Molly fell asleep on Elizabeth’s shoulder after lunch while Jake watched a movie. Amy arrived around dinnertime with fried chicken and all the trimmings. After they had eaten, Amy sat with the children while Elizabeth sought out the doctors for an update, before they left for the night.
Randy was in the waiting room with Amy and the children when Elizabeth returned. Elizabeth glanced at Randy from the doorway, and he rose to walk down the hall with her. She sighed and said, “The doctors say he is stable, but they are keeping him in a drug induced coma for a few days because of his lung.” Elizabeth hugged Randy and said, “He’s out of danger. They will move him to a regular room in the morning.”
Randy’s breath came in deep gasps. He tried to control his intense joy at the news. His voice was deep and throaty when he answered, “That’s good; I’ll take the kids home. I think you should come too.”
“I’d like that, but I don’t want to leave Josh alone,” Elizabeth answered.
Randy nodded toward the intern that stood at the far end of the hallway near the entrance to ICU and said, “Some state troopers have volunteered to spend their off time keeping an eye on Josh. He won’t be alone, and you need some sleep. Amy has Kilo and Charlie already at the house. I think it’s best if everyone stays with me until we get some answers.”
Elizabeth searched his face then asked, “What did you find out?”
Randy sighed and said, “No fingerprint match in the system. Now we have to wait on the DNA.”
************
Josh heard a buzzing in his ears. It was sporadic but kept returning. He tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids were heavy, and he was so tired. Muffled voices rang in the distance as the buzzing returned. Josh took a deep breath, and the buzzing grew louder; it pounded away at his head. Then there were lights, bright lights. He shut his eyes and turned away from the light. Pain shot through his chest as he drew another breath. What is going on?
Josh forced his eyes open. He blinked at the bright light coming through the windows and forced his eyes to focus on the source of the buzzing sound. When his vision cleared, he saw Molly sitting on Elizabeth’s lap as she and Jake leaned over the small table next to the window.
“Got it!” Jake announced triumphantly as he removed another organ from the surgical game as the buzzing alarm filled the room once more.
“Cheater!” Molly laughed, smacking his arm, “You are so bad at this game! Beth can get every single one, and you can’t even pull out the funny bone without setting off the alarm.”
Josh tried to raise his head as he opened his mouth to speak. A wave of pain washed across his chest, and all he could manage was a weak moan. All three heads snapped to face him. Molly squealed when she saw his eyes were open and rushed to his side. Elizabeth reached out and slowed her pace saying, “Easy, Molly. Remember, he’s been hurt. Be gentle.”
Elizabeth rushed off to find a nurse as Jake came up beside Molly. They stood staring at Josh not knowing what to do or say. Josh managed a weak smile and whispered as loud as his voice would allow, “I’m okay kids. It’s just a scratch.”
Jake grinned at his dad and said, “That’s what you said when I broke my arm.”
Molly climbed gingerly up onto the bed, avoiding the IV tube. She managed to squeeze up along the bed rail next to him and place her head on his shoulder. “Does it hurt daddy?”
Josh glanced at the door and saw Elizabeth standing there watching them. He said, “Only a little sweetie, only a little.”