by Kris Jacen
“What are her chances? Can I see her? Why aren’t you talking to her husband?” Okay, information that Jack could maybe process.
“It’s always dangerous when we operate on someone in this condition. If I didn’t think she’d make it through the surgery, I wouldn’t operate. As for her husband? I don’t know. I was just called for your sister.”
“Can I see her?”
“I’ll have the nurse take you to her after you answer some questions about her medical history and allergies then sign the paperwork. We’ll be in surgery for a while, this isn’t a quick fix.” Doctor Papin left the room and Jack turned to Tank.
“As soon as we see Sandy, then we’ll go find the triplets. They’re here somewhere.”
§ § § §
Jack walked slowly to the bed. Sandy was lying there with tubes and wires all over her. Her face was swollen and bruised. It looked like someone had tried to clean her off a bit. Jack went to reach for her hand but stopped just short of holding it. He didn’t want to cause her any pain.
“It’s not supposed to work this way, sis. You and Tom promised me that all the papers were just for show. You’re supposed to raise those three to be strong and independent. To be kind and loving. I’m supposed to be the uncle that spoils them rotten. I need my sister here. I love you.”
Jack wasn’t sure how long he stood there before he felt something against his face. He turned to see Tank standing there, wiping his face with a tissue. Huh, I’m crying.
“I’m sorry but I need to take Mrs. Perry to the operating room now,” a voice said from the doorway.
“We’ll be waiting for you when you get out. I love you,” Jack leaned over and kissed her cheek.
Tank reached around Jack and touched Sandy’s fingers. “I’ve got Jack, Sandy. We love you. See you in a little bit.”
Chapter Twenty-two
Tank stood there with Jack watching them roll Sandy away. He could tell that Jack was holding on by a slim thread. At some point, he was going to explode. Tank just hoped he could control the damage when he did.
“You ready to find the bugs?” Tank asked.
“Let’s go find them.” Jack walked over to the nurses’ station. “Excuse me? My sister was just brought back to surgery. I need to go find my nephew and nieces. They’re somewhere in the hospital.”
The nurse consulted something on the screen in front of her. “Yes, sir. You’re here for Mrs. Perry?”
“Yes. Jack Dillon,” Jack confirmed.
“Looking at the notes, she’ll be in surgery for several hours. I’ll make a note that if you’re needed to page you.”
“Start in the Emergency Room?” Tank suggested.
“Guess that would be the best option.” Jack headed toward the elevator, woodenly. Oh, yeah, Jack wasn’t going to last long.
§ § § §
As he got off the elevator, Jack heard a cry that he knew. That was his jitterbug. “That’s Ethan. Where is he? Is he okay?” Jack headed down the hall, and a guy in scrubs stopped him.
“Sir, you can’t just barge around here,” the guy said. Jack looked at his name tag. Brian Atwood, RN. Okay, he should be able to help him.
“That cry is my nephew. Where is he?” Jack demanded.
The nurse narrowed his eyes at Jack. “And you are? And this is?”
“I’m Jack Dillon, he’s my fiancé and that’s my nephew crying. If you don’t lead me to him quickly, I’m not going to be responsible for my actions.” Jack would think about claiming Tank like that later. He noticed that the expression on Tank’s face never changed and he didn’t deny Jack’s statement.
“Well, I’m one of the pediatric nurses assisting Doctor March. And if you don’t control yourself, I’ll be the one calling security on you. Now if you don’t calm down, you won’t do them any good. Follow me.”
When they got to the curtained area, Jack could see that there were several nurses around the bed and the bugs were lying there crying. A young-looking man in scrubs with a lab coat over them was checking them out. Although how he could hear anything with the cries, Jack wasn’t sure. Jack and Tank pushed through and reached for the triplets.
“Sir, I can’t have you moving them. We need to make sure that there’s nothing wrong with them. I’m assuming you’re their uncle?” the doctor asked. “Sorry, HIPAA.” At Jack’s nod, he continued. “They’ve got bruises from the car seat straps. I don’t see anything else on an examination, but I want to have CTs done on each of them. “
“If we’re gentle can we pick them up and calm them down? This crying can’t be good for them.” Jack knew he sounded short now, but damn it, he couldn’t see anything wrong with the bugs. But it was a car accident.
