Doctor John Cena spoke. "Jan and Jordan are going to be alright. Jan has a broken right arm, and Jordan broke his left arm. They are cut and bruised but those will heal. They have a few stitches, but the scars will be small. James, has a severe concussion, along with cuts and contusions. I am monitoring him. Right now, he is in a coma, but as you know, that is common with severe concussion. He should make a full recovery but, you know I can't promise he will wake up..." John paused to change the charts in his hand.
"Now, Jade. Dean, I need your skills. Stephanie has signed the waiver, you need to sign too. Question is, can you do it? She has a tear in her liver, and she needs an appendectomy, it was ruptured. The good thing is, she has no broken bones. But we need to operate ASAP. Dean, you know it's not normal to allow a family member to operate on a family member. The thing is, by legal definition, you aren't a family member yet. Will you do it? I need to know now." John held out the chart with the waiver to Dean, a desperate look in his eye. He didn't have the skillful hands that Dean did in the operating room.
"Dean, please. Please save my baby girl. I trust you, completely. Please, Dean." Randy was close to begging without getting on his knees.
"Give me a pen." Dean held out his hand. Shawn's gold pen landed in his hand. Dean quickly signed the paper, and spoke again. "Do not tell me about Adam. I need full concentration on Jade. I will be back. It could be a while. It depends on the tear to the liver." Dean hurried off with Dr. Cena, after he gave Shawn back his pen.
Randy called out to Dean. "Save my little girl, please." He collapsed onto the sofa.
"What about Adam?" Shawn asked the two doctors that remained.
Dr. Dave Batista spoke. "He very nearly broke his neck. I read his medical records, he has previous neck trauma. I am going to have to do a spinal fusion, maybe three. I won't know till I operate. He has one bad cut on his upper arm. We've stitched it. There is something else, Doctor Lesnar?" He looked at his colleague with a nod.
Brock spoke. "His heart stopped. But, he was quickly revived. He probably bruised his heart on the steering wheel when the car flipped. Adam needs a lot and I mean a lot of rest. Which won't be a problem, because of the fusion surgery. Right now, we have him in a medically induced coma, to prevent him doing more damage to his neck. Luckily, he wasn't paralyzed. For as terrible as the accident was, it could have been worse. The semi driver died, when he was the most protected in that big rig. They should all recover, but, it won't be overnight. Now, I need to let Doctor Batista operate. I will be there to make sure Adam's heart is alright." He was grim faced, but the tone of his voice held great hope for the accident victims.
"It is a long surgery. I have to take bone grafts from his hips. That is actually harder and longer to recover from than the fusions. My advice, go home and come back in the morning. But, if you want to stay, we will make you as comfortable as possible." Dr. Batista was open and honest. It would be a long night in the operating room.
Randy spoke. "Can I please see him? And Jan and Jordan?" He was beyond worried.
"You can see Jan and Jordan, but only for five minutes. They need to rest. James is in the children's ICU, you can't seem him now." Brock Lesnar explained to the worried father.
Dave Batista looked at Randy. "Two minutes to see Adam. He needs to be in surgery, now. Come with me." He motioned for Randy to follow.
Randy turned to the other men in the room. "I will be back and let you know. Shawn, please look after Mike."
"Of course, Randy. Tell Adam and the children we are here and we love them." Shawn too forgot about Randy the criminal, that man was not in the room.
"I will. Mike, love, I will be right back. Ted and Cody are in the hall. I don't want the media anywhere near. Where did Chief Hart go?" Randy realized the man had never returned.
Ted stuck his head in the room. "He got called to the accident scene by Detective Helmsley." He explained what he'd over heard.
"Okay, Ted. Thanks. Keep the media out." Randy gave Ted a pointed look. It wasn't the media he was interested in; it was the McMahon's.
"Got it." Ted gave Randy a look that told the boss he fully understood.
Randy quickly followed the doctors out of the room. His mind was back on his children and ex-husband.
Roman poured more coffee and served it to Shawn, Mike, Seth and himself. Roman sat on a smaller couch next to his husband.
"Baby, after Randy comes back and tells us what's what, we will go home. I know, honey but, Adm would want you to take care of yourself and our baby Reigns. We will come back in the morning. I promise." Roman had an arm around Seth's shoulders.
Seth sighed. "Yes, you're right. I will go. What a way to celebrate our anniversary tomorrow." He laid his head on Roman's shoulder.
"I can cheer you up a bit. I will tell you what I bought for you if you want." Roman spoke softly. Shawn and Mike spoke softly to each other as they sat on the larger couch.
