Chapter 17

Seventeen

Time dragged. Every time someone in scrubs walked past the door to the waiting room, Finn tensed, hoping they’d come in with news. Each time, though, they kept on walking, instead of communicating with him.

He glanced at his watch. Only an hour had passed since they’d come upstairs from the ED. His dad had pulled through and arranged for a plane to bring Slick and Aunt Poppy.

“How you holding up?” Oak came over to where Finn still stood looking out the window, not really seeing the ocean in the distance.

“As best as can be expected. I wonder what’s taking so long. It was a stab wound to the shoulder. Not like it was the kidney or liver. Or stomach.”

“No idea. But if anyone would know how much damage a knife can do to someone, it would be you,” Oak said.

His friend was right; Finn was a medic. He’d done medical training, yet his mind was blank. Could the knife have nicked her heart? Or maybe the wound was deep enough to pierce her lung.

Or had they found something else when they’d opened her up? Perhaps they’d found a tumor. Something Jess didn’t know about.

Stop it!

The last thing he needed was to start thinking about scenarios that were unlikely.

“I don’t know what to do, Oak. I feel so helpless. I should be able to use my knowledge to keep me calm, but I can’t.”

“Don’t think the worst. Sometimes knowledge is more a hindrance than a help.”

“I know.” Finn nodded.

A figure appeared in the doorway, and he straightened.

Was this the doctor who’d worked on Jess? Or was it for the other family that had come into the room not long after he’d sat down? If this doctor was for them, Finn needed to keep it together.

“I’m looking for Jessica Killian’s fiancé,” the man said.

“That’s me,” Finn said. “What’s happening? Is Jess okay? Why did it take so long?”

A small smile appeared on the doctor’s face, as if this was the normal response he got whenever he walked into the waiting room. “I’m Dr. Robertson. Surgery on Ms. Killian went well. She’s been moved to recovery. The wound was deep. An artery was severed, so she lost a lot of blood. We were able to repair it, and she should make a full recovery. When she’s moved to a room, a nurse will come get you.”

“Thank you, for everything.” Finn shook his hand.

“All part of the job.” He nodded and walked out.

Finn stared at the blank wall opposite the door for a moment, aware that his friends had come up behind him.

“She good, Hive?” Kevlar asked.

Finn didn’t care that he’d teared up. Didn’t care that he wasn’t acting like a SEAL, because he wasn’t. Right then, he was a man relieved that the woman he loved was going to be okay. “Yeah,” he said after a moment. “She’ll be in a room soon, and then I’ll be able to go see her.”

“Good. I hate to do this, but we need to get back to base.” Kevlar glanced over to where Smiley stood.

“Go. I don’t want you guys to get in trouble with the commander. Thanks for being here. For, you know…” Finn didn’t elaborate, but he didn’t have to. Even though he’d already thanked the man a couple of times, he wasn’t going to stop, because when he needed support, Kevlar had given it.

“Always, man. Keep me posted.”

“I will.”

His fellow SEAL slapped his shoulder as he walked past, and Smiley gave him a chin lift.

No sooner had they walked out than House and Whistler appeared, their partners by their side.

“We got here as soon as we could.” House pulled Finn in for a quick, one-armed man hug. “We were on our way to Palm Springs, and so we had to turn around.”

“Fuck, House, you could’ve sent a message and let me know. I would’ve understood why you couldn’t be here,” Finn said.

House shook his head. “Said it the other night. We’re your team. Your family. You need us, we’re there. I couldn’t reach Shark, but looks like he’s gone off the grid, like he occasionally does. And, well, Tenor is a few floors up. We’ll go see him after.”

In all the chaos of rushing to the hospital and waiting for news, he’d forgotten his teammate was in the same hospital. “Damn. I should go see him.”

Whistler gave a wry smile. “I think you’ve got more important things to worry about. How’s Jess?”

Finn relayed what the doctor had told him. He was so grateful they’d dropped everything to come to the hospital, but he felt bad that their vacation plans were disrupted. The last thing he wanted was for them to miss out on their leave. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m really glad you and Whistler are here,” he said to House. “But Jess’s parents are going to be here soon, and if I know my parents, they’ll be on their way, too. You and Whistler go to Palm Springs. Enjoy your time with your women. Hell, an unexpected vacation isn’t something we should waste. We’ll be okay.”

“It was only for a couple of nights at Alison’s parents’ vacation home. It’s not like we’re losing a hotel booking,” House said.

“Still, you can’t tell me you weren’t looking forward to being able to sleep longer than five a.m. and swim for the fun of it, not because it’s part of PT.”

Whistler laughed. “I was fucking looking forward to sleeping in. Ow!” He rubbed his arm when his wife punched him.

“Please, my hand bounced off you. And watch your mouth. You’re in a hospital,” she admonished.

Finn smirked.

“Are you sure?” House asked again.

