Love Of Family (2024 Revision) - 6. To The Medical Center We Go

The ride back to the ranch was slow going because, true to his promise, Triton was extra careful not to jostle the unconscious passenger when taking his steps. His red-haired rider wiped at the narrow stains on his cheeks caused by the shed tears as every creak and squeak of the rolling bed's wheels had the man continuously glancing back to see if his husband was still unconscious.

Bill had radioed the ranch and told them to call for an ambulance to take Troy and Jaycen to the medical center. Along the way, he kept praying there weren't too many people in need of transport because only a handful of EMTs worked that side of the county's rescue squad.

Jaycen ran his fingers through his curly neck-length locks, then looked upward and whispered, "Mama, Daddy, we love and miss you two like crazy. I wish you were here to see how beautiful and mature our Lev has become. Troy and I are eternally grateful that you two entrusted him to us. He's the most cherished and precious gift we've ever been given. Please continue to watch over and keep your family safe, and if you can, would ya put in a good word for whatever Troy's condition is. I love him too much and can't even fathom what my life would be like without either of my boys. I know you're listening, and I can feel your comfort. I love you both."

About three-quarters of the way back, Jaycen felt another gut-wrenching pain, and this time, he felt Triton momentarily tremble before the horse stopped. The redhead dismounted and then quickly looked over Troy's peacefully resting body. He walked up to the horse's head and looked Triton directly in his eyes. Neither of them blinked or looked away.

"You felt it too, didn't ya, boy?"

Triton nodded his head and softly neighed.

"Levie," Jaycen stated more than asked.

The horse was a bit more excited in his response.

Jaycen dried his tears and jumped back onto the equine. "Let's get back as fast as possible, Tri."

Triton whinnied and traveled the remaining distance at a careful but much quicker pace.

Once the robber was cuffed and sitting in a cruiser, Rusty and Leon worked quickly getting the cashier's statement, and they confiscated his discharged firearm for ballistics so all their bases were covered. The distraught younger man asked if he'd be in any legal trouble. Rusty explained that it would depend on the other Witnesses' statements matching up with his story.

One of the Deputies also suggested seeking the professional advice of a criminal defense lawyer just to be safe. When the cashier stated that he didn't have the available funds to cover the expenses, the same Deputy gave him a list of six lawyers who worked Pro Bono, depending on the potential client's circumstances.

Before leaving the crime scene, Leon and Rusty flipped a coin to determine who was going to the hospital and who had the duty of telling their brothers about the accidental shooting. Rusty grimaced and balled up his face as he suggested the best two out of three. Leon chuckled and shook his head before getting into his cruiser and hightailing it to the center.

The Sheriff got into his cruiser, then took a couple deep breaths before making a call he seriously dreaded.

They'd just reached the paved parking area close to the farmhouse when Jaycen's phone rang.

"Jayce, it's Russ," Rusty said after two rings and without giving his honorary brother the chance for a greeting.

"Russ, I hate to be short, but…"

Rusty flicked his left turn signal on and headed down Duncan Rd. "Bro, I need you to listen first because this is probably more important."

"Triton and I know something's happened to Levie. However, Troy's been hurt also," Jaycen responded. He was about to say something else when he heard the call end and heard sirens getting closer.

The ambulance and Rusty were one behind the other, with the rescue vehicle in front. The van skidded and stopped to the right, and the police cruiser skidded to a stop at the left with Jaycen in the middle, unhooking the rolling bed with Troy on it from Triton.

"What's up," Jaycen and Rusty asked in unison. The pair couldn't help momentarily smiling and snickering as they shared a brotherly embrace.

Two EMTs rushed to Troy, took his vitals, and loaded him into the ambulance. The young man and woman knew the Stillmans and skipped most preliminary questions about the patient's name and relations.

"Ride or follow," the blonde-haired male asked as his partner jumped into the driver's seat.

"Ride, just give me one second," Jaycen said after he and Rusty shared a quick glance.

The male nodded and got into the back of the ambulance.

Jaycen hugged Triton. "I'm so proud of you, baby boy. Thank you for getting your Pap-Paw back safely. I'm gonna see about Levie. Be a good boy, and let Uncle Bill tuck you in. I love you, Tri."

Triton nodded and hugged Jaycen before he walked up to and nudged Bill toward the barn. Rusty and the two EMTs shook their heads and grinned.

"I've never seen anything like that," the man said when Jaycen got in and sat beside his husband.

"That's my Brokid's stallion, and he's quite unique."

"Yeah, so's your Brokid," both EMTs said.

"Levie was our riding instructor," the woman said.

Along the way to the medical center, Troy regained consciousness. He gave as much information as he could remember while Jaycen held and kissed his hand. At one point, the brunette turned his head to his husband and stated, "I know something's happened to our boy."

"Shh, just rest, Troy-Pup. Hopefully, Rusty will give me some answers while you're being checked out at the medical center. He called to tell me something important but never got the chance to."

