Free Colorado Connection (Colorado Heart Book 6) by Sara York Page A

crushing his soul, draining away all of his hope.

 
    Chapter Seven

    The first days after the fucking, unit destroying bomb were rough. Matthew felt like bugs were crawling out of his skin, and his brain throbbed so much he couldn’t keep his head up. When he was alert enough to remember, he was inconsolable. He ended up staying in medical for a few days with an IV in his arm and medicine that knocked him out. Three days later, he was cognizant enough to start hunting for Jazz.
    He asked the medical personnel tending to him and was told they knew nothing. When Spike came to visit, he made the man promise to find information on Jazz. The hours slipped by, and he was about to go out of his mind, when Spike came in. He’d found Jazz. Jazz had been flown to a hospital in Germany and was being transported to the U.S. later that day.
    Matthew weaseled his way to a phone, making promises and pulling in favors so he could call the facility. After what seemed like forever, he was connected with the hospital in Germany.
    “I need to speak to Jazz, I mean Jordan Bergeron,” Matthew said as soon as he heard the line connect. “He was brought in—”
    “I’m sorry, but he’s not taking calls,” the woman said.
    “You have to let me talk to him,” Matthew begged.
    “He’s not in a position to speak to anyone.” The woman’s voice sounded incredibly stern.
    The words Matthew had planned on saying died on his tongue. “What do you mean, he can’t speak to anyone?”
    “I’m looking at his information on the computer, and it says he’s not taking calls. Whether the directive was initiated by the doctor or the patient, I can’t tell you. He’s not taking any calls and he’s in the ICU, probably not able to take any.”
    “But they’re transporting him today. I have to talk to him,” Matthew begged, praying there was a way for him to get in contact with Jazz.
    “I’m sorry. There isn’t anything I can do,” the woman said.
    Matthew felt his heart shatter but spoke before she could hang up. “Wait, can I speak to his doctor?”
    “Are you family?”
    “I’m in his unit. I was there. I pulled him out of the rubble and carried him to safety. I had his blood in my hair, down my chest, under my fingernails, and on my back. I don’t know if you can get any closer than that.”
    The woman cleared her throat, but the silence stretched on. He was getting to her. Maybe he could convince her with more of their story, but what if she wasn’t accepting of gays. Saying Jazz was his lover could either cause her to hang up or get him the golden ticket to talk to someone who could make something happen.
    “Please.” Matthew hated begging but he would do almost anything to talk to Jazz.
    She blew out a breath, and he felt he was making progress. If only he were in Germany, he could run by the hospital. He needed to see Jazz sooner rather than later.
    “Let me see what I can do,” the woman said.
    Seconds ticked by after the phone went silent. He waited, praying someone with any knowledge about Jazz would come on the line. More than a minute passed before the phone clicked, and he heard a real person on the other end.
    “This is Doctor Naples. I’m sorry, your friend didn’t make it. We did everything we could to save his life. But in situations like this it happens.”
    “No,” Matthew whispered as panic and pain twisted through him. Jazz had to live. Matthew had heard Jazz was being transported back to the states. “No, no, he’s alive,” Matthew sputtered.
    “Wait, is this about Private First Class Kaufman?”
    “No, I’m asking about Lance Corporal Bergeron, Jordan Bergeron.”
    “Oh, he can’t talk. We have him sedated. He’s being shipped back to the U.S. in just a bit.”
    Matthew drew in a gasping breath. Jazz wasn’t dead. “Can you tell me anything about him?”
    “Are you family?” Naples asked.
    “I’m the one who pulled his ass out of the rubble.”
    “I’m sorry, but I can’t discuss