Time stood still as six men held their breath and their hearts stopped beating for a few seconds that seemed like hours as they stared at Buck, who stood, shattered, tears streaming down his cheeks, as he held an unmoving JD.
Just as quickly, five men took a breath and reacted; Nathan trying to take JD from Buck unsuccessfully; Josiah praying silently; Vin leaping from his bed and then collapsing from the pain in his ankle, Chris heading towards Buck and then changing directions as Vin cried out in pain; and Ezra turning his eyes from JD in Buck's arms to a hurting Vin.
Josiah went to back up Nathan and persuaded Buck to bring put JD on the bed so he could examine him.
Nathan quickly checked JD's vitals and declared with relief, "JD's still alive but very cold and wet. Ezra, get Dr. Graves immediately!" and Ezra, after letting out his breath in relief, hurried to comply. After helping Vin back to his bed, Chris tried to soothe Buck, who was still standing in shock.
"Easy, Big Dog, the little guy's still with us. He'll be . . ."
"What, fine?" Buck said almost hysterically.
"Where do you find him, Buck?" Josiah interrupted.
"On the south end by the rose bushes," Buck said bitterly. "Crumpled up like he was trash thrown away. If I hadn't stumbled, I wouldn't even have seen him."
"Good thing you did," Chris soothed and he and Buck, as well as Josiah and Ezra were herded back by the flurry of activity from the doctors and nurses assessing JD. Vitals were taken as they quickly stripped him of his cold and dirty gown and brought warming blankets to warm his core temperature.
"His core temperature is below normal," the young doctor barked. "Give him a round of antibiotics and monitor him for shock."
"Yes, doctor," an older nurse responded.
"I understand he was found outside the hospital?" Dr. Graves asked brusquely, turning to the other men staring at JD, especially an anxious Vin.
After Buck explained, the young doctor pushed back his blond hair and exploded, "How did that happen? How could he just walk out of the hospital without anyone noticing? Who was on duty last night?"
Nurse Jeanette, tears in her eyes, hurried into the room and took a scolding from Dr. Graves.
"I checked on them every hour, Dr. Graves, and both were fine. JD stayed asleep and Vin was awake every time I came in."
Dr. Graves turned his scowling face to Vin. "What do you know about this, Mr. Tanner? I understand you are the one who sleepwalks, not your young friend."
"I don't sleepwalk," Vin said defensively. "JD was fine. I did fall asleep towards the morning, but everything was fine."
After JD was hooked up to the monitors and a warming IV and the medical personnel left, Buck, at first smiling with gratitude, turned to Vin. "How could you let this happen, Vin? You're right here in the room and somehow JD ends up tossed in the rose bushes!"
"Don't blame Vin," Chris started but was cut off by Buck.
"Then who do I blame, Chris? JD didn't up and walk out of the hospital and end up in the rose bushes! Look at JD's feet, they're clean and Vin's are still muddy."
"That's right, Chris," Josiah verified. "If JD walked out of his room, his feet would be dirty."
"What are you saying, Buck? Josiah? Are you saying that I picked up JD and carried him outside and tossed him in the bushes? Are you? You can't believe that! I would never hurt JD!" Vin forgot the pain in his ankle as he glared at Buck and Josiah.
"Vin, you do sleepwalk . . ."
"I don't sleepwalk, Nathan!" Vin countered.
The stern-looking nurse from earlier entered and frowned at the men. "You go to the waiting room while I get Mr. Tanner cleaned up."
"I'm not leaving JD," Buck retorted.
"I assure you, Mr. Wilmington, nothing will happen to the young man on MY watch. You can go peacefully or I will call security and have you removed." There was a no-nonsense tone to her voice that even Chris did not challenge.
Chris patted Vin's hand, moved to JD and pushed his hair back and then said simply, "To the waiting room, gentlemen," grabbing a fuming Buck's right arm while Josiah took his left. As they were leaving, they heard Vin's voice, raised in protest, "You are NOT giving me a sponge bath!"
The men snickered in amusement until they reached the waiting room and Chris demanded, "I want to know how JD got outside the hospital."
His statement was met with an unusual silence from the others.