Hospital Trip

Several days later, at 6:45 in the morning, Richie was sitting next to Jennifer in the waiting room at the MRI department at Norwood Hospital, yawning widely. She had finally called her doctor the day before, and he had yelled at her for not calling right after the accident. Dr. Karp was mortified to find out that Jennifer had been walking around on her injured leg for the better part of a week. He had called in a prescription for pain meds, and told her to be at the hospital the next morning. That night, Richie had asked Gail to take care of a few things at the house while he went to the hospital with Jennifer.

“The most important thing,” he had said, “is to arrange to have a table and chairs set up in the back field, near enough to the water to hear it, but she had to still have wifi signal.”

"I'll take care of it," Gail promised, knowing her friend was going to need wide open spaces when she came back from the hospital.

Now Richie was holding Jennifer's hand and they were talking softly about what they were going to do that afternoon. Jennifer let out a sigh. "I'm going to need to be outside for a while when we're done here," she said.

Richie understood exactly what she meant. He knew that she suffered from claustrophobia, and that this MRI was what they called a "closed" MRI, so she'd be sliding into the tube and going through three kinds of hell. He also knew she would do so without complaint.

"Jennifer?" a voice called from behind them. Jennifer clamped down on Richie's hand, the only outward sign of her terror. They stood and followed the technician, a 30-something named Jarrod, back to the room. Jarrod directed Jennifer to a "changing" room, where he had her leave her bag, take off her watch and leave her cane. Richie took off his jewelry and emptied his pockets as well.

"What are you doing?" Jennifer asked.

Richie just gave her a look. "What does it look like, babe? I'm coming in there with you."

The grateful look in her eyes was all Richie needed to see to know he was doing the right thing. He helped Jennifer hobble to the MRI room. Just the sight of that tan donut made Jennifer's heart race. Jarrod noticed and frowned. "Are you alright, miss?"

Jennifer just nodded. "Closed spaces aren't my favorite, but I'll be alright."

"We can sedate you if you need it," Jarrod said. "You have to stay perfectly still so we can get the readings right."

Jennifer shook her head vehemently. "No. No drugs; I’m still fuzzy from the codeine. I can do this."

Richie helped her up onto the table, and stood back while Jarrod got her positioned properly. He watched as the tech used padding to get her leg in a comfortable but useful position, then frowned when he taped her feet together. "So she doesn't have to concentrate on keeping them still," Jarrod had said. Richie could see sweat beading on Jennifer's forehead, despite the overly-cool room.

Jarrod handed Jennifer earplugs and a black ball. "The machine is loud, so you'll want the earplugs." Jennifer inserted them as Jarrod continued. "Squeeze this if you need to stop the test," he said. "It's attached to the machine, and is an emergency all-stop." Jennifer just nodded, her voice having left her. The tech looked at Richie. "Try to keep her calm," he said, "but try not to let her move. Stay in her line of sight, which for you means you need to stand flush up against the machine." He gave Richie a lead gown to wear. “Just in case,” Jarrod said.

Richie nodded and positioned himself as Jarrod had suggested. The table with Jennifer on it rose to be level with the machine, then slowly, it inched her forward. Jennifer's eyes squeezed shut. Richie watched her legs and torso disappear into the hole, and saw the tension in her hands. They were clasped together on her chest, and her fingers were white with the pressure with which they were holding onto each other. Richie reached out and rested a hand on her forehead, and leaned down to her. He pulled out the earplug and said, "I'm right here. You can feel my hand on you, and if you open your eyes, you can see me. Be strong. I love you."

She slid the rest of the way in, only her head and neck sticking out from the end of the machine. Richie stayed by her side, his thumb stroking her forehead. A disembodied voice filled the room. "The first series will take about 90 seconds," it said. The machine clicked a few times, then rapid clacking noises filled the room for a good minute and a half. When they subsided, Richie leaned down to kiss Jennifer's forehead.

"You're doing great, baby," he said.

The voice was back. "OK, you're doing great, the next one is longer, about five minutes. Here we go."

Richie counted off the seconds, knowing that Jennifer was doing the same thing. She wasn't moving a muscle except to breathe, but the sweat was still forming on her brow, and her eyes were squinched so tightly, he knew she'd be seeing stars once she opened them. Finally, the five minutes were up. Jennifer opened her eyes briefly, and Richie smiled down into them. "You're being so brave," he said.

"I love you," Jennifer mouthed.

"I love you, too," Richie said. The bed moved a little deeper into the machine then, making Jennifer sob. Now only the top half of her head was fully out of the machine. She made a whimpering noise in the back of her throat that tore at Richie's heart. "Do you need to stop?"

