Page 37 of Silent Dust
Suddenly, the heart monitor decided to throw a tantrum, shrieking its displeasure. The room spun, visions flickering like faulty neon, until she saw him—Stephan, just outside her door, his broad frame tense but steady, eyes full of concern. She wanted to call out, to ask what the hell was happening, but her mouth was as useful as a broken slot machine—no coins, no words.
“Flora, I’m right here.” His voice was a soothing balm against the turmoil in her mind. It wrapped around her like a warm embrace, anchoring her amidst the chaos. The sound of his voice was a beacon, cutting through the fog that had enveloped her.
“I’m so proud of you. Just keep fighting, love.”
His words resonated within her, igniting a flicker of hope. She wanted to fight, to push through the confusion, to reclaim the life that felt so far away. But the shadows of doubt stilllingered, whispering fears that threatened to pull her back under.
The image of blood—dark, thick, pooling beneath a lifeless body—continued to scream in her subconscious. She wondered if she was still lost in the nightmare, or if this was the fragile dawn of waking. Was he truly here? Or was he just a ghost conjured by the shadows of her fear?
As she struggled to focus, she could see his expression shift, a mix of determination and sorrow. He looked so strong, so steadfast, and it gave her the courage to keep pushing through the haze. She wanted to tell him that she was trying, that she was fighting to wake up fully, but the words felt trapped within her, unable to break free.
“Please, Flora, just breathe, I’m here, it’s ok.”
She focused on the sound of his voice, the love that radiated from him, and in that moment, she felt clarity pierce through the fog.
Closing her eyes, Flora let herself sink into the warmth of his touch. She could almost hear the gentle rhythm of his breathing—steady and calm— comforting counterpoint to the chaos that still lurked at the edges of her mind. His hand clasped hers, a steady, reassuring grip that became her lifeline, pulling her away from the depths of confusion and fear. His strength poured into her, infusing her with the courage she needed to keep fighting.
As Flora floated in and out of consciousness, Stephan kept a gentle hold on her hand, his voice a calming presence in the darkness. His words were quiet, warm, a balm to her fractured mind.
“Kenzi made a volcano with Aunt Lindsey,” he said, a faint smile weaving into his tone. “And, well… the thing blew up all over her kitchen. There’s red slime everywhere—on the counters, the floor, even in Lindsey’s hair. Honestly, I think Lindsey spent more time cleaning up than the kids did buildingit.” His chuckle was soft and light, an antidote to her fears and confusion.
“I talked to the team and they want to come see you, we have a new addition to the team. His name is Samir and he’s twelve years old. Link adopted him.”
“Link? A kid?” Her voice was fragile, trembling as it left her lips, the words barely more than a whisper, more like a breath of a question than a statement. It felt strange, almost unreal, like a tiny crack in the wall of her fog. But even through the haze, she saw Stephan’s smile, the proud glint in his eyes. That look told her everything she needed to know—that Samir was important, that he mattered.
Her mind tried to grasp more, she had so much to catch up on, yet her body still felt too heavy, as if the sleep she’d just awoken from had dragged her back into its depths.
22 - BEAR
Bear stoodin the hospital room, the faint hum of machines and the soft beeping of monitors creating a backdrop to the whirlwind of emotions swirling within him. Just yesterday, he had made the tough decision to keep the kids and the team away from Flora until she was more awake and able to engage with them. He had watched her struggle to find her footing, her body still weak from the ordeal, and he knew that a visit from the children might overwhelm her.
He glanced at Flora, her face peaceful in sleep, and reached out to take her hand. “You’ve got this, Flora,” he whispered softly, willing her to hear him. “We’re all waiting for you. Just take your time. We’ll be here when you wake up.” He squeezed her hand gently, feeling the warmth of her skin against his. In that moment, he made a silent promise to her: he would be there every step of the way, and together, they would navigate this journey, reclaiming the love and laughter that made their family whole.
As he stood there, a wave of exhaustion washed over him, and the weight of the last few weeks pressed heavily on his shoulders. He needed her close, needed to feel her warmth against him to calm his racing heart and quiet his fears. With adeep breath, he slipped into the hospital bed beside her, careful not to disturb her. He nestled against her side, wrapping an arm around her, feeling the steady rhythm of her breathing beneath his cheek.
