“Kinsey!”

Kinsey turned just in time to catch Cassie as she threw herself at her. She had to fight her frustrated tears from falling as Cassie broke down in her arms.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Kins. They won’t tell us anything. We finally got to come see Uncle Joseph, but we still know nothing about my Dad. Do you know anything?” Cassie asked as she leaned back.

“I’m sorry, Cass. I’ve been with Joseph the whole time but I’ll make some calls and see what I can find out about George,” Kinsey quickly assured her friend.

“I just don’t understand how something so awful happens to two of the most wonderful men I know,” Cassie said, still holding onto Kinsey.

“I don’t know, Cass. I see it every single day, and I still don’t get it. So many tragedies, so senseless. But, they’re both alive, Cass. Don’t give up on them.”

“I know, I know. I’m just… my hormones… I’m sorry,” Cass shook as her tears fell freely.

“You haven’t mentioned depression,” Kinsey said with concern.

“No, it’s just a bit of the post baby blues. I’m okay, and Ariel is amazing, the best three-month-old baby in the world. It’s just that something like this happens and my hormone ridden brain goes a little haywire,” Cassie said.

“I understand, Cass. If George has to be here a few days, you need to bring Ariel in to visit him. You know that seeing her will heal him faster than any medicine this hospital can provide.”

“That’s a great idea. I’ll talk to Max about it. I don’t like being away from her very long anyway. She’s still so tiny, plus I’m nursing. I just didn’t want to bring her down here in the middle of the night, especially with not knowing anything,” Cassie explained.

“That was smart. She can’t be in the emergency room, anyway. Wait until he’s moved to a private room.”

“How much longer are you on shift?”

“I have a few hours to go. I can come with you to check on Joseph, though.”

“Good,” Cassie said as she took Kinsey’s arm and started leading her toward the room.

“Nurse Stellar, a word.”

Kinsey turned to see the young doctor again. It really was going to be a long night.

“I’ll be there in a minute, Cass. Go ahead.”

“I think I should stay with you, Kins. That doctor seems unstable,” Cassie whispered.

Kinsey knew it was the stress of the situation, but she suddenly had to fight off a burst of laughter wanting to escape. The look on the doctor’s face, all red with small bubbles of spit in the corner of his far too thin lips, combined with the uncertain look Cassie was sending his way was too much.

Kinsey turned to reassure her friend that she was okay, when alarms started ringing. Any thoughts of laughter were immediately cut off.

“Someone help!”

Kinsey and the doctor ended their standoff and faced the room. Kinsey immediately responded.

“Code Blue!” Kinsey yelled as she rushed into the room.

Her fear had just become realized. Joseph had tried to stand up, stubborn man that he was, and instantly collapsed into Lucas’s arms.

The nurses rushed forward as they took his vitals.

“His eyes aren’t responding.”

“Blood pressure’s rapidly dropping.”

“We’re losing his pulse.”

“Start CPR, Now!”

“He’s not breathing.”

“Start compression.”

Words. Rapidly fired. A jumble of words, one sentence rushing over the top of the next. Kinsey knew his family was terrified, knew they would only catch pieces, the worst pieces, in the conversation. It almost sounds like a different language to someone not working in the medical industry, but it translated effortlessly to Kinsey’s ears. She knew those words, knew them in her sleep. She moved on autopilot, just as the team around her did the same. They weren’t only trained, but trained well. They’d make sure he survived.

“I’ve got a good radial pulse.”

“We’ve got an airway established.”

“Blood pressure’s still too low.”

“Get a CT scan, stat, and call Neuro.” The doctor didn’t even look at her as he yelled his command to be overheard in the chaotic room.

“Yes, Doctor,” a nurse replied as she rushed out.

Just then the Neuro Surgeon, who Kinsey had called for earlier, stepped into the room. The doctor she’d been fighting with sent a glare her way. She knew their argument was far from over. He wasn’t happy about her being right. She didn’t care about his ego. She would’ve much rather been wrong. However, it looked like her insight might save Joseph’s life. That was all that mattered to her.

The staff quickly prepared Joseph for transport, and then rushed him out the door. Kinsey walked from the room, down the hall, and then slipped inside a broom closet. She sank down the wall and gripped her head in her hands. It was never easy dealing with a patient you cared about. She knew there were no guarantee’s when a surgeon cut into a patient's brain. She was scared for this family she’d come to know and respect.

◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊◊

“Why the hell can’t I get any answers!” Austin roared at the receptionist.

“I’m sorry, sir. If you’ll please just have a seat, the doctor should be out shortly.” The woman had nerves of steel. He wanted to jump across the desk and strangle her, which was new for him. Normally, he never had an ill thought about a woman – ever.

