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Quickly, I reached toward her neck and felt for a pulse point I knew the one in that spot would be stronger than anything I would find in her wrist I also kneouldn’t be able to tell what her blood pressure was, but I just felt the need to know her heart was still pu

Lutheran Medical Center would typically only be a five- it would take in this afternoon traffic

"Raegan, I’onna take you to the hospital, okay?" I told her Her head bobbed up and down before she finally raised it to look at me

"No No more hospitals" Her words were tired, but she seeh the fog was rab htly

I cursed and scooped her up into avee planned on vacating his vehicle Asshole Kate grabbed ahold of the backpack, and with all of her an infroain

Raegan’s body was light and conformed to the front of mine easily Her head burrowed into the side of my neck, and I almost took that mo

Braden was the last to cliht after he shut the door, the asole screeched his tires in his retreat I wished I had the time to catch his license plate

"Hey, Braden, you reht?" He nodded and glanced nervously at his mom in my arms "I need you to run real fast inside If anyone tries to stop you, just ignore them I’ll take care of it Find Charlie and tell hiht away Make sure he knows it’s super important"

"I want a Gatorade! What’s that?" Kate asked excitedly It was obvious she was blissfully unaware of the situation, unlike Braden

"Tell him we need two Gatorades Now run! Please" I tried to not freak hiet a an up with my injured arm and I knew if I tried to transfer her over, I would likely pull so shoulder in the process When we made it inside, all eyes were immediately focused on us Braden had likely just run past all of the on?" April, the desk clerk, asked softly

"I think she’s having a low blood pressure episode" My et spells like this souess I looked down at her and her eyes were open, but she see lunch with his wife!" She perked up with this inforive Frank a cookie for having a wife or for having one that would actually want to co my time? Her expression instantly flipped and she said, "His wife is an RN, sorry! I keep forgetting you don’t knohat goes on around here any her to Chief’s office for me" I spoke to her over my shoulder as Kate and I made my way up the stairs My dad’s office was the only one with a couch

As I turned the corner toward his door, Charlie and Braden ca down the hallith Gatorades in their hands I knew Charlie kept a ton with hi the yellow-colored sports drink They all followed me into my father’s office and my Dad looked up at the sudden intrusion ide eyes

"What the hell did you do to her, son?" His words felt incri, but his tone told me otherwise

"I think it’s her blood pressure"

"Move, please," a soft elderly voice called out I looked up as I placed Raegan on the couch and watched a little old lady hite hair part the croith authority She carried a large bag in her arms

Frank walked in behind her and placed a chair in front of the couch for his wife to sit on I knelt down in front of Raegan, offered her the Gatorade, and she lazily sipped at it I heard Charlie behind me explain to the kids how he had envelopes in his office that they could put staetting the kids out of the way, but I didn’t want Kate out of the way

"Leave the around

"She’ll be okay, my office is the next door over"

"She’s fine here" My voice was final

"Actually, if we could get the psych evaluations going, it wouldfor all three of them," my dad said from where he still sat at his desk

"I don’t know…" I hesitated "I think we should wait for Raegan to be fully present"

"The counselor will need to speak with them individually so it will take a lot of time, son They’ll be okay Her office is across the hall"

I turned to look at both children standing against the ith their little hands clasped together They had already been through so ot up, leaving Raegan with the nurse I looked back at her and then back at the kids Why was I getting so caught up in all three of thean and Braden weren’t creeping under an explained ere all gonna have to talk to a nice lady today? Well, I think it’s time to do that while Rae takes a little nap I wish one of us could go in with you, but you’ll be fine You can color pictures and she ht even have some paint" Both of their faces perked up at the et out, okay? And if you don’t want to talk anyo!" Kate excitedly called out

"No, Kate I’ll go first Maet better," Braden said Kate happily coan

I squatted down in front of Braden "That’s awfully brave of you," I told him