Bye-Bye Baby

by Morgana Phoenix

  “As your lawyer, I suggest strongly you not to say that to the sheriff.” He was trying to make her laugh, but all he got was a sigh that crushed his heart.

  “I’m sorry I got you dragged into all this.” She looked down at her hands lying palms up in her lap. “I feel like you’re constantly running to my rescue lately.”

  “Hey.” Cole reached for her chin. He turned her face to him. “I’m not.”

  “Not sorry, or not always running to my rescue?”

  He grinned. “Sorry. I kind of like being the hero.”

  Beth smiled. “I won’t argue that.”

  “I’m going to fix this,” he told her. “I won’t let you go to jail.”

  “I appreciate that.” Her smile was weary. “I look horrible in orange.”

  He flicked her gently on the nose. “Don’t make light of this, woman.”

  She captured his hand, drew it across the armrests separating them and held it in her lap. Then she lay her head on his shoulder and Cole said nothing else.

  It was nearly an hour before the doctor came to let them know Damon’s status.

  “He has a minor concussion,” was the first thing he said. “As well as multiple lacerations, contusions, and swellings. Nothing life threatening that I’d be concerned about, but I do want to keep him a night or two.”

  “I’m going to stay with him,” Beth volunteered immediately.

  Dr. Partridge peered at her from over the plastic frames of his glasses. “Usually we only allow family—”

  “His family is the reason he’s here!” Beth shot back. “He’s scared, hurt, and alone. I’m not leaving! Please, Dr. Partridge.”

  Dr. Partridge looked on the verge of arguing, of pressing the policy, but he seemed to come to some inner conclusion and nodded instead.

  “I’ll let the nurses know.”

  The tension melted out of Beth’s shoulders. “Thank you.” She straightened her spine. “When can we see him?”

  The doctor took them to a cramped little room with two beds and a window. A curtain was drawn, cutting the room in half, giving just enough room for the two narrow cots. A large, burly man with several bruises on his ruddy face and gauze around his head glowered at them from the first bed. Beth barely spared him a glance as she hurried to the next one.

  Damon was a tiny pale figure on a sea of white. His dark hair was a harsh contrast to his surroundings. It was washed, the soft strands shone in the late afternoon light filtering through the massive bay window overlooking the bed. An IV was threaded through his right arm and more wires hooked him up to the machines recording his heart. There was white plaster covering his forehead and a small stitch on his lip and his small face was a mess of black and blue blossoms, but his breathing was steady and he didn’t seem to be in pain.

  Cole turned to the doctor. “Can we move him to a private room?”

  “We could, but that would cost extra and—”

  “That’s fine.” Cole reached into his pocket for his wallet. “I’ll take care of it, and any other expenses he might have.”

  The doctor looked at the card Cole held out to him and sighed. “You will receive a bill in the next week or so that you can pay downstairs at the front desk. In the meantime, I’ll put in a request. It might take a little while—”

  “Please make sure it’s for tonight.” Cole glanced at the curtain separating Damon and the surely man on the other side. “I don’t want him to get scared when he wakes up in a strange place with a strange man next to his bed.”

  The doctor nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Doc?” Cole stopped him before he could take off. “How bad is it really?”

  The grim, downward curl of his lips said it all before he spoke. “It’s nothing out of the ordinary for someone who has suffered a lifetime of physical abuse,” the doctor muttered. “He has fractures on his ribs, a few bones that have been mended crudely due to lack of medical attention. But I think he’ll be okay. I did every scan on him I could think of and there’s no internal bleeding, or anything that might cause me concern. There’s no swelling on his brain, which was the first thing I checked when I felt the bump on his head. From what I can see, he’ll be in pain for a little while, but he’ll be okay.”

  “What?” Cole pressed when the doctor abruptly broke off and frowned.

  The doctor opened his mouth, closed it, shot a glance to where Beth had dragged a chair over to the bed and sat stroking Damon’s hair. He motioned for Cole to follow him out into the hallway.

