Chapter 107
+25 BONUS
Chapter 107
ELENA
The nurses were shouting.
“Vitals are dropping–get him inside, now!”
“Pediatric trauma
tram
its prepped. Let’s movel”
A strelcher appeared like magle, and they lifted Alden from Derek‘ nurse stepped into my path“You can’t go in yet,” she said gently.
“But I–he’s my-“My voice cracked, splintering at the edges.
They were already disappearing down the hall
arms. I tried to follow them into the emergency bay, heat a We’ll come talk to you as soon as we can.”
Someone handed me a clipboard. Another nurse gently took it back when I couldn’t hold my pen steady enough to sign. There were voices, monitors, beeping. So much motion. Too much.
And then it stopped
The double doors swung shut
And the quiet swallowed me whole.
I stood there in the silence, blinking at the space where my son had just been. My arms ached, phantom limbs searching for the little body that wasn’t there anymore. For the weight, the warmth, the life.
I took one step back, then another. Turned. And stumbled into Derek’s embrace
He didn’t say anything. Didn’t flinch. Just opened his arms, and I stepped into them like I was stepping off a ledge
His arms came around me immediately–strong, warm, anchoringne to something that wasn’t the screaming in my head.
I clung to him.
Not because I had forgiven him. Not because I wasn’t still angry and confused and broken. But because I needed to breathe.
Because he was solid and warm and here. Because my son’s blood was still on his skin, and it felt like the closest thing I had to
Aiden
His breath was steady against the side of my head. Mine was rag
I didn’t know I was crying until I felt the tears dripping down my check. And I shook. Trembling from fear and cold and shock.
And after a few moments, he noticed.
“You’re freezing,” he murmured. His hand moved gently against my back, the heat of his palm soaking through the blanket someone had draped over me.
Thadn’t realized how cold I was until he said it.
Derek looked over my shoulder and caught Joe’s eye. “Get us clothes,” he said softly but firmly. “Whatever you can find. Now.
Joe gave a quick nod and disappeared through the doors.
And Derek just kept holding me.
As if he could shield me from what came next. As if he already knew he couldn’t.
After a few more moments of drawing on his warmth, I pulled back slightly, composing myself.
“I’m sorry,” I mummured, brushing a tear from my cheek. “I didn’t mean to fall apart.”
Chapter 107
+25 BONUS
“You don’t have anything to apologize for,” he said softly. Ils so was steady, Ind his eyes looked wrecked. “You held together longer than most would have.”
nodded, accepting the complement and then, finally noticing just how much of our bare skin was touching, I pulled back, stepped away him.
Derek followed me into the waiting area and sat down beside me. Not too close, just close enough.
I didn’t look at him. Didn’t speak. Just stared down the hallway where they’d taken my son.
“I don’t remember the last thing 1 said to him,” I sald vacantly.
He reached out and put a hand on my shoulder. “It doesn’t matter he said. “You’ll remember the next thing. And so will he
1 finally turned to him. It was such a kindness he was paying me. Had paid me,
Goddess, he had saved our lives.
“You don’t have to stay,” I said finally, my voice raw. “You’ve done enough.
“I’m not leaving,” he said simply.
I didn’t argue, I couldn’t
Joe arrived not long after, carrying a department store bag in each gand. I hadn’t even realized he’d left. He handed Derek a clean shirt and jeans, then turned to me.
“This is for you,” he said quietly. “There’s a sweatshirt and leggings inside. A jacket, too.”
