Chapter 47

He knew he had been speeding, but not by much. They wanted to get to their son. The call that said John was in the hospital, getting recast, didn't sound good.

When the officer had asked for his driver's license, but nothing else, it had made him suspicious. As soon as the officer had looked at it, and then handed it right back to him, he definitely knew there was something wrong.

"Mister Huntington, can you please follow me down to the station?"

"What's this all about?" she asked, after glancing past her husband.

"A situation is developing. I understand you are en route to see your son. One of the agents handling the area called me and asked me to intersect you, for your own safety."

"Our own safety? What about our son?"

"Sir, I have no knowledge about what is happening. They didn't elaborate. I was asked to get you to our station and hold you there until further notice."

Sitting had become tedious. Time had all but stopped. He thought 'further notice' would be much sooner than this. He paced around the small room they had been stuffed into. No one had come in, or even talked to them, since they had arrived. An idea started forming in his head that they were 'not here, ' so to speak.

"Come and sit down. I'm sure that they will let us know something, soon."

"How can you be so calm? Our boy was back in the hospital for who knows what and now we're being hidden away in a highway patrol office. Something is wrong."

"I know, but what can we do? The way they sounded, we couldn't get into the town anyway. Maybe they took him out."

"Be reasonable. He's in the hospital. I think you've been watching too many TV shows. They don't go carting people out of hospitals."

The officer, that had detained them, walked into the room.

"I have some news. I know it has been a long wait, but..."

"Long! We've been there over two hours, not knowing what is going on. You better have some good news."

"From what I understand, your son is on his way here. He should land in about seven minutes."

"Land?"

"Helicopter. You two will need to be ready. It's just a touch and go situation, from what I hear."

She looked at her husband with fear in her eyes.

"Is he that bad?" she asked.

The officer was confused by her question.

"She wants to know how bad our son is. Is he going to make it?"

"Oh. No. I'm sorry. 'Touch and go' means that the helicopter is touching down, you're getting on and it takes off. We've got to be going, so you'll be ready to run to it, as soon as it lands."

"We're riding in one of those?" she asked, her eyes growing large.

As the officer ushered them out of the room and down the hallway, he said, "Your son's on board. One of you will need to sit up front with the pilot and the other will be in the back with John. I understand the back is a bit cramped, what with his legs in casts."

"I'll be in back," she said positively.

She didn't want to see outside, as she was scared enough of the thought of being in one of those things. Being with her son would take her mind off of where she was.

When the three got outside, they could see the helicopter in the distance, coming towards them. The officer instructed them on what was going to happen when it landed. She should just open the door and climb in. Her husband would have to let the copilot out, and then get into the copilot's seat.

As the helicopter got closer, the officer whistled. He told them they were in for a treat.

"This one is not the stripped down model we use for traffic. It's almost quiet enough inside the cabin to hold a conversation. Well, at least to the person next to you."

Adrenalin rush gave the two all the energy they needed. She was out to the helicopter, as soon as she was told it was safe. After opening the door, she literally bounced into the seat, and then pulled the door closed, before she looked at her son.

"John! Your leg!"

"Hi, Mom. Good to see you, too."

"What happened? You have two casts now!"

"Seat belt, Mom. I think you'll feel better with it on."

"Oh! Yes, I forgot."

She strapped herself in, and then felt herself sink into the chair as they lifted off.

"Oh, I think I'm going to be sick," she said to her son. "Did your father get in? Now what did you do to your leg?"

"Mom, I don't think you're going to be sick. They wouldn't have taken off, if Dad wasn't inside, and I was in a house fire and the firemen pulling me out broke my leg."

"Don't make fun of me. Now tell me the truth."