NICK PACED BACK and forth in the hospital hallway, his stomach rumbling in anticipation of dinner. They’d been in Germany a little over three days, and if they got the green light, the team would fly out that night on a plane headed home. He ran a hand through his hair and for the fifth time that day wished for a shower and a razor. The hair on his face was starting to irritate him.
Grabbing another cup of coffee, he headed back to the waiting room where the rest of the team had taken up residence. How they had escaped with only one gunshot wound blew his mind. Micah had a cut over his eye from a piece of debris, and Colt had a few bruises, but it was nothing unfamiliar to them.
He rounded the corner and almost ran into the doctor, who was updating the rest of the team on Logan’s progress. Nick stilled as the doctor’s words registered in his sleep-deprived brain. “ . . . infection. We gave him antibiotics, but it will take a few days to see if they work. We’re going to bandage him up and send him home for doctors there to decide. We’ve done all we can do for now.”
“And if the antibiotics don’t work, sir?” Titus broke the silence.
The doctor shook his head and removed his glasses from the bridge of his nose. “He could lose his leg below the knee.”
“Doc, why would he lose his leg? I thought we got here in time.” Jay stood up, his nervous energy clear. He hated hospitals.
“The bullet severed his artery. He lost a lot of blood, and the debris lodged in his muscle, severely damaging his mobility. Because of pollution in the water, infection set in. We are working to contain and eliminate it right now with medication. But I think the best move is sending him home. He and his wife and the doctors will be able to make the best decision together. This is only my immediate recommendation.”
“Thanks, Doc, for all your help.” Micah stood and shook the doctor’s hand.
The doctor pointed at the gash he had butterflied shut above Micah’s right eye. “Take care of that. No fights, got it?”
“Yes, sir.” Micah’s Alabama accent intensified in his exhaustion, and right now he looked about dead on his feet. None of them had slept much since bringing Logan in.
Jay and Titus still blamed themselves for not getting the sniper, but Logan would hear none of it. “You two were exactly where we planned, covering our backs around the perimeter, so shut up or get out. This could have happened to any of us, and I wouldn’t wish it on any of you.”
The only thing that helped Logan was Tim McGraw and old John Wayne DVDs that they managed to rustle up. If Nick listened hard enough, he could hear the cheesy cadence of Western music and the muffled sound of old rifles filtering down the hall.
Nick wanted to shoot something. As soon as he got back, he would hit the shooting range and stay there until all his adrenaline faded. Then he’d run for another hour or so on the beach. He hated to lose, and he hated to fail on a mission.
“So now what?” Colt threw his arms in the air. “Logan’s career may be over. And we didn’t even catch this chick.” He walked to the wall and slapped it.
Nick sank down in a chair and hung his head. “They’ve got a baby coming soon. And the kids . . . they’ll have a tough time understanding this.”
Jay paced the room then stopped and made eye contact with every one of them. “They won’t do this by themselves. Hear me? We will be there every step of the way. Even if that means we all pitch in and get Logan a prosthetic and then give him heck as he learns to walk. Got it?” He pointed. “No matter what.”
Titus clapped him on the back. “That was never an option, Jay, man. I love those kids like my own, and Kim. Kim has just taken Liza under her wing. Helped her adjust to SEAL life. They will never want for anything, not if I have anything to say about it.”
Jay resumed his pacing. Nick knew he would burn off the anger, the feelings of abandonment he faced in a crisis that reminded him of losing his dad.
“I’ll call Kim. See how she’s doing.” Nick stood and held up his Styrofoam cup. “Anyone need a refill?” Colt and Micah handed him their cups as he exited the room.
He pulled out his military issue phone and slowly dialed Kim’s number. At least Logan wouldn’t come home in a flag-covered box. But the circumstances still wouldn’t be easy.
“Hello?” Molly’s sweet voice rang over the phone line, and Nick pictured her as she’d been at the Labor Day party on the beach. So happy, so full of life. His heart broke.
“Hey, ladybug. It’s Uncle Nick.”
“Uncle Nick! Where are you? Are you coming home soon? Can I talk to my daddy?”
“We’ll be home before you know it.” He ignored her other questions, squeezing his eyes shut to block out the stark, sterile white of the hallways around him. “Molly, can you put your mom on the phone?”
“She’s right here. See you soon, Uncle Nick. Can you give Daddy a hug for me, and tell him I love him?”
“Sure will, ladybug. Now put your mom on.” He gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. They would figure something out. They would get through this.
He heard the static sound of shuffling on the other end of the phone before Kim’s alto voice cut through. “Nick, what’s wrong? Is Logan okay?”
“Kim, we’re coming home soon. Doc just cleared him. He’s doing okay, ordering us around like always. I’m sure he’ll call you again shortly, but I just wanted to check on you myself.”
“I wish I could be there.” Kim’s tough veneer cracked, and it was all he could do not to reach through the phone and hug her.
“Kim, he’s alert and watching John Wayne movies, if that tells you anything. I’m about to call Kaylan and ask her to get the kids so you and Logan can have some alone time when we land. You will get through this like you always do, one step at a time together.”
Silence greeted him, and he heard a small sniff.
“Bring him home, Nick.”
“We are on the first plane back. Stay close to your phone and e-mail. We’ll see you soon.”
He hung up and checked his wristwatch. It would be about zero eight hundred in San Diego. Kaylan would be arriving at work soon, assuming her morning commute was smooth. The phone rang three times before he heard a breathless “Hello?”
“Kayles, it’s me.”
“Nick! It’s so good to hear your voice. Is everything okay?”
He exhaled, her voice a balm to his exhaustion. “We’re headed home pretty soon. I don’t have long. Listen, can you do me a favor?”
“Name it.” He heard the sound of a car alarm engaging and guessed she had just parked.
“Can you help Kim by taking the kids so she can come pick Logan up when we get there?”
Her hurried breathing stilled. “Nick . . . ”
“Kaylan, I can’t say much. Please. Can you check on her tonight and then take the kids when you get word we are about to land?”
“Absolutely.” She hesitated. “Are you okay?”
“Missing you. But other than that, I’m fine.”
“Miss you too. Come find me when you land? I’m sorry I won’t be there.”
“This is more important. We’ll have lots of these, God willing.”
“Come home fast, babe.”
“As soon as I can. Love you.”
He could almost hear her smile over the phone and see the blush creep over her cheeks. “Bye.”
Nick ended the call and grabbed the cups off the desk to refill them. He wasn’t sure how, but they would get through this with Logan. No matter what it took. A SEAL didn’t leave a man behind, in death, in life, or in loss of limb. Their brotherhood ran deeper than blood, and Nick would give anything to make this better. Janus had better pray she died before he found her.