Search and Rescue
Chapter 13
Matt ended up sleeping between Mike and Maddie. He had forgotten what it was like to have a child sleep in the bed with him, and realized he had missed the sweet cuddles. He might have trouble understanding Matt, but he was bonding with him. Emma had also begged for a sleep over and Mike had promised her they would have her over on a weekend night. He just wished things were going better with his older daughters. He was at a complete loss where they were concerned.
Hannah had totally refused to go to lunch or dinner with him. He knew Max was working on them and his mom was guilting the girls, but it still hurt. Maddie was encouraging, and it had been a godsend for Mike. Kaitlyn's 22nd birthday was later in the week, and Mike had bought her an expensive bracelet, one that his mom had suggested and Maddie helped pick out. The night of her birthday dinner, she sat it aside with barely looking at it. It hurt more than he wanted to admit. She and Hannah were going out with friends, and barely spoke to Mike before leaving.
Later that night, he and Maddie were watching TV in the RV when Max knocked on the door and stuck his head in. "Mike; I just got a call from the Highway Patrol, the girls were in an accident. Drunk driver T-boned them on the passenger side. Kaitlyn has some fairly minor injuries, but Hannah was flew to Waco. The University Hospital at Baylor. I am listed as her next of kin, but you should be there." Max explained. Mike was stunned. He stood up but couldn't find his truck keys.
"I've got the keys." Maddie said.
"Adrian is going to stay with the kids. Mom and Dad are coming with me. You can ride with, or separately." Max offered.
"We'll go separate so Maddie can come home if need be. I'll want to stay." Mike said. He put his jacket on, and helped Maddie with her's. They followed Max out and began the long drive to Baylor. As much as his daughters had hurt him, he adored them and wanted a chance to reconnect with them. He would be destroyed if something happened to Hannah, or Kaitlyn for that matter. Max and his parents got to the hospital just before Mike, and when he walked into the ER, Kaitlyn was standing and talking to them. There was blood on her shirt, a bandage on her forehead, and a black eye starting. As Mike approached, she nodded at him.
"Anyway; she has several broken ribs, and they think her lung collapsed. A broken leg, and some other stuff. They don't think she has a head injury which is good." Kaitlyn explained.
"Okay; is she in surgery?" Max asked.
"Yeah. For the ribs and to make sure she didn't have any internal injuries. I don't get it; we had the green light and I even looked both ways before crossing the intersection, but the guy came out of nowhere. All I can remember is the sound of the metal crunching." Kaitlyn told them. Mike decided to take a chance and put an arm around the young woman.
"You didn't do anything wrong, honey." Mike told her. He expected Kaitlyn to push away or have any angry response, but instead she got closer.
"Did you get checked out?" Dave asked.
"I have some stitches. The air bag hit me. They think I have a fracture in my collarbone. It hurts pretty bad. The doctor is reviewing the X-rays." Kaitlyn explained.
"Yeah, that hurts." Maddie said from behind Mike. After her helo had crashed, she had had a concussion and a broken collarbone.
"I want to go upstairs with you all to the waiting room." Kaitlyn said.
"How about I stay here with you and we go up when the doctors are finished with you?" Barbara suggested and Kaitlyn nodded. Mike still had an arm around her, and he kissed her on the side of the head.
"For whatever its worth; I'm glad you are okay. Please don't blame yourself for this, if you are." Mike said.
"If I hadn't wanted to go out…" Kaitlyn said before breaking down in tears.
"Hey; it was an accident. Accidents are not intentional. Don't beat yourself up." Max told her. Mike could tell by his tone that he was speaking from experience and he could also see why his kids trusted Max the way they did.
"He's right." Mike told her. He never thought he would be agreeing with Max, but they had to give Kaitlyn some peace of mind and they all had to be there for Hannah.
"We'd better go upstairs." Dave said.
"I'll be okay." Kaitlyn said. Mike gently squeezed her again, and then pulled away. Now, he had to concentrate on Hannah and pray she would be okay. He knew one thing for certain. He wouldn't handle losing another child.
