Page 35 of Ghostmaker

The one person who hadn’t been to visit yet was Fitzgibbon, which Cope understood completely. Not only had he been the one to shoot Jude in the chest, but he’d also been the one who’d saved Jonas Crawford’s life. After Cope worked the death spell, Fitz had jumped in to perform CPR, while Cope helped West, and Ronan stayed with Jude. He’d called and left several messages with Fitz, asking him to stop by and letting him know Cope didn’t hold any ill will against him.

One night, while Ronan was with Jude, Cope had snuck out of his hospital room and down the hall to where Crawford was recovering. With his guard down, Cope was able to remove the memory of the death spell from his mind. He might have heard the words as Cope spoke them, but would never remember them.

Meanwhile, the vigil continued. Cope sat in the chair beside Jude’s bed, holding his hand and talking to him. He watched as the nurses checked his vitals and doctors came in to assess his condition. They didn’t tell him much, but thanks to his gift, Cope knew Jude was on the mend. He’d soon be awake and would be in his own private room within the next day or two.

A knock on the door pulled Cope’s attention away from Jude. Kevin Fitzgibbon hovered just inside the room. “Hey, Fitz. I’m glad you’re here.” Cope got up to hug him. Ronan and Ten were behind him.

“Ronan talked me into swinging by. Cope, I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt Jude.” Fitz looked as if he hadn’t slept in a week. His usually bright blue eyes were filled with guilt.

“I know you didn’t. Jude knows that too.” Cope led Fitz to Jude’s bedside.

“Hey, Jude.” Fitz brushed tears from his eyes. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t strong enough to stop Crawford from controlling my mind.”

“This had nothing to do with strength, Fitz. There were several times where I almost gave Crawford the death spell.”

“You’re serious?” Fitz asked.

Cope nodded. “His hold over all of us was nearly all-encompassing. Well, over all of us but Jude.” He knew how badly Crawford wanted the spell that had been spoken over Jude as a baby. He was pretty certain Jude didn’t know what it was, which, of course, provided a secondary source of protection against psychic attacks. “That’s why he forced the two of you to turn on Jude.”

“He’ll never forgive me,” Fitz whispered. “I’ll never forgive myself.”

“You’re forgiven,” Jude whispered. His eyelids fluttered and slowly opened.

“Well, it’s about damn time.” Ronan snickered. “It’s good to see you back among the living.”

“It’s good to be back.” Jude managed a small smile. “Cut the shit, Fitz. I know you didn’t shoot me on purpose. If you really meant to kill me, I’d be dead. You’re the best shot out of all of us. You were strong enough to fight off Crawford in the moment when it counted most. You saved me, Fitz.”

“This is a hell of a way to save someone.” Fitzgibbon looked to be on the edge of tears.

“What about West? How is he?” Jude asked.

“He was released from the hospital yesterday. He’ll be off his feet for a week or so, but he’ll be just fine,” Ronan said. “He also sent in his final report about the cold case team. Cisco hasn’t told me if he recommended for us or against us. I’m hoping Cope binding his wound and staying with him until the medics arrived bought us a bit more goodwill.”

Jude nodded. “What about Crawford? When’s his funeral? I want to piss on his grave.”

“There isn’t going to be a funeral,” Fitz said.

Jude smiled, which quickly turned into a grimace. “Good. He belongs in a fucking potter’s field with an unmarked grave. Good riddance.”

“No, Jude, you don’t understand. I saved him,” Fitz said. “I gave him CPR after Cope stopped his heart.”

“What? Why would you do that?”

“Because Ronan was busy trying to save you.” Fitz shrugged. “It was already going to be hard enough to explain how I shot you without having to detail how Crawford ended up dead on the floor.”

“How did you explain it?” Jude asked with a grin.

“I said someone bumped my arm. Ronan and Cope told the same story. One for all and all of that shit.”

“What about the kids and Everly?” Jude asked. “Where are they?”

“They’re back in school,” Cope said. “You’ve been out for three days.”

“Three days?” Jude shook his head. “I’d swear it had been only minutes.”

“We’ve been here with you round the clock,” Ronan said. “Everly comes by after school and sits at your bedside doing homework and reading to you. It’s been a fight every night to take her home. She didn’t want to leave your side.”

“Obviously, I’m her first love too.” A lone tear trickled from Jude’s eye. “She reads to me?”