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“There’s some paperwork that you’ll need to sign,” he said. “If you’re ready, I’ll take you to Linnie.”
I didn’t even hesitate. Nor did I look back. I just walked away, knowing the men at my back would take care of anything else I’d need taken care of.
I was glad that they were here.
Especially when, the moment that I walked into Linnie’s hospital room and saw her tiny body, deathly pale and bruised, it made me want to kill Thurgood all over again.
How could a man do that to another human being? Especially with how freakin’ innocent they both were?
He was supposed to be their protector, yet he’d treated them like dirt. Like they were nothing more than lint on his sweater.
Right then and there, had Thurgood still been alive, I would’ve walked straight up to him and shot him straight in the heart.
That was how very upset I was right then.
Damn the consequences.
“It’s all bluster other than the arm,” the doc assured me. “We have her comfortable for now. But the meds she’s on for that comfort is making her very sleepy. Feel free to talk to her, though. Let her know that you’re here.”
I sat down next to the bed and hesitated. I didn’t know where to touch her.
God, I just wanted to lift her into my arms and cradle her to my chest.
This was all so fucking wrong.
“She’s okay, go ahead and touch her,” the doctor urged.
I did, picking her small hand up into mine.
“I’ll send the nurse in with the paperwork,” he said softly, then left me alone with one tiny corner of my soul.
I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when Castiel and Rome appeared in the doorway.
An hour at most. The doctor had already come in and told me that they would be bringing her down to surgery soon and that if I wanted, I could move to the second floor and wait in the waiting room for news.
Speaking of news, there was still nothing on Theo. I asked every single nurse that came in if they’d heard news.
Apparently, she was still in surgery and there was none to be had.
“You want me to stay here so you can go see Theo?”
I stiffened. “She’s out of surgery?”
Castiel nodded. “She is and she is still listed as critical. They have her in the ICU—intensive care unit—and aren’t allowing any visitors until they have her stabilized. Still unconscious, though.”
“I can’t go,” I said softly, looking down at the sleeping child that looked so damn small in the bed. “Theo would want me to stay here with Linnie, but you’ll keep me updated?”
Castiel’s eyes were fierce as they connected with mine. “Oh, yeah.”
I nodded my head once, then brought my gaze back to the small figure in the bed.
“She’s doing better than her mother,” I said softly.
Rome’s face softened, and Castiel’s arm went to my back as he squeezed my shoulder.
“She’ll make it, man,” he falsely promised.
But he didn’t see her like I did.
He didn’t see the crumpled, broken bodies as they lay on the cold asphalt road, bleeding out before my eyes.
Theo was so hurt.
There was every possibility that she wouldn’t make it.
“What about your arm?” he asked.
I nodded once.
“Broken radius,” I said. “I’ll be in this for the next two months.”
Wade, who’d just arrived in the doorway only moments before, looked like he could relate.
“How did that happen?” I asked, looking at his almost identical cast.
Wade held the cast up and grinned. “Used my forearm to break the glass. Apparently ulnas don’t like that.”
I vaguely remembered seeing Wade slamming his forearm against the glass of the car as he tried to find a way in to get to Linnie and Theo.
“Not sure what I would’ve done without you guys there,” I admitted.
“Motherfucker, we led him straight to her.”
I was already shaking my head.
“Maybe. Maybe not. But Theo wanted it to be over…I guess now it is,” I admitted.
Wade’s grin was suddenly ferocious. “Guy would’ve lived, but he was smoking a goddamn pipe when he hit her.”
My brows went up.
“The impact shoved that pipe straight down his throat and he choked on it.” Castiel grinned just as manically.
I found myself grinning, too.
“Yeah.” I sighed then. “I’m fucking terrified right now.”
Wade slammed his hand down onto my shoulder. “We know you are, and we’re here until they’re both able to come home.”
With that they each left, going to see the other half of my heart.
The one that damn well better live, or I’d lose it.
***
“Can I call you daddy?” Linnie asked weakly.
I felt my heart squeeze and my breath stall in my lungs.
I had a second to think, ‘What would Theo think about this?’ before I blurted out the first thought that came to mind.
“Yeah, baby. You can call me daddy,” I said, voice cracking on the ‘D’ word. “If you want.”
