I'm so sorry about the slow update. Please hound me if you're impatient!
- Sian
The journey home was quiet. Oliver fell asleep half an hour ago. His chest was hurting him, but he managed to settle into his vampire and drift off with uncomfortable dreams.
Madison and Duke had been phoning the police and keeping in touch with their bodyguards. The secret service was holding the vampires captive and prepared for hefty interrogations when they wake up. When the secret service receives all of the information they need, they with kill the rogue vampires.
Vinny watched his soulmate while he slept. His breathing was a little wheezy, and he knew he was hurting. When Oliver coughed, he whimpered and snuggled against the vampires side.
"Is he okay?" Duke asked with concern.
"He's injured," Vinny said, grabbing Jed's attention.
"We entered your city a few minutes ago. I can drive you to the hospital if he needs medical attention?"
Vinny watched his parents, and they gave him a nod of approval.
"Okay, I would feel better if he was checked over."
Jed changed his route. Oliver did hit the ground hard when the vampires attacked. It was no surprise that he felt sore.
As they got closer to the hospital, Vinny decided to wake him.
"Oliver," he whispered and gently shook his shoulder. Oliver's eyes flickered while bringing a hand up to rub his chest. Slowly, he lifted his head, blinking in confusion.
"Are we nearly back?" he mumbled, looking out of the window. He recognised his surroundings, but they were heading further away from the mansion.
"Not yet, we are taking you to the hospital," Vinny soothed and rubbed his back.
Oliver turned with a little frown.
"You don't need to do that; I'm okay." He watched Duke and Madison, not wanting to waste their time. Yes, he was in a lot of pain, but he could manage.
"You're hurting," Vinny said and gently pressed down on Oliver's chest, making him hiss and push his hand away. "You're not okay."
Oliver sighed.
"I'll be fine. I just need some ice-"
"You're going to the hospital," Vinny spoke, trying not to sound too demanding. "Stop being so stubborn."
The human sighed in defeat.
"Fine," he mumbled, "thank you."
Vinny's parents smiled. They understood he wouldn't want to go. Their son was worried about his soulmate and his injuries, and he won't feel settled until he knew Oliver felt better.
"We're here." Jed pulled up, just outside the sliding doors, leading into Accident and Emergency. "Would you prefer me to come, or to wait here?"
"Come in with us," Duke said, knowing Madison would feel better if he was there.
Jed nodded and radioed the rest of the bodyguard crew.
Vinny put Oliver's bobble hat on him, mainly because he looked charming in it, but he also might be feeling cold. Oliver gave him a weak smile before following his family inside,
Every human stared at them. Most people in the waiting rooms had never seen the Vanderwood family in person, and the talk would rise about why they were here.
Duke walked up to the desk, startling the receptionist.
"We need your best doctor to have a look at young Oliver here please," he said boldly and watched her mind begin to function.
"Y-Yes. Of course!" the receptionist stuttered. "What's wrong with Oliver?" She was trying to keep down her excitement but was obsessed with Vinny and Oliver's relationship. She thought they were adorable together.
"Oh um, I've hurt my chest," Oliver said, watching her nod.
"Okay, I won't be a moment!" She stared at Vinny long enough to make him feel awkward before turning and hurrying down the hall.
Duke smile at her behaviour. He found humour in humans who act that way around them.
"I think we found your number one fan," Duke grinned and raised an eyebrow at Vinny, who stared blankly. People act like that around vampires all the time, but it was still new for Oliver to receive the same treatment.
"You should compliment her," Oliver spoke. "I bet that would make her day."
Vinny looked like his soulmate had just killed a cat.
"No."
"Go on, she'll tell all her friends about how nice you were, and then your reputation would change. People will know you as the happy member of the Vanderwood family, and you'll have to smile all the time and say nice things."
Duke and Madison were trying to stifle their laughter. They knew Oliver loved Vinny's blunt and sharp attitude.
"Stop talking," the vampire muttered, trying his hardest to hold back a smile, "that will never happen."
Oliver grinned, just as the woman returned, out of breath and looking flustered.
"Doctor Peters is waiting for you in room twelve," she breathed and tried not to gaze at Vinny again awkwardly.
"Thank you very much," Madison smiled and enjoyed seeing the woman's smile grow.
Oliver watched Vinny with big, puppy dog eyes. He knew his forest greens were one thing the vampire fell for and when Vinny sighed in defeat, Oliver couldn't hold back a little smirk.
"Dammit, why do they look like that anyway? It's not fair," he grumbled before letting go of his hand and stomped up to the desk. He tried to soften his glare somewhat, but it didn't work.
"Thank you; I appreciate your help." It didn't sound too convincing, but the woman almost squealed with delight. Oliver was beyond satisfied, that was the highlight of this woman's week, maybe even her month.
Vinny returned to the human's side, took his hand, and pulled him down the corridor.
