The Walks of Life

Chapter Seven

"Haden, you need to take Aiden home," Julia said. "We will let you know when Dad wakes up."

"I want to be here," Haden said sadly, but he knew she was right. "I'll be back in the morning."

"We will let you know if anything changes," Xavier promised.

Haden nodded and picked up Aiden's car seat carefully. Aiden was asleep and he really didn't want to wake him. Newborns need lots of sleep. Haden was actually glad to be going home to get some rest even though he was worried. The past few days had been exhausting and crazy. Not to mention, he was completely confused as to what the heck Delilah was doing. Two days ago, he hadn't even know she existed. Now, she tried to kill Clouse, blew up a building with his parents on it, but made an attempt to save his parents? She didn't make any sense. She was obviously a highly skilled assassin. She had most likely killed in cold blood many times. Why couldn't she just kill Lloyd and Aira. Haden wasn't complaining but it still didn't make any sense. 

Aiden began to fuss and Haden stopped. He got down on one knee to check and see if he was okay. Aiden opened his eyes and blinked at him. Haden smiled. He realized something as he did. He loved his son very much already and would do anything for him.

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The first thing Lloyd comprehended was a dull, throbbing pain in his shoulder. The next thing he comprehended was the sound of a heart monitor beeping in time with his heart beats. Next, he managed to get his eyes open. He heard the brain monitor start to beep more as he became fully conscious. The fourth thing he comprehended was Aira sitting by his bedside. She was reading something to him. It took him a second to make out the words. She had her hand in his. He squeezed it gently and she stopped reading.

"Lloyd?" She asked hopefully.

"What happened?" He asked weakly. "Why does my shoulder hurt so bad?"

"Lloyd, you need to rest," Aira said, kissing his hand.

"Aira, you can answer me. I promise not to overreact," he smirked.

"A piece of shrapnel hit your shoulder," she began to explain. She took a deep breath before she continued. "You shoulder was shattered. You're lucky you didn't loose your arm."

"What?" Lloyd asked. He almost felt sick. He made and effort to look at his shoulder, but the pain stopped him from doing so.

"You went into emergency surgery last night," she continued. "They fixed your shoulder."

"I thought you said-"

"You have a metal shoulder joint now," she explained. "It's like a cap. It attaches to your arm bone and collar bone making an artificial joint."

"Will I regain full movement?" He asked with his brow furrowed.

"If you follow doctor's orders," she nodded. "It'll take a while though."

"Well, I have done pretty good on the injury side of being a ninja. It was bound to catch up to me eventually," Lloyd attempted to smile. Aira tried to smile back but it faded quickly. "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

"You're the one that had half your shoulder blown off and you're taking this better than I am," Aira shook her head and chuckled slightly.

"Dad?"

"Come in, Haden," Aira held out her hand towards him.

Haden came into the room carrying Aiden carefully. He took his mother's hand with his free one and squeezed it. Then Haden looked to Lloyd.

"How are you feeling, Dad?" Haden asked worriedly.

"To be honest, terrible. Will I live? Yes," Lloyd responded.