Page 33

CHAPTER 33

ROMAN

As soon as the elevator doors slid closed behind me, I exhaled all the stress, anxiety, and tension. I sagged against the handrail in relief. I’d not lost him. He was alive and as well as could be expected, and we had a chance—a real chance at making this work.

The swoosh of the elevator doors opening preceded the disharmonious sounds of the ER. Most days, I loved everything about the trauma unit and being in the hospital. Today was not one of those days. Overwhelmed by likely despair, then the release of all that anguish had me longing for a quiet corner to decompress.

“Roman! I need you!”

I looked up to see Ursula trying to wrangle a patient. One I recognized very well. I rushed to her.

“Hey, Lieutenant Holt.”

His eyes swiveled to mine, and he grabbed hold of me. The man was staggering about, but his grip was strong as he pressed his fingertips into my upper arms. He would be a force to be reckoned with, even in his current state.

“Where is he?”

“Do you mean Carson? Ensign Wilcox,” I corrected.

“Yes, dammit. Where’d you take him?”

“If you go back to your room, I’ll go over his and the others’ injuries with you, but only if you remain calm.”

“Fuck it. Fine. Let’s go.”

I settled him and pulled up his chart, “Has the doctor gone over your…”

“Yes. Where’s Carson?”

“In surgery.”

He tried getting up again, and I pushed him back down. “You get info when you comply with the remaining calm order.”

He huffed and eased back against the gurney. “Technically, you can’t order me to do anything. We’re the same rank.”

“Then thank you for complying, and congrats. Now, Carson is in surgery to repair the broken leg. It’s a non-displaced oblique femur fracture.”

“Non-displaced? So why the surgery.”

“They need to stabilize it.”

“Will he make it back?”

I laughed. “Y’all are gluttons for punishment. Carson asked the same thing. I don’t see a reason he wouldn’t. Permanent hardware isn’t disqualifying. He also has multiple rib fractures, a concussion, and a collapsed lung.”

“Yeah, we did a needle decompression in the field, but we didn’t leave it in, so it kept recurring.”

I pulled up Carson’s chart to be sure the info had been documented already. I breathed a little easier when I saw it had. They’d need that info with him being put under.

“Is that it? That’s all you’re going to tell me?”

“You’re an ass when you’re injured,” I commented.

“You’d be the same if your fucking helicopter got shot out of the sky, and three of your team were injured along with your cousin and two of her crew.”

“Your cousin?”

“Lieutenant Celeste Holt.”

I pulled up her chart. “She’s here and heading for an MRI. Looks like she might have a back injury.”

“Oh, fuck,” he groaned.

“Her feet and lower legs are a little numb, but there’s sensation, so that’s promising. It might just be a compression fracture or some swelling. It’s a wait-and-see kinda thing.”

He scrubbed his hands over his face. “Okay, what about Finlay Ryan and Alex Madison? Oh, and Celeste’s crew?”

“Ryan and Madison have some minor injuries and a concussion a-piece. As for the rest of the crew from the chopper… the co-pilot and crew chief didn’t make it.”

He hung his head, and I couldn’t even imagine what he was going through. Half his team and his cousin were injured, and two of his exfil team were dead.

“Dr. Ott? There’s an Admiral Holt on the phone for you,” Ursula said as she walked into the room.

I looked at Foster and asked, “Relative of yours?”

“My dad.”

I walked to the phone, picking up the call on hold.

“Admiral Holt, sir.”

“Is this Roman Ott?”

“Yes, sir.”

“How’s my son and niece?”

“Would you like to speak with your son? He’s here with me,” I asked.

“Absolutely. Put him on.”

I handed the phone to Foster and said, “I’m going up to check on Carson and Celeste. I’ll be back down when I can.”

I wandered the halls and stairways. I messaged Marjorie. She and I had spoken regularly since our trip to Munich for Oktoberfest.

Roman

How’s Ensign Wilcox?

Marjorie

He’s a SEAL. I’m pretty sure they’re all masochists.

He didn’t want to be put under. He got pissy when they refused to do it unless he consented.

I shook my head. Before I could respond, a 304-area code popped up on the screen.

