The Baynes Legacy - Book 5 - Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Barking Up The Wrong Tree (Chapter 12)

12.

That night Griffin couldn't sleep, not because the usual dreams and night terrors plaguing him but the thought if he was indeed going to be put on medical discharge or not. He knew if he was granted that he would be able to stay with Adaline and there wouldn't be anything his father could do about that. Every bone in his body ached to go to her and make everything right, but at the moment he knew that he had to stay.

When the sun finally greeted the new day another volunteer delivered his breakfast, which he gobbled up in a rush hoping to make this day go by faster some how. After devouring his food he took a shower, the hot water refreshed him but he noticed the dull throbbing that was still present in his shoulder as he reached up to wash off his short cropped hair. No normal person would wish for the pain to remain, but Griffin did. He knew that his shoulder may be his ticket out of the only life he ever really knew and onto a more promising one with his mate, his soul mate, Adaline.

After drying off, Griffin dressed in a pair of comfortable jeans and a simple black polo shirt that clung to his bulging muscles on his arms and chest. While shaving there was a quiet knock at the door, which opened to reveal a nurse with a wheel chair.

“Sgt. Caldwell, I'm Martha. I'm here to take you for your scans.” She was polite as she waited patiently for him to finish shaving.

“Okay, I'm ready but that wheelchair really isn't necessary. I can walk fine.” Griffin urged her hating the feeling of being completely useless.

“I'm sorry, sir. We have to especially since the doctor wants to get some scans of your leg to ensure that bone is fusing properly with the pins he placed in there.” Martha smiled sweetly as she patted the seat of the chair insisting he take a seat. With an annoyed huff, Griffin gave in and took a seat allowing Martha to carry on.

Martha rolled Griffin on the imaging lab where Griffin was twisted and turned so the doctor could have numerous shots of his bones in his shoulder and in his leg. With every movement they adjusted his shoulder Griffin couldn't help but to wince at the pain the radiated from his shoulder.

“Does that hurt, Sergeant?”

“A bit.” Griffin said through grit teeth as he watched Martha jot things down in a folder. After nearly an hour of the contortion of his injured limbs, he was wheeled back to his room to await the arrival of the doctor to deliver his future to him.

An uneasiness settled over Griffin as he sat in silence desperately hoping the door would open and the doctor would be there. The seconds turned into minutes and the minutes turned into hours as the ticking of the clock became nearly unbearable. A quick rap on the door startled Griffin from the constant tick tock of the clock.

“Come in.” His voice was rough and cracking from the lack of speaking for nearly two hours since he returned to his room. A couple seconds later the door creaked open and Adaline's friend, Kerra walked in carrying a tray her eyes were alert and watching Griffin carefully.

“Sergeant Caldwell, here is your lunch.” She spoke very formally as she quickly placed the tray down on the table and began to retreat towards the door but before she could leave Griffin spoke up.

“Please don't be afraid of me. I will not harm you or your family. I'm hoping to join your pack in fact.” Griffin said as he glanced up at Kerra with her back still facing him.

“Join our pack?”

“Yes. Hasn't your mate informed you of anything going on?” He was startled to hear that Kerra, who was the mate of the Omega had no clue what was going on in the pack around her.