Chapter 13

John finally arrived at the address that Victor had sent him. It was a warehouse in Lancaster. He followed Victor's instructions on how to slowly find his way inside, and found Victor waiting for him inside.

"What is with the cryptic message Lord?" John demanded," and where the hell are we?"

"Keep your voice down McBain. I'd hate for this to be over before it begins," Victor snidely, "especially since I am going out of my way for you. This could get me in a lot of trouble you know."

"I might be grateful, if I knew what we were doing," John told him, sounding more like he really didn't care.

"We're going into this room at the end of the hall for now," Victor indicated a door and John followed him through it.

"Ok, now what?" John asked as soon as the door was closed behind him.

"Well, in about 5 minutes, the Fitzgerald's are going to be in the room next door. All three of them. That was what you wanted right, to see one of the daughters? Well, here's your chance. Your welcome." Victor took a seat in one of the two chairs in the room.

"Are you sure?" John asked. John's hear pounded, he could hear a rushing in his ears. He thought there was a good chance he might be sick. Was Kaitlin really going to be on the other side of the door?

"Positive," Victor responded, "they're leaving the country, this might be your only chance for a long time to see them. From what I understand, they won't be back anytime soon. I'm sure you'll be welcome to join us if you want to." At that moment, the men heard movement in the hall.

Several sets of footsteps, then a door closing. He could hear voices but, between two doors, he couldn't make out anything that was being said.

Victor looked at his watch, "ok, you're up. You've gotta go now," Victor stood up and moved to the door.

John's phone started to vibrate in his pocket, he pulled it out. "It's my brother-"

"You don't have time for a family reunion, you have to move now," Victor hissed.

The churning in John's gut told him something was wrong, "hold on," he told Victor, "McBain," he answered.

"John, thank God," Michael said breathlessly.

"Michael, I can't talk right now," John told him.

"No John you've gotta listen to me-"

"I can't right now, I'm in the middle of something here and-"

"There's been an accident, John. It's Natalie. It's bad man," Michael said, trying not to scare his brother.

"An accident?" John repeated. His heart stopped.

"Yeah, it's...it's pretty bad John," Michael said again.

John swallowed the lump in his throat, he couldn't seem to catch a breath, "how bad?" He asked.

"Truck ran a red light, hit some ice and plowed into the SUV. We're in the emergency room, they won't let me in since I'm family but, John, I am telling you, this is bad. They had to cut her out of the vehicle," Michael said.

"The kids?" John asked swallowing thickly, Michael could hear the emotion in his voice.

"They weren't with her, they're fine," Michael answered.

"McBain, we gotta go. Now!" Victor said from the door.

"I gotta go Michael-"

"JOHN!-"

"Take care of her Michael. Please," John hung up the phone. He took a deep breath and swallowed the tears that had welled up in his eyes.

"Let's go," he growled at Victor, walking out of the room not caring if Victor followed or not.

"Michael?" Marcy said as she stood behind him. Michael was stunned. He wasn't coming, he really wasn't coming. "He's...he's busy," Michael said quietly so that Viki couldn't hear him.

"He's what?" Marcy whispered, not believing what she heard.

"He asked me to take care of her," Michael told his wife, "he's not coming."

"Oh my God," Marcy shook her head. She started to speak again but, the doctor that had been assigned to Natalie suddenly appeared.

"Hey, Marcus, how is she," he asked his colleague.

"Well, Natalie has a lot of severe cuts and bruises, a sprained wrist. But, she also sustained a pretty substantial head injury. This is what has us most concerned at the moment. We are running some tests now and I'll let you know what we find out," the doctor said before he left.

"Thank you doctor," Viki said quietly, and watched the doctor leave, then turned quickly to Michael, "so what isn't he saying?"

Michael looked at her and knew nothing but the truth would satisfy her. "Natalie needs to wake up. The longer she is unconscious, the more serious her injury could be and the longer it will take her to recover," Michael told her, leaving out the fact that there was a possibility that Natalie might never wake up, "head injuries are...tricky."

"Oh dear," Viki was visibly upset, Michael helped her to the nearest chair.

Marcy took the seat next to her and held her hand, "I called Roxy and Jessica," she said to Viki, looking to her husband, "I called your mom too, they are all on their way. What are we going to do about the kids?" Marcy asked, "I would be happy to take them to our house," Marcy offered.

"Mom will help," Michael added.

"I would like them to stay at Llanfair but, I would love it if your mom would stay with us, there is plenty of room. And of course you are both welcome anytime," she added.

The group was silent for a moment. "What about John?" Viki asked.

"I called him," was all Michael offered but, didn't say anymore, "listen why don't you both go back to Llanfair and look after the kids, they are going to have a hard time with Natalie not being around. I'll stay here with her and I promise to call you with any news," Michael offered giving his wife a pointed look.

"That's a good idea. I'll call your mom and have her meet us there," Marcy offered, she knew Michael wouldn't want her to say anything about his conversation with John.

"Those children have been through so much," Viki said thoughtfully.

"They have and right now they need to be surrounded by as many people that love them as possible, I will take care of Natalie. I promise you," Michael told her.

Viki reached a hand up and touched Michael's cheek, "I know you will, thank you Michael," she turned to Marcy, "let's go shall we, I'll call Jess and Roxy too and see if they just want to come to the house. The more people there the more there are to distract the kids." Viki shook her head.

After Viki and Marcy left the hospital, Michael went immediately into Natalie's room.

"Hey doctor," the nurse greeted him.

"Hey Linda, how you doing?" He replied.

"I'm ok, is there anything you need?" she asked kindly.

"Yeah, I uh, could use a extra pillow and a blanket, I'm going to stay in here tonight," he answered.

"You bet," the nurse left to get him the items he requested and hurried back. Everyone had heard the story behind Dr. McBain's brother and sister-in-law.

Michael sat by her side for a few hours and had finally just sat turned down the lights in the room and sat down on the small inadequate couch that was in the room when the door burst open. Michael breathed a sigh of relief, he knew his brother would come but he admitted, John had made him nervous for a while.

Michael watched as his brother stopped dead in his tracks taking in the sight of his unconscious wife. The cuts and bruises that were visible. The two black eyes she had, the large blood soaked bandage on her head. John moved slowly closer to the bed, he seemed oblivious to his brother's presence in the room. John finally sat on the stool that Michael had vacated moments ago for the couch.

John was devastated at the sight of his wife's injuries. He reached out and gently touched the fingers of her bandaged hand. Michael thought he hear his brother whisper her name. John was silent for a moment then, "the truth Mike," John said finally, his voice rough and breaking.

Michael was startled, he didn't believe his brother even knew he was in the room.

"She needs to wake up...soon," Michael said not moving from his place on the couch.

"And if she doesn't?" John asked barely choking out the words.

"Then she might not at all," Michael answered getting up to leave, stopping at the door Michael asked snidely, "how'd your case go?"

John shook his head and swallowed around the lump in his throat, "I-I blew it. Nothing matters but, Natalie." John said not taking his eyes off his wife's face. Michael nodded and left the room. 'About damn time, you ass,' Michael thought as he left.