Page 27 of Saving Meadow (The Next Generation #1)

Fly or drive?

T he hospital was swarming with police when the ambulance pulled into the ER bay.

The back doors of the rig were pulled open, and Meadow’s stretcher was flanked by police on both sides as we were escorted to a private room usually reserved for chemical contamination or communicable diseases.

The threat of Beth Stevens was now contained; however, the media would be surrounding the hospital like flies on shit.

I was grateful the local PD was doing what they could to keep them at bay.

The doctor came in, and the rapid-fire questions began. She was taking Meadow’s vitals and inquiring about past medical history. Through it all I sat there stone-faced, unable to give Me adow the reassurance she wanted.

I’d failed her.

I was still failing her.

I couldn’t stop the replay reel of Meadow thrashing around on the ground. One second later. That was all it would’ve taken. If Sally hadn’t gotten loose and charged Beth, Meadow could’ve died. I could do nothing; there was no time for me to get to her.

Sally!

Jesus fuck, the dog saved my girl, not me. I didn’t do a damn thing. And all Meadow was worried about was if Sally was okay. Then she apologized to me for taking coffee from Beth.

My phone vibrated, and I pulled it from my pocket.

Joel: Sally is at the emergency vet clinic on 12 th . Updates to follow. How’s Meadow?

Me: Thanks. With the doc now.

“You’re a lucky lady, Meadow. Two lacerations.

One I’m going to suture, the other I’ll Dermabond.

I want to get your thigh cared for before we clean your back.

I can Steri-Strip a few of the deeper cuts.

Your back is going to be sore. I’m more concerned with the abrasions becoming infected than I am about the clean incisions on your leg.

Your back will need to be washed twice a day with anti-bacterial soap, you’ll have a betadine ointment to use as well.

I’m going to give you a round of IV anti biotics now and write you a ten-day script. Any questions?”

“No,” Meadow answered.

“Yes,” I countered. “She was drugged with ketamine. What are the side effects?”

“I was told. Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic; it is short lasting, meaning the effect will wear off quickly. As the drug leaves the system, reactions vary from high blood pressure, muscle spasms, hallucinations, and extreme agitation. The flip side is low blood pressure and decreased breathing. Meadow isn’t presenting any adverse side effects,” the doctor informed me.

“What about a concussion? We don’t know if she hit her head,” I argued.

“I’m fine, Nick.” Meadow grabbed my hand and I fought not to jerk it away.

“We don’t know that,” I said.

“Agent Clark. I understand your concern. I can assure you we will be observing Miss Holiday closely over the next few hours, but as of now, it’s my belief she’ll be home in her bed tonight with pain meds to manage any discomfort.”

“Nick?”

Fuck. I couldn’t take Meadow’s tears; I needed a minute to regain my composure .

“I’ll be right back. I need to check in with the guys,” I lied, pulling my hand free.

I didn’t miss the look of disappointment when I left the exam room. I also didn’t miss the sound of Meadow’s sobs.

I yanked my phone back out of my pocket and dialed the one person I knew could help. I didn’t bother with the time, because they wouldn’t care. Day or night didn’t matter.

“Hello?”

“Sorry to bother you. You gotta minute?” I asked.

“Always. What’s wrong?”

“I fucked up.” I tried to hide the hitch in my voice, but nothing escaped my uncle’s notice.

“We’ll be there,” he answered. No questions. No hesitation. I was a grown man, yet Nolan would rush to my side if needed.

“That’s not necessary. I just need to talk,” I told him.

“We’ll talk. But first I need to know if it can wait the eight hours it will take me to drive or if I need a flight?”

Shit. I shouldn’t have called.

“Really, you don’t need to come.”

“Bullshit. Fly or drive?”

“Drive,” I told him.

“Great, I’ll book a flight. Now, tell me what’s wrong? ”

Did he not hear me tell him to drive?

Instead of arguing, I broke down and told him about Meadow, and what I could about the investigation, and how tonight had played out. By the end, I thought I was going to throw up. I still couldn’t wrap my head around how close Meadow came to dying.

“Fuck, Nicholas. That was a close call. Glad to hear Meadow’s safe. You did good. Proud of you.”

“Did you hear what I said? I fucked up. I missed the fucking big flashing sign over Beth’s head. It’s my fault.”

“Yeah. I heard everything you said. I also know that you have your head up your ass. Nothing, I repeat nothing that bitch did, was your fault. Meadow is safe. End of story.”

“My head’s not…”

“Nick, you’re gonna listen to me carefully. Go back to your woman. Grab her and hold tight.”

“I can’t even look at her; I fucked up so bad. I don’t know how she doesn’t hate me.”

