Somehow, Karen got us a private meeting with the patients at Walter Reed. We have free reign over the whole hospital to come and go as we please.

Walking in, my heart fell to my stomach. I'm terrified of what these kids have seen.

"Guys...I need to go to all of these children." I sigh looking back at my security guard, Butch, Mason, and Karen.

"How about this mom, we do Vincent's floor today and then if you want to go to the other floors, we can come back tomorrow," Mason suggests.

"Yeah, okay, Does he know we're coming?" I question.

"No, his family does. He hasn't opened his eyes since I left. At least that's what his mom has been telling me." Mason shrugs as the doors open and we come to a floor.

"We need a visitors pass." Mason points to the service desk.

"Well if it isn't California." A young beautiful girl with blonde wavy hair puts her hands on her hips.

"Oregon." He winks.

"I thought you were done here?" She questions.

"I am, Vincent is not...so since my mom and I were in the area, I was able to talk her into coming by for a visit." Mason shrugs.

"Yes, I was told Stevie Nicks was coming in today. Hi, I'm Violet Abrahams. I do paperwork and filing here at Walter Reed. Eventually, will make my way to either UCLA Medical Center or New York, to work in the HR and Billing departments. I have no nursing experiences but I have a business degree and I was offered a job doing paperwork for the military. I'm not a soldier or anything and I don't have to listen to the higher ups. I just ended up here. And honestly, I'm okay with it." Violet explains.

"Well, Cedars Sinai is a lot more accommodating than UCLA. Stephanie Buckingham, it's so nice to meet you. And I absolutely love your name." I smile.

"My parents will forever be classified as hippies. But I'll let you go see Vincent." Violet points to a room.

***

Walking in, my heart breaks. Seeing the young boy with wires attached to him, eyes closed, a scary scar etched into his head. It was awful and you can never truly understand what these boys have gone through. My baby boy included.

"Oh Mason, how are you." A woman says hugging my son while I stare at hers in shock.

I know Mason is talking but It's almost like I float to the young boy. My hand falls to his chest and I whisper to him.

"Vincent, you are so strong."

I gently kiss above his ear, and as I pull away his eyes slowly blink open.

"Holy shit, you're Stevie Nicks," he says in a gruff voice as I reach towards the nightstand for the water sitting there.

"Oh, Vincent," The woman gasps and she and her husband embrace him.

"Mom, it's Stevie Nicks. How'd you pull that off?" Vincent questions.

"I didn't." His mother shakes her head.

"I did." Mason pipes up.

"You got me Stevie Nicks. Mace, I can't believe that." Vincent shakes his head.

"She gave birth to me, I'm the best thing that's ever happened to her. She owes me." Mason smirks a laugh bubbling in his throat.

"You said your mom's name is Stephanie," Vincent replies.

"Stephanie Buckingham, but I am more formally known as Stevie Nicks," I explain.

"Now I feel so weird for putting up my Stevie Nicks poster in our barracks." Vincent blushes.

"It was actually really nice seeing a poster of her every day." Mason shrugs.

"Still, thank you for coming Mrs. Buckingham. It means the world to our whole family, and you got him to open his eye. It's been months. I'm Vincent's mom Carla. This is my husband, Bill." Carla hugs me.

"Please, Stephanie or Stevie. And can I just say? I commend you, boys. Mason hasn't told me much about what happened but I can't even imagine seeing what you boys have seen." I sigh grabbing Mason and Vincent's hands.

"It was so bad Mom. It was our day off, we were in civilian clothes at the town square. At a flea market none the less. They dropped a bomb or ten, I don't even know there were four of us. Vincent and I took cover, Charlie and Mack...I don't' even know what happened to them. But Vince, you were hurt so badly." Mason breaks down into my arms and I do the only thing a mother knows how to do. I take him in my arms and rock with him back and forth. I start singing to him and just like when he was little, it worked like a charm.

We talked for a while, but then Karen, Butch and I went to other rooms. We went back and ate dinner with Vincent and his family. As we were leaving at eight o'clock that night, Violet was just getting off.

"Want to walk down together?" I ask.

"Oh um, Sure... I have to call a cab though, my roommate is working late shift so she needed it. She workes at a bar." Violet explains.

"We'll just drop you off," I say as we get on the elevator.

"Are you sure? I couldn't ask that of you." Violet shakes her head.

"I'm positive. It's absolutely no trouble at all." I reply.

As we get off the elevator, sirens start blaring and people are running around ragged. Words like Medivac and emergency were being yelled and beds are being lined up. Mason is freaking out and Violet has him in her arms while security is ushering us out. They did not want us there. They eventually found my car and as we're climbing in Mason and I are both in tears. Violet expertly calms Mason down while Karen works on me.

***

While we're flying home two days later I look at Mason.

"You like her don't you," I question.

"Who?" Mason counters.

"Violet." I coo.

"She's sweet." Mason smiles.

"I knew it," I smirk as he blushes.

As soon as we're home I immediately wrap my arms around Lindsey and Cry.

I cry for Mason, Vincent, all soldiers at Walter Reed. And I cry for the medivac.