Chapter 18

They sat for hours without any news. Ophelia took care of a few necessary things, such as their hotel and another rental car. Then Shay was called, and after a long conversation, she decided to catch the first flight she could get. When word came that they were bringing the first of the injured back to the base to be transported to the hospital, they were informed that Reyna was among them. They were also told that Pops was not injured and would be on the next flight.

Upon Reyna's arrival, they learned that she had a severe head injury and had been unconscious since she had hit her head. Sullivan, Sawyer, and Ophelia were allowed to be there while she was removed from the helicopter on a stretcher. She looked so pale, and they only had a moment to be with her as she was moved to the waiting ambulance.

Ophelia hung back so that Sawyer and Sullivan could offer her words of support and let Reyna know they were there even though she may not be able to hear them.

Lieutenant Moore didn't wait long to take off again for the second rescue.

The three of them were torn in two. Reyna was going to the hospital, and their father was still stranded in the middle of the ocean. After a long discussion, Sullivan and Sawyer decided that Sawyer would stay and wait for his father while Sullivan and Ophelia headed to the hospital to be with Reyna.

"Sawyer, I've texted you the name of the hotel where I've booked us rooms. I could only get two doubles, but I figured we would all be taking turns at the hospital, so it didn't matter. It is as close to the hospital as I could get if you and your father want to stop off there first." Ophelia told him.

"Thank you, Phee. I hadn't even thought about that," Sawyer said, offering her a grateful smile.

"I've also called a car rental company and had them deliver a car. The gate watchman has the keys and the make and model of the car." Ophelia gave him a quick hug then followed Sullivan out of the hanger.

The drive to the hospital was a quiet one. The car's navigational system was the only one doing the talking in the tense silence as the car raced down the still quiet highway. The sun had just risen on a new day, and thankfully Reyna and Pops were alive.

The next few hours were spent waiting in a private waiting room of the emergency department.

The odd passerby would ask them if they needed anything, but Ophelia got the feeling that it was simply to get a look a Sullivan.

Eventually, Sawyer and Pops joined them, and when Pops walked in and saw Sullivan and Ophelia, he offered them both tight hugs.

"Any news?" he asked, holding on to Ophelia.

"No, not yet," Sullivan said with a shake of his head.

Pops looked drawn and much older than he ever had as worry creased his brow. Ophelia guided him to one of the chairs, and they sat next to each other, holding hands.

"What happened, Pops?" she asked.

He took a deep breath. "I hardly know. We were in the water, everything was fine, but some dumbass had decided to smuggle some fireworks on board. Something set one of them off, which set all of them off. The boat survived, but the power didn't. We were lucky the entire boat didn't catch fire. Then, as we drifted and they tried to fix the radio, a storm quickly moved towards us. We were sitting duck at anchor, but with no power, there was no way to outrun it."

Pops rubbed his chin, which was covered in beard stubble.

"They managed to get an S.O.S. out shortly before the storm hit. We were all hunkered down, but there was a woman who was pacing in her anxiousness, and your mother decided to play the hero. As she approached the woman to calm her, she slipped and hit her head on the corner of a table. There was so much blood."

Pops buried his head in his hands, and Ophelia rubbed his back to comfort him.

"We didn't think anyone was going to come. There was no response to our S.O.S. because the radio failed again." He shook his head in disbelief.

"Ophelia had a bad feeling. Momma promised to call her and didn't," Sullivan informed him from across the small room. He was sitting in a chair watching Ophelia and Pops.

"Reyna always calls me, and she always keeps her promises." Ophelia gave Pops a watery smile as he squeezed her hand, which was held tight in his. "Sullivan believed me though and looked into it."

"I'm glad for all three of you," Pops said, giving them all looks of love. "Shay?"

"She's on her way," Ophelia confirmed.

There was nothing much to say after that, so they all sat in silence as they waited.

It was about an hour later when the doctor gave them information that Reyna had severe swelling in her brain. They had operated to relieve the pressure, but only time would tell how much damage had been done by the swelling.

The doctor would only allow the family to visit her one by one for a few minutes each. Then they would have to leave until the next round of visiting hours. Ophelia sat in the waiting room until Sullivan returned. She had never seen him look so drawn or tired before. The lines around his mouth and eyes had doubled.

"Are you ready?" he asked. "We'll share one room, and Pops and Sawyer will take the other unless you object?" He looked so dejected and beaten that even if Ophelia had objected, she wouldn't have told him.

