He knelt down in front of her and clasped her hands in his. “I’m here to look you over, Mrs. Ashton. I heard you were in plane wreck and were hunted through the woods. It appears you have a facial laceration too.”
Reagan sniffed as her throat became restricted. “You’re the first person to call me Mrs. Ashton.”
“And I won’t be the last. Why don’t we go to X-ray? And while you’re there, I’ll peek in the operating room.”
Reagan nodded, and he held out his hand to her. She placed it in his, and he helped her from the chair. Her father made a move to stand but Reagan shook her head. “You all need to donate blood. I’m all right with Dr. Monroe.” As she left, the nurse came out and her father went into the lab to donate blood.
When standing, the doctor was the same height as she was. He had a gentle yet commanding presence about him that soothed Reagan. He talked calmly to her as they walked down the halls of the hospital and into the X-ray room. He pushed open the door and both she and Dr. Monroe froze at the sight of Ahmed arguing with the technician.
“I’m sorry, but I am not a veterinarian. I don’t know how to X-ray a dog.”
“I have a vet on the phone who will talk you through it. Katelyn, can you explain what to do?” Ahmed asked as Reagan saw her aunt’s face on Ahmed’s phone.
“I’m sorry, sir, but this will have to wait. Mrs. Ashton needs some X-rays and then we will see what we can do for this beautiful Vizsla. Great hunting dogs.”
“Call me when you’re ready, and I’ll walk you through it,” Katelyn said through video chat, and then she paused. “Wait, Ahmed, who just came in?”
“Reagan did,” Ahmed said, carrying Robyn to a small sitting room where the tech would press the button for the X-ray machine.
“The doctor said Mrs. Ashton.”
Reagan was going to cry again. “Kenna married them on the way to the hospital.”
“Carter and Reagan are in the hospital? She needs X-rays? Ahmed! You left out some very important details.”
“I’ll fill you in while we wait,” Ahmed said before turning to Reagan. “How is he?”
“I’ll get an update now that I’ve delivered you to Debbie for your X-rays,” Dr. Monroe told her. He gave his orders to the technicians before promising to return as soon as he had news.
“Right this way, sweetie,” Debbie said, understanding Reagan was on the verge of an emotional collapse. Everyone she’d passed in the hospital had given her a kind and understanding smile.
Reagan didn’t say a word as Debbie arranged the X-ray. While she was silent and unmoving, her mind was not. It raced as it jumped from scenario to scenario until she was sure she wasn’t going to be able to take another breath.
“All done. Come have a sit while we wait for Dr. Monroe.” Debbie gently led her to a seat close to Ahmed. Robyn limped over and nuzzled her head against Reagan’s leg. It was then Reagan noticed the bruising on the dog’s side and how she limped on her front leg. She lost her battle with tears and sank to the floor, gathering the dog into her arms. Reagan pressed her face against Robyn’s neck and wept great, big body-convulsing sobs. Robyn turned her head and licked her cheek.
“You saved us. You’re such a brave little dog,” Reagan sniffled.
A gentle hand touched her shoulder, and then she heard Dr. Monroe. “Mrs. Ashton, your husband is alive. He’s still in surgery. There was a nick to his femoral artery, and he has a pelvic bone fracture. They’ve stopped the bleeding and are stabilizing his pelvic bone. They said the fracture wasn’t that bad. The bullet was a smaller caliber. He’s needed a lot of blood, though, so some of the donations are being used. The surgeon will speak to you when he’s done.”
“Oh, thank you!” Reagan leapt up, startling Dr. Monroe as she wrapped her arms around his back and hugged him in relief. Her body couldn’t decide if it wanted to fall to the ground with exhaustion or celebrate with relief.
“That’s wonderful news, Reagan,” Ahmed said, hugging her with Katelyn still on the video call. “But, can we X-ray my Spawn now?”
“Your dog’s name is Spawn?” Debbie asked with horror.
“Her name is Robyn, but Ahmed lovingly calls her Satan’s Spawn. She’s a hero today. She took down one of the bad guys. Have they found out who shot Carter?” Reagan asked.
“Not yet. I’m sure we’ll have a report soon, though. Ryan and Nash stayed behind to coordinate everything. I’m sure they’re running his prints before handing him off to the other feds when they get there. Now, where do you want me to put my Spawn?” Ahmed asked Debbie.
“I guess, here,” she said, pointing to the X-ray machine. Katelyn instructed her on how to position the leg.
“Wait,” Katelyn said when Spawn was lying on her side. “Did she get kicked or something? Is that bruising on her side?”
“She was slammed against a tree,” Ahmed said, the anger so fierce in his voice Debbie took a step back.
“Debbie,” Katelyn said kindly as she ignored Ahmed’s deadly tone. “Place the lead blanket over her stomach and then call for an ultrasound.”
Reagan stroked the dog’s silky head, keeping her calm as the X-ray was snapped and Ahmed lifted Robyn into his arms as they waited for Katelyn to look at the X-ray with Dr. Monroe.
Dr. Monroe came out of the development room with a smile and Ahmed’s phone. “Good news all around. Mrs. Ashton, your face is bruised, but there is no fracture to your cheekbone, which is very fortunate. Otherwise we’d be sending you to Nashville or Atlanta for surgery. It’s going to be very sore for a while, though. Mr. Ahmed, Robyn’s front leg is not broken. It is dislocated and Dr. Davies can instruct me on how to set it. Debbie, while I do that, will you wheel the ultrasound machine in. We need to make sure there’s no free fluid in the abdomen and also check her spleen.”
Dr. Monroe handed the phone to Reagan as Katelyn talked him through how to reset the shoulder. Reagan would have laughed at Ahmed’s pale face, but he’d been so kind to her that she decided to wait until they were all hanging out in Keeneston with everyone safe, sound, and recovered before teasing him about his Spawn.
“Very good, Dr. Monroe,” Katelyn praised as she watched Ahmed walk Robyn around.
The little dog appeared stiff, but she was no longer limping. “This is the first time I’ve healed a dog,” Dr. Monroe said with glee. Or it could be relief from not having Ahmed kill him for hurting Robyn when he had to pop the shoulder back in place.
“For the ultrasound, this is what I need you to do,” Katelyn began as Debbie brought the device over to where they all sat. Dr. Monroe had Ahmed sit on the floor with Robyn’s head in his lap while Katelyn told him what to do.
“Do you mind?” Dr. Monroe asked as he handed the phone back to Reagan who brought the camera to the ultrasound screen for Katelyn to watch. Dr. Monroe began to slowly press the head of the ultrasound machine into Robyn’s abdomen and move it about.
“Oh dear,” Dr. Monroe said as a sack like object filled with fluid appeared on the screen. “Will I need to perform surgery?”
“Not yet,” Katelyn said with a grin. Ahmed on the other hand looked like he was going to pass out. “Keep going.”
Four more sack-like objects were seen as he moved around the abdomen before stopping. “What is it, Dr. Davies?” Dr. Monroe asked.
“Well, the good news is there’s no internal fluid buildup and her organs look great.”
“What about those cyst-like things?” Ahmed asked. Reagan noted he was now sweating.
“Those are Satan’s Grandspawns,” Katelyn laughed. Ahmed didn’t seem amused as everyone looked at the phone with confusion. “Robyn is pregnant. Six puppies by my count, and all looking healthy.”