Seth looked at Roman. "What? That baby nursery furniture I asked for?"
Roman smiled. "No, I didn't get it. It might not go with the nursery in our new house. The sold sign was on the house next door to Adam, because I bought it. The house is all ours. The final papers went through a week ago." He looked at Seth with expectation.
For a moment, Seth forgot where they were and why. "Roman? You…we...the house next to Adam? Oh Roman! How...I don't care how! Thank you! Oh, thank you! I love you!" He gave Roman a kiss that would make a porn star blush.
When the kiss broke, Roman was flushed. "Thank Shawn. He gave me a big bonus for all the work I did when Megan was in the hospital. It made the escrow and down payment possible. I love you, baby. Happy anniversary." He kissed Seth, but it was bit more polite.
Seth turned to Shawn. "Shawn, thank you...just...thank you. You made my dreams come true. I can't wait till Ad..." He stopped with a gasp. He just remembered why they were where they were. He curled up against his husband.
Shawn smiled at Seth. "Adam will be very happy, Seth. With you next door, you can help with his rehab. Our gift to you both is, when you're ready, we're paying for a complete moving service. You only have to tell them what room to put things in. They will do everything. You can't protest either, I've already paid a hefty deposit. Happy Anniversary." He gave Roman the card from the moving company. It had all the information Roman would need when they were ready to move.
Roman took the card. "Shawn, I...just thank you. I was worried about Seth doing too much work packing. You and Hunter...are so...wonderful. Thank you again. The words are so simple, but they come from my heart."
"Yes, Shawn. I can't thank you enough. You and Hunter are simply the best. You can call on us anytime, if you need help with anything." Seth leaned over and hugged the older lawyer like a father.
"Hunter and I are pleased to do it. Also, Roman, as of next Monday, you will be a full partner in the firm. It comes with a thirty percent raise, and fifteen voting shares on the associates board. Oh, and you will either get a car, or expense money for your vehicle. You are the youngest associate, but, I have every faith in you. Oh, and one last perk. You get the office across the hall from me." Shawn felt the couple needed the good news.
Roman's mouth fell open. He had hoped to one day be a full partner, but he figured he'd be at least forty before it happened. Certainly not at age thirty one.
"Shawn, that is...incredible. I hoped it would happen, but in ten years. I am, thank you is...not enough. I...I..." Roman lost his power of speech.
"You've earned it, Roman. You have one of the sharpest legal minds I've ever had working for me. I would say, by the time I am ready to retire, you will be ready to take over. Enjoy it Roman. You should also know, the associates board backed you one hundred percent. They look forward to you joining them." Shawn spoke with a smile to the new law partner.
Seth again hugged Shawn. "Thank you. We're taking you to dinner soon. Mike, please forgive all this. It helps to...Adam, he is missing so much..." He was sad again. He took comfort in Roman's love filled embrace.
"Don't worry about it, Seth. Good news is never bad. Adam will be pleased for you. Congratulations." Mike spoke with an honest smile.
As the conversation happened in the private waiting room, Randy was taken to Adam's cubical in the emergency room.
Randy gasped. Adam was tightly strapped to the bed, to keep his neck in alignment. He also had a stiff plastic brace protecting his fragile neck.
"Two minutes, Mister Orton. Please." Dr. Dave Batista gave Randy a firm voiced nod.
Randy returned the nod. The physician left Randy alone. Randy went to Adam's bedside. He very gently kissed Adam's lips and held the blond's left hand. The engagement ring was gone.
"Oh baby, stay strong. Our babies need you. I need you. Dean needs you. Seth, Roman and Shawn are here and send their love. I still love you, baby and I always will. But, I want you to be happy with Dean. He loves you and the babies so much. I have to go now. Stay strong. You are the strongest, bravest man I know. You are also the best daddy. Love you, baby." Randy bent down and kissed Adam again. With last, tear filled look, Randy left.
Dr. Batista looked at Randy. "Thank you, Mister Orton. I will start the surgery in twenty minutes. Go to the children's ward. Doctor Lesnar told Doctor Cena to expect you. Don't worry, I've done this kind surgery more times that I can count. Now, I have to prepare. Good evening."
"I will be staying. Please, let me know after the surgery." Randy spoke to the Doctor.
Batista nodded. "I will." He hurried off to prep for Adam's operation.
Before Randy could take a step, a team of nurses hurried into Adam's cubical. He knew they would take care of his ex. They loved him as a former co-worker. He hurried to the elevator to go up to where Jan and Jordan were. He dried his eyes and put in some eye drops that he always carried. He didn't want the kids to know he'd be upset and crying.
