As Steve tried to calm a weeping Kayla, he began to realize what had happened in the other room.
Damn you, Donovan, he silently cursed. Damn you for dying.
He pulled Kayla even tighter against him. Even in the sadness of the moment, he could not help but relish the fact that she was safe and back in his arms. He had been so afraid he would never hold her like this again.
Feeling her grief, Steve did his best to comfort her. "I'm sorry," he whispered, softly stroking her hair. "I'm so sorry."
It's all my fault. If I hadn't walked into Winters' trap . . . If I'd just waited for the signal.
In his arms, Kayla said, "I tried to save him. I tried. . . ."
"You did your best, baby," Steve answered. "You did your very best. There was nothing more you could do."
He brushed some of her hair off her face and, for the first time, saw the red gash on her forehead. Steve then remembered the blood in the car and his fears about her injuries.
"Sweetness," he said gently. "I want to get someone to look at that cut." He pulled back and looked into her eyes. "Did you get hurt anywhere else? Did . . . did Cal hurt you?"
Kayla shook her head. "I just hurt a rib in the crash, but it'll be okay." Then her eyes widened and a look of concern crossed her face. "What about you? I . . . I heard you screaming. Are you okay? What happened?"
"I'm fine." Steve reassured her with a tentative smile. "I thought Winters was headed for the back where Shane was, so I busted through the front to try and stop him." Guilt washed over Steve again. "It was a trap. Winters had a taser set up."
"Are you sure you're okay?" Kayla asked again, looking him over with her nurse's eye and then stroking his face. "I was so scared, Steve. I thought I would lose you again, I . . ."
"It's all over now," Steve interrupted. He pulled Kayla back to him, held her tightly, and kissed the side of her head as she returned his embrace. "You're safe and I promise, I'm fine." Steve pulled away again and cupped her cheek in his hand. "It's you I'm worried about. That cut doesn't look too good. I want to find Neil and have him check you out."
"Not yet," Kayla insisted, shaking her head slightly. "I need to see Kimmie." Steve thought about protesting, but he could hear the urgency in Kayla's tone. They both turned their heads to where Bo was holding Kim in a tight embrace. He caught their looks and whispered something to Kim. She then turned toward them. She took a few deep breaths and brushed the tears off her cheeks. Steve could tell she was trying to remain strong.
In an instant, Kayla crossed the waiting area and hugged Kim. "I'm so sorry," Kayla said. "He loved you. . . . That's the last thing he said. He wanted you to know he loved you and always will."
Kim reacted by breaking down again. Each cry tore at Steve's heart.
"What am I going to do?" Kim cried. "How do I tell Andrew?" She buried her head against Kayla's shoulder. "How do I tell him? And Jeannie . . . God, he never knew."
Steve and Bo exchanged glances, neither having a clue what to say. "Kimber," Bo said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry about any of that right now. Just don't worry."
Unable to stand there any longer, Steve turned away. He crossed over to the nurse's station and leaned against it, just as Roman rushed into the Emergency Room. Their eyes met and Steve just gave a curt shake of his head. Roman stopped short, closed his eyes, and swallowed deeply. Then, the anguish clear on his face, he crossed the room to his family.
Steve looked down at the counter of the nurses' station, as the same thought kept running through his head.
It's all my fault.