Page 9 of Burning for the Truth

“Hey, son. You gave us quite the scare,” my dad says as he reaches me.

“How’s Drew?” My throat hurts, but I don’t care. All I care about is hearing Drew is okay. My mom doesn’t answer. Her gaze shifts to my dad, and they try to change the subject.

“We need to let the doctor know you’re awake. Beck, can you go get someone?” He nods and reaches for my hand and squeezes it before walking out.

“Mom, don’t put me off. Tell me about Drew.” She shifts her gaze again and pulls her phone from her pocket.

“Sterling wanted to know the minute you woke up, so let me tell him.” She taps out a message on her phone as Dad returns with Dr. Boyd.

“Dean, how are you feeling?” he asks as he checks my vitals.

“I just want to know about Drew Thomas.”

Dr. Boyd glances up at me. “I can’t talk about another patient. You know that. But what I can talk about is your injuries. Your left leg was broken, but it was set and will heal. You’ll be in a cast for a while and then physical therapy. Your arm, well, your muscles and tendons were torn, and your shoulder was dislocated. We went in to clean everything up. You’ll need therapy for that too.”

He’s writing in my chart as he talks. “You have some burns covering the left side of your body, worse on your leg. They’ll heal, but it’s going to take time. I know you’re probably hurting but trust me… You were lucky.”

I laugh without humor. “Take it easy and rest. You’ll have your work cut out for you once therapy starts,” he says as he shakes my dad’s hand and pats my mom’s shoulder before breezing back out of my room. As he exits, Sterling enters.

He appears to have the weight of the world on his shoulders and I can see deep worry lines marring his forehead. Mom presses a kiss to my temple. “I love you, honey. Your dad and I are going to step out for a bit. We’ll be back soon.” They leave the room as Sterling comes to my bedside.

“Hey, brother. I heard the end of that. Sounds like you’ve got some work cut out for ya. But I’m here…all the way.” He smiles as he grasps my right shoulder lightly.

“Sterling, tell me the truth. No one will answer me. How’s Drew?” I demand, then he hangs his head and sighs.

“He didn’t make it. I’m so sorry. He was bleeding internally, and his back was broken from the collapse… There was a spinal cord injury. They did everything they could.”

“No. No. Sterling…no.” I shake my head and close my eyes as tears start to fall. “We’re supposed to be able to save people! This isn’t how it’s supposed to go! Of all the people we save, we should be able to save one of our own!” I almost shout through my sobs.

Sterling reaches over and hugs me. “I know. I don’t have the answers. I wish I did. But you can count on the fact we’re going to catch the bastard who caused this. You have my word.”

Sterling called about twenty minutes ago and said he had just arrived at the hospital with Dean. He also said Dean and Drew were injured in a collapse in the structure fire. As soon as he called, Ivie called Lucy and Tate to watch Aria so she could drive me to the hospital. She knows all too well I’m panicking.

When we push through the double doors to the waiting room, I’m met with Dean’s parents’ teary, distraught expressions. Not far behind them, Sterling stands looking ashen. Call it the bond between brother and sister, but I know without Sterling speaking, someone died. The question is, was it Dean or Drew?

My legs almost give out from under me before I feel Ivie put her arm around my shoulders, bringing me to her side protectively. Sterling slowly makes his way to me, and I know in my heart who it was by the expression on his face. It’s filled with agony and his eyes are bloodshot. The tears I tried to hold back fall freely as my big brother slides to the floor with me. I hear the sound of absolute heartbreaking agony and I wonder who else’s heart has shattered, only to realize the sound is coming from me.

Sterling holds me, no doubt trying to take away my pain and somehow shield me from this. But even my big brother can’t fix this. He kisses my head and holds me close to him as he whispers, “I’m so sorry, Briella. I’m so, so sorry.”

I hear other people crying as they watch me crumble on the hospital waiting room floor. I’ve lost the man I love. How is this happening? This can’t be real! There’s been a mistake! We stay on the floor until my sobs are nothing but hiccups.

Sterling picks me up and sets me in a chair in this frigid waiting room. He kneels so he’s at eye level with me; his face is still ashen but covered by his own tears. Ivie sits beside me, tucking my hair behind my ear and then she places a hand on Sterling’s shoulder, almost as if willing some of her strength to him.

“How? How did this happen, Sterling?” I ask on a whisper.

He takes both my hands in his. “The fire was at Serena Lawson’s house.”

My heart almost seizes in my chest. “Is she—?” I can’t even finish the sentence.

“I got word she arrived on scene not long after I left in the ambulance with Dean. She was still upset over what happened at Wally’s and she said she went for a walk to clear her head. Before she knew it, she’d walked to Walt’s grave and sat there for a while. She didn’t have her cell phone, but then heard the noise from all the sirens and walked home as quickly as she could,” he explains.

Anger rises in my chest along with the need to place blame even if I know it’s impossible and wrong. But if she’d told someone what she was doing, or at least had her cell phone, Drew wouldn’t have been killed. They never would’ve entered a fully involved structure if they’d known all occupants were safe. Sterling must know where my thoughts are headed because he says, “Bree, there’s no one to blame but the bastard who did this. You know that. Don’t start down that path.”

I don’t answer. Logically, he’s right. But right now, I’m not logical.I’m broken.Drew died and he took my heart with him. We had just said I love you. We were making plans. A new wave of tears washes over me. I lean over and hold my head in my hands as Ivie rubs my back in soothing circles, sniffling against her own tears.

“Dean. What about Dean?” I ask in a fog without glancing up.

“He’s still in surgery. He’s going to have a long road ahead of him,” Sterling replies in a defeated tone.

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