by Barbara Gee
Tuck chuckled. “I’ll arrange to have someone assigned there by morning,” he promised. “Oh, and Smitty drove your truck to the hospital. The keys are at the desk in the emergency department. He said it’s in lot B.”
A ghost of a smile had finally touched Vince’s face. “Tell him I appreciate that. And what you guys are doing, too.”
“We’re going to take care of this,” Tuck had assured him. “Elliot’s days of calling the shots are numbered. Callie’s going to be safe, and the Tate family will soon find out she’s alive.”
“Yeah,” Vince had muttered, “and who knows what that’ll mean for her. I was hoping she’d have the option of not even contacting the Tates if she didn’t want to.”
“She’ll get it figured it out. She’s a strong young lady.”
Vince rubbed the back of his neck, his frustration growing. “I just hate that she’s caught up in something like this. Finding out she’s not a Green, that she has another family, and one of them wants her dead….it’s going to be a tough thing to swallow.”
“She’ll have a lot of support, and so will you. Don’t let it get to you right now, just concentrate on helping her get well.”
Before he hung up, Tuck had repeated his promise to have a deputy there in the morning. Vince had stayed in his seat processing everything for a few more minutes, then he’d returned to wait with the others.
***
The rest of the evening and the night passed slowly. Pastor Keller took the next visit after Brittany, then he left for home. Rose and Kim took their turns, and by that time it was nine o’clock. Vince convinced them that since Callie wasn’t going to be waking up during the night due to the sedative she was getting, they might as well go home to get some sleep. Boone had tried to insist on staying, but Vince told him he was going to visit Callie once more, then find a place he could get a little sleep himself. There was no reason for anyone else to stick around.
Finally, all five of them left, with plans to come back the next day.
Vince returned to Callie’s room. Jane had been replaced by a young man named Chase, and as it turned out, Chase had no problem with Vince staying in the room for the night, provided Callie remained stable. The accommodating nurse brought a pillow and blankets and put them on the built-in couch under the window. It was about half as long as Vince needed it to be, but better than sitting upright in a chair.
For another hour, he stayed by Callie’s bed, holding her hand and talking softly at times. When his fatigue got to be too much, he retired to the small couch, positioning himself so his upper body was flat, one leg hanging over with his foot propped on the floor to keep him put, and the other leg bent, his foot up against the wall. It would do.
He stared up at the ceiling, exhaling a long, exhausted breath. The worst day of his life was finally coming to an end, and he hoped no other day would ever take over that rank.
He felt himself fading fast, yet he managed one more prayer for Callie. His eyes closed on the “amen.”
The room was silent except for an occasional soft beep, and they both slept.
CHAPTER 33
Vince was with her. Callie knew that, somehow. She didn’t know where she was or why she couldn’t see him, but he was here with her and that was good because he’d protect her…..from that man. That awful, mocking man with the dead black eyes.
Her head throbbed as she remembered, the man’s face coming back to her clearly. He’d shown up out of nowhere and started talking so crazy. Where had he come from? Who was he? Why in the world had he wanted to kill her?
She wanted to ask Vince—he might know the answers. But her eyes wouldn’t open and words wouldn’t form. Her body felt like an immobile blob. A very painful one.
Her mind flashed back to being dragged to the rocks. The man had been so calm about it, like it was no big deal. She’d tried so hard to get away, but there had been nowhere to go and he was so much stronger.
There was something else nagging at her. The man had said something so weird—it had bothered her and they’d argued about it.
Oh….wait. She remembered now. He’d said her brother wanted her dead, and she’d told him he had the wrong person because she didn’t have a brother. But he’d talked about Tabby, too, about her dying without suffering.
Even though Callie’s head was pounding so painfully, she realized if the man knew Tabby was her mother, then he didn’t have the wrong person after all. Did that mean she really did have a brother somewhere who wanted her dead? And was Tabby’s death not an accident, as everyone thought?
