Page 63 of SEAL's Angel
Chapter 15
A week later, Dawn and Meghan were drinking coffee and chatting at the kitchen table when her cell phone rang. She’d been waiting for this call and praying every day that it would happen. Apparently, it was harder to get non-family into the burn unit than anyone expected. Even Jake’s team members hadn’t seen him since they’d left him in Germany.
Dawn ached to see Jake, to look into his steel-blue eyes and tell him she loved him. And show him just how much. Every night, she’d cried herself to sleep, her heart broken for him.
When she showed Meghan the screen, Meghan squeezed her hand in reassurance.
“Good morning, Miranda. How are you?”
“You can go. Dad got you in. I’m so excited for you. He just called,” Miranda’s excited voice exclaimed.
As the words sank in, Dawn jumped up from the table.Finally.“He did. Oh my God, thank you so much, and thank him. I owe him big time. Oh my God, I can’t believe it. I was thinking I’d have to buy a nurse’s costume and sneak in. I don’t know how I can thank you enough.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie. We’re family. You don’t have to thank me. I hope you can help him. Cam says that he won’t see anyone, not even them.”
“I know. It makes my heart hurt. They’re his only family, and he’s cut them off. But I’ll find a way. At least I don’t have to break any laws to get in there now.” Dawn’s vision blurred as her eyes filled with tears.
She was going to help Jake if he liked it or not. For so long he’d been there to support her, now it was her turn to help him.
Rafe came home from PT while she was still on the phone, and she signaled for Meghan to fill him in.
“Did she get some good news?” Rafe asked as he leaned over to kiss Meghan.
“Yup. Senator Stanhope got her cleared to visit,” Meghan said.
Dawn turned away to give them some privacy as she finished her call with Miranda. But seeing the two of them together always made her smile. She’d hoped for so long that Rafe would find the one woman for him. And she’d almost given up.
Fate was a weird thing. But it had placed Meghan and Rafe at the airport just when they needed each other the most. Now, she hoped fate was on her side and would help her save Jake from himself.
Dawn hugged her brother and then wrinkled her nose. “You stink. I can’t believe you kissed Meghan smelling like that.”
Rafe quirked an eyebrow at her. “Maybe she likes my stink.”
“Trust me, no one likes that stench.” Dawn winked at Meghan, who burst out laughing.
“You do kind of smell skunky,” Meghan added. “But I love you, anyway.”
Rafe lifted his arm and sniffed, then made a horrible face. “I guess I am riper than usual. I’ve been pushing the team hard to keep everyone from thinking about Jake. Not that they’re not reminded all the time since I’m temporarily in charge.”
Dawn nodded. It made perfect sense to her. “Well, now that I have permission to visit, maybe I can convince the stubborn man to see everyone.”
“You nailed that one. He’s one stubborn son of a bitch, and I’m sure being in the amount of pain he’s in doesn’t help.”
“I’ve been doing some research on the rehabilitation process for burn victims,” Meghan said. “It’s going to be months, probably, before they’ll release him.”
Dawn had done some research, too, making sure it was after the kids went to bed, not wanting them to worry more about Jake than they already were.
They didn’t understand why they couldn’t just go visit him like they’d visited Joey when he’d had his appendix surgery. Dawn did her best to explain without giving them details that would scare them.
“He has a long recovery ahead of him, but from everything I’ve read, if he has love and support, he’ll heal faster,” Dawn said as she sat at the table and grabbed her coffee.
“So what’s the plan?” Rafe asked after pouring a cup of coffee for himself.
“I’m not sure yet. I was so focused on getting permission that I hadn’t considered the visit.”
“You know he might not talk to you, right? Or have the nurse remove you,” Rafe said, his voice concerned.
Dawn nodded. She’d spoken to their CO two days after she’d arrived at Rafe’s and he’d explained how it worked. He’d apologized several times for not being able to get her a pass to visit. “Yes, I think I kind of expect something like that. But I will not give up on him.”
