Page 65 of Collin: Episodes 13-15
“Sir? Master?” he begged. He tried to touch them, but one of his hands was nothing but a mess of things strapped together and wrapped around him, and his other was heavy with gauze. “Please. Where are they?” It felt like he was tearing out his throat screaming.
Ellisandre said something quick and firm. All those too many hands stepped away. A large private security guy scooped Collin up out of the bed. A nursing assistant hurried forward and unhooked a line going into Collin’s arm, and then they were moving. The hallways and lights were too much. Collin closed his eyes against the visual noise, but then, finally, they stopped moving, and they were in the room again with Richard.
Ellisandre pushed the empty bed in the room up against the side of Richard’s bed and helped Collin down into it. Richard’s eyes fluttered half open, and he held out his hand toward Collin.
Collin wrapped his fingers around his Master’s. Ellisandre pulled out their phone. A moment later they held the screen up in front of Collin, showing Linda crouched down, holding her phone beside Émeric.
Émeric who had his eyes open. Émeric who was holding up his hand in hello.
Collin’s body finally let go. He crashed, falling asleep with his head pressed against his Master’s arm, the only part of him he could reach.
It was his mother’s voice that filtered through to him and brought him back from oblivion. He could still feel his Master’s hand in his. He didn’t want to move. This time, he could actually hear the hospital humming around him. Voices sounded like voices. The ringing was still there, but it didn’t drown out all other sounds anymore.
“How long has he been like this?”
Linda answered. “About twelve hours. They have an IV in him. As long as he can rest, they want him to continue doing so.”
“What’s the camera for?”
“Émeric. He got sent to another hospital because there were only two ORs open here and he needed immediate surgery. We just finally left them on so they can see each other.”
“Give me the update on my son.”
“Collin has had surgery to repair a bullet wound to his shoulder and to reset a separate break in his upper right arm. He had a minor concussion from the flash-bang grenade and temporary loss of hearing. His vision is fine. He wasn’t looking at the grenade when it went off. His hand is the worst of it.”
“What about his hand?”
Linda gave a deep sigh. “Someone smashed it at some point before the rescue operation. He’s expected to recover full use, but he’ll likely be feeling the effects for a while. And he’ll also set off metal detectors for the rest of his life.”
“Why’s he sleeping like that?”
“He kept fighting out from under sedation until he managed to see Richard and Émeric, then he was able to rest. The hospital agreed to not try to separate them again.”
Dr. Ryker grunted softly. Someone paced around the room.
“What happens now?”
“They’ll be in the hospital for a few days. And then I’ll arrange at-home nursing for them.”
“And beyond the medical stuff, what happens now?”
“Has anyone talked to you?”
“No.”
“Then I probably shouldn’t either. They haven’t been able to interview anyone involved except security so far, and Veronica, the last one to see Collin before he was taken. She identified the man who took Collin, so at least we know that we aren’t looking for an additional attacker.”
“Dr. Ryker,” a female voice came from the door. “I’m Detective Jennifer Carlson. Could I speak with you? They informed me that you had arrived.”
“I don’t want to leave the hospital. That’s my son there.”
“We understand. The hospital is allowing us to use an empty room if you could come with me for a moment. They asked if we could avoid disturbing the patients.”
“I’ll stay with them, I promise,” Linda said.
Collin woke without Mr. Reevesworth present. He lifted his head and came face-to-face with his mother. Dr. Ryker looked pale and drawn, pantsuit rumpled as if she’d lived in it longer than one should. She had a thermos of what smelled like coffee in her hand.
“What time is it?”