In that moment, the world outside faded away. The beeping of the monitors became a soothing lullaby, and the tension in his body began to melt. He could feel the familiar comfort of Flora’s presence, and it anchored him in a way nothing else could. “I’m right here,” he murmured into her hair, closing his eyes as he let the warmth of her body seep into his. “I won’t let you go through this alone.”
Bear needed this connection, this intimacy, to reassure himself that they would get through this together. He could almost imagine her stirring, her eyes fluttering open to meet his, her smile lighting up the room. He held onto that thought, letting it fill him with hope as he lay there, wrapped around the woman he loved, willing her to fight her way back to him.
After the team returned home from their mission, Bear had spoken with Warden, his voice tired and worried. “Hold off on coming to the hospital until tomorrow morning. She needs a little more time.” It had been hard to keep the team away, but he knew it was for the best. Link and Warden had stayed at Bear’s house with the kids, including Samir, giving Hawk and Lindsey the chance to return to their home, free from the added responsibility of Bear’s children. It was a welcome reprieve for everyone, but Bear felt the weight of longing in his heart, wishing it was a more normal homecoming.
That evening, Bear sat quietly in the hospital room, his phone in hand. He had just finished a quick Facetime call with the kids, showing them that he was alright, that he was here, next to their mom. They giggled and cheered as he held up his shirt, showing them the “Bear Boo-Boo” that Dog had fixed up.
Bear listened closely as Warden talked about how the kids were doing. “You should’ve seen ’em, Bear,” Warden said, sounding proud. “Link brought Samir over to meet Rhys, Kenzi, and Amelia, and even though Samir’s English isn’t great and they come from different backgrounds, they all hit it off like old friends. The whole place was buzzing with laughter.”
“I wish I could’ve been there,” Bear had replied, his voice heavy with longing. “Having everyone in one place, together.”
“Just give her a bit more time,” Warden told him. “We’ll make sure the kids are ready to see her in the morning. She’ll be back with us soon, Bear. You know she’s tough.”
Now, as the sun began to rise the next morning, Bear felt a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The team had gathered up the kids, ready to bring them to the hospital for Flora’s first visit in two weeks. He knew this moment was crucial for her recovery, a chance for her to reconnect with the family she had fought so hard to return to. The thought of seeing her face light up at the sight of their children filled him with hope.
Waiting in the lobby, Bear’s eyes stayed focused on the doors. As they swung open, his heart tightened. The moment had finally arrived—after a long, agonizing month, his kids were coming through those doors. He watched eagerly as Amelia burst forward, bouncing on Moose’s shoulders with her usual boundless energy, her face lit up with pure excitement. She squealed, “Daddy!” and threw her arms around his neck, trusting Moose to transfer her to her Daddy’s arms safely.
Kenzi was next, her small voice animated and full of enthusiasm. She hurried over, leaving Nova behind, chattering about everything she’d done while he was gone—her eyes shining brightly and her hands flying as she launched into a hundred stories at once. “We made a volcano in the KITCHEN! It exploded everywhere! Mom would’ve loved it but we gots pictures! You have to see the pictures!”
Meanwhile, Rhys hesitated, his lips pressed into a tight line as his fingers nervously fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. The usual bravado that masked his fears was gone, replaced by a worried, uncertain expression—as if he was struggling to make sense of everything happening around him. At just nine years old, he was carrying the heavy weight of responsibilities far beyond his years: stepping up as the big brother, coping with his mom’s sudden illness, his dad’s absence, and the unsettling discovery of divorce papers on the desk. He looked up at Bear with big, searching eyes, biting his lower lip, silently asking if everything was going to be okay. The confusion and fear swirling inside him were almost too much to bear.
Bear’s chest tightened with emotion. He reached out instinctively, opening his arms for each of them, ready and needing to hold them close, to reassure them that he was here, that everything was going to be alright. He saw their individual personalities shining through—Amelia’s exuberance, Kenzi’s curiosity, Rhys’s quiet worry—and in that moment, he knew he’d do whatever it took to bring his family back together.
