Curtis looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Come on,” he said, not even bothering to argue. He ushered me toward the double doors and waited for them to open. As soon as we were inside, a nurse at the desk quietly directed us to Dylan.
I hovered near the doorway, my heart in my throat as Curtis went straight to his son.
Dylan was connected to what seemed like fifteen different machines. There was one in his mouth, two hanging from beneath his blankets, and two different IVs in his hands. Wires came out of the neck of his gown. His face was pale in the low fluorescent lighting, and his mouth was slack around the breathing tube.
He looked bad. Really, really bad. Jesse’s face was far more mangled—Dylan only had a black eye and a swollen cheekbone—but with all the equipment in his room, it was evident that Dylan was far worse off.
“Damn, son,” Curtis said quietly, brushing Dylan’s hair back from his forehead. “They fucked you up, didn’t they?”
I moved further into the room, my hands in fists at my sides as my stomach churned with a mix of horror and relief. I’d seen Dylan at the house. I’d known already how bad his injuries were. It was different, though, seeing him so badafterthe doctors had done their job.
Or maybe I’d just hit my limit.
“Jesse’s just down the hall,” Curtis said, kissing Dylan’s forehead. “And so is Finn. Both of them are gonna be fine, pal. They’re safe. You’re all safe. Dad’s here now. You just rest and get better, all right? I got things from here.”
I didn’t realize I was crying until a tear tickled my jaw and dropped onto the bedding at Dylan’s feet.
“You wanna come talk to him?” Curtis asked. “Come up here, baby.”
I nodded and moved to the opposite side of the bed, pausing for only a moment before I grasped Dylan’s hand.
“Hey, Dyl,” I said softly. “You look like shit, bud.”
Curtis chuckled under his breath.
“I know what you did,” I whispered, leaning down close to his ear. “I know you protected them.” I closed my eyes and swallowed, trying to keep my voice from wobbling. “Now get better. Jesse’s gonna give you so much shit if you’re not awake by the time they are. I love you, kid. So much.”
Curtis’s eyes were gentle on mine when I lifted my head again. The look made a sharp pain flash through my chest, and it took everything I had not to react.
“I’m going to go get your mom,” I told him. “Do you need anything before I go?”
“No,” he replied, his gaze sharpening. “I’m gonna stay with him for a while, and then I’ll come back and check on you guys. You’ll let me know if Jess wakes up?”
“I will,” I assured him, backing toward the doorway.
I hurried back to the waiting room and let Trix know it was her turn before I made my way back to Jesse and Finn.
That was where I belonged.
Finn was asleep in a small bed below the window, and I was sitting next to Jesse’s bed when they woke up early the next morning.
“You’re okay,” I said quickly when they let out a scared groan, jerking to my feet so they could see me. “You’re in the hospital, Jess. Finn’s fine. He’s asleep.”
Tears rolled down Jesse’s face as they stared at me, one hand riding to their face.
“No, don’t touch it, babydoll,” I said, catching their hand before it made contact. “You can’t open your mouth because your jaw is broken. They had to wire it shut.”
They made a desperate sound, their eyes searching mine.
“You had surgery,” I explained, sitting down at their hip. “You’re down one spleen, but the doctor said you didn’t need it anyway.”
Jesse’s eyes widened, their breathing speeding up as they squeezed my hand.
“Dylan’s going to be okay too,” I said. Their hand loosened fractionally. “He’s in the ICU, just for a little while, and then they’ll move him to a regular room.”
Jess tried to say something and then groaned in bleary frustration when it came out as gibberish.
“You’re safe,” I assured them. “Finn and Dylan are safe too.”
