Doc told them that this was bound to happen, with or without Tomas. If Chelsea pulled through, she had a real chance of recovery. However, Doc wouldn't answer what the chances of her pulling through were. So far, there didn't seem to be much change, and it was over a week since she had her meltdown. Doc told Elias that she was fairly certain Chelsea wasn't hallucinating any longer. She was just, in Chelsea's own term, "broke."
Elias sat with her daily, holding her hand, telling her it was alright to come back, because Tomas couldn't hurt her any longer. Tomas was gone—dead. He couldn't hurt anyone any longer. They were all safe. After he said this and similar sentiments to her, he just sat with her, holding her hand and running his fingers through her hair. Sometimes she would say a few things, but Elias couldn't make sense of them. Sometimes she would just murmur.
Days passed and turned into another week. John and Larry called saying they had already talked to the hospital about the bill, and that they were not to worry about it. Elias thanked them, though he could have told them he wasn't worried about the bill. Whatever she needed, she would get.
He bought a new laptop in town and began bringing that to the hospital to do some day-trading. He had a new chair brought into the room as well so he could sit beside her for longer periods of time without destroying his back.
On the third Wednesday of his arriving by her side again, he bent to kiss her forehead as he did every morning and caught a fragrant scent from her hair.
"Your hair smells good Chelsea," he told her. "I wonder what they are washing it with now. Smells like flowers."
"Does it?" Chelsea asked, in a soft voice.
"Yes," he answered. "Here, smell it." And he pulled a long lock under her nose.
She took a sniff, and then another. "Flowers," she murmured, and then drifted off to sleep.
Elias kissed her forehead again, combed her hair back into place with his fingers, and sat down beside her bed on the new chair and began his day of work.
Doc came in around lunch, took her pulse, checked her charts and monitors, gave Elias a smile, and then left again. A few of the guys came in throughout the day, some with little presents or cards, or flowers to replace the ones that were beginning to wilt.
Eric came in after three and said he was on his way back to Houston. Elias talked to John, and they agreed that Eric was the best candidate for acting Sergeant at Arms until Elias could bring Chelsea home again. The two men shook hands, and then clapped each other on the back. Eric gave Chelsea a small stuffed bunny and then walked out of the room.
Close to five, Elias was getting ready to pack up when Chelsea asked him, "When can we go home?"
Elias looked over at her and took her hand. "Whenever you want, baby. You just need to say the word, and Doc will start helping you get ready to go."
Chelsea looked at him, and for the first time in over three weeks, her eyes were clear and focused. She was really seeing him.
"I'm still a little tired, but I can sleep at home. Right?"
"Yes, you can. Our bed is waiting for you," he agreed.
"How far away are we?"
He smiled. "Pretty far. You had a long ride. Do you remember that?"
She nodded. "Across the mountains, and the desert, and through the night. It was a long ride."
"We'll let you go home on a plane," he told her.
"I like planes. Will you fly with me?"
"I have to bring my bike home. I rode here. But I'll be there soon. Doc will take care of you until I arrive. It won't be long. In fact, if you take a nap when you get home, I'll probably be there by the time you wake up."
"That would be nice. I missed you."
"I missed you too."
"I'm still a little scared."
"Tomas isn't going to hurt you anymore. He's gone, baby. He died."
She looked at him, confused for a moment, and then said, "Good." And that was the last time they would ever discuss Tomas again.