Read Online All the Things I Didn't See by Cindy Sutherland - Free Book Online

up the pen and handed it to Sam. Josh held the book up close so Sam could reach it without moving too much.
    Sam smiled at him and started writing. He was sweating from the effort by the time he was done, and when Josh lifted the book up, he saw the letters were crude and almost unreadable.
Josh read what Sam had written, and he gave a surprised huff of laughter before looking at the doctor.
    “He says ‘nut job with a gun came after me. Josh was stubborn and almost got his ass shot, but I got in the way as usual. And my name is Sam!’” He grinned down at his friend, then back at the doctor. “If he could speak, he’d say ‘Mr. Peterson just sounds obnoxious, but don’t tell my dad!’”
    The doctor looked at Sam, who smiled and nodded, and she chuckled.
“All right, then, Sam , just a few more questions. Can you move your toes for me?” She lifted the blanket off his feet as he started to wiggle them. “Good.”
She pulled a device from her pocket and peered into Sam’s eyes. She then pulled another instrument out to look in his ears.
“Is everything normal with your sight? Your hearing?”
Sam stopped and thought about it for a second before nodding.
“I’d ask you if you feel dizzy or disoriented, but after what you’ve been through, I’d be surprised if you didn’t.” She made a few entries into the computer and then wrote some things on the clipboard she pulled off the foot of Sam’s bed.
    “Now, as I understand it, your parents should be here in a few minutes. They were out running a few errands, according to Nicole, here, and they’ve been notified that you’re awake. Do you want me to wait for them before we finish up?” The doctor looked at Sam expectantly.
Sam looked up at Josh, raising one eyebrow. Josh just shrugged. “It’s up to you, Sam.”
    Sam looked thoughtful for a second before slowly shaking his head. He pointed at Josh with his free hand, and the doctor nodded her understanding.
“Okay, we’ll let Josh fill them in.” She moved up beside the bed before continuing.
     
“I’m going to check the surgical site.” She looked up at Josh. “Can you deal with that?”
    Josh looked at Sam, saw the pleading in his eyes, and nodded shakily at the doctor. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
After donning a pair of latex gloves, Dr. Harris folded back the covers to Sam’s waist. His hospital-issued gown opened in the front, offering easy access to the chest wound. The surgeon peeled back the heavy gauze bandage and gently pressed around the neat rows of stitches.
Seeing the black, blue, and red healing wound covering a quarter of Sam’s chest brought tears to Josh’s eyes. It wasn’t really all that horrible to look at as much as it was a clear reminder of how close he had come to losing his best friend.
Sam looked up when he felt Josh’s grip tighten on his hand to see his friend hunched over, elbows on his knees and tears running silently down his face. He lifted their clasped hands and gently stroked his thumb across Josh’s cheek, causing him to look up.
When their eyes met, Josh tried to smile, but it came out as more of a pained grimace. Sam pulled their hands to his cheek and leaned into them, the only version of a hug he could manage in his position.
Josh gave a watery chuckle and wiped his eyes with the back of his free hand. “Thanks.”
Dr. Harris and Nicole observed the interaction between the two men. Both women marveled at the way Josh and Sam seemed to instinctually understand each other.
Nicole, who’d been quiet since she came in the room, also noted that Sam didn’t seem the least bit interested in where his boyfriend was.
Not that she could blame him. Between Evan and Josh? There really wasn’t any contest in her mind as to who should be holding Sam’s hand.
The doctor finished examining the wound and replaced the bandage with a fresh one. After a few more notes, she looked back at Sam.
“So, at the moment, you have a catheter in.”
It was almost comical to watch