The Ryland Boys
Chapter 14

The sound of crinkling metal filled my ears, footsteps on the gravel, I was pulled out and carried.

“She’s still breathing.”

“Let’s get her in immediately, let’s go.”

“Mason” I said softly, my own voice inaudible to me.

Then my worry woke me, I sat up looking around and ignoring the pain, a woman tried to place a breathing mask on my mouth but I fought “Mason! Where’s Mason? He’s bleeding! Where’s Mason?!” I asked before the woman said she needed to sedate me.

No!

“Mason!” I shouted before everything went black.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Opening my eyes, I ignored the beating ache in my skull and the agonizing pain in my chest.

Looking around the room, I eyed the hospital

bed and then the bed across from mine. “Jax.” I said softly.

He was asleep with the monitor beeping steadily.

To my right was a sleeping and wrapped up Carter, his leg lifted up and casted.

Mason.

Where’s Mason.

“Mason.” I tried saying before my eyes moved to the fourth bed.

He laid there asleep with the monitor beeping, he was hooked up with meds and an IV.

“They’re in here.” The nurse said as the door opened.

Alison ran inside with Benson looking over at Jax crying and then at Mason, Carter and then me. Her eyes watering before she started crying holding her hands over her nose and mouth, she walked over and took my hand kissing it “Oh God, Oh god.” She said running a hand over my hair.

I felt a tear escape my eye, it dripped down my chin to the neck brace on me. “She can’t talk yet, she was compacted into the seat after one of the vehicles crushed the vehicle she was in and the seat pressed into her windpipe. It’ll be a couple days before she can talk again.” The nurse said.

Lucas climbed up the bed staring down at me before I pointed to Mason making eye contact with Alison.

She stared at me and then hurried to Mason.

The nurse said a part of the grill of the Semi truck who initially hit us had punctured into his stomach.

As the nurse explained each injury she moved to Jax’s “he’s got a broken wrist, but he’s actually been asleep since we got him. He’s currently in a coma but they believe he’ll wake from it in a few days.” She said.

Alison let out a small cry and dropped her head into Bensons shoulder.

Lucas was still sitting with me feeling my neck brace.

She turned and looked to me “Did you want me to call your mother for you?” She asked me wiping her tears.

I shook my head slowly, mom doesn’t need to freak any more.

Alison stared at me for a few moments before nodding and sighing as she stared at all her sons.

The nurse handed Alison a couple papers “Here’s a report of what happened. A witness who helped had reported everything to the cops.” She said before walking out the room shutting the door.

Alison sat by Masons bedside handing the papers to Benson who began reading it in his head.

I shut my eyes feeling relief flow through me, now they just have to wake up.

Opening my eyes I smiled down at Lucas noticing Bensons expressions from running his hand through his hair, pinching the bridge of his nose and then running his hand down his face. He looked up at me and then at the paper before he reached the last page and stared up at me with his eyes full of held back tears.

I gave a soft smile and looked back down at Lucas who was messing with the remote for the tv.

Bensons handed Alison the paper and she shook her head “Read it Aly.” He said looking to the window.

It was still night out, and when I looked to the time, I realized its only been an hour since the incident.

“Oh my god.” Alison said reading and crying dropping her head to Masons leg before lifting her head and reading more, “The witness says he-” she choked on her words “He pulled the first from the wreckage with the help of the woman in the wreck. Witness stated she had shouted for him to pull” she stopped and held her face before crying and continuing “pull him out. When the witness went back to help she had moved to the drivers seat jumping inside.” Alison looked up at me crying, she dropped her head into Masons leg and then she began reading the rest to herself low.

I can only imagine how hard this is for her, after losing her daughter to a car she’s got to deal with this too. God please don’t take any of the boys.

She slowly flipped the next page and then stood moving to the ground “Before the fourth car had slammed into the third, crush-” she took a breath “crushing the truck and the girl within it.” She said standing and reading the rest to herself holding a hand over her mouth.

Alison walked over to me and placed the paper by my legs “You almost died for them.” She said calmly.

I looked to the guys and then Lucas before smiling at her.

She took a heavy breath “I’m sorry I ever doubted your loyalty.” She said kissing my forehead and then walking back to the chair by Masons bed.

I went back to sleep and rested until I woke up to a voice, her voice.

“Where is he?! God Jax.” Lindsay’s voice woke me and I looked up to see her run to his side holding his hand and staring at his face.

I looked around to see Carter was awake, I eyed the time, I slept a good five hours. Lucas was asleep with Mason who was smiling at me.