When he got to the children's ward, he saw Justin Gabriel and Drake Younger. Randy knew they were two of McMahon's top men. Randy put that aside, his children were more important...for the moment.
Justin spoke. "Follow me, Mister Orton. Doctor Cena said you could have ten minutes with Janice and Jordan." He motioned for Randy to follow him. Justin gave Drake a look that said to stay put. Drake gave a curt nod.
As they walked down the hall to room 151, Justin spoke again. "They are very upset about Jade, James and Adam. Anything you can say to calm them would help." He spoke professionally to Randy.
When they got to room 151, Megan's old room, Justin stopped at the door. As he pushed open the door, Justin slipped a piece of paper into Randy's suit pocket. It was so fast, nothing could have been seen, however, Randy felt it. He didn't care, his children sat on the bed and they both sobbed. Randy flew to them.
"Dad, daddy? Is daddy dead?" Jan asked she climbed into Randy's lap. Jordan clung to Randy's arm with sniff.
Randy held Jan and put an arm around Jordan. "No my darlings, daddy is not dead and neither are Jade and James. Daddy and Jade need operations but, they will be alright. James banged his head really badly. He will be alright too. I know you are scared, I am too, but that is okay. You are safe now. I love you. Hey, Jor, that pink cast is cool. Your purple one is pretty too, Jan. How about letting your old man be the first to sign them?"
Jan sniffed. "Yeah. Daddy be okay? Jade and James be okay too?" She spoke more childish because of her deep fear.
Randy pulled a sharpie pen out his pocket. He always carried one for writing on files in the office. He began to draw a smiley face on Jan's purple cast.
"Yes honey, they will be okay, but it will take awhile for them to be all better. You'll have to help Miss Ida take care of them, Uncle Dean will help too. He loves you guys as much as daddy and I do." Randy spoke softly as he drew more little pictures on Jan's cast.
Jordan laid his arm with cast on Randy's thigh so his dad could draw on it. "It happened so fast, dad. The car rolled and rolled. The air things hurted when they 'sploded out." He too had a more childish tone.
Randy drew a little dog on Jordan's cast. "The air bags are what saved all of you. So they are good things. I am sure it was very scary, but, you are okay. Uncles Roman and Seth are here. So are grandpa Shawn and Mizzie. Uncle Dean is helping Jade. They all send their love to you." Randy finished drawing and wrote I love you, dad. On both purple and pink casts. When he put the pen in his pocket, he felt the slip of paper. He forgot it for a moment when Jan sniffed.
"My arm hurts, daddy." Jan laid her head against Randy's chest.
Randy held Jan closer and kissed the top of her head. "I know, baby. The nurse will give you some medicine later. I bet they will even let you two push your beds together. It will stop hurting. I broke my arm when I was nine. I fell off my skateboard and hit a step. But see, my arm is fine now." He squeezed Jan with the arm he'd broken as a kid.
Jan sniffed. "'kay, dad. Stay with us, please." She clung harder to Randy.
"I wish I could, honey. They won't let me. I am just downstairs in a special waiting room. They can come get me if you really, really need me. You have your brother to protect you. You're brave little lions. I bet Uncle Dean will come see you..." Randy turned from Jan to Jordan.
"You take care of your sister. Daddy would want you to be a brave little man. Can you do that for dad and daddy?" Randy pulled Jordan closer. He knew his time was about up.
Jordan looked at his dad. "Yes, dad. I will take good care of Jan. Will you come back tomorrow?" He gave Randy a determined look.
"Of course I will. I'll bring you some things to do, for both of you." Randy kissed his children and quietly held them close.
Justin opened the door. "Sorry, Mister Orton, but your time is up."
"Please push their beds together. Jan's arm is hurting too." Randy spoke to Justin, then turned to his children.
"I have to go. I love you both very much. I will be downstairs. Be my brave lions." Randy kissed them again. He gently set Jan on the bed. He hurried out of the room. It felt like ripping a band aid off a wound.
Without a word, Randy got on the elevator. He would have read the note but, two nurses were also on the elevator.
Randy got off the elevator. Ted and Cody stood outside the private waiting room.
"How are they, boss?" Cody asked softly.
Randy frowned. "Adam was strapped down like an insane mental patient. Jan and Jordan were terrified, but I managed to calm them a bit." He gave a shrug and went into the room. He repeated his words to Shawn, Roman, Seth and Mike.