"Aw, I'm so proud-"
"Stop."
When they reached room twelve, Duke and Madison stood next to who they presumed to be doctor Peters. Jed stood and waited next to the door. Madison felt relaxed that he was here, she trusted him, maybe a little too much.
The doctor was only just able to calm herself and focus on her job. Seeing the Vanderwoods in person was an impressive thing.
"Hello Oliver, I'm Doctor Peters. Would you mind taking a seat on the bed for me?"
Oliver turned and slowly sat down, trying not to wince.
"So, what seems to be the problem?" she asked.
"I've injured my chest. I might have bruised some ribs."
"Okay, would you mind taking off your layers for me so I can have a look?"
"Not at all." Oliver took off his hat, his jumper, and his t-shirt. His bare chest revealed awful bruising. Vinny's eyes widened a little; he didn't expect that.
"So, it looks rather painful." She dabbed the bruising and Oliver edged away. "Okay, I want you to breathe in really slowly for me." She put the stethoscope plugs in her ears before resting the metal end on Oliver's back. It was cold and a little soothing.
He struggled to do her instructions, and he did sound a little wheezy.
"Do you have asthma or anything like that?" she asked and moved to his front.
Oliver shook his head to say no.
"Alright, I'm going to send you to get some x-rays done so we can see what condition your ribs are in," she said. Oliver could tell she wanted to say more but didn't want to assume anything in front of the Vanderwoods in fear of getting it wrong.
"Okay," he smiled.
"I won't be a moment." She smiled at the alpha, and the female alpha before stepping out of the room. Jed saw her visibly relax and he felt a little sorry for her.
Vinny sat next to his soulmate on the bed. He watched him put his clothes back then started to rub his back.
"That looks sore," he sighed, referring to his bruising. He was angry that someone injured his human. It was something he would not tolerate.
"I think it looks worse than what it is," Oliver tried to chuckle, even when it came out short and rough.
"I just hate that you're hurting." Vinny leant close and kissed his temple. Oliver moved into it with closed eyes.
"I'll be okay."
The door opened again, revealing a nurse with a tired expression and wavy blonde hair. He said, "We're ready for you Oliver," and waited patiently for him in the corridor.
"That was quick," Duke said as his son helped the human off the bed. The nurse didn't even question Vinny as he walked with Oliver out the room.
"Would you like me to stay, or follow?" Jed asked when they were gone.
"You can stay, they will be alright," Duke ordered.
After the x-rays, Oliver sat back on the bed, sighing with boredom.
"When was the last time you were in a hospital?" he asked Vinny.
The vampire inspected Oliver face with thought.
"I'm not sure. Probably, in the late eighteen hundreds." the vampire shrugged. "If you could even call it a hospital."
"Yes, because you broke your arm," Duke nodded. "I remember that."
"How did you break your arm?" Oliver asked.
"My uncle used to keep horses," Vinny said. "One day, he made me help dig up his crops. So I was out in the field when one of his horses broke free. We both tried to catch it, but it knocked me over and crushed my arm."
Oliver listened with interest. He wondered what it was like to live in that time.
"I hate horses," Vinny muttered and rubbed the arm he broke.
"I'm not surprised after that. Was it a bad break?"
"No, it healed within twelve hours."
Oliver's jaw almost fell off.
"twelve hours?" he repeated.
"Yes. Vampires heal quickly." Vinny wished it was the same for Oliver.
Just then, the door opened once more. Everyone looked up to see the doctor. She walked over to Oliver with a smile, but it was maybe a little faked. Did she bring bad news?
"So, I've looked at your x-rays, and unfortunately you have managed to break three of your ribs and badly bruise two more." Oliver was stunned. He broke something. It was the first bone he had ever broken. "So, there isn't much we can do. Ribs can't get splints like regular breaks, but they will heal on their own. It'll take about three to six weeks to heal," the doctor continued, "but I can recommend that you do as little as you can to help them heal quicker. Also, I'll subscribe some strong pain relief to help you cope with the pain."
Oliver nodded, showing his understanding.
Vinny felt better now that he knew the diagnosis and Oliver would make a full recovery. But his soulmate had broken bones. Therefore he needed to look after him and smother him with love.
"Are you allergic to anything?" the doctor asked before pulling a box of pills from the locked cupboard.
"No." he winced while putting his jumper back on.
"Okay good. So, I want you to take one of these pills, four times a day for ten days."
"Okay, thank you so much."
Madison walked over and put the pills in her bag, so Oliver didn't have to carry them.
"You're very welcome. I hope you recover well." The woman tried to keep her calm in such a rare situation.
"Thanks," he smiled as Vinny walked with him to the door. Oliver couldn't believe he had broken ribs, but at least they will start to heal now, and he has intense pain relief.
Everyone hoped that they could find whoever ordered vampires to hurt their family. Hopefully, when they capture the person, all of this chaos can be put to an end.