Dylan (The Murphy Series Book 5)

by Holly C. Webb

  “Okay, Doctor Murphy,” the nurse replied once more.

  Dylan reluctantly turned and left the cubicle, heading down the corridor to the resident's lounge at the end of the hallway. Grabbing a clean pair of scrubs, he quickly changed into them, before he sat down at the computer on the desk in the corner of the lounge.

  He typed in the date she had come into the emergency room. He remembered it well because it was the same day Finn and Emmy were in the car crash. He knew her name was Brook, but he couldn’t remember her second name. Still, it didn’t take long for him to find her file. Her name was Brook Pearse, and the scumbag of the year was called, Warren Pearce.

  “Hi, Dylan,” Sian, one of the second-year residence said as he approached the nurse's station in the ICU. It had been a long day, and he was glad that it was almost over.

  He had been up to check on Brook several times during the day, but he had been called into an emergency surgery for the last four hours, so he was keen to get an update on her condition.

  “Hey, Sian,” Dylan said, giving the girl a warm smile. “Are you on call tonight?”

  “I’m not,” she replied, giving him a bright smile. “I’ve got a date.”

  “Wow,” Dylan replied. “Who’s the lucky guy?”

  “Chad from OB,” Sian replied with a grin.

  “You’re dating someone from the Gyney squad?” Dylan laughed. “What were you thinking?”

  “Well,” Sian said, giving him a playful slap on the arm. “I could keep waiting for you to ask me out.”

  “Trust me,” Dylan replied with a laugh. “You don’t want to date me. I am too married to the job, or so my brothers keep telling me.”

  “Lucky job,” Sian said, giving him a playful smile, as Dylan just smiled too.

  “Do you have Jane Doe’s chart?” Dylan asked, giving her an expectant look. Sian picked up the file that was in front of her, handing it to Dylan.

  Dylan had already pulled up Brook’s records and compared the scans that were taken the night she was in the emergency room to those that were taken over the last twenty-four hours. They confirmed what Dylan already knew; Jane Doe was Brook Pearse. They also confirmed she had suffered more broken ribs at some point over the last three years. Also, there was a new break to her wrist. Liam hated that he had let her walk away with that animal that day, three years earlier.

  When he called Liam to tell him, they both agreed, that for now, they needed to keep her identity between them.

  “She’s hanging in there,” Sian said, as they both glanced towards Brook’s glass cubicle. “She is one tough cookie.”

  “That she is,” Dylan replied with a smile before he turned and made his way into the cubicle, pulling the door closed behind him.

  He walked to the bed, watching Brook for a moment before he looked up at the monitors. Everything was as it had been, with no change either way. Her temp was still slightly elevated but had not gotten any worse. Everything else was stable too. It was all very positive, but Dylan was still worried.

  He had no clue what was causing the temperature, and it was something he needed to get to the bottom of.

  “Good evening, Brook,” Dylan said in a hushed voice, as he set her chart down on the end of her bed, then picked up her hand. “I know it’s been a long day, but you’re doing great. I just need you to keep fighting for me.”

  Suddenly the alarms on the machines started to beep, and the heart monitor showed a flat line.

  “No, Brook!” Dylan exclaimed, as he quickly jumped into action. Hitting the alarm at the back of her bed calling a code blue, he then removed the pillows from beneath her head, setting her down flat on the bed, before he began chest compressions. “You are not doing this! You are not giving up on me!”

  The room was suddenly buzzing with the code team, all working on bringing her back.

  “PLEASE DON’T DO THIS!” Dylan yelled as the nurse handed him the paddle. Pressing them down to the pads that another nurse had placed on her chest. “Clear!”

  Brook’s body jumped each time the padded sent a shock into her body. Each time it did, Dylan’s heart stopped, as he held his breath, praying to hear the beep that said she was back with them.

  Finally, he heard it.

  Beep, beep, beep.

  He got her back.

  Chapter 3

  Dylan’s motorbike roar to a stop outside Liam’s front door. Tonight was the family dinner, and Dylan had to admit that he was looking forward to spending the night with his family. It had been a long week, but it was almost over, and a night off was exactly what Dylan had needed.

