Dare to Love by Lindsay McKenna

Author:Lindsay McKenna [McKenna, Lindsay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781460342916
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

KAI HOVERED AROUND DR. LONG with the rest of the family. Matt’s sister, Storm, was at her side. She reached over and gripped Kai’s hand just before the doctor presented his final analysis on Matt’s condition. Kai traded fearful glances with Storm. Her husband, Bram, had his arm around his wife’s tense shoulders. Cal Travis stood opposite and outside the gathered family members, betraying no trace of emotion. Gratefully Kai felt her father’s arm sliding around her waist, trying to give her the necessary support.

Long looked at their grave faces. “It’s been three days now. And you’ve all been here most of the time to note that the swelling has receded from the back of Matt’s skull.”

“Then why is he still in a coma?” Storm asked softly. “Shouldn’t Matt be awake now? I mean, the swelling’s gone down….”

Kai squeezed Storm’s hand, hoping to give her solace, and realized nothing would help.

“Ordinarily the patient does wake up when the swelling reduces,” Long agreed quietly.

“Then why hasn’t Matt?” Bram Gallagher demanded. “All of his other functions are normal. You said yourself the X rays didn’t show any other signs of hemorrhaging in his brain.”

Long gave the tall Coast Guard officer a patient look. “That’s correct, Lieutenant Gallagher.”

Kai’s throat constricted. “There’s one other explanation, isn’t there, doctor?” Her voice trembled, and everyone turned to her. This was one time when she wished she wasn’t a nurse. This was one time when she wished for ignorance instead of knowledge.

“Yes,” Long admitted heavily. He lifted his head, turning to Cal. “Major, your brother’s coma has probably been brought on by the blood being shut off to his brain. We have no way of telling, of course. But in ninety-five percent of these kinds of cases, the patient wakes up shortly after the swelling recedes. Matt Travis has not. I can only conclude that a portion of his brain was denied oxygen, and that he may never regain consciousness.”

Storm gave a little cry, her hand flying to her mouth. “No! Then why is he still able to breathe on his own?”

Long winced. “Because the portion of the brain that rules that bodily function was not involved.”

“Dammit,” Cal hissed, turning on his heel and stalking away.

Paul Easton’s grip became slightly firmer on Kai’s waist. She looked on helplessly at the sorrow and disbelief on the faces of Matt’s family. Did Matt know just how much he was loved by all these wonderful individuals? After the swelling had been reduced and Matt hadn’t awakened, Kai had had to deal with the harsh reality first. Today, trying to give emotional support to Cal and Storm had been Kai’s only objective. And each five minutes spent at Matt’s bedside only increased her own fierce desire for him to come back to the realm of the living. Kai had sat there, gripping his hand, massaging his fingers, talking to him and calling him back. Storm’s sobs broke into her own misery.

“What now?” Kai heard herself ask in a hollow tone.

Long shrugged. “He’s ready to leave ICU.

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