Blood and Water

Chapter 140: The End

The End - The Doors

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The bullets landed in Chibs's chest on either side, making his body jolt and twist, turning one way and then turning back. When he hit the ground, all he could do was look up at the clouds, watching them pass the world by. Tig ran over, blocking his view of the afternoon sky. His image blurred a little around the edges, but he came into focus when he spoke. 

"Hap!" he yelled. "Call 911! Now!" He folded his hands and pressed on the bullet hole closest to the center of Chibs's chest. Chibs couldn't feel the weight Tig was putting on him. He was numb. "Shit, shit, shit," Tig exhaled. "Hold on, brother, just hold on."

The ambulance sped off to St. Thomas as fast as they could. Tig and Happy kept up with the ambulance, following it the whole way to the hospital. Chibs stared at the lights on the ceiling of the ambulance, watching the light shine down and cast shadows over the paramedics. The oxygen mask he had on kept pumping air into his lungs, but he felt like he couldn't breathe. 

They wheeled him into the emergency room, running into the operating room. He stared at the circular swinging lights as they went rapidly down the hallways. The nurses peeled off his cut and jacket, and the blood-soaked shirt underneath. He stared at the white ceiling as his eyes slowly closed as they pushed the anesthetic into his arm. 

Mina was sitting at the counter, drinking another cup of coffee after successfully putting Cait down for a nap. She watched the news as she took another sip and checked the baby monitor. There was a heavy knock on the door and she yelled, "Come in!" not looking away from the monitor.

Ratboy pushed the door open and said, "Mina?" She turned around to look at him. Her face dropped when she saw the solemn look on his. Wringing his hands, he said, "I gotta bring you to St. Thomas. Chibs was shot."

Mina dropped her coffee mug on the floor, shattering into pieces, and spilling the coffee all over the tile. Her heart stopped for a moment and then started pounding. She grasped onto the counter, trying to process what he just told her. She rushed up the stairs and picked up Cait out of the crib. Mina was no longer worried about Cait's nap. Walking back down, she pushed Ratboy out of the way and went to her car, buckling Cait in. 

"Let's go!" she belted out to Ratboy, throwing him her keys. She knew she wasn't going to be able to drive herself. Feeling the breakdown coming, she climbed into the passenger seat. 

As they drove over to the hospital, Mina stared out the window. It finally hit her and she began crying quietly, trying to hold it together. Ratboy glanced over and saw how she was trying to stifle her sobs. He reached over, grabbing her hand. "It's gonna be okay," he said, quietly. Letting the tears loose, she nodded, looking over at him. 

When they pulled in, Ratboy said he would get Cait so Mina could go in. She rushed through the door, looking for a familiar face. She spotted Tig, pacing back and forth in the small waiting room. Walking over to him, she saw the tears that had filled his eyes and were running down his cheeks. He looked down at her with his watery, bloodshot eyes and pulled her into the hug they both desperately needed. As he held her, he started crying harder, the guilt and worry eating away at him.

Looking over at Happy sitting in the corner in similar shape, she squeezed her arms tighter around Tig, rubbing his back. "What happened?" she croaked. He just shook his head in response. 

Ratboy pushed Cait in her stroller and stopped a ways back by the nurses' desk after seeing Mina and Tig's embrace. He looked down at the babbling baby who was happily staring up at the lights on the ceiling. Smiling softly, he brushed his finger over her cheek and sighed, "Everything's fine." She giggled at the feeling of his calloused finger, making him smile.