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The hospital where her parents had worked her entire childhood—her father as an ER doctor and her mother as a radiologist—had taken a hit, too. But it wasn’t as bad as Finley Creek General.

She and Sean had walked there first, as it was closer to the TSP location.

Finley Creek General had lost the entire front annex, where the ER had once been.

And most of the windows on the south side of the building were gone.

County just had a damaged corner up near the roof and broken windows. And the portico in front of the ER where her father had worked as the head of trauma services had sheered right off. Parts of it were in the northern parking lot.

Just how bad the storm had been could be seen in every direction.

A. J.’s fingers tightened around Sean’s. He’d insisted on holding her hand the entire four block walk.

He’d assured her brother that he would see that she was taken care of tonight.

That he would not leave her.

To be honest, she’d rather have Sean with her right now than Mike.

There had been a connection forged between her and Sean in that rubble. She wasn’t lost to that.

He felt big and strong and sure and safe next to her.

A. J. needed that tonight.

They could have died so easily. In so many ways.

Daryn had told her she’d pulled three people from the rubble herself, with Mike’s help. People who hadn’t survived the storm.

People they all knew and liked. Including the detective who had once jumped A. J.’s car when she’d left the light on all day and drained the battery. He’d gotten her car started and waited until she’d driven off. Doing his part, he’d said, to keep her safe.

He’d had grandchildren and a family who adored him.

She’d bring him cookies ever so often. He’d reminded her of her own grandfather.

Grief was a sharp knife. And it wasn’t over yet.

Mike and Daryn were still coordinating rescue efforts.

The woman had pulled the chief of the TSP free before she’d pulled A. J. and Sean out.

The chief had gotten lucky, too.

The ER was exactly as A. J. had expected it to be. And right there in the center of it, tall and handsome and in charge, was the man who had always loved her. Who had made her world safe for her from the moment she’d taken her first breath.

He’d delivered her in their family living room during an emergency home birth during a storm much like tonight’s.

Her father looked up when she stepped up to his side.

There was a pinched, worried look in the eyes the same color as her own.

The worry cleared when he recognized her. “Autumn, sweetheart. We were so worried. Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. Sean and I were trapped under a table for a while, but we’re good. He was struck in the head, though. He was unconscious for a few minutes.”

And she had been terrified he’d been gone. Just taken from the world by the storm.

She shivered.

Shock would set in tonight. Soon.

“Sign him in. We’ll get you looked at as soon as we can. But it’s going to be several hours.”

“I’m good, Dr. Evers,” Sean said stubbornly. “We can wait.”

Her father nodded, studying both of them closely. His gaze lingered on the hand Sean still had wrapped around hers.

A. J. had been in no hurry to let him go herself.

She wasn’t certain she ever would be.

It took hours at the hospital before they were able to get Sean in for an exam. Her mother oversaw it herself.

There was a bandage over her mother’s left eye. A. J. would ask later.

Her mother gave her some borrowed scrubs and wet wipes. “It’s about all we’re sparing now, honey.”

“I get it. I’ll clean up a bit. Then once Sean’s cleared, I’m going to go home.” If she had a home. Her apartment was right in the path of the storm.

“You can head to our place. Some of your brothers will be there.”

A. J. just nodded. “I’ll probably stay pretty close to Sean. He needs someone to take care of him, and Mike will be busy for a long while.”

“Of course, honey. You stick with him. He needs you.”

She had the feeling her mother knew exactly how A. J. felt.