45 - RECOVERY
Lacey
Derek sat hunched forward, elbows on his knees, staring at the floor. His face was drawn, eyes red-rimmed, the usual sharp edges of him softened.
We didn't speak at first. I just sat there in my ridiculous outfit, the plunging-neckline dress I'd barely had time to throw a lab coat over, the hem riding high on my thighs even when I tugged it down, the club bracelet still circling my wrist like a brand.
The nurse had grabbed a white coat from the rack in the ER to cover me up, but it was open now, and I didn't have the energy to care.
After a few minutes, he spoke, low and rough.
"She's going to make it because of you."
I nodded once. "She's tough. And the team here is excellent."
He exhaled, slow, like the breath had been trapped in his chest for hours.
"I almost killed her. I didn't listen. You told me, no intense exertion, no pushing her limits.
I thought—I thought a short hike would be fine.
Fresh air. Normal. I wanted her to feel normal.
" His voice cracked on the last word. "My life revolves around her. Everything. Maybe too much."
I didn't know what to say to that. I'd seen it before, the way he hovered, how he researched every decision. It wasn't just protectiveness.
I stood up. "I'm going to get breakfast in the cafeteria. Jess will be out for hours. Join me? It's not great food."
He stood. "Sure," he said, exhausted. "I was raised on mac and cheese and whatever we could scrounge up. Not sure I can eat but I need coffee."
We sat in silence, me eating a breakfast sandwich and him drinking coffee. He looked down at my wrist, and his eyebrows rose just a touch.
"Sorry I pulled you away," he said quietly. "From the Second Circle."
My stomach dropped. The bracelet. He'd seen it. Immediately I felt ashamed. But right behind it, defiance. I'd just saved his daughter. I didn't owe him an explanation.
I nearly growled the words. "You have a problem with how I spend my free time?"
But Derek looked puzzled, then shook his head. "No. Not at all. Glad it's working," he said, flat, tired.
Glad it’s working? Before I could ask what he meant, he sighed and asked, "Lacey. She'll be okay, right?" I could see the tight stress.
I reached over and covered his hand. "She's okay now, Derek. She probably won't even remember a thing. You saved her by calling me as early as you did."
I checked the time. They'd taken Jessica for a cardiac CT a while ago and she'd be another fifteen minutes at least, sedated and still, nothing for either of us to do but wait for her return and confirm what we already knew, that she was holding.
I set my cup down.
"Derek. I need to go home."
His head came up.
"She's stable. She doesn't need me sitting here, and I'm no good to anyone if I don't get a few hours of sleep. My shift starts at seven." I pushed my hair back off my face. "I need to sleep and change and come back like a person. I'm assuming you're staying."
"I'm staying."
I gathered my bag off the chair. He watched me do it, and then, when I was half standing, he said, "Can you do me one favor?"
"Sure."
"The team tonight. The ones who came out on the helicopter, the ones in the room with you.
" He turned the coffee cup a slow quarter on the table.
"Would you ask them if they'd have dinner with me next week?
I want to thank them personally. Each of them.
Not a plaque on a wall. I want to sit across from the people who kept my daughter alive and thank them to their faces. "
"Derek, that's not necessary," I said gently. "This is the job. And we love Jessica. You don't owe anybody dinner for that."
He put his hand up.
"No. I want to do this." A beat. "I want to know the people who are going to be in her life."
Then he looked up at me. "Especially you, Lacey. I'd like to get to know you better. If that's all right."
"I—" I started over. "I think that would be great. I'll tell the crew before I leave."
"Thank you." He didn't quite smile. "I'll send you an email. All the details."
He looked at his watch, and the practical man came back up over the other one, smooth, automatic. "She'll be down from imaging soon. I want to be in the room when she is." He stood.
Especially you.
The thrill went through me.
I shook my head at myself and pushed the button and let it go.
It stayed a little. All the way to the car it stayed.