A NEW DAY by Michelle T © 2000 CHAPTER SEVEN Just then Kevin came in the room with Carey. "Hey D, Michelle, this is Dr. Carey Ferguson. He's here on his honeymoon and overheard me downstairs and graciously offered his services." Howie walked over to Carey and shook his hand. "Thanks Dr. Ferguson, we really appreciate your help," he said. Carey smiled and said, "First things first, call me Carey! I am on vacation after all." He had a nice smile. Howie left the room and Kevin turned to follow him. "Kevin,' Michelle cried out, "Don't go, please?" Kevin turned back around and smiled at her as he went to sit where Howie had just been. He placed his hand on her bad arm and rubbed it softly. Carey sat on Michelle's left and made some small talk with her while checking her eyes and head. "Did you hit your head at all, Michelle?" he asked. She shook her head and said, "No, I don't think so." "Well, you have a tiny bruise here, but it doesn't look serious." He gently touched near her temple. "Really? It doesn't hurt." She replied. He took her right arm from Kevin and lightly felt along her wrist. Michelle let out a groan and Kevin looked at her with a compassionate look. Carey continued feeling around her arm and hand and Michelle had to close her eyes from the pain, as silent tears started to flow. "I'm sorry, Michelle, I don't like hurting you, but I need to see exactly what you've got here." Michelle nodded and felt Kevin's hand on your cheek. She opened her eyes and looked into his. He smiled slightly and bent his head close to hers and said softly, "Just look at me, Babe, and imagine that you and me are in the middle of a huge dance floor, swaying in each other's arms to your favorite slow song." She smiled and envisioned the picture he just described. They stayed that way for a long time while Carey put a splint on her hand and wrist and bandaged it up tightly. "Ok, that's all taken care of. Your pinkie is broken and a few bones on the top of the hand are bruised, but your wrist only has a slight sprain. Kevin, I'll leave some extra ace bandage here and you should rewrap her hand tomorrow or if she gets it wet. Either that or you can call me and I'll do it." Carey said looking up at Kevin, who was still looking at Michelle. "Kevin!" his voice caused Kevin to look over at him. "Did you hear me?" he asked with a chuckle. "Ah, yeah, Carey, sorry, I heard you though." He grinned sheepishly. "Okay, what else hurts, Michelle?" Carey asked. "Umm, just my left side aches and is covered in bruises." She replied. "Well, let's take a look," he said as he felt along her left ribs. She grimaced as he touched her and he saw her expression. He lifted her sweatshirt and saw the bruises on her two lower ribs. "How bad does it hurt, Michelle? Does it feel like you'll pass out when I press them like this?" he asked applying a little pressure. "No, it hurts but not bad enough to make me cry." She said. "Okay, then" he said and gently lowered her jogging pants a little to see the bruises on her hip. "What about here?" he asked applying the same amount of pressure to her pelvic bone and hip area. "Same as the ribs," she said. "That's good then. You'll be sore for a few days, I'm sure. Get some rest, but do try to walk around. Otherwise, you'll feel worse and your leg will stiffen up, Ok?" he asked. "Thanks Carey," "I'll leave a prescription for pain should you need it, but don't anyone even think of trying to fill it tonight. That storm has turned into Tropical Storm Mallory and I don't want anyone going out there," he said looking at Kevin sternly. He knew Kevin was considering running out right then and there. "Ok, Kevin? She can hold off until tomorrow, just give her regular Tylenol or something tonight." "Ok, Carey, thanks so much. I'll walk you out." Carey said good bye to Michelle and wished her luck and told her his room number if she needed him. When Kevin returned he sat on the left side of the bed and faced Michelle. He grabbed her bandaged hand in his lightly and rubbed his fingers over her exposed fingers. Michelle watched him caress her hand and smiled. "Kevin, thank you so much! I know I keep saying that, but you keep being more and more wonderful to me," she looked up at him and was captured by his eyes once again. They stared at each other for a few moments and then both leaned towards each other and their lips met in a light, sweet kiss. The kiss was brief, but neither pulled back. They sat leaning their foreheads together for several moments staring into each other's eyes. Finally, Kevin spoke softly, "Michelle, I feel a strong connection with you. Something or someone has brought us together and I don't want to let go yet." He brought his hands up to her head and pulled her back towards him with a deeper more passionate kiss. His lips enveloped hers and he felt her starting to respond as her lips gently opened. He slowly traced her lower lip with his tongue before gently pushing it inside of her. She moaned gently and met his tongue with her own. She wrapped her arms around his back and unconsciously stroked his lean body. After a couple minutes, they both pulled away, breathlessly. She stared at his gorgeous face and said, "Kevin, I don't know what I ever did to deserve this moment, but I'll treasure it always." She brought her hands up to his face and stroked his strong cheekbones with her thumbs and then brought him back to her for another kiss. Kevin finally broke the kiss after another minute and stood up next to the bed. With a bright smile he said, "Well, I better leave now so you can rest, ok?" She nodded her head, as she looked up at him with a smile of her own. Once he was gone from the room, she gently turned on the bed towards the window and snuggled under the blankets and closed her eyes. Her thoughts were jumbled, but she knew what she just experienced with Kevin was mind-blowing. She hadn't felt like that, in someone's arms, in over a year. She thought back over the happenings of the day and didn't know if she wanted to cry out of sadness or happiness. Eventually the tears slid down her checks as she decided it was a mixture of both. Within minutes, she had cried herself to sleep.