“Come on, Austin. You’re not going to get anywhere terrorizing the staff,” Max said as he wrapped his arm around his brother and tugged him away from the desk.

“Why can’t anyone give us information? It’s been hours. Dad’s still in surgery and Uncle Joseph’s currently getting his head sliced open. You’d think they’d tell us something at this point.”

“I know. But you have to remain calm. Bree’s falling apart and she needs us to be confident. We have to have faith in the doctors here. Besides, you know how strong our father and uncle are. They will pull through this.”

Austin grumbled as he started pacing the room. He needed something, anything to get his mind off what was going on. He didn’t know what he’d do if something happened to either of the men.

He couldn’t stand being in the hospital. He hated everything about the place, the smell, look, feel. He’d spent too many hours in one when his mother had been fighting for her life. A fight she’d lost.

He ran his hand through his hair as anger, fatigue, confusion and grief poured through him. He needed to get out of there, but he couldn’t leave. He didn’t want to even think about what it would do to his family if they lost their dad. They couldn’t lose both parents.

No. Just, no. He wouldn’t go there. It wouldn’t happen – it couldn’t.

He paced the room to the point he was sure his footprints would be permanently stamped into the floor. After about the hundredth time across, he turned, then froze in place.

“Kinsey,” he whispered.

Austin closed his eyes as he allowed himself a moment to remember his night with Kinsey a year ago at Cassie’s wedding. Thinking of her always sent fire through his veins, and he was grateful to have the distraction. Anything was better than the suffering he was going through while waiting to hear about his father. He shut out the noise around him as he thought back…

He’d spotted Kinsey on the dance floor, her shiny lips open as laughter spilled freely from her. He’d been instantly intrigued, deciding he had to meet the incredibly lovely bridesmaid. It was a wedding, after-all. The groomsmen and bridesmaids were expected to hook up.

He grabbed a couple flutes of champagne from a passing waiter, then approached her, dripping with confidence. He had no reason to feel anything other than on top of the world. Women adored him.

“Excuse me, but I noticed you looked thirsty,” he said, giving her his sexiest smile. She was worth his full bag of charm, after-all. He needed to thank his new sister-in-law because the dresses she’d picked were stunning, showcasing the woman’s assets to perfection.

His groin tightened as he pictured peeling the satin fabric off her.

“How nice of you, but no thanks.” Austin stood there as she turned and walked away. He knew his mouth was hanging open, but he was at a loss for words. His eyes were glued to the sensual movement of her hips as she crossed the floor, before a flood of bodies swallowed her up.

He drained his glass, then smiled from ear to ear.

A challenge!

He spent the next two hours trying to convince her to dance. When she finally agreed, he felt like he won the lottery.

Pulling her onto the dance floor, her curves melted against him, sending his body into permanent meltdown. His hand slid low as he pulled her close so she’d have no doubt of his desire. Her eyes widened as he pushed against her, a groan rumbling from his chest.

He knew they’d both had too much to drink. He knew something was off, but he didn’t listen to his conscious. After dancing for hours, laughing, talking, flirting, he carried her up the stairs to his guest room.

He’d never forget how it felt having their bodies entwined. Kinsey’s curves pressed against his own. The sound of his name gasped from her lips as he sank deep within her.

“Austin? Hey, earth to Austin.”

Austin opened his eyes to find his brother standing next to him, but he couldn’t quite focus on what he was saying, his mind foggy as he tried to push the memories back where they came from. With Kinsey being so close, it wasn’t easy. Just seeing her made him ache.

Their night together had been the most passion filled and satisfying night he could ever remember.

The next morning he’d woken to find her gone.

Not able to get her out of his mind, he’d called her, stopped by her house, even begged Cassie for information – all of it was to no avail. She avoided him like he was contagious – he didn’t get it. Normally, women were slipping keys into his pockets, phone numbers in his fingers, making it more than clear they were available for his pleasure, day or night.

The one woman he wanted a second date with couldn’t seem to get far enough away from him. He finally found her at one of his family holiday parties. She’d told him she’d made a mistake, and she’d rather forget about the entire night.

He’d managed to change her mind, though, once again getting her to dance with him, until they’d ended up sneaking off for a little privacy. He’d nearly taken her again on one of the private balconies. Someone had interrupted them, and the next thing he knew, she was gone again.

The next time he’d seen her had been at Bree’s wedding, only a few months ago. She’d once again tried to ignore him, but then, their eyes met across the room, hers unguarded for just a moment, and the need he saw in her stormy brown depths nearly dropped him to his knees. He wanted to throw her over his shoulder, and find somewhere they could be alone, so he could love her until they were both fully sated. He’d managed to stop himself – just barely.