The McRae Series 01 - Twelve Days Sam and Rachel

expected. "This is what they want, and I want them to be happy. Just like I want you to be happy. Whatever it takes."

Chapter 18

    They told the children together. Zach jumped up and down, he was so happy. His whole face lit up, and he was practically running for the door, leaving Rachel to chase him.
    Emma looked up at Sam with a mixture of hope and love and fear on her face that left him practically paralyzed, finally whispering, "You found her?"
    Sam nodded.
    She flew into his arms and held on tight, her whole body shaking. "Oh, Sam. Thank you."
    "You're welcome, Em." He waited until she'd calmed down a bit, wishing he didn't have to tell her the rest, wishing he could really be her hero, the one who made everything all better for her. "There's something else."
    "What?"
    "She's in the hospital."
    Emma's expression froze. "Is she okay?"
    Sam dodged that one. He didn't know the answer himself. "She's been unconscious. You know, when you're asleep and can't wake up?"
    Emma nodded.
    "She's been like that the whole time. That's why she didn't come back to get you. And now she's awake."
    "Is she still going to be in trouble?"
    "I don't know. All I know right now is that we found her, and she wants to see you. Rachel and Miriam and I will take you to her."
    "And then she'll take us home?"
    "I don't think she's well enough to come home yet. But you can stay with Rachel and me awhile longer. You don't have to worry about that part."
    "Okay."
    She was still trembling, still worried. He could tell. Finally, she looked up at him and said, "Was it my dad? Did he find her? Did he hurt her?"
    Sam nodded. "But you don't have to worry about him, either. He's in jail, and even if he wasn't, he doesn't know where you are and nobody's going to tell him. You're safe here, Em."
    "Okay," she said breathlessly.
    "Come on," Sam said, his hand firmly on her shoulder. "Let's go see your mom."
    It was a quiet, somber drive to the hospital. Rachel sat beside him, her hand clasped tightly in his for most of the journey. Zach and Grace dozed off on the way, and they had to wake them when they arrived. Miriam went into the room first, and came back looking pale and worried. Sam knew why. He'd seen Annie Greene the day before.
    "They're going to turn down the lights. I think that might help a little to hide the bruises. But she looks awful," Miriam whispered.
    Sam took Emma and Zach aside and told them, "Your mom looks bad."
    "Bad?" Zach said. "She's been bad?"
    "No. Not that. She just... She has some bruises on her face, and it's kind of puffy, too. She has some machines hooked up to her, some tubes and wires and things, but don't worry about those. They're all helping her."
    "Tubes?" Zach said.
    "She's sick, Zach," Emma explained.
    "Yes, she's sick. You need to be careful about jumping on her. Even about hugging her. I know you want to, but you don't want to hurt her."
    Zach looked perplexed. "She can't hug me?"
    "I bet she can. You'll just have to be careful. Let her hug you, okay? Don't run in there and grab her. You might grab on to a part of her that's sore."
    "Okay." Zach was ready. "Can we go now?"
    Miriam took him by the hand and said, "Come on. I'll take you."
    Emma waited, looking up at Sam, getting ready to cry.
    "I know you want to see her," he said. "Everybody here is working to make her better, but I bet seeing you and Zach will do more to make her feel better than anything anyone else could do."
    "I'm scared, Sam."
    "I know." She started to cry. Sam dried her eyes as best he could. "She needs to see you. She needs to know you're okay."
    "Okay."
    "Rachel and I will be right here waiting for you."
    Emma disappeared into the room. Sam felt sick to his stomach, wishing he could spare her this, hating the powerlessness he felt in this moment. There should be a way for a man to protect the people he loved, and he loved these kids. There should be a way he could take the hurt himself and spare them.
    And then there was Rachel, standing by the wall holding the baby, looking more angel like than ever as she slept with her face tucked sideways against Rachel's shoulder. Grace's cheeks were pink and full, her nose like a button, her lavish eyelashes lying against those silky cheeks, one hand clenched in a fist that was half in her mouth. She was sucking and smacking her lips against it in her sleep.
    Sam smoothed down the flyaway baby hair and kissed the baby's forehead, then wrapped his arm around her and Rachel. Rachel was trembling, too,