said, and injected the contents of a syringe into the IV port.
“What’s that for?” Cameron asked.
“Antibiotic. Her fever is still high.”
He frowned. “The wound on her leg was bad. Is it infected?”
The nurse hesitated. “Doctor Rector usually begins rounds about 7:00 a.m. He’ll be able to answer your questions then.”
Cameron didn’t push the issue. He knew nurses weren’t free to share medical information about their patients. As soon as the nurse left, he moved closer to the bed.
Laura moaned as he touched her forehead. Her skin was hot and dry.
“Shh, shh,” he said softly. “You’re safe, baby, you’re safe.”
Her lips were moving.
He leaned closer, caught just enough of what she was saying and sighed. She was still talking about wolves.
“They’re gone, Laura, they’re gone.”
She grabbed his arm. “Cameron?”
He took her hand. She still knew him. Thank God.
“Yes, it’s me.”
“Found me?”
“Yes, we found you. You’re in a hospital in Denver. You are safe, and you will get well.”
“Stay.”
“I can’t stay, baby. You’re in ICU. But I’m right outside the door, and I’ll be back when they let me.”
Her eyes opened. “Cameron?”
“At your service,” he said.
“Sarah?”
“She’s on her way.”
“Love you,” she said, then closed her eyes.
She was already out when he answered, but it didn’t matter. He said for himself as much as for her, “I love you, too.”
The time went all too quickly, and soon he followed the other visitors out. But as they headed for the elevator, he went back to the waiting room alone. He was too wired to go back to sleep, and after digging through his wallet for some singles, he headed for the snack machines.
* * *
Sarah Doyle was holding Cameron’s last text close to her heart, counting on its truth.
Laura in ICU. I spoke to her. She knew me. Injuries severe, not life threatening. Worried about pneumonia. I’m in ICU waiting room.
Laura was all the family she had, and if she lost her, she would be as alone in the world as a person could be.
By the time her plane landed in Denver it was well past midnight, and the ground was dusted with snow. She caught a cab to the hospital and then texted Cameron to let him know she was on the ground, but he didn’t answer. She glanced at the time. One in the morning. He was probably in the ICU with Laura.
Her eyes burned from the bouts of crying she couldn’t seem to stop, and she caught a glimpse of herself in the cab window as they passed through the city.
Both sisters were blondes, and while the family resemblance was noticeable in their features, she was older and taller. Laura’s chosen path in life had gone nonprofit and led her to the Red Cross, while Sarah had gone the corporate route. And oddly enough, as Laura’s personal life had heated up, so had Sarah’s career; something she had yet to share.
The ride to the hospital was long, and the heater blasting in the front of the cab never quite raised the temperature in the backseat high enough to keep her comfortable. Even though the cranberry wool slacks and gray sweater she was wearing were warm, and her winter coat was good protection from the cold, she was shaking.
She paid the driver upon arrival, grabbed her bag and got out on the run.
* * *
Cameron was kicked back on the sofa checking his messages. The pretzels he was eating were all he’d had since dinner, along with the can of Pepsi at his elbow. Wade and his wife, Jo, had sent a text earlier wishing Laura well. He smiled, thankful for good friends. He was still scanning messages when he got a text from Tate. It was after three in the morning in D.C. That guy kept seriously late hours. He began to read.
How’s Laura?
Cameron popped another pretzel in his mouth and then answered.
Fighting infection and pneumonia.
So sorry. Nola sends her love. Keep us in the loop.
Will do and thanks.
He left the other messages for later, finished off the pretzels and washed them down with the last of the Pepsi. He was tossing away the trash when Sarah Doyle walked in.
The moment she saw him, she dropped her bag and started crying. Seconds later she was in his arms.
Cameron patted her on the back as he gave her a hug.
“It’s going to be okay, honey. She’s alive, and that’s a damn miracle in itself.”
Sarah grabbed his wrist. “Is it bad? Tell me the truth. Did she get worse? I’ve been scared through this whole freaking trip, afraid I wouldn’t get here in time, and at the same time, afraid to get here and learn the whole truth.”
“Come sit,” Cameron said, and filled her in on the extent of Laura’s injuries, then glanced at the clock. “The next visitation is at 2:00 a.m. You take it.”
When he suggested visiting Laura, she almost panicked, afraid of what she would see.
“We can’t go in together?”
“They do allow two visitors at a time, but I’ve been in several times already. She asked about you, and her attention span is brief, so having two of us there will only be confusing. You go alone, and once you see her, you’ll feel better, I promise.”
Sarah smiled through tears. “You are the best thing that’s ever happened to our family. I hope you plan on staying around for a very long time.”
Cameron managed a lopsided grin. “It’s definitely my plan, but Laura has the last word on that, doesn’t she?”
“You’re a shoo-in,” Sarah said.
“Want some coffee, or something to eat?” Cameron asked, using the mundane question to hide how moved he was by her words.
“Coffee would be wonderful.”
“Black, right?”
“Yes, please.”
He got up for another trip to the snack machines, and came back with coffee and a bag of M&M’s.
“I seem to remember this is a favorite in the candy dishes at your house,” he said.
“Thank you so much,” she said, took a quick sip of the coffee and then tore into the candy and popped a couple in her mouth.
Cameron answered a new text, giving Sarah some space while she ate.
When the candy was gone, she settled back with the coffee, holding it between her palms as welcome warmth.
“Cameron?”
He dropped the phone in his pocket and looked up.
“Was it bad at the crash site?” she asked.
He grimaced. “Yes, and you need to know two things. There were wolves trying to get into the wreckage, probably from day one. She’s still dreaming about them.”
Sarah clasped a hand over her mouth, too horrified to speak.
“The other thing is that she