He looked incredulous. “How could I not, Hannah? His brothers are minors. You want me to leave them out on the street? You think that’s better?”
“No, I expect you to show a little compassion. He’s not some stranger. He’s not some deadbeat dad who left a toddler home alone. He just lost his home, and you took his family away.”
Her father’s face didn’t change. “Every time you talk like this, I wonder when you’re going to grow up.”
“If that’s what growing up means, I hope I never do. Does Mom have any idea of what you did?”
“Your mom has nothing to do with this.”
“Sure. Because she would have done the right thing. She would have made them meals, or heck, she would have invited them to stay here. She would have treated them with kindness, instead of acting like Michael is some felon.”
“This is an active investigation, Hannah. People are dead. The FBI is involved. Do you understand that? Do you have any idea what a conflict of interest that would be?”
“Yeah, I do. And somehow I still manage to treat people with common decency. You think you’re so smart that you figured out I was at the hospital all night? Clearly you weren’t concerned enough to head over there and find out for sure. You took his family away and you didn’t even wait to see if he was okay. He was alone, Dad.”
Finally, her father’s expression shifted, but only for a second. “I’m not at fault here, Hannah. I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“No, you never do. Trust me, I get the memo every day.”
“I’m not going to argue this with you. I have a job to do. I did it. End of story.”
“Yes, sir.” She saluted.
He set his jaw, but he didn’t lose his composure. “Until this investigation is over, I don’t want you seeing Michael Merrick anymore. Do you understand?”
“Are you for real?”
“Yes, Hannah, I’m for real. This is a matter of life and death, and as much as I want to share details with you, I can’t. So I’m asking you—begging you—to listen to me. For once.”
“For once. God, you really are an asshole. Move.” This time she didn’t even wait for a response. She just ducked under his arm and headed for the bathroom.
She fully expected him to grab her arm, but he didn’t. “What does that mean?” he said.
She turned in the bathroom doorway. “It means I listened to you for seventeen years. Every word. You know how many times I didn’t listen to you? Once. And I’ve been paying for it ever since. Guess what, Dad? I’m a grown-up. No matter what you think, I’m a good mother. I’m a good firefighter. And I’m going to be a good paramedic. Michael is not a criminal. He’s doing the best he can, despite people like you making it impossible. If I want to see him, I’m going to see him. And if you don’t like it, that’s just too bad for you.”
With that, she slammed the door and turned on the faucet, glad that the sound of the shower would drown out anything else he had to say.
The nurse had a toothbrush. Toothpaste, too. And a razor and shaving cream. She removed Michael’s IV and examined his stitches, then told him he could take a shower. Adam and Hunter said they’d wait.
Michael turned the water as hot as he could tolerate and stood under the stream for a while.
He still had no idea where to go. Back to Adam’s for the night? And then what?
Guilt tweaked his thoughts. He should have warned Hannah. But what would he have said? A crazy bomber/arsonist took a picture of you and James to threaten me. Watch your back. Oh, and he might have Elemental powers.
Sure. Maybe he’d like another night in the hospital—in the psych ward.
No matter what Michael thought of the fire marshal, he was glad Hannah lived with a man who could provide some protection for her and James.
Unlike you.
He told his conscience to stick it.
The water felt good across his shoulders, but eventually his skin began to prune. He’d need to face reality sooner or later. It might as well be sooner.
The clothes still had tags on them, and Michael added another line to his ongoing mental list. He’d have to pay Adam back when he found his wallet. Everything felt starchy and new, and the shirt was nothing he would have bought for himself, but it all fit. Even the shoes.
When he walked out of the bathroom, he found another visitor waiting in the chairs next to his bed.
“Wow,” said Tyler. “That is one teal shirt.”
“What are you doing here?” Michael threw the bag on the bed. Hunter and Adam didn’t seem fazed by Tyler’s presence, but they didn’t have the history with him that Michael and his brothers did.
If he didn’t know better, he’d say Tyler looked hurt. “Gee, Merrick. Glad to see you made it through okay.” He stood, and Michael realized he had crutches with him. “Guess I’ll leave you alone, then.”
“He came to check on you,” said Adam.
“Said you were trapped under the restaurant together,” added Hunter.