George and Ringo both pointed an accusing finger at each other, looking back at him guiltily. �Sorry about that,� they said simultaneously.
�Shhhh!� John shushed them. He turned back around to face the person on the bed, but was startled to find a pair of big brown eyes already staring at him.
�Oh�you�re awake,� John said stupidly.
�It�s hard not to be with all the racket you fellas are making,� Paul replied groggily, but with a smirk.
�Cheeky bugger,� Ringo remarked with a grin. He was relieved to see Paul in much better shape than he�d been in a few hours ago.
All three approached the bed. Paul was lying flat on his back, his left arm was heavily bandaged. An IV, which was attached to a nearly empty bag of blood, had been inserted into his right hand. They noticed, to their relief that some colour had returned to his cheeks.
�Aye, nice moody look you got there, son,� George remarked, indicating the dark bruises just above Paul�s left eyebrow, on his left cheekbone and on his right temple.
Paul smirked again, but didn�t reply.
�So how are you feeling, Paulie?� Ringo asked seriously.
�Better,� Paul replied truthfully. �They stuffed me with a load of painkillers, I think.� He tried to sit up, using his good arm, but gasped in pain instead. �Bloody hell,� he muttered, panting.
�Ye�ve got two broken ribs, sod. You should stay down,� John chided him.
�Yes, mother,� Paul replied, a hint of annoyance in his voice. �Did the doctors tell you anythin� else? They didn�t tell me a thing.�
�Well, they said it was a miracle you didn�t have any serious internal injuries, otherwise you probably wouldn�t have made it,� John told him, quickly pushing the thought from his mind. �The gash in your arm needed quite a lot of stitches, but they said no permanent damage was done and it should be healed within a couple of weeks. Other than that you just have a bunch of scratches and bruises and a mild concussion. Yer ribs�ll probably take the longest to heal, about six weeks, I think it was.�
�Oh�� Paul responded gloomily. He did not like the prospect of having to stay in hospital for six long weeks at all.
Ringo felt sorry for his friend. As a child he�d been in and out of hospital for years and he knew how dull and uncomfortable hospital stays were. �Aye, cheer up, Paulie! We�ve got good news too, you know.�
�Well, let�s have it then,� Paul said expectantly.
�You�ll probably be released from hospital in a day or two.�
Paul�s face brightened considerably. �You�re not being soft, are ye?�
Ringo looked at him in mock astonishment. �Me? Soft? You insult me, my dear man!�
�Oh, sod off!� Paul said tiredly, then yawned.
�Well, there�s not much more they can do for ye, you know,� George spoke up. �They�re only keeping you here to make sure there won�t be any complications. You just need lots of rest to heal up and there�s really no reason why you can�t do that at home. Besides, they need beds,� he added as an afterthought.
Paul seemed lost in thought for a moment, a smile touching his lips. Then his eyes widened slightly in fear as he remembered something. �What happened to the fuckin� bastard that landed me here in the first place? Did they get him?� he asked anxiously.
John rested a hand on Paul�s shoulder. �Yeah, Macca. They got him,� John replied, anger flaring up inside him. How much he would like to get his hands on that fuckin� maniac�
�Good,� Paul said, relieved. He yawned again and his eyes began to droop.
John squeezed his shoulder. �Right then, we�ll be off.�
�Cheers, lads,� Paul said drowsily.
�We�ll see you later Paul,� George said, as they headed for the door.
Paul�s eyes suddenly snapped open. �Aye, what about the concerts then?�
�Sod the concerts, Paul,� John replied over his shoulder.
�Yes, mother,� Paul replied once more as the others filed out of the room. He was asleep within minutes.
