It was almost morning when the phone rang again.

Thinking it was Albert, Diana rolled on her side, she grabbed the phone and muttered, "What do you want now?"

There was a pause, and then a voice came over the line, "Mrs. Gibson?"

Inside she froze.

It was the call she had gotten once before, the call she dreaded. Her throat dried and she was unable to even speak.

Again, the voice asked, "Mrs. Gibson?"

Hoarsely, terrified, she whispered, "Yes?"

The voice was firm, authoritive, almost cold. Diana crawled from bed as the man told her his rank, where he was and all that. Diana didn't want the kids to hear her or feel her if she began to cry. She fled out in the hall and put the phone back to her ear, "it was a successful surgery. The surgeon managed to stop the bleeding and he is being shipped to Germany for further treatment and evaluation. Since the Specialist has you as power of attorney and emergency contact, the Army will fly you to see him if you wish."

Immediately Diana spoke up, "Yes. How did it happen? Where was he shot?"

The voice paused, "Ma'am I can't tell you that."

Her temper flared, "I am not asking that! Where did the bullet enter the body? What type of round was it?"

"It was a hollow tipped 9mm. It entered the body from what I heard…through his shoulder, went through his collarbone, down through his left lung, and got lodged in his vest."

Diana's legs went out from underneath her, she collapsed on the floor. Knowing the damage a hollow tipped bullet left behind. The thought of how he had been shot, she began to cry.

The man on the other end of the line remained calm, "Ma'am. When do you want to go?"

Through her tears Diana asked, "Where is he?"

"He's on his way to Germany."

Diana ran a hand through her hair, alone in the dark hall. Unable to stop the tears.

"Ma'am," the voice asked.

"I'll take the first flight out," she told the man.

He then told her, "I'll reserve a seat for a morning flight between ten and twelve today?"

"Fine," Diana told him, then heard him hang up.

Alone in the hallway, she cried. Unable to stop herself. She sobbed as quietly as possible.

Then dialed eleven numbers on the phone.

After four rings a heavily accented southern voice came over the line. Bright and perky as always, Hoot's mother, "Hello baby."

At the sound of the familiar voice Diana broke down even more, knowing Momma Gibson had caller ID.

"Diana baby, what's wrong sweetheart?"

Through tears and hiccups Diana managed to tell her, "Sanderson got shot."

Momma Gibson's voice screeched, "Oh My Lordy Jesus! Is he ok? Lord Have Mercy! Oh good Lordy chile!"

Diana pulled her knees up under her chin, "I think so. Momma G, I don't know what to do. I can't take it anymore."

"Oh baby. You gotta be strong for those beautiful children. I tell you what. I am gonna fly on over, and stay with you. A'ight?"

With a sob, Diana nodded, "Ok. They're gonna fly me out to see him. I don't know how long he'll be in the hospital."

"Where they flyin him to baby?"

Diana told her the hospital base in Germany, through tears. She wiped her face repeatedly. It didn't help.

Momma Gibson was quiet for a moment, then she told Diana, "That's where you met my baby, Hoot."

Diana thought about it, then realized it was true. Which just made her sob even more and harder then before. Momma Gibson immediately regretted bringing that up, it took her a few minutes to calm Diana down. When she did she told Diana, "Now baby. Baby girl, listen to me! Are you listening?"

Miserably, Diana moaned, "Yes."

"Ok baby, my son married a strong woman. I know you have had it really really rough for the past few years, a'ight, but God wouldn't give you anythang you wouldn't be able to handle, ok baby?"

"Yes," Diana answered.

"Now. When you get off tha phone with me, call Jamie, A'ight? Have her take care'a them five angels. I'm gonna fly over. You have Jamie pick me up at the airport. A'ight? You don't worry bout me. I'll call Jamie later today, you pack yo stuff and go to Germany. Kiss them angels, tell'em what's wrong. Then go worry bout Sanderson. A'ight? When you two come home the house will be full'a food. The kids will be fine with Momma G. A'ight?"

"Yes," Diana agreed.