“Great,” Keenan deadpanned.
“Well, I highly doubt that, but you do seem more lucid. I’d like to talk to you about your injuries and give you a quick check.”
“Do you want me to—”
He doesn’t let me finish the sentence. “You’re staying.”
“You had a gunshot to the abdomen that we had to remove in surgery. You weren’t in great shape when you came in. We almost lost ya, but the abdomen was the most urgent. You also had a gunshot to the shoulder, but luckily it was through and through.”
“He’ll be fine, right?” I ask.
“He will recover, but possibly not exactly like he was before.”
Keenan’s hand tightens on mine. “What does that mean exactly?”
“Due to the abdomen wound, we’ll keep you on antibiotics for a while to make sure you don’t get an infection. But the shoulder is more concerning.”
I swallow hard. Talking to this doctor is painful. It’s not a physical pain but an emotional one. “More concerning?”
He finally looks at me, whereas before, it was as if he didn’t know I was standing right here. “Yes. It’s through and through, so there isn’t much in the way of surgery options, but the damage it did on the way through is likely to cause some permanent issues.”
“What kind of issues?” Keenan sounds exhausted, and now all I want is for this doctor to leave so that he can get some rest. Rest is important in healing, after all.
“You told one of the nurses that you’re in the Defence Forces. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“Well, due to the damage, it’s unlikely, in my opinion, that you’ll be able to effectively hold a gun anymore.” The doctor adjusts his weight. “I know it’s not what you want to hear, but you came out of this with your life, and for that, we should all be thankful.”
Keenan drops his head back against the bed and stares at the ceiling. I think this is his way of dismissing the doctor. He’s done for now. There isn’t much more bad news he can take. After all, so much has happened to him in such a short amount of time.
Now that we’re alone again, I let him deal with his emotions for a moment before I speak. It’s a lot to take in, and I don’t think I want him to handle much more right now.
“I’m sorry,” I tell him as I run my fingers through his light brown hair. It’s somewhere I know I can touch him without hurting him. “I know how much your job means to you.”
“Yeah.” His jaw clenches. Maybe there’s more he wants to say but isn’t ready.
“There are other jobs, right? At least you’re alive.”
“I know,” he snaps, then shakes his head as if he hadn’t meant to do it. “Sorry. It’s just a lot to process. I didn’t mean to be so . . . callous just now.”
“It’s okay. You’re right, this is a lot. I’m here with you if that helps.”
“It helps more than you know.” He takes in a breath then raises his head back up. “Let’s talk about something else. Like how fantastic those jeans look on you.”
The giggle that escapes is really uncalled for given his current predicament, but I can’t help it. This man has his mind on my ass when he’s just been told he might not be able to do his job anymore.
“Getting shot is almost worth seeing you in them,” he continues.
“Stop that.” I shake my head at him. I’m about to say something else, but Keenan is suddenly looking past me at something else.
I turn slowly, and whatever my previous thought had been, it’s gone now.
The man standing in the doorway gives me a weird vibe. I can’t put my finger on it and I know I’ve never seen him before, but it’s there. He’s tall with auburn hair and a look of danger about him.
“I need to speak with Keenan,” the man says. “Alone.”
I’m about to protest, but Keenan tugs on my hand to get me to look at him then nods. He’s fine being left alone with this man I’ve never seen, so I’ll go. But I won’t go far. For all I know, this could be the man who shot him.
