Chapter 34: Chapter 34
"Should we rip it out?" I suggest, tugging gently on the wire in my hand. Woody's dark eyes widen and he stares at me like I've grown another head. He reaches forward, batting my hand away.
"No, that's not even an option." He says firmly, giving me his one eyebrow raised look. I roll my eyes at him, secretly grateful that he didn't agree. I may be tough but I don't think I'd be able to willingly pull out a wire that's embedded into my hand. Woody grabs his phone and begins furiously scrolling through it, a look of concentration on his face.
"I'm Googling how to take it out safely." Woody mumbles, letting me know what he's doing. I nod my head slowly, glancing around the hospital room. It feels wrong to be here when we're so close to finding my parents. Now that the dizziness has wore off, I'm itching to get going again, desperate to see their faces.
The door opens and I snap my head towards it, smiling at a nurse who's wheeling a trolley inside my room. She returns my smile, her eyes briefly flickering over to Woody beside me.
"You're awake! Let's get that drip changed, shall we?" The nurse says cheerily, walking towards me. My eyes widen and I turn to look at Woody to catch his attention. His eyes remain glued to his phone so I begin coughing falsely, trying to get him to look up at me.
"Sure, I'd love to get my drip changed." I say loudly. The nurse gives me a funny look before going back to sorting out the medical equipment she'll need. I quickly lean forward, shoving Woody's knee to get his attention. He frowns and his eyes flicker upwards, meeting mine. I gesture at the nurse beside me, raising my hand slowly to show him what's happening.
"Oh." Woody says, realisation dawning on him. I roll my eyes at how oblivious he can be sometimes but I guess that's guys for you. I try to communicate with Woody silently with my eyes, letting him in on the plan in my head. He watches me with a scrunched up confused expression and I know he doesn't understand a word I'm trying to tell him.
I sigh heavily and drop backwards onto the hospital pillows, giving up. Communicating regularly can be a problem with Woody sometimes so attempting to do it silently is almost impossible. The nurse gently takes out the drip on my hand, humming under her breath the entire time. I watch her do it, fascinated at the sight of it going under my skin.
"I don't feel so good." Woody suddenly mumbles from beside me. He stands up, wavering on his feet a little. I turn to look at him and he subtly gives me a wink. My lips stretch out into a full blown grin as I realise he did get on the same page as me. The nurse glances over at him worriedly, the new drip in her hand as she's seconds away from replacing it.
"Are you okay honey?" She asks Woody, pausing next to me. Woody stumbles forward slightly, acting like he's losing balance. Beside me, the nurse drops the drip replacement onto her tray before standing up, rushing to Woody's side. He dramatically throws himself to the floor, landing in a heap.
I stifle a laughter, attempting to hold a straight face the entire time. The nurse appears overwhelmed, glancing left and right for any sign of help.
"You should go and get a doctor! He needs help," I tell her quickly, appearing worried. She nods her head, my instructions springing her into action. As soon as she leaves the room, Woody's eyes spring open and he jumps up off the floor. He grins widely at me, dark eyes shining —
"And that's how you act!" Woody exclaims, throwing the bed sheet off me. I swing my legs off the bed, glancing around to grab any of my possessions. It feels good to be wire free but as soon as my feet touch the floor, I wobble uncertainly and feel myself falling. Woody automatically appears in front of me, strong arms wrapping around my mid-section.
"I don't feel strong enough for this." I mumble into his shirt. He glances worriedly at the door before back at me, needing to make a decision in a split second if we're going to pull this off.
"Hold on tight," Woody murmurs down my ear. I frown in confusion at his words before I suddenly feel myself being picked up off the floor. I squeal out loud, feeling the draft blow straight up my medical gown and down the back.
"Go Cowboy! Faster," I tell him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He carries me bridal style towards the door, a wide grin on his face as he checks the hallway. It's empty beside from an older patient using a zimmer frame several feet away from us. I lift my finger up and place it on my lips, signalling for him to remain quiet. The old man nods knowingly, his lips stretching into a smile.
"Go Woody." I whisper down his ear. Woody nods before speed walking down the corridor, past the old man and straight for the doors on the end. His stride breaks out into a jog and I giggle loudly, holding onto him tighter. We continue running through the hospital corridors, receiving numerous looks from patients and doctors.
"How are you so strong?" I breathe out, marvelled at how fast he can run whilst carrying my entire weight. I can easily devour a jar of Nutella in under ten minutes so it must be difficult for him despite him not even breaking a sweat.
"It's easy when you're carrying someone that means something to you." Woody responds back smoothly. I glance up at him from under my lashes, my breathing hitching in my throat. As he continues through the corridors and out the front doors of the hospital, he looks down at me.
His dark eyes are filled with an emotion I've never seen anyone look at me with. I open my mouth to say something in return, something that will change our relationship forever. At the last second, I completely chicken out and involuntarily change the course of my feelings —
"I just realised my entire backside is on show for the world to see." I tell him. Woody pauses, his dark eyes connecting with mine. His lips twitch upwards into a slow smirk and he nods, confirming my realisation.
"You're right Melvin, it is. On the plus side, those are some sweet cheeks." Woody winks at me, a twinkle in his dark eyes. I throw my head back and laugh loudly and he joins in. To anyone watching us, we must look absolutely crazy —
A dark haired handsome Woody running through a hospital with a beaten up Ruby Melvin who's dressed in a medical gown with her entire back profile exposed.
What a sight indeed.