Audacious//JJ Maybank (Outerbanks)

Chapter 87

{Bruises}

The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air as I sat in the hospital room, the white walls closing in on me. My head throbbed, and every small movement sent jolts of pain through my skull. Mr. Sunn sat beside me, his usual stoic expression replaced with concern as he flipped through the paperwork on the clipboard.

"Just a precaution, Jackie," he said, glancing up at me. "We need to make sure your head is okay and check on the baby." His voice was steady, but I could see the worry in his eyes.

I nodded absentmindedly, but my thoughts were elsewhere. All I wanted was to have JJ by my side. And The idea of my father and John B being out there, searching for the men that attacked us, while I sat here feeling helpless, made my heart ache. It was like I had been torn from my world of adventure and placed into this dull reality.

The doctor walked in, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a gentle demeanour. "Good afternoon, Jackie. I'm Dr. Parker. How are you feeling?"

"Like I got hit with a crowbar," I replied, forcing a weak smile despite the discomfort.

She nodded knowingly. "That's not surprising. We're going to do a quick examination, check your vitals, and make sure everything is alright with the baby. If you could please follow me over to the examination table?"

I shifted my gaze to the examination table, feeling a wave of dread wash over me. I didn't want to be here—I wanted to be with JJ. I wanted to feel his strong arms around me, comforting me and reassuring me that everything would be okay.

As Dr. Parker began her examination, my mind wandered back to the attack. The memory of the men storming in, crowbar swinging, made my stomach turn. "What if they get hurt?" I thought, panic creeping in. I should be out there with them, not trapped in this room.

"Let's start with a quick ultrasound to check on the baby," the doctor said, bringing my attention back to her. She rolled the machine over, and I felt a flutter of anticipation mixed with anxiety.

As she placed the cold gel on my abdomen and pressed the wand against my skin, I held my breath. The screen flickered to life, revealing the small, pulsating figure of my baby. The heartbeat echoed through the room, and I let out a shaky breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.

"Everything looks good," Dr. Parker said, a smile spreading across her face as she pointed to the screen. "Your baby's heart rate is strong, and there's no sign of any distress."

"Thank God," I whispered, tears welling in my eyes.  "Now let's take a look at your head," she continued, moving on with the examination. As she prodded gently around my temple, I flinched at the sharp pain.

"I can't believe I let myself get caught up in all of this," I muttered, my frustration boiling over. "I should be out there with them."

Dr. Parker paused, meeting my gaze with a steady expression. "You need to focus on your health right now." But I couldn't. I could feel the weight of the world on my shoulders, knowing that my father and brother were out there with those men—men who had already shown they were willing to hurt us.

After what felt like an eternity, the examination wrapped up, and Dr. Parker gave me a reassuring nod. "You're going to be okay, Jackie. Just keep an eye on any symptoms, and let us know if you experience anything unusual."

"Thanks," I said, still feeling uneasy.  I pull down my top and get up from the examination table, thanking the doctor once more before leaving the hospital.

As I pulled up to the Chateau, a mix of hope and anxiety coursed through me. I had been waiting for hours in the hospital, and now all I could think about was my father and John B returning home. But as I stepped out of the car, the sight that caught my eye was unexpected. JJ's dirt bike was parked outside, its shiny metal glinting in the late afternoon sun.