Colin collapsed over him, shattered by sobs. “Josh,” he choked out. “My sweet boy, I’m sorry it took me so long.”
He felt two hands press down on his shoulders. “We’re here, Colin. We’re here for whatever you need.” David’s voice was low and calm, but in the background, Colin could hear Nate sobbing as though his heart would break.
“God, David,” Colin moaned, pressing Joshua’s hand to his lips. “Look what that bastard did to him!” He crumbled over Joshua, unable to speak, his entire body shaking with inconsolable grief.
Randal got to his feet and moved to Colin’s side. “He’s hurt bad, no question,” he said, turning Colin’s face to meet his eyes. “And I know he looks like hammered shit! But Josh is going to be OK. What matters now is that we get him to the ER as fast as humanly possible so he can get the care he needs. I’m going to bring the ambulance around. Help Fred get him onto the gurney. Can you do that?” He shook Colin’s shoulder. “Colin!Can you?He’ll be calmer for you than he would be for us.”
Colin tightened every muscle in his body, controlling his anguish. “Where’s the gurney?”
“We can’t fit it in there,” Donald called from the broken doorway.
“Can I carry him?” Colin asked, bending over Joshua.
“Wait, Colin,” Fred said. “Let me brace the arm and hold the pressure bandage on his head.” Fred slid Joshua’s arm into a stable brace and tightened the Velcro straps to secure it. Colin startled when Joshua moaned in pain.
“Yeah,” Fred muttered, bending over Joshua. “I know it hurts, buddy. I’m sorry. Just hang in there for us. We’re getting you to the hospital.”
He glanced up at Colin. “Let me get a tight grip on this bandage.” He pressed the dressing to Joshua’s head and struggled to staunch the blood still seeping from his head wound, trying to support Joshua’s arm with his other hand.
“Wait,” David said, moving to Fred’s side. “I’ll get the arm. You keep the pressure on his head.”
“I’ll get his legs,” Donald offered, moving to join them.
“OK. On three,” Fred said, and Colin slid his arms under Joshua’s body.
“I’ve got him,” Colin said, his voice a hoarse whisper.
“One, two, three,” Fred said, and all three men gently lifted Joshua into Colin’s arms.
“I’ve got you, my darling,” Colin murmured, feeling fresh tears stream down his cheeks as Joshua sagged in his arms. “I’ve got you now.” He carried Joshua to the gurney and laid him down as carefully as possible.
“Clear a path!” Fred called, wheeling the gurney to the church’s front door.
A team of at least a dozen police officers helped lift the gurney over the broken steps and onto the ground. Colin bent over Joshua, clinging to his uninjured hand as the gurney moved into the night air and toward the waiting ambulance.
“Colin!” Joshua cried.
“Right here, baby,” Colin called out as they lifted Joshua into the vehicle. He and Fred clambered into the ambulance and he bent over him again. He reached to smooth Joshua’s hair, but Fred caught his fingers.
“Don’t, Colin. Don’t touch anywhere near that wound. We’re already worried about infection. That fucking room was filthy.”
“Oh god,” Colin moaned, pressing Joshua’s fingers to his lips, staring down into his face. “Is he still conscious?” he asked, his voice sharp with panic.
“He’s in and out,” Fred said, adjusting the arm brace and securing the gauze on his head. “Colin, I need that arm. I need to start an IV.” As the ambulance began to move, he gestured to a seat near Joshua’s head. “Sit there. He’ll be able to hear your voice. It’ll keep him calm.”
Colin stumbled around the gurney to the seat Fred had indicated. “How bad is the head wound?”
“He’s got a severe concussion at the very least,” Fred said, inserting the IV needle into Joshua’s arm. Once he saw that the IV was flowing, he slid Joshua’s arm onto a board and secured it.
Colin lowered his head and clenched his teeth, forcing himself to contain the sobs threatening to consume him, but he could not stop the tears that tracked down his cheeks in a ceaseless stream. His years as a police officer had left him immune to the sound of a siren. But now the warning wail filled him with dread. “But, he’s going tolive!” Colin said. “Tell me he’s going to live, Fred!”
“Hellyes, he’s going to live!” Fred told him, with a grim smile. “He mightnothave if we’d given that fucker another few minutes, and it might take a while before he’s fully himself again. But Josh is going live.” He glanced at Colin. “Tough little bastard, isn’t he!”
Colin bent over Joshua and stroked his bruised cheek with gentle fingers. “Yeah,” he replied in a choked whisper, “Thankgod.”
Chapter 18
Doctor Adam Casey