  He had spent the last few days in the hospital, staying close to Brook. When he wasn’t on call, he crashed in the on-call room, that’s when he wasn’t sitting in a chair next to Brook’s bed.

  Since the day she arrested, she had been in stable condition, but there had been little change in her condition for the better either.

  Doctor Abrams had lightened her sedation, but as of yet, Brook still hadn’t regained consciousness. Dylan knew that the longer she didn’t, the more likely she never would.

  Her true identity was also still a secret. Liam had done a little digging and discovered that Brook had filed for a divorce two years earlier, but there was no record of any domestic disturbances between her and her husband, Warren.

  Detective Warren Pearce was a highly decorated police officer. He wasn’t based at the same station as Liam, but he had asked around about him, and it seemed that everyone thought he was a good guy.

  Liam asked Dylan if he was sure that he had read the situation right. Dylan, of course, insisted that he had, and Liam said, he trusted his brother’s instincts.

  Still, Warren was coming across as a blue-eyed boy, and Dylan knew that proving he was the one who hurt Brook was going to be difficult, especially if she didn’t wake up.

  Brook had become all he thought about, but tonight; tonight, he promised himself he was going to leave work behind and enjoy spending this time with his family.

  Dylan was excited about Liam’s announcement. He still couldn’t believe that Liam was going to be a father, and to twins no less. Dylan had teased him, but in his heart, Dylan knew that Liam was going to make an amazing dad.

  Climbing off his bike, he pulled his helmet off, before quickly rubbing his head, to flatten his hair down. He walked up the three steps to the front door, feeling good about the night ahead.

  He was just about to ring the doorbell when a car pulled in behind him. Dylan turned, smiling the moment he saw Finn and Emmy climbing from their car. His eyes fell to the tiny bump on Emmy’s stomach, and Dylan’s smile widened. He loved that all his brothers were settled and happy. He did not doubt that Finn would be just as good a father as Landen and Callum, or as Liam was going to be.

  “Hey,” he said brightly as Emmy and Finn climbed the steps to the door, too. “You look radiant, Emmy. How are you keeping?”

  “I’m good thanks, Dylan,” Emmy said, greeting him with a kiss on the cheek. “Getting fatter by the day.”

  “Would you please tell my crazy wife that she is not fat,” Finn sighed, holding out his hand to greet Dylan.

  “Do you think she would listen to me?” Dylan chuckled as he slid his backpack off and reached in, pulling out two bottles of champagne. “Besides, I know better than to argue with a pregnant lady.”

  “I think that’s a very wise decision,” Finn sighed, then laughed too.

  “I’m glad I amuse you both,” Emmy pouted, but then couldn’t help but smile as well. Dylan turned to ring the bell, but the door suddenly opened, and a happy looking Liam appeared in the doorway.

  “How did you know we were here?” Dylan asked as he greeted his brother before he handed him the two bottles he was carrying.

  “I heard your crappy donor cycle rumbling up the driveway,” Liam explained with a chuckle. “That thing is getting louder and louder, now get your ass in here. You’re late.”

  “I like to make an entrance,”
Dylan replied with a laugh. “See, I am learning from the best.”

  “That you are,” Liam laughed, as he greeted Emmy with a kiss on the cheek, before he greeted Finn, too.

  “Liam said that you were looking after that girl that was on the news,” Emmy said to Dylan, as they stopped in the hallway to take off their coats. “The girl that was found at that motel a few days ago, beaten badly. How awful.”

  “Yeah,” Dylan confirmed as Brook instantly jumped into his head. “I’m just one of her doctors.”

  “How is she doing?” Emmy asked as Dylan smiled. It was so like her to care about a total stranger like this. But when Dylan thought about it, it was typical of his entire family.

  Once more he couldn’t help but wonder, where was the rest of Brook’s family? Even if it was her husband that hurt her, where was everyone else? Where were her mother and father? Did she have brothers and sisters? Where were her friends? He just couldn’t understand how she was still so alone, how nobody had come forward, looking for her.

