Cassie wanted to go to him, wanted to do something to comfort him. But she too was hurting. She too was afraid. And it all seemed so hopeless. Family crises either brought people together again, or drove a deeper wedge between them. Theirs appeared to be doing the latter.
Everyone snapped to attention when the doctor suddenly appeared in the doorway. He was smiling. 'The danger's over now, Mr and Mrs McKay. Jason will be just fine.'
An audible sigh of relief reverberated through the room.
Someone breathed, 'Thank God!'
Which Cassie did, fervently, before rushing forward to take the doctor's hands. 'However can we thank you, Doctor?' she cried.
'To see you smile like that goes a long way, Mrs McKay.'
'Can we see him now?' she asked.
'If you like. He's back in his room, but he's still asleep from the anaesthetic.' He glanced over Cassie's shoulder at Dan. 'Well, Mr McKay? Is that helicopter of yours all tanked up and ready to go?'
Dan nodded slowly, apparently too full of emotion to speak.
'Then I must run. I have theatre in the morning, and even geniuses like myself need some sleep.' He grinned and left.
Cassie hugged her mother before turning to Roger. 'You must take her home to bed... You, too... You've both been under a terrible strain, but Jason is all right now. Dan and I will stay with him.'
When they hesitated, she practically pushed the pair of them from the room. Then with a deep, steadying breath she turned to face her husband. This was no time for personal problems. It was a time for rejoicing. Their son was alive!
'Dan?' Quite determinedly she walked over and curled an arm around one of his. 'Shall we go and see Jason?'
Dan looked rigidly down at her, but his eyes didn't seem to register. They seemed to be in some far off place, where he was enduring his own private agony. 'Cassie... I want you to know...to understand... I have to tell you. You must listen!'
She raised startled eyes at the vehemence in his voice. He hesitated, his eyes searching hers as though seeking some sort of reassurance, but suddenly a bleakness invaded his face and he shook his head, expelling a shuddering breath. 'What's the use? It won't make any difference. At least we have Jason... All right. Let's go and see him.' He grasped her elbow and propelled her from the room.
Cassie allowed herself to be bustled down the corridor, half wishing she could stop and ask Dan what it was that she should know and understand. In the back of her mind she knew that it had something to do with his wife, but how could she think of such things when her mind and heart were full of Jason and his recovery? And, as Dan said, what difference could it make now?
A pretty young nurse was sitting beside Jason's bed in the small, private room. She stood up and smiled when Dan and Cassie came in. 'I'll be outside if you need me,' she said quietly.
Cassie took one look at the tiny white figure in the bed, his head swathed in bandages, and almost burst into tears again. She clung on to Dan's arm.
'He looks so small, so defenceless,' she cried with a tiny sob.
'So lifeless,' Dan murmured. 'Just like...'
Dan groaned and tried to twist away from her, but Cassie clutched his arms. It struck her forcibly as she looked up into his contorted face that, if she truly loved Dan and wanted to make her peace with him, she had to face Roberta's ghost.
'Dan... What is it? Tell me!'
He shook his head.
'Is it...something to do with Roberta?' she persisted. 'Is that it? If it is, then I want to know.'
Again he shook his head. 'No, you don't. You never wanted to know. Not that I blame you. I've done it all wrong...grabbing at you...grabbing at Jason. I wanted you both...so desperately.' Tears glittered into his eyes. 'All these years of ‑' His mouth clamped tightly shut and he closed his eyes. 'You'd never understand...'
'Dan, please...give me the chance,' she pleaded. 'I...I didn't want to know about Roberta before because I was jealous...and I couldn't bear to hear about the wife you had loved...more than me...'
He opened eyes that had known a hell which she could not even guess at. 'I didn't love Roberta, Cassie. And there were times when I hated her from the depths of my soul for keeping me tied to her side. But she had no one else. No one...'
'Tell me about it,' Cassie urged, slipping her arms around his waist. She lifted loving, reassuring eyes. 'Tell me everything.'
He stared at her as though he couldn't believe the words he was hearing, or the way she was looking at him. 'It isn't a pretty story, Cassie.'
She swallowed. 'I can take it.'
'Yes, no doubt you can,' he sighed. 'You're remarkably tough.'
Cassie flinched and looked away.
He swung her chin back with a tender fingertip. 'Don't think I meant that unkindly, Cassie. I admire you. I really do. You're strong and independent, and underneath...underneath there lies a heart any man would give his life to capture.'