Chapter 24
Bobby was on his side, his back stitched and wrapped and taking narcotics for the pain. Mike Logan was in the room with him, trying to help him get past the drugged fog he was in to understand what was going on.
"Katie, where's Katie?" Bobby asked again.
"She's out of surgery, and she's in the recovery room. Alex is with her."
"Wallace, what happened to-"
"She's dead."
"She's been dead before… twice before."
"She's dead and gone this time, Bobby. I saw her myself."
"Andy, what about—"
"Carolyn just called. He's been released. She's taking him home."
"He saved Katie's life, he can't go to jail, Mike."
"He's not going to. Bobby, relax. Let the medicine do its work. Get some rest."
"I'm gonna be sick," Bobby said. Mike grabbed a basin from the bedside table and held it until Bobby finished retching. It was a side effect of the pain medicine. A nurse came in and took care of the mess. After another ten minutes, and answering all the same questions one more time, Bobby finally fell asleep.
Alex was by his side the next time he woke. He lay very still and looked into her eyes. "Katie," he asked.
"She's getting stronger, same as you," Alex said. "They're saying she'll be out of ICU by tomorrow."
"Andy saved her," Bobby said.
Alex nodded, and a tear fell from her eye. She petted Bobby's head. "I'm so glad he was there," she said. "I wish I could have kept her from hurting you."
"Shouldn't of turned my back."
By the third day, Katie was in the same hospital room as her father. Having her near had really helped him in his own recovery. He slept more soundly, and was much less irritable.
Katie awoke and glanced around the room. She saw her father and tried to sit up. "Daddy?" Katie asked, as her mother held her shoulders to keep her from rising. "He's all right, Katie. They're going to release him in the next day or so."
"Mom? Did she hurt him?"
"It was her last act. But your Daddy's fine, and Nicole didn't survive. We'll never have to fear her again."
"She told me she was going to make me ugly," Katie said. "She said he wouldn't love me, then. I think she was trying to cut my breast, but I didn't let her."
"Oh, honey," Alex said quietly, brushing the curls back off her cheek. "No one could ever take away your beauty."
After three weeks, Bobby was almost fully recovered. He still had some stiffness when he used his right arm, but after a few minutes, even that would subside.
Katie was up and around, too. She would be home for one more week, and then she would head back to school to try to finish off her semester. The college was granting her extra time to complete her coursework. The Logans were over for dinner again, and the women were putting the finishing touches on the meal while the men were outside tinkering with the mustang. Bobby grew tired and went to sit on the porch stoop. Mike joined him, and they found themselves talking about Andy.
"Self-defense, all charges were dropped," Mike said. "The DA's office is grateful to have Nicole Wallace out of the picture."
"I can't ever thank him enough," Bobby said. "None of us thought she would go for Katie. He's got some very quick reflexes."
"All those damn video games," Mike complained, but with a smile on his face. He bumped Goren with his elbow. "Katie would have done the same for him."
Bobby nodded, but he still felt he needed to find a way to show Andy just how grateful he was.
"Dinner!" Carolyn called as she walked outside. Mike put his arm around her and they all watched while Andy finished what he was doing and pushed the hood back into place. He jogged over to the porch and helped Bobby to his feet.
"It shouldn't knock so much now, Uncle Bobby," Andy said.
"Well. I guess you'll have to be the one to find out about that," Bobby said, and handed him the keys. "It's yours, Andy."
All of the Logans were stunned.
"You won't mind if I visit her every once in a while, will you?"
"Heck no, Uncle Bobby! I can't believe it!" They all walked happily into the house, where Andy announced the news to Alex and Katie.
Alex put an arm around Bobby's waist. She smiled up at him with approval, and he kissed her deeply. The house was filled with cheerful noise as the two families joined around the dinner table.
And the cake that Katie carried out from the kitchen for dessert said simply, "Congratulations Eagle Scout."
THE END