"No," she said softly, barely a breath. "It's gotta be almost over."

One last time, the voice came through the speakers. "Two more series. The first will be four minutes, then you'll come out a little bit and we'll do six minutes. Then you're done. Hang in there."

When they were done, and the table started to pull all the way out, Richie breathed a sigh of relief. When the table came to a stop and lowered back down, he expected Jennifer to jump up and off it so fast it'd make her head spin. But she didn't move.

"What's wrong, baby?" Richie asked, concerned.

Jarrod bustled into the room. "You did really well," he said cheerfully. "Do you need help getting up?"

Jennifer nodded, and each man took an arm and gently lifted her to a sitting position. Jennifer promptly started to fall, and Richie caught her against his chest.

"It's not uncommon," Jarrod said, "for someone, especially someone claustrophobic, to feel a little dizzy. Take all the time you need until she feels better."

Richie was rubbing Jennifer's back and murmuring to her. Slowly, Jennifer straightened, and opened her eyes. "Am I done?" she asked shakily. Richie nodded and helped her down from the table. He led her back to where they had left their things, and brought her outside. They sat on a bench for a long time, letting Jennifer get some air. He saw her finally start to relax, and let out another sigh. "I need to go get the car," Richie said, "will you be alright?"

Jennifer nodded, and Richie sprinted across the parking lot to the car. He tore around to pick her up, and they left the hospital behind, top down, and wind streaming all around them. Jennifer laid her head back on the headrest and closed her eyes, letting the wind and sun wash over her. When they got back to the house, Gail was waiting on the front porch. "She alright?" she said softly to Richie, who just nodded. Richie scooped Jennifer up out of the car and carried her through the house and out the back. He crossed the patio and descended the steps into the yard. He didn't stop until he saw a wrought-iron table and matching padded chairs set up in the shade near the pond. He set her gently onto one of the chairs, and raised her leg so it was resting on an adjacent chair.

"You comfortable?" Richie asked.

Jennifer nodded. "Thank you," she said, reaching for him. He knelt in front of her, and hugged her close. "Thank you for not leaving me in there alone."

Richie held Jennifer tighter. "Anytime you need me, anytime at all, all you have to do is call my name." He chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Jennifer asked, pulling back to look into his eyes.

Richie laughed a little more. "I'll be there for you," he said.

Jennifer tried to hide the smile, but couldn't. Soon, she was laughing along with him, and hugging him close.

Later that evening, Richie and Jennifer were settled in with a movie. “Okay, you two, I’m outta here.” Gail came into the family room and smiled at Jennifer cuddled up on Richie’s lap. She made jokes about them being lovebirds, but the whole time Richie had been here, close to a week now, he’d hardly let Jen out of his sight. He was always with her or within earshot, and forever touching her or kissing her, and she was giving it right back in spades. Gail smiled. They were so cute together.

“What the hell are you WEARING?” Richie exclaimed, eyes bugging out. “Jesus, Gail, where’s the rest of your dress?”

Gail had on an amethyst-colored mini-dress that barely covered her ass and dipped low enough between her breasts to show her navel piercing. She raised an eyebrow at him. "There's nothing wrong with the way I'm dressed, dad," she said.

“Don’t listen to him,” Jennifer said. “I think you look gorgeous. The Russians won’t know what hit them. You got your key?” Gail had gone to a local club that her friends Summer and Paul had recommended, and been literally swept off her feet by one of the Russians that owned the place. She was going out with him tonight.

“Thanks, sweetie,” Gail said, coming to give her a kiss. “And yeah, I’ve got the key in my bag. I’ll be home late. LATE late,” she added with a wink. “Have fun, you two,” she said, waggling her fingers at them. “Richie, honey, remember she’s injured. Go easy on her.” She winked and ran from the room.

Richie chuckled. “Subtle as a brick, isn’t she?”

Jennifer laughed. “Yeah, but I love her,” she said.

“More than me?” Richie asked, pouting.

Jennifer slid her fingers into the hair on either side of Richie’s face and brought her mouth to within a micron of his. She could almost taste the ice cream he had eaten for dessert on his breath.

“Not a chance,” she said, an instant before pressing her lips against his.

Richie groaned and wrapped his arms around Jennifer, shifting her just a little on his lap. He brought a hand up to cradle the back of her neck, and tilted her slightly so he could dip his tongue into her mouth. Jennifer stroked his tongue with hers, and purred happily.

Richie’s other hand unwound from around her waist and pushed up under her t-shirt to stroke her breast. He swiped his thumb across her nipple, and was rewarded with a breathy sigh. He broke the kiss to pull her shirt up and over her head, tossing it to the floor, and attacked her mouth again. Richie deftly unhooked her bra, and tossed it in the general direction of the shirts on the floor. Richie tore his mouth away to look his fill. “God, you are beautiful, baby,” he said huskily.

