Meryl and Don: An Unforeseen Journey

Chapter 52

Meryl had a tearful reunion with her brother and Henry once they started loading Don into the ambulance. They had to intubate him immediately so he didn't go without oxygen. Meryl talked them into letting Henry ride on her lap in the ambulance. There was no way she was leaving Don or Henry. She sat there holding Henry in the ambulance and noticed he seemed really drowsy, almost drugged. She sat there with the blanket the EMTs gave her around her and draped it around Henry. Meryl talked to Don the whole time, even though he was unconscious, as they rode to the hospital and she held Henry. "Baby, Henry and I are right here with you and I'm not going anywhere. I can't leave you. I won't leave you. You are our hero, you know that? The past however long it's been I kept trying to send messages to you, telepathically as silly as that sounds, trying to tell you to be careful and I know you were looking for us."

"Mrs. Gummer?" The EMT in the back said interrupting her and she looked up. "Your husband is severely dehydrated. Was he captured with you?"

Meryl shook her head as tears began to roll down. "No. Knowing my husband he was too worried about us to take care of himself. Please just do whatever you need to in order to save him. Did you radio the hospital? I want Dr. Abbott to look at him and our pediatrician, Dr. Radford, to look at my son. He almost seems drugged."

"Yes, ma'am." The EMT said.

Meryl leaned down and kissed Don's head. "You're going to be okay, you just have to be, Don. The thought of not being around you scares me to death. Just seeing you makes me feel safe. We need you, baby, and I know you need us. I know your poor body has been through hell for the past 6 months but please, Don Man, please fight for all of us."

***

"Hal!" Meryl cried as she ran by the stretcher while carrying Henry.

Dr. Abbott couldn't believe how battered and bruised she was. He also saw how pale Henry was and how cloudy his eyes are. When he asked if her could hug her she nodded. "We're gonna take good care of him. I need to do an X-ray to see where the bullet hit then I will come find you."

"No." Meryl said strongly pulling away. "I'm coming with him. I'm not leaving him. Not now, Hal."

Dr. Abbott sighed. "Honey, he needs X-rays and you can't be in there because of the baby."

"Then I'll go into an observation room and watch." Meryl said not knowing Larry and Third were running in behind them.

Third could tell what was going on. "Sis, you and the baby and Henry really need to get checked out. Don would insist on it."

"He's right, M. Your bodies have been put through hell. We need to make sure you three are okay. And you need a, well, a..." Larry hated to say it.

Dr. Abbott looked at Meryl. "Honey, were you raped?"

"He penetrated." Meryl choked as she was feeling extremely vulnerable and self-conscious. "Don got him off me before he finished."

Dr. Abbott nodded. "You still need to be checked and I still want a rape kit."

"How about if I go with Don?" Larry asked. "Is that okay, Dr. Abbott?"

Dr. Abbott saw the hopeful look on Meryl's eyes. "Yes, but we need to go now."

"Sweetheart." Meryl whispered as she pressed her forehead against Don's while still holding Henry. "You're going to get checked out but Larry will be with you. I'm going to get myself and Henry checked out. Third will be with me and I'm sure Mom, Dad and Maeve will be here soon. We're safe and out of that hell hole all because of you. Just fight, baby, I'll be fighting for you. I love you so damn much and Henry does too." Meryl gave him a kiss and then watched as he was wheeled away with Dr. Abbott and Larry right beside him. "Mom and Dad coming?"