Jayme & Tripp (Game Wardens 1)

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

She was back in fifteen minutes with his burger and fries. He took his time eating this time and shared his fries with whoever wanted some.

The nurse came in some time later to check on Tripp’s vitals, and change his catheter bag. She looked at the four of them with a regretful smile.

“I’m sorry, but no one is allowed to stay the night,” she said. “I really shouldn’t have had the four of you in here at once. The limit is usually two. But since he’s been stable, and you guys were fairly quiet; I made an exception. Visiting hours are over in fifteen minutes.”

She left, and Jayme felt his panic rise back up to the surface. His burger wasn’t sitting well at the moment. Donna must have noticed, because she stood from her seat next to Tripp; and walked over to him. She squatted down in front of him and placed her hands on his knees.

“It’s okay. He’ll be okay,” she said.

“But what if something happens? I don’t have a phone.”

“Come stay with us. We have a pull-out couch in the room. That way we’re all together, and if something happens; you’ll be there.”

He nodded. “Okay.”

He hated having to leave Tripp, but he didn’t really have a choice. They’d call Donna if something happened, and they could rush back over. The hotel was only down the road, which was good. He was dead on his feet by the time they walked into the hotel room. Brett helped him pull out the sofa bed, which he collapsed onto and fell right to sleep; in his clothes and shoes. Luckily, he didn’t dream again.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Jayme

IT HAD been a full week since Tripp drowned, and was revived multiple times. He was still in the ICU, and they were taking out the breathing tube today. Jayme was nervous. They said if he wasn’t breathing on his own, they’d just put it back in; but still, it freaked Jayme out.

Donna was there with him. Elianna and Brett had to go home after a couple of days, because they had Noah; and Brett had to go back to work. Jayme took family leave, so that he could stay with Tripp for as long as he needed to.

When the doctor and nurses came in to take out the tube, he and Donna stood over by the window and watched. It was a quick process, and then they monitored Tripp for about ten minutes. After deeming that he was in fact breathing on his own, they left.

He walked over and placed his hand on Tripp’s chest, feeling it rise and fall at a steady, even pace. He closed his eyes, and sighed in relief. They were making progress. Now all Tripp had to do was wake up.

Tripp’s face was now covered in a week’s worth of facial hair. He thought he looked ruggedly handsome, but he knew Tripp didn’t like facial hair on himself; it annoyed him. He liked when Jayme had some scruff though.

“I think I’m gonna shave his face now that the tube is out of the way,” he said.

“Okay. I’m gonna go get some lunch. Want me to bring you back something?” Donna asked.

“Yeah, sure.”

“Okay. Be back in a bit.”

He wasn’t impressed with the hospital food, but whatever; he didn’t care. As long as he got to stay with Tripp, then that’s all he cared about. He went into Tripp’s bag, and pulled out his shaving kit. He pulled out the shaving cream and razor, then went to the bathroom and filled a large Styrofoam cup with warm water. He also grabbed a wet rag and brought that over to the rolling table with him. He set up his little work station, then went about lathering up Tripp’s face.

With the utmost care, he shaved Tripp’s face. It wasn’t an easy task, but he did it without cutting him; which he was happy about. He wiped the remaining lather off his face with the wet rag, then went to the bathroom to dump the dirty water.

When he walked back into the room and looked at Tripp, his heart nearly jumped out of his chest. Tripp’s eyes were cracked, and he was lifting his hand. He rushed over to the bed and took Tripp’s wayward hand.

“Hey, Baby,” he said with a soft smile. His eyes welled up and spilled over, tears running down his face. Tripp was awake. He couldn’t believe it. Relief hit him like a ton of bricks, and his knees threatened to give out on him; so he sat on the bed next to Tripp’s hip.

Tripp’s mouth worked, but he couldn’t get anything out. Jayme cupped his now smooth face and brushed his thumb over Tripp’s bottom lip.

“It’s okay. Don’t try to talk.”

Tripp closed his eyes and squeezed Jayme’s hand. Jayme brought it up to his lips and kissed the backs of his fingers. A smile ghosted across Tripp’s mouth, before it went slack, and he was back out.