by Emjay Soren
"Noah?" I yell as the panic sets in. "Tell me she's okay Noah?" I scream as the paramedic’s yell for me to calm down. Something was too high... bleeding worse? I don’t know.
Noah comes through the crowd and rests my broken hand over his. "She's okay Cal. She's headed to the hospital for her shoulder and a few cuts and shit. She hit her head, but she’s awake." He says when the paramedics ask him to step back.
"How about you fuck yourself and focus on my boy here dipshit. I aint leaving."
"Keep quiet and don’t interrupt us so we can get him in the ambulance."
"She's okay?" I ask and I have some serious slurred speech going on here. "What'd they gave meh?" I ask as fear cripples me. I try to hold onto his hand for stability but can’t move it.
"Dude, its broken bad. Just... Cal you gotta’ let these guys do their thing okay? We got Jen, she's safe and dude is definitely going away for some time. Bro you have gone way critical, don’t fight alright."
I try to nod, but I swear they gave me something to knock me out because I can’t think.
"Noah, Raleigh..." Bright cries and Noah starts yelling about something when Shame and Chad come to me as he leaves.
"Noah and Ral?" I ask, though I don’t know what I am asking.
"Holy shit!" Shame yells at the paramedic as they lift me and I laugh as we are rolling somewhere. "Stop him from bleeding!" He cries as Chad pushes him back, yelling something...something...
"Firefly...."
Shit went black.
Chapter Twenty
Jen
“Find him Noah, I am fine!” I yell through my tears as they bring me in through the Emergency room. I had missed most of the drama as it went down and nobody was giving me the information I needed other than a bad ass whooping took place. I had no way to know if Cal was okay or not unless I sent Noah to look.
I watch as the ER fills up with everyone, including Lexington and Tayla. I cringe when I see her, but Carrie is on it.
“Tayla, this isn’t the time or the place.” She says, looking at her with the same distain I do these days.
Tayla disregards Carrie who looks like she will kill if provoked. It saddens me really because they were once close as sisters. “Jen, I notified Blythe and Derrick Dorian, they are on their way and with your permission I would be happy to take Axe with me until there is word on Cal’s wound so that Mya can be here.”
I hear what she says as it drains the blood from my head. “His wound?” I ask, choking on the words. “What wound? Somebody tell me something!” I cry out, demanding someone just tell me.
Tayla, calm as ever and completely under control looks at me softly. “I will tell you what I know, but I need you to remain calm and level headed because it is what Cal needs most now.”
I nod in agreement as everyone else watches on as she relays what she saw. “He definitely broke his hand, his dominant one from what I could tell. Anyone who saw it would clarify that, no doctor required.” She turns to look at Chad and Shamus. “Make sure Brian gets in touch with the best orthopedic hand surgeon immediately before anyone touches him.” She looks back at me seeing the panic at her words. “Calm remember?”
I nod and brush at the tears on my face as multiple doctors try to rush her out.
“Please, she is fine to be here.” I look at Tayla who for lack of a better definition, is the only one keeping me sane right now.
“He has a stab wound Jenny, lower left quadrant, but he was stable as he left. That is why I called Blythe and Derrick so that he had next of kin here for answers. Mya is bringing Axe on her way and I would like to help by keeping him safe until we know more?”
I might be crazy, but crazy don’t bluff and I need her help right now. “Yes, please.” I say and look at the doctor who is pissed that I am not giving him my undivided attention.
“Miss Pope, we need to get you for x-rays now.” He says and nudges Tayla to the side. She is too calm, too collected and I suddenly see what they all always said that never made sense to me until now. She was always in business mode, even in tragedy she was capable of running the world.
I established trust with Tayla early on when I gave Axe to Cal. She had always regarded me with respect and with everything that happened I never looked at her side of this world.
“Thank you Tayla.” I say as they wheel me to the x-ray and away from anyone willing to tell me anything.
