Chapter 9

Adam and Tad helped Palmer to his feet while he huffed and puffed, "you should get yourself checked out Palmer," David commented from where he stood doubled over and staring at the floor trying to catch his breathe.

"Yeah, you're one to talk," Palmer groused as he glared at Simone who immediately took the hint and got up. "You ok?" he asked as he sat down next to Kendall and took her hands in his.

"I. . . I. . . I should be asking you that, shouldn't I?" she asked. "You're the one who put himself between me and Ryan."

"I've been knocked down by better. So have you," he reminded.

"Right," she inhaled as she looked over to David: "why didn't you. . . why did. . .Damnit! Who gave you the right to play G-d with my life? With this baby's?" she demanded.

"Oh, thank you David for protecting us from the Anger Man," he said sarcastically.

"Don't. . ."

David exhaled as he sat on the arm of the couch: "you really think you could've given this baby up when it came? That Greenlee could've handle the reality of a baby? Being a single parent?"

"We were going to do it together," Kendall said indignantly.

David laughed: "you would've raised it yourself anyway. Or Erica and Jackson would've gotten involved. Or g-d forbid Mary. Then you wouldn't have had any say at all."

Kendall leaned forward in her seat and buried her head in her hands: "I just. . . I don't think I can handle much more. I just want to run away and hide and. . . I want this to all be a bad dream."

JR looked at his father and stepfather and then back at Kendall. "Well, we can't make it all a bad dream, but the other part. . ."

"I can't just leave. Not with Zach. . ."

"We have a plan."

"We?" Kendall asked looking from JR to Tad to Adam and then Aidan and back, "you have got to be kidding me! You guys are teaming up? What are they lacing up skates in hell?"

JR smirked at her: "amazing what a common enemy will get you."

"I can't deal with this. . . that. . ."

"It's connected," Aidan said softly.

"What?"

"We're going to do what we can to keep you safe," he promised softly.

"I can't just. . . leave, and it's not like Zach. . . the man's still in surgery."

"Actually. . ." Tad said as he broke his attention from the hallway.

"Oh, G-d," Kendall muttered as she started to push to her feet.

Without a word, Palmer and Aidan helped her to them and all of the men fell silent as Joe Martin came towards them. "Well, this certainly is a motley crew," he said stiffly as he eyed the men with suspicion.

"Someone had to be here for her," JR shrugged.

"Dr. Martin, what about Zach?" Kendall interrupted.

Joe shook his head slightly: "he's holding his own. They got the internal bleeding under control. There was some muscle damage, but the bullet missed all the major organs."

"Thank G-d," Kendall sighed, deflating against Aidan. "When. . . when can I see him?"

"They'll be bringing him up to ICU soon," he started, but softened the blow of the words by adding: "as a probationary measure because he lost so much blood. If all goes well he'll be moved to a private room late tomorrow. In the meantime, can I suggest that you check in with Dr. Madden?"

At the words, Kendall started to laugh, and couldn't stop. Soon the laughter turned to tears. Without questioning the instinct, JR crossed to her and took her into his arms: "guess that was the wrong thing to say," Joe sighed. "Would you like me to call Erica?"

"Dad. . ." Tad admonished.

"Yeah, stupid question. I'll leave you all to. . . whatever," he muttered before turning and heading down the hall wondering what his son had gotten himself into this time.