Page 40 of Married to a SEAL

“Oh my God. Patrick. I’ve been so worried. You don’t know how good it is to hear your voice. The last twenty-fours have been horrible. I thought I was going to go crazy with worry. And not knowing? It’s been a nightmare.”

“For me, too,” he said, his voice gruff. “And I don’t even remember half of it. There was an explosion, and the next thing I knew, I was on a hospital stretcher being rushed through the hallway. No memory of how I got here, no recollection of anything other than the moments before I was injured.”

Rebecca let out a sigh. “When Ryan called me last night—I just—”

She broke down again, and Patrick felt his heart clench. Rebecca’s first husband had been killed in a horrible freak accident on a bridge. What were the chances he’d be severely injured on an op? Sure, his career was dangerous, but they trained for every scenario. He’d always assured her he’d be fine, but no one could predict the future. Least of all him.

“I’m sorry you were worried. When I woke up, your face was what kept flashing through my mind. What kept me fighting. I knew no matter what that I had to fight and get back home to you.”

“Do you know when they’ll let you come home?”

“No. Not yet. I have to be stable enough to fly. I mean, hell, right now I can’t even get out of bed without help. I just woke up a little while ago. The doctor should be in soon to talk to me. Hopefully in the next week or so they’ll let me come home.”

“Will they send you to a hospital here?”

“Walter Reed. It’s several hours away from Little Creek, but a helluva lot better than having a damn ocean separating us.”

“My doctor appointment’s next week,” she said.

“For the baby?”

“Yes. It’s the first appointment.”

“Hell, I wanted to be there for you.”

“It’s fine,” she assured him. “This is just the very first one where they ask me a million questions. They’ll be plenty of appointments after that for you to come to.”

“I’ll be at every one,” he said.

“Is Evan on his way back?” she asked.

“I haven’t talked to anyone on the team, but it sounds like the rest of them are back.”

“Already?”

Patrick cleared his throat. “I’m not sure. But it sounds like the mission was a success.”

“Alison went into early labor last night,” Rebecca gushed out. “I stayed with her at the hospital for a while.”

“Wow. Was the baby born?”

“Not yet. I waited with her a few hours while they got her contractions under control.” She finished filling him in on the rest of her night. “You sound really tired. You should probably get some rest.”

“I will. I just needed to hear your voice. How’s Logan holding up? Did you tell him what happened yet or were you waiting until you knew more?”

“I was waiting for an update from Ryan. I sent the kids to camp since I didn’t have details about how bad your injuries were. I didn’t want them to sit around worrying all day about you. At least now I can tell him you’ll be coming back.”

“I love you, sweetheart. I promise to come home to you and the kids as soon as I can.”

“You better,” she said quietly, sniffling again. “I love you, too.”

Patrick said goodbye, his gaze resting on the phone after they’d hung up. He’d come so damn close to losing everything. The second he got back home he wanted to propose to Rebecca. Marry her. Never let her leave his side.

Sleeping in different beds every night, in different homes, seemed like too much after what he’d been through. He wanted every second to be with her.

“Knock, knock!” a voice said.

“Doctor,” Patrick said. “I suppose I have you to thank for saving my life.”

“That and the men on your team. They provided emergency aid that kept you stable enough to be eventually transferred here.”

Patrick nodded, thinking of Mike, the medic on their team.

He owed him a hell of a lot whenever he made it back to Little Creek.

The doctor began explaining Patrick’s surgery and the extent of his injuries. After listening to him run through all the details of his surgery, the recovery, and the physical therapy he’d likely have to go through, Patrick was struggling to stay awake.

Food and thoughts of anything else would have to wait.

He shut his eyes just as the doctor was leaving the room and fell into a deep sleep.

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