Troy coughed. "If someone's hurt my boy, I'm shooting first and beating the fuck outta whoever it is, then asking questions," he vowed.

"Not if I can stop you, Troy-Pup." Jaycen giggled because the public use of his pet name for Troy earned him a low-volume growl. He leaned down and kissed his scowling mate. "However, you're in no condition to do anything right now, and besides that, you may have to settle for leftovers if there are any when I'm done."

"Nice weather we've been having," the male attendant said, causing them to start chuckling.

*****

Greg's mouth gaped open, and the phone clattered when it hit the floor. In a matter of seconds, his parents were on their feet. Linda ran into the kitchen, returning with a damp facecloth and a glass of water. She pressed the moistened cloth against her boy's forehead. Tom leaned down, picked up the phone, and could hear their other child's excited voice hollering for his brother.

"Greg, answer me, Bro."

"Bran, it's Dad."

"Dad, is Greg okay?"

"Mama's tending to him. Now, what's going on, Son?"

Tom placed the phone on the coffee table and enabled the speaker.

"Lev's been shot. I'm outside the medical center, about to go inside, and at least try getting some paperwork started while waiting for the Sheriff and Deputy Leon to arrive."

Greg, Linda, and Tom huddled together with tears in their eyes.

"Bran is Lev..." Greg attempted to ask but couldn't finish.

"I was the first to react, and Sheriff Rusty said I kept Levie from bleeding out. They just wheeled him into the center.

"Are you hurt, Brandon," Linda asked. She lifted her eyes and whispered a silent prayer for the higher powers to watch over her son and the boy to whom she owed an apology.

"I'm fine, Mama," Brandon paused to speak to someone. "Guys, I gotta hang up now. Deputy Leon arrived and said he's gonna help me with the paperwork on Lev and wait with me after speaking to Dr. Blankenship. He's the Stillman's honorary Uncle and chief of staff here."

Linda and Tom breathed a much-needed sigh of cautious relief.

"Bran, if the Deputy's referring to Stuart Blankenship, then Levie's in the best hands in the county and possibly the state," Tom said. He and Linda knew the Doctor well because he delivered Brandon, and later, they learned he'd delivered Greg as well.

"Love you guys. Be careful getting here."

"Love you too, Son/Bro."

While getting their coats and Linda's purse, Tom asked, "Should we call Levie's brothers?"

"Rusty will handle that, Hon," Linda replied.

The Wilmonts piled into the Navigator and buckled up. They rode in silence and were lost in their thoughts and the well wishes for Levie. The ten-minute drive felt like an eternity, and it seemed like they hit every red light along the route. The Navigator ended up behind an ambulance and the Sheriff's cruiser. Linda followed the white Dodge Challenger into the parking lot and turned to the Er's section.

As soon as the vehicle was stopped, Greg unbuckled the seat belt, threw open the door, and ran for the building.

"Gregory Allman Wilmont," Linda hollered after him.

"Babe, let it go. Our boy's scared out of his wits," Tom softly said.

"You're right, Honey. Let's get inside and comfort our boys and Levie's family when they arrive."

"Given Levie's reaction to you, are you sure we should," Tom cautiously asked.

"Maybe not, but if there's ever a time to possibly make amends for my lapse in judgment, now would be that time."

The couple shared a quick kiss and then walked hand-in-hand up to and inside the sliding emergency room doors. They looked around, and their eyes zeroed in on their boys being hugged by an attractive red-haired and brunette male couple.

Brandon turned and held his arm out to his parents and said, "Troy, Jaycen, these are our parents, Linda and Tom Wilmont. Mom, Dad, these are Levie's parents/brothers, Jaycen and Troy Stillman."

The four parental figures stood and gazed at each other momentarily before Jaycen and Troy smiled as they gently pulled the husband and wife into a group hug.

"Wish we were meeting under better circumstances," Jaycen said as he led the couple to a cluster of armchairs.

Troy's name was called, and he hugged and kissed his husband before following the nurse.

"Actually, Jaycen, we met before. About ten years ago," Linda said as she wiped her eyes.

"I thought you looked familiar," Jaycen said. "I know I've heard your name before also. Please forgive me, but at the moment, I can't place where or exactly when we met. Between my husband getting hurt and Lev's being shot, it's been a very rough day." Without meaning to, his resolve broke, and a flood of tears streamed down his cheeks.

The mother in her took over, and instinctively, Linda's arms wrapped around the heavily sobbing, slightly younger man. "Shh, it's okay, Jaycen. Bran said your honorary Uncle was attending to your Levie. I'm sure whatever happened to Troy won't be as bad as the unknown."

Jaycen accepted the tissue Linda handed him, blew his nose, and dried his tears after tossing the dampened Kleenex into the trashcan. He thanked her and smiled when Greg, Brandon, and Tom took turns hugging him.