Jack
Where r u?
Jack texted Sid as they both hurried into the main entrance. The damn hospital was still mostly asleep, and he hated that damn smell of pain and antiseptic.
Sid
Hey. This is Hayden. Sid just handed me his phone. He’s not doing so good. He’s in the chapel. We all are.
Jack
OMW.
Fuck him raw.Mackey, you are my brother, and I can’t lose you.“Chapel, darlin’. Find me a sign. Now.”
“Shit.” Hudson did one better; he stopped a janitor as they passed and asked where it was. “Third floor, those elevators, out and to the left. Come on.” He wasn’t sure which of them was holding the other up at this point, but they made it into the elevator and leaned against the wall.
“He can’t die.” It was more than a wish. It was a prayer. “He’s my fucking hero.”
Hudson shifted to catch his eye. “He’s not going to die. We’re not doctors, so we’re going to the chapel just to make extra sure.”
“Right.” That was absolutely right. Thank God for his logical Hudson. “We need good neighbors. Sid needs him. We’re just making sure.”
“That’s right.” Hudson put an arm around his shoulders and took a breath. “They’re exhausted. We got this. Right?”
“Yes.” So were they, but they had slept on the planes at least. “If I snap, it’s not about you, okay? Forgive me in advance.”
“I love you.” Hudson gave him a light push as the elevator doors opened. “Left.”
“Left.”
They hurried down together, and when he opened the door, Sid ran for him.
“What if he’s waiting for you to say goodbye?”The horror in Sid’s face liked to kill him.
“No. I won’t say it.” He grabbed Sid and searched for Tommy. “What happened?”
Tommy hugged him. “J97 hooked him under the vest and threw him up and kicked him while he was in the air. Snapped his neck. He ain’t woke up.”
All the air went out of the room. “Okay. Where is he?”
“ICU.”
“I’ll be back.” Him and Mackey were fixin’ to have a come-to-Jesus meeting.
“You want me to come, baby?” Hudson followed after him.
“Yes. I need you.” He stormed to the ICU, then pushed up to the nurses’ station. “Maverick Keyes.”
“Are you family?”
He didn’t even hesitate. “Yes. He’s my brother.”
The nurse’s eyebrow went up. “Mr. Keyes has a lot of brothers.”
“Yes,” Hudson replied evenly. “He does.”
“Don’t touch him, don’t raise your voice, and don’t stay long.” She pointed directly across the hall.