Marjorie

Another 30 and he should be in recovery.

Roman

Thanks. His family’s calling.

Marjorie

No problem. I’ll text when he’s out.

I swiped the screen of my cell.

“Hello?”

“Roman? It’s Cal Wilcox.”

“Hey, Cal. He’s fine. In surgery at the moment, or I’d let you talk to him.”

“Fine and surgery don’t typically go hand-in-hand, son.”

I chuckled. “You’re right, but in this case, it’s all good. He’s got a broken leg, and they’re putting a rod in to stabilize it. He’ll be fine and back on his feet in a couple of months.”

“Will they discharge him?” I heard Carson’s mama ask in the background.

“No. Not unless there’s some serious complications.”

“Roman, we’re trying to figure out how to get over there…” Georgie began.

“I know you want to be here, but he won’t be here long. So, let Mama and me take care of him here, and you can take over when he gets back to Virginia.”

“Thank you, Roman.”

“No thanks needed. If the situation were reversed, y’all would do the same.”

“Without a doubt. You’ll keep us updated?” Cal asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“You’re a good egg, Roman.”

“Thank you, sir.”

I headed to the MRI suite and stepped inside.

“Dr. Ott. How are you?”

“I’m good, Brett. How’s the Lieutenant?”

“Lieutenant Holt is a very lucky woman. Well, the radiologist hasn’t signed off on anything, but from what I see, there’s no evidence of fractures. She’s mentioned the muted feeling in her feet and lower legs has faded some and feeling is returning slowly. So, she’ll probably be fitted for a brace just to be safe.”

“Good. I’ll let her cousin and uncle know.”

“You know the family?”

“By association, yes. My best friend is a SEAL. His CO is her cousin, and her uncle is a retired Admiral who was also a Navy SEAL.”

“And she’s a Navy pilot. A family of overachievers,” he said with a laugh.

I walked out into the hallway and jogged down the stairs to the ER to talk with Foster. When I walked in, Finlay and Alex were there with him.

“Everyone okay?”

I took a deep breath. Laughter stuttered softly as I exhaled. “Yeah. For the most part. Carson’s nearly out of surgery. The charge nurse will text when he’s in recovery.”

“And Celeste?”

“Sensation is coming back, and there’s no sign of fracture. She’ll most likely get a brace as a precaution.”

“I’d say we got lucky if we hadn’t lost the co-pilot and crew chief,” Alex said.

“Wasn’t anything you could’ve done. They were dead before the chopper hit the ground,” Finlay told him.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

Marjorie

In recovery. Surgery went great.

“Carson’s out of surgery and doing well. I’m going to check on him. The rest of you will be admitted shortly.”

“Thanks, doc. We appreciate all the personalized care.”

“Not a problem. Carson’s been my best friend since middle school. Any friend of his is a friend of mine.”

Once back upstairs, the surgeon approached me. “Dr. Ott. Dr. Milton. Your buddy did very well. As soon as the anesthesia wears off, we’ll get him on his feet and moving.”

“Thanks, Dr. Milton. I appreciate it. His family does as well.”

“Are they en route?”

“No, sir. Carson asked them to stay home. My mother lives with me. She’ll be by soon. She’s been a second mother to him, and his to me, since middle school. Mine will handle things here, and his will be waiting on him in Virginia.”

“I have a best friend like that myself. Okay, well, you can go on back to see him. He’s pretty out of it between the pain meds we’ve given him and the anesthesia, but he should be coming to soon.”

I nodded and made my way back to where Carson was propped up in bed. His eyes were closed, his face slack as he slept off the effects of the meds he’d been given.

“Captain, can I help you?” a nurse asked.

“No thank you…”

“Tiffany.”

“No, thanks Tiffany. I’m good. And it’s Dr. Ott.”

“Sorry, doctor. I didn’t realize.” She looked at Carson, her eyes scanning the monitors around his bed, then she turned back to me. “Family member?”

The love of my life.

Yeah, that wouldn’t do, so instead, I said, “Best friend for more than half my life.”

“Are you stationed here?”

“Yes. I’m in the ER.”

“Well, he’s lucky to have you here.”

