Chapter 20 Floating From Reality
Dr. Andrews met the plane at the tarmac with an ambulance.
Meg burst into tears when she saw his haggard face and read his emotions as angry and bitter mixed with heartbroken and beaten. She ran to the only man she’d ever even considered thinking of as father and flung herself into his arms. While the paramedics worked on stabilizing their mother, Evan stood back and looked on.
Everything felt wrong.
Disconnected.
Surreal.
Alik felt ill. His hands were shoved deeply into the pockets of the worn black jeans still stained with his own blood. His mind raced.
Weren’t the good guys supposed to win? Hadn’t they prayed enough? Hadn’t they gone in there with the purest of intentions? Why did Mom have to be shot and nearly killed, probably maimed for life? Why did Gavil have to die? He was just starting to come around, to develop a relationship with Creed as a brother should. Why, God? None of this was supposed to happen. Why did You let it?
Alik bit back tears as he watched the anxious looks on the four paramedics who worked on his mother right there in the back of the ambulance. He glanced over at Evan, so young yet so full of trauma. He watched as Meg held Danny on one hip, her other arm wrapped around Dr. Andrews again. Alik heard the pleading in her voice. He felt it too. But he knew better than to plead. It would get him nowhere. Creed stood beside Meg and Maze sat obediently at their feet.
Dr. Andrews allowed Meg one more embrace before moving away from her and hurrying to see their mother with his red-rimmed eyes.
Sloan was talking to one of the paramedics, giving him background as to the medical attention Margo had already received during the transatlantic flight. Farrow stood away from everyone, her petite, gymnast’s frame was tense, her arms crossed, and the look on her face was far away, disconnected and detached.
Alik wished he could do that too, even if just for a moment. He wished he could shut down and stop replaying everything that happened over the last twenty-four hours, but he couldn’t. Sometimes his “video graphic memory” was a curse.
Danny was squirming in Meg’s arms enough for her to carefully put him on the ground. He wasn’t wearing any shoes. At the Facility, all they had given him was a set of short sleeved hospital pajamas. Of course, no one stopped to worry about dressing him further during their frenzied escape. Now that Danny was on the ground as he had insisted, he reached out to touch Maze’s muzzle with his curious hands.
Meg was deep in conversation with Creed and didn’t seem to notice the little boy inch toward her best friend.
Even with all the things Alik should be thinking about, solving and piecing together, all he could do was watch the innocence of wide-eyed wonder dancing across Danny’s thin face as he touched Maze’s fur for the first time.
To his credit, Maze held very still and let the little boy use his sticky fingers to pat, rub and manipulate the fur on his head ears and back. At one point, the baby poked his fingers into Maze’s mouth to explore and touch his sharp teeth. Alik had to restrain a chuckle at the look on the coyote’s face as Danny tried to pull on his long, pink tongue. Once Maze regained control of his own mouth, he turned to the baby and started licking his hands thoroughly before moving on to the little boy’s face. The ambulance was just starting to shut their doors and flip on their siren when Danny’s laughter gurgled up from his belly and bubbled from his throat.
Everybody stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the little boy who had decided to plop down in the middle of the airport’s tarmac and bask in Maze’s affection. It was the single most beautiful moment Alik could remember where his mom and siblings weren’t involved, and it came from this little boy who had only known fear and torment, but had chosen to make a new friend and enjoy him.
Chapter 21 This Little Light of Mine
Margo awakened from her coma the second day after they’d arrived home and everyone was elated. Her doctors then informed her of her prognosis and though it was bleak from the start, she handled the news with an astoundingly positive attitude.
All Margo had done was nod quietly and look at her hands. Meg had watched her open and close them before looking up into her daughter’s eyes and breathing deeply. “God let me live. He let me keep my mind intact. I can speak and think and, as an added bonus, He gave me my hands. I think myself blessed.” With that she offered a genuine smile, even as silent tears glistened in her eyes.
