Monday, September 14, 2009

New Fic - Single Doctor Single Dad 18

Oh God.
What had she done? She'd known better than to watch Garrett's children.
Reeling from the pain shooting through her shoulder, she did a quick assessment. Other than turning pale at the sight of blood, Benji seemed fine. Ian, however, took one look at his bloody twin and burst into tears.
Trying to be brave, Ethan patted his brother's arm, his hand leaving crimson stains. "I'm okay," he assured, blood sputtering from his nose and mouth.
"Ethan, sweetheart, let me check you."
Definitely a bloody nose and busted lip. Any damage beyond that was obscured by blood.
"We need to get ice. Pinch your nose."
Unconcerned about her shoes, Jennifer lifted Ethan off the trampoline and ran toward her mother's kitchen. "Put your shoes on and follow me," she called to the other two boys.
"Good Lord, what happened?" her mother called from where she sat in a lawn chair next to her remaining guests.
"He bumped his head."
Rushing the boy inside, she set him on the counter, grabbed a clean dishtowel and soaked it in cold water. "Here. Pinch your nose with this while I get an ice pack."
Ethan covered his face with the cloth. Ian and Benji rushed into the kitchen. "Is he okay?"
Jennifer placed the ice inside a clean cloth, then took the bloodsoaked one from Ethan. "Hold this to your lip while I check your nose."
Jennifer examined the boy's nose. It wasn't broken. Thank God. Still, blood poured from both nostrils. She pinched the nares together, hoping the pressure would stop the bleeding while she checked his lip.
Ethan's upper lip was huge and split. His lower lip was swollen. But his bleeding upper gums concerned her most.
And the missing tooth.
"His tooth is gone!" Ian exclaimed from where he watched.
Wide-eyed, Ethan poked his tongue into the vacant spot. "Cool," he said, his voice slurring.
Not cool, Jennifer thought, but was grateful Ethan wasn't panicking. Unlike her.
She called Garrett to tell him what had happened. That she'd let his son get hurt.
"I'll be right there," he promised.
And he was—Garrett burst into the kitchen.
"Ethan lost a tooth, Daddy!" Ian exclaimed, wanting to be the first to tell his father, what he considered, the exciting news.
In the ten minutes it had taken Garrett to get there, Jennifer had packed Ethan's nose and the bleeding had stopped. His lips had stopped as well thanks to the constant ice.
The little boy looked horrible. His face swollen, busted and bloody. His clothes blood-stained.
"I'm sorry." The reality of everything that had happened hit Jennifer, overwhelmed her.
Knowing that Garrett was there to take care of his children, she ran from the kitchen, locking herself in her bedroom.

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