Callie felt like she needed to cry, but her body wasn’t working and she couldn’t. All she could do was think, and that hurt her head and she didn’t want to do it anymore. She was so, so tired….she wanted to stop thinking and forget about that man and the things he’d said. She wanted to go back to the blackness where things didn’t hurt. Just for a while.
Vince would understand. He probably wanted her to open her eyes and talk to him, but if he knew how tired she was, he’d tell her not to worry about it. He’d wait.
She felt herself drifting off. A little more rest was all she needed. Then she’d try again to open her eyes and figure out what was going on.
***
Vince woke before sunrise, remembering immediately where he was. He quickly sat up, stifling a groan. His way too-short bed had left him stiff and sore—even though he’d gotten up several times during the night to check on Callie and try to stretch out the kinks.
He stood up and looked over at her. Nothing seemed changed from a few hours ago, so he took a few minutes to do some targeted stretches. It wasn’t nearly as effective as a session with Izzy or Jolene, with all that yoga they were so fond of, but it would have to do.
The chair was still in place by Callie’s bed and he went over and lowered himself into it, grinding his palms against his eyes for a bit before giving his head a shake to clear the cobwebs of sleep.
He leaned forward and studied her. The lights had been dimmed and she didn’t look as starkly pale. She was still completely motionless though, except for her breathing.
Chase, the nurse who’d allowed Vince to stay with her, came into the room. He gave Vince a sympathetic smile. “I’m guessing you’re a little stiff,” he said. “Sorry we don’t have room for better accommodations in here, but it’s rare we allow people to stay. Usually when patients are in ICU there’s a lot more going on than with our girl here.”
“I’m good, really. Thanks for letting me crash in here.” Vince watched as Chase checked the monitors and pushed some buttons. “Any change?” he asked.
“All for the good,” Chase said. “Her temp is normal, without ibuprofen, and her vitals are all stronger. Dr. Young will be pleased, I’m sure. I don’t see any reason for him to keep the sedation going.”
“How long until it’ll be out of her system?” Vince wondered.
“He’ll reduce the meds gradually and see how it goes. If she doesn’t show too much agitation with the lower dose, we’ll go faster. If that’s the case, she should be pretty much back with us by this evening.”
“Here’s hoping,” Vince said, picking up Callie’s hand and warming it between his.
“Dr. Young isn’t due in until seven, but knowing him, he’ll show up before then.” Chase entered some information into the computer, then looked at Vince. “Do you need anything? When was the last time you ate?”
Vince had to think about it. Food hadn’t been his priority since that initial panicked drive to the Double-Nickel. He knew the girls and Boone and Jolene had gone to the cafeteria when he’d had his first visit with Callie, but he hadn’t thought to try to grab anything for himself when they took their turns. Now that Chase had brought it up, his stomach felt almost unbearably hollow.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Uh, I guess lunch yesterday. I hadn’t even thought about that until you asked.”
Chase nodded knowingly. “Some people stress-eat, and others lose their appetites
entirely. The cafeteria is open 24/7. Now would be a good time for you to go grab something, that way you’ll be back before the doctor gets here. I’d hate for you to miss him.”
“I think I’ll do that. Thanks for the suggestion.” Vince hesitated. “I won’t be gone long, but call me if there’s any change. My number’s right there on the white board,” he added, pointing.
“Got it. No need to rush. I’m sure Ms. Callie’s gonna do just fine while you’re gone.”
“I’m sure she will.” Vince left the room and headed to the elevators. He would’ve loved a shower, but even if he managed to locate showers open to the public, with no clean clothes to change into it wouldn’t be worth it. That luxury would have to wait.
He expected to be the only one in the cafeteria at five in the morning, but there were a few others. One older man was huddled over a cup of coffee, and three middle-aged women were seated at another table, eating and chatting quietly. A man dressed in scrubs was ordering something at the one food station that was open.