Everyone was at the hospital for her surgery three days later. Margo was prepared for what would be the last surgical effort to correct the nerve damage done to her spine. The look on her face was peaceful when the nurses wheeled her out of her room, IV running, prepped and ready for the procedure. She was laying on her stomach with a warming blanket draped over her.
Dr. Andrews was deep in conversation with the surgeon handpicked to perform Margo’s delicate procedure.
Meg leaned down first and kissed her mother’s cheek. “We’ll be right here waiting for you, okay Mom?” Meg pressed her forehead against her mother’s, sending her calming emotions through their tight empath connection. When Meg stepped back, her gift had left her mother so relaxed, she was even breathing more slowly and deeply. Margo smiled and nodded at her daughter.
“You sure know how to make a surgical cap look hot,” Alik teased, wiggling his eyebrows. Then he leaned down and whispered words of encouragement into his mother’s ear. By the time he stood back, he had her grinning widely. Alik could always make his Mom smile.
Evan stepped up to his mother next. He leaned down and pressed his talented hand to her shoulder. “I love you, Mom. No matter what, you’re the strongest, most beautiful woman I will ever know.”
All three children laid their hands on their mother’s strong shoulders and prayed over her, just as she had taught them to do.
Tears were glistening in her eyes, but a courageous smile was still pressed to her lips as they wheeled her into surgery.
After the doors swung shut, the siblings walked together back to the waiting room where Farrow and Sloan were entertaining Danny with a handful of new Matchbox cars.
Danny’s beautiful blue eyes brightened at seeing Meg. He ran up to her ‘flying’ a red racecar and leaped into her arms. He was getting a little heavier, Meg noticed as she settled him onto her left hip. They’d been feeding him special shakes that tasted delicious and were easy on his sensitive tummy but were chock-full of vitamins and nutrients, especially protein. The little boy was getting stronger daily, but he still wasn’t a normal weight for his height.
Meg held him tightly and kissed him on top of his curly tow-head.
Alik walked to his sister, and Danny leaned out to be held by him.
Smiling, Alik reached out to pick up the little tike. “Hey, big man. What have you got there?” Alik’s easy way with Danny was such a sweet thing to see.
Even though the metahuman had incredible strength, he was perfectly gentle with Danny, holding him carefully and using a calming voice with the toddler. Alik was Danny’s favorite playmate.
Meg walked to sit beside Farrow and Sloan as she watched the two boys plop on the tightly woven gray carpet and race their cars, pretending to crash. Danny giggled adorably as Alik made all the perfect sound effects to go with their pretend play.
“How is he so good with kids?” Farrow asked, half wanting to know, half trying to help get Meg’s mind off the scary surgery her mother was undergoing at that moment.
“He used to play with Evan all the time when they were children, but they were only separated by a few years. I wonder if Alik’s memory of what it was like to be a little boy helps him relive those moments when he’s with Danny.” Meg cocked her head, deep in thought as she watched her brother play with the newest member of their family.
Margo had reacted exactly as the Winter kids thought she would when they introduced her to Danny. “Of course Danny can live with us!” She had beamed even before meeting the little boy. Once she did mee
t Danny, Margo was in love instantly. She wanted desperately to hold the little guy and play with him, but Dr. Andrews wouldn’t allow him on Margo’s hospital bed for fear he would accidentally injure her.
Instead, Meg sat with Danny on her lap in a chair right next to Margo’s bed and let the two get acquainted over a new toy airplane, a gift from the kind-hearted flight attendant. She had taken quite a shine to the little bright-eyed curly top.
Just meeting Danny, no one would guess they had found him at death’s door, strapped to a gurney and abandoned. The little guy had the most beautiful spirit—so full of life. Behind his bright blue eyes Meg could sense a deep vein of goodness. He had only ever known pain and loneliness, but his spirit rose above that, giving his golden soul wings. His sweet purity called to everyone.
But he still didn’t speak.
Not one word.
Meg wasn’t worried. She could sense his use of English through her empath skill, and knew when he was ready, he would speak. Forcing him now would only make him retreat into himself and he was opening up so wonderfully—in his own way.