  “Under circumstances like this,” the doctor murmured once they were alone. “I have to report all incidents that involve children to Social Services. It’s protocol,” he expressed as though afraid Cole might jump him. “Damon’s injuries are clearly signs of abuse.”

  “Okay?”

  The other man drew in a breath. “Someone will be here tomorrow to take charge of him.”

  “A worker,” Cole said.

  The doctor nodded. “I didn’t want to say it in front of Beth. She’s clearly very fond of the boy. It might upset her, but maybe you could make her understand that someone is coming to take care of him and make sure he’s safe.”

  It was unlikely that Beth would see the news as a good one. Cole was all too familiar with her thoughts on foster care and social workers. But he nodded to the doctor and let him head off. Cole remained in the hall, wondering what to do next.

  That was where Beth found him. She walked over and rested a gentle hand on his arm.

  “What’s the matter?”

  He knew there was no point lying to her. She would find out sooner or later.

  “Social Services is coming tomorrow to get Damon.”

  Beth snatched her hand back like he’d burned her. “What?”

  “You know the drill, Beth!” His own frustrations sharpened his tone. “They won’t send him home after this.”

  “They can’t put him in foster care, Cole.” She peered at him with the same pain and sorrow she always got when the subject was brought up. “It will destroy whatever innocence he has left.”

  He reached for her. “Maybe he won’t have to go there. Maybe they’ll take him to family.”

  “Family?” she spat out. “More people like his father?”

  “You don’t know that.”

  She scoffed rudely and averted her eyes. “Violence stems violence.”

  While the comment wasn’t directed at him, Cole felt the words like a sharp slap.

  “Is that what you think? That children of monsters grow up to become monsters, too?”

  Beth seemed to realize the error of her words immediately and cursed. Her anger evaporated as she reached for him.

  “That is not what I meant and you know it.”

  Cole didn’t believe her. “Is that why you left? Because you were worried that I would suddenly become like my father?”

  “No!” The fire was back, hotter than before. “I was afraid you would become like mine!”

  At least she was honest. That was the thing about Beth, she was always honest, even if it hurt.

  “I’m not him!” he snapped back. “I’m not your father, or my father. I’m me. I’m the same guy I was the day we met. I’m the same guy who would walk through fire for you. I will always be that guy, because the only thing that has ever mattered to me was my family and you and I would die for both.” He paused to catch his breath. “The funny thing is that from the moment I met you, every other girl dulled drastically in comparison. To this day, that still hasn’t changed.”

  “Until one day—”

  “Never!” he cut her off. “You were the first girl I ever fell in love with and I know without a doubt that you are my last. It’s you, Beth. It’s you or no one.”

  It was unclear which of them moved, but she was suddenly in his arms, his fingers in her hair, her face lost in the curve of his neck. He gripped her with such ferocity he was certain he was cracking bones, but she didn’t complain and he didn’t relax.
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  “I love you, baby,” he whispered into her ear. “I love you so much it hurts.”

  Her arms tightened around him, choking him. “I’m scared, Cole.”

  He shook his head. “Don’t be. I won’t let anything hurt you.”

  She drew back to peer up into his face, her green eyes shimmering like gems. It took every ounce of his restraint not to dip his head and taste her slightly parted lips, especially when they were mere inches from his own.

  “I don’t want to be wrong again,” she said quietly. “I don’t think I’ll be able to put myself together again a second time.”

  He smoothed back hairs off her cheek. “I know what I did was wrong and I don’t blame you if you can never find it in your heart to forgive me again, but all I’m asking is that you give me a chance to spend my life making it up to you.”

  Her fingers were cool and soft sliding along the side of his face. She cupped his cheek. He felt the shift of her weight as she used him to arch up on her toes. His arms tightened around her, keeping her pressed to him as her mouth got closer.

  “Cole! Beth!”

  As much as Cole loved Lily, he wanted to pitch a shoe at her head as she, Sloan, and the girls hurried down the hall towards them. Beth pulled away just as Calla darted away from Sloan’s grasp and threw herself at Cole. He hoisted her up into his arms and perched her on his hip.

