Chapter 25

"He's on his way. He was in a meeting at the Pentagon," she told him. Looking up at him she added, "Mackenzie is fine, you go find out about Allison, AJ. I'll be fine till Clay gets here."

"Are you sure?" he asked, eager to find out about his child and Harriett's children too, but not wanting to leave Mac if she needed him either.

"I'm sure," she answered.

He turned away and went to the nurses' desk, "I'm AJ Chegwidden and my daughter Allison is here."

The nurse looked up at him and said, "Yes she is Sir. She's in ER two."

AJ was about to leave the station when he remembered to ask about the Roberts' children. The nurse once again looked up the information and told him where to find the rest of the children.

Hurrying down the hall, AJ entered ER two to find his tiny daughter on a gurney with several doctors and nurses around her. One of them turned to him and snapped, "Who are you?"

"Her father," AJ responded just as shortly.

"Then we need your authorization for surgery," the nurse told him.

"Surgery?" AJ questioned, "What's wrong with her?"

The nurse that had spoken to him turned to the doctor treating Allison and nodded at AJ when she caught his attention. The doctor looked up at AJ and said, "Your daughter has a broken back and she needs immediate surgery. The sooner you sign the consent forms Sir, the sooner we can get to helping your child.

Pale with fear for his tiny daughter, AJ nodded and signed the forms handed to him. Within seconds they were wheeling Allison out of the ER and up to surgery. AJ barely caught a glimpse of her as they wheeled her by him, his heart clenched and he wondered if he could lose his baby as he had lost his wife just four years ago.

Since he could do no more for Allison until she came out of surgery, AJ turned his attention to finding the Roberts' children and what had happened to them. He found that the girls only had scratches and bruises so they could go home at any time. James had a broken leg and it was being set, when AJ found him in pediatrics. Of young AJ he had the hardest time finding. When he did, he knew that he would have to bring Harriett and Victor home from their honeymoon instead of just calling them to tell them what happened and that all was well.

The doctor order an emergency CAT scan on young AJ to see if he could determine the extent of the damage causing him to remain unconscious. Because he was the contact of record while Harriett was out of town, AJ had to sign for permission for them to do this. Doing so, he watched another child be whisked away from him and a brusque nurse told him he could wait in the waiting room. He went into the waiting room and slumped into a seat. His head drooped into his hands, dragging his hands through what little hair he had left, then clasping his hands behind his neck he tried to compose himself enough to make a call to Harriett.

Mac had seen him come into the room, she got up, went over to him, and when he didn't acknowledge her presences, placed her hand on his shoulder and asked, "AJ, what is it?"

Looking up, he saw her standing there with Clay at her side and admitted to her, "I'm trying to find the courage to call Harriett."

Mac squatted down in front of him until they were face to face, "Oh my God! I forgot Harriett and Victor were on their honeymoon and that you were in charge of five children," tears formed in her eyes as she asked, "Which one died?"

Horrified he looked at her and said, "None of them, why?"

"We were told that two children and the driver lost their lives," Clay said.

"Thank God it wasn't one of our children. Allison is in surgery and AJ is having a CAT-scan. James has a broken leg and the girls are fine. I'm sorry I didn't ask, but how is Mackenzie?"

"She has a broken arm," replied Clay.

"I'm glad she's alright. I don't know what I'm going to do with the other three while I stay here with Allison and AJ."

"Don't you worry about that AJ, we'll take them home with us as soon as Mackenzie is released."

Leaning forward and kissing her cheek, "Thank you Mac that's a load off my mind. I better make that phone call."

Informing the nurse at the desk he would be out front if he was needed, he went outside to use his cell phone.

To be continued….