Chapter Three.
Vortex
“We’ve got a survivor coming in,” a nurse gasped as she rushed by. I reached out and grabbed her, and she paused.
“Male or female?” I demanded. “I’m part of search and rescue. Amy Wright, the patient there, is missing her best friend, Natasha.”
The nurse looked me over, saw my credentials, and answered. “Sorry, it’s a man.”
“Fuck, thanks,” I hissed, and she nodded and rushed off. Three men, three women, and one child. Was that it?
“We’ve got fucking reporters trying to get in,” a doctor snapped at another as they hurried past. Shit, that was something I’d not considered.
Those assholes would sneak in and snap pictures of the victims. I spotted a familiar face and called out.
Doc Gibbons turned and looked around, confused, before seeing my cut under my search and rescue garb.
“Vortex.”
“Doc, there are reporters outside. It won’t be long before they try sneaking in,” I said.
“I’m aware. We’re moving survivors to a small ward off the ER. It’s for emergency overflow and only has one entrance.”
“Can I help with anything?”
“Are you with a patient?”
“Amy Wright, she walked away from the crash.”
“Ah, the miracle girl, who only seems to have a few cuts and bruises. Get Amy’s bed and begin wheeling it over here.
Then stand guard over those coming in. Three patients are in theatre; two have minor wounds.
As soon as security arrives, you can rejoin Miss Wright.
” He paused, then said, “Vortex, be careful, it’s been leaked that there are six survivors. ”
“Seven,” I interrupted.
“Six, we lost a woman,” Doc Gibbons replied. “Her injuries were too bad.”
“Shit,” I murmured. Another family would mourn tonight.
“Vortex. Listen. We’re going to be overrun by relatives and friends. Don’t let anyone in unless they’re accompanied by a nurse or doctor,” Doc Gibbons ordered.
“A reporter could claim to be related,” I said.
“Yeah. That’s why we’ve got the local PD coming out. They’ll run IDs before letting people in.”
“Okay. Why are you here anyway?” I inquired curiously. This wasn’t Doc Gibbons’ usual stomping ground.
“As soon as Drake heard from Klutz, he called and asked me to attend. I’ve privileges here. If any member of the MC was injured, Drake wanted someone he trusted. Tiger and King are coming in, and a couple of others. No major injuries though, which is good,” Gibbons replied.
That made sense. Drake was close to Gibbons and relied on him the most. But we had Doc, formerly known as Doc Paul.
“Is Doc on his way in?” I asked.
“No. Paul’s leading the team in the field. He won’t come in until everyone is found,” Doc Gibbons responded.
I nodded. That sounded about right.
“Get Miss Wright, now,” Doc Gibbons ordered, as there was a commotion from the waiting room.
I glanced over and saw security approaching a man holding a camera. While I longed to punch the fuck out of him, I headed for Amy. She was awake and looking scared, and even more so when I explained why we had to move her.
“Vortex, I don’t want my picture out there. And no interviews,” Amy said.
“Not a problem. Come on, put a blanket over your head and let’s roll,” I teased with a wink. Amy’s bottom lip trembled, but she forced a smile to her lips.
I got Amy to the new ward without difficulty, and within fifteen minutes, the other two survivors arrived. There was a boy who appeared completely scared, alongside a man.
“Don’t leave,” the kid cried, reaching for the nurse.
“It’s okay, Declan. I’ve just got to fetch something. You’re with friends,” she soothed and hurried away. Angrily, I scowled. What was so important that she couldn’t stay and reassure a kid?
“Hey, my name’s Amy,” Amy said, and Declan looked across.
“Declan. My mommy and daddy are missing,” he replied sadly.
“Oh shit,” I muttered. Two guesses where they were. Amy closed her eyes, and when she opened them, I saw the empathy.
“My daddies aren’t here either. How old are you, Declan?”
“Four.”
“I’m twenty-six.”
“Amy, I’m going to fetch Declan some shit,” I muttered, not being able to look at Declan. Poor fuckin’ kid. I hurried outside and to the gift shop. There, I bought some toys and clean clothes for Declan. He couldn’t stay in those torn and bloody belongings.
Returning, I passed through the crowd that had gathered. Relatives had been trickling in, but three hours had now elapsed since the crash. The trickle had become a flood. Security let me through, and I saw Amy’s bed had moved to the side of Declan’s.
“Hey, I’ve got you some stuff,” I said to the kid. I pulled out a blue teddy bear and handed it over. Some cars, a truck, and a fire engine followed. Declan smiled as I pushed them back and forth and made some noises with them. The guy rolled over and ignored us.
Declan hugged the bear and leaned towards Amy. She, in turn, got out of her bed and climbed onto his and offered Declan a hug.
“Keep the noise down,” the guy said.
