Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
ROD
At the house, I tied Blanket to the hitching post. Wyl sat on Sarge, unmoving and in shock, staring at nothing. I guided Sarge and secured his reins, too.
“Wyl, dismount.” I tugged at Wyl’s arm. He hoisted one leg and slid off the saddle. He stood still, dazed. I pulled him over to my truck and opened the passenger door.
“Climb in.” I helped Wyl in and buckled his seat belt. He trembled and gasped for breath.
“Wyl…breathe,” I said.
Wyl wrapped his arms around me, seatbelt and all. “I’m so scared. I need Walt to be okay. Will you stay with me at the hospital?”
I wrapped my arms around Wyl, offering as much support as possible. I would stay with him as long as he needed me. “Yes, but you need to let go so I can drive us to the hospital.”
Wyl loosened his embrace and whispered, "I don’t know what I would do without you.”
I closed the door and raced to the driver’s side. I fired up the engine and tore down the ranch road, fastening my seat belt as I drove. On the highway, I accelerated hard, reaching 90 in less than a minute.
Wyl reached for my hand, and I threaded our fingers together and held on tight. In fifteen minutes, we parked at the hospital.
Wyl leaned against the emergency room counter. “I’m Walt Sterling’s brother. The helicopter brought him in. I need to know how he is.”
The nurse checked her computer. “The doctors are with him now. Take a seat, and I’ll inform them you’re here. The doctor will speak with you after he's stabilized.”
We sat, and Wyl let his head fall against the wall to stare at the ceiling. “My only brother is lying in there somewhere. I need to be with him. I need to know.” He jumped out of his seat and started frantic pacing.
I stood and touched his shoulder. “Babe, come sit with me. I understand your worry, but wearing yourself out pacing won’t help Walt.” I pulled him back to our seats and sat next to him. “Lean against me and put your head on my shoulder.”
He looked at me, sighed, gripped my hand like a lifeline, and rested his head on my shoulder. “Thank you. I couldn’t deal with this without you.”
“I’ll always be here, Wyl. I love you.”
The tension of the morning got to him. His breathing evened out, and Wyl dropped into a light sleep. I remained awake, listening to his breathing and praying for Walt to recover.
The passage of time didn’t register. I focused on Wyl and being the rock for him to lean against while we dealt with the tragedy of Walt’s accident. A doctor came through the double doors and approached. “Mr. Sterling?”
Wyl jerked awake, still holding my hand. “Yes?”
I glanced at my watch. It was 2:00 in the afternoon.
“I’m Dr. Nelson.” The doctor knelt in front of us. “Your brother suffered a serious head injury. We’re transferring him to ICU until the brain swelling goes down so we can assess possible damage. To help his body heal, we put him in an induced coma.”
“Will he recover?” Wyl’s voice faltered.
“It’s too early to assess any long-term damage,” Dr. Nelson said. “At this point, his vitals are good. We’ll know more tomorrow.”
Wyl took a deep breath. I could tell he tried to keep his emotions under control.
I knew what the doctor didn't say and why he couldn’t give any promising news.
My tension ramped up ten notches at the words brain swelling and possible damage and induced coma.
Those sounded serious. My thoughts turned to the real possibility that Walt might not make it.
I did not practice religion, but I prayed for a miraculous recovery. For Wyl. For me.
“When can I see him?” The tremor in Wyl’s voice said everything. He also knew what the doctor didn't say.
“Give us time to transfer and settle him. Come to the ICU at 5:00.”
Wyl sighed. “What can you tell me about his chances?”
Doctor Nelson stood and slid his hands into his white-coat pockets.
“I can tell you the injury is serious. We won’t know the extent until the brain swelling goes down.
It should happen overnight, then we can bring him out of the coma and check for damage.
If damage occurred, we'll determine what brain functions are affected and what resulting therapy will help.”
Wyl buried his face in my neck and sobbed.
I nodded at Dr. Nelson. “Thank you.” The doctor walked away.
I wrapped my arms around Wyl to comfort him and let my own tears fall. After a few minutes, I stroked Wyl’s hair and tugged at his braid, then pulled the handkerchief from my pocket and offered it to him. “Let’s go for a walk. We both need fresh air.”
Wyl nodded, took the handkerchief, and wiped his eyes.
We strolled out into the warm autumn afternoon. I kept my arm around Wyl and hoped the fresh air would help clear his head.
“Rod, what will I do if he goes?” The tremble in Wyl’s voice said everything. “He’s my only family. Though I’m the older brother, he’s the strong one.”
