Facing My Demons (Devil's Right Hand MC #1)

Chapter 2

Clove's POV

As I walk into work the next morning my eyes widen to see 7 bikers sleeping in the very tiny chairs of the waiting room. This must mean Grease is still alive. Which means they will be taking him to surgery soon.

I got a report from the night shift nurse and sure enough, Grease has improved enough that the surgeons are going to attempt surgery in the next hour.

I walk to the waiting room and stare at the sleeping strangers as I debate waking one of them. I am sure they would want to be here for Amber and Grease, but they all look exhausted even in their sleeping form.

"Clove?" I turn to see mister grey eyes standing behind me. He must have been one of the three that stayed in Grease's room last night as I realize the dark-haired girl who was supporting Amber yesterday is also missing from the group.

"Hey, the surgeons are going to be down to take Grease soon and I figured they wouldn't want to miss it," I explained as I was still staring at the sleeping strangers.

"We had the same idea. Name's Wolf by the way." He says while holding his hand out to me.

"Oh, I bet the stories to y'all's road names are hilarious." I joke as I shake his hand and feel a deep blush crawl up my cheeks.

With a laugh, Wolf whistled very loudly causing everyone to groan as they were rudely awakened.

An hour later they take Grease up to surgery while everyone crowds in his now empty hospital room. After four hours had passed and I made sure my other patients were okay, I walked into Grease's room to see Amber somehow looking worse than she did yesterday.

"Have you heard anything?" she practically screamed as she jumped up, "Is he dead?"

"I just checked with the OR, and he is still in surgery which means he is alive. I just came in here to check on you."

"Should it be taking this long? I mean is this a sign something is wrong? We are getting married in six months I..."

"Amber honey listen to me," I say as I lead her back to the couch, "This surgery is complex and could take a few more hours. But trust me right now, no news is good news, because as long as he is in surgery, he is still alive. I have never known surgeons to operate on a dead body." I add that last part with a chuckle and a few of the guys let out a strangled breath.

"I am sorry I am a mess, but I don't know how to do this. I just feel so guilty," her voice shakes, and more tears fall down her face.

"You know Amber, life sucks, and it is cruel, and mean, and not fair, and sometimes it's even ironic. An experienced biker forgets his helmet one time and crashes, that has nothing to do with you or him or anybody else. It has to do with life being a cruel son of bitch."

My words seem to resonate with her but not in the way I hoped as she crumbles over practically on top of me and sobs into my shirt. The woman beside of her gives me an apologetic look but I wave her off. I got this. This is what I am good at, handling other people's crises. I just held her until she finally sat up, tears still streaming down her face. At this point, I have forgotten about the 9 pairs of eyes on me as I focus on my patient, the one I could help right now.

"I am sorry," she cries, "I don't know what's wrong with me it's like my body is reacting, but my mind is just...."

"Your mind is numb," I finish for her as I realize the only way, I am going to help this girl is to open up a little. "Your body is physically reacting, but you have no control over it while your mind is blank. It cannot comprehend what is happening, so you are numb, and you shut down. Honey, we are not built to handle this kind of trauma, so when it happens it takes us a little while to comprehend it. But trust me, nothing you do or don't do here is right or wrong. You do what you need to survive. You do what you have to do to keep at least a little sanity."

I wiped a stray tear that fell from my own eyes as I added, "at least you aren't alone. You have the closest family here I've ever seen and trust me, that's going to help a lot when he makes it off that table because he will. You are not alone. Which is a good thing because being alone in this kind of traumatic situation sucks." I laugh while adding that last part to try and lighten the mood.

"I'm sorry you were alone," Amber finally answers which catches me off guard.

I hugged her one more time before standing up, turning on my heels, and walking towards the door. I just broke so many rules of nursing by opening up to this girl, but I had to help. She had so many people there, but I felt somehow I could help her, and I like to think I did.

Hours later I heard the news that Grease made it off the table alive. It is still a long road, but the fact his heart is beating is the biggest positive sign there is right now. I sit on the roof drinking my iced coffee and checking my text messages from the last few hours.

Faith: Hey bestie guess what?? My future mother-in-law booked the country club for an engagement party this weekend! I know it's short notice, but I checked the schedule, and you are off Saturday anyway. Can you write a little toast?

I chuckle to myself as Faith even rambles in her texts before replying that of course I will write a toast. Even though I find it weird I am writing a toast for an engagement party when I haven't even met the groom.

"Clove?" I hear a familiar voice ask as I look up to see grey eyes walking over to me.

"Hey, how's Grease?" I ask politely.

"Same as before. I just needed a place to come and clear my head."

"Well, you found the best place in the hospital. I can go if you want to be alone?" I offer.

"Of course not, this is the first break you've had all day. You deserve to eat your lunch -" he stops looking down at my iced coffee, "even if that lunch is only iced coffee."

"Hey, it keeps me running" I laugh with him.

"That was really great what you were able to do for Amber. We had all been trying to get through to her and you were the only one able to."

"I've had practice. I've been an ICU nurse for three years, so I've seen my fair share of heartbroken families."

"I don't think it is that," he says while turning to look at, "who did you lose?"

Myself. That's the main person I have lost is myself, but I am not telling him that, so I go with the second-best option. "My dad," I add as he just nods in response.

"You seem pretty close to Grease," I add trying to divert the attention from me.

"Well all the guys are my brothers, but I prospected with Grease, we came up in the club together. He's, well I guess it sounds dumb but he's my best friend." I could see the hard exterior of his start to break as I put my hand on his shoulder knowing better than to say anything else. My words won't fix this.

We sit there, in silence for the next few minutes until my break is over and I have to go back to work.

Once again, I crash onto my bed as I pet Luna and let the events of today play through my head. Faith's engagement party is in a few days. I have to write a toast for a couple that I only know half of. Grease is alive despite all odds. And those eyes have a name, Wolf.