I glowered as a growl escaped me. “He’s a four-year-old kid who’s been through hell and has no idea how to handle it. Shut the fuck up.”
The asshole turned with tears rolling down his cheeks. “My pregnant wife was on there. I made it; she didn’t. Don’t tell me about hell.”
Shit, trust me to put my foot in it. The doors opened, and I glanced up as a bed was wheeled in. Doctors and nurses hurried behind it. Another survivor? Three hours had passed. Surely not. A second later, another bed rolled in. Doc Gibbons followed, and I headed over to him.
“Two survivors, a man and a woman. They were found in the adjoining field and had been flung free,” Doc Gibbons said.
Hope flared in Amy’s eyes until she saw the dark, curly hair of the female. Amy looked away and held onto Declan tightly.
“Declan’s parents?”
“The woman who died in the theatre. Declan’s father had curled his body around them both to protect them. Man’s a fuckin’ hero in my eyes. We’re trying to track down any other relatives,” Doc said. “We’ll keep Declan here as long as we can, but sooner or later, he’ll have to go to foster care.”
“Fuck,” I muttered. Two men walked in. I immediately took notice. One was military; it was obvious in his stance, and the second exuded power.
“Dad! Papa!” Amy exclaimed on seeing them. They hurried over and hauled her into their embrace. By token, because Amy was holding him, Declan was included as well.
“Pudding!” the military one cried, and that had to be Papa.
“Munchkin,” the other guy murmured.
Amy broke into sobs, and her dad stepped back, leaving her with Papa, which surprised me, considering he was military. Amy’s dad reached for Declan and carefully removed him from the huddle. He picked Declan up and looked around.
“This was Amy’s bed; she’s in Declan’s because he was upset,” I said, moving forward.
“You’re the guy on the phone,” he replied.
“Yeah. Vortex.”
“Duke Clemments, and this is my husband, retired Colonel Philip Wright, Amy’s Papa.”
“Sorry about the call, but Amy needed family.”
“I’ll take a call like that any day if someone’s telling me my girl’s safe,” Duke stated and looked at Declan playing with the fire engine. “Parents didn’t make it?”
“Father sacrificed to save him and his mother. She died in theatre,” I murmured.
“Shit. Any family?”
“Don’t know. They’re searching.”
Duke’s gaze landed on the two beds where doctors were working on the latest two survivors, before landing on the guy who refused to face anyone.
“Six survivors?” he whispered.
“There were nine, they lost Declan’s mother, eight so far.”
Duke shook his head. “This is a tragedy. The waiting room is full of people trying to find out if their loved ones made it. So many hopeful family members, it’s heartbreaking.”
“I’ll let you go, sir. I’m sure Amy needs you.”
“Phil has it. He was always good at handling Amy’s emotions; I, not so much. Put my foot in it every time. I often say the wrong thing. Thank you for finding our daughter; she’s everything to us,” Duke said.
“Amy was remarkably brave.”
“Is there any news on Natasha?”
I shook my head, and Duke’s face saddened. “They are as thick as thieves. Known each other since birth. Only a few weeks between them. Amy’s mother was a surrogate, so she looked to Mari, Natasha’s mom, for the female bond. Two dads made it hard on Amy when she needed to confide in a woman.”
“Sir, it’s unlikely they’ll find Natasha alive now. They just brought these, but the likelihood of another survivor is minimal. The devastation is horrendous,” I said.
“We didn’t drive near it, obviously, but the radio was full of descriptions. They’re speculating on survivors, and it’s been leaked that a kid survived. I hope to God he has family somewhere,” Duke replied heavily.
“Duke,” Phil called, and we glanced over to see that Amy had got control of herself again. She was wiping her eyes, and Duke released a beaming smile on seeing her.
The door opened, and an older lady peered in. For a moment, hope flared that this might be Declan’s grandma, but she spotted the guy. “Nathan!”
Nathan looked up. “Mom!” he said gutturally, and as she rushed forward, he broke down in tears. One of the trolleys was wheeled out, and I guessed they were heading to the theatre. There was nothing else I could do here, and I began making my way to the door.
“No!” Amy screamed, and I froze and turned quickly. There was a look of sheer panic on her face, and Amy’s hands grasped thin air as she stared in my direction.
“What?” I demanded, hurrying back.
“You said you’d remain. You have to stay,” she exclaimed.
“Brave girl, your dads are here. You’ve got family now,” I soothed and stroked her hair away from her wet cheeks.
“But you saved me,” Amy gasped.
“Amy needs you, so stay,” Phil said. Actually, it was more of an order, and I bristled. I wasn’t one of his men to boss about, but Amy seemed so hopeful I couldn’t say no.
“Okay, I’ll stay until you’re settled, brave girl.”
Amy looked relieved and nodded. Her hand snuck out and grasped mine.