Mistakes and Memories

"What do we have?" the paramedic called as they put him on the stretcher. He could hear them but he couldn't see or respond to what they were saying. He felt pain sear through his system and he wanted to scream but him mouth wouldn't respond.

"Male, Caucasian, late twenties, severe burns, most likely internal damage," the paramedic called. They drove down the road and he felt every bump.

"Sir, can you tell me your name," the paramedic asked.

"Officer… Adam… Ross," Adam whispered his voice barely audible.

The paramedics all got very quiet. "Did he just say officer?" one of them asked and Adam guessed they nodded because he heard no response. "Shit, okay, get us to the hospital and step on it."

"Got it," the driver called back and Adam felt the vehicle pick up speed. He heard talking but he lost consciousness.

--

Stella was sitting there when her phone rang. She pulled her phone out and saw it was from Mac. She answered it.

"Hey Mac," she said.

"Are you with Mackenzie?" Mac asked, his voice sounding rough.

"Yeah, you okay?" Stella asked getting Mackenzie and David's attention.

"I want you to leave the room. What I have to tell you shouldn't be said where they might overhear," Mac said and she felt worried. Something bad had to have happened for him to say that.

Instantly Stella made her way out of the hospital room to the hall.

"What's up, I'm out of earshot," she said into the phone.

"Adam was caught in an explosion. Somebody stuck a bomb under his car and when he pressed the remote to unlock it the bomb went off. He… he's on his way to the hospital now and in critical condition. He was covered with severe burns and was in and out of consciousness," Mac stated and she couldn't help but glance back at the room where Kenzie and David sat chatting over the boy's school work and the like, so peacefully.

The duo was pleasantly ignorant of what had occurred and the danger Adam was in at that moment. Maybe it was best if they didn't know till they had something concrete.

"What do you know? Who set the bomb?" she asked, turning away from Mackenzie and David.

"I'm guessing whoever shot in our door also set the bomb. They are sending a message; we just have to decipher that message. Go back in with them and stay with them. I figure the hospital has to be one of the safest places for the three of you at this point," Mac stated and she nodded, not about to mention the fact David was kidnapped from a hospital nearly a year ago.

He'd definitely go crazy if she reminded him of that little incident.

"Okay, I need to get back to them," she stated as she glanced back to see Kenzie tickling the boy.

"Don't let them know the truth, I'll call you if we have any more information," he stated. "I love you, Stella, you know that don't you?" She frowned. Mac wasn't a very emotional man. He must be really worried if he was getting all touchy-feely with his emotions.

"I know, I love you too, Mac. Talk to you later," she said.

"Be careful," he whispered into the phone before the line went dead. That was definitely weird. She shook her head before walking back into the room.

"So, who got hurt?" Kenzie asked as she looked up from her son's face.

"What do you mean?" Stella asked looking at the young woman.

"The only reason Dad would tell you to leave the room like that would be to inform you that somebody got hurt and he didn't want me to know. Who was it; Danny, Lindsey, Lucy, Hawke, please don't tell me it was Adam?"

"Kenzie, I… I can't tell you. Even if I told you right now there is nothing you could do for them to help so worrying would just aggravate you, medically but wouldn't help anyone," Stella told the young woman who glared at her.

"I'm not Mckayla, Stella. I don't get emotional at every turn just because of small thing but I'm not Madison either. I can't cut myself off from my emotions completely either. I can control myself… please, I can't stand not knowing. If this was dad or Lindsey injured would you want to know," Mackenzie asked and Stella smirked.

"You know, I could imagine your father saying something like that to me and it wouldn't work for him any more than it will you," Stella said looking at the young woman.

"That's saying something considering you are sleeping with him and are currently knocked up with his baby," Kenzie said with a smart ass smirk on her face. Stella rolled her eyes but Kenzie gave her the cheesiest 'I'm-an-innocent-bystander' look she could muster before they both started laughing.

"Mommy, what does 'knocked-up' mean and what does it mean when a person is 'sleeping with' someone else?" David asked and both women cracked up worse. Stella had to sit down. She'd completely forgotten David was in the room with them. From the look on Kenzie's face she could say the truth was true for her as well.

"Well, do you remember what I taught you about the birds and the bees," Kenzie asked and Stella looked at the young woman wondering what she was doing teaching that to a boy as young as him.

"Yes mommy," David said nodding.

"Remember when I told you women get pregnant with the helps of males," Kenzie said, trying to explain.

"Yes," the boy said again, obviously following.

"Well, one of the terms used for how women get pregnant is 'sleeping with' and 'knocked-up' is a very crude term for pregnant women," Mackenzie said and he nodded understanding.

"So knocked-up is another way of saying she's pregnant. Why didn't you just say that to begin with?" David asked his mom and Stella chuckled at the look the young man was giving his mother. It was a glare that looked much like the ones Mac gave when frustrated; however, it wasn't quite effective on the child.

"Never you mind," she told the boy.

--

Luca laid in bed at the hotel. In his hand he held a picture of him and Mackenzie. Those two hadn't known each other very long but at the time he had loved her. He'd thought she felt the same. Back then he thought their love could conquer all trials thrown their way.

He realized too late he didn't know anything substantial about her. Everything he now knew he'd learned in the few months they were together after getting married. One thing he'd learned was they weren't compatible at all. He was Fire and Mac was Ice. He was the Sky and she was the earth. He was carefree and she was controlled.

Mackenzie was a penny pincher – he blew through money like it meant nothing to him. She was always stressed and serious – he was always carefree. He believed in the power of chance, Karma, Luck, and Destiny – She believed everything on this earth was connected by the interlocking patters of human nature. For him life was something untamable and beautiful that you lived and couldn't analyze – for her life was science, subtly explainable that could be tested and observed.

They were yin and yang.

It was early in the relationship he'd realized they weren't compatible. The fact she had a son and planned on becoming a cop only sped up the separation. Truth was, he never even met the boy.

She was a mistake, a passionate, smart mistake he'd make over in a heartbeat but a mistake none the less.

Now, seeing her again, hearing what his uncle and father may or may not have done to her those feelings came crashing back. His father had always been in charge of the business part of 'The Family Business' while his uncle took charge of the other parts of their world.

His father was a politician while his uncle was… not a politician.

With that thought someone knocked at the door. He went and opened it to find…

--

[Sorry about the delay with the update. My muse has been off duty on this one. I hope you guys aren't too disappointed and I will try to hurry with the next update but I won't make any promises. Sorry again. Thank you, everyone who has waited patiently and for everyone who has reviewed up until this point… PS, the next chapter will jump forward just a little bit… thanks again, and sorry for the delay… TVGirl]