Page 41 of Serial Burn

Nathan hung up.

A knock preceded the door opening and the doctor stepped into the room. Jesslyn rose. “I’ll just wait outside.”

“No, it’s all right. You can stay.”

The doc nodded and she settled back into the chair. “Just here to give you the results of your X-rays,” the man said, “and let you know for sure nothing’s broken or even fractured. You have a pretty massive bruise, though, that probably feels like it goes to the bone.”

“Yep.” Before everyone had arrived, he’d taken a look at the area that had gone from red to deep red and was no doubt heading toward a lovely shade of dark purple.

“So there aren’t any physical limitations really other than to do your best not to injure the area again.” He cleared his throat. “I saw the news footage of you jumping off the building. That was intense.”

“A bit.” Was there anyone who hadn’t seen it?

“Take it easy, all right? When it hurts, take the meds. There are two different kinds. One for daytime that won’t make you sleepy, but the other will. It’s a mild narcotic.”

“No narcotics.”

“Fill it, and if you need it, you have it.”

Nathan suppressed a grumble. “Fine.” He’d say anything at this point just to get going.

“And, uh ... you might want to put your cape away for a while. You’re going to be sore for a good long time. Running and jumping, falling? Not a good idea. Let someone else chase the bad guys.”

“I got it. Thank you.” He paused. “But I’m not on desk duty, right?” His SSA would be here to talk to the doc to determine exactly what Nathan could and couldn’t do. He’d require authorization from the doctor for Nathan to resume full duty.

The doctor hesitated. “It’s just a bruise and you’re going to be sore, but there’s no reason to ride a desk if you don’t want to.”

“I don’t.”

He nodded. “I thought that might be the way you’d lean. I’ll sign off that you’re fit for duty, but if you find that’s not the case or you develop any other symptoms, let me know.”

“I will.”

The man left and Nathan groaned, then gathered the strength he was going to need to get off the bed. His next stop was going to be the interrogation room at the station—after he hugged his parents and Carly and thanked them for coming. Hopefully Eli had made himself scarce.

Jesslyn eyed him. “I’ll wait for you outside.”

“Thanks.” He swung his legs over the bed, then got to his feet and simply stood there.

“You okay?”

“I will be. Just gonna be moving slow for a bit.”

“Right. Do you need—Never mind. I’ll just be outside.”

Nathan raised a brow, curious as to what she’d been about to say, but the door shut, cutting off his question.

TEN

Seeing the trouble he was having moving, Jesslyn had almost offered to help him get dressed but figured that might take things way past awkward. If he needed help, the hospital had workers for that.

He emerged from the room ten minutes later and bypassed the “mandatory” wheelchair. His face was pale and his limp pronounced, but at least he was walking. She waved to Andrew, who was texting, to join them.

He’d live.Thank you, Lord.

Three female hospital workers—two nurses and a doctor—spotted him, and their eyes went wide in unison. One pointed and said, “That’s him.” Jesslyn wasn’t a professional lip-reader by any stretch, but caught the words. One of the nurses giggled and the other rolled her eyes but stole another look over her shoulder while walking away.

Another female worker approached them. “Excuse me, you’re the agent who jumped the building, right?”

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