I nodded because I couldn’t say what I really wanted, that I was the lucky one. Especially after everything he disclosed earlier.

Mama

How is he?

Roman

As good as can be expected. Just got out of surgery.

Mama

But he’s okay?

Roman

Yeah. He’s okay. They placed an intramedullary nail in his broken femur, and he’s got some other injuries, but he should pull through just fine.

Mama

Prognosis?

I chuckled. Once a nurse, always a nurse.

Roman

Full recovery, barring any complications.

Mama

Good. Have you talked to Georgie and Cal?

Roman

Yes. They called while he was in surgery.

Mama

When do they arrive?

Roman

They don’t. I told them to stay put.

Carson’s orders before you take my head off. He insisted.

I told them we’d take care of him here and they could take care of him when he went home to Virginia.

Mama

Good plan. Georgie’s probably going to need some help with him. Margot’s on spring break in a couple of weeks.

Roman

Another good plan. I’ll talk with Carson when he wakes up.

Mama

Hopefully, you can fit in that other conversation as well.

A grin broke across my face as the memory of the conversation he and I already had came to mind. And the kiss. I would never forget that kiss.

Roman

Done

Mama

Told you

A nearly silent laugh escaped as I pictured her smug, happy face.

“What’s got you grinning like a cat who ate a canary?”

My gaze abandoned my phone screen for his face. He looked groggy, and his speech slurred with a rough rasp, but he was awake.

“Mama.”

His eyes drifted closed as he nodded.

“You going back to sleep?”

“Fuck, no,” he groaned.

“Want some ice chips?”

“A whiskey would be better.”

“A shot of Maker’s sounds amazing, but not with the meds you’re on,” Tiffany said as she came to stand on the other side of the gurney.

“That’s bourbon,” Carson slurred.

She chuckled at him as she worked around him. “All bourbon is whiskey, but not all whiskey is bourbon.”

“Smart ass. And I prefer Macallan.”

“Damn. You got expensive taste, but if you’re buying, I’m drinking.”

“If you’re ever in Vah Beach, I’ll buy you that drink. Hell, I’ll buy you a bottle.”

“I’ll take you up on it. My husband is Air Force, and Andrews is always calling.”

“What’s he fly?”

“An F-16.”

Carson nodded, and his eyes slid closed.

“Carson?”

“Hmm?”

“You need to wake up.”

His eyes fluttered, and he pushed his hands against the gurney, trying to sit up. Tiffany helped him with some ice chips, and the cold seemed to help him shake off the fog.

“I was starting to wonder if you really were an operator.”

“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?”

She smiled, handing him a hospital mug with a straw. “Slow sips.”

He followed orders.

“Why’re you wondering?”

She chuckled at him. “Because I’d always heard y’all woke up ready to take on the world.”

He cocked his brow and smirked. “Yeah, well, typically, I don’t have enough tranquilizers in my system to down a fucking elephant.”

She laughed and handed me a stethoscope. “See if you can get him to cough some of that crap up and call for me if there’s any issues. I’ll work on getting him transferred to a regular room.”

She walked away, and when I looked at Carson, he leered at me. His eyes rolled down my body. My cock perked up, and his heart rate spiked.

“Baby, you need to calm down,” I whispered as I checked his heart and lungs.

“Yeah, I’m not sure if that’s possible with you here. All I can think about is kissing you. Among other things.”

“I understand. It was a damn good kiss, and as much as I’d like to repeat it, we need to hold off until you’re no longer attached to a heart monitor that lets the entire damn hospital know what’s going on inside your chest.”

“You don’t know how much I want to say fuck it. But I get where you’re coming from.”

“Good.” Glancing around, I whispered, “Just so you know, as soon as they take that heart monitor off you, and you’re up for it, I’m gonna make certain you have an orgasm that’ll roll your eyes in the back of your head.”

“If you were trying to keep my heart rate down, talking about giving me orgasms isn’t the way to go,” he groaned.

The sound shot straight to my groin.

“Okay, I’ve got you transferred to the ward, Ensign,” Tiffany said from behind me.

The jerk smirked at me as I stepped closer to the raised head of the bed to hide what he did to me.

