Page 19 of Savior

“Did Big Guy kick my ass?” I rasped with a shudder. “Or was it you? You better hope it wasn’t you, Jimmy boy, because so help me—”

“You overdosed, Mike,” the guy above me stated flatly. “You were in respiratory distress, so I injected you with several doses of Naloxone. The real credit goes to your wife, though. She performed CPR until we got here and could take over… probably saved your damn life.”

I ran a trembling hand over my face. “Lauren? Is she—”

“Okay, I am back. How is he doing?”

I groaned upon hearing Gloria’s voice, knowing it would’ve been better if Lauren just left me to die.

My vision cleared enough for me to see that the other guy in the room was Nate. It looked as if Dr. Husband had put aside our differences to keep me breathing. “Admit it,” I taunted with a cocky smirk, shivering uncontrollably from the high fever I seemed to be running. “You wanted to let me die, right?”

Gloria’s eyes narrowed, and she began speaking in rapid Spanish, jabbing a finger into my chest to drive home whatever point she was trying to make.

Nate released his hold on my shoulder and crossed his arms over his chest before leaning against the counter near the sink. “Lauren found you seizing on the bathroom floor next to a bag of what appeared to be cocaine. Given what we’ve seen in the ED lately, I assumed it was laced with fentanyl and dosed you accordingly. Your drugs were dirty, Detective.”

I’d gone to all the trouble of busting up a drug ring, and the bastards hadn’t even gotten the good shit.

Ignoring Jimmy’s extended hand, I managed to get to my feet. “I need to talk to my wife—”

“No.” Gloria stopped me with her hand. “I tell Dave to take Lauren to his house. We will pack a bag for her, and then Dr. Nate will come to check the babies.”

“Is this what you want out of life, Mike?” Jimmy stepped in to ask. “Your pregnant wife performing rescue breaths and chest compressions on you every time you lose control?”

“No,” I snapped. “If you’d just give me a goddamn minute to talk to her, I could sort this shit out, Lurch.”

He cracked the knuckles on his right hand with his thumb. “You aren’t getting within ten feet of her… not strung out like you are. Jesus Christ, look at yourself. You could’ve hurt her.”

The thought of Lauren on her hands and knees trying to revive my sorry ass left me with a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. I’d sworn that the only drug I’d needed was her; had promised to never let her see that side of me.

“I’d never hurt her,” I said quietly. “She’s too important to me.”

Nate looked up toward the ceiling. “You’ve OD’ed before, I take it?” When I nodded, he asked, “And who cleaned up that mess?”

“Grey.”

He nodded. “I’m sure that felt good for him… seeing his son like that. Make no mistake, you’re hurting the people who love you every time you choose that shit over them. Is this how you wanna die?”

“Is that the same crap you spout off to all your patients, Doctor?”

“Personally, I don’t give a flying fuck what you choose to do with your life, but you’re family now, and there are quite a few people who need you to stick around. Grey’s gone, Mike. It’s time to sober the fuck up and move on. Your family’s relying on you.”

I sank down on the edge of the tub, my thigh muscles quivering from the stress of holding up my body. “Weren’t you on call the night he was shot?”

He rolled his eyes with a shake of his head. “Maybe worry about yourself first, yeah? Give that a try, and then we’ll talk about me. You need to be monitored, is there someone I can call for you?”

“I can stay,” Jimmy offered.

“Fuck. That,” I bit out.

Nate rubbed the back of his neck with a heavy sigh. “You’re not staying by yourself.”

“I know,” I agreed. “I’m staying with my wife. Now, if someone could go get her for me—”

“Absolutely not,” Jimmy interjected. “The last thing she needs right now is to be taking care of you.”

Gloria nodded her approval before squeezing his arm. “Jimmy is right.Como deseó ver a Lauren darte una cachetadas en la cara.” She smacked her palms together with a glare.

“She said she wants to see Lauren slap your face,” Jimmy helpfully translated with a chuckle.

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