The Accidental Hero Read Online Free PDF

fist so many times into a wall, or screamed so
loud in my entire life.
    Aside from the wounds and blood, Bethie looked
like she could have been sleeping. How could she be gone? How could
Jenn? I felt disembodied.
    The activity outside the trauma room
increased. Walkie-talkies, intercom pages, hurried footsteps,
gurneys rolling.
    The doctor emerged from the
curtain.
    "I'm sorry, but there's someone outside you
need to speak to." Outside the room, an officer from the Sherriff's
department tipped his hat.
    "My condolences on your loss, sir. But I need
to ask you a few—"
    "This isn't the best time."
    Dave Pendelton arrived.
    I gripped his sleeve. "Aaron?"
    "He's still in surgery. Trauma
One."
    Behind him was one of the TCC
doctors.
    "Is he going to make it?" I asked.
    "Too soon to say. He's suffered severe trauma
to the head and internal organs."
    "Can I see him?"
    "Not yet."
    I spent the next hour answering the deputy's
incessant questions.
    What was my name, date of birth, social
security number, place of employment, phone numbers? He asked for
identification.
    "Do we really have to do this now!" I huffed,
fumbling with my wallet.
    Dave helped take it from my shaking hands and
gave the deputy my driver's license and social security
card.
    The officer asked for the same type of
information for Jenn, Bethany and Aaron—the victims. My mouth
became bitter. Dryness impeded my words. The deputy was sympathetic
and seemed genuinely sorry to put me through this. I couldn't
concentrate.
    Dr. Salzedo, the trauma surgeon
arrived.
    "How is he?" I asked.
    "We've stabilized him. He's been moved to the
Pediatric ICU."
    I exhaled in relief.
    "PICU's on the third floor."
    I got up immediately and turned to Deputy
Schaeffer. "If you'll excuse me." If there was anything to hold
onto amidst the devastation, it was the hope that Aaron had
survived.
    I wasn't prepared for what I saw when I got to
his room.
     
    ___________________
     
    For some delusional reason,
I had expected to find my son sitting up, with a few bandages and
other dressings, but smiling at me. He would call out, "Daddy!" and
we'd embrace, holding on to each other as
the last surviving remnants of our family. When I entered, however, I
found him unconscious. Tubes of all sorts
invaded his body. A ventilator assisted his breathing and all I
could hear was hissing, buzzing and beeping medical
equipment.
    "The next twenty-four hours are crucial," Dr.
Salzedo said. "We'll know better with time."
    Aaron was in a coma with injuries to his head,
spine, and internal organs. Internal hemorrhaging had been
controlled, for now. But things could get better or much worse,
unexpectedly. Everything was still iffy.
    I stood by his bed and held his hand. Warm.
Thank god. He would have appeared peaceful and simply asleep, but
for all the equipment he was hooked up to. It seemed grotesquely
uncomfortable.
    Dave stood over Aaron, laid his hand on his
bandaged head and mouthed a silent prayer. I didn't like him
imposing his religion, even if Aaron had attended his church with
Jenn and Bethie since his birth. But I was too exhausted and beyond
objecting.
    "You're welcome to stay with Aaron as long as
you wish," said Dr. Salzedo. "But there's nothing to be done now
but wait and monitor his progress. You've been through hell and
really should get some rest. We'll call you if anything
changes."
    "No, I'm staying."
    "Sam," Dave said, his hand on my shoulder.
"Maybe you should—"
    "I said, I'm staying."
    He leaned over and said something to the
doctor, who nodded in turn.
    "I'll stay too, then," Dave said. "We can take
shifts."
    "Thanks, really. But..." I couldn't think of a
good enough excuse besides the fact that he was starting to creep
me out with all his kindness. "If you don't mind, I'd like to be
alone with my boy."
    "I understand." He pulled a business card from
his pocket and handed it to me. "If you need a ride home, give me a
call."
    I thanked him again and he left. The Sheriff's
office was