to come here?” asked Abby with a hint of fear in her voice.
“I don’t, but I’m not willing to risk it,” replied Grey. “The bottom line is, she’s a witness. If he knows she survived and could identify him, he might want to change that.”
“So that’s the reason you’re here,” said Abby. “You’re protecting them.”
“Maybe. I don’t know.”
“I do know you love them, Grey. I really am sorry.”
“Abby, he hurt her bad,” said Grey. “She lost an eye, but that may not be the worst of it. You have to prepare yourself before you go in there. And you’re going to have to prepare yourself to deal with your parents when they come out. They have no idea what he did, but they’re finding out right now. The attack was brutal. If they didn’t tell you she was your sister, you wouldn’t recognize her.”
“Will you go in with me?” asked Abby in an unfamiliar tone.
“Of course.”
They both turned as the ICU doors opened. Stan and the nurse were helping Maggie walk. Abby and Grey rushed to their side. They sat Maggie in the chair and Stan took the one beside her. He never let go of her hand. The nurse had a pained look when she spoke to Grey.
“I think that should be the only visit today,” she said.
“I’m a friend of the family, and I’m also with the FBI. I found her at the scene and know what to expect. Her sister needs to see her. I’ll be going in with her if that’s okay with you. Just for a minute, please. We’ll make this the last visit today.”
She hesitated, but agreed to walk them back to Kate. Grey had known Abby for almost half of his life. It was the first time she had ever reached out to hold his hand. She gripped it as they walked through the same ominous doors that had just changed her parents’ lives forever.
They stopped a few steps away from Kate’s room. “Whenever you’re ready,” said Grey. Abby took a deep breath and turned the corner. Pain shot through his fingers when she put her eyes on Kate.
Most of her face was concealed by bandages, but the areas exposed were discolored and swollen. Her hair was still matted with blood, and small tubes used to drain her wounds were attached to her face like tentacles. More tubes bringing fluid and blood into her body were attached to her arms and neck. Kate was covered with sheets, making it impossible for Abby to see what Grey knew was underneath.
Abby released her grip and moved in closer to her sister. Grey stood silent in the doorway, watching her. She looked down at Kate’s purple, swollen hand and took it in hers with care. “I’m not afraid,” whispered Abby. “Because I know you wouldn’t be. I still see your beautiful face. That monster could never take that from you. Mom and Dad are scared right now, but they’ll be okay. All you have to do is get better, Kate. Paul and I will be here waiting for you when you come back. Just please come back to us. We love you so much.”
Abby lowered her head and cried as if she didn’t want Kate to hear. Grey had never thought of Abby as being strong. She grew up in a privileged home and escaped most of the hardships of a young adult trying to find their way in the world. Watching her at her sister’s side, he couldn’t help but think of her as brave.
She kissed her hand and walked passed him out into the hallway. Grey stared at Kate for a moment and made a silent deal with her. He promised he’d look after her husband and family if she promised to heal and honor Abby’s request to come back to them. He turned to leave the room and saw Abby standing a few feet away. The look on her face was unsettling.
“I don’t care what it takes,” said Abby, moving in closer to him. “I don’t give a shit about who has to invite you to get involved. You just find a way and then you go find that bastard. And when you do, I pray to God you make him pay for what he did to her.”
Over the Rainbow
GREY STOPPED BY THE BREAK room in the Atlanta Field
“I don’t, but I’m not willing to risk it,” replied Grey. “The bottom line is, she’s a witness. If he knows she survived and could identify him, he might want to change that.”
“So that’s the reason you’re here,” said Abby. “You’re protecting them.”
“Maybe. I don’t know.”
“I do know you love them, Grey. I really am sorry.”
“Abby, he hurt her bad,” said Grey. “She lost an eye, but that may not be the worst of it. You have to prepare yourself before you go in there. And you’re going to have to prepare yourself to deal with your parents when they come out. They have no idea what he did, but they’re finding out right now. The attack was brutal. If they didn’t tell you she was your sister, you wouldn’t recognize her.”
“Will you go in with me?” asked Abby in an unfamiliar tone.
“Of course.”
They both turned as the ICU doors opened. Stan and the nurse were helping Maggie walk. Abby and Grey rushed to their side. They sat Maggie in the chair and Stan took the one beside her. He never let go of her hand. The nurse had a pained look when she spoke to Grey.
“I think that should be the only visit today,” she said.
“I’m a friend of the family, and I’m also with the FBI. I found her at the scene and know what to expect. Her sister needs to see her. I’ll be going in with her if that’s okay with you. Just for a minute, please. We’ll make this the last visit today.”
She hesitated, but agreed to walk them back to Kate. Grey had known Abby for almost half of his life. It was the first time she had ever reached out to hold his hand. She gripped it as they walked through the same ominous doors that had just changed her parents’ lives forever.
They stopped a few steps away from Kate’s room. “Whenever you’re ready,” said Grey. Abby took a deep breath and turned the corner. Pain shot through his fingers when she put her eyes on Kate.
Most of her face was concealed by bandages, but the areas exposed were discolored and swollen. Her hair was still matted with blood, and small tubes used to drain her wounds were attached to her face like tentacles. More tubes bringing fluid and blood into her body were attached to her arms and neck. Kate was covered with sheets, making it impossible for Abby to see what Grey knew was underneath.
Abby released her grip and moved in closer to her sister. Grey stood silent in the doorway, watching her. She looked down at Kate’s purple, swollen hand and took it in hers with care. “I’m not afraid,” whispered Abby. “Because I know you wouldn’t be. I still see your beautiful face. That monster could never take that from you. Mom and Dad are scared right now, but they’ll be okay. All you have to do is get better, Kate. Paul and I will be here waiting for you when you come back. Just please come back to us. We love you so much.”
Abby lowered her head and cried as if she didn’t want Kate to hear. Grey had never thought of Abby as being strong. She grew up in a privileged home and escaped most of the hardships of a young adult trying to find their way in the world. Watching her at her sister’s side, he couldn’t help but think of her as brave.
She kissed her hand and walked passed him out into the hallway. Grey stared at Kate for a moment and made a silent deal with her. He promised he’d look after her husband and family if she promised to heal and honor Abby’s request to come back to them. He turned to leave the room and saw Abby standing a few feet away. The look on her face was unsettling.
“I don’t care what it takes,” said Abby, moving in closer to him. “I don’t give a shit about who has to invite you to get involved. You just find a way and then you go find that bastard. And when you do, I pray to God you make him pay for what he did to her.”
Over the Rainbow
GREY STOPPED BY THE BREAK room in the Atlanta Field
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