips.
“How are you sweetie?” she asked, her eyes searching his face.
Jim couldn’t help it, he grinned. “Isn’t that my line?”
Rachel watched him closely. It was in his eyes, the haunted look. The pain.
“I am fine, and you obviously aren’t. Tell me what you found out.” Rachel said.
Jim laughed out loud. “How is it that you can read my mind?”
Rachel wasn’t being deterred. “Tell me baby.”
Jim took a deep breath and told her everything he’d found out from Dan and Trixie.
Rachel let him finish and then took his hand and pulled him down to sit on the edge of her bed. Reaching up she brushed a lock of his hair from his forehead.
“Don’t blame yourself. He is sick. He did this, because he is who he is, not who you are. You are the most wonderful, incredibly loving man, and no one deserves to be attacked. Not you, when you were 15, and certainly, not you as the man, sitting in front of me today.”
“The gods were smiling down on me the day we met.” He said softly. He bent his head to kiss her.
“I think I’m the lucky one.” She said when he lifted his head again.
Jim stared intently into her eyes, and she wondered where his thoughts had moved to when he stood up.
Frowning she reached again for his hand. “Jim?”
“This probably isn’t the right time for this. But I have been waiting for the perfect time, and today we almost lost it.”
Rachel watched in wonder as he knelt on one knee, pulling a small box from his pocket. Opening it, he held it out to Rachel, and with all of his feelings of love in his eyes, he looked at her and asked, “Rachel Walker, will you marry me?”
Rachel had been nervous when he stood, afraid he was again pulling away from her. When he knelt down she put her hand over her mouth to hold back her cry of joy. For the first time ever, she was sure, she was speechless. Her hand shook as she held it out, waiting for Jim to put it on her.
“I would honored to be your wife, James Frayne.”
Jim took the ring from the box and Rachel smiled slightly when she felt the tremble in his hands as they took hers. He slid the ring onto her ring finger on her left hand. Jim slid it on and then kissed it. He looked up her and kissed her.
“I love you!” he whispered.
“I love you, Jim.”
Then, he kissed her again and when they both pulled out of the kiss, he let out a whoop that startled her. They both laughed and kissed again.
“Should we tell everyone? Oh, and my family! I should call them!”
Jim chuckled at her rambling.
“Yes, we should call them, but you should know I didn’t tell them about the explosion. I needed to make sure you were ok first.”
“It’s probably better if they don’t know. They’ll just be worried and there’s nothing they can do from so far away.” Rachel stroked a finger down his cheek. Jim watched her solemnly, knowing he’d come very close to losing her today.
“So, when do you want to do this?”
“Call your parents, or get married?” Jim grinned.
“Both! I am anxious to get out of here! We have things to do! And-“
“Whoa, right there, missy! You are staying in this bed until the doctors say it’s ok to get out! And Brian said you have to stay until tomorrow at least!”
“Yes dear!” Rachel pouted playfully, trying to frown, but too happy to accomplish it.
“I like this side of you, quiet, reserved, accommodating. I could get used to it.” He smirked.
“Ha! Don’t bet on it!” Rachel huffed.
Jim laughed and hugged her to him.
“I love you just the way you are, baby. Don’t change, ever!” He bent to kiss the tip of her nose, but she reached her face up to his and captured his lips. The kiss, that Jim began, was gentle, but the kiss that Rachel ended was fiery, and passionate.
“Uhm-hmm!” A throat clearing interrupted them. “Is this a new therapy that’s started?” Brian joked.
“It should be!! I feel wonderful!” Rachel giggled, not letting go of Jim’s hand so he could stand.
He looked at her and winked, “Should we tell him?”
Rachel grinned and nodded.
Jim told Brian their news and he grinned and shook Jim’s hand. Then he turned to kiss Rachel.
“I’m happy for you both! But you’d better fill the rest of the gang in, because I’m not going to be able to keep the secret for long! Actually, that is why I came in. There is a whole bunch of people waiting to see for themselves that Rachel is in one piece. Are you up to it?”
With a wave of her hand, “Bring them in!”
Brian opened the door, and they all came into the room single file. Rachel giggled at the sight they must have made.
Dan and Mart kissed her cheek, and Honey hugged her tightly, a few tears sliding down her cheeks. Diana and Trixie each hugged her also. Matt Wheeler came up to her then, and took her small hand in his larger one. Rachel looked down at his hand and was in awe as to how much like Jim’s they were. Looking up into his eyes, she saw his green eyes misting.
“We thought we lost you today! I’m ever so glad that you are here and not seriously injured.” He kissed her cheek. Maddie also hugged her.
“Oh, sweetie! Thank god you are all right!”
Rachel felt her own eyes misting over and reached out her hand blindly to Jim. He grasped it tightly in his own and cleared his throat.
“We do have news. I asked Rachel to marry me.”
There was silence as his friends and family looked at him expectantly.
“And what did she say?” Matt prompted.
“Oh! She said yes!” The room erupted in congratulations, laughing and crying.
Much later, a sleepy Rachel, and Jim were left alone. A nurse had come in and shooed everyone out, stating the patient needed her rest.
“I’d better get going.” Jim said, pushing her hair back from her face. Rachel nodded and yawned.
“I wish you could stay.”
“Me too. But you’ll be safe here. There is a guard, don’t forget.” It killed him to leave her, and he contemplated asking if he could sleep in the extra bed.
The decision was taken from him, when once again reading his mind, she said, “It’s ok. Go. You’ll sleep better at home. I’ll be fine. Just don’t forget to come back tomorrow!”
“Like that would ever happen!” Kissing her hand that wore the engagement ring, “You are stuck with me! Have a date picked out when I get back here tomorrow, ok?”
“Deal. I love you, sleep good. I will be fine!” Rachel kissed his warm lips back when they touched hers. He reluctantly ended the kiss and walked toward the door.
“Call me if you need anything. I mean it!” At her nod, he left.
Rachel looked down at her engagement ring in the soft light. It was beautiful. A whole carat in the center, and surrounded by several smaller diamonds on one side. She smiled and sighed and flipped the light off and before she had another thought, was sound asleep.
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