Page 90 of Caged

After handing my care over to the new paramedics on scene, my father told Doug to stay with me while he talked to the LEO in charge of the scene.

Cate remained unconscious while the paramedics rolled her onto a board, lifted her to a gurney, and strapped her in.

When I tried to get up, to go with Cate, I fell into a paramedic.

“You need to sit still so we can treat you,” he said, his stern voice meant to stop me.

It didn’t work.She shouldn’t be alone. I needed to go with Cate.If only I could make my tongue work better.

“Give us a minute.” After the paramedic stepped away, my father said, “Jay, I know you want to be with her, but there’s nothing you can do right now.”

I grunted out, “I need-”

“I know. I know.” He turned my head so I had no choice but to look at him. “But you need help, too. You’ll be at the same hospital and we’ll make sure she’s okay.”

It wasn’t enough. And if my stupid body worked properly, I would’ve fought to stay by her side.

Chapter 34

Jay

Dad rode with me in the ambulance, leaving Jamie behind to finish with the local law enforcement.

As the paramedics rolled my gurney outside, I noticed the sun hadn’t set yet;it’s still Saturday.We’d been held hostage for three days.

I’d regained a tiny bit of control over my limbs, including my tongue, by the time we arrived at the Fort Worth Hospital. Not that I could move or talk easily. And since it hurt like hell to do either; I did neither.

As my adrenaline wore off, the pain worsened, making it hurt to breath.

When I tried to convince the nurse I didn’t need an X-ray, she said, “Doctor’s orders.”

Apparently, the bruising on my mid-section made him think I might have a broken rib or two.

Might?I could tell from the pain, I did. But they’d heal in time, with little to no medical intervention.

Not like Cate. She needed a lot of help.

Please be okay. I prayed.

“You scared the shit out of us,” Dad admitted when we were finally alone.

It hurt, but I turned towards him. “Cate?” I croaked out, sounding like a carton a day smoker on a week long drinking binge.

“She’s in surgery.”

“How bad?” Being eloquent or wordy wasn’t an option.

He held my look for a heartbeat, then another, before answering.

“It was a through and through, but the bullet may have nicked her right lung.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. Forcing myself to ignore the pain, I asked, “When know if-”

Anticipating what I was trying to ask, he cut me off, “The doctor will let us know as soon as she’s out of surgery.”

The nurse arrived, preventing further discussion. Dad asked her if she could give me anything for the pain.

“Not yet.” She stepped up to the side of the bed and addressed me. “We can’t give you anything until we know what was in the syringe.” I nodded, wanting to wait until Cate was out of surgery anyway. “We’re working as fast as we can.”

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