I smiled going to say something but realized I couldn’t.

“You look good.” Mason said to me adjusting himself to sit up.

Alison was asleep, her head on Carters bed and Benson was asleep in the other chair.

I looked to Carter holding my thumb up and then down.

He held it to the side “Been better. Thank you for helping me out. They said I would’ve been dead if you didn’t get me out. Actually the words they used where ‘Your head would’ve been compressed between your legs’.” He said laughing.

I nodded giving him a wink.

Looking to Lindsay She scowled at me “You did this didn’t you?” She asked through tears.

Mason cut in “Hey, back off. We’d all be dead if she didn’t save us. I was driving not her.” He said to her in a loud tone.

Alison, Lucas and Benson woke up looking around.

“Ever since she came here she’s f****d up everything!” She said crying, “You wanted this?” She asked me.

I went to tell her to calm the f**k down but again I couldn’t.

“Lindsay back off!” Carter said to her.

She told Carter to f**k off and I sighed.

“Get the f**k out of here Lindsay. Get out.” Mason said before hissing and holding his stomach.

“You made him pop a stitch, you happy now?” Carter asked Lindsay who flipped them off “f**k both of you. Your brothers unconscious because of your immaturity and stupidity!” She said shouting.

Jax’s heart rate was rising and as all three of them yelled back and forth I tried to get their attention but couldn’t.

Pressing the nurse call button, she walked in and I pointed to Jax.

She moved to him checking him over.

As the room grew quiet, his heart rate calmed back down.

I looked over at Alison and she looked to Lindsay “If you stay, you keep your mouth shut and you don’t piss off any of my kids.” She said gesturing to all four beds.

My heart fluttered and I looked to my hands before looking up at Lindsay who sat in silence.

I was told to rest some more and I nodded going back to sleep.

It was quiet and calm.

“Norah!” Jax’s loud scream woke me and I opened my eyes looking across the room to see Jax awake and panicking.

He looked around at the nurses in his face and his mom then Lindsay. I sat up and he caught eyes with me sighing and shutting his eyes.

Lindsay looked back at me and I stared at Carter and Mason moving my eyes to see the nurses leave and Lindsay hurried out the room to get him another pillow.

“Mason, Carter.” He said low to his mom. Alison smiled at him “You’re all safe. All my babies are safe.” She said kissing his hand.

Jax looked to me “What happen to her?” He asked.

I smiled at him and waved it off picking up the whiteboard from the sweet nurse, I wrote “I can’t talk your heads off for a while.” I smirked showing it to him.

He laughed and shook his head laying back. “What do you remember?” Alison asked him.

Jax looked to Carter “Carter and Mason where singing some stupid song. I was fighting with Lindsay. Then I noticed a semi truck. It hit me and I was out but I could hear Norah yelling at me to wake up.” He said before shaking his head “Then I opened my eyes for a moment and saw this man yelling at someone to get out the car. I knew it was Norah because the guys where next to me. Then a car just slammed into the wreck. The truck was crushed flat down. I was sure she died.” He said looking to me.

I erased the board “I’m Wonder Woman, remember?” I smirked at Alison turning the board to them, they laughed and Mason smirked at me.

I wiped the board watching Lindsay walk in.

“Docs here to check Jax.” She said moving him forward and putting another pillow behind him.

I looked up at Alison as she smiled at me “Want anything? A drink or apple sauce? I know you can’t have any solid foods yet.” She said.

Writing I turned it to her “A slushee?” She asked laughing.

I nodded smiling.

She looked to the doc “Can she have a slushee?” She asked.

He stared at me “Yeah, she should be fine.” He said smiling at me.

I bit my l*p smiling.

Alison looked to Carter “What do you want hun?” She asked him.

He smiled “Pie.” He said sighing “I thought of that while you where shouting at me to get up.” He said to me.

I laughed without sound shaking my head.

Alison laughed and looked to Mason “Sunshine?” She asked.

He was watching tv with Lucas “We want Mac and cheese and” he looked to Lucas “Chicken nuggets!” He said.

I smiled and she looked to Jax “Can I get you anything?” She asked him.

He sighed “A beer?” He smirked.

The doctor c****d an eyebrow at him and his mom stared at him with a similar expression. “Retreat!” Carter said laughing.

“Im good mom thanks.” He said looking back at the doctor.

She headed out the door taking Lindsay with her to “help bring stuff to the room.”

I think she did it to give Jax a break.

The doctor left and Benson headed to Carters side to talk to him and ask about how he felt.

I smiled at Jax who stared at me softly “Don’t ever do that again.” He said low.

