Chapter 70 - Bonding With Annie

Chapter - 70

When they reached the hospital, Alex was brought to Claire's chamber in a wheelchair while Amber pushed behind. Annie also pushed Alex's wheelchair to the best of her capabilities. Reaching her chamber's the first thing Claire did was to call her nurse on the intercom.

"Let's get your X-ray done first. We need to make sure that there is no fracture anywhere," Amber said, putting the receiver down.

Soon there was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Claire called out.

"Doc, you called?" Opening the door, a giant with hair split into two long braids, wearing a pink nurse uniform, walked in. No way she was a woman. Alex could see a significant amount of greys around her lips, indicating a recent trimming session. And the mole right below the nostrils didn't make her any pleasant to the eyes. Only the enormous bulge on her chest and the skirt she was wearing showed any indication of that giant being a woman.

"Can you take Mr Rutherford here with you and get a complete CT scan as well as X-ray? I want it to be done on priority," Claire instructed the nurse as she handed her a paper.

"Sure," the nurse nodded and turned towards Alex with a smile, "Let me give you a hand."

Alex was pushed out of the chamber by the nurse, but when he was at the door, he suddenly looked back, "Amber, there is no need for you to wait for me here. You can head back home now."

"It's fine, take your time. I will wait here," Amber said.

"Are you sure?" Alex asked for confirmation.

Amber nodded, "Now get going. The more you waste your time here, the later we will leave."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

It took Alex thirty to forty minutes to get done with the CT scan and X-ray. While returning, Alex was alone. The nurse was going to get the reports back with her a while later. When Alex reached outside of Claire's chamber, he could hear Amber and Claire talking. Alex waited outside listening to them for a while before he knocked and went inside only after getting the affirmation from Claire.

"All done?" Amber asked.

Alex nodded and rode his wheelchair beside her. While they waited for the reports, Claire and Amber engrossed themselves in chatting while Annie began to play with Alex.

Not long after, there was another knock on the door, and the nurse walked in with Alex's reports. She handed over Alex's results to Claire, and winking at Alex, made her way out of the chamber. But that wink sent chills down Alex's spine.

Amber, who saw this suspicious exchange of looks, stared at Alex with doubt. Alex, on the other hand, grabbed his pants tightly, remembering the events of the examination room.

Going through his medical reports, Claire said, "Luckily, there is no fracture anywhere. But you have a torn ligament around your ankle which is most likely the cause of the pain."

"Is it bad, doctor?" Amber inquired.

"No, it will be fine if he rests for a week," Claire told Amber, then turned towards Alex, "But it might start swelling soon, and the pain is likely to double-triple."

"But I can't be at home for that long," Alex interjected between them.

"If that's the case, how about you wear a brace and have complete rest for two or three days?" Claire suggested, “You will be able to walk with a bit of difficulty in a couple of days.”

Before Alex could reply, Amber agreed, "Braces are fine and even a week of rest won't be difficult for him," Amber said and then leaned forward a bit as she whispered to Claire, "Our department head kind of favours him."

Then she turned towards Alex, "I will talk to the chief. She will surely agree." Amber said, assuring Alex.

"I have written down some medicines here. Take them if you feel pain. Don't wet the brace and apply an ice pack to reduce the swelling," Claire instructed him as she gave him the prescription. She then picked up her intercom and called for the nurse once again.

Alex was flustered when he heard Claire, his hands slowly moving towards his thingy, trying to save it from an unknown enemy but to his relief, some other nurse walked in this time.

"We need a brace for his ankle," Claire told the nurse gesturing towards Alex.

The nurse gave Alex's ankle a look for a while and then went out only to return with some stuff with her.

After the nurse was done putting on the brace, she collected everything else and walked away. Amber also stood up from her chair.

"Since we are done with the checkup, we should get going," Alex said.

Claire nodded, "Here, take this with you, Mr Rutherford" Claire handed him her card, "If you feel slightest of the discomfort, do let me know. It might not be much, but I will try to help out in any way possible."

Alex took the card from her and stuffed it into his pocket. Before leaving, he turned towards Annie and lifted her in his arms, "Annie, uncle has to go now. Will you miss uncle after he is gone?"

Annie nodded her head fiercely and hugged him tightly.

"Now... now... don't be sad. Uncle will come to visit you soon," Alex said, patting Annie on her back.

Hearing this, Annie released Alex from the hug and then extended his pinky finger towards him.

"You want uncle to pinky promise?" Alex asked, amused. Even though Amber was there, he didn't feel embarrassed in the slightest acting childish with Annie.

Annie nodded.

Alex smiled, "Then a pinky promise it is."

Annie smiled when she saw the entangled pinkies together. Alex kissed her on the cheeks as he bid farewell to both Claire and Annie.

****

On their way down the elevator,

"The little girl really likes you," Amber said to him.

"Well, I am so handsome that rarely anyone would fail to get charmed by me," Alex said as he caressed his hairs in style.

"Oh... is that so?" Amber asked with a bit of surprise and sarcasm in her tone.

"You bet".

"I didn't know that you were such a narcissist," Amber said, smacking him on his arm lightly.

"I am just stating the facts" Alex shrugged. Amber pushed his wheelchair out of the hospital.

"Well then, Mr All Handsome and Charming, this is where we part ways. I will tell the chief, so you don't need to come tomorrow," Amber said as they stopped by the road waiting for the taxi.

"Thanks. You were really troubled because of me." Alex said. He was really grateful to Amber for sticking by his side. Even though it wasn't much but like a good friend, she was there with him all this time.

"Well, we are both newbies. We need to look after one another," Amber smiled as she said, "TAXI!!" Amber called out as she tried to stop a taxi.

As the taxi stopped, Amber helped Alex into the taxi, "You leave first. And don't worry about your leave. I will talk to Karen," Amber said.

"Thanks. Bye then,"

"Bye,"

* * * * *