He walked in, washed up, and then stood next to the bandage-wrapped bruise in the ICU bed. “I’m here, Mackey. I’m here to tell you that you need to wake the fuck up soon. I will not let you go, you son of a bitch. You will wake up for Sid. You will heal up and be my neighbor. You do not have my fucking permission to die, you fucker. Sid needs you. I need your happy ass here.”
He reached down and touched Mackey’s finger, making a connection.
“You hear me? I need you here.”
Hudson stood close behind him, one arm around his waist. “He means it, man. If you die, he’s going to fucking kill you. Plus, I need you to come take your goddamn donkey back.”
“That’s right.” Mackey looked like hammered death, and it broke Jack’s heart. “I’m gonna go before they throw me out. We’ll take care of Sid until you can again.”
“Rest up and don’t worry about anything. Come on, baby.” Hudson pulled him from the room slowly.
He made it out of the ICU, his jaw clenched so tight that his teeth creaked. He just kept walking, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other.
Hudson stopped and pulled him into a small waiting area. “Go ahead. Talk.”
He couldn’t. He was afraid if he opened his mouth, a scream would tear out, so he grabbed Hudson and slammed their mouths together, trapping it between them.
Hudson went with it, pulling him in and letting him hold on before finally breaking it off and taking a big breath. “You’re angry; it’s okay.”
“Yeah. Fucking pissed. I know it’s the job. I hate it.” But he could talk now. “I see so many guys—good guys—smashed in the dirt.”
“Mackey keeps going back for more.”
“He does. It’s his calling. He’ll keep saving them until he can’t do it anymore or it kills him.” He didn’t risk near as much. He trained his horses, and they worked hard together. Did he get hurt? Sure, but it wasn’t bad. Not like this.
Hudson stroked a hand down his arm. “This could be that time, huh? When he can’t do it anymore?”
“Every time, yeah. But each time gets harder.” Each time was scarier. And Mackey had a reason now, more than ever. Mackey had Sid.
Hudson nodded. “We just have to be patient.”
“Yeah. So, we have to make a plan. Food. Sleep. Showers.” Hopefully, Hudson could help with that bit. “Sid needs help, and Tommy will have to lead the team tonight. He has to sleep.”
“Why don’t you take Tommy and the twins back to the hotel, get them some food? I’ll hang here with Sid and take the first shift.”
“Yeah, okay. If you’re sure you can handle Sid. I need to see if he has to work tonight. I don’t know how that part works.”
“Shit, okay. You deal with them, and I’ll get Sid a nap, a shower, and some food so he can get through the show if he has to.”
“Right. I can bully the twins.” And he and Tommy could support each other while they waited for Mother to wake up.
“That works, right? I don’t want to leave you, but I think splitting them up for a while might be a good idea. Let Sid relax a little. We can get a nap while they’re at the event.”
“Sounds good to me. Let’s go organize them, and I’ll get Sid and the twins moving.” The guys would have already had a hotel room nearer the event, and the twins would just go there, sleep. He didn’t know if Sid would rest that far away from Mackey.
“Good. Okay. See? I told you we had this.” Hudson kissed him again, then took his hand. “Chapel?”
“Chapel.” Then he would convince the twins to go to the event hotel. Sid and Hudson could stay at the hospital hotel. He could wait and doze with Tommy.
Mackey? That son of a bitch could heal.
24
Two days.
Mackey had been out for two full days so far.
The Connecticut event was over and thankfully had wrapped up without much drama, but the next event was in a few days, and Tommy and the twins were going to have to move on soon. At least Sid managed to get a cover and was able to take some vacation time.