NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: Chapter 3 - Aftermath
There were a few spells that could heal or help a patient heal faster, but for Thomas, the only spell that he thought would help his mother was Vulnera Sanentur, thought there was one big problem, he didn't own a wand to perform this spell. Sighing in defeat, Thomas leaned against the nearest bookshelf when he heard the voice of the librarian lady calling his name.
"Thomas Grayson? Thomas Grayson, are you still here?"
Now, Thomas still remembers his mother's words about not talking with a stranger, but can the old lady that owns this library still be called a stranger, considering that she had seen Thomas grow up since the young boy was five years old. Just as he was about to hide, fearing that the old lady came to take him to the police, the cobra that was inside his shirt popped out from inside the shirt.
"Thomas, you fool. I don't sense any malice from that old human. Why are you trying to run away?"
"But, what if she's taking me to the scary police officers? What if they take me away from mommy and daddy?"
"And if you run away and hide, you will still be away from your humans. So can you just get up, take the book and see what that fossil of a human wants from you?"
Thanks to Mars, Thomas got himself persuaded by the snake and soon after his name was called for the third time, he walked slowly and fearfully from within the rows of bookshelves. When the old lady saw him, she smiled warmly at the scared boy before she walked towards him. As soon as she was in front of the young boy, she hugged the boy, confusing the daylight out of him, since he couldn't understand why this kind old lady was hugging him.
"Aaaaa, ma'am, did something happen?"
Thomas could feel his heart racing as a dark thought appeared in his mind, almost forcing the boy to tear up, but when he looked up at the old lady's face, he didn't see any sign of bad news, calming him just a tiny bit.
"Your parents called every library in the area, hoping that you would hide in one of them. Luckily, they know their baby better than any police officer could even hope. I told your father that you came here a while ago and that I believe you are still here since I didn't saw leaving the building. Now, Thomas, do you want me to call your father to pick you up?"
"If that isn't too much then yes ma'am. I would like that."
"Sure, darling. Wait here while I will go and call your father."
It didn't take long for a tall man with a rather dwarfish beard to rush inside the library calling for his son. When Jonathan saw his son sitting on a chair reading a children's magazine, he let out a sigh before running over to his son.
"Thomas!" Thomas hissed in a low voice, talking with Mars when he heard the voice of his father calling his name. He turned around and saw his father running towards him with a worried look on his face. Jonathan looked like he hadn't been sleeping for days, but Thomas know better that his father was just worried for him.
"Daddy!" Thomas shouted and ran up to him, jumping before he got caught in a hug. Jonathan's worried expression quickly change into one of relief now that he had found his baby boy.
"My dear Tommy, why did you run away?"
While his father wasn't showing any signs of crying, the simple fact that his father was tightly hugging him, fearing that he would run away again, made the young boy tear up a little.
"I-I hurt mommy…a-and I thought…"
"My stupid baby boy, you didn't hurt your mother. She just got some scratches, but otherwise, she's as strong as always. What do you say, Tommy, do you want to visit mom in the hospital?"
"Hopital?"
"Yes, son at the hospital. The paramedics told us that she would need to stay in the hospital for a few days, but other than that she's doing alright."
Looking at his father, Thomas knew that there was no way he could refuse, not that he wanted in the first place, but at the same, he feared that they would find Mars and take him away.
Even though Thomas would rather eat needles than admit it, in the short period of time he has stayed with the cobra, he somehow got fond of the narcissistic snake. After thanking the librarian, the duo left in Jonathan's car. Almost half an hour later, they reached the hospital.
Unsurprisingly enough, as soon as the doctor was on duty and noticed Jonathan he nodded at the father before with his help convincing Thomas to be checked by a nurse, just in case, the young boy got injured when the glass shattered. Without even complaining or arguing, Thomas accepted and left with a pretty nurse, leaving his father and the doctor to talk while he was being checked. Luckily for the young boy, Mars sneaked out just before the father and son duo reached the hospital hiding in the trunk of the car until they return.
As soon as Thomas left, the doctor that was on duty turned towards Jonathan with a slightly gloomy expression on his face. Even though he told his son that everything was alright with his mother, the truth was that even though she survived, there was some damage done to her.
"How's she doing, Evans?"
"Well, she's doing incredibly well for someone that had their throats cut, albeit only slightly, but still I have to say her years as a combat medic might have just saved her life. However, I'm not too optimistic about her vocal cords. We have done everything in our power, but in the end, it's up to her if that area would heal properly or not."
"But she would be able to see her son right?"
"Of course, she would, but are you sure you want little Thomas to see his mom like that? I mean you told me that he's probably thinking that what happened there was his fault. "
"I don't know Evans. No one prepared me for this, not even when Kate was working as a UN peacekeeper was I so scared. We both love our son, but I have to admit that I'd rather not have him see his mother like this at least not today. Maybe you are right, Tom should see his mother when she's not looking like that. I'll call my father and have him pick my boy, at least for a few days."
"You do that, my friend. I'll have Mia distract the boy until your old man gets here."