The hotel was two blocks away, and they could have walked. It was nine o'clock in the morning, and she had never been so tired in her life. Ophelia checked into the room while Sullivan waited in the car for Pops and Sawyer. After they arrived, they entered by a side door and walked silently to their rooms like zombies.

The air condition room smelled like all chain hotel rooms, and it looked like it too. There were two beds, a desk, a lamp, and a chair, and the bathroom was just as basic.

"Do you mind if I take a shower?" Ophelia asked. The hot water would be a blessing on her tired muscles.

Sullivan shook his head as he pulled the curtains closed. "Go ahead."

When Ophelia was finished and exited the bathroom, she noticed Sullivan had turned away from her on the bed. She thought he was sleeping until she noticed his shoulders shaking.

Sullivan was crying. Ophelia didn't think. She just reacted as she laid on the bed next to him, wrapping her arm around his waist.

It was as if a dam had opened as his tears intensified. He turned to face Ophelia. "Can I hold you?" he asked.

Ophelia, who was crying with him, nodded and turned away from him so he could pull her close. All of Ophelia's tension drained away as they connected. Sullivan pulled her tight against him and buried his face in her neck.

"She looked so small and old," he said in a shaky voice.

If Pops' overnight transformation was anything to go by, then Ophelia didn't doubt that Reyna's physical appearance had been affected by their ordeal.

"She's surrounded by machines that are keeping her alive," Sullivan mumbled.

"No," Ophelia shook her head. "Reyna is keeping Reyna alive. I told you I had a feeling last night, and I have one now. She's fighting hard for her children and her husband. She knows you all need her. She'll pull through."

Sullivan held her tighter, and eventually, they fell asleep in each other's arms.

Ophelia awoke to a knock on the door, and she sat up looking around as the horrors of the night before returned. She turned to find Sullivan gone. The knock sounded again, and she quickly jumped out of bed to see who is at the door.

It was Sawyer, he was holding a to-go bag, and Ophelia's stomach grumbled as she held open the door. If he noticed the one rumpled bed, he didn't say anything as she handed Ophelia the bag.

"There is a restaurant across the street that offers breakfast 24/7. I had to keep my head down, but I think I got in and out without being recognized. They weren't very busy at 3 p.m.

Ophelia walked to the small table, opened the container, and took a long whiff. It smelled divine.

"Where are Pops and Sullivan?" she asked as she took her first bite of deliciousness.

"Sullivan went to the airport to get Shay, and Pops is still sleeping. He had a hard time falling asleep, so I want to let him sleep as long as possible. Visiting hours at the hospital aren't until 6 PM.

Ophelia nodded. "Is there any news on your mother?" Ophelia felt bad that she hadn't asked that question first, but she would have heard if there had been a major change.

"She's holding her own." Sawyer sat on the bed.

"How do you feel?" Ophelia looked at him. There was something different about him.

"Guilty," Sawyer admitted.

"Why?" Ophelia shook her head in confusion.

"Lieutenant Moore, Elyse, was the one on the ship." The words tumbled out.

"She's the one whose name you didn't know. Didn't you say she was a teacher?" Ophelia frowned as she tried to remember the conversation.

"I said I thought she might be a  teacher, but boy was I wrong. She a badass helicopter pilot." Sawyer couldn't contain his grin, and Ophelia couldn't help but return it.

"And you feel guilty because your mother is in ICU, and you're in love and happy?" Ophelia summarized.

Sawyer nodded, his grin failing him.

"It's a good thing that you're in love. Go and share that joy with her. Tell her all about it tonight. Let her feel your happiness. If that's the last thing you share with her, it will be a good thing too. She'll be so pleased." Ophelia started to cry happy tears at the thought, and Sawyer rushed over and pulled her into a hug.

"When do I get to meet her?" Ophelia asked after a few minutes.

"I'm not sure. We still have some stuff to work through." Sawyer shrugged.

"I get it," she nodded. She did. Love wasn't easy, but she was truly happy for Sawyer.

Some good news was what they all needed. "Now go. I have to get dressed and then do a little work. I'll get your father's dinner, so you don't have to brave the restaurant again."

Sawyer nodded and gave her another hug before leaving.

Ophelia couldn't help but think that at least one of them was getting a happily ever after.

Fate was a remarkable thing, and there was little doubt that when Reyna awoke, she would take full credit for reuniting Sawyer and his lady love.