  Dylan just couldn’t get his head around the fact that this girl seemed to be alone in the world. He wondered if that was her husband’s doing. No doubt it was easier for him to control her if she had no one else to talk to. Still, she needed to know that there was someone there who cared whether she lived or died. So, Dylan decided he would be that person, help her get through this. He was determined to show her that not every man in this world was as horrible as her husband.

  “She still hasn’t regained consciousness,” Dylan sighed as he handed Liam his jacket and helmet. “And the longer it goes… well, it’s not a good sign.”

  “Well, she is lucky to have you taking care of her,” Emmy said, squeezing his arm. “I know that she is in good hands, from personal experience of course.”

  “Thanks, Em,” Dylan said, kissing her on the cheek before they followed Liam towards the dining room to find Sean and Nell already there, as was Callum, Georgie, and Macy.

  “You made it,” Sean said as he and Nell stood up to greet their two sons and Emmy. “Liam has been cooking up a storm all day. Or so he claims.”

  “We did, and we are so not late, no matter what Liam says,” Dylan replied with a chuckle, turning his attention to Liam, giving him a knowing grin, still buzzing about his brother’s news, but he wasn’t going to miss a chance to tease him. “But you never mentioned you were the one cooking, I mean, is that really wise?”

  “I’ll have you know,” Liam replied with a deep laugh. “I am a new man, and I am a wiz in the kitchen.”

  “Pay no attention to him, Dylan,” Lexi said, appearing from the kitchen too. “He chopped a few peppers and an onion, and now he thinks he’s ready to own his own restaurant.”

  “For the record, I can make an awesome pasta bake,” Liam insisted, pretending to pout. “And a very tasty grilled cheese sandwich.”

  “Oh, that’s right,” Finn laughed from next to Dylan. “The famous grilled cheese sandwich.”

  “Do not knock the grilled cheese sandwich,” Liam said, giving Finn a serious look. “You would be very lucky to have my grilled cheese.”

  “We’re not having grilled cheese by the way,” Lexi clarified with a smile before she turned to Liam, kissing him. “Go and get your brother’s something to drink and behave.”

  “Okay, Wife,” Liam replied, giving her a cheeky grin. “But only because I love you.”

  Liam kissed her again and gave her a smile that made Dylan smile too. Liam was happy. Happier than Dylan ever had seen Liam. After everything they had both been through the last twelve months, they both deserved to have a little bit of happiness.

  “Hey, Sweetie,” Nell said, suddenly next to him, before she kissed him on the cheek. “Liam said you’ve had a long few days.”

  “Yeah, it’s been hectic,” Dylan sighed, giving his mother a tired smile. “I will be glad when this week is over.”

  “You need to learn to switch off, Dylan,” Nell replied, giving her son a worried look. “I worry about you working these long hours. Maybe you should think about taking some time off.”

  “I’m okay, Mom,” Dylan assured her. “Honestly. It’s just been a hard week.”

  “You’re that girl’s doctor,” Nell said, giving him a worried look. “The girl from the TV.”

  “I’m one of them,” Dylan confirmed. “She has a lot of people pulling together to try to make sure that she makes it through this.”

  “The news said she hasn’t woken up yet,” Nell said, and there was a sadness in her voice. “That she hasn’t regained consciousness since she was found.”

  “Yeah, that’s right,” Dylan sighed, wishing that he could give his mother better news about Brook, but there was no point lying. “We’re just waiting and hoping really.”

  “Liam said they still have no clue who did this to her?” Sean asked, joining the conversation. “This is unbelievable.”

  “Yes, it is,” Dylan replied, with a shrug, but something told him that his father knew the truth about Brook and who had hurt her. Dylan knew that Liam didn’t hide things from his father, just like he knew that his father wouldn’t stand by and allow a police officer to think they were above the law. “But whoever did it to her. We need to find them. This person belongs behind bars, not walking the street. The injuries she had…”

  Before Dylan could continue, Liam announced that dinner was ready.

  “Aren’t you waiting for Landen, Amelia, and Henry?” Nell asked, turning her attention to Liam, but before he could reply, the doorbell sounded, and Liam smiled.

