“I’m here, bub,” Charles tried to soothe and console Chase as he cried in his arms.
I gestured with my thumb to let Charles know I was going to step out into the hall for a bit. He nodded, but before I got off the bed, I patted Chase’s lower back.
“I’ll be right back, Chase,” I told him.
As I got off the bed, Charles reached out and took hold of my hand. He whispered, “Thank you for getting to Chase.” I nodded and left Chase with his dad for a little while. I stepped out into the hallway and looked to my left and then right, unsure of where to go or what to do exactly. I needed to call Hollis. I looked at my watch; 3:30. Hollis was still at the gym. He’d want to know. I walked to the nurses’ station, and before I could open my mouth to ask about a phone and bathroom, one of the nurses smiled at me. I recognized her as the one who had been helping with Chase.
“How can I help you, sweetie?”
“Um, is there a phone and bathroom I could use?”
“Yes, the bathroom is at the end of this hallway and to your left. There’s also a small waiting room and lounge across from it with phones. How is your brother?”
“I think he’s going to be okay. His dad is with him.”
Just then the crisis counselor, Heather, joined me at the counter.
“I’m going to go introduce myself to your father. Your mother should be here soon.”
I nodded. It felt good to hear someone call Charles and Kristin my parents. I went to the bathroom to wash my hands and check my arms for blood. Kristin would freak out if she saw blood on me, knowing it was from Chase. As I rinsed the soap off of my arms, I thought about the knife at home and the few places where there was blood. Maybe I could get back to their house and clean it up so Kristin and Charles wouldn’t see it. Chase didn’t need to see it again either.
When I got out of the bathroom, I went into the lounge and sat by a table and phone. There wasn’t anyone else around, so I had some privacy. I decided to call the TCF gym and talk to Hollis. Since I had the number to the gym portion, I called it rather than the main number. Frank, one of Hollis’ conditioning coaches, ended up answering the phone.
“Hey, Frank, it’s Patrick.”
“Hey, want me to find Corey?” Frank assumed I was calling for Corey since I was his assistant.
“No. Is Hollis still there?”
“He is. He’s in the ring with Marty. Need me to get him or want me to have him call you when he’s done?”
“Um, I kind of need to talk to him now.”
“Is everything okay?” he asked.
How much do I tell him?
“Patrick?”
“Um, yes, but something has come up. I’m at the emergency room with his brother.”
“Shit. Morgan or the little guy?”
“Chase, his youngest.”
“One sec, I’ll grab him.”
“Okay. Can you make sure someone drives him? I don’t want him to drive while he’s worried.”
“No problem. Two of his security guys are here, so he won’t be driving for sure.”
I could hear Frank set the phone down and then whistle sharply.
“Hollis, Marty! Hollis needs to take a call. Patrick is on the line.”
I heard Hollis ask if I was okay. It made me smile to hear him voicing concern over me to the guys on the team.
“Hello? Patrick?” Hollis’ voice filled my ears, his breathing labored.
