Facing the Past, Chapter Eight

Cameron screamed as the blood of both Callahan and Ralph exploded onto him. "Cal!" he yelled, sobbing. Police quickly came into the room and felt for a pulse on Cal. "He's still alive. Take him out of the woods to the ambulance. Peter ran in and quickly untied Cameron, who, unconciously, gripped Peter's arm while police bent down and felt for Ralph's pulse. "He's gone," the officer announced. "Please help my brother! Help Cal!" Cameron wailed.

The same officer who had checked for a pulse on the shot-down Ralph came over and took Cameron's hand, "We're going to call your parents now, Cameron. They've been looking for you." Peter slowly followed the officer and Cameron, stopping once to look behind as detectives took photographs of the crime scene.

Peter saw Sophie, looking hysterical as people emerged and entered the woods. She saw Peter and ran to him, her eyes demanding an explanation. "It was their uncle. Ralph Dawson. He kidnapped Cameron. I guess Cal somehow saw them during the night..And ran after them, or Cal, or whoever. They were in a cabin but hadn't been here long, and Ralph didn't know that Callahan was here. When Cal got there, Cam was tied up. Just as I got there with the police, we saw Ralph taunting them with a gun and then heard the gun go off. Ralph had shot Cal. Just as Cal had fallen, the police shot Ralph. Ralph was killed instantly, but Cal is alive..I don't know what his condition. Considering the amount of blood he lost, I'm speculating it's very critical. God..I have to go to the hospital. The boys' family will probably be here soon, so I'd rather you stayed here." Peter squeezed her shoulders and hugged her before beginning his drive to the hospital.

When he got there, he walked up to a nurse. "Yes?" she asked in an annoyed tone. She had thought it was going to be a quiet night in the ER, but a teeanger had been wheeled in with near fatal shot wounds. "Could you please tell me where Callahan Dawson is? He was just brought in here with gun wounds." Peter asked. "He's in the OR. A doctor will be out shortly to update you on his condition." Peter sighed and went to sit down.

About half an hour later, Callahan's parents burst through the door, looking around frantically. "Peter! Where, how is he?" Mrs. Dawson demanded. She was gripping the hand of Christopher, who was crying, and Mr. Dawson held Christian in his arms. "I don't know..I mean, the receptionist just said that he was in the OR, and a doctor will be out soon, but it's been 30 minutes since I got here...Uh, how's Cameron?" Peter asked about the missing boy. "H-he's fine, as far as I know. Damn Ralph to hell..I, I can't believe he's had him for all this time. We thought it was one of Cal's drugged up friends...All this time, though. I mean, I don't think Ralph would ya know..Touch him, but I don't doubt that he's been physically abusing him the whole time," Mr. Dawnson said, balling his free hand into a fist. "We never suspected him," Mrs. Dawson added, "or else maybe...Maybe ya know, Cal would be okay and we would've had Cameron back a long time ago. He's not even seen Christian yet, and Chris doesn't remember him."

"Where is he?" Peter asked. "The police took him, to get an official statement...And to hopefully find out if..um, anything happened. He said, 'mom, dad, go ahead and go to Cal. He's hurt, but I'm okay. I'll see the kids later.' He always thinks about everyone else, even now." Mrs. Dawnson said. Peter nodded. It was quiet for a minute but then Chris climbed into Peter's lap. "I'm surprised Chris isn't the one that was taken. He's so trusting it scares me. Once, just before Cameron was kidnapped, he walked right up to a stranger at a restraunt and sat next to them and started a conversation. Oh, not saying that he should fear you Peter it's just that I worry-" Mrs. Dawson said quickly. Peter laughed a little, "I get what you mean."

Chris curled up into a fetal position and was soon asleep, as he had been before the Dawson's had been roused from the deep sleep to be told that, "Cameron's found, but Callahan's been shot."

A doctor walked up and Peter almost jumped up but remembered the slumbering boy and carefully picked him up to where his head was lying on Peter's shoulder. "Mr. Dawnson, Mrs. Dawson, Peter," the doctor acknowledged. Everyone's heart stopped beating and they held their breath as they waited impatiently for the news of Cal's condition.

"The bad news is...

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