"...so, why don't you guys go home and rest. I promise to call if something happens. Adam wouldn't want you sitting here fretting. Especially you, Seth." Randy spoke in earnest to the three men.
Shawn stood. "I need to get to Megan, Nancy and Ida. Seth, Randy is right. Adam would want you home, resting." He looked at Seth.
"Okay and I promised I would after Randy reported back. Randy, do please call if anything happens." Seth stood with Roman.
"I will, I promise. Tell Ida I will keep her posted. Thanks for being here for my family." Randy shook hands with the three men.
The three left. Randy poured a cup of coffee and sat next to Mike. He called for Ted and Cody to come in. When they settled on the other couch with coffee, Randy spoke.
"Let's see what that McMahon bastard had to say." Randy pulled the piece of folded paper out of his pocket.
"Where did that come from?" Cody asked.
"One of McMahon's men is a nurse on the children's ward. He slipped it into my pocket like a thief. I haven't read it yet." Randy explained as he opened the note.
"Please don't give me away. It was Finn Bálor. He poked a hole in the brake line. I'm the fox in the hen house. I didn't know bout the plan to be able to warn you. I am taking a risk in trusting you." Randy read the note out loud. He got up and went to the coffee machine. Randy filled a cup with a bit of hot coffee. He tore the note up in small bits. He put them in the cup and stirred till the paper was like confetti. He poured the now totally destroyed note into the trash can.
Randy turned to his three lieutenants. "Bálor is dead. Also, Justin Gabriel is not to be touched, harmed or harassed in any way. I don't know why he is working against McMahon and I don't care. He would have warned me if he knew about it. Ted, what I want to know is, why didn't Brett catch it? Damn it to fucking hell, Ted. I counted on him to keep Adam and the kids safe." Randy was in full crime boss mode, worried parent was gone.
Ted bowed his head. "I will talk to him. It's not like Brett at all to miss something, or his men. Bálor must be one hell of a sneak. I do know if a mistake was made, Brett will handle the guy. Can it wait till morning?" He looked at Randy with sad eyes, he felt responsible.
Randy nodded. "Yeah, but first thing, talk to Brett. Ted, you are not responsible..." He was silenced when Detective Hunter Helmsley came into the waiting room. He looked like death warmed over and served twice.
"How are they?" Hunter asked he went straight to the coffee pot. He poured a cup and sank down into a chair. He gulped a sip of coffee.
Randy quickly became the worried parent again. He filled Hunter in on everything. He told about seeing Adam, Jan, Jordan and James. Randy also explained about Jade and how she and Adam were both in surgery as they spoke.
"...they gave Dean a special waiver to operate on Jade. He could do it, because in legal standing, he isn't a family member. I sent Shawn, Seth and Roman home. Shawn could be at Adam's. He sent Nancy and Megan to be with Miss Ida. Now, Hunter, what the hell happened? Adam is an excellent driver, even more so with the children. Used to drive me nuts sometimes. If the speed limit is fifty-five, he won't go above fifty if the kids are in the car." Randy spoke in earnest to the detective.
Hunter arched his brow at Randy. He had to swallow what he knew and try to look at Randy as just a worried parent.
"It wasn't Adam's fault. His brakes failed. We are still investigating the cause. The...for as bad as it looked...they are lucky to be alive. The Kia is..." Hunter couldn't finish. The memory of the destroyed Kia made him sick to his stomach.
Randy frowned. Hunter had gone as pale as ghost. "Hunt? You alright? Need a doctor? Water?" He was actually, truly worried for Hunter. Cop aside, Hunter had been a real friend over the years.
"No, I will be alright…it's just...like a can opener. The only thing that saved them were the fantastic air bags. The semi only had damage on the nose, yet the driver died. Who can explain it. It should have been the other way around." Hunter let out a sigh. One he'd been holding since he first saw the broken Kia.
"Maybe it was the truck drivers time to go. When you're called to Heaven, nothing will stop it." Cody muttered softly, with a shrug.
Ted reached over and held Cody's hand. "Yeah. Something your grandfather said, huh?"
Cody nodded. "From his pulpit. He said that's why we have to always be prepared. We don't know when God will call us home. I never really believed that till now. God wasn't ready for Adam and the babies, but he was ready for the semi driver." Again, Cody shrugged.
Hunter nodded. "I'm glad he wasn't ready for Adam and the kids. If the brakes were tampered with, and I find out who did it, he or she will be six feet under. But why? Why would anyone tamper with Adam's brakes? He's...just a nurse, know what I mean? He would have enemies like...or..." Hunter let his words fade. He had a sudden thought, maybe this wasn't related to Orton or McMahon, another name came to mind.
