Tensions Rising
Neither Eric nor Calleigh spoke as they headed inside. It was Natalia who spoke first. "Eric, Ryan is waiting for you at the scene. Calleigh, you and I are going somewhere else." Eric nodded. He walked by without a word to Calleigh, hurrying to get his kit. "You guys alright?" Natalia asked as soon as she and Calleigh were out of Eric's earshot. "Yeah, just a rough morning," Calleigh said. Natalia left it at that as they headed outside.
Natalia was grabbing her kit from the Hummer, to meet Calleigh at the front steps of the house. There had been reported violence in the house, that may have recently turned deadly. Suddenly, Calleigh reached for her gun. "Someone's in there," she said. Natalia was quickly by her side before they entered the house. Natalia saw a body, as well as someone standing over the body. The man saw them, and ran. Natalia sprinted after him as Calleigh ran towards a room where she heard screams.
Calleigh threw open the door. She saw a young teenage girl, now lying on the floor besides the bed. There was a man next to the terrified girl, pulling his shirt back on. Calleigh aimed her gun. "Freeze!" she yelled. The man had a hold on the girl however, and the young girl, despite being badly beaten, was struggling. "Let her go, or I'll shoot you," Calleigh said. The girl had tears streaming down her face. "My father!" she cried. The man suddenly threw her to the ground, pulling out his own gun. Just as Natalia yelled that she had the other suspect, Calleigh shot the man in his shoulder. He cried out, falling to the floor and writhing in pain. "We're good here, but we need two paramedics!" Calleigh yelled. She looked at the girl, who was now floating in and out of consciousness. "What's your name?" she asked, trying to keep the girl awake. "Jennifer...." the girl mumbled. "Hi Jennifer, I'm Calleigh, and everything's going to be ok," Calleigh said. "My father...." "We're looking for him," Calleigh said, although she had a feeling the dead man downstairs was her father. Calleigh saw Jennifer's eyes close. "Jennifer, stay with me!" she yelled. "We need a paramedic!" she yelled. "Better get me one too!" the man on the floor snapped. Calleigh turned to him. "You did to her what I think you did, I might kill you myself," she snapped. "She had it coming," the man said, his eyes staring straight at Calleigh. Her Daddy didn't have the cash, so that made her mine." "You disgust me," Calleigh spat as two paramedics arrived. They hurried to get Jennifer to the ambulance, before another set of paramedics came for the injured man.
Calleigh called Eric, but only got his voicemail. "Eric, it's me, Calleigh. I need you to get Emily today from your Mom. I'm going to stay here at the ER until i found out how this girl is doing, I'll call you on my way home. Bye," she said. She hung up as the doctor walked out. Calleigh looked at him as he approached. "How is she?" "Her right arm has a compound fracture from her wrist to her elbow, probably from either blunt force trauma or a severe beating, if not both." Calleigh nodded. "She's also very weak," the doctor said. "But if you want a few minutes, you can talk to her," he said. Calleigh nodded, then headed into the hospital room.
The young girl was staring at the wall as Calleigh walked in, but looked up when she heard footsteps. Calleigh smiled at her. "I-i should thank you...." she girl said shyly. "i was just doing my job," Calleigh said, sitting in the chair next to her bed. "My father.... he's dead, isn't he?" Jennifer asked. Calleigh hesitated. "Yes, Jennifer, I'm so sorry," she said. jennifer closed her eyes, not saying anything. "Jennifer.... I need to ask you something though. What all did that man do to you?" "H-He hit me," Jennifer said softly. Calleigh could tell she was lying. "Jennifer, that wasn't all, was it?" "Yes, it was," Jennifer said quickly. Too quickly. Calleigh saw tears forming in the girl's eyes Calleigh knew the feeling, and backed off. "Alright then," she said. jennifer was silent, just rolled over and stared at the wall. Before long, the drugs kicked in, and she was asleep.
Calleigh's eyes slowly opened. She jumped as she realized she was still at the hospital. "Calleigh, you awake?" a mall, tiny voice asked. Calleigh looked at her watch. It was three in the morning. "Yeah, I'm awake," she said. She flipped on the lamp, and aw Jennifer staring at her. "Something wrong?" Calleigh asked. "Calleigh.... he didn't just hurt me, he...." she swallowed. "It's ok, Jennifer, i got it," she said. Jennifer nodded quietly. "You can call me Jen. It's faster," she said softly. Calleigh smiled. "Alright then, Jen. I really should get home now, but here's my number. Call if you need anything, or want to talk," Calleigh said quietly. Jennifer nodded quietly, before rolling back over in her bed. As she laid there, unmoving, after several minutes, Calleigh quietly slipped out. As she did, she stopped in the doorframe. "I know Jen, I know just how it feels," she said softly, walking away. Jennifer, not really asleep, was left confused by her words.
As Calleigh quietly slipped into the house, she saw Eric, asleep on the couch. She walked over, gently sitting next to him. They still hadn't spoken all day. "you can go to bed now," she whispered, and he jumped. "Calleigh!" he said. "Where have you been?!" he yelled. "Shh, before you wake Emily!" she said in a harsh whisper. "I dozed off in the hospital chair with that girl." "I thought something bad had happened to you Cal! You didn't pick up your phone!" "I'm sorry, I guess I didn't hear it," Calleigh said. Eric still looked angry, but just shook his head. "If this is about earlier Eric, I don't know what you want me to do or say," Calleigh said, her voice getting softer. "Good-night Calleigh," he said as she changed the subject, heading for bed. "Eric, don't you leave the conversation ending like that!" she called after him. "I said, good night!" With that, he shut the bedroom door behind him, practically slamming it. Calleigh sighed. She waited half an hour before she followed him into the bedroom. They didn't speak again the rest of the night.