Here is another chapter for you guys. Also, please check my profile for details about an upcoming project of mine.
CeCe groaned when something tapped her arm and then started shaking it a moment later. "What?" she grumbled, blinking her eyes open. She had finally managed to fall asleep from pure exhaustion around noon and had been in a blissful and, luckily, dreamless sleep. She looked from her mother's concerned face to the clock on the wall and frowned at seeing she had only been asleep for two hours.
"CeCe, are you ok? You're not hurt are you? I wanted to make sure," her mom said, peering at her for a long moment.
"I'm fine. Just tired. Thank. You. Very. Much." CeCe crossed her arms over her chest.
"I'm just concerned." Her mom turned to look at where Jeremy was sitting in the chair beside Logan's bed. The man's hands were curled around one of his son's hands, cradling it like he was glass.
"Logan," he whispered and sniffed back some tears. He swallowed and closed his eyes for a moment before looking back at his son's face.
CeCe looked away, not able to watch. Logan would be fine; the doctors had said so. But why hadn't he woken up yet?
"Come on," her mom said, holding out a hand for her. "Let's get you something to eat or something. Coffee might be good for you. Have you even been out of the room?"
CeCe shook her head, taking her mother's hand and standing. Her body felt completely stiff from being curled up in Rocky's previous sleeping chair for a few hours. "I thought someone should be in here with him," she said quietly, her voice a whisper.
Jeremy looked over, his eyes damp and broken. "Thank you, CeCe."
CeCe nodded and adverted her eyes, grateful when her mom led her out of the room and down the hallway. The air in the hallways seemed to make CeCe's lungs work properly again. After being in that one room for hours, even this slight change of scenery and air was welcome. Logan's room felt suffocating with just her thoughts to fill the room and crush her.
"I know you might not be comfortable talking about it," her mom said, pressing a warm Starbucks cup into CeCe's hand and leading her over to a couch in a corner that was slightly hidden behind a potted plant. "But, being your mom and an officer, I feel I need to ask what happened."
CeCe remained silent as she had been on the entire walk down to the coffee shop. She tapped a nail against the cup. "I wanted my curling iron," she whispered. Then she started crying, her head bowed over her coffee cup which rested in her lap now. "It's my fault. If I hadn't tried to sneak downstairs and get it...if I hadn't let him follow me..."
"This is not your fault, CeCe."
CeCe flinched when her mom tried to rub her back; she withdrew her hand. "I don't want to talk about it," she said. She took a large drink of coffee, and tears stung her eyes again as the liquid burned on its way down her throat.
Her mom sighed. "What do you want to eat?"
CeCe shrugged and didn't look up when the woman got up and walked away to buy her food. Nor did she pay attention to what she was eating once it was in her hand ten minutes later. Everything felt strange and out of place as if she wasn't really alive - as if she was watching a movie of the things happening around her.
After the quick lunch, CeCe returned upstairs to Logan's room while her mom went to pick up Flynn from school. Now things were just awkward since she was alone with Jeremy...except for Logan.
"Rocky's dad, Dr. Blue, came in while you were gone. He said Logan will be waking up soon after the medications have worn off a bit. He'll still need many pain meds though," Jeremy said as CeCe settled herself in the window. "CeCe. Thank you for being there for him. I'd hate to...I would hate to think what would have happened if you hadn't been there."
CeCe didn't say anything. If she hadn't have been there, Logan wouldn't have been there either. None of this would have happened. Logically, she knew she shouldn't blame herself; Logan was the one who had insisted on following her. But she still felt like she could have done something different.
"When are we moving?" she asked after a few minutes had passed.
"As soon as the police have finished their investigation. Your mom will take over the case once they've finished getting all the evidence they need from the apartment. Then we can get everything out and move to the new place. I imagine you want to move now."
CeCe nodded. "I don't really want to go back to the apartment at all."
"I understand. But it will go faster with everyone packing." He swallowed and lowered his eyes. "Well. Everyone that can. I'm going to need help with some of Logan's things at my own apartment. I just can't pack up the whole place by myself."
CeCe nodded again. "Ok." She went back to staring out the window, wondering if Rocky would come back to the hospital the instant school was over. She would probably sit there doing homework, but her company would be more welcome than Jeremy's. Honestly, the man looked like he might dissolve into a blubbering child at any moment.
CeCe sighed and tilted her head so that her temple pressed against the cool windowpane. Logan had to wake up soon; while he was unconscious, she felt the same way. If only he would wake up, it would give her assurance that everything would have to be ok.
Then CeCe heard Jeremy say Logan's name softly, almost in wonder. She twisted around to look over her shoulder. Logan hadn't moved, but his eyes were open and scanning the room. They met hers, and she felt all the air go out of her lungs when suddenly pierced by that injured gaze.