I handed Tiffany back her stethoscope and trailed after Carson as the aides moved him to a room. A nurse greeted us as the elevator doors opened. I stood back and watched the staff get Carson settled. The transport aides departed, leaving behind a couple of nurses. They asked question after question, and while Carson answered them, he only had eyes for me.

I’d never been on the receiving end of that sort of focus before. To say it was exhilarating was putting it mildly. I felt that gaze in my soul, piercing through all the layers to the very essence of what made me me. It was also a little unnerving. What if he didn’t like what he found there?

“Okay, Ensign Wilcox, I’ll put in an order for some food.”

His eyes lit up, and the look he gave the nurse should be put in the dictionary next to the words glee and anticipation. She looked at me because we both knew he’d be disappointed.

Deciding to be the bad guy, I said, “Don’t get your hopes up for greasy cheeseburgers or pizza. You’ll be getting something bland for the next little bit. At least until they’re sure you won’t hurl, anyway.”

The nurse, I think she said her name was Daphne, pointed at me and said, “That. Chicken broth, jello, some tea, maybe dry toast.”

Carson groaned. “Ugh. My stomach is getting ready to start gnawing on my freaking spine.”

“What?”

“That’s hillbilly for he’s starving,” I said.

“Hmm. I like it. But it doesn’t change what you’re getting, Ensign.”

More groaning followed her out the door, and I laughed at his theatrics when he flopped back against the head of the bed.

My phone vibrated against my leg. I pulled out, expecting it to be Carson’s family or Mama.

Ursula

Incoming.

Roman

I’m off today.

Ursula

Not now. The colonel heard you were here, and we’re short-staffed.

Roman

Okay. I’ll be down shortly.

I sighed, walking to Carson’s bedside.

“The boss heard I’m here, and she’s ordered me downstairs to help with an incoming trauma.”

“Bring me back some food.”

I shook my head. “Not a chance. At least not until you’ve kept down the bland shit. I’ll be back in a little bit. Get some rest,” I ordered, pressing a kiss to his lips.

He moaned into my mouth, opening his lips, and I couldn’t help but take a sip. It was slow, and it started sweet and innocent, but when our tongues touched, the blood in my veins thickened. My pants grew tight, and my heart throbbed slow and heavy like the bassline of a dark, smutty song that made you want to do nothing but fuck for days.

Voices out in the hallway caught my attention, and we separated. “I’ll see if Mama will make you some of her chicken noodle soup.”

He moaned. “That sounds amazing. She was always a great cook.”

“I’ll tell her you said so.”

I walked out of Carson’s room only to run into the one person I didn’t want to see.

“What are you doing up here?” Gunnar asked.

He was a beautiful man, but knowing Carson wanted me, I had no desire for him. I hadn’t since the fall. I also hadn’t seen him since the day he got pissed and broke things off.

Not wanting to be rude, I bit back the comment I really wanted to toss his way and said, “A friend of mine was admitted.”

“A friend?”

I could tell by his tone what he meant by the question, and I was done lying about my feelings for Carson. Unless I absolutely had to keep them to myself, I would acknowledge them and him.

“Yes, a friend.

“What’s his name?”

“What’s it matter?”

“Is he…”

“Is he the reason why I didn’t pursue anything with you?

“Yes.”

“I tried Gunnar. I did. I didn’t think he wanted me, so I tried with you, but that wasn’t fair to you, and that’s the reason why I broke things off with you.”

“You didn’t break fucking shit off with me. You ignored me.”

“I was elbows deep in a trauma the day you blew my phone up. That’s the reason you didn’t get a response.”

“You were supposed to meet me the night before and never showed up.

“I explained that to you as well. My child was sick. Was I supposed to ignore my puking kid to hook up with you? One would think, as a pediatrician, you’d understand that Margot comes first.”

“Can I meet him?”

“Why? What good would that do?”

“I don’t know. Does he know about me?”

“Don’t be that guy, Gunnar. You’re one of the best men I’ve ever met, but if you fuck with him or me, I’ll make sure you regret it for the rest of your life. I’m not joking.”

His eyes widened, and I walked away. I needed to get downstairs so I could get back to Carson.