Jennifer smiled and grabbed fistfuls of Richie’s t-shirt, hauling it out of his jeans and yanking it roughly over his head. “You’re the one who’s beautiful,” Jennifer said, her mouth watering at the sight of Richie’s chest. She ran her hands over its broad, tanned expanse, and giggled when he flexed his pecs at her. She mashed her breasts to his chest and groaned. “Your skin is so warm,” she said, and plastered her mouth to his again. She roughly kissed her way across his jaw to his neck and earlobe, biting it gently.

“Damn, woman,” Richie groaned, and pulled Jennifer’s head back so he could bite and suck down the length of her neck. He bent her over his arm so he could get to her breasts, and sucked first one, then the other rosy peak into his mouth, worrying her nipples with his tongue.

“God,” Jennifer said on a moan. She shifted on Richie’s lap, needing to make room for the erection that was suddenly taking up so much room between them. “Take me to bed, Rich, please,” Jennifer begged, threading her fingers into Richie’s hair.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he said, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

“So don’t hurt me,” Jennifer said. “Just fuck me.”

The heat in her voice and her words had Richie hotter for her than her kisses made him. “Sweet Jesus,” Richie said, standing and taking Jennifer in his arms. He carried her to the bedroom and gently stood her by the bed. He slid her shorts and panties down, helping her sit on the edge of the bed to slide them off her feet. He slid her back so she was against the pillows, and positioned her leg on the cushion she’d been using to keep it elevated. With a sultry smile, Jennifer slid her other leg to the end of the bed bending it at the knee.

She crooked a finger at him. “C’mere, baby,” she said, and licked her lips.

Richie grinned and dropped his jeans to the floor. He kicked out of them and crawled gently up onto the bed. He pushed into her slowly, feeling her slick walls expanding to take him in. Jennifer felt the warmth of his most intimate flesh filling her and sighed. When Richie was fully seated, he stopped. Jennifer opened her eyes and looked into Richie’s chocolate pools, drowning in them. “I love you, Jennifer,” he said, and started a slow roll of his hips.

“I love you, too, Rich,” she answered, and grabbed his head for another kiss.

Richie stroked slowly in and out of her, hearing her breath hitch. He could feel her tightening around him and his head swam. She was so warm and so tight, it was heaven. “God, Jennifer, you feel so good,” he said to her, as his rhythm picked up.

“Ohhh, gawwwwd….Riiiiich,” Jennifer groaned, as the waves of her orgasm crept up and over her. Her eyes closed again, and her back arched slightly as the pulsing grew stronger.

When her muscles clenched around him, Richie grinned. “That’s it, baby,” he said. “Cum hard for me.”

“You too,” Jennifer answered, squeezing him tighter. Richie groaned and the veins on his neck stood out then he was emptying into her, a rush of hot cum pumping deep inside her. “Oh my sweet fuuuuuck…..” Jennifer growled.

When Richie was spent, he gently rolled off, but kept Jennifer tucked in close. He smoothed her hair back from her forehead, and kissed her temple. “How’s your leg?” he asked.

“Just fine my love,” she answered, though it was throbbing a bit. “Good enough for another go, “she said saucily.

“Give me a couple minutes and I’ll be happy to oblige,” Richie said with a smirk. “What’s gotten into you?” he asked her.

Jennifer laughed. “You,” she answered. “You make me feel so wanton.”

“Well thank God for that,” he said. “I do believe I like it when you talk dirty to me,” he whispered in her ear.

“Oh yeah?” she asked, pressing a kiss to his chest. “I do believe I like it when your fingers play over my nipples like they do your twelve-string,” she said, kissing him again, and feeling him start to stir against her leg. She smiled. “And I absolutely LOVE it when you make me scream when you drive your tongue into me.”

“And I do believe I’m ready to slide into your warm,” he kissed her cheek, “wet,” her eyelids, “heat again.”

“Bring it on, baby,” Jennifer said.


Hours later, when Gail came back, she saw the TV still flickering in the family room. She went in to give them shit about falling asleep in front of the TV and laughed out loud when she saw their shirts on the floor. Grinning, she picked them up, saw Jen’s bra halfway across the room, and snagged that too. She turned off the TV and went upstairs to her room, dumping their clothes outside Jennifer’s closed door on the way. She heard gentle laughter and muted voices behind the door, and scurried to her room before she heard something she didn’t want to hear.

“Lovebirds,” she snickered, and then went to bed.