Chapter 20 #2
He received a text from Samantha’s number with Fischer’s number. He clicked the telephone number and held the phone to his ear. “Pick up. Pick up.” He jammed the close button again.
He should have taken the stairs. He could have been in his car by now.
He lifted his foot to do just that when the elevator doors finally slid shut.
The phone continued to ring until voicemail picked up. He hung up and called again. The doors slid open, and they raced to his SUV.
“Answer the phone.” He hung up and dialed again.
“Lieutenant Fischer.” The man answered on the second ring.
“Fischer, this is Liam Roberts. Tell me about Samantha.” He climbed into his SUV, fired up the engine, and activated the lights and sirens.
Once he was sure the girls were buckled and all pedestrians were cleared, he jammed the pedal to the floor.
The engine roared as he tore out of the parking lot.
“We don’t know anything yet. She was unconscious but stable when she arrived. They’re doing a CT scan right now.”
Lord.
It was all he could say. God knew his heart and what he wanted.
“I’m on my way with Bella. Call me as soon as you hear anything, but I’ll be there in a few minutes,” he said, a little more forcefully than he should have.
“Will do.”
Liam tossed his phone onto the passenger seat. He looked at Bella in the rearview mirror and relayed to her what Lieutenant Fischer had told him.
Was she okay? She had to be okay. Lord, she needs You. Be with the doctors. Give them knowledge and discernment. Steady their hands.
The drive to the hospital took forever. He gripped the steering wheel until his fingers went numb.
The tires squealed as he pulled into the hospital parking lot. He parked the SUV in a space marked for law enforcement and jumped out.
He flew through the doors, Bella and Sophia on his heels, and looked for Lieutenant Fischer. The man was standing by the automatic doors that led to the patient area. A few other men in RFD shirts stood with him. Colleagues he’d yet to meet.
“Fischer.” Liam strode up to him. “Any news?”
“Not yet.” He shook his head.
“Tell me everything.”
Lieutenant Fischer said, “We were called to a fire at an abandoned commercial building. A vent fell on Samantha as she advanced the line.”
Bella gasped. Sophia wrapped an arm around her friend.
“Greer was her backup. He called for assistance. Greer and Holt pulled her from the rubble and out of the building. Greer stabilized her neck. The EMTs took over transport and brought her here.”
Liam ran his hands through his hair and blew out a breath. A litany of scenarios flew through his mind, ranging from broken bones to death.
The memory of Sam smiling and waving goodbye to them as she walked into the station this morning. So young. So beautiful. His heart ached. He couldn’t imagine a world without her.
The automatic doors swung open, and all eyes turned to the nurse who walked out. She looked past them and called out a name that wasn’t Samantha Williams.
The group of men sighed in synchrony.
“This could be a while. We should probably stop crowding the door,” Lieutenant Fischer said, but he didn’t move. Instead, the other guys formed a line against the wall, out of the way.
Liam remained with Fischer.
What was taking so long? They should know something by now.
Lord, calm me.
He wanted the medical professionals to be cautious and take their time assessing Sam. If they were too hasty, they could miss something.
The automatic doors slid open. This time a doctor stepped out and looked to them. “For Williams?”
Liam and Fischer stepped closer to the doctor.
“I’m her supervisor, Lieutenant Fischer, and this is her boyfriend, Liam Roberts.”
“Deputy Marshal Liam Roberts.” Liam showed his badge. He didn’t like flashing his badge around and expecting special treatment. But if there ever was an occasion to do so, this would be it. “And this is her sister, Isabella Williams.”
“I see.” The doctor glanced at the badge, then at Bella.
“I’m Dr. Yassan. Ms. Williams remains unconscious.
CT scans of her head and torso were done to rule out life-threatening injuries.
The are no cranial fractures, bleeding, or swelling to the brain.
No broken bones in the neck or back. No spinal or organ damage. ”
Liam took a deep breath. Thank You, Lord, that there’s no serious injury. I pray for ongoing healing of her body.
The doctor continued, “She does have a two-inch laceration to the back of her head. We’ve cleaned and stapled it. All of her vitals are stable. We’re going to admit her for observation and wait for her to regain consciousness for further evaluation.”
“How long will she be unconscious?” Lieutenant Fischer asked.
“Based on what I’ve been told about the mechanism of her injury, I suspect she has a concussion or other mild head injury.
As far as regaining consciousness, I can’t give an estimate.
Everyone’s body responds at its own pace.
She could wake up in ten minutes, or it could be another hour.
If she doesn’t regain consciousness in the next hour or two, we’ll order a CT scan. ”
“When can we see her?” Liam asked.
“Since she’s stable and there’s evidence that familiar voices can enhance the healing process even when someone is merely unconscious, I’ll let one or two people back there. But keep it quiet and calm.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Lieutenant Fischer and Liam spoke at the same time.
Dr. Yassan waved her badge in front of the electronic pad on the wall and the doors opened. “Follow me.”
“I’ll be in in a minute. Let me talk to the guys.” Lieutenant Fischer gestured to the crew eagerly awaiting news.
Liam nodded, then followed the doctor down the hall, Bella and Sophia right behind him. “She’s still in an ER bay. We’ll get her moved once a room is ready.”
The doctor opened the door. “Bella, go on.” She let Bella go first.
“I’ll wait right here.” Sophia moved and stood to the side of the door.
Liam walked in with Bella.
Sam lay still with her eyes closed. Wires and tubes were everywhere. Her normally fit body looked so small and fragile. Liam swallowed the lump that had developed in his throat.
He pulled a chair close to her bed and let Bella take a seat. She picked up her sister’s hand and held it tightly.
“Sam, it’s Bella.” The teen’s voice cracked. “I love you.”
He couldn’t take it any longer. He walked around to the far side of the bed, where he gently took her other hand in his. It was warm and soft. He brought it to his mouth and placed a small kiss on the back of it.
The line between witness and something more was becoming increasingly blurry.
He wanted nothing more than to lean in, hold her, let the rest of the world fade.
But he couldn’t let that happen. Not yet.
Even if he was beginning to pray that there would be a time in the not-too-distant future when he could.
He reached out, his fingers gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her cheek. “Don’t you dare leave me,” he whispered, his voice rough with an emotion he could no longer hide.