Cal
I wake as we exit the ambulance and look around for anyone I know, someone who will tell me where my girl is. I try to sit up when pain unlike anything I have ever felt assaults me. I try to look down, my view is blocked by the oxygen mask over my face and the various tubes over my body.
“What..the..fuck…” I say, but my voice is like gravel with barely any sound.
“Mr. Dorian, we have you at St. Joseph medical in Tacoma sir. Can you tell me you understand me?” He asks and I nod, looking around trying to find anyone.
“Mr. Dorian, you can’t use your hand sir, we have stabilized it as best we can.” He says as I try to lift the mask from my face. I realize it is my playing hand and start wailing.
“No… can’t be…” I say, but the fight to speak is unbearable.
I watch as they rush me through these automatic double door things and down a long ass hallway until they stop in a room that is freezing cold.
Here, things go from fast paced to rapid crazy as people hustle and rush sound me barking orders at one another. I try lifting my hand, wanting to see it, but a guy in green scrubs stops me.
“Mr. Dorian. My name is Doctor Isaac Bradford. I am the trauma surgeon here at St Josephs. You have a substantial loss of blood as well as a stab wound on your side here and I need to stop the bleeding. Do you have any allergies?” He asks and I shake my head no, still trying to find anyone.
“Jenny Pope…she here?” I ask and use the good hand to stop the fucking Doctor so he will answer me.
“I am not sure sir but I can find out.” He says as they cut my jeans off my and transfer me to another table. The doctor sends a nurse to find my girl and I finally calm down.
“Mr. Dorian, I need a name for next of kin. Is Jenny your wife?”
“Not yet.” I say and start laughing courtesy of whatever this doc gave me.
“Congratulations.” He says with a kind smile before barking more orders at the nurses.
“Mr. Dorian, I am Dr. Farnsworth, I will be administering your anesthesia. You feel a little silly right now and that is good, but I need to know if you have any allergies or have you ever struggled or had difficulty with anesthesia before?”
I shake my head no and look back to the other Doctor. “Where’s my girl…” I plea. He looks at me with concern.
“She is here in the ER and stable sir.” He states all matter of fact. I want to tear the tubes off of me and go to her.
“She okay?” I ask and start shaking my head no. “That guy… he tried to rape her again.” I say as tears fill my eyes. “I tried to save her…”
I feel him press against my stomach and a scream of pure agony tears from my throat.
“He needs me in there stopping the bleeding now.” The first Doctor says before looking to me. “Mr. Dorian, I will take care of it. I swear, just trust me.” He says before everything went black.
Jen
Cassa sat in the chair by the door as the nurse gave me the privacy to change into the gown. I needed help moving my obviously dislocated and fractured shoulder in order to get the thing on. Now, we sat in the quiet and waited for the nurse to run a forensic exam on my body. She would be taking photos and examining me thoroughly so it would all be documented.
“Jen, are you sure you want me in here with you?” Cassa asks me kindly. I know she is willing to stay with me and that her question is for my comfort. She has been here, though my situation isn’t as grave as hers was, she knows what this exam is like. Carrie does as well, but I can’t go there because I know too much about her pain.
“I don
’t want to be alone.” I admit and look away, my thoughts centering on Cal for the millionth time.
My phone alerts me to a text and I jump painfully trying to reach it.
“Let me sweetie.” Cassa says as she reaches for it from my jeans then hands it to me.
Tayla: Axe is asleep and Mya just left and will be there soon. If I can help in any way let me know.
I feel tears burn my eyes at her kindness. “What is it sweetie?” Cassa asks as she rubs her hand up and down my back.
I look up at her with a guilty sadness. “Tayla… she is being so nice and I know this is probably killing her to, yet she still wants to help.”
Cassa nods in understanding. “Tay was once the coolest chick on the block. She controlled our men with her pinky finger and never batted a lash. I don’t know how or where she lost her way, but to love her is okay. We are all upset but none of us hate her Jen.”
Me: Thank you so much. I will keep you informed. I promise.
She doesn’t respond, but before I have time to think on it the door alerts us to a light tap.
