Grace deserved a whole man.
Tears stung his eyes as anger and denial swirled around inside his head and chest like a cyclone.
He couldn't tear his gaze away from the bulky lump under the hospital blanket.
It's gone. It's really gone.
The blood pressure cuff squeezed his arm again. It may as well have been his chest.
"Well, it looks like you've finally come around. It has taken you a while." A tall slender man wearing scrubs and a white lab coat walked into the room. "They sedated you pretty heavily for your trip across the ocean.”
No wonder I don't remember anything.
“I'm Dr. Campbell." The doctor eyed the machine beside the bed. "Looks like your blood pressure is spiking."
"Youtry losing part ofyourleg and see what that does toyourblood pressure." Damon's voice was still gravelly and full of anger.
"Fair point." Dr. Campbell tapped some keys on the computer and studied the monitor for a long moment before letting out a low whistle. "You're one lucky duck."
"I don'tfeelvery lucky."
"I'm sure you don't, but regardless, you're lucky to be alive."
Damon clenched his jaw, briefly thinking maybe it would be better if he wasn't. Then he squelched that thought.
I'm grateful I came home, even if it wasn't in one piece.
"Did they really have to amputate my leg?"
"They didn't have a choice. The IED took it clean off. It's a miracle they saved as much as they did." Dr. Campbell pointed at his thigh. "The whole backside of your leg was full of shrapnel,clear up to your buttocks. Your right leg took a fair amount of shrapnel too."
Great, not only am I missing part of my leg, I’m going to be covered in ugly scars.
He couldn't help thinking again that Grace deserved better.
"The important thing at this point is to make sure none of your wounds become infected." Dr. Campbell went on, mentioning some of the more severe wounds and possible complications that could arise. Then he studied the computer again before hanging his head for a moment.
“There’s one other thing.” He shifted to a chair, putting him at eye level with Damon. “You’ve already been through a lot, so I’m sorry to be the bearer of more bad news.” The doctor raised his hand as though warding off an attack. “It’s not something you need to worry about right now, but it is a significant injury, depending on your plans for the future.”
“What are you talking about?” Damon’s gut clenched, making his words sharp and rigid.
“You took some shrapnel to the groin area. Damage was minimal compared to the severity of your other injuries. The surgical team managed to repair your urinary track, but both vas deferens were severed.”
"What?" Damon’s head jerked toward the doctor so fast it made him dizzy.
"Both vas deferens were severed." The doctor repeatedly gently, empathy written all over his face. Then he continued to talk, saying something about seeing a specialist and how there might still be options, but Damon couldn't focus on his words.
The IED gave me a freaking vasectomy?
The weight of a tank pressed against Damon's chest, rolling over it, crushing his heart. He struggled to catch his breath.
His thoughts jumped to Grace again. The two things she wanted more than anything in the world were to be a wife andmother. He was damaged goods, and he could never make her a mother.
She's better off with another man.
“This is not something you need to figure out today or even tomorrow.” Dr. Campbell’s voice pulled Damon back to the present. “Right now, your focus needs to be on your recovery.” Dr. Campbell lifted the hospital blanket from the end of the bed. "I need to check your bandage and drain."
Damon's gut clenched all over again. He wasn't ready to see that his foot and lower leg were indeed missing, but like a train wreck, he couldn't look away.
