"What in the world happened?" Bobby muttered as the trio of marshals pulled their rented van into the chaos of the hospital parking lot. Trees were down along the perimeter of the lot and vehicles from the local power company were swarming everywhere, people rushing about frantically shouting to each other as they worked. As they looked towards the hospital, they noticed the lights flickering slightly.
"Storm, I guess," Cosmo muttered as they climbed out of the van and headed for the ER entrance, 'Vannah carrying both of the bags that they had packed for Catherine, clinging to some small hope that it would be the first bag that she would need instead of the second.
"Sam must be so...." 'Vannah knew that the storm wouldn't normally disturb their unflappable leader but the storm on top of an injured, possibly dying Catherine. Too much like Noah, way too much like Noah. She closed her eyes for a moment as she thought of the young deputy. Hurt so bad to remember, hurt all of them to think of him and how they lost him.
"I'll go find out where they are," Cosmo said quietly as they entered the ER, flashing their badges to get through the crowd. If Sam had lost Catherine.... Noah's death and Sam's reaction had damaged their little family but Cosmo knew that Catherine's death would destroy it completely. 'Let her be okay. Just let her make it through this. Don't care how bad she's hurt if....' They had time off, with how hard Sam worked them, they all had tons of time off. They could take turns, take care of Catherine. 'Please let her....'
'Vannah and Bobby watched Cosmo's progress towards the desk, both wrapped up in their own thoughts, 'Vannah so distracted that she didn't notice for a moment when Bobby moved away from her and over to a table covered with food.
"Hey, is this stuff free?" Bobby asked the nervous looking man, the vice principal of the junior high, who was standing near the table. When he glanced up at Bobby in puzzlement for a moment and then nodded, Bobby eagerly reached out, snagging a plate and piling it high with slices of meat loaf. They didn't have anything on the chartered flight and he was about to starve.
"Bobby, get away from there," 'Vannah muttered as she pulled the larger deputy away from the food before he could help himself to everything on the table. How in the world could he eat so much anyway?
A moment later Cosmo came hurrying back, not looking as bleak as he had ever since they had heard the news about Catherine but still looking very worried.
"Cos...."
"She's in ICU." Cosmo told them, motioning for them to follow him towards the nearest elevator.
"How bad is it?" 'Vannah asked quietly as they headed upstairs, inwardly rejoicing that Catherine wasn't dead but at the same time worrying that her survival simply meant that their grief would be prolonged. Having to sit there, watching her die after getting their hopes up..... "Is Sam...."
"He's probably up there with her. It doesn't look good," Cosmo said with a slow shake of his head. "She made it through surgery but.... Might not make it through the night."
'Vannah felt tears beginning to prick at her eyes as they stepped off of the elevator and headed for the nurse's desk. If Sam had to.... They were there though. Maybe that would make a difference. They could support him, comfort him if worst came to worst.
"We're here about Catherine Walsh," Cosmo told the nurse starting to reach for his badge once more in case.
"We've been expecting you," the nurse said before Cosmo could say anymore, recalling what the young man had told her earlier about the rest of the family who would be arriving. She looked at 'Vannah for a moment, a puzzled expression on her face before shrugging. Who said families had to be matching? "Your sister's in the second room on the right. You can go on back if you like. Her husband and son are with her right now."
Sister? Cosmo didn't ask questions though, just glad that Sammy had been functioning well enough to think of a way to get them back to see Catherine. Husband had to be Sam but who in the world could the son the nurse had mentioned be?
"Cos?" The group suddenly stopped, hearing the sound of low voices coming from behind the closed door of Catherine's room. One of those voices, so achingly familiar.
"Sam needs us," Cosmo whispered as he reached for the door. He had heard the voice, had recognized it too but there was no way. Ears had to be playing tricks on them. "Sam?"
As the door swung open, the marshals' eyes were first drawn to the pale figure in the bed, more wires and tubes than they thought possible attached to her body, the only sign of life the mechanical movement of the ventilator forcing air into her lungs. Then their eyes moved over, to the man at the bedside, his hand resting on Catherine's his face almost as pale as hers. Further, just a little bit further. Right next to Sam was another man, younger....
"Noah?" 'Vannah whispered, her eyes widening in shock, the bag dropping from suddenly numb fingers. How....?