“Come in.” I say and grab Cassa’s hand, squeezing it.
“Miss Pope?” The woman asks. I nod as this teeny tiny old lady with grey hair enters.
“I am Lucy, your husbands nurse. I want you to know that he is in recovery for the time being. He is stable and doing great sweetie. The bleeding is stopped and he is resting.”
I bawl like a little baby at her words, so thankful my Knight in shining armor is going to be okay. “Thank you.” I cry, not telling her that I’m not his wife. If they think it I will let them. I will do anything to get to him faster.
Another knock sounds from the door as my nurse Vikki walks in pushing a tray. Lucy see’s what is on the tray and looks at me with sad eyes. “You have one hell of a man sweetheart.” She says before hugging me gently. “It all makes sense now.” She says, squeezing my hand before she leaves.
Another Doctor comes in as Lucy leaves and I see it is my Doctor, a female. Thank God. “Hey Jenny, we are ready to get started if you are?” She says while putting her gloves on.
“I am. Is it okay if my friend stays with me?” I ask, referring to Cassa as my friend for the first time ever.
“Of course.” Doctor Green says as she takes a seat at the end of the table I am on.
I lay back and answer simple yes and no answers as she exams the tears from my vagina. The images shoot through me as I relive his touch and threats, when I feel panic over take me.
“Jenny, we are done with that part of the exam, but if you need a few minutes I am more than happy to come back.
“No, let’s get it over with.” I say while sitting up. I strip the gown from my chest and do as Vikki asks so she can photograph the various bruises. It felt like I was exposed for hours, when realistically it was no more than ten minutes.
They allow me to dress in the clothes that Lexington went and got from my room in Cal’s since the police needed everything I wore. They were waiting to get my statement, but luckily with the amount of witnesses they were fine to let me come in tomorrow.
Doctor Green returned a while later as I sat biting my nails anxious to leave and Cassa kept updating me on Cal. “Shame says that Blythe has added you for access to his room and he says everyone has a code word for security and he will send me that.”
“Okay.” I say when Doctor Green comes back in with my discharge info.
“Now, I know you will be in ICU for the next little while, but please get some rest. It’s just passed three now and it’s been about six hours since you were knocked unconscious so I think it’s okay if you rest.”
She shines her flashlight one more time in my eyes to ensure that my eyes are still dilating. “I have a prescription that you can fill here since I know you’ll be here.” She looks to Cassa. “I know you aren’t family, but I want no fuss by nine. She needs rest and that’s that. Let her go see him and get peace of mind then to bed. Someone will need to be with her for the next forty-eight hours. She will be in the sling and the wrap for her shoulder about three weeks.”
She looks back at me. “As for the tears and the intrusion, they will heal up in a few days. No sexual intercourse for three to six weeks depending on your comfort. I have added some crisis services for you in your discharge paperwork. Don’t let this asshole win sweetie. Get the services if you need them.”
I nod and stand finding the wrap on my shoulder which traps my arm to my chest annoying and uncomfortable which pisses me off. “You ready?” Cassa asks as she loops her arm through my uninjured one. I nod and look up toward the mirror, gasping the minute I see my face and the damage that son-of-a-bitch made.
“Cass…” I whisper, tears welling. “I can’t go see him like this.” I say tracing the split on my swollen lips. I stare at the cut with stitches along my scalp from when he threw me into the window face first. My nose is bandaged over the bridge and luckily won’t need to be set considering the fracture is minute. My eyes however are both black, like I colored them in with eyeliner.
“Sweetie, you were assaulted, that is why you look like this. Let me be clear though, Jen. You are strong as fuck as Noah would say. You didn’t flinch as they poked and prodded at these wounds. This will heal, just like the rest so don’t let him in your head now.”
Her eyes are focused on me with a knowledge that until now only she could understand. Instead of crying, I straighten my spine and nod.
“Yeah, fuck him.” I say, my voice shaky.
“Fuck him!” She says it stronger than me, but I know I will be that strong one day.
