Maizey is wailing now, and Badge pats her head awkwardly, staring at all of us for help.
“It’s okay, baby. I’m okay.” Sarah squats to get eye level with Maizey and kisses her forehead. “Just a little band-aid is all I’m getting, okay? I swear.”
“Promise?” Maizey sniffles, half hiding behind Badge’s tree-trunk of a leg.
“Pinky promise.” Sarah lifts her hand, curls her fingers in until all that is pointing up is her pinky.
Maizey grins and locks their fingers together, her messy hair hanging in her face as she bounces with excitement.
I open the basement door and hear the constant beeping of all the machines, and my mind wanders to my mom. Soon, real soon, she isn’t going to be up and moving around. She’s going to be too weak. She’s going to need at home care where she can—I swallow—where she can pass peacefully.
I flip on the light and change the brightness, so I don’t wake anyone.
“I want some fucking water!” Moretti throws his pitcher across the room, and it flies right by my head, smashing against the wall.
So much for not waking anyone up.
“You’ll get water when I’m done checking on my other patients, Moretti. Can you remember anything?” I ask.
“Fuck off.”
I sit Sarah down in an empty chair and sigh. “I’ll take that as a no.” I walk over to the sink and wash my hands, then put on gloves so I’m not in danger of not giving anyone an infection. I throw the bloodied cloth in the biohazard container and clean, disinfect, and numb the area for Sarah as I stitch up her hand.
“I’ll remember to kick your ass when I remember,” Moretti threatens.
“Shut up, Moretti. No you won’t.” Reaper slings the curtain across the rods so we can’t see Moretti, and he can’t see us. “Remind me to turn all these beds into private rooms.”
“Asshole,” Moretti grumbles.
“Hey,” Reaper opens the curtain again. “You better fucking know this and remember it. This asshole kept you alive when a lot of others wanted to pull the plug on you. You’re alive because of me. You’re able to be here and heal. Next time you insult me or my men, and especially your doctor, the one who kept you alive, I’ll give you a reason to be in pain once again. Am I fucking clear, asshole?” Reaper inches closer and closer to his face, seething.
Moretti turns his head, then flips to his side, acting like a child. Reaper closes the curtain again and tries to take a deep, calming breath.
“All done,” I tell Sarah and place the last piece of medical tape on the gauze. “Keep it dry, change the bandage; you know the drill.”
“Thanks, Doc.” She hops out of the chair and smiles over my shoulder. I turn around to see who she’s looking at and see Mary is wide awake, bright-eyed and bushy tailed. Sarah forgets all about me and rams her shoulder into my chest as she runs by me to see her friend. “I’m so happy to see you. Are you okay?”
“Damn, she’s a linebacker.” I rub my chest when the slightest throb starts to pulse.
“I know. Imagine feeling it when she’s angry.”
I snort at Reaper while walking over to the front of the bed line. Mary is fine. She isn’t my main concern right now. Dawn is in a bed lying next to Skirt. She’s asleep, and he’s holding his tiny daughter in his large arms.
“It’s good to see you awake,” I whisper, not wanting to wake Dawn as I check his heart rate.
“Aye.” He sniffles, running his sausage of an index finger over his daughter’s cheek. “Ain’t she gorgeous, Doc?”
Yep. A cute little potato. “Looks just like you with that red hair,” I say instead and have him lean forward so I can check his lungs. They sound a bit congested, but nothing to be concerned about it. They will clear up in a few weeks.
“You’re awake!” Sarah and Reaper hurry over to the other side of Skirt, and Reaper pats Skirt’s shoulder. Sarah kisses him on the cheek and then gasps when she sees the little one. “Oh, she’s beautiful.”
“I’m glad to see you awake, Skirt. We were so worried. Poodle has been going out of his mind.”
“Ye worry too much. I was just napping.” His eyes do not move from his daughter, and they well with tears. “Shucks, I can’t believe we made this. Where is Aidan?” he asks. “What’s her name? Does anyone know?”
“No, no name yet. Dawn was waiting on you. Aidan is still asleep. The boy sleeps through anything. He’s safe, though. Don’t worry,” Reaper informs him, wrapping his arms around Sarah.
Skirt looks over to his left and sees Dawn. “I love ye. Ye did good, Dawn. Ye did real good.” His eyes fall on Patrick, who’s still lying next to Dawn. Sunnie is by his side, asleep, holding his hand. Skirt looks at me, searching for answers. “Is he going to be okay?”
“I think so,” I say, meandering over to check Patrick’s vitals. He sounds good. “I think the worst of it is over.”
Skirt glances to the right and sees Melissa. “Melissa,” he whispers with wide eyes. “What? Is she okay? What happened? Is Poodle okay? Ellie?” he asks.
“Stop moaning and bitching. Everyone is fine,” Moretti pipes in.
“Who the fuck is that?” Skirt asks, rocking his daughter when she starts to fuss.
“Moretti woke up,” I grumble, and then a loud bang sounds from the playroom. “And Tongue captured a guy who knows something about the attack. He’s in there.” I jerk my chin to the door that hides the horrors of what the club does best. “Moretti doesn’t have a memory. So he’s testy,” I whisper out of the corner of my mouth.
“I was unconscious for too long.” Skirt looks at Dawn and their little girl.
“You know, Jo tried to save you. She ran into your house, but the smoke got to her before she could do anything.”
“Well…” He coughs to clear his throat and kisses his daughter’s forehead. “I guess we’re naming this little one Joanna, aren’t we? Sounds like a brave name.”
I think about everything Jo has been through, the struggles she faces and is about to face, and know this will bring so much joy and reassurance to her soul. “Really?” I rub my eyes as they water. Damn allergies.
“Yeah, I’ll call her Joey, I like that. I hope Dawn does too.”
“I like that,” Dawn whispers sleepily and reaches her hand across to touch Skirt. “Oh, God, you’re awake. It isn’t a dream.”
“No, babe. I’m here, Lips. I’m here. We’re all okay. I love ye, Dawn.”
I take a step away to give the new family some privacy. Poodle is at the bottom of the steps, staring at his best friend in shock. “Skirt?” He stumbles to the floor, and Sarah snickers.
“Bromance,” she mumbles with a roll of her eyes.
“Poodle!” Skirt lifts up Joey and grins. “Look what we made.”
Poodle runs to them and enters between Melissa and Skirt’s bed. He grabs Melissa’s hand and then leans down and gives Skirt a hug. “Fuck, it’s good to see you.” Poodle chokes up and then tightens his arm around Skirt’s head as he gives into the emotion. This isn’t only about Skirt, but about his fear for Melissa too.