“Fuck,” he cursed, and I heard the phone being pulled away from his face before a muffled “Hey Lenox? Grab the guys, wheels up in twenty.”

“Nolan, that’s not necessary I don’t need everyone coming up here. I’m fine.”

“No, boy, you’re not fine. You’re getting ready to make the biggest mistake of your life. Listen. To. Me. Go to Meadow. Do not say anyth ing to her until we get there. Hold her and give her whatever she needs. I need you to fight like hell not to run away. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

“How’d you know I was gonna run?” I asked.

“Because I almost did when your Aunt Reagan lost her fucking kidney because I had my head up my ass, denying to myself and everyone else I was in love with her. Do you want to know about fucking up? Boy, you can’t hold a candle to me.

I’ll be there. You hold tight.” He disconnected before I could ask him what he meant.

I knew the story about my Aunt Reagan getting taken and being held on an abandoned oil rig that was being used as a black-market organ trafficking hospital, but I didn’t know my uncle had felt responsible.

Reagan and my uncle had just started dating when I moved in with them.

When she’d moved to Florida to start a job it sucked, I missed her, and Nolan thought he hid it, but he was heartbroken.

What kind of pussy was I calling my uncle for help while I stood in the hallway of a hospital crying like a fucking baby?

I sent off a text to Joel asking about Sally. Still no updates, she was in surgery. Please, God, do not let Sally die!

When I walked back into the room, my betrayal smacked me dead center in my c hest. Meadow was lying on a hospital bed clutching the sheet at her side while the doctor stitched her leg - alone.

Not only was I weak, but I was a total douchebag leaving her the way I did.

I broke my promise to her. I gave her my word she’d never be alone again.

Yet there she was folded into herself without me by her side.

“Hey.” I slid next to her and pried her fingers off the fabric and brought them up to my mouth, kissing each of them. “I’m sorry.”

Meadow’s red-rimmed eyes came to mine, and she tried to smile. God, she was killing me. She was the one that was attacked but she was reassuring me.

“I’m…”

“Shhh, Red. Just rest. We’ll talk later,” I told her.

The doctor finished with the gashes on the thigh and rolled her to the side to wash the abrasions on her back. I stayed where I was and lowered my face to hers, so we were inches apart.

“I’m so proud of you. You were so damn brave, baby,” I told her as the doctor continued to tend to her road rash.

“How did you find me?” she asked.

“We tracked one of Beth’s phones.”

“One of them? What do you mean?”

“It’s not important. We’ll talk about it when we get you home. ”

I wasn’t prepared to tell her that Beth was Veronica Venus; and I didn’t think Meadow was emotionally ready for another blow. That type of betrayal was crushing. Meadow had poured her heart out to the woman who’d been behind all her pain. It made me sick thinking about it.

Four hours later the team, minus Joel who was still with Sally, had gathered outside Meadow’s hospital room. I’d gotten a reprieve, and Kilby let me write my after-action report at the hospital. He also postponed my interview, so I didn’t have to leave Meadow.

“Good work today,” Kilby said as he prepared to leave. I gritted my teeth, stopping myself from telling him there was nothing good about Beth Stevens getting her filthy hands on Meadow.

Mandy’s hand went to my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “I agree. Strong work. Meadow is safe, and Beth is behind bars.”

“You ready to take her home?” Detective Lance said when he approached.

“Yes. She’s been released; we’re waiting on your okay,” I told him.

As predicted, the outside of the hospital was crawling with media. It was a madhouse outside, and we’d been planning our escape without being noticed.

“I’ve arranged for her to be taken by ambulance back to Firehouse 15. There is an unmarked car already there waiting to take you home . I’ll follow the ambulance in my car to make sure the rig isn’t being followed,” he explained.

“Thank you, much appreciated.”

“It’s the least I can do for being such an asshole. I was wrong and doubted you and damn if your profile wasn’t spot on. I won’t be making that mistake again.” Detective Lance offered his hand to Kilby, who graciously took his hand in a brief shake and nod.

“You’ll have our reports in the next day or two,” Kilby told him, then turned to us.

“Any word on Sally? Christ Almighty when that dog jumped over the seat and darted out of the car I didn’t know what to expect.

Her jumping into Beth Stevens was not what I expected.

Though she is yours; I should’ve known she’d go off reservation. ”

The team chuckled, and I did my best to smile though I knew it had to look more like a grimace.

“Joel said she made it through surgery, but the vet said it didn’t look good. I’d appreciate no one saying anything to Meadow. She’s torn up about what happened, and I’m afraid what the news will do to her.”

The team gave their agreement, and Lance escorted us back through the ER to an awaiting ambulance. Meadow’s gurney was quickly loaded, and the rig took off.