Holding my whiteboard to my chest I c****d an eyebrow and he furrowed his eyebrows, “You get the hell out and run.” He said sitting up.

I shook my head furrowing my eyebrows before writing on my board ‘Id be on this hospital bed while you’d be all be on your death beds.’ And turned it to him.

He read it and eyed me “Did you know the car was coming?” He asked.

I nodded and turned the board writing ‘I laid flat into the seat ready for it.’ I stared at my own writing for a moment before turning it to him and watching him read it.

“Did it hurt?” He asked gesturing to his neck.

I ran a hand over my brace and wrote down ‘I was just stuck and claustrophobic, scared. Couldn’t fight it off.’ I turned it to him and wiped a tear giving him a small smile.

Jax stared at me for a while “You really are an angel.” He said low.

Looking over his expression, I dropped my eyes to the board wiping the words, ‘I’m glad you’re okay. I slapped you pretty hard.’ I wrote turning it to him.

He smirked “That’s probably what put me in a coma.” He said joking.

I wiped the board laughing.

“How did you not pass out?” He asked me.

I stared at him shrugging writing ‘I remember grabbing Carters shirt. He didn’t have a seatbelt on.’ I turned it to him and he looked over at Carter.

I wiped it and wrote ‘but you flew into me, and then the car rolled and I held you and Carter. We landed on the side’ I turned it to him and he stared at me rubbing his lips thoughtfully.

Wiping the board I wrote ‘I saw the next car and moved you and I upright. We were crushed into the foot mats.’ I turned it to him.

He stared at me “You saw the car coming?” He asked me watching the board.

I wiped it nodding ‘You’re very heavy by the way.’ I turned it to him laughing.

He smirked.

Alison walked in smiling and handing me my slushee, “I forgot to ask what flavor but I went with cherry.” She said staring at me, I held up a thumbs up taking it and drinking it.

The sucking hurt.

Pulling the straw out I stared at Lindsay who looked to me I pointed to the plastic wrapped spoon on the small table by the door. She picked it up tossing it to me and going to Jax’s bedside.

I opened it and ate my slushee with a spoon.

The nurses came in to check up on us refilling our med drips if we needed it and asking if we were comfortable.

My legs ached, ‘Can I stand?’ I wrote.

The nurse looked to my side “You broke a rib, so you can’t walk yet but I could let you stand, it’s going to hurt very bad though.” She said watching me carefully.

I nodded writing ‘That okay’ and she lifted the arm rest up moving beside me.

She began sitting me up and the pain sent electricity through my body. I pushed it down and moved my legs off the bed. Leaning into the nurse I moved to stand and did so very slowly, “That’s it hun, slow.” She said and I stood to my feet bending them back and standing on my tiptoes dropping back to my feet.

“Feel good?” Alison asked me smiling.

I nodded patting my heart twice smiling.

She laughed looking to the nurse “She’s a runnaholic.” She said proudly.

I looked to the nurse who stared at my legs “You can tell, they’re fit and tan.” She said nodding.

I laughed looking over at Jax who gave me a small smirk.

Taking a step forward, the nurse looked to me “You want to do a small walk around the room?” She asked.

I nodded and looked embarrassed mouthing “pee.” And she smiled unhooking the IVs and walking with me out the room to the restroom.

She helped me slowly move down to the toilet and I held up a thumb watching her walk out shutting the door.

I peed for a long time, wondering how the hell I had this much pee in me.

After wiping and flushing, I washed my hands staring at my reflection sighing.

This neck brace was so ugly.

I stared at the bruise by my cheek and the cut on my eyebrow not to mention the heavy bruising on my neck.

Going out the bathroom I smiled at the nurse who walked me back to the room. I got to stand for a bit longer stretching my feet and legs before I had to get back in bed.

She hooked me back up and I looked to Mason “Did that feel good?” He asked.

I nodded writing ‘Oh yeah, my a*s was killing me.’ And turned the board to him. He laughed “Mine is too.” He said

I wiped the board and looked to Carter “Lucky asses, I got a damn broken leg.” He said shaking head.

“I got a grill in my stomach.” Mason said laughing lightly.

“I was in a coma.” Jax said watching the screen on the tablet in his hands.

I wrote on the board ‘I got Han Solod by the truck roof.’ I turned it to them feeling like that scene when Han Solo was pressed into the metal pieces.

Carter busted up laughing and then smacked Bensons arm “She said Han Solod!” He laughed harder.

Mason was holding his stomach hissing as he laughed.

Jax smirked and Lindsay let out a small laugh.