“Very. Oak’s here. I’ll be fine, and I’ll make sure to keep you updated.”

“Okay. But if you need anything—anything at all—let us know and we’ll come back.”

Finn didn’t doubt his team leader’s words. “I will.”

After a quick round of goodbyes, he headed over to the plastic chairs.

Oak and Kaley had gone to get some drinks, and he was grateful for the moment of solitude. Walking away from his team was going to be hard, particularly after what they’d done for him when he’d needed support. However, the thought of being so far away from Jess was one Finn couldn’t stand. So, as hard as it was going to be, he’d do it for the woman he loved.

He’d do anything for her.

Pain seeped into Jess’s consciousness. The throb in her shoulder became more and more intense as her awareness returned.

There were voices, too. Ones that sounded like her mom and dad.

Where was she? Had she flown back to San Antonio, gotten hurt, and didn’t remember any of it? Why did her hand feel so warm?

Jess flexed her fingers and whatever was on top of her moved as well.

“Jess!”

Finn!

The jumbled pieces of her mind moved around until everything over the last few days fell into place.

She’d danced her final show of the tour.

Run into Finn.

Kissed and slept with Finn.

Was at a bar and then...pain. Red-hot pain in her shoulder.

I was stabbed. Someone stabbed me.

“Come on, popsicle, wake up.” Warm lips brushed across her forehead.

Even though they felt as if they were stuck together with glue, Jess forced her eyes open, blinking a couple of times before Finn’s handsome features came into focus.

“Finn?” Her lips were dry, so his name came out as a croak.

“Jess, baby! Don’t you scare me like that.” Her dad’s rough voice sounded before his tall figure came into focus behind the man she loved.

“Dad? Wh—” Jess licked her lips in an attempt to get some moisture onto them.

A second later, a cup with a straw was placed against her mouth.

“Here you go, sweetheart.” Her mom’s voice filled her heart and tears formed in her eyes.

There was no hiding what’d happened to her this time. No way could she keep it secret, which meant she’d have to tell them what happened in New York, and she wasn’t ready for that. Was she?

Jess took a couple of sips of the cool water, grimacing at the metallic tap-water taste, but she was so grateful for the moisture, she didn’t care about the taste. She glanced at Finn. “You good?”

He lifted their joined hands and kissed the top of hers. “I am now. You scared me, Jess. I don’t ever want to go through the last few hours again. And I wasn’t the one who had to have surgery.”

Finn’s gaze never left hers. He didn’t look embarrassed that her parents were in the room. Didn’t care that he was basically telling everyone in the room they were a couple.

Jess looked over Finn’s shoulder and found her dad watching them.

He didn’t look angry, just concerned. The fact Finn was holding her hand didn’t seem to bother him at all.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes.

Her dad’s expression softened, and an answering glisten of tears shone in his gray eyes. “You have nothing to be sorry for. You didn’t ask to be hurt.”

“We should call the doctor,” her mom murmured.

“We will, but I need to see for myself that my baby girl’s okay.”

Finn released his hold on her hand, and she wanted to snatch it back, but he was already moving, making way for her dad to take his place in the chair next to her.

Her mind was still a bit foggy from the anesthesia, but she had a feeling Finn hadn’t mentioned to her parents anything about Bartholomew and what he’d done.

Why hadn’t he?

He’d had the perfect opportunity while she was out of it. Or when he’d called them to tell them she’d been hurt. Yet it looked like Finn had done none of that.

It had to have been hard not to say anything.

“Do you remember what happened to you?” Dad asked as he picked up her hand and held it like Finn had done.

Jess closed her eyes, in part not to have to see her dad’s disappointment when she told him what she’d been through. Also, because she wanted to try to remember everything.

Soft fingers brushed across her forehead. Opening her eyes, she met her mom’s gaze. Love and warmth shone in them.

Finn stood behind them, a silent sentinel, there to jump in and help should Jess need it.

She gathered that strength close and took a deep breath, ready to reveal everything that had happened to her, and not just recent events. “I was at the wine bar with Kaley. We were sitting outside. The table was close to the barrier. We were celebrating my promotion to principal dancer at Baxter. Kaley went inside to get some more drinks and I was reading through the email again, looking at the contract. I wasn’t paying much attention to what was going on around me. Next thing I know, there’s a searing pain in my shoulder. I think it was more shock than anything that had me passing out. I woke up briefly in the ER, but they took me to surgery. Now here I am, and you’re here.”

Her mom was now gripping her dad’s bicep, the whites of her knuckles showing. “Who would do such a thing? And why?” she whispered.

“You were made principal dancer?” Finn asked at the same time.

Jess nodded as a wave of weariness swept over her. “I was.”

Dad pressed his lips to her cheek. “Sleep, sweetheart. We’ll be here when you wake up.”

This time, she couldn’t even nod. She just let her eyes drift shut and she floated into a dreamless sleep.