Dollhouse Part7
XXX
Gabe
When we had gotten the call from a young boy named Seth Ayers, I had sent a prayer thanking every fucking deity above for the miracle it was. After the line had been cut off so violently, the entire damn drive to Orangeberg had been comprised of a litany of fucking silent begging, ranting, and threats to anyone and anything I could think of that my Trouble was alright. That she would survive this whole fucking nightmare. That I would be able to hold her close and shower her with kisses and hugs and never let her go again. That I would be able to tell her that I fucking loved her with every particle of my being. That without her in my life, the world lost all meaning and what was the fucking point of trying anymore?
In all of the seconds of that desperate drive over, Trouble had dominated my thoughts and I had not even given a single damn thought to Seth Ayers and his little brother Jaimie. At least, I didn't until I entered that fucking blood bath of a room with two broken little boys. Two fucking brothers against a monster they had no hope of defeating, and my heart just fucking broke for them. I could relate to their situation so damn much it shook me to the core and I knew that I had to make sure that they made it out of this fucked up hellhole. So when Mr. B ordered me to stay with the Doc and Vic to take care of the kids, I gladly took over North's position against the frighteningly pale and fading child. I sent a small prayer that Trouble would forgive me for not helping rescue her.
Little Jaimie Ayers' dainty hand clasped my own and I marveled at its tiny size. He looked so terribly weak and I felt as if I could easily snap him if I hugged him too tightly. As the Doc scrambled to get Seth as stable as possible with Victor's help, I sought to keep Jaimie awake and his focus off the gory scene of his broken older brother. I told him my name and tried to get the kid talking, but he never once looked away from the Doc's administrations. The silent pleas to make it all better in his fucking bright eyes just gutted me through and through. I felt like the biggest fucking ass when I couldn't promise him that his brother was going to be all right. It would be a promise I had zero fucking chance of being able to see through and it would make me the biggest dick for lying.
Kota's panicked cries for the Doc from the living room had him darting out of the room with a command for Victor to keep watch over Seth and for me to keep Jaimie calm. The sheer terror in Kota's voice sent ice plunging into my veins and I tried my damnedest to not wonder what he was panicked about. I couldn't do anything to help right now but what I had been ordered to do. I blathered away about fucking nonsense as I desperately sought to do just that. I was fucking hating how damn pale his skin was and his trembling appeared to be getting worse, despite my jacket draping his tiny body. It also scared the hell out of me for how it appeared to take a little longer each time to get those golden orbs focused on me.
"Hey, Jaimie, how you holding up there buddy? Oy, Jaimie! I need you to stay with me, big guy. There you are. That's right kiddo, keep those pretty gold eyes right on mine, okay? I know that you're tired, kiddo, but you need to just keep awake until the ambulance comes here, okay?"
And where the hell were those damn ambulances? It was taking way to damn long for them to get here and every passing minute was crumbling away at the chance that Seth would survive this fucking ordeal and I was afraid that Jaimie would be right behind him. These brothers were fucking tight, any idiot could see that. The way that Jaimie continued his desperate vigil of his vulnerable brother even when he was practically comatose himself on top of the way that Seth had shielded his brother from that fucker of a quack proved that to me. I watched critically as his large bright eyes sluggishly focused for a moment before they glazed up and went distant once more. Fuck that shit, I needed to keep him focused on me and make sure he holding on until help came. I needed to get him talking to me.
"Oy! Jaimie, come on kiddo. Focus on me. You're doing such a good job. I know, why don't you tell me about your brother, Seth, huh? You obviously care a lot for him and he really loves you, I can tell. It's a big brother thing. I...I had a little brother just like you and I loved him very much. Can you talk to me Jaimie?"
Those damn fucking shudders running through his small body appeared to ramp up a notch or two and it squeezed at my heart with how long it took him to focus fully on me. But the fact that he did end up focusing in the end was all that mattered. His eyes were still a little too fucking glassy for my taste and they seemed almost feverishly bright but he was now looking intently back into mine and appeared to be appraising me. After a few moments he focused back on my eyes and his high voice was oddly solemn in his pronouncement.
"Y-you know, you h-h-have ver-ry pr-rett-y b-lue eyes-s."
The damn compliment aside, my concern ramped up immediately at his slurred and stuttering answer. That was a damn far cry from fucking okay. I frowned in my concern and I leaned in further to see how dilated his eyes were. Jaimie appeared to take my damn frown as disbelief, because he swiftly sought to reassure my "denial", his voice intent and almost desperately earnest.
