Chapter 2
"What is taking them so long?" Ron Walsh asked hours later as he rose from his seat and started to pace. Ron had sat down with Michael to get an update on Marcie and find out what happened when he first arrived at the hospital. Michael had expected Ron to blame him, but he hadn’t. He’d been extremely understanding and he’d placed the blame on the hit and run driver, exactly where it should have been.
"They’re setting bones and repairing arteries. They’re doing everything they can to keep her alive," Michael said from his seat beside Evangeline. She was resting her hand against his arm and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
Evangeline wondered when John would get away from the station. They’d had a conversation about Natalie before she left. John had reassured her that his support of Natalie didn’t change anything for him. He was concerned for Natalie because she was losing her husband a second time, but since her safety was no longer an issue, she was no longer his priority. He would be there for her as long as it didn’t interfere with his relationship with Evangeline. She took some comfort in that, but she’d wait to see how it played out. She knew John and he couldn’t just let the people he cared about suffer without trying to help.
"Michael, you haven’t eaten anything. Would you like a cup of coffee or a sandwich? Both?"
"I’m really not hungry Evangeline."
"I know, but you still need to eat. Marcie is going to need you when this is over and you need to take care of yourself in the meantime. With that in mind, I’m going to get you a sandwich and some coffee from the cafeteria. No arguments."
"You sure are bossy."
"Thanks. I’ve been working on that," she said as she headed over to have the same conversation with Ron.
"Evangeline?"
"Yeah?" she asked with a glance over her shoulder.
"Thanks," he said with a bashful grin.
"You’re welcome. I’ll be back soon."
A few minutes later, Ron took the seat next to Michael.
"Who is Evangeline Williamson?"
"She’s one of the best attorneys in town and she happens to be dating my brother. She’s a sweetheart."
"Yeah, I could tell. She basically told me that she was bringing me something to eat, too. She said she didn’t have time to be waiting around while the two of us were being treated along with Marcie."
"She can be a force to be reckoned with."
"I see that..." Ron was about to continue, when John walked into the waiting room.
"Michael, I’m sorry that I’m just now getting here. Hi, Ron. How’s Marcie?"
"Don’t sweat it John. I understand. Marcie’s in surgery. We don’t know anything yet."
"You can’t find out how she’s doing?"
"I’m not back on the staff until tomorrow."
"What? They can’t be serious. You’re one of the best doctors here. That must hurt not to be able to do anything," John said shaking his head.
"Yeah, that’s what I said earlier, but his boss wasn’t hearing it," Ron interjected. "I’m going to see if they can tell me anything." Ron headed to the nurse’s station.
"Okay, Michael, how are you?"
"I’m fine."
"No, I mean really. How are you? I’m your brother. I can tell that you’re feeling helpless right now, but this is not your fault."
"Actually, it is."
"What do you mean?"
"You know Marcie wasn’t coming to the party and one of the nurses from the hospital was flirting with me. I told her that I was still in love with Marcie and that if I had anything to do with it; we were going to get back together. Well, she asked me to dance and I tried to say no, she was looking all hurt and so I agreed. We were dancing and all of a sudden she kissed me. She caught me off guard and when I pushed her away, I looked up and there was Marcie. She’s got tears in her eyes and the next thing I know, she’s running out of Rodi’s. I went after her, but I didn’t get to her fast enough. She got hit right in front of me."
"Michael, I’m sorry, but it’s still not your fault. Whoever hit her is at fault."
"That’s what Evangeline and Ron said."
"Speaking of, where is Evangeline? She said she was going to stay until you heard something when I talked to her earlier."
"She’s in the cafeteria getting me and Ron something to eat. She insisted."
"I can just imagine."
"She’s great. She’s stayed with me since I almost clocked Marcie’s agent when he came in here blaming me for what happened to her."
"What happened?"
Michael gave him a run down of his run in with Hayes and then asked, "How are you? Evangeline filled me in on what was going on at the station."
"I’m fine. Natalie is a wreck, but she’s with her family. That’s the best place for her."
"You know she’s gonna call you."
"She might, but now that she’s safe, Evangeline is my priority."
"It’s nice that you’re finally making a decision about your relationship instead of just taking it as it goes."
"Michael, we should change the subject now."
"Isn’t that what we always do when it comes to you?"
"Yep, cause I’m the older brother. Don’t you forget it."
"How can I? You keep reminding me."
"Well, somebody’s got to help you Mikey."
"Thanks."
"Michael, all they had was turkey, so that will have to do," Evangeline said as she walked around the corner. She was looking in the bag that she carried and didn’t see John until she reached him.
"Hey," he said with a smile and placed his hand at her waist.
"Hey," she said and handed the bag to Michael. "There’s a sandwich in there for both, you and Ron. Make sure that he eats."
She then turned to John and said, "When did you get here?"
"Just a few minutes ago. How are you?"
"I’m fine. It’s Michael I’m worried about. He’s worried about Marcie and from what I can gather, he should be. She was in bad shape before she went into surgery. He’s not talking and I can tell he’s blaming himself and he shouldn’t, but I guess that runs in the family," she sighed with a slight smile, knowing that it was a trait the McBain men carried well.
"Cute. I’ll talk to him. I need to go back to the station to finish up some paperwork, but I think I’m going to stay here. What are you going to do?"
"I promised Michael that I’d stay with him until Marcie got out of surgery."
"Oh, you did? What other promises have you been making to my brother?"
"Wouldn’t you like to know?"
"Actually, I would," he smiled back and kissed her briefly.
"Well, a woman has to have some secrets," she teased with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah, I remember," he said before glancing over to Michael and Ron who appeared to be deep in discussion. "Let’s sit down over here." He led her to seat across the room. They sat and he placed his arm along the back of it.
Evangeline finally broached a subject that she was not looking forward to. "How’s Natalie?" she asked.
"I don’t know. She’s pretty devastated, but she has her family and they’ll take care of her."
"What about you?"
"What about me? I’m right where I’m supposed to be."
"Nice," she said as he pulled her to him and rested her head against his shoulder.
"Yeah, it is."
