It’s been five long ass days since Bubba was shot.
He’s still in a coma, with no signs of improvement. The doctors have no answers for us, just that he needs this time to heal. It’s now a waiting game.
I’ll never be able to thank Bubba enough for saving Jenni’s life. If he hadn’t been there, she might not be here. From what the cops have told us, Rob is being held without bail. They’re waiting for Bubba to wake up to get his side of things.
The conversation that I had with my father hasn’t been sitting well with me. His reaction to what I told him. The way he sounded when he said he would handle everything. I can’t get it out of my head…
“Pops,” I say once the automatic recording stops. Walking down the hospital hall, I make it outside so that I have a little more privacy.
“Son, how are things? How’s married life treating you? I got the picture.”
Jenni had told me at our wedding that she was going to print and send my father a picture. It was one of the four of us standing, embraced in each other’s arms. But with everything that had happened after the ceremony, I didn’t think she’d have time.
“Man, I didn’t think she’d get that in the mail. I didn’t think she’d have the time.”
“What do you mean?”
Rubbing the back of my neck, I take a deep breath. I fucking hate that I have to tell him this over the phone. This shit should be said in person, but there isn’t the fucking time, and I’m not about to make a couple hour trek to the prison anytime soon.
“Shit went down. That fucking prick left the clinic and found Jenni and the kids. He was at the park. Jenni didn’t know who he was at first, not until Savannah told her. She tried to get the kids outta the way, but the fucker pulled a gun on her.”
“Oh my God,” he breathed.
“One of my brothers, he was there. He wasn’t supposed to be, but he was, and he tackled Masters to the ground, but not before shots were fired. Jenni–”
“Please don’t say it, son.”
“No, she’s all right. Just a graze, but man, Pops. Bubba… He’s in bad shape. He’s been in a coma for a week. Things aren’t looking good.”
“Jenni’s really all right?”
“Yeah, but she’s still upset. Won’t leave Bubba’s side.”
“And the kids?”
“They were scared. And I wasn’t fucking here. I was doing a job in Vegas. Fuck Pops. When I got the call, I was so fucking scared. Then when I saw her here at the hospital, all I could feel was relief that she’s going to be okay. I owe Bubba everything. I can never pay him back for what he did.”
“What happen to Masters?”
“He’s being held without bail. There’s no fucking way he’s getting out. He may be up in your neck of the woods soon.”
“Well, let’s hope.”
“Yeah, lets.”
“I’m sorry, Tylan. I’m so fucking sorry. I want nothing more than for you to finally have your peace. I don’t want you suffering anymore, Son. You’ve had enough anguish to last a lifetime. So many times that I wasn’t there to protect you. I’m going to give you some solace. My heart goes out to you, my boy.”
“Thanks, Pops. I need to head back into the hospital. I don’t want to leave Jenni alone for too long.”
“All right. Be there for your family because, Tylan, they are your family. Don’t worry about the rest. Just be there for them. Love you.”
“I love you too.”
My head falls back onto the chair. The room’s dark, with only the glow of the machines that Bubba is still attached too. The silver lining to all this is the fact that Maggie pushed permanent custody through. When I saw her name flash across the screen of my phone, I almost didn’t answer it, but thank fuck I did. She pleaded with her manager to allow our fostering status to be permanent. All we have to do now is sign some papers and the kids will be ours, guaranteeing us that no one will be able to take them away. Douchebag Rob will never be able to have custody of them.
Every one of the guys has been here at some point, even Sin. We’ve been taking turns keeping vigil, being here for Bubba like we should. He’s a good fucking man. He lost his way there for a bit, but don’t we all at some point? I think he’s learned the hard lesson, and if God’s at all understanding, he’ll let my brother pull through so he can have the life he’s intended.
Jenni sleeps with her head on my lap on the couch inside Bubba’s room. Dyke is downstairs, getting some grub. Bianca has been taking the kids to school and making sure they’re fed. She loves playing grandma to them, and they seem to love it too. Roxy is even trying to say grandma in Spanish, but hasn’t quite gotten the pronunciation down.
My eyes scan over Bubba’s body, looking for any sign that he’s waking up. I’m not sure how much longer any of us can take it. The not knowing is frustrating. Closing my eyes, I give into the exhaustion. I feel my body start to relax when I hear a groan coming from the other side of the room. Gently lifting Jenni’s head from my lap, I make my way over to his bed. Bubba’s eyes flutter, finally breaking open, locking on mine. The whites of his eyes, have a slight pink tint to them, but his gray-blue eye coloring is clear. Panic flashes over his features as he tries to talk, but the tube is still down his throat. He moves to pull the hose, but I grab his hand first.
“You need to relax. You’ve been out, and you flipping your shit isn’t going to help a damn thing.”
“Tylan?” Jenni’s groggy voice comes from behind me.
“Get the doctor, baby. He’s awake.”
Bubba looks toward Jenni, and relief replaces the look of panic that was on his face not moments before.
“That’s right, brother. You fucking saved my woman. You got yourself shot in the process, but you fucking saved her and my kids. I’ll never be able to repay you. I’m forever indebted to you.”
I reach down and squeeze his hand before the doctors walk in.
