Chapter 5

Lee's leg bounced nervously on the footrest of the wheelchair as the hospital orderly pushed him through the hall toward the pediatric ICU wing of the hospital. Dr. Lore and Billy walked ahead of him, talking quietly. They passed through a series of secure doors that only opened with Dr. Lore's key card until they reached their destination.

Lee knew which room was his son's by the agent posted outside. His heart thumped loudly in his chest the closer they got to the door. Dr. Lore and Billy stopped and spoke to the agent. Billy reached into his jacket and pulled out his badge. The agent nodded, stepped to the side, and allowed the small group to enter the room.

Lee's eyes filled with tears at the sight of his son. He couldn't help notice how small William appeared on the bed. His head was wrapped with a bright white bandage and Lee could see a small yellowish tube poking out from the top. It then disappeared again into the gauze headband. Through blurred vision, Lee studied his son's pale face. His left eye was swollen and shadowed by bruising. A nurse was standing in the corner of the room, adjusting William's IV bag.

"I need to touch him." Lee looked up at the orderly, silently commanding him to push the wheelchair closer to the bed.

The orderly glanced over at Dr. Lore, who nodded his approval. Once within reach, Lee gingerly pushed himself to his feet. He took two steps toward his son, with Billy and Dr. Lore watching his every move. He sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to jostle the boy.

"William, Daddy is so sorry this happened to you," Lee whispered to his son as he brushed his thumb along the ridge of the boy's eyebrow and down his cheek. "I promise… I promise I'll never let anything bad happen to you ever again. Remember how much Mommy and Daddy love you." Lee lifted one of William's hands and as the tears silently slipped down his cheeks, he pressed his son's hand to his lips.

"How long, Doc?" Lee asked gruffly as he lowered his son's hand back down to rest on his small chest.

Dr. Lore cleared his throat. "How long for what?"

"How long do you think he's going to be like this?" Lee lifted his eyes briefly before focusing back on William's innocent face.

"We're not sure. It could be a day or two, or it could be longer," Dr. Lore admitted.

Lee nodded subconsciously. "And how long does that tube need to stay there?" Lee lifted his hand and ran his finger gently along the line of gauze just below the spot the tube disappeared. Below his fingers, he could feel a small, squishy bump under the soft material of the medical wrapping.

"The catheter will remain until the fluid draining is clear, not red or cloudy. At that point, we can perform another MRI to determine if there is any evidence left of the hematoma. Depending on those results, we will then remove the catheter, stitch the skin closed and allow William's brain to finish healing," Dr. Lore explained.

With a shaky hand, Lee traced the delicate bones of William's face as if he was committing every inch to memory. When his hand finally slowed, he rested it against William's chest, where he could feel his son's heart beating. He lifted his head to make eye contact with Dr. Lore. "I'd like to see Amanda now. I need to tell her about our son. She needs to know what's happening with him."

"Mr. Stetson, I already explained we sedated your wife. She's not going to be aware of anything you say to her," Dr. Lore reminded him.

Lee shook his head slowly. "I don't care what you said. She'll hear me. I know she will. Now, bring me to Amanda so I can tell her about William." The muscle in his cheek tightened and twitched.

Billy stepped forward. "Lee, remember what the doctor said. You need to keep yourself calm."

Lee maneuvered his body back into the wheelchair. "I am calm, but if I don't see her, I'll be anything but calm. Now, take me to Amanda."

Dr. Lore exhaled loudly. "All right. We need to head back to the Cardiac Care Unit."

"Why aren't they together?" Lee questioned as they began the winding trip back to the other end of the hospital.

"Your son requires specialized pediatric care. Your wife needs the experienced staff in the cardiac unit. It's not my intention to make this inconvenient for you if that's what's going through your mind." Dr. Lore scratched the back of his neck as he explained.

Lee sat quietly, contemplating Dr. Lore's words, as he was wheeled through the halls of the hospital. They arrived at Amanda's room, also guarded by a single armed agent.

"Scarecrow," the agent acknowledged him.

"Hey, George. How's your dad doing?" Lee gave the agent a weak smile.

The agent nodded his head slowly. "Better. He's going to beat the cancer, the doc said the last time we went in. Thanks for asking."

"Thanks for protecting Amanda," Lee returned.

Dr. Lore pushed the door open and the small group entered the softly lit room. Lee froze at the sight of his wife on the bed and flashbacks to their failed honeymoon in California flickered through his mind.

"Manda," he gasped. He rose to his feet before the orderly stopped the wheelchair. He slipped his hand into hers and immediately pressed her hand to his chest. Amanda's heart monitor beeped monotonously above her. The only other sound in the room was the hissing of the oxygen tank behind her.

Dr. Lore reached out and touched Lee's shoulder gently, showing him compassion for the first time. "If it helps, she's stable. Her stats are within normal limits. We're merely keeping her sedated as a precaution."

Lee sighed heavily, pressed his lips against Amanda's cool fingers. "Amanda, I don't care what the doc says. I know you can hear me, but I don't know how to tell you this. We've done everything we can to protect William and the boys, but this time…" Lee paused to inhale and swallow past the rising lump in his throat. "This time the bad guys got through. You were right… that seat in the van… saved him… mostly. But something happened when the car rolled and he… he's unconscious. The doc has done everything he can."

Tears slid down his cheeks unchecked. Amanda's heart monitor continued to beep steadily.

Dr. Lore stepped closer to Lee. "I told you. She's sedated and she can't hear you."

"And I know my wife," Lee hissed.

"Lee, you need some rest. It's been a long day and I think with some sleep, maybe some more pain meds for that arm, you'll feel better tomorrow. Dr. Lore can have someone bring you back to see both William and Amanda," Billy tried to reason with him. "Amanda needs to rest, just as much as you do."

Lee stared at Amanda's relaxed face and knew Billy was right. As much as he didn't want to admit it, his arm was throbbing painfully even after the meds the nurse had given him. "Amanda, I'm going to let you sleep, but I promise I'll be back in a few hours. Wild horses couldn't keep me from coming back. And I'll stay with William as long as they let me. He won't be alone, I promise." He leaned close, pressed his lips to her temple, and whispered, "I love you."

Lee stood, gazed at Billy, then turned his attention to Dr. Lore. "I just have one more room I need to stop in before I go back to my own."

"Mr. Stetson, I am going to advise the orderly to take you back to recovery so we can have you properly transported to your room." Dr. Lore moved to the door and waited for Lee to sit back in the wheelchair.

"No. I need to see Emily first. And that is not a request, it's an order," Lee commanded with steeled eyes.