Dorothea nodded, her chin lifting to hold it together, her body stiff.
“Can I… can we…?” Malia started, her hand going out behind her toward Liam. She took two steps forward, her eyes on Dorothea. “Can Liam and I visit with him?”
Without delay, Dorothea raised her hand toward Malia.
Malia walked to her, took it and turned back to Liam. “Baby?”
Eyes never leaving his mother, probably knowing all eyes were on him, without hesitation, Liam moved to her.
A good kid.
Darius’s kid.
We all watched them follow the doctor.
For some reason I didn’t get and I didn’t try to process, I searched the room until I found Jane.
She was already looking at me.
She smiled and shook her head.
Even after this, she still believed in fairytales.
I wanted to believe.
Boy, did I want to believe.
But I had to admit, I was losing faith.
* * * * *
“Baby.”
My eyes fluttered.
“Ally, honey, wake up.”
I lifted my head from what, I noted from looking around, was Hank’s thigh. It had been some time, I’d finally cleaned Darius’s blood from my hands and I was curled up on the chairs of the hospital waiting room with Hank providing my pillow. Ren was crouched in front of me.
I shook sleep away, got up on a hand and focused on my man. “What?”
“Darius is awake, honey. And he’s asking for you.”
No longer even slightly sleepy, I surged to my feet.
Lee and Eddie were standing at the door. Lee stretched a hand to me. I hustled to him and took it. Quickly, both of them flanking me, me holding my brother’s hand, we moved into the hall and stopped at the elevator.
“Is there a change in his condition?” I asked, looking up at Lee.
He looked down at me. “No, honey. He’s just awake.”
“Isn’t that good?” I asked.
“No clue, Ally,” Lee answered, his hand tightening in mine.
I looked to Eddie.
He smiled at me, but I knew it was totally fake.
I knew this because there was no dimple.
The elevator doors opened and no one spoke as we rode up to the critical care unit. We were expelled into the hall and Lee guided me to where Dorothea, Shirleen, Malia and Liam were huddled with Indy and Jet.
Before I could say a word or take in the vibe, a nurse appeared and asked me, “Are you Ally?”
I nodded.
“Follow me,” she said.
She seemed to be in a hurry. I didn’t like that. Still, I followed her and did it quickly.
She instructed me to wash my hands. Impatiently, I did. Then she gave me a gown. More impatiently, I pulled it on.
Then she led me to Darius in his hospital bed.
His eyes were closed like he was sleeping. But other than that and all the tubes and shit sticking out of him, and of course the bandage wrapped around his head—not to mention, Darius didn’t wear hospital gowns (as in, ever, and I loved him but it was not a good look, on anybody)—he looked like just Darius.
I got close to his bed, bent down and grabbed his hand.
