“She will be, son, you have my promise on that.”
Ethan had the helicopter ready as they drove up Jake’s drive, so they had to duck under the blades to get in. His handsome face was lined with worry as he met them at the door and helped maneuver them all inside.
“How’s our girl doing?” Ethan’s hand gripped Jake’s shoulder briefly.
“She’s stable at the moment,” Nancy McBride answered him.
“Okay, good.” He stood back to let Declan move closer.
“I can’t fit in here, Jake, so look after my daughter for me.”
“Count on it,” Jake said, squeezing the hand the man held out to him. The doors then closed and they were taking off. The others would follow by vehicle.
“I’ve radioed ahead. We’ll land on the hospital roof and they’ll be ready,” Ethan said, and then they were in the air.
“Jake?” Branna had regained consciousness. Her eyes were dazed as she looked up at him.
“It’s all right, baby. We’re on our way to the hospital.” He leaned over her, resting his cheek beside hers. “You scared me.”
“It was Brian. He shot me. I-is Macy all right?”
“She’s fine, and your dad dealt with Brian. Christ, Rosebud,” Jake said, breathing in the scent of her. “I thought I’d lost you.”
“But, because you’re my hero, you saved me.” Her words were weak, but the best sound he’d ever heard.
“Something like that. I love you, baby.”
“You too.”
She didn’t speak again, just pushed her face into his and kept it there until they landed.
They took her away from him, and he tried to follow, telling them he was a doctor and that she was scared of hospitals, but they said Jake needed to get cleaned up before he saw her again. Branna was then wheeled through a set of doors that swung closed behind them, shutting her away from him.
“Mom,” he whispered, as he started to shake. Jake felt her arms close around him and he held on as he let the tears fall.
“She’s going to be all right now, son. You know it just as I do.”
“Can you just keep reminding me of that every second or so?” Jake said into her shoulder.
“I’m proud of you, Jake. You did exactly what needed to be done, no panicking, no drama. You saved her, son.”
“Maybe, but you would have arrived in time to do the same.”
“Where is she?” Ethan arrived then.
“Through there,” Jake stood and pointed at the closed doors.
“Aren’t you two doctors? Shouldn’t you be in there too?” Ethan demanded.
“It’s a hospital, Ethan. There are plenty of capable doctors here.” Nancy McBride took Jake’s hand and then Ethan’s in the other one. “Now, let’s find the waiting room and some really bad coffee.”
Slowly, family and friends started to arrive. Buster burst into the room with his hair standing on end, turning the air blue with Declan O’Donnell, Jake’s dad, and Annabelle at his side. Macy had been taken away at Annabelle’s insistence to be checked over.
“Buster, calm down!” This came from Jake’s dad, who had an arm around Declan’s shoulders and was leading him to a seat.
“I’m giving Branna the recipe to every mystery muffin I’ve made since she arrived.”
Jake regained his feet and walked to where his friends stood.