"They are r-really prett-ty, Gabriel. Like a b-blue sky."
If I wasn't so freaked the fuck out at the moment, I would have melted at how damn adorable the kid was. Here he was after a shitty, traumatic situation desperately trying to make sure I knew he was being honest. I only pursed my lips tighter in response and continued to keep a close eyes on his shuddering frame. His eyes began to lose focus again and I opened my mouth to snap at him once more when I realized that he was thinking on my original question. After he appeared to collect himself a moment, a small smile ghosted across his cherubic features.
"Seth...he's m-my best fr-iend. He p-protects me from S-s-sir. He gives me hug-gs and plays with m-me. He's strong and sm-mart and kind. He giv-ves me the b-best hugs. I d-do l-lo- I l-l-lov-"
That damn stuttering was getting worse and when his voice trailed off completely, I felt panic threaten to take over. I gently but firmly turned Jaime's face towards me and started barking orders at the kid to talk to me, to look at me, to stay here with me. His previously abnormally bright eyes looked frightening dull and glassy now and they rolled in his sockets sporadically. It was fucking terrifying and all I could think was I was fucking losing him. I was losing someone under my care again and I just fucking lost it. In my panicked state, I slapped Jaimie's cheek in a desperate attempt to bring him back.
Victor gave me a yell of disapproval at my actions and I felt immediately like the biggest fucking asshole, but his eyes were refocused a little more and they had stopped that fucking spinning. Violent shudders wracked his fucking tiny frame and I was afraid he was going to shake apart at the force. I was just about to get up and hunt down an actual blanket to keep the kid warm when a loud commotion in the main part of the room distracted me. Victor popped up from his vigil over Seth and ran out to check the noise. Within moments, the room was being invaded by paramedics and I felt my fear begin to abate.
Two men pushed me out of the way and began asking me question after question about the kid's condition. I was in the middle of attempting to answer them when Jaimie began to freak the fuck out. I was terrified that the kid was going to hurt himself in his panicked attempts to get away and I grasped onto his uninjured hand, infusing as much comfort into the touch as I could.. Gold met crystal and I saw the terror drain from his features. The most fucking beautiful smile broke out across his face as the paramedics worked around me to get the kid on a gurney. I felt tears pool at the back off my throat at the pure gratitude that shown from his sparkling eyes and then he was looking desperately around the room. I followed his gaze until I found myself watching the frantic movements of the EMTs working to stabilize the broken child across the small room.
Victor had his hands behind his neck, fear and anxiety clear on his face as he watched helplessly on. If his attachment to his small charge was anything like mine, then I empathized completely with the fucking terror that must be coursing through his veins.
"He's crashing! Jordon, we need to get this kid in the ambulance stat!"
My attention was ripped back to Jaimie at these words and I watched in complete fucking disbelief as the little boy stopped breathing. The paramedics sprung into action and I was pushed out of the way as the began moving the kid out of the room, pumping oxygen into his lungs as they went. I flew after them, my heart in my fucking throat and I felt like throwing up. This couldn't be happening! He couldn't just stop fucking breathing on my like that. Not again! I had had too many do that to me in the past and I refused to allow another.
"Damn it Jaimie! Oy! You listen to me. You are not allowed to fucking die, you here me? We just rescued you kid, from that fucking shitty father you have and you're never going to see him again. I will break his fucking face if he ever got within a hundred damn miles. Are you listening to me, damn it!? I just need you to fucking breathe!"
And just like that, he did. The paramedics gave me a few odd looks at my frantic pleading and commands, but the second that kid took a big fucking gulp of air, they looked startled. The kid's lips still looked a little blue tinged, but that color was slowly draining out and I felt a tear slip out of my eyes in relief. I didn't even wait for permission as I hopped into the back of the ambulance and watched the EMTs get the kid situated and work on keeping him stabilized until we got to the hospital. I saw the other pair of paramedics rushing to put Seth in another ambulance through the open back doors. Victor followed closely behind, but he was refused admittance as they scrambled to close the door, the ambulance already rushing off.