Getting approval from the doctor, they moved closer and picked up the bugs. Ethan cuddling right into Tank and the girls gripping Jack’s T-shirt in their little fingers. With the babies, calmed, Jack turned to the doctor.
“Now, you said some bruising from the car seat straps… From what I was told, they were in their seats, secured when the officers got to the scene. And what’s your name?” Jack was trying to calm himself now that the bugs were with him and Tank. His little ladybugs were quietly hiccupping against his chest. Ethan looked to have started to doze, he must have sensed he was safe.
“I’m Doctor Scott, the pediatric chief resident. I’ll have some rocking chairs brought in here until we can get them transferred to the pediatric unit. I can’t release them until tomorrow. They need to be observed.”
“Jack?” Jack looked over at Tank. He was holding Ethan so protectively. “Do you want to hold Ethan with the girls while I move the Jeep? Don’t want to piss anyone off.” He nodded and hitched up onto the bed, half reclining. Tank slipped Ethan between the girls on Jack’s chest. “I’ll be back as fast as I can.”
§ § § §
Tank placed a kiss on Grace’s head and then pushed out of the curtain. He stopped at the nurses’ station and got the attention of one of the nurses sitting there. “Excuse me, ma’am? Do I need anything to get back here again after I move the car?”
“Thank you for asking. You should be fine but if you do have any issue have Gail call and we’ll have her let you through.” She turned and went back to whatever she’d been doing.
Exiting the double doors, Tank was tackled. The crews had made it. He didn’t know if Jack knew he’d called them or not. They were all talking at the same time and he couldn’t make out anything.
“Whoa, I can’t understand anyone,” Tank finally said.
“Are the triplets okay? Sandy? Where’s Tom?” Bree asked, from his side.
“The bugs seem to only have some bruises. Sandy’s already in surgery and we have no idea where Tom is.” Now that Tank thought about it, where was Tom? “Jack is back with the babies. They need to keep them overnight.” At Barbie’s gasp, he filled in. “It’s a precaution from what I understand. They’ll page Jack if something happens during the surgery until we get back there. I’m just out here to move the Jeep.” Tank pulled the car keys out of his pocket and they were grabbed away from him.
“I’ve got this,” May said. “You go back and be with Jack. Just let us know where we should wait. Here, the OR waiting room or wherever. We’re here for all of you.”
“If you see a deputy around here, ask if he’s Green. If he is, tell him that Jack is with the babies. He’s the one that called and should know what happened.” Tank gave Bree a squeeze and went back to Jack. Something was telling him that everything had now changed in Jack’s world. He just didn’t know it yet.
Chapter Twenty-three
Jack kept kissing the triplets’ heads, trying to calm himself. Jack looked around the curtain for a clock. He didn’t even know what time it was. The curtain pushed back and Tank walked in.
“The crews are in the waiting room. We just need to let them know what we need them to do,” Tank told him as he reached for Ethan.
“I… I don’t know.” The curtain moved and a nurse cam
e in followed by a deputy. Jack knew him. “Deputy Green, right?”
“That’s me, Doctor Dillon. I am so sorry that I had to notify you over the phone. The group in the waiting room that flagged me down, do the babies know them?” Okay, strange question.
“They do. They’re close friends. Why?”
Green ignored Jack’s question and whispered to the nurse who then left the area. She wasn’t gone long before the crews were back with her.
“Doctor Dillon, if you could leave the babies with your friends and come with me? Maybe bring someone with you,” Green suggested.
Jack moved off the bed and handed Faith to Barbie and Grace to Siah. Tank gave Ethan to Bree and then held out his hand to Jack.
Green led them to outside of another curtain and stopped. “I’m sorry to tell you that the driver of the van didn’t make it. His licensed identified him as Thomas Perry.”
Jack didn’t think he’d heard right then Tank said, “I’m sorry, Jack.”
