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Chapter 29
Clay
“No, I’m okay. I need to see Josh,” Shay protests against the doctor’s wishes about staying in the hospital overnight.
I know better than arguing with her when she has something in her head. There is no way she’s staying in this bed when Josh is somewhere in this hospital.
“Okay. If you’re sure. If anything changes, you’ll come back.”
“I’m not leaving the hospital. I’m just going to my boss. He needs us all.” Tears drip down Shay’s cheeks.
The doctor nods. “I’ll sign your discharge papers, Ma’am.”
Shay pushes the blanket off her legs and swings around. I see a new determination in her this afternoon, a part of her I’m so used to seeing, but have missed since she has been home.
I wheel a chair over to her and she accepts the help without another word.
“Have you heard anything else?” She looks over her shoulder toward me.
“He was in surgery the last I heard. Let’s go find out.”
I push Shay out into the corridor and Caleb and Lucca are sitting waiting for us.
“Lucca, can you wait here and grab Shay’s discharge papers? She won’t wait any longer,” I say.
“Of course. I’ll catch you up.”
I walk away a few steps and stop and turn back to Lucca. I hold out my hand to him and he looks between my face and my outstretched hand. “I’m sorry that I didn’t listen to you. I should have known that you were no threat to us. Thank you for all your help.”
I don’t think Lucca is going to do or say anything, but he reaches out and takes my hand, squeezes it tighter, and nods. “I understand, Clay. You were doing what you had to for your woman. Anyone of us would have done the same.”
I nod and turn back to push Shay through the corridors in silence. I already know where to find Chris, because Caleb told me earlier. It’s becoming natural to be walking these hospital floors.
We see Chris sitting on the floor outside double doors that say Strictly Staff Only. He’s still covered in Josh’s blood and he looks exhausted. Our job can be draining at times. I just hope that whatever happens next, we can get some downtime to process everything. A holiday sounds perfect right now.
“Have you heard anything?” asks Shay.
Chris’s head lolls to the side. “Not yet. He crashed in the ambulance, but they said it was probably due to blood loss. I’ve managed to contact his parents; it was a good thing you had his mom’s contact details. How are you?”
Shay shrugs. “I’m fine. A few bumps and bruises. I’ll live. What happened with that dick, Michael?” she asks Caleb.
“He’s in custody as we speak. He won’t be getting out anytime soon. Hopefully, he finds a heart and gives up all the information to help our soldiers.”
“We need to help them.”
Caleb nods. “We will do all we can from our end, you just need to concentrate on getting better. Josh is going to need you.”
“He couldn’t even look at me in that building. He said we should have both died. They’ve fucked him up big time.”
I bend down to Shay’s level and take her hand in one of mine. “I think it was all an act, Short stuff. Josh saw me hiding behind the container. He was ready to fight for you. I don’t doubt he’s going to need help, but I don’t think he’s as bad as you initially thought. We’ll all be there when he needs us.”
“I hope you’re right,” she sobs. She leans into my body and buries her face into my neck.
Chris leans over and takes her other hand in his. “Josh has us all here to help him. Look how far you’ve come in a short time.”
Shay looks over at Chris from my chest and smiles at him. “My pain in the ass.” We all laugh. “I can’t thank you all enough for what you did today.”
“No thanks needed. We’re all family. Family looks out for one another.”
