Bluebird

Chapter 3

three

IT HAD BEEN seventy-two hours.

Seventy-two hours since I’d left Reid in the hospital, where he now lay on the fourth floor in a medically induced coma to heal the swelling in his brain. And this was in addition to the broken ribs, punctured lung, sprained wrist and ankle, and the many cuts and bruises all over his body.

But it could’ve been worse. So much worse.

The day of Reid’s accident, I’d come back up to the hospital after my shift, hoping to glean some information about how he was doing, and learned he was in ICU, so ICU was where I went.

I’d gotten off the elevator just in time to see a doctor pulling aside a family that could only have been Reid’s, judging by the empty waiting room and the way they all shared his features, and I wasn’t ashamed to listen in.

Had heard the doctor giving updates about Reid’s condition and what had happened, had seen his mom softly crying into her husband’s shirt.

I wanted to go over to them, offer some words of comfort, but who was I?

No one but a stranger, and I didn’t want to interfere in their suffering in any way, so I’d waited.

Waited and watched, same as I did now, an hour after my shift had ended.

I looked down the row of chairs to where Reid’s parents were talking with the doctor who’d just come out to brief them.

I’d suspected when I first saw him that the man currently standing a few feet away was Reid’s father.

He had the same espresso-colored eyes, the same tall build and strong shoulders.

The woman wrapped tightly in one of his arms was where Reid’s ivory skin tone had come from.

I’d passed his mother once, and she’d offered up the same polite smile Reid had given me all those mornings at Joe’s.

And next to her, sitting cross-legged in one of the uncomfortable hospital chairs and clutching a worn paperback, though her attention was focused on what the doctor was saying, sat a younger female, maybe in her mid- to late teens.

Without coming off like a creeper, I listened in as much as I could to what the doctor was telling them regarding Reid’s progress.

Prognosis good…healing…breathing on his own…already started the process of bringing him out of the coma…

It was amazing how fast the heaviness that’d sat on my shoulders the past three days lifted with those words, and I dropped my head in my hands.

It was senseless to blame myself in any way for his condition, I knew that, but I’d be hard-pressed to find any of my coworkers who wouldn’t have thought the same thing in my position.

Self-blame was just something that came with the job.

You always wondered what you could’ve done differently, what would’ve changed the outcome if only you’d done x, y, and z instead.

But to hear Reid was going to pull through this? That was the best news I’d heard, maybe ever.

His mother hugged the doctor, and as she pulled away and went back into her husband’s embrace, she wiped at her eyes.

“He’s gonna make it,” she said, her voice cracking. “Our baby’s gonna be okay.”

Averting my eyes to give them their private moment, I told myself that this was enough. Reid would come through this, and I could and should move on, whether I wanted to or not.

Well, at least that was what I told myself until Reid’s father spoke up.

“Why don’t we all go grab some dinner in the cafeteria?” he said to his wife, and before she could protest, he held up his hand. “You haven’t eaten much of anything in days.”

“But—” she started, but her husband shook his head.

“No buts. You can go back in there with him after you take a break.” He lifted her chin. “Can’t have anything happening to you.”

Conflict warred on her elegant face, but she finally nodded. “Fine, but let’s make it quick. I want to be there when he wakes up.”

“Deal,” he said, and kissed her nose.

Along with their daughter, they walked down to the bank of elevators, and my heart started to beat at a rapid pace at the thought forming. Reid had had at least one member of his family in his room the whole time he’d been in ICU, but now they’d all be downstairs for at least a good half hour…

I glanced down the hall to see them step onto the elevator, and as the doors slid shut behind them, I debated for all of a minute before jumping up out of my chair.

I had to see him. Just to see for myself that what the doctor had said was true, and then I’d leave him be and let him heal in peace.

Lucky for me, it just so happened to be shift change at the nurses’ station, and they were all too busy checking in with each other to notice it wasn’t an immediate family member of Reid’s slipping down the hall to see him…

Room four-twenty-four was dark and quiet as I entered soundlessly, the lights dimmed and the sun having long set.

As I rounded the corner and Reid came into view, I could almost imagine he was merely sleeping peacefully.

His hair had been shaved off to stitch the wound on his head, and he still wore the battle scars from the accident, but in my eyes, he’d never looked more beautiful.

He’s alive. He’s going to be fine.

Taking a deep breath, I slowly walked over to his bedside. Now that I was here, I wasn’t sure what to say or do, so I did what I always did when I was on edge: I rambled.

“You’re in much better shape than the last time I saw you.

I’m glad you listened. You know, when I told you to hold on.

And now look at you. Doc says you’ll wake up soon, and hopefully you won’t be in too much pain or remember the accident.

I’ve heard some people say they don’t remember anything and others that say they relive it again in their dreams.”

I shoved my hands in the pockets of my faded jeans and rocked back on my heels. My eyes caught on the pictures and cards displayed along the wall, and a smile tipped my lips.

“It looks like your students miss you. I know I would.” My mouth snapped shut at that admission, but then I thought, Screw it. Not like he’d remember any of this anyway.

“So, I guess I won’t be seeing you for a while.

I won’t complain too much about that, since at least you’ll be around to have a coffee.

I’ll make sure to tell Joe to have the latte machine in perfect shape for when you come back.

I have a feeling after the beat-down he gave it the other day that he’ll have to order a new one anyway. ”

A noise outside his room had me freezing and listening for whoever might be about to come in and catch me, but after several seconds, it went quiet again, and I let out a relieved exhale.

