✓ [18+] WHEN YOU SAY NOTHING AT ALL

XXXI. I Love You Carter Allen

A/N: Vote, Comment, & Follow for updates!

———
XXXI. I Love You Carter Allen

When I walk into Summerhill Hospital, my brother Nate meets us in the lobby. However, it's not just him that's present. My eyes scan across the waiting room of the burn unit. His whole crew is here from the station, some still covered in soot from just now coming off the job. Even most of the Sheriff department is here along with some of the guys from the bar, Joe Blackthorn being one of them. All these people from town drove all this way to be here for Carter.

I quickly learn their support is not only for Carter as people come walking up to me, giving me comforting hugs and asking how I'm handling this. I realize they're here for me as well as the moral support I'm immensely grateful for right now. One of the younger guys on Carter's crew that I recognize from the night I ran into him at Phillip's Market, comes walking up and I can tell he's grieving. He avoids my gaze at first and begins to shake anxiously. Chief Wittmore walks up beside him, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"It's okay son, it's not your fault. These things happen. It was merely an accident," he gently grips his shoulder tighter while the young man stares down at the floor with remorseful brown eyes.

"What happened?" I calmly ask Chief Wittmore expectantly. When he begins to explain, the younger man shakes his head.

"No Chief, I should tell her. Heather, I'm Theo Sanchez," he looks me directly in the eyes, giving me a small smile.

"I'm the rookie of the group and I'm still learning as I go. What happened to Carter, it's all my fault he got hurt," he chokes, wiping a shaky hand over his face. Scratching at the stubble on his chin, he takes a moment to collect himself before continuing.

"We were doing a sweep to grab someone who was left in the building and when I heard someone yelling for help near the back room, I rushed in ahead without checking the supporting structures first. Allen noticed one of the overhead beams starting to give way as I was about to walk underneath it. He shoved me out of the way and took the hit from the beam, knocking him down. The beam landed on his back and had him pinned. It was on fire, burning through his suit before me and a few of the other guys got it off of him. I'm so sorry Heather! If I had been doing my job correctly and paid attention, this wouldn't have happened. Carter put himself on the line so that I wouldn't experience the same fate," he begins to snivel, putting his face in his trembling hands.

I can't be upset with him, this isn't his fault. He's young and I feel remorse for the grief and guilt he's going through. I know if Carter was conscious right now he'd tell him it's okay and it's just a flesh wound, quoting the Black Knight from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. That's Carter for you though. He finds the humor in any situation to lighten the mood. Carter wouldn't let Theo Sanchez beat himself up for his mistake.

Without a second thought, I grab Sanchez and wrap my arms around him tightly. He's caught off guard at first but eventually wraps his arms around me while sobbing into my shoulder. I gently rub my hand on his back, hoping my gesture will help sooth some of his grief.

A doctor walks out of the double doors that lead back to the burn unit with a shocked expression at the amount of people in the waiting room.

"Visitors for a Mr. Allen?" when we all start to answer, he gives us a small smile.

"Does he have any immediate family I can speak to?" he asks calmly.

"No he doesn't but we are as close to it as can be. He's dating my sister," Nate walks up, pulling me along with him. The doctor looks at him considering it and eventually gives in when he looks into my pleading eyes.