It takes a few more days, but once they clear Bubba, they move him to his own room on a normal floor. Now more visitors can be in the room at once. Jenni is still hovering, fluffing his pillows, getting him water, and making sure he doesn’t want for anything.
“I’m good,” Bubba says when she asks if he needs anything.
I run my hand over my face and groan. “Baby, leave the man alone.”
She snaps her head and narrows her eyes at me. “I want him to be comfortable.”
“The only time he’ll be comfortable is when he’s outta this room and in between the legs of a woman. All the hurtin’ in the world can be cured by the feel of a tight pussy.”
“Hell yeah,” Bubba agrees, causing Jenni to roll her eyes.
“Knock, knock,” Savannah’s voice comes through the room. “Can we come in?” she asks Jenni. When Sin enters the room, his gaze falls on Bubba. Sin hasn’t been here since he woke up. Maybe it was easier to be here in support when Bubba was unconscious.
“Hey, man,” he says as he approaches Bubba’s bed. “It’s good to see you’re up. You had us worried for a bit.”
“Yeah, that’s what I hear.” His voice is still scratchy from having the tubes shoved down it.
“Hey,” Jenni whispers in my ear. “I’m gonna go grab a snack. Do you want anything?”
“I’ll go with you,” I murmur.
“No, stay. I want to stretch my legs.” She kisses my cheek, before leaving the room.
“Look, I need to thank you for being there when I couldn’t,” I hear Sin say.
“Don’t mention it. It’s how it was supposed to be. I should’ve always been there for you and yours, and there was a time when I wasn’t. Shit went down that I shouldn’t have allowed, and because of that, you almost lost your family. Not gonna let that shit happen again.” His voice comes out in rasps.
“You’re right, shit went down that wasn’t supposed to happen, but it ended the right way and my family’s safe.”
“They never should’ve been in danger. That was my fault, and I’ll never be able to apologize enough for allowing that piece of shit to get his hands on her.”
“Don’t keep beating yourself up over it,” Savannah says as she lays her hand on his chest. “I’ve forgiven you. You need to forgive yourself.”
“Yeah, man,” Sin continues. “It took almost losing you to realize that shit happens. Families fuck up, but one thing never changes, and that’s the fact that blood or not, you’re my fucking brother. I should have been there for you. I should have seen that you were struggling. If I had only noticed, then you wouldn’t have fallen into old habits.”
Standing, I let myself out of the room. I’ve made my peace with Bubba, and once he gets outta the hospital, we’ll continue to build what was broken.
I lean my head against the wall, and I close my eyes, taking a much-needed deep breath. Fuck. This has been a long fucking week. A long fucking couple of months. The weight on my shoulders starts to lift. I’m ready to fucking relax. Build some shit. Get the shop out into the mainstream. Spend some quality time with my fucking wife. My wife. I love the fucking sound of that.
Shit is finally falling into place.
Hawk walks up. “You good?”
Looking over to him, I finally feel that I can speak the truth. “Yeah, man, I’m good. Just giving him and Sin some time. Where the fuck have you been?” Hawk’s been MIA again. I thought from what he said back in Vegas that he was done with the LA trips, but I guess not.
He ignores my question. “Fuck, that’s good to hear. You think they’ll work it out?”
“I think so. I think all this what-ifs and walks with death has opened Sin’s eyes to a lot of shit. We all fuck up, man–”
A high-pitched squeal of an alarm blares from Bubba’s room. “Code Blue… Code Blue room 236… Code Blue room 236.” An automated voice comes on over the speakers. “Code Blue… Code Blue room 236… Code Blue room 236.” Hospital staff rushes by, pushing a cart into Bubba’s room.
Fuck no. Lifting myself off the wall, I take a few steps towards the commotion.
“You need to get those people out of here!” the doctor yells as he slices the gown from Bubba’s chest. The nurse uses her arms to usher Savannah and an unwilling Sin out of the way.
“I’m not fucking leaving,” he growls.
“Sir,” the nurse commands.
“I–I don’t understand,” Savannah cries.
I hear compressions.
One—
Two—
Three.
The doctor leans over, checks for a pulse, and then uses a contraption to blow air into Bubba’s lungs.
One—
Two—
Three.
“I need the crash cart. STAT!”
Taking the paddles in his hands, he presses them to Bubba’s chest. “Clear!”
His body arches and comes off the bed as the jolts of electricity flows through his body, before falling back to the mattress. A light beep of a heartbeat rings out before the blaring starts up again.
Flatline.
“Again. Clear!” he yells before placing the paddles back on his chest. “I need 10cc of epinephrine,” the doctor commands as he continues to work, trying to revive my brother.
“Oh my God!” The voice of the woman I love comes from behind me, but I’m unable to look away from Bubba’s room.
Pounding of footsteps hit the tiled floor. “What’s happening? What’s happening to my son?” There’s panic in Dykes voice, but I continue to stare inside the room.
I watch as the doctor continues to shout orders, pressing the paddles to Bubba’s chest. His body arches then falls, motionless, again and again.
Commands being shouted.
More drugs being pushed into his I.V.
The occasional beep of a heartbeat.
Then nothing.
Everyone stops. The click of the monitor turning off has the room fall in silence.
“Time of death: 2:49pm.”