Chapter Two Hundred Sixty Eight - Emotions Overflowing

The ambulance drive to the hospital was one of the longest short drives I've ever been on, but when Hailey was being rushed into an emergency room, I was pushed out into the corridor, to wait.

Something I'm no good at!

"She's my f**king wife," I bellowed, "I need to be in there." I shout at the close door of the examination room.

"Sir," a voice says from behind me and I know it's a hospital staff but I am not in a mood for anyone, unless it's getting me into the room with my wife.

"WHAT?" I screamed in frustration.

Pointing at my blood stained shirt, a young woman in scrubs spoke to me, "do you need assistance?" She asks politely. "Are you hurt?" She continued, indicating my clothes that's covered with blood.

Shaking my head, "do you think if I was hurt, I'd be standing out here?" I shout at her stupidity. "F**k, I'm fine, my wife's hurt and she's in there." I point to the room Hailey's in, "find out what's going on." I instructed her and with a slight nod, she walks towards the front desk along the corridor.

Pointing to the examination room that's shut, "I said she's in there!" I shout, my voice echoing through the halls. "Where the f**k are you going?" I continued to shout, angry at the world, as the nurse walks down the corridor.

Slamming a fist against the wall, I turn at the sound of a soft voice calling, "daddy?"

Emmy runs towards me, as I turned to meet Bas eyes staring back at me, full of regret and the little girl now clutching unto my legs.

"Where's mommy?" Emmy cried and I realize that she's been told what happened to Hailey.

Lifting my eyes, I was ready to vent my rage on Bas, for allowing her to find out but he beat me to it.

"The radio was on," was all he needed to say, "she heard and refuse to go home." Bas added.

Stooping down, unable to hug her because of my soiled shirt, "sweetheart mommy was hurt but the doctors are helping her, so I want you to go home with Aunty Mel and Uncle Bas. Be good for mommy, okay." I told her softly, kissing her gently on her cheeks and head.

With tears in her eyes, Emmy stared at me, "but you're not being good daddy," Emmy states and I frown at her comment.

Tilting my head, curiously. "What do you mean?" I asked hesitantly and Emmy pointed to the nurse I was just shouting at.

"Oh," self-consciously, I chuckle and leaned close to her ear, "let that be our secret, okay," I bargained with my seven year old daughter to keep secrets from her mother but this is one time thing.

Smiling, even though her black eyes shines with tears and sadness.

"Can't I wait with you until mommy wakes up?" Her soft voice pleaded with me.

This is not a place for a healthy child to remain for so many hours and it's my duty to explain it to her.

Shaking my head, "you can't wait that long but as soon as mommy wakes up, I'll have Bas bring you over." I hope my words were assuring enough for her to leave but, she was determined.

Smiling through the sorrow in my heart, even though Emmy isn't my biological daughter, she had my determination, more than Hailey's.

Shaking her head, vehemently, "I'm waiting with you," she says, stomping her left foot, when Mel approached us with tears in her eyes.

Pointing over her shoulder, "why don't I remain here with Emmy and Bas and you go and take a quick shower..." Mel was saying and I knew she meant well but leaving here is not an option.

"NO!" I said, strongly, conscious of my angry tone but unable to help myself.

Bas joined in the conversation and what Mel says made sense but I cannot leave, until I know she's out of danger.

Touching Mel's shoulder, "Emmy, how about we go home and bring daddy a change of clothes and make him look clean and maybe he would be nicer to the nurses." Bas suggested, with a lopsided smirk.

Emmy weighs in Bas's suggestion, frowning as she looks into his eyes and then at my soiled clothes.

Pointing an index finger at him, "you promise to bring me back?" She asks Bas and he kneels in front of her, giving her his little finger.

"Pinky swear," he nods, with the same lopsided smirk.

Turning back to me, "okay daddy and I'll bring everything for you and soap too." She smiles, while I try to inhale my scent, which smells of stale blood.

Kissing her on the head, "good girl," standing up, I put her hand in Bas's, "keep her safe." I instructed him, my eyes met a teary eyed Mel, "the both of them." I added giving Mel an apologetic smile.

With a slight tilt of her head, "it's okay," she smiles sadly, "we'll take care of her while you take care of her," Mel points to the room, Hailey's in.

Following the direction of her finger, I nod and got lost all over again, wondering what Hailey is going through and how could I have been so careless, concerning her safety?

I felt a hand squeeze my shoulder and Emmy's soft words, "bye daddy," but I didn't turn but walked towards the wall and slid down to the floor, cradling my head, unable to stop the tears that flowed.

I sense someone struggling to sit beside me but I couldn't focus on no one but my wife, whom I couldn't keep safe.

"Maybe you should take a sip of this," a familiar voice says from beside me.

Lifting my head to see Simon Peter holding out a bottle water towards me.

Wiping my bloodshot eyes, I accepted the bottle water, with a slight nod.

"I'm so very sorry,"