Page 80 of Grumpy Sunshine

I poured the water down the sink and moved the washcloths into the biohazard bag in the corner of the room before I turned to look at the grieving father.

“Every month I watch organ transplant patients come in and out of this hospital,” I said softly.

He swallowed hard.

“They come in here, all walks of life, with so much hope.Most walk out.Some don’t.But the hope that’s in their eyes as they arrive for that organ transplant…” I shook my head.“I signed up for organ donation after working here for six months.I truly think that I want my life to mean bigger and greater things.You can save so many people.He can save so many people.And I’d bet, if you could ask him, he’d say the same thing.”

There was a throat clearing behind me, and I turned to find the man that’d been in the next room staring.

My heart seemed to halt in my chest.

But his eyes weren’t on me, they were on Apollo.

“I’ll do it if you do it.”

The name on his cut said “Detroit.”

Apollo made a sound in the back of his throat.“Fuck.”

I left the room to give them privacy, heading to gather the supplies for Detroit next.

The group of black leather vests had multiplied, but none of them stopped me.

They were all silent, holding vigil outside the rooms.

I kept my head down, intent on my task.

I gathered everything I’d need, then headed back to Detroit’s room.

He was standing next to the bed, staring down at the bed as he sifted the woman’s strawberry-blonde hair through his fingers.

“Excuse me,” I said softly.

He looked up.

“I was wondering if you’d like me to get her cleaned up for you,” I replied.

“I, uh.”He cleared his throat.“If you don’t mind, I’d like to do it myself.”

I nodded and held out the things.“If you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to call.”

I left without him acknowledging me.

Again, I walked through the group of men, still silent, and didn’t stop until I got to the back of the surgery suites.

The observation area looked out over the two operation rooms that I wanted to see.

My gaze instantly caught on Chevy where he sat beside the patient’s head.

I flicked on the monitor so I could hear what was being said and heard the surgeon talking about closing.

I must’ve stood there for so long that closing was finished because soon Chevy was doing his thing to wake the patient up.

Only, I saw him hesitate as he started to push the medication that would do that.

He stopped, stared at his hands for a long second, then pushed the plunger on the syringe violently.

Nothing happened at first.

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