“I have some influence at the hospital. I have none at the police department. They said he’d been injured in the line of duty and gave me the name of the hospital.” Isaac shifted in his seat. “We’re almost there.”
“I—” He took a deep breath, filling his lungs, and grabbed Isaac’s hand. “We got this. I swear to god.”
Isaac nodded and squeezed his fingers, also breathing deep. “He’ll be all right. God knows this isn’t my first trip to the emergency room for him.”
The cab pulled to the curb. “Weill Cornell.”
“Thank you.” Isaac ran his card to pay and they slid out of the cab into the rain, then pulled him toward a door. “This way, Alain.”
Alain grabbed the bags and followed, chin down as he focused on carrying bags and being helpful. Isaac had enough to deal with.
“We’re here to see Neil Thrope.” Isaac didn’t waste a second finding someone to show then where to go.
The man behind the counter nodded and tapped on a keyboard for a minute. “I’m not sure of his status, but he’s on the eighth floor.”
Isaac puffed out a breath. “Okay. Thank you.”
“Let’s go there.” Alain headed straight for the elevator and punched the button. The door opened immediately, and he stepped in, hitting the Open Door button. “C’mon, M’sieur.”
Isaac followed him. “I’ll get us all the answers we need once I find someone that has them.”
The doors opened, and they stepped out into a stark, sterile hallway. He could sense the change in Isaac, probably because this was Isaac’s territory now; he was a doctor.
He wasn’t a doctor, but he was good at hearing stuff and taking instructions. Whatever it was with Chou, they were gonna figure it.
“Have a seat here, boy. I’ll be right back.”
He sat and held the bags, listening to M’sieur talk. He heard “shot” and “surgery” and “blood loss” and “swelling”. None of them were good words until he heard, “critical but stable”.
He grabbed hold of that word with both hands. Stable.
Stable meant things were going to be okay. Stable meant pray for healing. Stable meant his Chou would come home.
Isaac walked back over to him and sat beside him. “Sorry to leave you sitting here, Alain. Sometimes doctors will tell more because I am one too. It worked this time. Most important, he’s going to be okay.” Isaac inhaled deeply, looking like he was trying to relax as he exhaled. “We can go see him in minute but he’s not awake; he was shot and he’s just had surgery on his hip so he’s going to be dopey for a while.”
He thought on that for a little bit. He had taken care of his papaw after he got him a new hip. “Is it real bad? Did they have to replace it with a metal one?”
“I don’t think they completely replaced it, no. But he’s definitely got some reconstruction. There may be other surgeries… I need to talk with his surgeon and see. He’ll walk though. He’s going to be okay.”
“Sure. My papaw was up and walking. He had a cane for a while, and he could forecast the weather, but that’s okay, right?” His belly hurt a little for Neil.
“He’s going to be angry, Alain. Even if he doesn’t want us to know, he will. This isn’t going to be easy news for him to hear.”
“Is he…” Alain didn’t want to ask. “I mean…is he going to be home from work a long time?”
That was more fair.
Isaac took his hand, then finally looked him in the eye. “I don’t want to borrow trouble. Let’s see him first. I’m just so damn relieved he’s…” Isaac swallowed. “Okay.”
“Yes. Yes, he loves us. Did they catch the man that shot him?” Because if they hadn’t, Alain had cousins who would do anything for fifty bucks and a case of beer.
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. I doubt the doctor would know either. But Neil will want to know, I’m sure.”
“Dr. Daniels? You can see him now.”
“Oh. Great. Thank you.” Isaac pulled him to his feet. “Ready?”
“Yes.” God no, but that wasn’t an option. He was Chou’s boy. He was going to be fine as frog’s hair.