by Faith Gibson
Now that the blood had been cleaned from her skin, Gregor was able to count the lacerations visible on her face and arms. He knew there were more hiding beneath the cotton hospital gown, but he wouldn’t shock the nurses by unrobing her just yet. “Talk to her.” A soft voice came from behind him. He turned to see the same older nurse standing in the doorway. “It helps if you talk to them. They can hear loved ones even though they’re in a coma. She needs to know you’re here for her, that you’re waiting on her to return to you.” The nurse smiled and left him alone with his woman.
Pulling up a chair, he sat as close to the bed as his knees would allow. Gregor picked up Tessa’s once strong hand that was now sticking out of a splint. He gently held it, stroking her skin with his thumb. “Hey, Red. It’s me, Gregor. I’m here, Baby. The doctor says you have a little bit of swelling on your brain, but he’s optimistic you are going to be fine. You just need to get some rest. Tamian and Isabelle are here, too. They want to come in and see you. I really want to keep you all to myself, but you would probably rather see them than me anyway.”
Gregor quieted and just admired her sleeping form. Fuck, was it just yesterday morning they had shared his bed together? It felt like a lifetime ago. He really didn’t want to leave her, but her brother and cousin had as much of a right to visit with her since she wasn’t yet his mate. “I’m going to go get Tamian now. But I will be back. I’m not leaving you, Red. I’ll be here with you until you wake up. Then I will be here long after that, if you’ll have me.” He placed a soft kiss on her cut knuckles then one on her chapped lips. He needed to remember to go to the gift shop downstairs and get a lip balm for her.
He released her hand, and one of the monitors started beeping. The nurse came in and pushed a button, quieting the monitor. “What happened?” she asked Gregor. The nurse wasn’t accusing him of harming Tessa, she was just concerned.
“I told her I would be back later and released her hand.”
“Take hold of her hand.” The nurse waited patiently while Gregor did as she told him. He sat back down in the chair and took Tessa’s hand in his. The nurse smiled. “She knows you’re here. You have a calming effect when you are touching. You let go and her heart started racing.”
“I need to let her brother and cousin come see her. Will she be okay if I leave for a while?” Gregor wouldn’t risk her health, not even for Tamian.
“She’ll be fine. I will stay here with her until they come in.” The nurse pushed a stray strand of hair off Tessa’s forehead. He trusted her to keep Tessa calm until he returned.
“Thank you…” He glanced at her name badge. “Miriam. I will send Tamian and Isabelle in. I’ll be back soon.” Gregor lingered at the door, assuring himself Tessa would be okay long enough for the others to visit. His heart was once again beating erratically. His beast warred inside, not wanting to leave its mate.
Gregor found Tamian and Isabelle where he’d left them. He told them to follow him, and they could each go see her for a few minutes. Isabelle spoke to several nurses and doctors on the way to the ICU. She would most likely look at Tessa in a clinical way, being able to use her own experience as a doctor to stay calm when seeing her cousin. Tamian was another story. The waves of energy bouncing off the man were almost visible to the eye. He was going to have to calm himself before he went into the room.
“I want Isabelle to go first,” Gregor told them.
Knowing the drill, Isabelle scrubbed her hands before heading to Tessa’s room.
“Tamian, you’ve got to lock it down, man. I know what you’re feeling. I may not have the psychic twin thing you two have, but she is my mate. She is aware of who’s in the room with her, and she doesn’t need you feeding her a shit ton of extra emotions.”
Tamian nodded. “I’m trying. She’s been my whole world up to this point. Growing up we were separated most of the time, but we still had the type of connection twins have. We are so deeply connected on a cellular level that I can almost feel her pain from here.”
Gregor flinched. “She’s in pain? Right now?”
“No, not physically. It’s more an emotional hurt. Hopefully I will be able to get a feel for what’s going on when I’m in the room with her.”
Isabelle didn’t linger long. She returned and had Tamian wash up then pointed to the correct room. She and Gregor were silent as Tamian made his way to his sister’s room. Just as they turned to go back to the waiting room, alarms started blaring and Tamian yelled, “NO!”
