I'll Catch You

Chapter 15

Mae crawled to where they had Opie sprawled out a few feet away as the ambulances and squad cars began to fill the lot. There was no hiding what had happened, no bluffing their way out, but if it meant getting him help as quickly as possible they'd deal with the prying eyes.

"Hey baby, you're going to be okay. Thank you, Ope."'Mae pet his cheek and forced a rather convincing smile. There was blood pooling beneath him, soaking into Mae's jeans as she held his hand in hers.

Opie didn't say anything, shock had quickly taken over him, before the paramedics swooped in and one set began to work around him while another looked her, Chibs and Bobby over. They had minor injuries, bruises and a few scrapes, but the medics insisted on bringing Mae in for an ultrasound. Mae knew the baby was fine, Opie made sure of that, but the reassurance would put her mind as ease. No longer was the baby in her a belly a burden, she was excited to have a life and a child as long as Opie was with her. She climbed into the ambulance without a word. Aside from checking on the baby Mae wanted to go because she knew if she refused she'd be stuck on the lot until the questioning ended and that wasn't an option. She needed to go wherever Opie went.

"Can I ride with him?" She asked as they loaded Opie into another ambulance. The paramedic with her shared a look with the other who shook his head.

"I'm sorry ma'am, you can't."

"What the hell is going on here? Opie?"

Piney. Piney wasn't there before the bombs had gone off, he was at the cabin as usual, and everyone saw the horror on his face to see his son, now passed out, laid up on a stretcher.

"Ride with me." Mae offered, although she had only met Piney a few times in passing. "We're going to Saint Thomas."

--

Chibs and Bobby weaseled their way to the hospital as well, under Clay's orders, to keep an eye out and share whatever information they could on Opie's condition. First though, they had to submit to wound cleaning and a few stitches.

"You don't have to stay in here with me." Mae said in a mousy voice as they waited for someone to come in and preform the ultrasound.

Piney shook his head and laid a loving hand on the top of her hair. Mae almost felt awkward but the gentleness radiating from him actually helped monumentally. She could see where Opie's deeper side came from, both Winston men were contemplative and sensitive and clearly full of love for their family.

"He's in surgery. I can't do that boy any good but be here for you. He wouldn't want you to be alone."

Mae nodded, she knew Piney was right. "Did he tell you?"

"He did." Piney assured her seeing how anxious she was about sharing the news. "I'm very happy for you and my son.

"What did the doctors say? They wouldn't tell me anything since we're not technically family."

"They took him for X-rays, there's four large pieces of shrapnel in his back, they're removing them now."

"So he'll be okay?" Mae asked, sitting up a bit. "They just have to pull them out."

"There's concerns," he said morbidly. "Let's worry about you right now."

Mae's eyebrows furrowed but before she could question him the ultrasound technician and a nurse strutted into the room.

She hadn't seen her baby in weeks, months actually, and when the screen turned on Mae instantly saw her and Opie's child. It was shocking how human it looked, unlike the first ultrasound, as the quick swishing of the heartbeat filled the room. It was a gorgeous sound she instantly fell in love with. Mae secretly recorded it in hopes of playing it for Opie soon.

"Looks perfectly healthy." The nurse said with a bright smile. "Heart rate is good, you can see some movement right there."

"He's moving?" Mae gasped, surprised the baby would be more than just floating there. The question wasn't necessary she could see plainly that he baby was wiggling around happily. "Opie's going to be thrilled."

"I'll get you a few photos." The tech said as she tapped a few keys on the machine.

"Mr Winston, I'm also here to speak with you about your son. You are his next of kin, correct?"

He gave Mae's have a squeeze and nodded. "Legally yes."

"Can we speak in the hall?"

Mae looked at him imploringly and Piney shook his head as he rested his weight on Mae's bedside. "Here is fine."

Clearly uncomfortable, the nurse nodded and began. "Your son is still in surgery but there's a complication. The doctors are going to keep him sedated even after the shrapnel is out." She stated slowly with very little emotion. "Two of the pieces did some damage to his spinal column and they need to keep him from moving, even slightly, to allow the swelling to subside so they're able to see exactly the extent of the damage to his spine."

"His spine?" Mae asked her face blank as she listened to the nurses speech. "Is he gonna be okay?"

"The doctors are confident he'll survive," he nurse assured Mae but her eyes were on Piney. "There may be some nerve damage, but the good news is the spinal cord is still intact. There's pressure which could cause any number of nerve issues though. They won't have a clear idea for a few days when they swelling is relieved and they can see better. I'm not really the one to explain it in depth," she pulled a clipboard from under her arm and handed it to Piney. "I just need a consent signature to allow the post surgical sedation."

"What do you mean, nerve damage? Is he going to walk? Will he be okay? You can't just come in and say this shit without answers." Mae blathered on, panicking and flooded with guilt.

Piney signed and quickly pulled Mae in for a hug. She felt awful as the nurse apologized and quickly saw herself out, not for putting the woman on the spot though, for the fact that Piney was comforting her.

"He'll be fine," Piney assured her. "Opie'll be just fine."