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She was okay. The baby was okay. When Powell came out of the exam room, someone called her name. She turned.

There they were. Two of her favorite baboons. Looking beyond beautiful. Powell gave a small cry she wasn’t even aware of making, and almost leaped. Her oldest brother caught her in his strong arms and just held her. His hand cupped the back of her head. He was shaking, and rocking her, and just telling her she’d been causing him too much trouble her entire life. He was locking her in a tower somewhere, and not ever letting her out again. Period.

Powell just sort of clung there. Then he put her back on her feet and passed her to Alex. Powell hugged him next, then looked at Mac. “Where’s Mom?”

“She’s already in with Dad. She made it to the Colesons’ just fine. Eden and Joy checked her over before heading out to help with everyone else,” Mac said. “Have you heard anything about Daniel or Heather? How’s Gunnar?”

Nikkie Jean had kept her updated while she had stitched Powell’s arm. That was all—stitches. The ultrasound had shown the baby was doing okay too. The baby’s little heartbeat was where it was supposed to be too. No signs of distress. Viking babies were very strong and hardy, after all.

Gunnar was in surgery now. With the best surgeons they had here at FCGH. That was all she knew. Powell was just waiting. Again.

Like she had with Haldyn just weeks before.

Once she had him back with her where he belonged, she wasn’t wasting another moment being afraid to try ever again. She just wasn’t. “He’s in surgery now. Heather lost a lot of blood, Nikkie Jean said. The bullet hit something in her leg when she me and Dad out of the way. And she was bleeding really badly. That is all Nikkie Jean could tell me. I just don’t know.”

“Well, we’re not going anywhere until we find out. Gunnar’s tough, and he has everything to live for now,” Alex said, but she saw the fear in his blue eyes. “And Heather—we all know she’s a vampire goddess queen. She’s going to be just fine.”

Powell just let her brothers lead her to the waiting room.

Where they waited.

All they could do was wait.

Powell really hated waiting. She and Gunnar had waited long enough.