I tugged Wyl’s chin to face me. “I love Walt too, and he loves us both. He brought us together; whatever happens, it’s out of our hands. We’ll survive this together.”
Wyl grabbed me into a tight hug. “Oh God, Roddy.” A choke and a sob interrupted his words. “Walt called you family, and he was right. You are part of my family.”
I clung to my troubled man and whispered in his ear. “Destiny brought us together and made us a couple. You occupy my every thought. I love you and am here for you no matter what.”
“Same for me,” Wyl sniffed.
I rocked Wyl in my arms. “You are my family too, Wyl. And I’ll stay with you while Walt recovers.”
Wyl pulled back. A forced smile crossed his face, and I knew it was the best he could do. We walked arm-in-arm to a tree-shaded bench in the hospital gardens and sat, deep in our thoughts.
Supporting Wyl during a family tragedy was not on the list of all the scenarios I imagined.
I went through this before. When Patrick and I became a couple, I figured we would die of old age together.
I pictured us sharing our retirement years traveling the world.
When Patrick vanished, the dream vanished, too.
My relationship with Wyl was still new. But he became my world and my future, and the future included Walt.
I didn’t have a brother, but Walt became like a brother to me.
He already proved invaluable to both of us, bringing us together when neither would put on our big boy britches and admit our mutual attraction.
As five o’clock neared, we walked inside and waited near the ICU. When the doors opened, Wyl grasped my hand, and we entered. The ICU was a circular room with ten walled cubicles open to a central desk. At the desk, Wyl asked for Walt.
“Family only.” The nurse focused on me, her eyes narrowing like she recognized me.
Wyl snapped. In his emotional state, his raw nerves limited his ability to reason. “He’s my partner, and I need him with me, and don’t you dare deny my wish.” Each day, Wyl got bolder about our relationship.
“I understand. Number 7.” She pointed to Walt’s cubicle.
Keeping his grasp on my hand, Wyl pulled me into Walt’s cubicle.
The space resembled a small hospital room with one wall missing.
A multitude of machines surrounded Walt.
One helped him breathe, one measured his vital signs, and one dispensed medicine.
The induced coma kept him in an unresponsive state.
Wyl approached the bed, released my hand, and took Walt’s.
“Walt.” His soft voice trembled. “I hope you can hear me. We love you, and we need you. Please get better.”
I heard the we, and tears fell when Wyl included me. I stood behind Wyl and wrapped him in my arms. With the touch, Wyl’s crushing pain flowed into me. The grief Wyl experienced became mine, and I tightened my embrace to pour my support into Wyl the only way I knew how.
Over Wyl’s shoulder, I studied the unresponsive Walt.
I longed for the warm smile and jovial personality of the man who brought us together.
The short raven hair remained hidden under a gauze helmet.
Walt, it’s time for you to survive, buddy.
Come back to Wyl. Come back to me. Tears brimmed again, and I tightened my arms around Wyl more.
After thirty minutes, the nurse came to show us out. I pulled away and guided Wyl, keeping my arm around him as we walked. We stopped at the central desk.
“What time can we come back in the morning?” Wyl asked.
“Visiting hours start at 10:00. We’re doing everything we can, Mr. Sterling. You and Dr. Bonner can visit with the doctor when you’re here in the morning.”
Wyl threw a puzzled expression at me. I shrugged.
“My daughter took your class and loved it, Dr. Bonner,” she said. “I recognized you from the photo on the college website.” She turned to Wyl. “He’s a good man, Mr. Sterling. Hang on to him.”
We left the ICU and made our way to my truck. I helped Wyl into the passenger seat. On the silent drive to the ranch, my heart ached for Wyl, but he needed to sort things out in his head, and I left him to his thoughts.
Back at the ranch house, I opened the passenger door, unfastened his seat belt, and helped Wyl out of the truck. He hugged me tight, and I held him as he cried. The day was overwhelming for him. For me, too, but I must have the strength to give Wyl the love and support he needed.
The sobs eased, and Wyl leaned away, keeping me in his arms. “Thanks.”
I guided Wyl into the house. “What do you need? Do you want a drink or something to eat?”
“A shot of whiskey would help calm my nerves a bit.” The tremor in Wyl’s voice from this morning remained. He needed to eat, but he needed sleep more than anything.
He wrapped his arms around himself and gazed at the floor while I poured a bourbon for each of us. Wyl downed it in one swallow and held out the empty glass.
“Another?”
“No. I’m worn out and need sleep. Are you staying?” His eyes pleaded.
I could be nowhere else. I downed my shot and took Wyl’s glass. “Yes, babe.” I led Wyl toward the bedroom.