  “Hey, baby.” He kissed her cheek before turning his attention to his brother and best friend. “What are you guys doing here?”

  “We came to see how Damon was,” Lily said. “Sloan told me what happened. I can’t believe his own father would do that to him.”

  “You shouldn’t have brought the girls,” Cole said back. “It’s a hospital. Who knows the sort of germs floating around?”

  Lily scoffed. “I’m sure it’s nothing compared to the germs they share at school. Besides, we’re not staying long. Mom and Dad invited us over for supper. We just stopped here on our way to see if there was anything we could do.”

  Beth shook her head. “He’s sleeping right now, but thank you.”

  “What did the doctor say?” Sloan asked.

  Cole set Calla down gently before addressing the question. “He’s in a bad way. Bastard did one hell of a number on him. From what the doc said, it’s not the first time either. He’s been taken apart and put together one too many times in his six years.”

  Lily pressed her hands to her heart. “Poor baby.”

  “Any word on whether or not they caught his father?” Beth asked.

  Sloan shook his head. “I talked to the sheriff after you two left and it’s like he’s gone underground, which can’t be too hard to find in a town the size of Willow Creek, unless he caught wind of what was happening and high tailed it outta here. Either way, the sheriff has put out an APB.”

  “So, that’s it? They’re not going to go out searching for him?” Beth asked.

  “Oh, they’re going to search,” Sloan answered simply. “They’re going to find him, too. I’m going to make sure of that even if I have to hunt him down myself.”

  Lily placed a small hand on her husband’s arm, possibly to calm him down. “Will Damon be all right?”

  Cole nodded. “The doctor says he’ll recover just fine … physically, but it’s going to be a long road before he’s all right emotionally, or mentally.”

  “Can I see him?” Calla peered up at her father. “I made him a card.” She dug into her pocket and unearthed a crumpled and folded piece of pink construction paper. She held it up for Cole to see the brown stick figures next to a square building he assumed was the school. “That’s me.” She pointed to the stick figure with yellow spaghetti coming out of its head. “And that’s Damon.” The second stick figure had a frowny face and was placed as far away from the first figure as possible. Across the card were the words get better in crude, childish print.

  “That’s real pretty, sweetie,” he said.

  “I’ll take you in,” Lily told her, taking Calla’s hand. “But you have to be quiet, all right?”

  Beth went with them, tugging Willa along, leaving Cole alone with Sloan.

  “Tell me the truth,” Sloan said immediately. “How is he?”

  Cole sighed. “I have no idea. The doctor said there was no swelling or internal bleeding, but damn it, Sloan, he shouldn’t be in there.” He ran a hand over his face. “I can’t help but wonder if it was this bad this time because of what I did. Maybe if I hadn’t interfered, Damon would be all right.”

  “You know that’s not how it works,” Sloan murmured. “You know people like his father and ours don’t need a reason to get mad. They just always are and it could have been anything that set him off.”

  Cole shook his head. “I don’t know.” He ambled over to a row of chairs pushed up against the wall and dropped into the stiff plastic. “I still feel responsible.”

  Sloan’s boot buckles jingled as he cross the floor and took the chair next to him. “You’re doing what you can for him now and that’s what matters.”

  Cole could only shrug. “Social Service workers are coming tomorrow to determine what to do with him.”

  “That’s good,” Sloan said. “Maybe he has family who will take better care of him.”

  “Or he has no one,” Cole countered. “And he gets lost in the system like thousands of other children.”

  Blue eyes that mirrored his narrowed. “What are you getting at, Cole?”

  “I have no idea.”

  It was around dinner time when two nurses came in and moved Damon’s bed into a room by itself. Cole stayed with Beth, leaving only to get them dinner and some of her favorite magazines from the gift shop downstairs. She flipped idly through a few, but he knew her heart wasn’t in it. And he had no words of comfort.

  Cole was still awake when Beth curled up in the armchair and dozed off, her head pillowed on her arm. He watched the navy blue heavens outside the window and waited for dawn.

