Page 104 of Marvelous
The doctor smiled, then he asked, “Is there a Cassandra Griggs here?”
I lifted my hand, “That’s me.”
He nodded, “Can we speak privately?”
I looked at his team, then his family, and shook my head, “Whatever you have to say can be said right here.”
He winced, “I think it’s best we...”
“This is his team. He’s closer to them than anyone else. And this is his family.” I said.
He looked at all of them and nodded.
And when he told us of all his injuries, I hadn’t been able to swallow the tears down.
Stabs. Electrocution. Bullet wounds. Removed spleen. Broken ribs. Broken kneecaps. Broken bones.
From his teammates' faces, I knew there was more.
But I would never know unless Alec told me.
When he finished, the nurse smiled at me and said, “We had to take this from him once he fell asleep. The operating room has to be a sterile environment. I think he would be okay if you held onto this for him.”
And when she handed me the cupcake keychain, a new wave of tears poured down my cheeks.
It was three hours later when I was brought to his room.
Seeing my Soldier Boy laid up, connected to wires and tubes, my heart broke.
I raced over to his bedside, bent, and pressed a kiss on the only part of his face that wasn’t blue and swollen.
Then I pulled up a chair, placed my hand on his side, over white bandages, then I closed my eyes and said, “Haven’t made a prayer since I met Bronson. Haven’t made a prayer since I left and headed to Whispering Falls. But you answered it. I just didn’t realize it. So I’m making another prayer, please heal him, and keep him safe.”
Hours.
That was how long I sat there and waited.
His family came in one by one to see him.
Seal Team Two came in one by one.
Then his team.
And his team.... they brought chairs with them.
The hospital staff started to argue but Hyde had a few choice words with them.
Needless to say, they were all allowed to stay.
I looked at Hyde and said, “How bad?”
He winced, “Bad.”
I nodded.
Then I looked back at Alec.
“Not going to ask anything more?” Smoke asked.
