~ Mine ~

Cowgirls Don't Cry

"Brandon what's going on?!" Reba called out breathlessly, to her oldest son's back, as soon as she had made it to the west wing of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Brandon quickly turned around to face Reba, his face riddled with worry. He quickly whipped his puffy eyes trying to compose himself before addressing the situation. Instead of telling her everything was going to be alright or explaining what had happened, he did something that scared Reba half to death; he brought her in for a hug, holding her tightly, while resting his head firmly on her shoulder. Brandon was a man's man, there was no doubt about that, the last time Reba recalled ever seeing him cry was when Grandad Lee, Narvel Leroy, had passed away. Her son was even tougher and more rugged than his own father. That's why his actions alone riddled her with worry. After a few moments of just clinging tightly to her, Brandon took a deep breath, and pulled away.

"Brandon is everything alright?" Reba said, fearful of the answer that was yet to come.

"The car, it flipped and flipped and flipped." He said slightly pacing in front her, trying to keep from losing it. He had seen a lot of gruesome things in his life, even been face to face with death himself, but there was something about watching his baby brother fly through the air, crashing to the ground, that just shook him to his core. At this point Reba could hear Chassidy harshly whisper to Kelly in the background, as she too pleaded for answers.

"He's gonna be alright though."

"Right?" She added softly, as silent tears poured down her cheeks. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't lose her baby boy. Looking her in the eye for the first time since she'd arrived, Brandon rested his hands on his hips.

"He's in surgery now; they had me sign for consent as soon as we arrived."

"They said it could take anywhere from six to twelve hours... He hit his head pretty badly." Brandon finished scuffing his boots against the white tile floors. Letting out a pained breath as she cupped her face to muffle any sound she might make, Reba turned away and clenched her other fist. She immediately closed her eyes, praying slightly to herself. After a few moments of trying to let it all soak in she felt Brandon's hand softly on her shoulder, resting hers on top of his, she hung her head low. It was times like this that she wished her daddy was still here, to provide her with guidance and wisdom. Surely he was up above watching over them, over Shelby; her baby. After gathering in the hallway for another few minutes Brandon and Kelly led them to a slightly more scheduled waiting area, where they sat and waited for any possible updates.

~~~~~

"I got here as soon as I could." Shawna tearfully called out, her husband Jason at her heels. Hearing her oldest daughters voice Reba quickly rose from the waiting chair and greeted her with a tearful hug.

"He's in surgery still; they updated us about an hour ago, severe head trauma from the crash." Reba mumbled into Shawna's shoulder, her voice beginning to choke up once more. Pulling away Shawna smiled wearily at her step-mother.

"He's a McEntire, he's got this." She said pulling her in for one more hug, rubbing her back soothingly. After a moment of comforting one another, they all proceeded to sit down in the waiting chairs once more.

"Did anyone call dad?" Shawna questioned curiously to her still numb family.

"No he's out of town with Blake I didn't even think of it." Brandon replied softly with a shake of his head.

"I'll call him." Reba intervened before Shawna had a chance to reply, she looked dazedly ahead as her children looked at her in shock.

"Are you sure?"

"I can do it, it won't be a bother." Shawna continued worriedly looking from Reba to Brandon.

"It's fine." Reba said taking her black purse and excusing herself to the left hall. Pulling out her iPhone she took a deep pained breath, mustering up what little courage she had left in her.

"Hello?" a woman's voice called from the other end, immediately causing Reba to freeze, the lump in her throat multiplying in tenfold.

"Hello?" it called again, confirming to Reba that it indeed was a woman's voice she was hearing. Quickly pulling the phone away from her ear she checked to see that it was Narvel's number she had dialed before returning the phone to her ear once more.

"Laura?" Reba questioned in disbelief.

"Narvel is unavailable right now, can I leave a message?" The woman continued on the other end, completely ignoring Reba's question.

"No."

"That's unnecessary." Reba murmured, as she stiffly pulled the phone from her face, ending the call. Putting the phone back in her purse, she rubbed her hands over her face, trying desperately to keep herself from losing it. This wasn't about her though, it was about Shelby. She could fall apart some other time but right now her son needed her. Pushing what just happened out of her mind she proceeded back to the waiting area where her kids were still seated, plastering a fake half smile on her face as she did so.

"Shelby Blackstock." The older gentlemen in a doctor's coat called out to the waiting area, causing Reba, Chassidy, and Brandon to all stir. Quickly rising to her feet, Reba and Brandon anxiously proceeded in the doctor's direction.

"I'm his mother." Reba responded urgently, once she was close enough for the doctor to hear her clearly.

"Mrs. Blackstock." The doctor continued, extending his hand to shake hers.

"Your son's surgery went very well." He said with a small smile, watching the relief immediately flood through her face. Resting her hand on her chest, she teared up with joy for the first time in seven hours.

"Thank you." She said pulling Brandon in for a side hug, as he too, took a deep needed sigh of relief.

"He came in with quite the blunt head force trauma and a few broken ribs."

"Lucky man will be taking it EASY the next three weeks before he even thinks about heading back to the track." The doctor finished looking back down at his clipboard.

"Can we see him now?" Reba asked eagerly, she'd been waiting to hug his neck for what seemed like an eternity.

"Certainly." The doctor said leading Reba, Brandon, and Chassidy, who had snuck up behind her brother a moment ago, back down the west hall to recovery. Following in suit, Reba held her breath, chastising herself to remain calm. As soon as they entered the room and her eyes locked with Shelby's groggy ones, she lost it. Running up to him and engulfing him in a soft hug, she clung to him for dear life.

"If you ever get into another crash like that I will personally beat you myself, do you hear me?" She mumbled fearfully as she pulled away, whipping the tears, and gripping his bandaged hand for support.

"It's good to see you to Mama." Shelby mustered out teasingly as he looked from his mother to his older brother and sister, who were hovering in the background.

"See the boy is already making jokes."

"That's the race car driver I know." Brandon quipped as he too stepped closer to his baby brother's hospital bed. Looking at his slightly beat up and bandaged body, he quickly closed his eyes, sending up a quick and silent thank you prayer.

"That doesn't mean you can go pulling this kind of nonsense on us again." Brandon added with his signature sly grin as he walked over to Shelby's other side and gave him a soft hug.

"I'm just so happy you're okay." Reba said again as she too leaned down to give her baby one more hug.