Cole and the Horsemen rode through the open gate heedless of the guards around them who made no attempts to get in their way. The four of them came up to the front door, dismounted, and drew their weapons with deftness and purpose. Once through the door, Cole saw three of the suited guards ahead of him with a man kneeling and cuffed between them. "Is that Gabriel?" he asked as he approached the suits.

 

"Yes," one of the guards replied.

 

Cole shot Gabriel in the head, the bullet velocity pulling the corpse from the guard’s hands who simply let Gabriel fall and crumble.

 

"Where is Nicole?" Cole asked the suit without giving Gabriel another thought.

 

"Second floor, pink door," the guard answered calmly, un-phased by Cole's actions. "I'll radio ahead so they know you are coming. We're trying to find her some clothing."

 

"Thank you," Cole nodded and holstered his gun. The other bikers did the same and followed him as he ran up the stairs and down the walk toward the pink door.

 

Two guards were outside and made no motion to hinder his approach as he went by and into the room. Inside, he found two more attempting to get Nicole into a long t-shirt. Cole moved forward, brushed the guards aside, fixed the shirt, and swooped her up into his arms, turned with her and headed for the doors. "Can you hear me, Nicole?" he asked. "Stay with me, baby. We're going for the hospital."

 

"Cole? Cole? He hurt me, Cole."

 

"I know, baby, but he'll never do it again. I promise you."

 

As he came down the stairs with Nicole in his arms with Jim, Rat, and Brian at his back, he heard a voice with an Italian accent saying, "Just fucking shot him, eh? I like that. No words, nothing. Just bang. Maybe he's all right for my Nicole, after all. Yeah, just maybe."

 

When he came into the lobby, there was Lou whose smile shattered when he saw Nicole. "Ah, Jesus Christ, no," and the depth of his sadness was moving, even to Cole's ears. Lou shifted his eyes to Cole and said, "The doctors are waiting for you, Cole. Max's limo will be the fastest. I can have one of my guys get your bike back to the bar."

 

"Fine," Cole said, "Keys are in the bike. Give them to the bartender." He brushed passed the mobster and out of the house, his long legs cutting across the walk to the waiting limo.

 

***

 

The doctors were waiting, not just nurses or staff, but the actual doctors were waiting by the door when Cole carried her into the hospital. They guided him to lay her on a gurney and then swept her away into the emergency treatment area. One of the nursing staff came to him, asking him to let them do their job.

 

"What can they do?" Cole asked.

 

"They'll most likely begin with giving her naloxone, which is very effective in countering heroin and other opiates, but first, they may take the time to ensure that's all she has in her system. We were told that this was done to her, not something she accidentally did herself. Do you know if she uses any other drugs? Does she party at all?"

 

"She drinks and I know of at least once time she did crystal, but very rarely. Drinks beer, mostly. Some shots, but never more than five."

 

"How long has she been like this?"

 

"Ah, a little longer than I day? I would guess? But I don't know the doses or how many," Cole admitted.

 

"That's fine. Please wait in the visitor room and I’ll be back out to tell you any changes or news. All right? I've been dedicated to her treatment, so I'll be able to pass you news as it happens."

 

"Good and thank you," Cole said.

 

The nurse then leaned closer and whispered to him, "You might want to put the gun in your car. Cops come in and out of here quite often."

 

He gave her a grin, "Thanks. I'll do that."

 

Max was already in the waiting room. Cole gave him the run down about the naloxone treatment and then walked out to the limo to shuck his gun and told his fellow brothers the news, as well. "You guys don't have to stay. I'll call you with any news. She could be home tomorrow," Cole told them.

 

"Angie is going to want to be assured, again, that this isn't her fault, so I should head home," Rat agreed. "But you have to come over soon and back me up on that, because she isn't believing me much."

 

"I'll hang for a while," Jim told him, "Then go back to the club and make sure your bike is settled inside for the night. I'll come by with your keys later on."

 

Brian looked at him, "I got nothing better to do, bro, so I'm with you."

 

"You licensed to carry inside hospitals?" Cole asked with a grin.

 

"Yes, but I'll leave them out here anyway," Brian replied seriously. "I don't want to make people nervous who are already in pain."

 

Cole nodded and they walked together into the lobby and sat down.