Victor stood in the street watching it disappear around the corner, the lights flashing, and he looked so lost and scared right then. He turned slowly and caught my eyes just as the EMTs began closing the back doors. He lifted one hand in acknowledgment before the door blocked him from my sight permanently. I felt the ambulance's engine start up and then we were rushing to the nearest hospital. I blocked out the words being shot back and forth between the EMTs as they worked. I could care less what they said, I probably would understand a damn thing anyways.
Instead, I focused on the tiny chest of my charge as it lifted up and down slightly. He had listened to me and I felt so proud all of a sudden. I needed to do something to keep myself from completely snapping under the constant strain of the last month and a half, especially after tonight.
"That a boy, Jaimie. You listen to your ol' Gabe. It's a good habit to get into, listening to me. Maybe when you're all better, you can help me teach Trouble how to listen. That's Sang by the way. I call her Trouble, because that's what she is. Trouble for my heart, my health, and my sanity. I tell her, Trouble, you need to stay out of trouble. And what does she do? She goes, well Meanie- that's what she calls me by the way, though I'm not sure why- I know that's really good advice, but I'm just going to jump in anyways! Can you believe my girl? Once you're okay and she's okay, she is double grounded. No, she's like grounded for life. Life sentence, I'm telling you kiddo. And you'll have to help me keep her out of anymore trouble. You and that brother of yours. What do you say?"
I might have imagined it, but I could swear the kids lips curled up just slightly at the corners in response. The ride to the hospital passed in a cacophony of sound and lights, but all I could focus on was the shallow rise and fall of the small boy's chest. Each breath in felt like a small victory and I was determined to see Jaimie come out of this on top, whole and hale.
I fucking hated shitty waiting rooms. They should be called fucking torturous hell rooms instead. I was relieved to find out that there was a local hospital not even fifteen minutes away from that fucking hellhole. I was less than stoked when they immediately rushed Jaimie out of my reach, relegating me to sitting on my ass and twiddling my thumbs. Which I was not the best at, not even a little fucking bit. My leg was jumping up and down with suppressed anxiety and I was glaring a damn hole in the doors the separated me from my charge.
A loud commotion in the ER entrance drew my attention for a moment before I dismissed it and focused back on those fucking doors. My attention was redrawn by a loud familiar voice and I popped up and followed the noise. Dr. Green was barking information at the ER nurses and physicians as they rushed a tiny familiar girl into the hospital. I felt the breath violently sucked out of my lungs as I took in my first sight of Trouble in over a month. And I wanted to fucking hurl.
She was so frighteningly pale, if it wasn't for the tiniest of movements of her chest, I'd think she was already fucking dead. And was that a fucking pen in her neck? Blood soaked gauze was taped around the object and I grabbed onto my hair in horror. Oh Christ, what the fuck was up with her hair! And that dress! I had to mentally kick myself for worrying about such fucking trivial things when there was a FUCKING PEN lodged in Trouble's throat! My glimpse of Sang was way too short before she was being brought behind those damn doors. One of the physicians stepped in to intervene when the Doc made to follow.
They exchanged a few impassioned words and then the Doc was just hollering at the poor bastard. I could count on a single hand the number of times I've seen the Doc get angry and raise his voice. This? This was full on howling in rage. From the snippets I was catching from the Doc, it was clear that they were not letting him into the back and the surgery with Trouble because he was too emotionally involved. I felt a surge of pity for him and I rushed forward to stop the Doc from strangling the physician.
"Hey, Doc, calm the fuck down! Now! You're not going to be any damn good for Sang if you get kicked out of the fucking hospital!"
I placed a firm hand on his shoulder and he was so tense, he felt like fucking steel beneath my grip. His green eyes, so full of frustration and rage, cut across to meet my own and I held his gaze firmly. I slowly saw the fury drain out of his face and he began to relax by small increments. The resignation and despair that followed sent a fucking knife to my heart, as he appeared to collapse into himself. He quickly recollected him, however, and sent me a look of gratitude before he turned to face the man he'd been yelling at before. The physician had a weary look on his face as he regarded the both of us but I saw sympathy form on his face as he took in our haggard and scared faces.
"I really am sorry Dr. Green. I can't let you into the operating room, but I promise you that I will do anything in my power to see that the girl makes it."
He gave us a brief nod and then he was going through those damn doors and we were left standing there in desperation. I felt exhaustion well up and threaten to overtake me as my adrenaline began to leave my system. I was just so fucking tired. I was tired of being scared all the damn time. I was tired of watching my best friend self destruct before my eyes. I was tired of my team, my family, disintegrating and not being able to do jack shit to stop it. I was tired of being fucking useless. And I was more than fucking tired of losing the ones I loved. I refused to allow any of them to leave us, leave me. Not Sang, not Jaimie, and not his brother Seth.