“Tom’s dead?” Jack asked after a minute.
“I am truly sorry for your loss.” Green motioned to someone behind Jack and a woman about Jack’s age wearing scrubs appeared.
“Mr. Dillon? My name is Doctor Oliver. I’m the attending here in the ER. I realize that you are the uncle for the triplets, but I’m tied by rules. Do you know if your sister or brother in law had a will? Do you know their wishes for who to be the legal guardian for the babies?”
“Yeah, her and Tom did a bunch of paperwork after the triplets were born. I’m their guardian. My lawyer would have the details.” Christ, he was never supposed to be in this position. Tom and Sandy promised him.
“Could you call them? I hate to ask but we need that paperwork.” The doctor really looked apologetic.
“Tank, can you go get Barbie? Please?” Tank squeezed Jack’s hand then let go. He wasn’t gone long before he was back with Barbie in tow.
“What do you need, Jack? Did something happen in surgery?” Jack just shook his head then nodded toward the doctor; Tank must have told them about Tom when he got Barbie. “Barbara Davis-Miller. I’m Doctor Dillon’s attorney. What do you need?” And with that Barbie was all over it and Jack went back to his bugs. Sandy and Tom trusted him to take care of the babies and he was going to step up and do it, first and foremost.
Jack, Bree and Siah were gently rocking the triplets while Tank and Carter were on the bed talking quietly. He didn’t know where Randolph and Briar were. He knew he needed to get back to the OR floor but knowing he was just going to be staring at the walls had Jack staying right where he was. Barbie walked into the area and squatted down beside Jack.
“It’s all taken care of. You do have medical power of attorney for Sandy and the triplets. The hospital is notifying child protective that you are taking custody of the triplets when they’re released sometime tomorrow. They just needed to see a copy of Sandy and Tom’s wills naming you guardian.”
Jack started nodding and he wasn’t sure if he was going to be able to stop. “What time is it?” Such a mundane question to ask but Jack needed to focus on small things right now.
“It’s just past midnight. The bugs are sleeping. What do you need for us to do? We’re here for you and Sandy.”
“Are they going transfer the bugs soon?”
“I think their doctor is waiting to talk to you. Go find out what he needs.” Barbie reached to take Faith from him as he stood up to do as she told him to do. Jack knew that he was running on sheer will at this point.
Chapter Twenty-four
When Jack left the cubicle, he looked for the men’s room. Didn’t take long to find; it was a single room with a lock on the door— perfect. He closed and locked the door then collapsed.
His back was against the door, head in hands, with his knees drawn up. He just let go. The bugs were with the crews and Tank. Sandy was still in surgery He could let it out before he exploded. He cried for Sandy. He cried for Tom. He cried because those beautiful babies were going to grow up without a father and maybe…oh, God… maybe not a mother. Just him. They’d made him promise and he wasn’t going to go back on his word.
Jack gave himself a few minutes then got up and rinsed off his face. He leaned against the sink for another minute, with chin to chest. Pulling in a deep breath, Jack looked in the mirror and nodded at himself. Time to step up.
Doctor March was standing at the nurses’ station so Jack approached and waited to be noticed.
“Doctor Dillon? Sorry for not addressing you correctly either,” March said, putting his hand out to guide Jack to a more private area.
“I’m a vet, not a medical doctor. No worries. My nephew and nieces? Are you transferring them soon? Yes, they’re sleeping but it would be better for them in a crib.” Jack forced himself to sound confident. They’d set up one of the spare rooms in his house for the triplets to stay overnight but he didn’t have all the gear. He had an oversized Pack ’n Play; it would work for now but if the bugs were going to be with him for a while…and he didn’t think Sandy was leaving here anytime soon, so he’d need cribs.
“We’ve done periodic checks on the triplets. Your friends are quite protective of them. If it even looked like we were going to wake one of them, we were growled at. You’ve got an amazing support system. We haven’t seen anything that leads me to believe that they have any spinal and neck trauma from the accident but I still want to do the CTs. The technician will be in shortly for them. Instead of coming back here, they’ll go straight to the pediatric ward.” March stood there for a minute before saying, “We heard about your brother-in-law and sister. I’m sorry for your loss and I hope your sister comes out of surgery soon.”
