Detective Hale was looking bewilderedly at Detective Mahoney, who was being pushed to the operating room for emergency rescue.
Things happened too suddenly; her mind was in chaos right now.
Seeing this, Hawk glanced at Detective Hale, turned around, opened the door, and entered the ward.
Helen sat on a chair nearby, gazing down at a bullet in her palm.
She had only just found it inside her clothing after sitting down when Gwen arrived, along with finding a bullet hole in her clothes.
Helen's mind was also chaotic now.
But Gwen was offering comfort nearby.
As for George.
George was also okay.
After discovering Helen had gone through Nirvana, Hawk quickly changed into underwear and pajamas, and brought Gwen, who had done the same, to the hospital.
Originally, he thought that after Helen's Nirvana, George would immediately follow.
But George did not undergo Nirvana; it seemed like the assassin didn't have time to strike at George after killing Helen and just fled.
But is this possible?
The assassin was clearly out to silence them, but ended up killing others without killing the target. Does that sound reasonable?
Unless...
The assassin did kill, only George didn't die.
But is this possible?
Yes!
Upon re-entering the ward, Hawk's gaze fell on George, lying on the bed, his eyelashes beginning to flutter, causing Hawk's eyebrows to lift in surprise.
Next moment.
A low groan sounded.
Gwen, who was comforting her mom and quickly considering what to explain if asked, also heard the familiar voice, her eyes brightened as she looked at George, who slowly opened his eyes on the hospital bed. She was first stunned, then exclaimed joyfully.
"Daddy!"
"...George?"
Helen, who had been contemplating whether her recent experience was real or illusory, reacted to Gwen's joyous voice, stood up, and looked at George, who opened his eyes.
Lying on the bed, George first saw his wife, Helen.
Their eyes met.
Helen instinctively dropped the bullet she was holding, stepped forward, and grasped George's hand.
"George."
"Daddy."
Seeing her father George open his eyes and smile at her mother, Gwen couldn't help but break into tears of joy.
Hawk, standing at the stern of the boat, watched George awaken but did not join Gwen and Helen in laughing.
He turned and headed to the room's bathroom, and when he reappeared, he had gone to the apartment to fetch Gwen's phone.
Then he called Catherine.
Catherine Pierce.
The Vampire Queen.
Before he and Gwen returned from Waterfall Town, Catherine had already arrived in New York City.
After Hawk returned, she learned from him that Klaus, the Ancestral Vampire, had given up pursuing her, and with a sigh of relief, Catherine chose to remain in New York City instead of leaving.
No other reason.
Catherine was worried Klaus would change his mind; most importantly, New York City was close to Hawk.
Hawk didn't mind.
After all, New York City wasn't just his city; if Catherine wanted to stay, she could.
Later, Gwen and Sharon accidentally bumped into Catherine while shopping, and the three women even enjoyed an afternoon tea together.
After meeting several times while shopping, Catherine had become friends with Gwen.
So...
Gwen had Catherine's phone number, Hawk did not.
The call quickly connected.
"Catherine…"
"Catherine, it's me."
"Oh!"
Catherine exclaimed in surprise upon hearing Hawk's voice, her lazy demeanor quickly turning tense.
Hawk didn't mind and directly stated his request.
"Find me a Sunlight Ring; I'm at New Amsterdam Hospital, as soon as possible."
"...No problem, right away."
"Thanks."
Hawk then hung up the phone and walked out of the bathroom, again looking at George, who was on the hospital bed, eyes open, speaking, and appeared to be in good spirits.
The doctor who had come because of George's awakening entered the ward, looking with disbelief at George, who was already trying to get up.
Equally incredulous was Gwen.
Gwen had cooled down from the initial joy of George's awakening, watching him regain vitality at a visible speed, she frowned slightly, then watching Hawk come out of the washroom with a solemn expression, she hurried over.
"Hawk, Daddy, he..."
"Transition period."
"..."
About to ask if George was alright, Gwen was stunned by Hawk's words 'transition period', then seemingly thought of something, her pupils constricted, and she glanced at George sitting up on the bed, ignoring the doctor, then whispered: "Vampire transition?"
Hawk nodded.
"Yes."
"How is that possible!"
"Vampires are supposed to drink Vampire blood first and die once to transition, right?"
"And then, Nirvana."
Gwen's eyes widened in shock: "Daddy died; shouldn't he have undergone Nirvana? Mom did, why didn't Daddy?"
Hawk lowered his gaze, speaking softly to Gwen who was holding him, biting her lip: "He just needs to die once more to trigger Nirvana."