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| The children stepped quietly into Mac's hospital room. Nicholas wouldn't move away from the door, but the girls chose spots around her bed. "Ni?" Evelyn whispered, kneeling in front of him. "I can't, Evie," he replied. "Not yet." She nodded, realizing that he was feeling guilty. "You go to her when you're ready." "Dad?" Christiana said, putting a hand on his shoulder. He was slumped over in a chair, his head resting on the bed. She could see the pain in his red rimmed eyes. "She's going be fine, right?" Harm nodded slowly and cleared his throat. He looked at each one of his children. "There's something the police told me that I haven't breathed a word of. I really think you should all know this." "What?" Trisha asked nervously. "I thought you said she was going to be fine." "She'll have no problems healing physically." Evelyn's eyes widened. "You mean she was..." "She almost was, honey." "Was almost what, Daddy?" Maddie asked. Harm took a deep breath and told them. Christiana and Trisha stared at him in disbelief. They just didn't want to believe it. And Nicholas, he slowly backed up to the door and before anyone could stop him, he ran out. "Dad, you should probably go after him," Evelyn said. "I'll stay with them and I'll call Grandpa too." "Thank you, Evie," Harm replied. He kissed his daughters and went out to search for Nicholas. *************** Nicholas sank into one of the chairs in the waiting room. This wasn't supposed to happen! His mother shouldn't be in the hospital. "Yeah, and if you were half as brave as Dad, she wouldn't!" he whispered angrily to himself. "You don't know that," Harm said, sitting next to his son. "You're 14 years old and no match for two adult males. You did the best you could do and you're Mother knows that. Maddie knows that! I'm proud of you, Ni." "But, Dad, I almost got her killed!" "Look at me!" Harm said. "You did not almost get her killed. Those men did, they're the ones who are going to pay. Stop blaming yourself because no one else does." Nicholas glanced down at the floor then back at his father. Tears were falling freely down his cheeks. "I tried." "I know you did," Harm replied, hugging his son. *************** Frank and AJ arrived at the same time and headed up to Mac's room. When Evelyn called her grandfather, she decided her godfather needed to know as well. They found the children in the waiting room. Maddie was the first to see them and ran over. "Hi," she said giving Frank a hug. "Hey, Sweat Pea." Evelyn walked over to her godfather. "Mom's awake. She's in there talking to Dad right now. It's just been too much for her. And Dad... Uncle AJ, I don't how he's going get through this." AJ put his arm around her. "The same way they always get through things, Evie. With the love of friends and family." "Evie, your Mom wants to see you." Evelyn nodded and went into the room. Frank walked over to Harm. "How is she, son?" "She was a little disoriented at first, but know that she knows where she's at and she's ready to go home." "That sounds like her," AJ replied with a small smile. Harm nodded. "She remembers everything that happened. Very vividly, I might add. She woke up screaming and nearly yanked out her IVs." Frank and AJ could tell that Mac wasn't only one suffering. Harm's eyes were red from crying and lack of sleep. "You need to take care of yourself, Harm," Frank said. "As soon as Sarah's all right, I will." The two men watched as Harm walked over to his children. This was going to be a long and difficult road, but they would be there. |