Alik watched the little boy as he played with the toy cars. Occasionally Danny would reach out to trade cars with Alik, grinning adorably at his buddy. Years of stretching and forced Yoga with his mom had made Alik limber. So much so, that he preferred to sit with his long, muscular legs crossed. His worn blue jeans didn’t stop him from sitting like that now, his muscular forearms draped on his knees as he leaned down to play with the toddler.
Alik loved watching the innocence and wonder in Danny’s face. From the moment they found him, Alik found himself anxious to be with the little boy who had become his littlest brother. Meg didn’t have to tell Alik that there was something special about the child. He sensed the beauty of Danny’s spirit and basked in the glow of it.
Just as he would every time Danny and Alik played on the floor, after a few minutes, the little boy crawled to Alik and curled up in his crossed legs. The tall and slender little fugitive from Williams’ Facility would snuggle into Alik’s safe lap, drape his skinny, pale legs over Alik’s, and settle in for more quiet playtime.
Farrow found herself mesmerized watching Alik and Danny play. Alik’s sound effects and play action made Danny gasp or giggle, laugh or yell. Her heart would clench in her chest at the care Alik showed so easily for people in his life. And there she was, an expert marksman, a trained assassin, a skilled gymnast, deadly at hand-to-hand combat, but when it came to showing Alik how she felt, she felt inept and incompetent.
Farrow sighed deeply, these thoughts pressing heavily on her heart.
Alik looked up from the squirmy little boy in his lap and smiled at Farrow. Her heart instantly leaped in her throat. She smiled back.
Chapter 22 Cole’s Rapid Recovery
Evan and Dr. Andrews only hung around for the first few minutes after Margo was wheeled away before excusing themselves to visit the fourth floor, where Cole had been transferred. He was no longer in the ICU, but had been moved to a regular recovery room. His injuries were healing remarkably well—too remarkably.
Dr. Andrews was worried he was going to draw suspicion and was debating bringing him home to let him finish his recovery there.
Evan and Theo were talking in hushed tones just inside Cole’s door, discussing the matter.
“What did he say?”
“He kept shaking his head in amazement and talked about bringing genetic specialists he knew who are trying to determine a way to create rapid regeneration of tissues.”
“Does he suspect Cole isn’t human?”
“No, I doubt that thought has occurred to him. He seems to think that he does have some genetic or chromosomal abnormality that has increased his ability to heal. They’re going to want to perform a lot of testing on Cole’s blood, on his DNA and chromosomes.”
“And that would be a bad thing,” Evan deadpanned, trying to ease stress.
“Very bad,” Theo nodded in agreement.
“So we get him the heck out of here. Let’s take him home tonight. We can manage his care with two doctors and a medical genius in the house.”
“It’s not that simple. I can’t just force them to release Cole. He’s still a minor and cannot insist on his own release. If I insist on taking him before his doctors formally release him, I would have to answer to police and child protective services.”
Evan leaned back against the wall.
Both were lost in thought.
How can we get Cole home and away from questioning eyes? Evan asked himself and felt an answer right on the tip of his brain, but he couldn’t quite grasp the idea his mind was trying to give him.
“Dad?” Cole’s voice was still raspy from the breathing tube they’d just removed yesterday.
Startled, Theo jumped before moving to the other side of the room to see his son.
“Hey Cole, you’re up.” Theo leaned over his son’s healing face to look into the green eyes he’d gotten from his deceased mother.
“Water?” Cole managed to say.
“Sure thing. Hey, Evan’s here. He came to see you,” Theo motioned to Evan to step out of the shadows and come say hello. It was the first time Evan had spoken to his friend since the day of his accident more than a week ago.
“Hi Cole. I’m glad to see you’re feeling better,” Evan began hesitantly. What am I supposed to say to the guy who tried to kill himself because he saw my sister had chosen Creed instead of him?
“Hey, Evan. Where’s Meg?”
