The flight was two hours long. By the time I reached home and then the hospital, I was a mess. Mike was the first person I saw. He led me straight to the waiting room. Patrick was pacing while Tyler held a sleeping Emma.

“How are they?”

“Michael is in surgery and Sam is fine. Her car seat protected her from the worst.”

“Where is she?”

“They want to keep her overnight to make sure she’s okay. The nurse will come get us when she’s comfortable.”

My eyes dropped to his hands fisted at his side. He wanted to say something but he kept silent. After a few minutes he gave me a stiff smile before turning away. I sighed. Patrick was never one to stop himself from speaking his mind. Times passed slowly as we waited for news on Michael. The nurse had come to let us know that Sam was comfortable and fast asleep. I stayed with her for a few minutes before heading back to the waiting room. Through the years Michael and I had mended things.

Although some things between us were still a little awkward. Michael was my father in every sense of the word even though he never treated me like his other daughters. Mike was and would always stay my uncle. We agreed to never cross that line. It was the best for all of us.

At half past eleven the doctor came out to see us. It felt like my world was going to crumble around me as I waited. I already lost too many things in my life, losing Michael… I didn’t even want to think about it.

“The surgery went well,” the doctor said. “We were able to stop the internal bleeding which wasn’t as bad as we first thought. His arm is broken at two places which will take a few months to heal completely. All in all, he is okay.”

“Can I see him?”

“He’s still heavily sedated. I suggest you all go home and get some rest. You can see him in the morning.” He turned to Patrick. “Sam will also be discharged tomorrow morning.”

He left leaving all of us in silence. I turned towards Patrick. He ran a hand through his hair and then took my arm. I stayed silent as he led me from the room. We walked until we reached a side exit.

“Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”

“I wanted to talk to you before you left but I couldn’t. Michael refused to give me a contact number for you,” he said. “There’s some things I need to tell you. I know Michael won’t.”
“Hit me with it,” I muttered as I leaned against the wall.

“I know that you and he mended things and I don’t want to ruin it, but what he did was wrong.” “Spit it out Patrick.” He sucked in a breath and slowly blew it out. “Michael forced Stephen to stay away from you after you got rescued. He stopped by the hospital everyday but they wouldn’t allow him in. Later I learned that Michael had forbid him from seeing you. He blamed Stephen for what happened to you. Stephen was a fucking mess Alia, and the fact that your parents were blaming him just made it worse.” Patrick shook his head and then started pacing. “He was forced off the case. He wasn’t allowed to help or follow up on leads. Even after someone kept asking for him. Michael refused.”

“I don’t-“

“If Michael wasn’t so fucking pissed and hard-headed we would’ve found you earlier. A man said he knew where you were but he only wanted to speak to Stephen. He refused to talk to anyone else. We had no leads until that man showed up,” he sucked in a breath. “I went to see Stephen and he was a fucking mess. Drunk out of his mind.” Patrick stepped towards me.

He reached up and hesitantly cupped my cheeks. “I saw how you suffered and I’m not going to stand back while it happens again. Stephen fucking loves you Alia. He would go to the end of the world for you. I know you love him too. I saw it in your eyes whenever you looked it at him. All these years, he’s been asking about you, keeping track of you. He killed for you and he’ll do it again. Don’t walk away from him. He’s an asshole and sometimes he fucks up. If you love him, don’t let him go.”
“Why?” I whispered.

“You deserve some happiness. You hide it but I still see the sadness in your eyes. He’s the one for you. Don’t give him up to please Michael.”

Patrick stepped back and pulled his phone from his pants. He pressed something and then held it out to me.

I hesitated. “I will call him once they rescued the girls. I don’t want him to worry about other things.”

“Promise me that in two days you will call him.”
“I promise.”

***

Sam was discharged the next day, and Michael a week after that. I had promised Patrick to call Stephen which I did. He never answered his phone. It hurt knowing that he was probably ignoring me. He kissed me but that didn't mean he wanted to start things over again.

“Earth to Alia.”

I raised my head to smile at Tyler who stood across from me. We were holding a barbecue for Mike's birthday. It was the perfect opportunity since everyone was here. This was the first time in two years that I stayed home for longer than two days. 

“What are you thinking about?” she asked.

“Stephen,” I said honestly. “He didn’t answer my calls.”

“Maybe he’s busy. You said yourself that he’s leading the rescue.”

“Last time I was there they were talking about explosives. What if there was an explosion and he got hurt?” I questioned as a hundred possibilities ran through my mind.

My hands became clammy as an image of him bleeding and dying flashed through my mine. I pushed myself up and raced down the hall towards my room.

My phone laid on the bedside table. Without hesitation I dialled his number again. It went straight to voicemail. My hands shook.

“Alia!” I raced out of the room when Emma screamed at me.
“What?”

I froze in the living room. Emma stood there with Patrick. Michael sat on the couch. I cautiously stepped into the living room. The look on her face made me frown. All of them looked deadly pale. Emma had tears dripping down her cheeks.

“A rescue mission has gone wrong when the mine collapsed after a few explosions. The numbers of police officers missing are still unknown. It has been announced that ten men were found dead, and five critically injured.”

My legs gave way beneath me. I was numb. Stephen was dead or he could be one of those critically injured. Or he was missing. There was a possibility for each. I should’ve called him that night when Patrick told me too.

“I need to go there,” I said. “They need help. I need to make sure he’s okay.”

“No!” I turned my head to look at Michael. “You will only be in the way. They know what they’re doing. I’m sure they got the girls out before the mine collapsed. Someone will be there with in.”

“I’m not going because of them,” I said softly. “I’m going because Stephen is there.”

Shock crossed his face. I saw him fist his hand on his thigh. So he wasn’t aware that Stephen was leading the rescue.

“You’ve kept us apart for years for whatever reasons you think was the best. I’m not going to allow you to ruin my happiness anymore. You knew how much I loved him yet you forced him to leave.”

“I did what was best for you!” he yelled. “If he had stayed then you would never have gotten better. You would’ve been dependent on him.”

“And if you weren’t so fucking stubborn I would’ve been found earlier!” I allowed a humorous laugh to fell from my lips. “You allowed your pride to rule. If you had given that up and allowed Stephen to help in finding me, I would’ve been found earlier. He fucking raped me over and over again! I had months where he only kept me locked in a room. I could’ve been found before that, but your stubbornness wouldn’t allow that.” I took a step closer until I stood right in front of him. He raised me and I thought we’d become father and daughter, but I was wrong. “I hate you for making me life through hell.  You had a chance to get me out of there earlier.” I shook my head and allowed the tears to drop.

“You’re a coward Michael. I don’t what my mother saw in you when she married you. You’re not the same man you were when she married you.”

“Alia-“ I ignored Patrick and walked back towards my bedroom.

Grabbing a backpack, I stuffed clothes inside. I grabbed phone and charger and then headed towards the front door. Patrick stood there.

“I’ll drive you.” I nodded and the pushed past him.

The front door was ripped open. I tried to keep the tears from falling and managed. A car door slamming shut made my head snap up. I stumbled.

My heartbeat increased as I stared at the man. He looked up and then paused.

“S-Stephen?”