Gregor didn’t care about the one person at a time rule; he entered Tessa’s room among hospital personnel trying to shoo both he and Tamian from the room. Neither one budged. When the nurses couldn’t get Tessa’s vitals under control, Miriam motioned for Gregor. “Get over here and hold her hand.” He didn’t hesitate. He gently lifted Tessa’s hand closest to him and immediately her body began calming. The other workers looked at each other then at Gregor. Miriam smiled. “I believe she needs you more than she needs us right now.” Gregor pulled up the chair that had been shoved away from the bed and sat down, not releasing Tessa’s hand.
“I should go.” Tamian turned to leave the room. He mumbled, “She obviously doesn’t need me.”
“St. Claire, stay. She does need you. I need you, too.” Gregor lowered his voice so the nurses couldn’t hear. “With any luck at all on my part, Tessa will agree to be my mate. That means you and I will be brothers. You might not feel it, but you are already part of our Clan. Now, please stay and be with your sister. If you need privacy, just do that mind speak stuff you do.”
Tamian hesitated for a few seconds then returned to Tessa’s side and gently lifted her other hand. Instead of speaking silently, he talked to her out loud so Gregor could hear him. He didn’t talk about anything in particular, just let her hear his voice. Her body remained calm throughout the rest of her brother’s visit. When the nurse finally came in to run one of them off, Tamian graciously accepted he would be the one to leave. Before he left he shook Gregor’s hand. “I couldn’t have chosen a better Goyle for my sister. I know she’s in good hands. I’ll be in the waiting room if you need me.”
Tamian’s retreating form turned the corner. Gregor knew there were visiting hours, but he wasn’t leaving. He had failed Tessa in not getting to her fast enough before the wreck. He would not fail her again.
Thirty-Nine
Three days passed as Gregor sat by Tessa’s side, leaving only to shower down the hall and give quick updates to the Clan who visited. When Dante couldn’t convince him to leave the hospital, he went to Gregor’s home and grabbed a duffle bag filling it with clothes and toiletries. Joseph had obviously given instructions to allow more than one visitor since the nurses didn’t try to run Dante off.
He visited every night, filling Gregor in on the happenings of the world outside and sometimes just offering silent support. The only body found from the helicopter wreckage who had come across Dante’s slab was so badly burned, dental records would be needed to make an identification, and even that was a long shot. If the corpse was Gordon Flanagan, he would be surprised. As far as the redheaded victims, Trevor had confirmed the last two victims were also clones. He had spent hours analyzing the victims’ DNA. The women had just enough genetic markers in common to be related.
Dante’s head turned toward the door. Joseph walked into the room a few seconds later. Gregor never would get used to his brother’s psychic nature.
“Gregor, Dante. It’s time.” The swelling had gone down around Tessa’s brain and Joseph was going to bring her out of her coma. “If you will please head down to the waiting room, I will come get you when she starts waking up.”
Gregor whispered in Tessa’s ear he would see her soon and kissed her lips before walking out with Dante. He spoke to the day shift nurses as they passed the station. Spending several days in the hospital had given Gregor plenty of insight into the lives of the doctors and other personnel. Most of them gave tirelessly and cared deeply for all of the patients.
/> The waiting room had been a revolving door of family over the weekend, but now most everyone was carrying on with their normal routines. “Why aren’t you at work?” Gregor asked Dante when they reached the waiting area.
“Trevor can handle the morgue, and I need a break from Isabelle.”
“Is it that bad, being around her?”
“Yes, it is. My beast is becoming uncontrollable when she’s near. It takes most of my energy to keep from phasing. The rest of my energy is spent not ripping her clothes off and taking her right there in her office. The sooner she and I figure out the extent of the damage Henshaw caused, the sooner I can hand the Pen back over to her fully. We agreed to take things slow and pretend the pull of the mating bond isn’t present. But I have to tell you, Brother, I’m not sure I can keep the charade going. I am putting aside my feelings for her sake. It’s the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.” Dante was splitting his time between the morgue and the Pen, working twenty hour days just to be sure Isabelle got the inmates the care they needed.
