Page 101 of Catch My Fall

∞∞∞

It was an agonising four and a half hours before the doctor gave me the green light to visit Alec and it’s been two hours since then that I’ve been sat at his bedside, my thumb swirling circles on the back of his hand while I watch him sleep.

His head is wrapped in a white bandage, an IV line disappearing into his arm while the heart monitor beeps rhythmically on the opposite side of the bed. It’s a sound that’s keeping me sane at this point, the sound I’m clinging onto.

I can’t stop watching him, waiting for the gentle rise and fall of his chest, which along with the steady beep of the monitor, is the only indication that he’s alive. I’m scared that if I stop watching, he’ll somehow stop breathing, so I’ll sit here all night long if I have to, but it’s getting increasingly harder to keep my eyes open, fighting the heavy tug of sleep on my eyelids.

My eyes flutter closed and my head tips forward just as the door clicks open, snapping me back awake.

Gage slips inside, a frown etching into his brow as he takes in the sight of Alec before offering me a weak smile.

“Rafe and I are gonna head off, get back to the girls. Max has posted some of his men outside the room and down the corridor for your protection, they’ll be here if you need anything.”

“Okay,” I reply wearily, releasing a long, drawn-out yawn before roughing a hand through my matted hair.

“Why don’t you come home with us and get some rest?” he suggests.

“No.”

“Si, you’re exhausted,” he pushes.

“I said no, Gage. Alec wouldn’t leave me, he didn’t, so there’s no way in hell I’m leaving him.” When our roles were reversed not so long ago, Alec refused to leave me, so somebody will have to drag me out of here kicking and screaming before I leave here without him.

Gage chuckles with a shake of his head as he crosses the room, dropping a kiss to the top of my head. “You two are perfect for each other, you know? Both as stubborn as the other.”

“I’ll call you if anything changes.”

“Okay.” He heads back towards the door, but stops when his hand rests on the handle and turns to me. “It’s good to have you back, sis,” he says before disappearing out the door.

I turn my attention back to Alec. The doctor said it could be another several hours at least before he wakes, it could be days or weeks depending on how his condition improves. When he does finally wake, he might not be fully coherent, and depending on any brain damage he might have sustained, he might not be able to walk. He might not be able to talk or even recognise me.

I squeeze his hand tighter in mine, bringing his hand up to my lips on which I place a delicate kiss. “Don’t you dare leave me, Alec.”

∞∞∞

The clock on the wall reads two a.m. when the door opens and Ray steps into the room. His face falls when his eyes land on his nephew’s unconscious form and they soften when they drift over to me.

I rush to him and greet him with a hug, not able to contain my tears as he wraps his arms around me. The last time I saw him was yesterday morning, but it feels like weeks have gone by since then.

“Thanks for calling me, sweetheart. How is he?” I called him in the ambulance on the way over here, but I never expected him to drive for near on seven hours through the night to come to us, but I can’t blame him. After nearly twenty years apart, he’s finally reconnected with his estranged nephew, it seems cruel for him to lose him now.

“He had some sort of brain bleed probably caused by the car accident when we were taken. They took him into surgery and stopped the bleeding. He’s in an induced coma, but we won’t know the extent of any damage until he wakes up,” I explain.

“You were taken? Kidnapped?”

I nod. “By the same man who hurt me, I’m sure Alec told you the basics of what he did. He’s gone now, the FBI have him in custody. He’s taken so much from me these past few months…” I glance over at Alec, “I can’t have him take Alec too.”

Ray squeezes my shoulders, pulling my attention back to him. “He’s in the best place. Alec is strong, you know that first-hand. He’ll get through this, especially with you by his side.”

“Thank you for being here, Ray.”

“No place I’d rather be. In spite of our past, I always loved Al like he was my own son. He and Daniel were like brothers growing up, and seeing him like this…” He shakes whatever thought popped into his head away. “I’m so glad he has you. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man more in love with a woman as he is with you.”

Tears prickle my eyes. “They said he could suffer memory loss when he wakes up. What if he doesn’t remember me?”

“Sweetheart, there is nothing that could ever make him forget you. Listen, I’m gonna go down to the cafeteria and see if I can find something to eat, it was a long drive here. You want anything, honey?”

“No, I’m good thanks.”

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