gently exploring each contour to reassure himself she was okay.
My family is safe. That’s the most important thing. No matter what I have to do, I’m going to catch those responsible. This will not happen again.
Rachel clung to him. “I was so scared.”
“I know, but I’m here now. I’ll take care of you.”
“For how long?” She looked at him with wide eyes.
Dylan cringed. “I have to meet Chris soon.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
He hugged her, ignoring her quivering lip. It wasn’t okay, but he couldn’t do or say anything to make it better.
An older lady stepped out of the passenger side.
Rachel gave her a brave smile. “Dylan, this is our friend, Vivian. We need to get her to District of Columbia Hospital to find her husband.”
Dylan nodded to the woman. “Of course.” His heart swelled with pride, even in the midst of terror, his wife had found someone to help.
ALEXIS rushed around the overflowing emergency room of the District of Columbia General Hospital. Struggling to keep her emotions in check, she assisted the nurses and doctors with the overwhelming volume of injured people flooding into the hospital.
There was no semblance of privacy or bias as the most critically injured people were helped first. A middle-aged man covered with burns died while the nurse administered morphine. A teenage girl with large, brown eyes was killed by debris that pierced vital organs. Alexis watched in helpless agitation. The burned victims were the hardest for her. It was all she could do to not remember.
After several hours, the rush of seriously wounded ebbed to a trickle. The hospital personnel were able to keep on top of the new patients being escorted or carried in. Alexis wandered around the hospital for half an hour, trying to find a way to help.
“Ma’am? Ma’am?”
She turned to face a young nurse with a child clinging to her neck.
“Yes?” Alexis recognized the RN from the branch of the hospital where she had volunteered.
“Can you take care of this little boy for a while? His father is missing, and his mother is critically injured. He wouldn’t leave his mother’s side, and we can’t operate with him there.”
Alexis looked into the little boy’s dark eyes. She feared her heart would be wrenched in two.
“Of course.” She reached out. He buried his head into the nurse’s collarbone. Alexis tried to think of a way to get him to come to her.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
“Jerome,” the nurse answered for the child. “At least we think that’s what he said earlier.”
“Jerome, would you like to come with me and see some new babies?”
A resolute shake of the head, no.
Okay, strike one.
“Have you ever been to the gift shop, Jerome? I bet they have toys there. Maybe we could find you a new toy to play with.”
He wouldn’t even look in her direction.
Strike two.
“At the café they have candy, donuts, pop, anything you want to eat. Would you like me to take you there?”
Lifting his curly head from the nurse’s shoulder, Jerome gazed at Alexis. She guessed he couldn’t be more than four.
“I’m hungry,” he said, reaching for her. She caught him in her arms, grateful for success on her last attempt.
“Thanks.” The nurse hurried up the hall.
Alexis held the boy as he consumed a donut, two containers of chocolate milk, and a package of M&M’s.
“My belly is ouchy.” He regarded her with mournful eyes.
“I bet it is.” Alexis smiled. “Why don’t you lie on my shoulder and try to rest.”
“Okay,” Jerome yawned. “I miss my mommy and daddy.”
“I know, sweetie. We’ll go and find them after you sleep for a little bit.”
Alexis was barely successful in containing her tears of sorrow on behalf of the child. Would he still have a family after today?
Jerome fell into a fitful sleep. Half an hour passed before the same blonde nurse approached Alexis. Alexis’s eyes asked the question her mouth couldn’t quite formulate.
“We found