After taking the elevator to the second floor, they stepped into the room. Various machines beeped every few seconds. A heart rate monitor ran a continuous line of peaks and valleys. An IV dripped clear liquid intohishand.
She stood by the side of the bed and peered down. “Honey, I don’t know if you can hear me or not, but Mack’s herewithme.”
“Hey, buddy,”Macksaid.
“We’ll be here until you wake up.” Her voice cracked. “Your son’s doing well. Please… come backtous.”
Mack stood on the opposite side of the bed. “I know you’re in there somewhere. Your son needs you, and Ineedyou.”
“I need you too,” Rachelwhispered.
Mack stretched his arms overhead. “Will you be okay if I head over to the cafeteria for a few minutes? I need asnack.”
“I’llbefine.”
“Wantanything?”
“Some coffee would begreat.”
Mack gave her a crooked smile. “Watch over him whileI’mgone.”
“Iwill.”
After Mack left, she grabbed a chair and dragged it over to the side of the bed. She sat and watched his eyes for any sign of movement. She didn’t know how long he’d be stuck in a coma. It was all her fault. If she hadn’t kept Jimmy from his father, then maybe none of this would have happened. Maybe this was punishment for keeping Jimmy a secret all theseyears.
She sniffed back tears. She couldn’t fall apart now. She had to staypositive.
She whispered, “If you can hear me, I need you. I don’t think I can live without you. Jimmy deserves to have a father. Even if… even if we can’t be together… at least you’ll haveason.”
She paused to listen to the heartbeat monitor. Nothing changed. A wave of despair overcame her. What if he never woke up? What if the price of saving her son was killing hisfather?
* * *
Brady struggledto open his eyes. A heavy weight held them closed. Even after summoning every ounce of strength, he still couldn’t bring himself out of the deep sleep which seemed to drag himunder.
A soft, feminine voice spoke to him. At first he didn’t recognize it. But a slow realization brought on by his bear senses hit him hard in the chest. The woman, whoever she was, was his mate. His bear felt it, and he also felt it in his heart. His soul sang with recognition. He’d been searching for her his entire life but hadn’t recognized ituntilnow.
An annoying beep picked up tempo as he was finally able to force his eyes open for a second. His lids fell closed but not before he’d been able to sneak a peek at his mate. He instantly recognized her soft brown hair and brightgreeneyes.
“Rachel.” His voice came out so softly that he could hardlyhearit.
“I’m right here,honey.”
“What… whathappened?”
“You came in for a bone marrow transplant. Do youremember?”
“Sothirsty.”
The grip on his hand released. Footsteps retreated then returned. Something freezing cold and moist pressed between his lips. He gratefully licked what he finally realized was an ice cube. He tried to sit up but couldn’t move. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d feltthisweak.
Once the ice cube had melted, he opened his eyes. Rachel leaned over him, giving him a great view down the front of her sweater. He was operating at a corporeal level. Nothing mattered beyond food, water, and a glimpse of hissexymate.
She must have noticed the direction of his gaze because she grinned. “It looks like you’re already on the road torecovery.”
He tried to laugh, but it took too much effort. “Hello,beautiful.”
Her smile dissolved as her bottom lip quivered. “I thought I’dlostyou.”
