Chapter 491: Taking You Home

Chapter 491: Chapter 491: Taking You Home

The young nurse took several pictures in a row, then handed the phone over to Old Man Miller and his son to look at.

Seeing the photos of himself and his son, Old Man Miller emotionally traced the image on the screen. He nodded again and again, murmuring several "thank yous."

The father and son leaned against each other and spoke for a little while longer.

Suddenly, Mr. Miller stopped breathing. The numbers on the monitor plummeted, and an alarm began to blare.

Several doctors and nurses rushed in, pushing Mr. Miller’s hospital bed as they ran toward the resuscitation room.

Old Man Miller hurried after them, his face fraught with anxiety, his hands clasped tightly together.

"I knew he couldn’t hold on much longer. Lasting until I arrived, until he could have a bite of my cooking... that was all he had left.

It’s better this way. Now that he’s gone, he won’t be in pain anymore. His mother is over there waiting for him, too." Old Man Miller leaned against the wall, wiping his face with his hand.

He kept muttering to himself, not caring if anyone around him responded.

However, from Old Man Miller’s ramblings, Zoe Sawyer and the others pieced together the full story.

Mr. Miller’s uremia was, in fact, a severe hereditary condition. His maternal grandmother, paternal grandmother, and mother had all died from this illness.

His twin brother had also been diagnosed as a child and was now kept alive by regular hemodialysis.

A gravely ill brother, an elderly father, and his own inability to carry on... To Mr. Miller, escaping such a burdensome life probably seemed like a good thing.

Zoe Sawyer glanced at Old Man Miller, then walked over to Heath Hale and transferred some money to him. "I just heard a nurse say the hospital fronted the money for Mr. Miller’s medical bills.

I want to help him. Let’s go pay the bill!"

She was using the bonus she had received from the department for solving a previous case. To use it for this, Zoe Sawyer felt, was well worth it.

Heath Hale glanced at the money Zoe Sawyer had transferred. He didn’t refuse it, instead saying, "Let’s go. We’ll leave two people here to wait."

Sean Hughes and the other officer standing nearby nodded to show they understood.

Because Mr. Miller had only just been admitted, his medical bills weren’t very high. For Old Man Miller, however, it was an amount he would have had to borrow from friends and family to scrape together.

Just as the pair returned to the floor, they saw Old Man Miller being supported by someone, staggering along behind several doctors and nurses who were pushing a gurney with a body covered by a white sheet.

Seeing this, Zoe Sawyer and Heath Hale knew that Mr. Miller hadn’t pulled through.

Remembering the request Mr. Miller had made in his room, Heath Hale took a deep breath. He strode over to Old Man Miller’s side, steadied him by the arm, and said, "Sir, your son had two final wishes. Would you like to hear what they are?"

The vacant look in Old Man Miller’s eyes stirred. He looked over at Heath Hale and asked, "What wishes?"

Heath Hale took out the organ donation agreement, placed it in Old Man Miller’s hands, and repeated what Mr. Miller had said.

"Yes, good, good. It’s good to leave something behind. If he can save a few more people, it’ll count as a good deed for him." Old Man Miller’s hand trembled as he stroked the donation agreement.

He wanted to take his son home, but since the boy had said this before he died, Old Man Miller also hoped his son could live on in another form, so he nodded and agreed to the donation.

"And the other wish? What is it?" Old Man Miller’s eyes were fixed on Heath Hale as he asked.

Heath Hale helped him sit down nearby and said, "Mr. Miller said we should take you home. His brother is in more pain, suffering more than he did, and needs someone by his side."

Thinking of how his younger son was worried about his brother’s condition even in death, Old Man Miller could finally no longer hold back. He bowed his head, and tears dripped down one by one.

But in the end, he still remembered that this was a hospital and that he couldn’t cry too loudly and disturb others.

After this release of emotion, Old Man Miller took out all the money he had brought with him and stuffed it into Sean Hughes’s hands. "Officer, please help me. Can you watch over my child for me? And when the time comes, if it’s possible, can you help me take him home?"

Old Man Miller knew his older son’s situation was equally dire; reality didn’t permit him to stay and keep vigil here.

He had no choice but to look to Sean Hughes, who was standing beside him, for help.

’These people were willing to help me, they brought me here, and they’ve been running around for me. I’ll just have to be selfish and trouble them one more time.’

"Sir, if Mr. Miller’s body is donated for medical science, the hospital and the state will cover all the related expenses. His name and his story will be written into the teaching materials, and he’ll be remembered by the students.

Every year, students or volunteers will go pay their respects to him. You can rest assured," the young nurse standing nearby quickly added.

During her own studies, she had worked with many donated bodies, and every year for the Qingming Festival, the school would arrange for students to go and pay their respects.

Mr. Miller’s remains were still suitable for medical education and scientific research, but the processing would take quite some time. It would be a waste of time for Old Man Miller to wait here aimlessly.

Hearing this, Old Man Miller finally breathed a sigh of relief. "That’s good, that’s good."

’His son had no children. It would be a good thing for students to go and see him every year.’

Having come to terms with it, Old Man Miller took Heath Hale’s arm to stand up and said, "Then I’ll have to trouble you to take me back. I can’t always be imposing on my neighbors for help."

Sean Hughes asked the young nurse for her contact information, hoping she could find a spare moment to print the photos from her phone. Sean said she would ask a colleague to come and get them later.

He had been frantic with worry on the way there. On the way back, Old Man Miller hugged Mr. Miller’s belongings tightly. He was blindfolded and fitted with earplugs again, returning from the room in Vardenburg to the police station on the other side.

Before heading back, Sean Hughes once again contacted the team members on standby over there and briefed them on the situation.

Not long after, the group emerged from the room.

"Captain Sawyer! Coach Hale!" The officer on standby hurried over when he saw Zoe Sawyer and the others emerge, debriefing them in a low, quick voice. "After you left, the chief from this station came to take a look. He told us to continue standing guard and said he can keep the room free for another day or two.

Old Man Miller’s address has been verified, and a car is ready. We can depart at any time."

The group had set out a little after five in the afternoon, and by the time they returned, night had fallen.

Aside from those on duty, most people at the police station had already finished their shifts and left.

"Get the car. We’re taking him home." Heath Hale nodded, telling the two officers to go bring the car around.

Once the car was out of the police station and heading in the direction of Old Man Miller’s home, Heath Hale removed the man’s blindfold and earplugs. He said gently, "Sir, we’re taking you home now. As for Mr. Miller’s affairs, the police will follow up on them, and we will notify you immediately as soon as we have any news."

As the scenery became more familiar, Old Man Miller’s mind was on his eldest son, lying at home.

After hearing Heath Hale’s words, he quickly replied.

"Ah, yes, okay. Thank you for all your trouble."