Vince went up behind him and looked at what was available. His stomach now felt like it was trying to eat itself, so he wasn’t too picky. A couple minutes later his tray held two freshly-made bacon, egg and cheese bagel sandwiches, a bowl of mixed fruit, a glass of milk, and a large coffee to go.
He took a seat by a big window that looked out into a courtyard. Several path lights lit up the space enough to make out nice landscaping, a number of benches, and a few sprays of large white flowers. It was a nice feature for a hospital to have, and he imagined later in the day there would be lots of people strolling around out there, enjoying the fresh air and a chance to decompress a little bit.
Vince was tempted to go out there even now, when it was deserted, but he didn’t want to risk missing Dr. Young. He ate quickly, then picked up his coffee cup and carried the tray to the dirty dish conveyor, which wasn’t currently running and was getting a little stacked up.
He returned to the third floor and pressed the button on the ICU entrance intercom, hoping whoever was manning the desk wouldn’t tell him he’d already overstayed his welcome. He knew Chase had bent the rules for him, and there was no guarantee anyone else would.
As luck would have it, Chase himself was the one at the desk, so there was no problem on that score. Vince was soon back at Callie’s side, hoping the doctor would show up early, as predicted. The sooner they started backing off the sedative, the sooner Callie could come back to him.
A half hour later, a man dressed in a sheriff’s uniform stuck his head inside. His gaze moved from Vince to Callie, then back to Vince, before he stepped into the room.
“I’m Deputy Jim Turner. Are you Vince Abbot?” he asked. Then he looked a little sheepish. “Actually I know you are, I’m a big fan, but I have to ask.”
“I am,” Vince said, standing and holding out his hand for a satisfyingly firm shake. “Are you here to keep an eye on things for Callie?”
“Yes, sir, and I’m glad to do it.” The deputy looked down at her again, his eyes showing concern. “I know Callie. I was two years ahead of her in school.” He shook his head slowly, a soft smile curving his lips. “She was always a great gal. High school can be a rough time, lots of drama, but I don’t think there was a single person who didn’t like Callie Green.”
“I’m not surprised to hear that,” Vince said. “I appreciate you coming. How does this work? Will you be outside the door watching who comes in? Or tries to?”
“Yep. I’ll get a list of authorized staff, and check IDs every time someone tries to enter the room. Anyone not on the list will have to show a picture ID and get the okay from you or one of the FBI special agents on the case. I’ll need your phone number, so I can get a hold of you if you aren’t here. You’re to be my first point of contact.”
Vince gave him the number. “I realize this could be a waste of your time, I just want to be cautious. The guy who attacked her took us all by surprise, and I don’t want to take any chances on that happening again.”
“Exactly right. Sheriff briefed me on what’s gone down so far. He said the guy must have spotted one of the drones and gotten scared off before he could finish the job. Either that, or he thought Callie was dead.”
“Thankfully he didn’t check to make sure,” Vince said grimly. “Her doctor expects a full, quick recovery. I’m hoping she’ll be able to tell us what happened today. If not, it should be tomorrow.”
“The sooner the better. We’ll all be glad when we can make an arrest. In the meantime, having a guard is a good move. I’ll be right outside the door if you need anything. Nice meeting you.”
“You too,” Vince said sincerely.
The deputy left the room and Vince sat back down with his coffee to wait for the doctor. It was six o’clock. Hopefully he’d be arriving soon.
***
Callie heard his voice. She heard him and she wanted to see him, but she felt weird and floaty and her eyes wouldn’t open no matter how hard she tried. Why wouldn’t they open?
“Don’t fight it, Callie,” he was saying. “Just relax and let it happen. You’re going to be fine. You’re coming off some medication and that’s making you feel restless and confused, but it’ll be out of your system soon and you’ll feel much better. I promise.”
Ah, so that’s what it was. Medicine. She wasn’t going crazy after all. She felt her body instantly relax, and then she heard another voice, one she didn’t recognize.
“Keep talking to her, Vince,” the female voice said. “It calms her.”
