AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 17
Clay
“What the fuck was that all about?” asks Carrick.
I shrug and pace back and forth. I honestly can’t make any sense of anything anymore. Seven days ago, Shay arrived at this hospital. Six days ago, she had surgery on her leg to remove dead, infected tissue. She was able to keep the leg, and so far, the wound is healing nicely. For six full days since, we’ve kept vigil at Shay’s bedside, spoken to her, told stories about things we did in the army, our lives now. Anything to get a rise out of her, but nothing. Then today, it’s like she’s trying to break out of her own skin, and we’re tossed out of the room to think crazy, unimaginable things.
“What’s going on?” asks Aria as she walks toward us with Caleb and Chris close behind her.
“I don’t know.” I finally break down and sob in her arms. “It was like she was possessed.”
For months I’ve remained strong. But the last two weeks, from finding out that Shay was alive, until now, I’ve been an emotional wreck. I’ve kept my emotions at bay and been there for Shay and her family, but today, I’m at breaking point. The unknown is the killer. Will she make a full recovery? Will she be disabled because of her leg? Will she remember anything? Will she even want us here?
Argh! I feel like I’m torturing myself, asking questions none of us will know the answer to until Shay fully regains consciousness.
“Come on, let’s sit down,” Aria takes me by the hand and leads me to a seat. “Where are Shay’s parents?”
“Carrick sent them back to my house for a rest and to get freshened up.”
Shay’s parents wanted to get a hotel while they were here, but I wouldn’t hear of it, not when me and my brothers have enough space for them in the compound. They’re as good as family to me.
“Good.” Aria squeezes my arm. “You all need to get some rest. I was just coming to sit with Shay while you and Carrick go home, but I doubt that will happen now, not until we know what’s happening.”
“I can’t leave her. She can’t see strange faces when she wakes up, not again. She’ll be terrified if that was her waking up and she’s surrounded by doctors and nurses.”
It feels like we’ve been sitting here for the longest time ever, but minutes later, Dr. Jones walks toward us, scribbling something in a file.
“Dr. Jones, how is she?” I jump up and stop him from walking any farther.
“Shay is regaining consciousness. She’s not fully with us yet, but she’s obeying commands and starting to move more. I think, all going well, we should have her back with us today. That’s when the real work starts, Clay, because we’ll be able to assess any damage, and rehabilitation will begin. I know it’s frustrating, but you all should take a break. Shay’s in good hands here.”
“I appreciate it, Doc, but I’m not leaving her. She’s been alone for too long. She’ll never know what it’s like to feel alone again.”
I walk away from the doctor and enter Shay’s room. She’s calmer, stiller, and looking a little pinker around the cheeks. She’s still black and blue, but it isn’t as bad as when she first came home a week ago. I can now tell it is actually her lying in the bed.
“You sure do like the attention, babe, huh? I’m beginning to like it better when you answer us back, give us hell, and just be you.” I snigger at the thought of Shay being a class A bitch. I can hear her sarcastic tone, her cheeky eyes that sparkle, the faces she pulls when she thinks no one is watching. I would give anything to see that side of her again.
Shay moans and I walk over to her side. I take her hand in mine and run my other hand over her forehead, trying to stimulate her as much as possible.
“Come on, babe. Open your eyes. Please.”
I’m not one to beg usually, but I’ll do anything where Shay’s concerned. I don’t understand why I didn’t stay in the army when she did. Maybe if I did stay there, she wouldn’t be like this today. It’s okay for my family, telling me it was my time to leave, and nothing would have prevented this fiasco with Shay, but the doubts are in my head and they keep a dark cloud hanging over me.
“Clay,” she whispers, and my eyes shoot back to hers.
Her eyes flicker open. They’re red and bloodshot. Her eyes are usually alive and vibrant, her best feature.
“Hey.” I feel the tears roll down my cheeks. I bow my head and try to wipe them away without her seeing, but it’s too late. She squeezes my hand and I look back up at her. “You have no idea how good it is to see you alive and awake.”
“I… I… I need a drink,” she stutters.
The nurse hears her and rushes over with a cup and a sponge lollipop thing. “No drinks yet, but you can wet her mouth with these little sponges.”
I dip the sponge and place it in her mouth. It’s heartbreaking to see how good Shay finds the cold, wet sponge. Something so simple to someone is like diamonds to another.
“Thanks.” She relaxes back into the pillows and I see her shoulders release the tension. That moment is short-lived when she tries to sit forward, but I hold her still. “Josh. Did he get out?” she croaks weakly.
“I don’t know what’s happening, babe. My company is looking into every lead, but the thing is, we were working with very little in the first place.”
