Guarded: Sequal to Broken

Twenty-Eight

"Fuck." I can't help it, my lip starting to tremble.

"We don't know what conditions they are in yet. We have to believe they are alright, Maddie. Stay calm until we can get some answers." Grams words are brave, but the way her voice quivers tells me she is not feeling strong in this moment.

Reaching over I grasp the aging womans hand tightly, Sam taking my other. Not one word is spoken between us after that until I have to pay for the ride.

"I'll do the talking." I comment as I lead my family into the building, taking a deep breath to steady my voice.

"How can we help you today?" The receptionist smiles as we approach the desk.

"We got word that our grandfather and my boyfriend may have been involved in a car accident an hour or two ago now."

"Did we call you?"

"Our lawyer did actually. We are pretty hard to get a hold of right now. We passed the sight and their car was there still also. Names are Rodger Anderson and Calum Hood. I should be on both of their paperwork."

"Your name?"

"Madison Taylor, emergancy contact for Calum. And next of kin for Rodger."

"It looks like Rodger has been admitted and is resting in room 326, Calum's charts have not been updated since his arrival, which means one of two things, and more likely one at this point." Sam's arms reach out lightning fast to steady me as my knees give out. He can't be gone. He can't have died, Chris can't have the satisfaction of taking him from me.

"Sometimes it means the patient was declared dead upon arrival, but that is usually logged by this point. The more likely outcome is he was rushed into an operating room and they are still there. I can have word sent to Rodger's room as soon as we know anything."

"Please do." Sam nods, wrapping a supportive arm around my still struggling body.

"Stephanie here will show you to his room." The lady motions to a another staff member waiting to our left.

"You can follow me. I also have both patience personal items for you." She smiles sympathetically, holding out two white plastic bags towards us.

"Thank you. Let's get upstairs." Sam nods, taking both bags in his open hand. Grams clutching to his elbow while his other arm is supporting most of my weight.

"You got here fast." Gramps voice is hoarse as we step into his room, but he's got a soft smile on his face nonetheless.

"Rodger." Grams breathes out heavily, hurrying as quickly as she can to his bedside.

"I'm so sorry, Gramps." I shake my head softly as I take in his appearance. His face is cut up and bruising all over basically. His arm is in a sling, and he has a couple IV's attached to him.

"We knew this might happen, Madison. We knew someone would get hurt. It was Chris wasn't it?" Gramps waves me over softly.

"Ya. Howard called me, said he was informed of Chris being taken into custody and in surgery or something to that effect. I just knew it was you and Cal." I sigh, taking a seat in the chair beside his bed.

"How is Calum? I haven't got any information on his well being since I woke up half an hour ago.

"They aren't sure yet. They think he got rushed into surgery. They don't have any updates since the ambulance." Sam swallows, tears brimming his eyes now too.

"He took the brunt of it. The car came out of no where, hit square against Calum's door I think. I remember him talking about you Mads, about missing you, and then he stopped and we both glanced out his window and then... black."

"He has to be okay." My voice cracks, heavy sobs falling from my lips. "Chris can't have another win over me. He can't."

"They'll let us know as soon as they know anything, Maddie. He might be fine." Grams tries.

"He has to be okay. He just, he has to." I shake my head, not caring that I'm sobbing uncontrollably. No one speaks, after that. Grams combing her hand over my hair as they let me deal with my emotions for a long while.

***

"Mads, I think this phone still works..." Sam sighs a few hours later, reaching into one of the bags and pulling out the cracked but ringing phone.

"Shit. How do I answer that call without any answers..." I panic again, causing me to cry harder as I see Ashton's contact on the screen.

"They deserve to know too. They know he was putting himself in danger with that post a few days ago." Sam sighs, sliding his thumb carefully across the broken screen and pressing it lightly to his cheek.

"Ashton?"

"No, it's Sam."

"Ya, Mads is with me."

"Um, in surgery, they think. We have like zero answers yet."

"Yes."

"Yes."

"Austin Medical Center."

"I'll ask." His eyes lift to meet mine as he pulls the phone back from his mouth.  "You up for three visitors?"

"I need them." I nod.

"Ash, she says come."

"Ya, call back when you are. I'll meet you at the entrance."

"Ya, bye." He drops the phone to his lap. "Ashton, Luke, and Michael are on their way. They aren't telling management until we get some answers. The girls are staying back at the hotel since Sierra is like eight months pregnant and Bella is only six months old."

"Thank you." I nod.

"This is in here too, do you want it?" He lifts a long gold chain out of the bag.

I just nod again, taking the chain and letting the small pendant fall into my palm. "You better not fucking leave me now." I mumble before sliding the chain around my own neck.

"Miss Taylor?" A medical staff member pokes their head in after we've sat another thirty or so minutes.

"That's me." I lift my eyes quickly.

"We got word on Mr. Hood. Please follow me."

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Ahhh! Ya'll hate me and I know it.

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