Then it was his voice again. Oh, how she loved that voice.
“No need to rush it, sweetheart. We have plenty of time and I’m not going anywhere. When you’re ready, you can open your eyes. Don’t let all the machines startle you. You’re in the hospital and the monitors are here so we can see how well you’re doing. Pretty soon they can all go away and I can take you home.”
Of course…..she was in the hospital. She should have realized that. That’s why the bed felt so strange. She tried to open her eyes again but although she could feel her body, it still wouldn’t obey her. Not even her eyes. She felt angry and frustrated, and once again, she probably would have cried if she could.
It would be okay, though, because Vince was here. She could feel his hand. His fingers were threaded through hers and his thumb was stroking the back of her hand. She focused her attention there, on his comforting touch, and she willed her fingers to move. To tighten around his, so he would know she was glad he was there.
It worked. Her fingers moved, finally, and she heard his low chuckle.
“That’s right, Callie. Squeeze again. Show me you’re hearing me.”
She did. It was easier this time, she hardly had to think about it. She felt his fingers on her forehead, then they trailed gently over her cheek.
“Now your eyes, sweetheart,” he murmured. “Show me those pretty green eyes.”
She wanted to. She wanted to see him so bad. How long had she been in the hospital? Surely it hadn’t been long, yet it felt like forever since she’d seen his face. His fingertips stroked her forehead again, following the arch of her brows.
Suddenly she knew she could do it. She could open her eyes and see Vince. And so she did.
***
Vince felt her squeezing his hand, and it was the best feeling he could ever remember. He kept talking to her while Jane stood watch.
It was two o’clock in the afternoon and Callie had been restless for a few hours now. Her arms and legs jerked every so often, and she frowned and winced at times. He’d been convinced she was in pain, but Jane assured him the pain meds were still working, it was all just part of coming out of the sedation.
He touched her face, her smooth forehead and the soft curve of her cheek. “Now your eyes, sweetheart. Show me those pretty green eyes.”
He traced her brows and saw her eyelids flutter, then lift slightly before closing again. She was trying, but it seemed to take so much effort. Another flutt
er, and then….finally. There were the eyes he’d yearned to see. They blinked slowly a few times, then focused on him.
The sight made him smile as the stress of the last two days seeped from his body. “Hey, there you are,” he said, his voice gruff with emotion. “Welcome back.”
Her bottom lip trembled and he cupped her face in his palm. “Hey, hey, don’t fret, sweetheart. You’re going to be fine. I know it’s hard, but try to relax, okay? Your nurse is here to keep an eye on you. Her name is Jane, and she doesn’t want you to get stressed.”
Callie’s eyes were fixed on his. He saw confusion and fear, but he kept talking to her and stroking her face, and those emotions gradually faded. Within the next hour, she became almost totally alert as her body fought off the last remnants of the sedative.
Her first words were a request for water, her voice hoarse and barely recognizable. Jane let her have a few sips at a time, and the next attempt at speaking went better.
“How long have I been here?” she asked.
Vince kept her hand snug in his. “You came in yesterday around two, and it’s almost three o’clock in the afternoon now. You took a blow to the head, and the doctor wanted to keep you sedated until they could run some tests, but you’re going to be just fine.” He smiled. “Brittany, Kim and Rose are all here, out in the waiting room. They only let one person in your room at a time, and I’m afraid I’ve been a little greedy. I wanted to be here when you woke up.”
“Who was that man? He tried to kill me.”
Vince looked surprised. “Uh, we don’t know everything yet,” he said evasively, but Callie wasn’t having it.
“It has something to do with what Gary is going to tell me, doesn’t it”? she rasped. “That man said I have a brother, and I think that must be what Gary knows.”
The head injury certainly hadn’t affected her memory, or her powers of deduction. Vince didn’t know how to answer her. He didn’t want to go into detail now, right after she woke up, yet she was obviously fretting about it, and would continue to do so until she had answers.