Inwardly Evan groaned. Dealing with emotions was not his specialty. This is where Meg would be helpful…except in this instance, she was the problem.
“Meg’s downstairs with—everyone else. We’re waiting for our mom to get out of surgery.”
Cole frowned, “What happened to Dr. Winter?”
Evan looked over at Theo, wondering if he’d just let the cat out of the bag.
“Remember when I told you they went ahead with the plan to attack the Facility in Germany?” Theo held the straw still so Cole could take a sip of the cool water he’d just brought him.
“Well, Margo was hurt. A bullet hit her spinal cord. They’re trying to see if they can reconstruct the bundle of nerves.”
“Was Meg hurt?” Although Evan knew it must hurt to talk, Cole was determined to hear about his sister.
“No, Cole. Meg is fine. She was a little beaten and bruised, but she’s already healed up. And hey, that’s kinda what I want to talk with you about.” Evan smoothly redirected the subject.
“Yes, Evan’s right. We need to talk about your rapid healing.”
Cole looked down at his body for the first time. He was wearing a sling on his right arm to help support his broken collarbone and there was still a cast on his right leg from where he’d shattered his knee when it hit the steering wheel on his way out the windshield. His ribs were and lacerated liver had responded beautifully to bed rest.
The look on his face was obvious.
“I know son. You’re wondering why it’s a bad thing that you’re healing so quickly.” Theo’s voice was hushed as he leaned in to talk.
“It’s not normal, you see?” He nodded, brows raised.
Cole’s facial expression was still confused.
“Humans don’t heal this fast,” Theo added with a nod.
“Ohh,” Cole’s eyes widened with realization.
“We need to figure out a way to get you out of here before the right people ask the wrong questions.” Theo nodded meaningfully.
“Yes,” Cole croaked, understanding the implications of someone learning he wasn’t exactly human anymore.
“And I can’t just discharge you without your doctor’s permission. If I tried, the police and CPS would be called.”
“Dr. Andrews, about that—I have an idea.” Evan motioned for Dr. Andrews to follow him back to the door so they could discuss his plan without upsetting Cole.
Cole stared up at the ceiling and took a deep breath. His eyelids felt heavy
so he allowed himself to drift off, even as he tried to hear what Evan and his dad were talking about.
Chapter 23 Influenced
Cole’s attending physician, Dr. Joe Mastiff, was exhausted. He had been on duty since seven last night, and was supposed to be off at seven this morning. Just as he was about to leave this morning, he was paged to one of his patient’s rooms. The fifty-seven-year-old bus driver who had suffered a heart attack last night was coding again. Dr. Mastiff worked to try to bring the patient back for forty-nine minutes before calling it. Most other doctors would have a lot sooner, but Joe knew the man. He had been his own children’s school bus driver and a good, kindhearted man.
“Time of death,” he sighed, drained, “oh-eight-thirteen.” A nurse made a note of the official time and began cleaning up the room as the doctor dragged himself toward the door, removing his latex gloves slowly. He hesitated at the patient’s doorway, glanced back at the pasty, overweight body of the man who had happily spent his days driving children to and from school and enjoyed way too many fast-food stops.
He sighed deeply and chucked his gloves in the hazardous waste bin nearest him. He would have to have the nurses search for the next of kin in earnest. So far, it looked like the poor fellow was alone in the world. Now he was gone and no one was around to mourn his loss.
He walked away holding his pounding head knowing he now had a lot of paperwork to do. A never ending pile of red tape had to be dealt with every time a patient was lost.
He made his way slowly back to the office he was trying desperately to escape. He was already longing for the small bottle stashed in the bottom left-hand drawer. The headache was coming on fast and he needed to deal with it before it turned in to a full-blown migraine.
“Excuse me, Dr. Mastiff?” a voice came from beside him.
When he turned, he saw a pretty girl with attractive dark eyes framed by long, unpainted lashes looking at him with a tentative smile.
Winter's Warrior: Mark of the Monarch (Winter's Saga #4) Page 10
