Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty Nine - Difficult to Wait

Emmy was back before Hailey came out of surgery but I was unwilling to leave, in case the surgery is over and I'm not here.

"Hey man we're here, do you want your wife to see you looking like this?" Bas asks, gently throwing an arm across my shoulder.

"You know she'll be fine, right," Bas continues as he tries coaxing me to clean up.

I know the bullet, hit her shoulder but still, she's in surgery and I failed her today.

I failed her in the worst way possible!

Gerard and dad has been handling the cops but since the shooting made news headlines, the possibility of David hearing about his daughter, is high.

There's nothing I could say that could excuse Hailey being hurt, while in my care.

Bas and I turned swiftly when we heard the door of the room Hailey was being kept in, opened.

Leaping to my feet, I rushed towards the doctor and tried looking behind him for some sign of Hailey.

"Mr. Knights," the doctor gaze around before his eyes fell on me.

Wiping my eyes, "yes, yes, that's me, that's me," I responded quickly but instead of waiting for the doctor to say more, I pushed passed him. "I need to see my wife." The doctor was too stunned, to hold me back.

Hailey was on a bed surrounded by nurses as they tidied up around her.

"Sir, you can't be in here," a nurse came to block me from going forward but I swerved away from her.

Pointing to the bed, "that's my wife," I notified her, my heart breaking as I moved closer to where Hailey laid, asleep.

"Sir," I heard the nurse say again behind me but nothing and no one could separate me from my wife.

"Give him a moment," I heard a male voice behind me but I don't want a moment.

"Mr. Knights, "I'm Doctor Sims," the voice continues from behind me but I didn't turn around.

With tears running down my eyes, I reach out placing my hand on Hailey's and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

The beeping of the monitor suddenly got my attention. Sighing in relief, I dropped my head on hers.

"You're my heart," I whispered near her ear "and if you ever leave me, I won't survive." I added, despite the paleness in her cheeks, she's simply the most beautiful woman I would ever meet.

"Mr. Knights, your wife will be fine. We got the bullet that was lodged between some muscles out." Hailey's surgeon updates me but I can't give him my undivided attention, because my heart, my mind and my soul is linked to Hailey.

Nodding in acknowledgement of his words confirming that all is good, I couldn't help but be sadden, because her eyes are still closed and it should have been me.

"Can you give the staff a few minutes to take her into recovery and you can remain there until she wakes up." The good doctor whose name I can't remember, suggested.

Shifting, because he said the correct password, I can wait with her.

Finally, I met the eyes of the doctor staring back at me, "thank you," I nod my appreciation, observing as they organize to move Hailey from the operating room.

Indicating my attire, "it will be some time before she wakes up, maybe you could use some of that time to clean up?" the doctor suggested cautiously, his expression guarded, as if he expected me to pounce on him, for his suggestion.

If Hailey and Emmy were to hear me, they would scold me for being rude and abrupt to the hospital staff whose, helping Hailey.

Nodding, then I remembered.

"Can you find out about another person who came in with her, I think his name is Amos. He was also hurt?" I knew Hailey would put Amos before her ownself and when she awakes, asking for him might be the first words out of her mouth.

"She's fine," I tell the anxious group gathered outside waiting for information about Hailey.

Sighing, I smiled through saddened eyes, "she's going to be fine but they are taking her to another room until she wakes up." I filled them in a small mouth full.

Bas reaches out and hugs Mel and Emmy as they cry in relief, while I turn to dad who was leaning against the wall opposite to where I stood, with a grim expression in his eyes.

I strode directly in front of him, "it was Amelia, wasn't it?" I asked and shrugging, he turned to Ger before leaning of the wall.

"The shooter got away," Ger started, pausing to look down beside me.

Emmy lifted the knapsack she was holding towards me. "Bathe daddy," her jet black eyes, stares up at me innocently but from the snickers behind her, I knew Bas put her up to it.

Taking the bag, "yeah okay but you remain here till I get back in case mummy wakes up." I instructed her, leaning down I kissed her head, nodding for Mel to take her.

Looking around, "is there a hotel nearby?" lifting an eyebrow, I wait for someone to respond.

"Let's go," Ger with his keys in hand, offers to take me and I nod before turning to dad.

Reaching out I pulled him in a hug, "thank you for being here and take care until I get back," I whispered before leaving with Ger to find a hotel to shower and change.

"So what do you have to tell me?" I asked Ger, on the drive back to the hospital, refresh and ready to battle the motherf**kers who hurt my wife, her friend and the innocent people around.

Leaning forward, Ger hugs the wheel, sighing in frustration.

"As I said earlier, the shooter got away but we still have to visit the station to check the surveillance around the building." Ger explained.

Nodding, "and of course no suspects or motives?" I asked.