Love Prevails (Kris Bryant)

19| Seeing Red

Kris

I stand in the shower and stare downwards as blood filled the bottom of my tub. I scrub and scrub but the red stains my skin. Every time I close my eyes I see her in my arms, I see her gasping for breath. I can remember the last time I saw her beautiful eyes, they were usually filled with love and hope, but all I saw was fear. The tears continue like clockwork as I step out of the shower and change into a new set of clothes. My once white shirt sat on the counter of the bathroom, just staring back at me as a constant reminder of the worst day of my life, I slip it into the trash and try to pull myself together. My phone has been going off like crazy but I haven't had a chance to answer it. There are no words for what I'm going through right now. I couldn't explain what just happened because I refused to let myself believe she was shot.

I drive back to the hospital and try to understand what just happened. Why did she jump in front of me? I mean I didn't realize that the gun was about to fire but why couldn't she have just push me out the way or something? I can't believe she risked her life for mine. I mean I can because she's extremely faithful to me and always said she would if she had to... but I wish she didn't.

I sit in the waiting room for hours in the silence. Every sound sounded like a gunshot and shook me to my core. I didn't want to be there but I also didn't want to be anywhere else without seeing her first. It was about to be 10 before I remember to turn my phone back on. I found a thousand missed calls and texts from the boys and decide to call Anthony.

"Kris have you lost your damn mind. We've been worried sick about you and you didn't even come to the game let alone answer your phone. We were about to send out a search party" he rambles on.

"I'm okay" I say quietly.

"Sure doesn't sound like it" he responds.

"Listen, I'm at the hospital. McKayla was shot and I literally watched her die right in front of me. I held her lifeless body in my arms as she nearly bled to death. I haven't ate or stoped crying all day and don't need shit from you too" I sigh.

"Oh... I'm so sorry buddy. Are you okay" he asks.

"Not even close" I respond dryly.

"What hospital are you at?"

"The one downtown."

"Alright. I'll tell the guys that you're not dead and I'll bring you some food."

"Thanks Tony. You're the best" I say before hanging up. I sit there in the silence for another hour before Anthony finds me. He hands me a bag of McDonalds and I take no time devouring it.

"Thanks" I say softly and he nods. He rubs my back and I throw my face in my hands. All these thoughts I had and they were all pretty shitty. A few moments later a doctor comes into the mostly empty waiting room.

"Kris Bryant" he says and I stand up.

"Hello, I'm Doctor Price and I did Ms. Jenkins surgery" he says shaking my hand I nod. I swollen hard knowing the information I'm about to receive with either make or break me.

"How is she" I ask then almost immediately regret it.

"She made it through surgery and is indeed still alive. The bullet ruptured her lung and she lost a lot of blood but we're expecting a full recovery. The bullet and the shrapnel was removed and the hole in her lung was closed. We lost her a few times but she always fought back. Right now we have her on a breathing machine until we believe she is strong enough to breath on her own, so she will be under for a few days. Once she's strong enough to breath on her own we'll take her off assisted breathing and start physical therapy. A lot of this is best case scenario, so I don't want you to be discouraged if there are set backs or things take longer than what I'm telling you. Shes a fighter, that's for sure. Thanks to you she's a lot better off that she could have been. She lost a lot of blood but you saved her, I can tell you that much. She's in room 224 and it is open to visitors, we just ask not to do anything that would bother her" he explains. I let out a long breath I didn't know I was holding in. Not exactly great news but I can work with that. I ask a few more questions before the doctor leaves.

"I'm so sorry man" Anthony says rubbing my shoulders.

"It's not your fault. I just wish it didn't happen like this" I sigh.

"What did happen, if you don't mind me asking?"

"This guy was trying to hold us at gunpoint for money. She talked to him and even gave him $200 to take care of his mom. When she asked him to defer the gun from me he accidentally pulled the trigger and she jumped in front of me so I wouldn't be shot" I explain.

"Wow, that's deep" he comments.

"I know" I agree. We go to her room to see her whole chest wrapped up and one side a little red. She had a tube down her throat that was connected to the breathing machine along with a bunch of other things she was connected to. Anthony goes home to sleep and I make myself comfortable in a chair by her side. I keep watching, hoping she'll wake up or that this is a nightmare and maybe I'll wake up but neither happen. Eventually I fell asleep to the sounds of beeping.

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"Just pinch his cheek..."

"He's already having a rough time, no need piss him him off!"

"Well I'm bored!"

"Someone take him to the playground or something."

"Wait I think he's waking up" someone says and my eyes open. I look around to see the room filled with balloons and cards and stuffed animals and treats... and baseball players.

"Hey guys" I say wiping at my eyes.

"Hey bud. How are you" David asks. I turn to see my soul mate still halfway to being a transformer and sigh.

"Considering the circumstances I'm fine. Emotionally a mess but just happy she's still alive" I admit. We talk for a little and they tell me of the events of the night before. How Jon was waiting outside my door for a hour before the game and how they told the media I had a family emergency before they knew what happened so I wouldn't be bothered. They considered filing a missing persons report but I called Anthony in time so that saved a lot more troubles.

"What are you going to do" Dexter asks. I look over at her and feel every muscle in my body tense up.

"I don't know. I can't leave her like this. She took a bullet for me, the least I can do is help her recover" I say.

"We get it. We all know that if this was our girl we wouldn't leave either. Take all the time you want" David assures me. They all trickle out and I knew I had to call my parents.

"Hi sweetie" my moms voice rings out and I actually felt a little better.

"Hey momma" I say softly.

"What's wrong Kris" she asks so serious. I hate that she knows me so well.

"Do you think you and dad can come to Chicago for a few weeks" I ask.

"Um... we should be able to" she assures.

"Okay. Can you be out here by tonight" I wonder.

"Probably. Sweetie what's wrong though?"

"McKayla... she was shot in the chest and I don't think I can do this by myself" I sniffle. Here come the tears again.

"Oh my... okay. We're going to be on the first flight out there. Hang tight okay" she asks.

"I will. Love you mom" I say before hanging up. I grab McKaylas hand and squeeze it tight. I missed hearing her laugh and looking into those bright eyes. It feels like she squeezes my hand back and I let out a gasp. She was still asleep but I swear I felt her squeeze my hand. I smile to myself as I set her hand down, it was at this moment I knew she would be okay.