34
Danny grabbed the porcelain sink in the tiny bathroom with both hands, drawing in deep ragged breaths as he struggled for control. He couldn't look up, couldn't bear to face the man in the mirror because it made everything real and he needed just a moment longer to pretend that he'd somehow imagined the past few hours--that the man he loved like a father was not lying near death on an operating table and that the only witness who might help bring the Masquerade Group to justice wasn't dead in the morgue. Closing his eyes and trying to fight back the bile in his throat Danny tried to focus. Searching for a thought that might calm him his mind was immediately filled with the image of his wife. Mary would be here soon and that realization gave him the smallest bit of strength he needed to pull himself together.
He glanced at his clothes lying in a heap on the floor, thankful that the ER nurse had taken pity on him and given him a pair of scrubs to change into. There was no way he could let Delinda or Jillian see the evidence of how bad it had really been. They would know soon enough–when the doctors explained Ed's injuries--but there was no need for them to be faced with the horror that soaked Danny's t-shirt and jeans. The white sink stained pink and Danny's hands shook almost uncontrollably as he desperately scrubbed the blood stains from his skin. He finally gave up when he realized that the pink and red marks still left on his skin were not from blood, but from the scouring Danny had inflicted upon himself. Stepping into the scrubs, he bagged his clothes as the FBI had requested, took one last breath and headed for the waiting room.
---
Mary, Delinda and Mike raced through the hospital corridor that led to the surgical wing of Denver Memorial Hospital. Mary felt like the last few hours had been a complete blur. After the call, she'd gone on automatic pilot–throwing things into a bag for herself and Danny, reaching Jillian in New York and then making sure that Delinda was taken care of. Even though she'd spoken to Danny herself since his first call to Mike, Mary was still having a hard time believing that the man they all thought of as invincible had been so gravely injured.
"I'm looking for my father. Where is he?" Delinda demanded breathlessly from the woman at the nurse's station, her tone bordering on hysterical.
Mary stepped forward and put her arm around her friend, speaking in a calm and even tone to the nurse, "We're looking for Ed Deline. He was brought in with a gunshot wound a few hours ago."
The woman nodded understandingly and entered the name into her computer. "Mr. Deline is still in surgery, but you can wait just down the hall to the left."
They all three headed in that direction while Mary's cell phone rang once again in her purse. She didn't even have to check the caller ID to know who it was.
"Sam."
"What's going on, Mary? You were supposed to call me."
"Sam, we just got here. Ed's still in surgery and I haven't even found Danny yet. I promise as soon as I know anything more I'll call you, okay?"
"He's been in surgery for hours, Mary. What's taking so long?"
"I don't know, sweetie. I promise I'll call you…or you could get on a flight and come here."
"No…I can't…I've got whales coming in and…," Sam's voice started to crack and Mary could tell she was about to cry, "I just can't, Mary…it's too hard."
"Okay," Mary told her quietly. "I'll call you soon."
While she'd never let anyone else see it, Ed was probably the most important person in Sam's life. The thought of losing him terrified her–so much so that she had to distance herself from everything that was happening-- and Mary was the only one who could understand that fear. She'd done the same thing when Danny's father died–staying in Hawaii with Jake instead of rushing home for the funeral. She had somehow hoped the distance would make the pain less real, but it was a decision she'd regretted everyday since.
They set off down the hall again and Mary's heart rate quickened as they drew closer and closer to the waiting room. Despite his reassurances that he was okay, Mary was desperate to see Danny. As soon as they rounded the corner she let out a sigh of relief. Danny was sitting on the opposite side of the room dressed in a pair of blue scrubs. He was hunched over–his shoulders slumped and his face hidden in his hands. Mary wanted to run to her husband, to hold him in her arms and never let go, but Delinda got there first.
"Danny," she sobbed and he was instantly on his feet, encircling her in a comforting embrace. Mike put his arm around Mary's shoulders as they watched Delinda break down. It was a side of her they'd never seen, but one they could more than understand.
Danny finally met Mary's gaze and she gasped. He looked…haunted. She'd never seen him look so lost and her heart broke at the sight. She knew he was trying to be strong–for Delinda--but his eyes told Mary that he needed her desperately. Mary didn't hesitate as she stepped forward and ran her hand across Danny's cheek and around the back of his neck, gently pulling his face down to hers so she could press her lips to his. Tears finally fell from Danny's eyes as they shared a soft kiss–a sobbing Delinda still in his arms.
Once Delinda's crying subsided, Danny and Mary helped her to sit, each of them on either side of her while Mike pulled another chair close and sat opposite the trio.
"What happened?"
"We had Fred Hinojosa and were waiting for the FBI to take him into custody. A car came out of nowhere and just started shooting. Fred was hit in the head. There wasn't much they could do. But Ed…Ed was hit in the chest."
Danny took several deep breaths before continuing and Mary ran her hand across his arm where it lay on the back of Delinda's chair.
"He wasn't conscious. They said the bullet had collapsed a lung and nicked his aorta so they took him straight into surgery. They said it could be awhile, but they've been giving me updates about every hour. They…," Danny took a deep breath, trying to find the words to tell Delinda how serious Ed's condition was. He had hoped the doctor's would be here to do it, but she needed to know. "They had to put him on a bypass machine while they repaired his heart. So far, he's hanging in there, but he's lost a lot of blood and they just don't know."
