Chapter 17
Amanda slipped into a relaxed sleep for the next few hours. Lee left Dotty with her and made his way to William's room where he spent the rest of the morning holding his hand and talking to him. As promised, Dr. Lore sent up a cot to be made up for Lee. He brought his discharge papers to him to sign along with a pair of scrub pants and a shirt. "I figured you might be more comfortable in these for now," Dr. Lore offered.
Lee thanked him with a weak smile and a nod. "I wasn't even paying attention to this johnny, to be honest."
"I know… a few of the nurses commented on your dimples and I'm pretty sure they weren't talking about the ones on your face." Dr. Lore laughed heartily.
Lee bit his lip and stared into his lap, uncharacteristically embarrassed.
"If it helps, I didn't hear any of them complaining," Dr. Lore added.
The clock ticked loudly in the room until Lee finally lifted his chin, tipped his head, and stated, "Just don't tell Amanda, okay?"
Dr. Lore nodded. "I won't. Don't worry."
Lee turned his attention back to his son. "This is killing me, Doc. Not knowing how long he's going to be like this."
"I understand, but it's going to take time. Every test we've run shows he's healing in all the right ways, especially for a child of his age. He's going to get through this and from what I've seen already, both he and your wife are going to be just fine." Dr. Lore studied Lee's face carefully.
"I appreciate all the encouragement and reassurance, Doc, but I have to be honest. Until my son opens his eyes and calls for one of us, I'm not going to feel relieved one bit." Lee turned his attention back to his son and gently squeezed his hand.
Dr. Lore looked down at the floor briefly before he offered, "Tell you what… Why don't you head in there and I'll sit with William until you return." He gestured toward the small bathroom. "I have a few minutes before I need to check in with Mrs. Farnsworth anyway."
Lee gathered up the hospital scrubs and snickered, "It might take me more than a few minutes. I'm at a little disadvantage here."
"You'll get used to it," Dr. Lore chuckled back.
Lee closed the door behind him and twenty minutes later, after some muffled cursing, he reappeared, dressed in the hospital clothes. "Yeah, you're right. You know, all the times I've been shot, bruised, beat-up, whatever… this is the first time I've broken my arm. I think I'll take getting shot any day. At least that heals fast."
Dr. Lore smiled and reminded Lee, "This will too. Just give it time… because once you've mastered how to do everything with that cast on, we'll remove it, give you a new one and you have another learning process all over again."
Lee tossed the balled-up johnny onto a chair in the corner of the room. "Great," he mumbled. He settled himself onto William's bed and sighed.
Dr. Lore reached out and rested his hand on Lee's shoulder. "I'll be back in about an hour. I'm sending up some lunch for you, too."
"Thanks." Lee lifted William's hand and pressed his lips against his son's small fingers.
Dr. Lore slipped into the hall and headed directly to Emily's room.
Several hours later, Billy found Lee slumped over the edge of William's bed, his head resting against William's hip, sound asleep. He shook Lee gently as he called his name, "Lee… wake up."
Lee raised his head, confused. "Billy? What's going on?"
"I just got word the bloodhounds are onto Krejci. He was spotted downtown." Billy nodded for emphasis.
"Downtown? Who's on him?" Lee sat up a little straighter.
"Crowley and Harris. They've already called in two more teams."
Lee bobbed his head several times. "Good. Think they'll get him?"
Billy shrugged his shoulders. "It's hard to say. He's pretty resourceful, but we haven't found any of his contacts in the area, so it doesn't look like he's going to have an easy time hiding. Like I said, hard to say."
"Yeah," Lee breathed.
"How is Amanda this morning?" Billy smiled.
"Good… she's awake, sort of. Dotty's with her now. I should probably head back there and see if Dotty wants to sit with William. It's so hard having them so far apart in the hospital," Lee admitted.
Billy pursed his lips tightly before offering, "I'll stay here until Dotty arrives if that'll help."
"Thanks. It does. The doc discharged me today, but he's setting me up in William's room. I guess that means you can release my shadow."
"I heard. I'll let Jeffers know. Now, go spend some time with your wife. That's an order," Billy responded firmly.
Lee flashed a crooked grin, mock saluted, and stated, "Aye aye, Captain."
Billy jerked his head to the side. "Get out of here."
Lee found his way back to Amanda's room where Dotty was just hanging up the phone. "Oh, Lee, you're back. I was just updating the boys. Jamie is so relieved. He's already asking when he can come up and talk to Amanda."
"Has she been awake at all since I left?" Lee glanced over Dotty's shoulder at his sleeping wife.
"Once or twice, but only for a minute or so. She called for you both times, but I told her you were with William and he was safe. I think that's all she needed to hear, to know her baby was safe with his father," Dotty explained as she folded her arms across her chest and hugged herself. She peered over her shoulder and sighed sadly. "I just wish I could do more."
"Dotty, just being here is more than enough. You don't know what it meant to me all morning knowing you were here with Amanda." Lee stepped closer and wrapped his good arm around her. He tucked Dotty's head under his chin and held her.
Dotty inhaled deeply against Lee's chest. "You better find a way to shower before Amanda gets her arms around you," she teased.
"That bad, huh?" Lee grunted.
"Well, let's just say there's competition between you and Philip's gym bag right now." Dotty stepped back but grinned. "I promise I won't tell if you don't." She held up her hand, her pinky finger extended.
Lee wrapped his little finger around hers and laughed. "Promise." They released hands, and he added, "You didn't happen to bring William's Buppy did you?"
Dotty leaned down and tugged a tattered-looking bear from her purse. "I figured he might want it when he wakes up, too. He hasn't slept without this guy since Jamie gave it to him when he was a year old. I just thought maybe… well… when he does wake up, he's going to be looking for Buppy."
Lee studied the small stuffed animal and nodded. "I'm thinking we might need to find him a new one soon."
Dotty shook her head. "It won't be the same. It won't smell the same, feel the same. No, if it's not Buppy, it might as well be another toy altogether."
"I still have a lot to learn, I guess," Lee admitted.
"Yes, but you've come a long way from when you first brought him home from the hospital. Those first few days, you could barely hold him without being nervous," Dotty reminded him.
From the bed behind her, Amanda whispered softly, "Lee?"
"I'm here." Lee rushed forward and lowered himself onto the edge of the bed beside her. He took her hand in his and waited for her to speak again.
"Emily… is she in danger?" Amanda whispered.
"Not anymore. We're all safe," Lee insisted.
Amanda's eyes fluttered open and finally settled on Lee's worried hazel ones. "Screaming… all I remember is screaming."
"I know… Emily broke her leg in the accident, but the doc said she's going to be fine," Lee explained as the muscle in his cheek began to twitch.
"Lee, I'm heading up to be with William," Dotty whispered before she left the room.
Amanda reached up slowly and cradled Lee's jaw in her hand. "How's our baby?"
Lee covered her hand with his before pressing his lips into her palm. "I wish I had a better answer. He's still in a coma. All the doctors say it won't be long now, but… I just… I need him to open his eyes, Amanda. I need to see him looking back at me. I need to see he's okay."
Amanda stroked Lee's cheek with her thumb. "He will be. He's strong… he has you for a father."
"And you for his mother," Lee replied with an exaggerated exhale.
"Come here," Amanda breathed. Carefully, Lee lowered himself to Amanda and pressed his lips to hers. A tear slipped down his cheek, which she promptly swept away when he lifted his head.