I get to the ICU waiting room as everyone rushes me. The crowd has died down which I am sure was more the staff’s demands than the whole crew. I was happy to see Asa and Sam sitting with the guys and Mya. “Are Blythe and Derrick with him?” I ask as everyone hugs me. I can’t find Noah though and he is the one I need.
“Yeah, they went back about an hour ago.” Mya says, sitting beside Sam who keeps rubbing her back. He stands when she gets up to get her purse and he hugs me close, softly.
“You okay Pet?” I understand the question, there was no denying my shredded pants and panties as they all gathered around. If this wasn’t a lesson in humility there wasn’t one.
I nod and just hug my friend. “Where is Noah?” I ask, looking around the room.
“Bathroom.” Raleigh says as he dries his eyes before kissing me on the head. “You look epic bitch.” He says and I laugh even though it hurts.
“It’s the new Smokey eye.” I say with soft humor before looking at him. “Jealous?”
Tears fill his eyes as he nods. “Totes baby.”
“Jen?” I hear Noah’s cracking voice behind me… Knowing he was here, that he would be here for me regardless unhinged me as I fell apart when he reached me.
Everyone gave us room as he held me, there on the floor in the private waiting area of the ICU. He said nothing as I cried, none of them did. They were stoic and still as oaks while I fell apart in front of them.
Chapter Twenty-one
Jen
I sat beside Cal’s bed until I was kicked out by everyone at nine this morning and was now currently in Cal’s bed at home pretending to sleep for Tayla. She had stayed with Axe and played with him all morning until Cassa and Noah brought me home.
“Hey T.” Noah says, but leaves it at that. He can be grateful for what she did for Axe, but I think the line is drawn in the sand with them. Cassa however was far more kind.
“Tay, you holding up okay? You look exhausted.”
She nods and looks at me with tears. “Jen…” She doesn’t know what to say and I get it. I look like hell kicked my ass.
“I know… but let’s keep Axe from seeing it until Noah can explain it to him?” I ask as I fall into the bed.
That was three hours ago and though I was rested, I didn’t sleep like they wanted me too. I couldn’t. It was like every time I felt sleep come on, it lasted briefly before too many imag
es flashed through my mind. Then, it was thoughts of Cal, if he wakes with me not there or worse, something else goes wrong… They swore to me that he was stable and just sleeping the meds off as well as the loss of blood.
Spencer, my rapist the same guy who attacker last night, had stabbed Cal directly in the stomach which caused a lot of blood and damage. The surgeon had told his mom that had the blade been larger he would have bled out.
They were able to repair the hole and get him stable, but that he would have some recovery weakness as his body rebuilt platelets. Even thinking about it had me anxious to get back to the hospital because sitting here was making my anxiety worse.
By the time I made it back to the hospital I had calmed dramatically. I said hello to Shame and Chad who were still half awake, half asleep in the waiting room. I felt awful knowing they were exhausted and went to the nurse’s station to request warm blankets and pillows for them.
Lucy, Cal’s nurse from last night was on shift for the evening again and was happy to get the boys comfortable. “Go ahead and get them situated sweetie, then I will take you back.” She says with a sweet smile.
I open the waiting room door, no one caring to ask for the safe word ‘wood pony’ as Drake knew damn well who I am.
I place the blankets on them as they both sit. “Here are some pillows too.” I say to them both who stretch and avoid sleep while I am there. “I didn’t mean to wake you guys.” I say as I pick up the empty coffee cups, the fuel to how they are still alert even after only a few cat naps.
“You see him yet?” Shamus asks and looks at the clock. “Fuck its six at night?” He asks, Chad making the same surprised notion.
“Yeah, Noah just brought me back. I have been hiding out from Axe. We told him I was sick and that Cal was too.”
“He still with T?” Chad asks.
“Yeah, she’s such a huge help right now. I’m too scared to let Axe see me yet, so Cassa and Carrie are going to tell him we had a car wreck and that we got hurt so he is prepared.” I ramble on and on importance because I am anxious to get the small talk over with and get to my man.
