Taken In

Chapter 53

Javier's POV

Waiting by the hospital entrance, I take a deep breath, trying to regulate my thoughts before entering the ward.

Looking at the time, I realise I don't have long left before I need to get back to Breo. I haven't told her about Pedro, and while part of me thinks I should, I decide to bear the weight of it for now, until I know what condition he's in.

The sound of the automatic doors opening snap me out of my thoughts- and I'm met with a very inquisitive looking Carmen staring up at me.

"You just gonna stand outside or what?" She questions, smiling.

"My bad." I respond, smiling too, following her as she walks me inside.

The familiar beeping of the heart rate monitor brings  back thoughts I try to repress, as I turn the corner to see Pedro laying on the hospital bed in the middle of the room. This is the calmest I've ever seen him.

"It looks worse than it is." She reassures me. I've heard that before.

I walk to the end of the bed, picking up the chart to see the name 'Edwardo Ramirez' listed at the top- I turn to Carmen in confusion.

"Why'd you have to give him my last name?" I ask, slightly amused.

"It's not my fault." She gestures innocently. "Mr 'Ramirez'." She says with air quotes, "Got into a car accident a few hours before Pedro got here, but left without signing the discharge paperwork, so I just swapped him in. Crazy timing."

"Yeah, definitely crazy." I respond, reading the chart in disbelief.

"Don't ask anymore questions though, I'm already putting my job on the line as it is."

I place the chart down and turn to her, "Thank you." I say gratefully, genuinely meaning all of it. If it weren't for Carmen this would've been a very different situation, for everyone. She needs to leave G's dumbass and find a culero worth risking her job over, or maybe one who wouldn't make her risk her job at all.

"No problem, I'll be working nights for a month until this pendejo is out of here- just so I can keep an eye on him." She continues, walking further into the room until she's standing next to me.

Preoccupied with my thoughts, all I can do is thank her again, while the reality of Pedro's injuries finally start to weigh in on me. When I walked in I half expected him to be awake and full of energy, complaining about having to stay on bed rest until he recovers. Not this.

I turn to her completely before speaking so she can see the full extent of my gratitude. "I'll make sure to pay you above our previous agreement, I can't thank you enough for this."

She takes a step closer, looking at me apprehensively before responding. "Damn this shit has really gotten to you. I was only playing about the night shift stuff, Pedro is family, I'll do whatever it takes."

"You think he's gonna make it?" I ask abruptly, unable to believe that someone with this many tubes coming out of them will make a full recovery.

Before I can finish my sentence she rolls her eyes at me, like she always does when I ask questions like this. I know she's a good doctor, a great one- but I also saw how close Pedro was to dying. I can't be too sure.

Her sarcastic response doesn't provide me with the reassurance I need, especially considering the circumstances- he's too damn young to go out like this.

"I'm serious Carmen." I ask again, "Is he gonna be okay?"

Hearing the concern in my voice she reaches up, placing a hand on my shoulder reassuringly. "Yes, he'll be okay. You however, look like hell." She continues with a slight laugh, adjusting the neckline of my hoodie before resuming her usual neutral expression. "What's going on J?"