Redemption(106)

I started laughing. “Our story is a little out of the ordinary.”

Jimmy straightened his posture. “Ah, but where would the fun be if it wasn’t?” He winked at me, making me laugh.

“I can’t have it end now, Jimmy. Not now that we’ve finally found each other again. Not now that he’s in my life again.” I felt the tears brim as Jimmy squeezed my hand.

“I know, Tyler. There’s no way we can close your book now. The story hasn’t ended for you two. It has only just begun.”

I sighed, feeling the tears run. “I really hope that’s true, Jimmy. I’ve known what it’s like to live without him and it sucks. I couldn’t do it again.”

Jimmy saw the obvious pain in my eyes and winced. “I loved Grace with a passion and she will always hold a special place in my heart. But I have Tara now and I feel like I can live again. I understand that now. I’m not saying this to try and make you see there is life after Dean because I know, with you two, it stops here. That’s why he has to fight one last time. He has to fight for his family.”

I smiled and nodded, but his last comment made me remember. “His uncle… Shouldn’t we tell him?”

Jimmy cursed and got up. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll go give him a call.”

I nodded and watched Jimmy as he walked outside the room. It was in that moment, sitting by myself, that I knew Jimmy was right about him being here with me. In just those few minutes he was using the phone, I felt so lonely. In his absence, it gave me time to think about everything that had happened, and the uncertain future before us.

In a moment of weakness, I hunched over as an overwhelming pain seared through my gut. Tears began falling as visions of a possible life without Dean raced through my head.

Would life be this cruel to me? Could I really be given this chance, only to have it ripped away from me once again?

It’s funny how moments like this made you question things. I felt selfish because all I could think about was how this affected me, and how I could even possibly begin to think I could live without him. I wanted to shout from the rooftops about how cruel the universe was for giving me just a taste. That’s all I had. A taste of a life with Dean. All I had was a mere morsel of him, and I felt cheated. I felt the injustice of being allowed to love someone I may never be able to see again.

It was while I was in my despair, clutching my stomach, that I sensed a presence in the room. Someone was watching me.

Snapping my head up, I saw a pair of eyes searching mine, his hand reaching towards me. Knowing he had been caught, Evan snapped his hand back. I noticed he was still in his scrubs, which only meant one thing to me.

I felt the terror rise and I had this instinct to cover my ears and close my eyes, shutting the world out so I didn’t have to hear it. But I had to be strong. I had to know.

“Is he…?” I couldn’t get the word out. It felt too alien on my tongue. It was almost as if saying the word meant it was real.

“No.”

Hearing that word would never normally make me happy. No was a negative word. No normally didn’t get you the things you wanted. But, right now, no was the most beautiful word on earth. It meant Dean was still alive. He was still breathing. He was still mine.

Releasing the breath I didn’t know I was holding, I looked at Evan. He looked conflicted. It was almost as if he was struggling to either maintain a doctor/family member relationship, or just simply be my friend. Right now, I needed both. I needed the information and I needed the comfort. I needed him to tell me everything was going to be okay.

“You…you operated on him?”

Evan nodded. “The ice pick was very close to the major coronary artery. I needed to be there for the removal. He had some other injuries, including some cracked ribs, a broken nose, and some second-degree burns, but the main cause for concern was the wound to his chest. He also had internal bleeding. His lungs filled with blood and we had to put a chest tube in. At one point, his blood pressure fell dangerously and we had to revive him. He’s strong and he did make it through, but the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours will be critical.”

I nodded, feeling somewhat relieved, then noticed Jimmy standing in the doorway. “Did you get that?” He nodded and I looked back at Evan. “Thank you for saving his life.” I wanted to ask if it was hard for him, considering our past, but I didn’t think it was appropriate. How ironic is it that my ex-boyfriend ended up saving my long-lost love?

Evan smiled timidly. “I was just doing my job.”

I suppose I had my answer right there. He was just doing his job. That was definitely Evan. He was always totally committed to his job, no matter what. I admired him for that.