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Michael. I wonder if it was the same Michael that told me there was nothing they could do?
I lean my head back against the wall. “Something doesn’t sit well with me, Caleb.”
“Me neither, but we’ll figure everything out now Shay is coming home. A little brotherly tip - just keep your cool. Shay has probably witnessed enough violence to last her a lifetime. She’ll need you to be strong and together. Always appear in control around her. Out of there, you can scream, shout, and punch hellout of the doors or walls. I doubt Chris will object to being your sparring partner.”
That makes me smile. I know my younger brother misses his sparring gym days, but he loves our company too much to give it up, and it isn’t like we’ve had time to mess around lately. I used to moan about the stupid cheating husband cases we used to privately work, but I’d take them any day over sitting here waiting to hear about a loved one.
“Mr. Shawland.” Clay and I stand up together. “I’m Dr. Jones. I’ve been assessing Shay since she arrived about forty minutes ago.”
“She’s here.” I step forward and offer him my hand. “Can I see her? I need to see her.”
He smiles weakly at me. “Shay has suffered some serious injuries. Some of the injuries happened a long time ago and have healed badly. Some are more recent. I’ve contacted a plastic surgeon to come down and look at the more noticeable concerns on her legs. A few x-rays have shown some level of infection. Now, I don’t want to alarm you, but… it may mean her leg might need amputated.”
“No.” I shake my head and run my hands through my hair. “Shay wouldn’t want that.”
“I understand, but if we can’t fully clear the infection before it spreads to the bones, if it hasn’t already reached there, it will be the only thing we can do to save her life. I’ve given her some strong antibiotics, not only for her legs, but for a chest infection too. She is breathing on her own, but if the need arises, we will look at further ways of assisting her. I’ve also contacted an orthopedic surgeon to assess Shay’s x-rays. We’ll know more in due course.”
“Can I see her?”
He nods. “I warn you, she’s in bad shape, Mr. Shawland.”
“But she’ll pull through this, right?”
“It all depends on Shay and how well she responds to treatment. She’s fought this far. We can only wait and see, taking each hour as it comes. I believe we’ll have a few setbacks before we see recovery.”
“Thank you.”
“Come. I’ll take you to her. We only usually let one visitor in at a time, but under the circumstances you can both come.”
What the fuck am I about to walk in on?
Caleb squeezes my shoulder to offer his support. I shudder, but I know I need to do this. I need to see Shay in whatever state she’s in.
I follow the doctor. The corridor seems like it’s never ending, and the farther I walk along it, the more it closes in on me.
We stop outside a closed door. “There will always be someone in the room, so if you have any questions, please, just ask us. We’ll keep you updated every step of the way.”
“Thank you, Dr. Jones,” Caleb says.
Now I know Shay is just behind this door, my throat is closing. I can’t breathe. I lean over and rest my hands on my knees. I take in a few deep breaths and try to get a grip of myself. I’ve waited so long for this moment. I can’t screw it up now.
“It’s okay, buddy. You’ve got this. Just keep telling yourself that.”
I have got this. I can do this.
I stand up, watch the closed door, and take a few steps on my own. I pause at the door and chastise myself for being so stupid. It’s only Shay. The woman of my dreams.
I unclick the door and push through. Two nurses are doing something at each side of Shay’s bed. They smile at me when I walk in. I cast my eyes from them to the woman in the bed, and I feel the vomit rise in my throat and threaten to leave my stomach. I look over my shoulder toward Caleb and the doctor. “This can’t be right.” Tears roll down my face.
I walk closer to the bed and take in every bruise, cut, and blemish that covers Shay’s beautiful skin. Her face is black from bruises. Her hair is all matted from God knows what. She looks terrible.
“I know this is no consolation right now, but she is stable. We have her vital signs sitting comfortably. When she arrived, she was very dehydrated, her blood pressure was terribly low, her heart rate was high, and she was struggling. We’ve been giving her fluids to replenish what she’s lost. I think by doing that it will also restore some of her energy. The oxygen and the antibiotics will also help. We can deal with pain and any other issues as and when they arise.”
“She hasn’t…” I close my eyes and try not to think about what I’m about to ask. “She hasn’t been raped, has she?”
The doctor shakes his head. “No, I don’t believe she has. I know Shay has been missing for a long time, so it’s hard to say for sure what has happened in that full time period, but the rape kit showed no sexual activity, cuts, or abrasions that would suggest rape.”
I sigh with relief. I honestly can’t thank God enough for keeping her safe from sexual predators. Anything else we can deal with. Okay, she is going to be ill for a while, need a lot of help, support, and rehabilitation, but we can face it head on. I have her home where she belongs. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.
