Неизвестный - 2. Beyond The Breakwater

When Nelson Parker arrived at the hospital and asked for the whereabouts of his deputy sheriff, he was directed to a room in the intermediate care unit on the second floor. The door was closed when he arrived, and looking up and down the hall, he saw no one around. Carefully, he pushed the door open and peeked in.

The room was dim, and at first all he could make out was the single hospital bed in the center of the room holding a sheet-covered form. His gaze drifted to the small sofa tucked into one corner, and his eyes widened. His daughter sat with a woman cradled in her arms, her chin resting on the top of the tousled auburn hair. He and Bri stared at one another for an instant, and then he slowly closed the door.

Nelson leaned with his back against the wall and replayed the image in his mind. He kept being reminded every few months how little he understood of his daughter. Bri was his child; he remembered a million images of her growing up, the kind of snapshot moments he supposed most men had of their children. But he didn’t know who she had become. In fact, he didn’t have any point of reference to even imagine who she was. Victoria King was one of the strongest women he’d ever met, and his daughter was in there holding her, sheltering her, it looked like. He felt inexplicably proud.

The door opened softly, and Bri stepped out. “Hi, Dad.”

“Hi, Bri,” he said gruffly, his throat a little scratchy. “How’s Reese?”

“She’s been asleep since they brought her up here, maybe two hours ago. The doctors are supposed to look at her again soon.”

“She…uh…she pretty sick?”

Bri swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

“Christ,” he growled. “How’s Tory taking it?”

“She’s worn out. She’s been asleep, too.”

“You okay?”

I’m fucking scared out of my mind. Bri looked away. “Yeah.”

Nelson squeezed her shoulder with one huge hand, then slid his arm around her and pulled her close. He hugged her for a second, amazed as always by her solid strength. “Reese is tough.”

“Yeah,” Bri said. She’d never leave Tory. But people do, don’t they? We lost Mom.

Bri stepped away. “I oughta get Tory some lunch. She forgets, and you know…with her being…you know. Reese would be pissed if we let Tory get sick.”

“You go back in,” Nelson said quickly, jumping at the chance to do something, anything, remotely useful. He did not want to walk in there and see Reese on the edge. He didn’t think he could take it. “I’ll get her a sandwich. That would be good, right?”

“Yeah. And juice. Juice seems to be okay.”

“Great. Got it,” the Sheriff said as he hurried away.

Bri glanced at the clock down the hall at the nurse’s station. Almost three p.m. She thought about calling Carre. Carre would tell her that Reese would be fine, and make her believe it. Carre’d always been able to do that…make her see the light in the dark, no matter how bad it seemed. She closed her eyes, leaned her head back against the wall. I wish you were here. I wish you knew how much I need you.

After a minute, she opened her eyes, straightened her shoulders, and slipped back into the room.

Reese opened her eyes, blinked, and focused on the faces leaning over her. The surgeon was closest to her, her dark eyes opaque, her austerely handsome features expressionless. Tory stood across from her. Focusing on those tender green eyes, Reese smiled. “Is this the only show in town?”

A flicker of joy flared in Tory’s eyes, the first sign of happiness in hours. The corner of her mouth lifted in a soft smile. “Apparently, Sheriff, you’re it.”

“It’s good to see you,” Reese whispered, lifting her free hand, which Tory immediately grasped. Then, Reese turned toward K.T. O’Bannon. “How do things look, Doctor?”

“Stable,” K.T. said, her gaze on Reese’s arm. Then she seemed to reconsider. “Actually, a bit better than that. I think the cellulitis has receded and the swelling is a little less.”

“I guess that means you and I won’t be getting together then.”

K.T.‘s dark eyes rose to meet the deep blue ones. She smiled faintly. “I guess not.” The she glanced across Reese’s body to Tory and said quietly, “Can we speak outside?”

Tory looked as if she were about to object, but Reese squeezed her hand reassuringly. “Go ahead, love.”

After a second’s hesitation, Tory nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

Once outside, Tory studied K.T., who leaned with one shoulder against the wall, waiting for her. The surgeon wore only hospital scrubs with no lab coat. Her beeper was clipped to the right hip and several pens protruded from her breast pocket. She was still lean and faintly tanned. She looked much the way Tory remembered her, with only a few added lines around her eyes to mark the passage of time. She was still heart-stoppingly beautiful, with that same dangerous glint in her eyes, as if she knew it. Looking at her, Tory’s memories of their years together were clouded by the mists of half truths and lost dreams. The emotions that had once been so achingly close to the surface whenever she thought of K.T.’s smile, her touch, were gone. Uneasily, she asked, “What is it? Did you see something that worried you when you examined her?”

“No, nothing like that,” K.T. clarified quickly. “I just wanted you to know that I’ll be here for another twelve hours. If there’s any change, call me. I’ll come take another look.”

“Thanks, K.T.” The relief almost made her dizzy. Maybe the nightmare really was over. “I appreciate you spending so much time with us. I know how busy it gets when you’re the only one on call.”

“That’s okay.” K.T. shrugged. Then, her voice pitched low, she added, “I’m glad things turned out this way. As much as I love to operate, I’m glad I didn’t have to this time.”

