Free AFTERGLOW by Catherine Coulter Page A

flinched.
    "Chelsea," he said, taking her face between his hands again, "something on the moped stabbed you. What we've got to do, now, is an exploratory laparotomy. I can't take the risk that something vital wasn't penetrated. In a moment I'll have you sign some papers. Then I'll give you a shot and there won't be any more pain. All right?"
    "It hurts," Chelsea said. "So does my wretched head."
    "I imagine it does. But you're going to be just fine, I promise. Now hold still, just another quick prick." He got the IV going and ordered antibiotics.
    "I don't like this at all," Chelsea said, trying very hard not to sob. "I don't want you looking at me!"
    "Now I'm just going to look at your head." She felt a sheet being pulled over her. It had taken them long enough, she thought angrily. "How many fingers, Chelsea?"
    "Four."
    "Good, now follow my finger."
    She did. He started probing, and she tried to jerk away when he found the small lump behind her left ear. "Hold still," he said sharply. She felt him strike her lightly with something, and one elbow jumped, then the other. "Tell me if you feel this," he said.
    "Ouch!"
    David took the needle he'd been lightly pricking against her legs and gently scratched it up the bottom of her bare foot. "Feel that?"
    "Yes."
    He looked closely into her eyes with a silly-looking instrument. He said while he looked, "I don't think there's any doubt that you know who you are and who I am. Your brain is intact. Everything looks good here."
    "I don't like lying here like a piece of meat," she said.
    "I wouldn't, either. Now I've got to examine the rest of you. Just relax."
    He gently turned her onto her stomach, and the pain in her stomach intensified. She stuffed her fist into her mouth.
    David checked every inch of her back, bottom and legs. No other puncture wounds, no bruises. He stroked his hands over her ribs. "Any pain?"
    She shook her head, not speaking.
    He shifted her onto her back again and pulled the sheet over her. Her face was white with pain. He knew he was going to operate, and he also knew he should wait for the anesthesiologist, but he didn't wait. He told Elsa in a low voice to bring morphine.
    Chelsea's eyes were closed, and her lashes only flickered slightly when he asked, "There's no pain anywhere but your belly?"
    She managed to gasp out, "It's just my rotten stomach!"
    "Okay, now I'm going to raise you a bit. Here's a pen. Sign right here."
    "What is it? My will? I'm leaving you all my money?"
    "No, you're giving me permission to do a laparotomy. That's all."
    She wanted to ask what a laparotomy was, but she felt a sharp bolt of pain in her stomach and couldn't think straight. She signed the paper.
    "Good," David said. He injected the morphine into her IV line and checked again to see that the tape holding the needle in her arm was secure.
    "You're a damned lecher," she gritted out. "Don't you dare pull that sheet down again."
    She thought she heard some laughter, but wasn't certain. David was leaning over her again. "Now just breathe normally. You're not going out yet, but the pain is going to all but go away. Then I'm going to take some very pretty pictures of your insides. Then the OR."
    What the devil was the OR? she wondered vaguely. Operating room. "No!" she yelled, trying desperately to sit up. Everything was spinning. David's face flickered in and out.
    "You look ridiculous in that dumb white coat," she said; then she felt incapable of doing or saying anything else.
    She felt insensible, her brain like mush, but at least the pain was only a dull throbbing.
    David was saying, "Get me Dr. Madson. I want him to do the surgery."
    He took Chelsea's hand in his, and for the first time since he'd seen her sprawled on the gurney he smiled. "You're going to be all right, Chels. And when you wake up you won't be able to yell at me for operating on you." Dr. Madson was the finest abdominal surgeon on staff. He shook his head. She'd actually called him a lecher!
    He held her hand