Page 102 of Wild Cub

I stagger my breath out. “So I’m alive? And…”

“And you have been through a lot. Been shot, three times.”

I am not deep in my faith, but almost sure that this is not part of the Bible or the true essence of Heaven. But a life with Alexander, a second chance, a chance to be with him. But on the other hand if I don’t fight, I have the chance to be reunited with the ones I love. I hear a faint beeping in the background. I turn towards it.

“He’s never left your side.”

“Alexander?”

Granddaddy nods his head. His handsome features, I love him so much. And yet I miss him, it aches sometimes.

“Listen..” He says.

I turn to where the beeping was coming from.

“Teresa, come back to me.” The softness in his voice, but the emotional sadness that follows. “Come back to me. I need you.”

“Mo chroi”

“Ah, you gave yourself to love.” I look back at him. I nod my head, tears, or what feels like tears pool down my face. His smile turns bigger. “Keep listening.” He turns my head back around again.

“I’ll build you a house. Enough rooms and even a big library. Come back to me, so we can make mini you’s. Ones that will drive me up the wall but remind me of the most incredible woman that has entered my life and how lucky I am. My light in my darkest time.” He shutters. I broke his heart. “Please.” He says in a soft prayer.

I turn back to Granddaddy looking like a giddy school boy about to have a treat. “He’s a looker, that one. The viking essence. Can you imagine wee boys with his features and demeanor or your stubborn and bonny looks.”

I whimper out, “Yeah. I can.” I want that. I know he didn’t mean for it to be a bargain. Something tells me we will over more, once a choice has been made.

I look back at Granddaddy caressing his cheek in my hand. I grab him for a hug, reaching for him and embracing him. The strength of an Celtic warrior and the gentlest of men. The smell of the fresh Irish mountain morning. “A stóirín. I love you my treasure. Keep doing good in the world and know I will always be here.”

“Farewell granddaddy.”

“May the sun shine warm upon your face, The rains fall soft upon your fields, And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand. My brave little bear.” He kisses my forehead and a bright light covers my eyes once more.

I know this is my unconsciousness conjuring up something, but everything seemed so real, perhaps this is a long awaited goodbye, somehow saying what I wanted to say.

The weight of the bed has sunken from Alexander slumping over. Monitors beeping, machines pumping, IV bags hooked into my tubes coming from my hands. As my eyes start to adjust from the hospital lights. It’s bright, between the hospital lights and the late sunlight beaming in the room. Alexander slightly snoring in the midst, the television turned on to the news with low volume. A local headline reads “Corrupt Founder brings terror”. Something tells me that our problem got a little bit more publicized than we would have liked. That is for later. Cards and drawings from the girls. Flowers surrounding the room.

His hair cascading around his head. I want to see his face, those breathtaking eyes. But I go to adjust and feel every bone and muscle sting in pain, aching with instant regret. My hand may have to wake up this sleeping giant.

I brush his hair out of his face, tucking it behind his ear. Tangling my finger in his soft white blonde hair. He starts to stir, taking a second to shake his head before he realizes that I’m awake. His eyes, dark circles under them, even darker than before. His mouth agape, with zero sounds coming out. Possibly surprised, overcome with shock.

“I fucked up.” I said. Returning the favor words, every word scratching against my dry throat.

He lightly chuckles at my words. Rubbing his hand along his jawline. “Yeah, you fucked up.” He stood up and pressed the nurse call. Putting his forehead on mine. It seemed like there was no one else around until a nurse walks in.

“Finally, after a few days, we were starting to worry about you. How you feelin’” She comes in checking my vital signs and checking my fluids. Charting away.

“Is it too soon to say ‘like I got shot’?” I ask lightheartedly.

“I’d say no, but the guard dog here may say otherwise.” She gestures to Alexander who is stroking my hair. If he keeps doing this I’m going to fall in love with him all over again. Or fall back asleep, which wouldn’t be a bad idea.

“Too soon, darlin’” He presses a kiss to my forehead. Something vibrates in his pocket, as he reaches in and answers it. He steps outside for a moment.

“You got a good one there.” the nurses says.

“Yeah, I guess I will keep him.” I shrug. The news was still flashing the story on television. I listened in, following along. Apparently, the police had found the linkage between him and missing people within the area. They had said that Connors and Carla had been in “conspiracy” to work for a mysterious underground drug trade and using homeless population to do so. There was no mention of myself, or the Grim Wolves, or the Falcons for that matter. I wonder why the turn of events, now that the police may be involved. There were a lot of unanswered questions but I know the way to get my answers.

Wait I almost forgot. "Your leg! You got shot too." I almost got out of the bed.

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