  “I guess everyone is here,” he said with a broad smile, and Dylan could feel nervous energy emanate from Liam. Now everyone was here; it was almost time to tell them about the babies. “I’ll go get that, everyone please, tuck in.”

  Dylan made his way to one of the empty seats at the table, and as he sat down, he glanced over at Lexi, giving her a broad smile. Lexi returned his smile, with a look of complete contentment on her face.

  A few moments later, Liam appeared in the doorway, followed closely by Landen, Amelia, and Henry, also Nikki.

  “Hey little man,” Dylan said as Henry came to greet him. Macy still had a soft spot for Liam, but Henry loved Dylan.

  Dylan found it hard to believe he was already two and a half, but he was, and each day, Henry seemed to get smarter. In some ways, he reminded Dylan of Finn. He definitely was as bright as Finn, and there was a gentle quiet about him, that was so like Finn also.

  “Uncle Dylan,” Henry said as he climbed up onto Dylan’s lap. “Can I drive on your moterbike?”

  “You want to drive on my bike?” Dylan asked with a laugh. Dylan loved that Henry loved his motorbike almost as much as he did. He knew that it was in no small way the reason Henry liked him so much. He may have Finn’s brains, but when it came to the bike, he was definitely a miniature version of him. Dylan knew, however, when he said drive, he just meant he wanted to sit on it. “I think that can be arranged. And if you eat all your vegetables, I will even let you rev the engine.”

  “Yay!” Henry cheered as he clapped his hands.

  “But you have to eat your dinner first,” Amelia said, lifting Henry from Dylan’s lap, setting him down on the seat next to him, then she turned to Dylan and smiled. “If my son grows up to ride motorcycles, I’m holding you completely responsible.”

  “But you’ll still love me, right?” Dylan laughed, giving her a cheeky grin.

  “Of course, I do,” Amelia laughed as she leaned down and kissed him on the forehead.

  They all set down to eat, talking and laughing throughout the meal. Dylan loved spending time with his family. He loved how close they all were. Sure, they have all had their differences over the years, but there was nothing that could come between them.

  He watched Liam, who was surprisingly quiet throughout dinner. Liam kept watching Lexi; his face too was the picture of pure contentment.

  As they were eating dessert, Liam suddenly stood up and tapped the edge of
his glass with his fork.

  “As you all know me, I’m not one who likes to be the centre of attention,” Liam began with a grin, and this was met with a chorus of laughter. “Being the shyest brother has always been a struggle.”

  Again, they all laughed, with one or two heckling comments from his brothers.

  “Okay, okay,” Liam laughed, raising his two hands in innocence. “But seriously, these twelve months have been quite a journey. There was a time I thought I had lost my beautiful Lexi forever. But by some miracle, we found each other once more. And this time, I am never letting her go again.”

  Liam reached down and took Lexi’s hand.

  “I never imagined I could be this happy,” Liam continued with a smile. “My life with Lexi, and of course Summer, feels pretty perfect… Well almost. But all that is about to change.”

  A low, excited hum filtered around the table as they all glanced at each other, while they waited for Liam to talk.

  “So, we just thought we would ask you all here tonight so we could spend time with people we love, and make new memories,” Liam said as he went to take his seat, but quickly stood back up and added with a big grin. “Oh yeah, and to tell you all that we’ve been select by a very pregnant girl in San Diego, to adopt her babies. And it’s twins!”

  This was met with an almost deafening cheer as instantly everyone was on their feet, hugging both Liam and Lexi, as Summer barked from her bed in the corner. Dylan smiled to see his family so happy. Of course, Nell cried, but she assured everyone that they were tears of happiness, as Sean made a toast, and everyone joined in.

  “To Liam and Lexi,” he said, holding up his glass.

  “To Liam and Lexi!” Everyone echoed.

  “You look happy,” Dylan said to Liam as he walked him to the front door later that night. “It’s great to see.”

  “I am happy, Dylan,” Liam confirmed with a smile. “I never believed I could be so happy, but I am. We both are. Sometimes I worry we’re too happy, and it’s all going to come undone.”