Page 95 of Frayed Bonds

“C’mon, I’ve got him,” he says, replacing me. He tosses me his keys and I catch them with a fright.

“What must I do with this?” I ask, staring at the inanimate object as if it’s useful at all right now.

“Go open my car, the back door, we can’t wait for the ambulance he needs to go right now.”

He lifts my papá as if he weighs absolutely nothing and turns to me still standing motionless with the keys in my grasp. “Now, sweetheart, let’s go,” he says with more urgency which lets me know this is a lot more difficult than he’s letting on.

I jump into action and rush to the car with Ambrose hot on my heels as he carries my father, then gently places him on the back seat where I join him placing his head on my lap. “Keep his head to the side in case he vomits again,” Ambrose says coolly as he closes the door.

I reach forward and he grabs the keys from me. “Ambrose, what if he throws up in your car?”

“So what Val? I can have it cleaned.” He checks on me through his rearview mirror. “It’s going to be okay sweetheart.”

“Thank you,” I whisper. Tears streaking down my face as I gently rub the hair on my papá's head. “It’s going to be okay,’’ I whisper gently.

Ambrose probably breaks every single traffic law in Tevici but we’re at the hospital less than ten minutes later. He rushes in and seconds later nurses are rushing out with a gurney helping Ambrose to get him out.

“Go I’ll be in, in a minute I just need to move the car,” he says and I stand hesitantly before nodding.

As soon as I am inside, the bright lights and noise hit me from every angle. Beeping, hushed shouts and cries from other patients in the waiting room. Overwhelmed feels like an understatement. I have no idea where to go, where they took my papá or what to even do. Like any lost child looking for their parents, I burst into tears, rapidly searching for any indication of where he went.

“I’m here, it’s okay sweetheart. I’m here.” Ambrose comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me.

Seconds later a nurse is in front of us. “Valerie Farina?”

“Ye-yes.” I choke out.

“We’ve taken your father to the ICU. Can you tell me what happened?” she asks.

My mouth opens but nothing comes out other than a choked sob. Immediately I’m pulled into Ambrose's side. “She found him unconscious, he vomited once while unconscious and may have aspirated. He also felt really warm when I carried him to the car.” Ambrose says calmly as if this entire ordeal hadn't even occurred.

“Anything else you noticed that was odd leading up to tonight?” the nurse asks.

“She mentioned him being tired, and the vomit was green, very green,” Ambrose answers again, his arm still holding me firmly in place.

“Thank you, you’re free to wait but this may take a while to figure out, it sounds as if it may be an infection from his operation but we’ll call you as soon as we know anything,” she says before walking away.

Ambrose thanks her before he moves us to the waiting room, takes a seat and pulls me onto his lap.

“Thank you,” I whisper again. I attempt to wipe my nose but notice my entire top is covered in vomit and I nearly gag. “I’m so sorry,” I say immediately, pulling back and looking down at his hoodie covered in snot and tear stains.

“Don’t apologise,” he pulls me closer again. “I’m here, for it all, the good and bad sweetheart. I want everything.”

His words alone cause another wave of tears to erupt. “What if he dies?”

“Don’t say things like that Val, he’s going to be okay, we got him here in time,” Ambrose reassures, rubbing my back.

The irony isn't lost on me. The similarities between the situations and how I, much like Gus, froze and how smoothly Ambrose was able to sort everything out to get him here in such a short amount of time.

“Thank you again, Ambs, things could've played out differently if you weren't able to help so fast.”

“For you, sweetheart, I’d do anything in my power to help.” He kisses the top of my head.

“Do you want to head out or wait?” he asks as he gently tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear.

“I think I'll stay for a while, you don’t have to stay. Please go home and get some sleep.”

“Home is wherever you are,” his eyes soften as they stare into mine. “I’m at home when I’m with you, and how am I possibly supposed to go back to sleep if I know you're not okay?”

---