Looking down at Reid’s face, I memorized his features in case it was the last time I ever saw him.

There was no guarantee he’d be back at Castle Hill or stopping for coffee at Joe’s.

Hell, there wasn’t even any guarantee that he’d be completely himself when he did emerge from the coma.

Personality changes, memory loss… You name it, I’d seen and heard it.

I hoped that wouldn’t happen to Reid, but just in case…

“Take care of yourself, Bluebird,” I told him, and then on an impulse, I reached down and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “I’ll be seeing you.”

I turned to leave, glancing over my shoulder one last time at Reid’s peaceful expression, when suddenly the door to Reid’s room opened, and I heard his mom say, “I’ll just be a second, I forgot my—”

As soon as she caught sight of me standing by the bed, she came to a standstill, surprise and confusion crossing her face. But when her gaze drifted behind me, whatever she’d been about to say was forgotten as her mouth parted in a gasp.

“Oh my God.” She brought her fingers to her lips as she started forward, and I quickly moved out of the way, willing myself to blend into the wall already.

What a stupid idea it was to sneak up here. A truly stupid—

“You’re awake,” she said.

What?

I spun around so fast I almost lost my balance, and even more so when I saw that Reid’s brown eyes were open—and they were looking right at me.

Part of me thrilled at seeing him awake. The other part panicked.

I have to get out of here, I thought, backing away, ready to make my exit without any more notice, when Reid’s father and sister rounded the corner.

His father’s eyes narrowed. “Who are you?”

Oh, shit. I really hadn’t thought this through, and now I’d violated about ten different privacy laws, had a run-in with Reid’s family—oh, and Reid was now awake and watching the whole thing go down. Way to go, Ollie. Really.

“I’m so sorry,” I said, my hands going up. “I really shouldn’t be in here. Forgive me—”

As I went to move around him, I had every intention of leaving before they could call security to come up here and remove my ass, but at that moment, one word had that plan flying out the window.

“Ollie.”

I froze.

There was a wheezing sound, and Reid coughed a little, but then he croaked out my name again, and this time I knew it hadn’t been a figment of my imagination.

I spun around slowly, to where Reid’s family looked every bit as shocked as I was. Though I had Reid’s attention, theirs was fully focused on their son and brother.

“Reid… Oh my God.” His mother broke down into tears as she reached for his face, and then seemed to remember his wounds and kissed his forehead instead. They huddled around him, tears flowing as they hugged one another. “You have no idea how worried we were.”

“Mom?” Reid’s brow furrowed as he looked between his parents. “Dad? You look…different.” He squeezed his eyes shut before opening them again. “Am I dreaming?”

“No, baby. You’re awake now. You’re gonna be just fine.”

“I don’t understand.” Reid’s gaze shifted to his sister and he frowned. “Do I know you?”

His mom put her arm around the girl’s shoulders and pulled her closer. “You don’t know who this is?” she asked gently, as the teen’s eyes filled with tears.

Reid squinted at her. “I don’t think so.”

“It’s Anna,” she said. “Your sister.”

“No,” Reid said, shaking his head. “Anna’s only seven.”

It’s probably just the sedation, I wanted to say, but I didn’t want to attract any more notice than I already had.

“Seven?” His mom looked taken aback, but recovered quickly. “Go get the doctor or nurse,” she said in a low voice to her husband, who nodded, but when he turned around, he realized there was still a stranger in their midst—me.

“Ollie, was it?” he asked, eyeing me up and down as if what I wore would give me away. At least I wasn’t in my uniform.

“Yes, sir.”

“How do you know my son?”

“I…” How to answer that question without losing my job or giving up the goods that I had a big gay crush on their son?

Oh fuck it. I was no coward.

But it turned out I didn’t have to answer at all, because Reid spoke up again.

“He helped me.” Our eyes all shot to Reid, who stared at me with an expression that looked something like curiosity. And appreciation. “You told me…to fight.”

I stopped breathing then. How on earth did he remember that, but he didn’t remember his sister was now a teenager?

“Is that true?” Reid’s father asked. “Are you one of the doctors here?”

I shook my head, and my voice caught in my throat. “No, I’m just a paramedic.”

“Just a paramedic?” his mother said, walking over to me. “Just a paramedic that saved our son’s life?”

“I…” My eyes flew back to Reid, who was still watching me, and I swallowed hard. “It’s…it’s my job.”

Reid’s father surprised me then by drawing me in for a fierce hug.

“Thank you. Thank you,” he whispered, again and again, squeezing me tight before pulling away. Then he wiped his face and said, “I’d better go see about that nurse.”

As he left the room, I stood there awkwardly as Reid’s mom watched me.

“How bad was it?” she said, and I knew exactly what she was asking.

I gripped the back of my neck and looked down, not wanting to relive the accident so that she could watch it play out on my face. “Bad.”

“Thank you,” she said, her voice wavering, and I looked up to see her twisting her fingers together. “Thank you for what you did for Reid and for checking on him. He might not be here if it weren’t for you.”

God, I didn’t even want to think about that. The what-might’ve-beens. Things had happened for a reason, exactly like they were supposed to. I had to believe that, though I wished he hadn’t had to go through any pain.

“I should leave you all to…catch up,” I said, and then I looked over at Reid. He would no doubt be overwhelmed by everything that had happened to him the last few days, and he’d need time to heal, to be with family, to remember. “I’m really glad to see you awake.”

“I’ll see you again, right?” he said, and the endearing way he looked up at me then made me want to give him whatever he asked.

And so I did. “You can count on it.”