“So am I. I know you weren’t happy when I wanted to wait.”

“The two of you would have been hard to take on.”

Tory smiled. “Reese is not someone you want to challenge at any time, even when she’s flat on her back.”

“I haven’t seen her at her best, and I believe you.” Uncharacteristically, K.T. looked away for a heartbeat, and then brought her eyes back to Tory’s. “I still miss you.”

Tory’s lips parted in surprise. They hadn’t seen each other since separating nearly seven years before. The first few years after that had been agonizingly difficult. They’d been through medical school and residency together, and Tory had planned on a lifetime with her. When all that had changed, she’d lost faith in love and even worse, in herself. First she had regained her identity and sense of purpose by establishing her medical practice in Provincetown. She’d rebuilt her life while keeping her heart locked safely away. Then Reese had come along and made it impossible for her not to believe in love again. Reese had brought hope back into her heart, and because of Reese’s love, her life was filled with joy and promise.

“Take care of yourself, K.T.,” Tory said quietly. “I need to get back to her.”

As Tory turned away, the deep, sensuous voice she knew so well murmured, “If I called you, could I see you?”

Without looking back, Tory softly replied, “No.”

Then she walked through the door and let it swing closed behind her.

“Everything okay?” Reese asked as she watched her lover approach. She’d been fading in and out for what felt like days, but she remembered realizing who the surgeon had to be. Tory’s ex-lover. Do you still hurt, love?

Tory pulled a chair close to the bedside and lowered the rail that separated them. She placed both hands around Reese’s below the intravenous line, lifted it, and pressed her lips to the top of Reese’s hand. “Everything is wonderful.”

“O’Bannon’s your K.T., right?”

Tory stiffened slightly, then shook her head gently. “No, honey. Not anymore.”

“You’re all right?”

“I am now. You’re better.” Tory lifted Reese’s fingers and brushed them against her cheek, then turned her face and kissed each one. “How do you feel?”

“Like I’ve been on maneuver for four days straight in a swamp somewhere without water. My head hurts, my insides are empty, and I don’t think I could stand up if the room was on fire.” Reese grinned weakly. “But compared to this morning, I feel like a million bucks.”

“You’re going to be fine.”

“I can think a little bit clearer now, and I seem to have most of the feeling back in my right hand. I’m just so damn weak.”

You’ll get over this. You have to, because I need you so much. Tory closed her eyes as a sudden rush of the emotions swamped her. Then she couldn’t stop the tears, even though she wanted to. “Oh, god, Reese.”

“Tory,” Reese whispered. “It’s okay, love.”

“I was so scared,” Tory murmured, her eyes still closed. “I don’t know how I would manage without you. I can’t even imagine…”

“I love you. I will not leave you.” Reese moved their joined hands until her fingers touched the tears. “Besides, we have a baby coming, and I intend to be there for every second of the fun.”

Tory leaned closer and rested her head against Reese’s shoulder. “Fun. Ha.” But her spirits lifted at the sound of Reese’s steady heartbeat beneath her cheek.

“I can’t wait.” Reese wrapped her free arm protectively around Tory’s shoulders and held her as close as she could. “You should go home, love. You need to get some rest. Especially now.”

“No.”

“Tory, please. Everyone agrees I’m going to be okay, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. Please.”

“Later. I promise, I’ll go home in a little while.” She lifted her gaze, her green eyes still swimming with tears. “I just need to be with you a little longer. I need to feel safe again.”

Okay,” Reese said softly, her fingers stroking Tory’s face. “Okay, love. Whatever you want. Always.”

They both jumped as a knock sounded at the door. Then it slowly swung open and Bri peered around the corner. Her face lit up when she saw that Reese was awake. “Hey! You okay?”

“Yeah, pretty much. Come on in.”

Suddenly shy, Bri came slowly forward until she stood on the side of the bed opposite Tory, her hands in the front pockets of her low-riding jeans. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Me too, kiddo.” Reese smiled. “You know, I seem to remember you managed to find some food earlier. Any chance of repeating that trick?”

“Sure, if it’s okay.” Bri looked to Tory questioningly.

“Now that we know she’s not going to need surgery, I don’t see any reason she can’t eat. I’ll check with Jill Baker. She’s the attending.”

“How about Bri huts down some hoagies, and by the time she gets back, we’ll have our answer?” Reese suggested. You look ready to collapse, love. Hoagies will have to do until I can get you to go home.

“You mind, Bri?” Tory asked.

“Hell, no. Anything as long as I don’t have to eat what they have in the hospital cafeteria.”

They all laughed and Bri hurried out.

“She’s been here all day,” Tory said quietly. “Nelson was here earlier, too.”

“He see Bri?” Reese’s eyes fluttered closed, and she fought them open.

“Yes. They seemed okay.”

“Good. I’m glad Bri…was here for you.”

“She’s been great. It’s hard to believe that she’s not a kid anymore.”

“Yeah,” Reese agreed. “She is and she isn’t, you know? She’s not a kid, but she’s still…so damn young.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “I’m a little…worried…about her.”