“We’ll get to the bottom of it,” Grant said softly.
“There are too many kids for the resources we have,” Donald said in a tone that told him this was a fight he waged every day. “But I will do my best for him, I promise you that. If more people became foster parents and were willing to help out….”
Marty looked at Cameron and then checked what was in the bag, pulling out a stuffed bear. He tucked it into the bed next to the boy. “When he gets out of the hospital, could you place him with me? I’ve had a number of background checks completed because I worked on several government contracts two years ago. I also have an extra bedroom that I could set up for him. If you need me to fill out forms, just send them to me and I’ll do it. If you want to see the house, I can arrange for that. I know there are classes involved, but I’ll take those too. He just can’t go back to that kind of place.”
Donald took a step back. “That was an offer I was not expecting.”
The nurse came back in. “We have a room for him in Pediatrics, and we’ll be moving him in the next hour or so. The doctors expect him to be here for a few days. Are you his family?” She turned to Donald.
“I’m with the state. What is it you need?”
“Just authorization to treat him,” she said and handed Donald the forms. He signed them where needed.
“Okay. As for the officer here and the man sitting beside the bed, treat them as Cameron’s family.” Donald turned to Marty. “When I’m in the office tomorrow, I’ll get work started on an emergency placement with you. There will be forms, but I’ll send them over and we can review them tomorrow. If you still want to do this after that point, then I’ll get things moving forward. I’ll also see if I can get his things from the home and bring them over.”
“Thank you,” Marty said before Donald left. “Geez. I didn’t wake up this morning and say to myself that I was going to become a foster parent, but….”
“You know you don’t have to do this,” Grant said.
Marty nodded. “I think I do. My parents had a lot of issues when I was Cameron’s age. Mom went through a lot of depression after she lost a child, and my father started drinking. There were reports of neglect, and I was taken away and placed in temporary care. It was frightening for me, but my parents straightened themselves out and fought for me. They got custody back after a few months, and things were better after that. I was put in a foster home with a family that had two kids of their own, but they took me in too. Her name was Shaniqua, and his was Rayquan. They were good to me, and I still get birthday cards from them each year. I visit them in Baltimore when I’m down there, and they have come up to see me. I was lucky, and I intend to make that same luck happen for Cameron.”
Grant pulled over the plastic chair from the other side of the room to sit near Marty. Then he quietly told Dexter that he was free from work. “Is this something you really want to do? I can understand how you feel, but this is a child you’ve never met before.” It was a little impulsive, but Grant could honestly understand how Marty felt. If he could prevent any kid from being taken, he would. Simply put, he didn’t want anyone to go through what he had.
“I think this is something I need to do,” Marty said softly. “He’s what… seven? And his family…?”
“I don’t know.” He didn’t remember every detail from the case file, but he could certainly find out. “I’m not trying to talk you out of it or anything.” Because damn, what Marty was doing had to be one of the coolest and most selfless actions Grant had ever seen. He’d encountered plenty of assholeness in his time with the force, but this kind of sheer kindness was damned rare.
“Mommy.” It was little more than a whisper, but Cameron had said something. “I want…,” he said and then stopped, his eyes fluttering open. “Who are you?” he asked. “Are you bad?”
“I’m Marty, and this is Officer Grant. And we’re not bad. We found you in that awful place, and you’re in the hospital so you can get better.” His voice was so calm and gentle.
Cameron began to cry, and Marty handed him the bear, which he held to his chest, tears running down his cheeks. “You’re okay now. That bad person is gone, and you’re safe. No one is going to hurt you. Like I said, my name is Marty, and I’m going to stay with you. This is Grant, and the dog over there is Dexter. He was the one who really found you. Officer Grant carried you out of that place, and we brought you here where everyone will help you. No hurting, I promise.” He pressed the button to call the nurse.
She came in and smiled. “Sweetheart, you’re awake. That’s so good to see. Are you thirsty? Do you want some water?”
“Maybe a little apple juice?” Marty suggested. Cameron shook his head. “You don’t like apple juice.”
“I’m not allowed to have any,” Cameron said, and Marty turned to him as if to say “we need to talk later.”
“You can have some if you want it here. I promise,” Marty said. He smiled at Cameron and nodded. “Really.”
Cameron held that bear like it was a lifeline. The nurse left and returned with a glass of water and a small container of juice. Marty held the straw for Cameron and helped him sit up so he could drink. He had just finished when the doctor came in to examine him.
“I’m Dr. Brian.” He grinned and seemed young and nice. “How are you feeling?” Cameron shrugged. “Is it okay if I look in your eyes and check your tummy? It won’t hurt. I promise.” He checked him over. “I want to run a few tests to make sure that hisbody function is returning to normal, so we’ll keep him for a few days.”
An orderly came in, and the doctor said good-bye. “You ready to go for a ride?” the orderly asked, and after moving the monitors around, he wheeled Cameron, bed and all, out of the room.
“Can the doggie come too?” Cameron asked.
“Yes,” Marty said. “We’ll all be with you.” He grabbed the bag, and they all followed Cameron to the elevator and then up to the second floor. Once the orderly got Cameron settled in his room, Marty gave him the bottle of juice. “Just drink a little.”
“Can we ride again?” Cameron asked.
“Nope. Not today, but maybe you’ll get one later,” the orderly said. “Now you get better, okay?”
“Okay,” Cameron agreed, and the orderly left. Marty helped him with his juice. Cameron drank some and then lay back, his eyes closing.
“He’s going to be okay,” Grant said.