Gregor could understand where Dante was coming from if he felt for Isabelle even half of what Gregor felt for Tessa. “I understand that. When Tessa told me we couldn’t be together, it ripped me apart. She was protecting me. I’m the one who is supposed to protect her, and she was putting my feelings and well-being before her own. You’re a good man, Dante. Isabelle will come around.”
“I also hope the mate bond is enough for me...” He didn’t finish his thought. He didn’t have to. Gregor knew what was on his mind. Dante’s sexual proclivities were different than most Alphas’.
Dante stretched his tall frame, extending his arms toward the ceiling. He rolled his neck, leaving his head hanging for a few seconds. Gregor knew this was his way of trying to relieve the tension. “Then there’s her obsession with Alexander. She is convinced the albino can be saved. I have a bad feeling in my gut there’s more there than meets the eye. I wasn’t in the room when she interrogated him, but there was a strong current, a familiarity coming from the room. I can’t put my finger on it, but I don’t think she’s going to let it go. I caught her sneaking him a cigarette.”
“The prison is a no smoking area. At least not on the inside.” Gregor was astounded at Isabelle’s boldness. “I didn’t take Isabelle for the break the rules type. Tessa must be rubbing off on her.”
“Yes, well, she won’t be doing it again anytime soon. I had a little talk with Deacon, and he has given all the guards strict orders she is not to be allowed near any of the inmates without an escort.”
Gregor chuckled. The sound surprised him. He hadn’t smiled, let alone laughed in the last four days. Not since a story Tessa told him when they were lying in bed caused him to laugh out loud. The smile on her face from the sound of him laughing was one he would never forget. She lit up like a child who had been given her first Popsicle. Now her beautiful face was covered with cuts. He would hire the best plastic surgeon in the world to have her scars erased just as soon as her internal injuries were healed.
Tamian walked in the door of the waiting room. “Any word yet?”
“How did you know Joseph was bringing her out?” Gregor cocked one brow. “Is it the bond you and Tessa have?”
Tamian grinned, “No, it’s the charm I poured on one pretty little nurse. She called me.”
Gregor shook his head. “I meant to ask you earlier, are you not mated? The other half-bloods transition when they meet their mate. You’ve already transitioned, so you must be mated, right?”
Tamian had already dodged answering the question once before. Gregor hoped he would feel comfortable enough to confide in him.
“That’s a long story. Maybe one day when this mess is all over, you and I can sit down and talk about it. For now, let’s focus on getting my sister well.” Tamian stuck his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and waited for Gregor to respond.
“Yeah, man. Whatever you want. I didn’t mean to pry.” Gregor absolutely did mean to pry. There was something distinctively different about Tamian. Maybe being a clone had something to do with it.
“Have you talked to your parents? I’m sure they would want to know Tessa’s in the hospital.”
“I talked to my mother as soon as Tessa was out of surgery. She wants to come see her, but she has to wait on our father to get back from a trip. He won’t allow her to travel alone.”
“Did you tell her there’s a possibility Flanagan could be dead?” Gregor was still waiting on confirmation of that himself.
“That would be a blessing, but no. Until I have proof the bastard’s body burned to a crisp, I don’t want to get her hopes up. I’m looking forward to the day both Mom and Andi can breathe easier and not have to hide anymore.”
Gregor didn’t mention his uncle, Alistair. It seemed they both had crazed men in the branches of their familial trees. The three men sat quietly for a while, waiting on word from the doctor that Tessa had come out of her coma, and they could go talk to her. The more time that went by with no news, the more worried Gregor got. He had started pacing the floor an hour earlier, and now both Dante and Tamian had joined him. Another hour passed, and the door opened. Once again, the doctor looked haggard.
“Joseph, is everything all right? Did Tessa come out of her coma?” Gregor swore if he got Tessa home and well, he was going to wrap her in a fucking cocoon and lock her away from the rest of the world.