  It was the low gasp that alerted him first, then the rustle of sheets as the small figure on the bed shifted for the first time since being brought in. Cole’s head whipped around just as Damon’s eyes opened. His body stiffened as his strange surroundings finally set in. Terror and panic darkened his face and Cole immediately got to his feet.

  “It’s okay,” he said quietly.

  Damon jumped.

  Cole cursed himself. He put both hands up, palms out. “You’re safe,” he told the boy. “You’re in the hospital.”

  Damon continued to regard him with fear and a mixture of apprehension.

  “Do you remember me?”

  There was a pause, then Damon gave the slightest nod.

  “I’m Calla’s dad,” Cole went on.

  At the mention of Calla’s name, the boy relaxed a fraction. The small hands that had balled in the blankets loosened.

  “She made you a card,” Cole said, pointing to the piece of folded construction paper on the end table.

  Damon followed Cole’s pointing finger. He eyed the card briefly before turning his head back to Cole.

  “Where’s the angel?” The question was said in a raspy croak.

  Cole blinked. “Angel?”

  “She saved me.”

  Beth, he realized with a start.

  “She promised she wouldn’t leave.”

  Cole edged carefully to one side and nodded to where Beth lay, curled into a tight ball. “Her?”

  Damon’s face relaxed. He almost smiled. “She wasn’t a dream.”

  Cole chuckled. “No, she wasn’t. She also hasn’t left your side all day.”

  “Who is she?”

  “She’s Beth.” Cole brushed back a curl off her temple.

  “Beth,” Demon murmured her name softly, almost like a prayer. “Why was she in my house?” As quickly as the tension had left him, it returned. “Where’s my dad?”

  “Easy!” Cole moved up next to the bed. “He can’t hurt you anymore.”

  “Where is he?” Pure ter
ror rang through the question.

  “I don’t know,” Cole admitted carefully. “But the sheriff is looking for him. He’s going away for a long time.”

  “No!” Damon thrashed against the blankets. “No, he’ll find me. He’s going to be so angry I’m not home. I have to go—”

  “Whoa! Whoa!” Cole took hold of his bony shoulders and tried to keep him on the bed. “Damon, stop and listen to me—”

  “I have to go!” the boy screamed.

  Beth jolted. She shot upright, her green eyes wide. They jumped from Cole to Damon and widened even further if possible.

  “Damon!” Dodging around the bed, she went to his other side. “Damon, it’s all right. You’re safe.”

  Panting, Damon flopped uselessly down onto the pillow. Tears rained down his temples to disappear into his hairline. He stared hopelessly up at the ceiling, his thin chest heaving.

  “I have to go home!” he squeaked.

  “Shhh.” Beth put her arms around him and pulled him as close as possible without taking him off the bed or dislodging any of the wiring. “You never have to see that place or your father again. We’ll keep you safe. I promise, Damon.”

  Even muffled in Beth’s shoulders, his cries were excruciating to hear. His sobs clawed through Cole like knives. When Damon raised his arms and wrapped them around Beth and wept like his heart was breaking, Cole’s own eyes burned. Over Damon’s dark head, Beth’s gaze met his, wet with tears and hot with the same urge he felt prowling in the bowels of his own soul. The driving determination was impossible to ignore, as he silently promised to do everything in his power to make sure her promise stayed true and they kept that boy safe.

  Chapter Twelve ~ Beth

  The Social Service woman that walked into the hospital room looked like every other worker Beth had ever seen, properly dressed, hair neatly made up, and a hopeless sort of glint in her eyes that was almost mandatory with that type of job. Beth knew that when the woman, who introduced herself as Stacy Barns, looked at Damon all she saw was a number on a file. He was one face in a sea of thousands. One more stop before she had to move on to the next case. She probably felt bad for his situation, felt helpless to do anything about it, but she wouldn’t lose sleep over it, because tomorrow would be another broken child and this one would be forgotten. Beth had seen more workers come and go in her life in her three years in foster care than the change of weather from day to day. She had as much hope that Stacy Barns was going to help Damon as she did that Damon’s father would waltz into the sheriff’s office and turn himself in.