I was tempted to ask the Doc about what the hell had happened downstairs, but just one looked at his face told me now was not the time or place. There would be time for that shit later. I put a hand on the Doc's arm and directed him over to the fucking torturous hell room and we both sat down to wait for news. To wait and see if our world was going to shatter into irreparable pieces. The Doc gave a large sigh as he rested his arms on his knees, placing his face in his hands. I glanced around the room and saw a security guards regarding the Doc like he was going to fucking Hulk out. I met his suspicious gaze and glared at him until he looked away. Bastard.
I just returned to staring at those damn doors, willing that all who had been rushed into its confines would come out fucking alive and well. I was back to my litany of fucking silent begging, ranting, and threats to anyone and anything I could think of to make sure they were all going to be okay. I had never been so fucking bone weary tired, yet so fucking electrically charged at the same time. This was a state past normal fatigue and I couldn't even think about sleeping any time soon. Not until I know how everyone is.
"Doc! Gabe! I need your help!"
The sudden bark of North's booming voice had us both up and whirling around. The sight that met my gaze sent a shock of horror through me. North and Silas had a shaky, pale and blood soaked Luke between them, with Nathan and Victor following close behind. I was going to fucking puke this time, I just knew it.
"What the fucking shit happened! Fucking Christ on a stick, Luke!"
"North, what happened!?"
"Luke took down that fucking psycho after Sang started seizing up, but the fucker managed to get his scalpel and caught him across the chest. I think it missed all of his vitals, but he's lost a lot of blood and I can see his fucking ribs. He would have slit his fucking throat I it wasn't for Kota."
The Doc went into full on doctor mode and assisted Luke into one of the plastic chairs before he addressed one of the ER nurses who were hovering behind our group.
"I need an examination room and a pint of O negative. If you don't have any, I'll need a pint of B positive."
"Sir, I can't allow you to do that. We can handle the situation, it's what we're here for."
The Doc looked like he was about to smack the dumb bitch across the face. He glared at her before barking into her face.
"My name is Dr. Sean Green. I am the lead physician of these boys, do you understand me? I will be the one taking care of them, not you. I said I need an examination room and a blood transfusion. Do you understand?!"
The nurse looked cowed by the Docs icy tone and the authority in his voice, but she stiffened her spine and raised her face defiantly. I had to give her props for having fucking balls, but North's jaw was twitching and the Doc looked ready to maim. The security guard was watching our group like a hawk and I glared back at him. Because fuck him and fuck her. This was our family and we took care of our own. Family was always first. Before bloodshed could break out, a calm voice interrupted from behind.
"Do as he says Nurse Johnston. Make sure that there is a surgical stapler in the room and anesthesia. I dare say this poor boy has had enough pain to deal with tonight."
The man who had spoken looked to be about mid to late thirties and he was staring patiently but expectantly at the dumb nurse. She pursed her lips in response before rushing away to follow the order. The Doc stuck his hand out to the newcomer and gave him a grateful smile.
"Thanks Dave, I really appreciate it."
"Don't even mention it Sean. You know how people don't tend to understand us Academy nuts. This must be your team. Nice to meet you all finally. I'm Dr. Dave Sanders. You guys must be on a mission to bring you around to my neck of the woods."
"Unfortunately not, Dave, family emergency. One of our team was kidnapped by a doctor in the area. Maybe you know him. His name's Dr. Adam Ayers."
The Doc didn't even need to ask if he knew him, because the man blanched in horror at the name. Complete and total shock covered his face.
"Adam!? Adam kidnapped one of your team? I don't believe it! Are you sure you have the right guy?"
"Pretty fucking sure. He's the one responsible for almost fucking slicing my brother wide open!" North growled out to the man from his spot hovering next to Luke. I was standing on the other side and felt the need to interject my own point.
"And that fucking psychotic bastard pounded the shit out of his two kids. Their just fucking babies practically and now they're both fighting for their lives behind those damn doors right now!"
I knew I sounded hysterical and I must've looked a mess, as I got several sharp glances of concern from my team. I waved off their concern, because fuck that, it wasn't about me right now. I wasn't the one with a sliced up fucking chest. I was the least of anyone's concerns right now. Dr. Sanders paled instantly at our words and he shakily pushed a hand through his hair. When he looked up again, the remorse on his face was completely sincere and apologetic.