“Thank you, Doctor March. If I need to sign something, and I’m not with the triplets, I’m in the OR waiting room.” Jack needed his bugs. Just… needed to hold them for a minute before heading back to wait for news about their mama.
Bree, Barbie and Siah were sitting in rocking chairs with the babies sound asleep. Carter was sitting on the bed, scrolling through something on his phone but stopped when he noticed Jack standing there. And Tank wasn’t there.
“You okay?” Carter asked. “That’s… what do you need?”
“It’s okay. Where’s Tank? Where are Briar and Randolph?” Jack asked.
“Tank went in search of coffee for everyone and Briar and Randolph went shopping. Figuring the babies needed some diapers and a change of clothes,” Carter answered.
Jack reached over and took Grace from Siah. He put his nose to her neck and inhaled. Something about a baby’s scent could calm the most worked up person. After a minute, Jack placed a kiss on her head and looked up. Something must have been evident on his face.
“What do you need us to do?” Bree asked, quietly.
“Just realized that I’ve got to tell Tom’s brother that he died, not that I ever want to talk to that jackass again. Sandy is still with us but—” Jack choked up at finishing that sentence. He took a deep breath; good thing he practiced breathing in the dojo or he’d be passed out. “The technician will be here for the babies soon for CTs. I don’t know if they’ll let you all go with them. And they’re not coming back here but to the pediatric ward.”
“We can go wait on the pediatric floor,” Barbie offered, with the others nodding. “You just need to give our names to the nurses up there.”
“Jack? Do you have the car seats still from a few weeks ago?” Siah asked.
“Yeah, yeah, they’re in the spare room. Shit.” Jack closed his eyes.
“We’ll get them. Can you call Phinny, babe?” Siah looked at Carter.
“Taken care of.” Carter walked through the curtain already clicking away at his phone.
“We’ve got it all covered here until they let the babies go. Go back to the OR waiting room.” Siah reached for Grace and Jack let go of his ladybug.
Chapter Twenty-five
Tank got back to the cubicle just as the technician was rolling the triplets out in a specia
l crib. They looked like they were sleeping still. Tank said a quiet prayer of thanks that they weren’t physically hurt. They were so young, probably the only memories they’d have of Tom would be pictures and whatever they were told. Tom had been such a great father, too.
He handed out the coffees and turned to Jack. “Back to the OR waiting room?”
“Yeah, I’d like to be there when Sandy comes out.” Tank watched as Jack just stood there looking at their friends. “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“Good, then don’t,” Siah said as he wrapped Jack in a hug. “Now come up to pediatrics then head to the waiting room. We’ll be there for the bugs.”
§ § § §
Tank sat there watching as Jack paced. Okay, wow. He was normally the one with the extra energy. The next time Jack passed him, Tank pulled him to a stop.
“You need to save your energy. Sandy’s going to need you there and if you’re passed out, you’re not going to do her any good.” Jack sat next to Tank and leaned his head against his shoulder. “Now I’m not going to tell you to sleep but close your eyes for a few minutes. They know we’re here.”
“I’ve got to call Mom. Let her decide what to tell Dad when. I know she said that he wasn’t doing the greatest these days. Asked who the babies were in the picture on the wall. It was the triplets. He doesn’t remember his grandchildren now,” Jack muttered.
“That can wait until the morning. Now hush.” Tank kissed the top of Jack’s head and just held him close.
§ § § §
Jack had no clue how long they sat there. Didn’t know if they’d fallen asleep or just zoned out. But he snapped to attention when he heard a throat clear. He blinked a few times and then saw Doctor Papin standing in front of him.
“Well?” Jack asked as he and Tank stood up.
“She made it through but isn’t out of the woods. We stopped the internal bleeding, took out her spleen, fixed her fractured femur with pins in three places and casted her arm. I’m not sure if she had her seatbelt on at the time of impact or not. I’d guess not with all the damage that we found.”