12 April, Military Base Hospital, City K

Lexi sat in the waiting room chair while staring off into the distance.?As they wheeled Matthew off to surgery, another doctor took her away for a medical check.?That was the last thing that she wanted to do was to be taken away far from where Matthew was.?It was only when they promised to get her back here quickly that she agreed to cooperate.

Nothing penetrated her consciousness, until she felt a pair of little arms wrap around her neck, a kiss on the cheek and heard the words "Mummy, I am here."

Lexi turned and saw that Dominic had come in and was hugging her.?She swept him over onto her lap and hugged him as hard as she could and started to cry.

Dominic started to struggle and said, "Mummy you are squashing me."

Lexi loosened her grip, and Dominic looked directly at Lexi and asked, "Mummy why are you crying?"

"I am just happy to see you."?Pausing, Lexi quietly asked "Why are you here?"

Dominic hung his head, knowing that he was about to get into trouble.?He remembered what Daddy Matthew had told him, just yesterday, being honest when asked a question by his Mummy was the right thing.

"Mummy do not be mad.?I heard Miss Monica and Miss Sarah talking and they said Daddy Matthew had been hurt, and said they were worried about you."?With that Dominic threw his arms back around Lexi's neck and continued to hug her as she started crying again.

Worried Dominic said, "Mummy what is wrong?"

Hearing the underlying worry in Dominic's voice with his simple question, Lexi pulled back gently, and felt Dominic wiping the tears away from his face.?How caring, so much like Matthew, and this set her off crying again.?The man who gave her this wonderful child was in surgery from trying to keep her safe.?At that moment she wanted to scream to everyone how alike father and son were, but Richard's threats and the impacts on all the hard work of Andrew and Chester kept her from acting.

Through her sob's all Lexi could say was "Mummy is alright Dominic."

"But Mummy you are crying.?That means something is wrong."

Lexi could not believe the logic of her child.?Crying meant that something was wrong.?While that was the case currently, there was times that it was not.?"Who told you that Dominic?"

"Mummy, you think I am silly.?You cry when there is something wrong."?Dominic looked at her in the eyes and said, "Is Daddy Matthew seriously hurt."

Lexi knew that she could not get around telling Dominic what was happening.?But, at the same time she was not going to tell him everything as he did not need to know that.

Taking a couple of steadying breaths, Lexi quietly said "Dominic, you remember the discussion we had with Daddy Matthew about soldiers and what they do?"

"Do you think I forget everything that that you tell me mummy.?I am not silly.?Soldiers protect people."

Lexi relaxed slightly, he remembered their discussion, and that would make this an easier to tell him.?"Some bad people came to the event that we were at last night, and they wanted to hurt me.?Your Daddy Matthew was not going to allow that and while they were trying to hurt me he along with your Uncle John stepped in and made sure that did not happen.?In doing that, one of them shot your Daddy Matthew and the doctors are now helping him."

Lexi realised that it was not the best explanation, but her words and thoughts were not flowing together.?How could she tell Dominic Matthew had been shot twice and another person was shot.

Looking up, she noticed Monica in the room, Lexi added,?"Now you need to be honest with me Dominic,?About coming here?"

Dominic turned and saw that Monica was standing behind him.?"Mummy do not be mad at me.?When I heard Miss Monica and Miss Sarah talking about Daddy Matthew being hurt, I told them I was going to come here.?Miss Monica said that she would bring me here if I promised not to be naughty and go with her when you told me to leave."

Lexi picked up that her son blackmailed Monica into coming here.?Firmly she said "Dominic Yao, that was totally inappropriate."

"But Mummy, but you need me here waiting for news about Daddy Matthew."?As he finished speaking Dominic had a cute look on his face that made it impossible to be too angry with him.

"Dominic, we will.."

Lexi heard a door open and noticed that it was one of the medical staff that took Matthew away, and she stopped mid-sentence.?He approached Lexi and after pulling a chair in front of Lexi, said "Madam Rong.?And this is..?"

The lie came straight to the forefront, and said "My son from my first marriage, Dominic."

"Hello Dominic, I am Doctor Francis Yu but you can call me Doctor Francis."

"Hello Doctor Francis.?Can you tell me how my Daddy Matthew is?"

"Straight to the point.?But I have good news for you.?We were able to help your stepfather, and he is alright.?He must stay in a special place with us for a couple of hours, before we move him to a room.?You cannot stay with him, but your mummy can tonight.?Once I see him tomorrow, I will see decide when you can come and see him.?Does that sound alright?"

Excitedly Dominic said, "It does."

Lexi looked at Monica, and said "Dominic, you know your Daddy Matthew is alright, so you can go back with Miss Monica and stay the night.?Once your Daddy Matthew has seen Doctor Francis in the morning, I will call you.?But you need to promise me that you will behave if I do this?"

Jumping up, Dominic said "Yes Mummy."?He ran to Monica grabbed her hand and attempted to drag her away while continuing "Come on Miss Monica.."

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