Card tried to keep it together when she saw Rick all bandaged up. It seems his neck was mostly scarred from the flying glass. She noticed he was awake.
"Dad…" Card said running to hug him.
"Card…My darling what is going on? I just awoke and these bandages and …" Rick asked in rapid fire.
"Dad…what you recall?" Card asked holding on to his hand.
"Well your Mom was a bit broken up. It seems the last time she was in a cemetery for a funeral. It was for her original Captain Montgomery. I don't know if you were told of Kate's attack during that?" Rick said.
"Dad I am aware of Mom's scar and how she came to have it. So go on." Card prompted.
"Ok good so we left the service and sat in the car. I was tending to your Mom then the car windows shattered and I thought another attack on your Mom was happening so I covered her with my body. I just woke up here…So what is going on?" Rick asked.
"Mom and you were struck by metal pieces. The Car following you blew up. You were struck with one piece which sliced your neck and another lower on your shoulder. The lower one was the one needing surgery to correct. Mom was not so lucky. She is place in a medical coma. Her back was pierced a number of times by the flying debris. You are both lucky to be alive." Card said almost weeping.
"Alexis? Wasn't she in the car behind us?" Rick asked.
"Dad Alexis is fine and baby is too. She was thrown out of the car and landed in mud which prevented her having too many injuries. She is a bit scratched but not the same could be said for the others. Father Brown and Amilo Gonzallo are dead. Eric is holding on but just with 3rd degree burns over 45% of his body." Card said.
Rick sat silent in the bed on hearing the news. He was lucky indeed. Another important member of the Family is now dead. Rick could not help but think of the implications.
"What about the rest of the cars in the procession?" Rick asked.
"I was not told…Dad there are some detectives who want to get your statement." Card said.
"Tell them to go away…I want to go see Kate…" Rick said suddenly very cross.
"Dad… do you think that is good idea? You just had surgery. Who knows what other problems you could have?" Card pointed out.
Rick ignored her as Card quickly pushed the button to alert the nurses then avoided her Father. Two burly orderlies came in and blocked his movement as a nurse inserted a sedative into his IV. Rick immediately went from quarreling to complete collapse. The orderlies placed him back into bed.
Card was a bit frightened by her Father's total irrationality. Card left the room and found Lanie.
Lanie took one look at Card and guided her out into the garden.
"Aunt Lanie I don't know what happened Dad was speaking normally then he went out of control bellowing for Mom. That he had to see her. The Nurse sedated him. Lanie I'm scared and I don't want to tell Alexis this. What should I do?" Card pleaded.
"Calm down Card…The doctors will find out what caused it. You can not look so shaken the rest of your siblings are looking up to you being strong. I know sweetie you did not want this job. Alexis is in no shape to bear it and the twins are much too young. Now take a few minutes to gather yourself together and go back in and greet your siblings." Lanie counseled.
"Ok Auntie I will try…" Card said leaving and headed to the nearest bathroom so that she could get herself together.
Lanie returned and Alexis still in her chair looked up.
"Lanie was that Card?" Alexis inquired. "She looks badly shaken what is going on?"
"She was just a bit emotional that is all as we all are right now." Lanie said. "She is gone to clean up. She will talk to us afterward."
"I hope it is nothing serious." Alexis said while holding on to Eric Jr.
"Well I will let her tell you herself." Lanie said getting back to Enrico.
Card splashed some water on her face and dried off calmer now she exited to meet her siblings.
Card sat down as the Adults gathered around.
"I spoke with Dad…Alexis he seemed to be in good spirits and wanted to know what was going on. He did not know what happened but he knew it was not good." Card started off.
"So he recognized you?" Alexis asked.
"Yes he did but he got really irate when he heard of Mom's injury and the death of Amilo and Harry. Of course yours and Eric's injuries greatly perplexed him so much that the nurse had to sedate him." Card said.
"What do you know of Eric's injuries? Card please tell me?" Alexis pleaded with many unshed tears glistening in her eyes.
"Eric is moved to the burn ward with 45% of his body having 3rd degree burns. It does not look good. It seems like the gas in the tank exploded drenching him with liquid fire. You escaping with minor injuries is a miracle. Alexis I know what you are feeling. I felt it too when Kevin was killed." Card sadly said.
Alexis hearing the news finally broke down and cried in her Sister's arms. It was the worst of news. Card and she held on to each other. Card remembered Lanie's words to be strong for her family. She may not have been born a Castle but she was one in her heart and that mattered.
