An explanation

While the girls were talking Dawn snuggled up to you. It felt good to feel her in your arms again. Your baby sister was somebody you hugged every day and it was always a welcome boost of oxytocin when you did. You could use some more than ever.

"That's nice" Dawn said, "I missed this." You nodded and remained in silence for a while as you cuddled with your baby sister before a question surfaced in your mind. You'd been here for 8 days now but nobody had told you just what happened. You cleared your throat and tried to formulate the question with as few words as you could.

"What happened?" you asked.

"You need to stay quiet, John" Rebecca said. You frowned behind your bandages, no small feat given the situation. "You know you won't heal as quickly if you keep talking." You groaned. "No, none of that, young man" she insisted.

You groaned again and squeezed Dawn's shoulder. "Come on Becca, he want to know" she said.

"Alright, alright" Rebecca said. "You were in an accident. As near as we can tell, when you crossed the intersection at Foster and 5th someone ran a red light and hit you head on. The wind shield shattered and that's where you got that bandage from. The steering column hit you in the sternum which is why you are having trouble talking. It was so bad that for a while your heart actually stopped." Her voice trailed off, emotion having filled her voice in the final few words.

"Touch and go" you croaked.

"Yes, it was touch and go for a while" Rebecca confirmed in a voice thick with emotion.

"But not any more" Dawn said, squeezing your hand. You smiled and nodded. Another question occurred to you.

"Leg?" you asked.

"When the car hit us I had my leg at a weird angle. I don't really remember it happening. The first thing I knew I was out of the car and I was screaming for you because you weren't moving" Dawn said. You shivered. You were glad you'd been out cold for that because you would not have been able to stand her doing that. Your heart would probably have torn in half. You hugged her tight and found her head, kissing the top of it. The giggle that filled your ears made your heart soar.

"How are you feeling now?" Jessica asked. You stuck up a thumb. "Liar" she said. "I can tell you're in a lot of pain." You flipped her off.

"No, for real" she said after laughing. "How are you?"

You considered this for a moment, trying to think of how to respond without using your voice. You couldn't come up with anything. "Doped up, tired, lonely" you admitted.

"Alison never sent him any messages" Rebecca explained.

"Really? That bitch! That makes us finding out if that nurse is single that much more important, huh?" Jessica said.

"Are you for real?" Dawn said, though you could tell she was smiling. Something in her voice gave it away.

"Why not? If not, I might have to swoop in and turn her" Rebecca said.

"Never seen her" you croaked a reminder.

"It'll be like a blind date" Rebecca said.

"Medical records" you reminded your sister.

"Hey, nobody's perfect. So, what about it? Should we find out?" Jessica asked.

You shrugged. "Can't see her" you reminded the girls.

"Blind date" Rebecca repeated. "Fuck it, I'm going to find out."