"Christ, Sean. I don't even know what to say. I would have never expected that from Adam at all. I've worked with the man for almost ten years!"
"How could you have known? It doesn't matter right now. Now, I need to take care of my team and we'll discuss this later."
Dr. Sanders nodded his head in understanding as the nurse hurried back up to us, carting a wheelchair. Luke groaned a little at the sight of the chair, but he allowed himself to be settled into it without any fuss. North took over the handles of the chair from the nurse and she turned to direct them to the room. I wanted to follow, but the Doc ordered the rest of us to stay put and wait. Dr. Sanders gave us all a tight nod before he set off and I just sat and put my head in my hands. This was all just a fucking disaster.
Jaimie had stopped fucking breathing on my watch and I had no clue what his condition was. Seth had looked like he had one foot in the fucking grave last time I had seen him. Trouble had a fucking pen in her throat and I still had no damn clue what had happened. And then Luke had shown up, fucking drenched in his own blood and had almost had his throat slit. I couldn't handle this shit. No one was allowed to leave me anymore! I had already lost too many as it is! Dark memories that I had long repressed began welling up and suddenly I couldn't fucking breathe.
I felt strong hands latch on my shoulder and Nathan's face was suddenly in front on mine. His mouth was moving, but I couldn't hear what he was saying over the rush of the blood in my ears. I couldn't fucking breathe and it felt like I was dying. Agony laced through my frozen lungs and my head was suddenly being forced between my legs. Breathe, I told myself, but apparently I wasn't that good at listening to myself either. It felt like an eternity as I struggled to get the air into my lungs. An eternity of fear and pain.
Sound and touch slowly trickled into my awareness as my lungs opened a little and began allowing sweet air to flow. Comforting and familiar hands calmly rubbed my back as reassurances and promises were soothingly given. I slowing raised my head to see Nathan still in front of me, one hand on the back of my neck which he squeezed in comfort. Silas was sitting to my left, his low voice speaking his native tongue. Victor sat to my other side, his baritone voice smooth and gentle. It didn't even matter what they were saying. The fact was, they were there and they were helping me as I was threatening to fall apart. I felt so immensely grateful for all of them right then and there. They were my friends, my fucking brothers, and they never left me to drown in my weakest moments.
"Hey, Gabriel. Are you okay, man? Just concentrate on my voice and focus on breathing, okay? Luke's going to be okay. The cut looked bad, but he's going to be just fine, I swear it. Those kids are going to be fine too. The Doc, Victor, and you all did the best you could with them and they seem like strong little kids. They had to be strong to live with that fucker, so they'll bounce back, okay? And Peanut? I know she looked bad and I'm not going to lie to you, man, I'm fucking terrified. But our girl, she's a fighter. She won't leave us, because she loves us and we won't let her go. No ones leaving you Gabe, I swear it."
I don't know how Nathan knew exactly what to fucking say. It's like he saw all of my deep seated fears with his piercing gaze. He must have seen my awareness, for he gave me a small smile and squeezed neck again. Twin pats on the shoulders reassured me that Silas and Victor had my back, literally, and I felt my breathing get a little deeper. I kept my head down as I focused on my breathing and calming down. It was still a bit of a struggle, but I was coming down from that panic attack, the pain slowly draining away.
"What the fuck happened?! Is he okay?!"
"Nathan, what happened to Gabriel?"
The sound of North's loud voice ironically calmed me a few steps further. Because that meant that Luke was all patched up and he must have been okay, or North would've been on a fucking rampage. And North yelled when he was scared. Which meant I scared him. Which meant he was scared because he cared for me. And the Doc's voice just strengthened the idea that I wasn't alone, not anymore.
"He's okay North, calm down. He just got overwhelmed by everything and it set off a panic attack. I think seeing Luke all bloodied was the figurative hay that broke the camel's back."
I felt small giggle burst from my lips at Silas' slip up and I sat up fully. "It's straw, Silas. The straw that broke the camel's back. I can't believe you got out figurative, but you messed up straw."
I saw relief pass through all of the guys at my small crack and Silas just lifted a shoulder in response, an easy grin on his face. The Doc relaxed his shoulders and gave me a small nod. North and Luke were still watching me in concern and I gave them a small smile in response. Nathan stood up and gave me another squeeze on the shoulder before he turned to address Luke.