Delinda closed her eyes and shook her head, not wanting to believe what Danny was telling her. She stood up abruptly and headed for the door, "I have to call my mother."
"Delinda, sweetie, your mom's on a plane. You're not going to be able to reach her," Mary called after her.
"WELL I HAVE TO TRY!" she snapped, but then suddenly lowered her voice to almost a whisper, "I have to try, Mary. What if….what if something happens and she's not here. What if they want me to…decide something, or…or…I just need to talk to her."
She was crying again and before Mary could reach her Mike decided it was his turn to console their friend. He walked to Delinda and held her to his chest while she released another round of tears.
"Come on, Dee. It's a chartered flight so maybe we can figure out a way to get a call through to the plane." Mike led her out of the room, knowing that Mary and Danny probably needed at least a few minutes alone.
They both stared at the empty doorway for a moment before Mary turned and walked back to her husband. She stood in front of him and he immediately rested his head on the slight swell of her stomach while her fingers ran soothingly through his hair. Danny wound his arms around her middle, holding her closer, and Mary felt him release a deep breath before he spoke, his voice husky from grief and exhaustion, "This is all my fault, Mary. I should never have let him go. And Hinojosa…I couldn't protect him either."
Danny's guilt was overwhelming, but Mary tried her best to assuage it. She continued to stroke his hair as she spoke softly, "Danny, please don't do this. This wasn't your fault. There was no way you could have known this was going to happen and Ed wouldn't have let you keep him from being there."
"I know, but," Danny pulled back to look into her face.
"No 'buts'," Mary said firmly, framing her husband's face in her hands, "Ed knew what he was getting into–probably even more than you did and we just have to trust that God will see him through this. He's strong, Danny, and he's not going to leave this world without one hell of a fight." Danny closed his eyes for a moment, standing up so that he could lean his forehead against hers. Her hair had fallen from her hastily drawn up ponytail and Danny gently pushed the tendrils away from her face.
"And, Danny?"
"Yeah?"
"If Ed was here right now he would kick your ass for thinking that you could tell him what to do or where to go."
Danny smiled at Mary's words. She was right–she was always right–and Danny tried to push his guilt aside. Mary had allowed him the time he needed to feel sorry for himself, but now it was time to focus on Ed and on getting everyone through this crisis.
"Jillian should be here in about an hour," Mike's voice interrupted their quiet moment.
"Where's Delinda?" Mary asked, noticing the blonde had not returned with him.
"She just went to the bathroom to splash some water on her face. I got coffee," Mike said as he handed Danny a cup from the cardboard tray, "And this for you, little momma." Mary smiled at Mike's latest term of endearment as he handed her a bottle of orange juice and a straw before taking a seat.
When Delinda finally reentered the room, Mary looked at her with concern, "You feelin' any better?"
"No. I just wish they'd let us know something," Delinda took her cup of coffee and curled up in the chair next to Mike while Danny and Mary sat down on the small loveseat.
"The last time they came in they said it should only be another hour or two," Danny informed them all as he put his arm around Mary and allowed her to curl up against his chest, her head resting over his heart.
"Where's Sam? I thought she'd be with you," Danny asked, just having realized that the casino host was not among them.
"She had better things to do," Delinda spat disgustedly.
Before Danny could question any further, Mary leaned up and whispered in his ear, "We'll talk about it later."
Danny's brow creased in confusion as he tried to figure out what could possibly keep Sam from being here, but when he turned his questioning gaze to Mike, his friend just shrugged and looked away. The awkward silence was suddenly broken by a man in surgical scrubs at the door.
"Deline family?"
They all stared silently for a split second wondering how the next few minutes might change their lives, but Danny was the first to nod his head. The doctor indicated they should all stay seated and he pulled up a chair to join their small circle.
"I'm Dr. Williams–Chief of Surgery here at the hospital. I performed Mr. Deline's surgery."
"I'm Delinda Deline," Delinda immediately interrupted, "Is my father going to be alright?"
"We were able to repair the damage done to his lung and aortic valve. The next twenty-four hours are going to be critical, but I'm very optimistic. He's definitely a fighter."
Danny smiled as the doctor echoed Mary's earlier sentiments.
"When can we see him?" Mike asked.
"He'll be in recovery for the next several hours and after that we'll move him to ICU where his visitors will be restricted to one at a time. I'll have the nurse come get you after we get him settled."
Once the doctor left, the entire group let out a collective sigh of relief. The next twenty-four hours might be critical, but Ed had already pulled himself through the toughest part and there was no doubt in anyone's mind that he'd make it through the rest.
Suddenly, they were startled by the ringing of Delinda's cell phone. As she reached for it Mary's chimed in her bag and Danny's started vibrating across the small table in the waiting room.
"Mom? Are you almost here?"
"Hey, Sam. Yeah, we've got some news…"
"Agent Davis? I was wondering how long it would take you to call."
Mike stared around the room at his three friends engaged in their various conversations. Suddenly feeling very left out, he pulled his own phone from his pocket and hit one on the speed dial.
"Hey, Mitch. Just checking in…"