Turned out, even rich (Johnny assumed) plastic surgeons are willing to come to the hospital in the middle of the night when good money is involved. He fairly quickly stitched her up and came back out.
“There will be a scar, but not much of one,” he said. “Was she actually in a knife fight?”
“Yes, actually,” Rand said. “I want to thank you for coming here so quickly.”
“Wait until you see my bill,” he said, grinning, and left.
“I’m going back to see her,” he told Dawn.
“You should,” she said.
He negotiated with the counter lady and she checked her computer and told him how to get to Jenny’s room. He navigated there and paused at the open door. There were privacy screens by the two beds but they were both open, and the other bed was empty. Jenny was under a sheet. Rand closed the door and walked in and sat down by the bed. She opened her eyes.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hi your own self,” Rand said. He took her hand.
“I feel woozy,” she said. “They gave me something. They want to keep me overnight.”
“Sounds right,” Rand said. “You passed out at my place.”
“Why are you doing this for me? This is going to cost a small fortune.”
“Shut the fuck up,” Rand said mildly. “Are you kidding with the ‘why’?”
“I could check out now AMA and save you some money.”
“Here’s what’s going to happen, Woozy” Rand said. “You are going to stay right here and go to sleep. I am going to go home and get you some clean clothes, because you bled all over mine, then I am going to come back and sit right here with you and watch you sleep all night.”
Two uniformed police officers knocked softly on the door and came in. They were off duty, and on Johnny’s dime.
“These nice officers will stay here while I’m gone. You’re going to be fine, and safe, and you’re going to go to sleep, Marine. That’s an order.”
——
When Rand came back after taking Dawn home, Jenny was indeed asleep. He put her clothes and her purse next to the bed, sat down in the chair, and promptly also fell asleep.
“Johnny?”
He woke up to sun streaming through the window. He had passed out and slept all night. Some bodyguard.
“Hey. How do you feel today?”
“Still woozy. I don’t know what they’re giving me here, but it’s good stuff. I need to pee, and I’ve pressed the button, but no nurse. Can you help me to the bathroom?”
“Of course.”
He helped her into the bathroom, and lifted the toilet seat lid, and started to exit.
“Johnny.”
“Yes?” He turned back around as she was lifting her dumb hospital gown up and he could see it all.
“Please stay. I don’t want to be alone.”
“Okay.” He turned around again. He heard her let loose and yeah, boy, did she have to pee. It went on and finally stopped. There was the sound of the paperwork being done, then “Help me to the sink?”
He did. She washed her hands and dried them and leaned on him as he led her back to bed.
“How much is this costing you?” she said as she climbed into the bed.
“I dunno,” he said.
“What do you mean, ‘you dunno’?”
“I mean I don’t care.”
“What are you, rich or something?”
Rand said nothing.
“I refuse to be a charity case, or to owe you. I’ll find a way to pay you back. But it might take a while.”
Rand looked at her for a time. “What do you do for a living?” he said.
She looked at the wall, as she had when she told Buddy that her MOS was supply.
“I’m a bartender,” she said softly.
“Outstanding,” Johnny said. “I’m taking you back to my place, and you’re going to make me a Perfect Manhattan, and we’ll call it even.”
She stared at him.
“I AM rich,” he said. “And guess what: after last night, so are you.”
“You don’t look rich. You’re wearing old jeans and a Led Zep t-shirt.”
“That’s nothing. You should see my other rich friends.”
Tears started rolling down her face.
“No, no, no!” Rand said, and went to her, and hugged her, and she sobbed into his shoulder. He waited until she had cried herself out. He pushed back on her and wiped the tears from her face.
“I really am rich, Marine. I still find it hard to believe, but I am. And when I say that after last night so are you, I mean that. You’ll never have to bartend again unless you want to. I have other opportunities in mind, though, given your experience and skills.”
She stared at him.
“We’ll talk about it later. First things first. Do you feel well enough to get dressed?”
“I think so. Can you help me undo the back of this stupid gown?”
He chuckled. “Sure. Been there, done that.” He undid the ties and she immediately let the gown fall to the floor. She was wonderfully naked. He quickly glanced at the room door to make sure it was still closed, and it was. He looked back at Jenny.
Her body was glorious. Her back was glorious. Her ass was glorious. However many hours she put into PT, it was worth it.
She turned around.
Johnny had seen her breasts before and her mound before but not everything at once. Her front was glorious as well. With the exception of angry red suture marks across her abdomen. He moved to her and very lightly cupped the wound.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. She pushed him back.
“You have nothing at all to be sorry about. I voluntarily joined the fight. Also, you’ve been nothing but kind and solicitous. I thought you deserved the Full Monty look as partial payment.” She looked down at her abdomen. “Although I’m sorry that I’m damaged goods now.”
She thought Rand was going to explode, his face went so red, so quickly. He stood up.
“Never fucking say anything like that again, okay? You’re beautiful. Gorgeous. And if you wind up with a scar from this, it’s going to be the sexiest scar I’ll ever hope to see. Because you got it for me.”
“He’s right, Jenny” Dawn said as she walked in. “You are gorgeous.”
“Oh no!” Jenny said as she grabbed her gown and tried to cover her front. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t trying to… take him. From you.”
Dawn chuckled. “Maybe when you feel better, you can take him if you want. Or he can take you. Or both.”
Jenny stared at her. Rand sighed.
“It’s a little complicated,” he said. “But for now let’s get you dressed and out of here.”
——
Jenny was still woozy, so after she checked out Johnny refused to take her back to her car and let her drive home.
“We can get your car later. For now, we can either drive you to your home or to ours. Either way, you’re going to need to rest until the drugs wear off.”
“Umm… your house, if that’s okay. I seem to recall that I owe you a Perfect Manhattan.”
Johnny and Dawn both grinned. “Home, James,” Dawn said.
When they got home, Kimmy was up. She had heard the whole story. She ran to Johnny and hugged him and he picked her up.
“Kimmy, this is Jenny. Jenny, meet Kimmy.”
“Hi, Kimmy,” Jenny said. She looked inquiringly at Johnny.
“Long story,” he said. “Let’s go inside.”
As they were headed towards the door, Meyer’s Cadillac pulled into the driveway. He opened the door and got out and walked over to them.
“Buddy called and told me everything,” he said. He looked at Jenny. “My name is Meyer. I have a first name too, but nobody uses it. How are you, young Marine?”
“Jenny,” she said. “I guess I’m okay, just a little woozy. I have Johnny to blame for that. He paid for my hospitalization, a plastic surgeon, and really good meds.”
“Meyer and I were LAPD cops together,” Johnny said.
“This may seem a bit forward of me, but may I see your wound?” Meyer said.
Jenny lifted her shirt up enough to show off the stiches. Meyer whistled through his teeth.
“I know it hurts and shit, but actually you were lucky.”
“No, skilled,” Johnny said. “She took that bastard down like he was a big toy. Let’s go inside. Jenny is a bartender, and as soon as she feels up to it, she’s going to make drinks.” He looked at Kimmy, who was still in his arms. “Sorry I said ‘bastard,’ Kimmy.