“She is off all machines and breathing on her own, but there’s a small problem.” The doctor sighed.
“What kind of problem?” Tamian asked before Gregor could.
“She’s not waking up. This happens sometimes. She is being moved to the lab for an MRI now. It will take about thirty minutes. I’ll be back after it’s complete.” Joseph ran a hand through his hair as he walked off.
Dante pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Hello. Actually there’s been a slight setback, but we’re hoping an MRI will give us more information. Yes, I’ll call you as soon as I know something.” Dante disconnect and announced, “That was Isabelle calling to check on Tessa.”
Tamian raised his eyebrows at Dante. “I didn’t hear the phone ring. Or buzz.”
Gregor clapped Tam on the shoulder, “That’s something you’re going to have to get used to. Just like you and Tessa have your mind speak thing going on, our brother here has his own ESP.”
While they were waiting, several calls came in, all Clan checking on Tessa’s status. Deacon assured Gregor he had the Pen under control. Julian reported that Nikolas had arrived in Egypt but was having no luck tracking down Sophia. Sinclair called from the west coast offering what little support he could. Rafael let him know Kaya was being drilled by the Governor. The local sheriff didn’t believe Kaya when she told him she had no clue who was in the helicopter. Frey was back at the dojo, business as usual.
Gregor had yet to hear from Dominic. With Tessa staying out of New Orleans, Jacques Dupart was the least of his worries. He wondered if he should call Gladys. If he only knew how often Tessa checked in with her neighbor. Did she have other homes where she would be missed if she didn’t call someone? He had a lot to learn about Tessa, and he vowed to make it his mission to learn every single thing about her once she woke up.
An hour later, Joseph finally came back. “There was nothing on the MRI. We’re just going to have to encourage Tessa to wake up on her own.”
“I want to take her home.” Gregor had to get out of this hospital before he went stir crazy, and leaving Tessa here was out of the question.
“I understand your frustration, but she needs to be monitored.”
“I get that, but I have to get out of here. I think you can understand why. I will take her home with me and hire someone to monitor her condition. Just tell me what she needs other than an I.V.”
While Joseph was thinking, Dante spoke up. “Isabelle and I can take care of the monitoring. There’s no need for you to hire anyone.”
Joseph frowned at Dante. “You and Isabelle?”
/>
“Yes, you should know her. Isabelle Sarantos is the leading doctor in infectious disease and internal medicine in New Atlanta. She’s very bright and most assuredly capable.”
“Oh, I know her all right; I just didn’t know you did.” He turned to Gregor, “As far as Tessa goes, I will agree to you taking her home. I know with her being your mate, you would die before you risked her well-being.”
Tamian spoke up, “Gregor, if you don’t mind, I would like to be able to sit with her as well.”
“Of course. As a matter of fact, why don’t you stay at the cabin with us? I have plenty of bedrooms, and I would welcome the company.”
Tamian looked surprised, but quickly smiled. “Thanks. I need to take care of a few things that have been overlooked while I was in the Pen. If you give me your address, I will meet you there later.”
“You were in the Pen? For what?” Joseph obviously knew St. Claire didn’t belong in prison.
“I was undercover.” Tamian just shrugged. It was a gesture Gregor was getting used to.
“How long will it take you to get your home ready for a patient?” Joseph asked Gregor.
Dante answered for him, “I will transport Tessa in one of our buses. Trevor can ride in the back, if you do not object. I can set her up with everything she needs once we have her settled into bed.” He pulled out his phone and called down to the morgue, telling Trevor what supplies to gather.
Gregor offered a small smile, “I don’t mind, but Trevor may. You know he doesn’t like me.”
“He likes you fine, you’re just scary looking,” Dante deadpanned.
Gregor laughed out loud at that. If anyone was scary it was his baby brother.
“I will gather the necessary equipment for you to take home. Just make sure these get back to the hospital once she is well. This really goes against hospital policy. I guess being Chief of Staff, I can make executive decisions, can’t I?”