Randy's keen criminal mind read Hunter like a book. He knew exactly who Hunter had thought of. If he played along, it would draw Hunter away from the real culprit, so he and his men could deal with Finn Bálor. He looked at Hunter and spoke, with a growl.
"Chris Jericho. He wanted to get back at Adam because of the fight between Jordan and Ash. I will kill the fucking bastard." Randy tossed his empty coffee cup into the trash with violence.
Mike rubbed Randy's back. "Ran, not a smart thing to say in front of Detective Helmsley. I'll hold Jericho while you kill him. He hurt the babies and sweet Adam." He too growled his words. He'd picked up on what Randy was doing.
Hunter nodded. "That is exactly who I thought of. Leave it to us, Randy. We will bring Jericho in and interrogate him. Randy, have you had any contact with Jericho since your meeting with him at Saint Luke's Academy? I know how you can get with your IED issues. I am not accusing, Randy, just asking, more as a friend than a detective." His tone had changed from inquiring cop to worried family friend.
Randy looked at Hunter. He could see the change on Hunter's face and his tone. "No Hunt, I haven't. I wouldn't make trouble like that, for Jordan and Adam. Jericho has always been more mouth than action. But, he could have hired someone to do it." He gave Hunter a shrug. He wanted to keep planting small seeds of deception.
Hunter nodded. "It's possible. Trust me, Randy. We will fully investigate this. By the way, tomorrow you will have to do the nasty work. The Kia is in Adam's name, but you have it on your insurance. You have to do the paper work with an agent. They won't pay out, so be prepared. Once we prove the brakes failed, either because of mechanical fault or tampering, then they will pay out. You know how all the red tape works. it's a fucking pain in the ass..." Hunter was cut off when a very exhausted looking Dean Ambrose entered the room.
"How is Jade? Any word on James or Adam?" Randy stood as he looked at Dean.
Dean poured himself a cup of coffee and took a sip. He sat in the chair Hunter had abandoned so the physician could sit.
"We nearly lost her, but that little lioness refused to give up. I repaired the tear in her liver and removed her appendix. She didn't improve like she should have. Jade's blood pressure began to drastically drop. She was about to go into cardiac arrest, then I saw the problem. An artery had just been nicked enough to cause a bleeder. I repaired it. We gave her blood, and she immediately stabilized to nearly normal. Randy, she is going to be fine, in time. Our little lioness will be fine." Dean's eyes filled with emotion as he finished. It hit him, as he spoke, just how close they had been to losing little Jade.
"Dean, I don't know how to begin to say thank you. You saved our precious gem. Thank God, they let you do the surgery. Is there anything you need? I mean anything. New medical equipment for your office? You can have it, wrapped with a real gold ribbon. Dean, I've said this many times today, but I never meant it more than I do now. Thank you...just...thank you." Randy spoke with the deepest respect he could.
Dean finished off his coffee. He wanted more, but just couldn't get up. "You can do something for me. Fill this again, please. Thank you is enough, I appreciate hearing it..." He paused as Randy gave him a fresh cup of coffee.
"Thanks. Adam is still in surgery. It takes a long time to do a fusion, let alone two or three. Dave thinks two will do for now. Adam may need a third one in a few years. But of course, Dave will know more as he operates. James is holding his own. He is still in a coma, but he reacted to pain stimulation in his legs. He's not paralyzed, which was a concern. John and I agree it's best to let him come out of the coma naturally, but, if he shows signs, we will try to stimulate him to waken. I am going to finish this, then crash on the couch, if you don't mind." Dean took a deep drink of his coffee.
"Of course we don't mind. Here, take the larger couch. I will find you a pillow and blanket." Mike stood, then went out to find a nurse for help.
Hunter stood. "I am going home. I will be back in the morning. Leave it to me, Randy. We will take care of it. Dean, thank you. Adam will be so grateful too. Goodnight, everyone." He quickly left with a nod. He wanted and needed his Shawn.
Mike returned with a cart. There were enough pillows and blankets for all of them. He and and Randy would sleep on the smaller couch. Ted made a bed on the floor for Cody. The two of them would take turns keeping guard and sleeping.
Dean fell onto the larger couch and passed out in exhaustion. When everyone was settled, Ted turned out the lights.
They were all finally able to let out the baited breaths they'd held in. Maybe, just maybe everything and every one would be alright...maybe.