A rush of footsteps and a whirl of colours got here hurtling towards her. “Cassie. Cassie. I’m right here.” Tammy rushed ahead, arms open vast.

Cassie stumbled into her pal’s jostling embrace.

“Shep known as me,” Tammy mentioned as she launched Cassie. “Are you okay?”

“I shall be. As quickly as I see Mike.”

Tammy handed her a plastic pouch of tissues. “You haven’t seen him?”

“Shep known as you?” Cassie requested on the similar time.

“Some time in the past. He needed me to seek out you and be with you if you heard.”

“Oh.”

“Hello Tammy,” Jared mentioned. “We had been about to take a seat down.”

“He higher be okay,” Tammy growled at Jared as if it was his fault Mike had been shot. Jared simply smiled and held out his arm in Cooper’s path, silently suggesting she be part of them.

Cassie adopted Cooper to a nook the place a darkish, good-looking man sat.

“Good day, querida. I’m Laredo.” He might need a blinding grin that might flip any lady’s head, however all Cassie might take into consideration was Mike.

“I’m sorry. You realize me?”

“Solely your identify. Everybody on the station is aware of your identify.”

She wasn’t certain if she needs to be embarrassed, however she didn’t care.

“Don’t look so glum. Mike’s as robust as an ox.” Cooper directed her to take a seat down. “Shep’s again there with him.”

“He’s in all probability giving the docs a match and that’s why it’s taking so lengthy.” Laredo grinned. She knew he was making an attempt to cheer her up.

“How lengthy have you ever been right here?”

“A pair hours. Normally they deal with us fairly fast. However Mike was being not possible and Shep needed to go calm him down.”

She twisted her palms collectively to maintain from shaking. If Mike was giving the docs a tough time, then his damage won’t be too extreme. However till she noticed Mike along with her personal eyes, she wouldn’t chill out. For the time being, she needed to scream. To run up and down the lighted hallway, venting, doing one thing. Something however ready, which drove her nuts.

A Styrofoam cup, steam rising from the highest, entered her imaginative and prescient. She glanced up, seeing Jared’s involved expression. Espresso would make her coronary heart pound quicker. She couldn’t danger it leaping out of her chest. Shit. She wanted one thing to calm her.

Earlier than she might say something, Shep got here strolling into the ready space. Each member of the workforce stood and gathered round expectantly.

“He’s positive. He’s being an ass. The physician desires to maintain him in a single day for commentary, however he’s decided to depart.” Shep stared at Cassie. “Possibly you can also make him take heed to the physician.”

Figuring out Mike was awake and impatient to depart the hospital despatched a rush of reduction by way of her veins. A robust arm got here round her shoulders simply as she wobbled. She leaned into Jared, glad for his energy and luxury. For with out it, her legs won’t have held her.

“Cassie?”

She lifted her gaze to Jared.

“Did you perceive Shep? You possibly can see him.”

She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath.

Mess or not, Mike Armstrong, right here I come. What you see is what you get.

***

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