The light squeeze on her hand made her look up from her feet, away from the blood stained in her high heels. Right. He was here. He was alive and breathing and talking to her. That was what mattered. Polly used her free hand to wipe away some stray tears that had traveled down her cheeks. She was sure that she looked terrible. Her eyes felt heavy and all she wanted was to lay down next to him, and just forget about everything that had happened. But now wasn’t the time for that. As easy as it was for her to forget in the moment that they weren’t together anymore, it was slowly coming back to her. She had lied to the emergency personnel. Oops.
She laughed, a little easier this time, less sobbing. They were both ridiculous. “Look at you, shot in the chest and joking about it. Of course you would.” Polly shook her head, a small grin resting on her face. “I didn’t think so. I mean I didn’t really look, I was too worried about you.” Her eyebrow raised, confusion written all over her face. “Your nephew Nathan?” She pulled her lip between her teeth, worrying over what she was hearing. She remembered him talking about him a few times, but never anything that made her worry for Doug. But this… this was different. She’d get to the bottom of this. There was no way Doug was in good enough condition. Polly could tell even talking to her for this little bit took a lot out of him.
Again the light squeeze brought her out of her thoughts. “Shhh. I know. I told you I’d always be there for you, no matter what. I meant it. You’re okay. That’s what matters. Nothing else. Thank the jacket I forgot in the back.” A slight blush rose in her cheeks. She offered her own squeeze back when he looked away. “Oh, uh. Also in case someone asks, I told them I was your girlfriend. I was afraid they wouldn’t let me go with you otherwise.”
“Well, if I didn’t joke about it, then it’d start to set in just how fucking terrifying all of this is,” he said it with a bit of a grin, but it was the truth. If he didn’t try to cover up the fact that he had been shot and was literally dying not that long ago with humor, then how was he supposed to stay sane in here.
Doug tried shrugging, winced, then just decided talking would be easier. “I think so? It didn’t really make any sense. I don’t know what the hell he’d have to do with it, or maybe they were just trying to mess with me.” He can’t imagine Nathan would actually send someone to kill him, but he isn’t too sure. No. No, he wouldn’t. That’s the mindset Doug had to have. Nathan wouldn’t do this on purpose.
Doug smiled a bit. Polly really was too good to him always. Now more than ever. All the shit he’d put her through, and she still saved him. “I’m glad I have you looking out for me,” he said, followed by another grin. “I saw your jacket, I was gonna text you before I left to see if you wanted me to drop it off.” He would never call Polly forgetful, but on these early fall days where the temperature changed so frequently, he wasn’t surprised that she had left it in the club. Doug nodded, something hurting in his chest at that word. Well, something else hurt. “That’s... That’s okay. I’m glad you were able to come with me. I don’t think I could’ve been here alone. Even if I wasn’t fully conscious, it definitely helped to have you there with me.” he looked back up at her. “Besides, it wasn’t a complete lie. You are my friend who happens to be a girl, and, y’know, at one time you were.” He didn’t feel like he was making a lot of sense. But he liked holding her hand. He missed holding her hand. “And, hey, if you ever need to leave to go sleep or change or anything, I’ll be fine. Or you can call one of the guys. Just... I don’t want you to feel like you have to be here, okay?”