After a few minutes the Sister separated. There was nothing left to do but to go home. They could not stay here. The kids would have to be told. It would be better for them to be in familiar surroundings. Martha, Jim, and Sophie agreed to stay at the hospital to keep a vigil as Card, Jackson and Alexis took the kids home.
/
Card noticed an increased Police presence on the trip from the hospital. She wanted to talk to her Grandfather but keeping the kids quiet and entertained was more than Alexis alone could do. They exited the Limo at the loft and using the back entrance they were spared the hordes of Video seekers which lined the street.
Getting the kids back to the loft and fed was a major process since neither was fully aware of what was going on. All the twins knew was Card and Alexis were there for them. Something had happened at the funeral. They also knew both of their parents were in the hospital. Eric's Dad was there too.
Once Card had gotten all the necessities out of the way she had only time to nurse Baby Jackson and felt strange not seeing her Mom seated next to her to feed Emily too. Once Card got done with Jackson she was able to feed Emily the milk expressed left in the refrigerator. Card first had problems with Emily not accepting the nipple of the bottle. However with perseverance Emily got the idea and was slurping contentedly. Card looked at her Sister in her arms. It was then when the sadness hit her. Trying not to cry was worst than letting it all out.
Emily seemed to understand her Sister was crying but holding it in. She held on to Card and gurgled. Card wiped away the tears long enough to do what was necessary to keep Emily happy. Once she was placed back in her crib only then did Card withdraw to her parent's room in order to feel close to them.
Alexis still in the wheelchair found her wrapped in her Father's sweat shirt that Kate favored. She placed her hand on her sibling's shoulder. That startled Card awake.
"It's just me Alexis Card." Alexis softly said. "I'm so sorry to wake you."
"Wha…What is going on?" Card sleepily asked.
"I was going to ask you the same thing." Alexis sweetly said.
"Lexie this is hard…I'm afraid. This never should have happened. There has been so much tragedy." Card said bursting into tears as Alexis got out of the chair to sit on her parent's bed.
"I know Card I know." Alexis said bursting into tears herself.
The two Sisters not bonded by blood but love comforted each other. Until on the monitor Card heard the squeals of either Jackson or Emily. Card separated heading back up stairs to see what had disturbed them. Alexis cleaned up and sat back down in her chair.
\\\\\\
Jackson senior entered looking grim.
"Gramps what is wrong?" Alexis asked.
"It is nothing you need to worry about" Jackson said.
"Gramps it is something…If it affects you it affects all of us. We Castles stick together…So out with it." Alexis said glad to concentrate on something other than her worry.
"It is the funeral. There was no trace of a bomb. My sources at the FBI are flummoxed on why the car exploded. They have no clue." Jackson said.
"That is ridiculous Gramps. Cars just don't explode without something causing it." Alexis said.
Card reappeared overhearing the conversation.
"Yeah that is right Alexis cars usually do not explode. What if there was a change in the composition of the fuel?" Card asked.
"What do you mean Card?" Jackson asked.
"Well let's perhaps say the gasoline in the tank was altered so that the gas would act differently. Alexis did you smell anything or feel anything prior to landing in the mud?" Card asked.
"No I … Wait there was a bit of a problem with the ac it was hot in the car. I remember Eric commenting on it then opening the sunroof to let some of the heat escape. Then I remember lying on my side and feeling heat coming from the wreckage." Alexis said.
"Really I think I might have a solution to your mystery Gramps. And yours on why you survived Alexis." Card said getting out her rendering tablet she had created.
After a few moments she had crafted an interesting scenario.
"Microwaves…?" Alexis asked looking at what her brilliant PHD Physicist Sister had created.
"Microwaves…" Card confirmed.
"Wait I'm a bit old school but can you explain to me what is going on?" Jackson asked.
"Gramps Card has got your smoking gun…Microwaves." Alexis said.
"Wait I still do not get it. Please honey…Can you explain it simply to this old man." Jackson said looking between the two red heads.
"Ok Gramps It is like this… The Car was targeted with microwave energy directed at the gas tank. High heat created more evaporation then the gas tank denatured the fuel and the bump in the road was the ignition caused the spark and the tank…" Card explained.
"Exploded…" Jackson supplied.
"Yes the blast from the tank pushed the seat Alexis was sitting on up and out of the car Alexis exited out of the sun roof opening and landing several feet away in the mud." Card said as her video of the scenario showed.
"I've got to get a hold of the authorities. Card you did it…That is the smoking gun." Jackson said hugging hard Card then more gently Alexis.
Card felt good getting a hug from her Grandfather.