"How are you feeling?"
Luke gave a small shrug before wincing at the way it pulled on his injury.
"It hurts, but I'm going to be okay. They gave me a transfusion and I now look like Dr. Frankenstein's art project, but I'm fine." He looked into my eyes as he said this last part and I couldn't help the deep rush of relief I felt.
"Dumbass, stop moving around. You're going to rip one of those fucking staples and then the Doc's going to have to fix you're happy ass again. Do you want that? I thought so. Now sit you're ass down."
Luke rolled his eyes at North's command but sat down next to me as Silas popped up out of the way and stood next to North. Luke bumped his uninjured shoulder lightly with mine and we locked gazes. We exchanged a flurry of silent questions and concerns. Are you really okay? You with me, man? Don't fucking scare me like that again, okay? After a moment, we both seemed to finally accept that the other was okay and relaxed fully, basking in the presence of one another.
"Sean!"
We all turned at the sound of Mr. Blackbourne's voice as he and Kota approached us from across the ER. Mr. Blackbourne looked like he was about ready to obliterate the next person who got in his way tonight and everyone seemed to pick up on that and jumped to get out of his way. The security guy gave him one look and wisely let him pass. Kota looked pale and drawn and I sent him a concerned look. He waved off my concern and turned his attention onto Luke. He silently appraised the bright white bandages that covered his chest under his open button up shirt that he had borrowed from North. He seemed to like what he saw, because he backed off and gave Luke a small smile. It was so tight, it ended up looking like a fucking grimace of pain and I felt my concern deepen.
"What the fuck happened to Dr. Douchey McDoucherson Mr. Blackbourne? Is that fucker dead?"
At my question, he turned to regard me intently and he frowned at what he saw. I wondered at how much I looked like shit for him to be concerned about me. Ignoring my question for the moment, he asked one of his own.
"Are you alright, Mr. Coleman?"
I wanted to shrug off his concern but Luke beat me to it. "He had a pretty bad panic attack. He's still recovering."
I shot Luke a quick glare, which he blatantly ignored. Mr. Blackbourne's frown deepened and he turned to face the Doc.
"How long did his attack last?"
"I don't know, Owen. I was closing up Luke's cut and I missed most of it. By the time we got back, we caught just the tail end of it."
Victor's voice cut through and answered Mr. Blackbourne's question, causing me to groan in disbelief. I wanted to know what had happened downstairs and they were worried about my fucking attack.
"The attack started about five minutes after you guys left. I lasted about 20 minutes total."
Before anyone could ask any further questions, I threw my hands up in the air in aggravation.
"Guys, I'm fucking fine. I haven't had a fucking attack in almost two years before now and I'm just fucking stressed, alright? Sue me if I got scared, So just calm your tits and stop worrying about me. I'm more concerned with the fucking bastard who almost killed his kids and Trouble. Now answer my question. Is he dead?"
"No, Mr. Coleman, he is not dead."
"I wish I had killed the fucker." Luke's dark grumble to my side drew my attention and I caught the black look that settled on his normally pleasant features.
"Be that as it may, Mr. Taylor, it's a good thing you did not. Dr. Ayers has been secured by a high security psychiatric facility where he will be treated for his obvious mental issues. He will never be a problem for our family again, ever."
While I would have preferred that someone had taken out the fucker, I couldn't be disappointed in the news, really. While it meant that he couldn't be sent to prison for his crimes, he was going to pay nonetheless. Because in court, he could be sentenced and eventually released if he wound up in prison. But now, fuck face was going to be locked up forever, until the day he died. And I hope he died alone and miserable, trapped in his mad fucking head.
"Have you guys heard any news of Miss Sorenson or either of the Ayers boys?"
I shook my head glumly in response, my actions shadowed by six others. He pursed his lips at our response and opened his mouth to say something further when he was interrupted by a voice behind him.
"Family of Jaimie Ayers?"
I popped up out of my seat and rushed over to the doctor standing in scrubs, looking at us in question. I felt the others stand up around me and I stared at her in desperate hope.
"Yes ma'am, that's us. Is he going to be okay?"
She glanced at our assembled group in confusion for a moment before looking back at me. I felt a heavy stone of dread fall into the pit of my stomach at the pinched look around her eyes. She sighed heavily before answering my question.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news."