“I know, Songbird. I know. I never doubted for a moment that you loved me. Now go. Taggert and Greer
are worried. They’re scared of losing you, and you’ve been a very difficult patient.”
He smiled a little as he said it and stroked her cheek with one finger.
“Do one more thing for me.”
“Anything.”
“Sing.”
She swallowed then nodded. Sean leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the lips. She closed her eyes
and basked in his love. When she opened them, he was gone.
Chapter Eighteen
They wouldn’t leave her alone, and it was seriously pissing her off. She’d been poked and prodded in
places that didn’t bear mentioning. Awareness was slow to come and with it the realization that Sean was
no longer holding her, kissing her.
She retreated from that reality and let herself be surrounded by the beckoning fade.
“Goddamn it, Emily, don’t you dare leave me. You fight, damn it. Don’t you fucking give up.”
Greer. What was he doing here? And why was he so angry with her? It wasn’t like she shot herself.
They need you, Emmy.
Sean’s gentle reminder echoed softly in her fragmented mind.
She sighed, or at least she thought she did.
“Emily, I swear to God, I’m going to kick your ass.”
She smiled. She couldn’t help it. So like Greer to threaten to kick her ass if she died on him. Where was
Taggert? Wasn’t like him to miss out on a chance to snarl and bellow.
“Emily, please. Fight, baby. Don’t leave us.”
Ah there he was. He sounded… She flinched away from the grief she heard in his voice. He thought he’d
already lost her. Just like he’d lost Sean.
You were right, Sean. I can’t leave them. I’m so sorry.
Don’t be sorry, love. I’ll wait for you. Go now. They’re worried.
Sean’s warmth and strength surrounded her, urging her, pushing her back to the voices calling for her.
I love you. I’ll miss you.
She felt his smile all the way to her toes.
I love you too, Songbird.
A gasp of pain escaped as suddenly she was brutally thrust out of the shadows. Noise surrounded her.
Beeping, loud voices, the sound of wrappers tearing, hurried footsteps. And pain. God, the pain.
“We’re here, Emmy. You stay with us,” Greer said.
Not going anywhere.
She tried to stay aware, but the pain was horrific. She felt a gentle hand on her cheek. Taggert. Comforted
by the knowledge he was there and she wasn’t alone, she surrendered to the heavy drag of oblivion.
***
Quiet surrounded her. She was dimly aware of pain, but it seemed muffled and a little fuzzy. It was a
welcome change from the way she’d been thrust so rudely into chaos before.
Her eyelids weighed about two tons, and by sheer force of will she managed to pry them open. Thankfully
the room was mostly dark with the only light showing from the hallway. The entire front of her room had
windows looking out to the nurses station, and she could see medical personnel bustling back and forth
between the station and the other rooms. She must be in ICU. Things must have been bad.
Slowly she registered her surroundings. Greer sat next to the bed, his head back, eyes closed. On her other
side, Taggert sat bent forward in his chair, his head between his hands. He was completely still, and she
wasn’t sure if he was also sleeping or just at his wit’s end.
Guilt hit her hard. While she’d been begging Sean to let her stay, Taggert and Greer had been fighting for
her life. Sean was right. She couldn’t give up. They needed her, and she needed them.
For once the idea that Sean was no longer here didn’t fill her with relentless grief. She felt him as surely
as if he were standing at her bedside. He’d made her a promise, and she knew he’d never go back on his
word. He’d be there when it was her time. Until then she had a lifetime to look forward to with Taggert
and Greer.
She opened her mouth to call out to Taggert and frowned when absolutely nothing came out. Her throat
hurt. Probably had a damn tube shoved down it. She licked her lips and tried again.
“Taggert.”
It came out in barely a whisper, but Taggert’s head immediately popped up. So much relief washed over
his face. He leaned forward, his hands reaching for her and then he seemed to think better of touching her.
He looked down and then back at her almost as if he didn’t have the first clue what to do.
She smiled and moaned when that simple action sent pain rocketing through her body.
That woke Greer up. He jolted forward, his feet hitting the floor with a thump.
“Emmy,” he breathed.
Taggert scooted his chair to the edge of her bed. He tentatively touched her arm, and her gaze fell down