Blind Promises

64. Patch

A tall orderly wheeled in the wheelchair and set the brakes. Lacey was the first one to regain speech, "Daddy?"

"Rich, I thought you were dead, you son of a bitch!" Liam nearly yelled. Rich's dimples caught up with his one good eye sparkling with amusement. "I thought I was too. Imagine my surprise when I woke up in a hospital bed this morning. To my even more amazement, Dr. Nguyen waltzed in and gave me the news that I'm a faux grandpa. The doctors weren't having it but I threatened to get up and walk down here myself if I wasn't allowed to come and visit. Claire insisted I'd be fine and they gave in. The bullet went clean through, missed important parts, though I'll likely have some memory loss and my eye is gone. Hazard pay just went up, I guess. The good doctor filled me in on all the details, including the gory and sad ones. I hear I might not be a father after all."

"You'll always be my Daddy!" Lacey ran over to her father and hugged him gently. "I just can't believe this is real. I... I thought you were dead. Uncle Liam saw you lying there in a pool of blood."

"Princess, it's okay, don't cry, head wounds always bleed more than they should. I'm fine, I can still see."

Liam walked over to his lifelong friend, "I, for one, am glad I was wrong. I'm sorry I didn't check for a pulse, I was so conflicted. I just knew by looking at you that you were gone, Rich, I don't understand how you could live through something like that."

With a big grin, Rich reached up and slapped his buddy's arm, "I'm a lucky bastard, Major. Now, where is this little guy that I've been told about? Is he as handsome as me?"

Gwen was sitting up on the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "He's ready to meet his Godfather."

Liam pushed the wheelchair further into the room, nearer to the bed. Liam took the baby from Gwen and gently laid him into Rich's arms. "I'm still not real strong, major, better stay near just in case. What a handsome little man we've got here." His big muscles flexed in the small gown he was wearing as he brought a hand up to snuggle a finger into Luke's hand. Dark skin contrasted beautifully with the porcelain of new skin. "I'm so proud of you, Major and Mrs. Halstadt, I can't believe we did it. We made it. Oh Lace, my princess. I'm so happy to see you again. All of you. Nothing like knocking on death's door to make a man realize his priorities in life. I will never take anything for granted ever!"

"O.M.G! Is that a ghost! Liam, I thought you said Rich was dead?" Carly exclaimed. No one had heard the trio come in in their excitement. Carly being Carly, she couldn't be quiet long. Rich was wrapped up in a warm bear hug from behind before anyone knew what to do with her.

Liam said, "Careful, he's got a head wound, I didn't lie, Hal shot him in the head just yesterday morning. Anyone else would be in a coma or the morgue but here he is. He threatened the doctors, told them he'd walk up here himself if they didn't let him come, he really should be in his own bed."

"Pshaw, you know me better than that, Major. Rest is for the weak! I intend to be discharged at the same time she is! Someone has to be the bodyguard, who knows what could go bump in the night, I have a growing family to protect..." Rich trailed off. It was evident that he was still suspicious as ever.

It was late morning, Liam wondered where his so-called mother was but chalked it up to complications. "Dad, don't you think you should go check to see when they are going to bring down our other visitor?"

"Indeed, son, I believe I will amble up to see what is taking so long, she's at least an hour late. I do hope she hasn't expired unexpectedly. That would be a terrible fate." William did look sincere for once concerning his mother.

Liam turned back to the room of joyful people and watched for a while, Carly was holding the baby while Lacey held her father's hand. LT Burnham stood beside Gwen allowing Anna to play Pat a Cake while seated on the end of the bed. No one would notice if he slipped out of the room.