A/N: Okay, so on a sudden impulse, I decided to upload this chapter too and give you guys a treat - three chapters in one day!!! And since I'm in a good mood, I won't up the amount of reviews before I update (I'm just nice like that *insert innocent smile here*), although if I could get more that would be awesome! Anyhoo (thanks, wordsofjade, for getting that word forever stuck in my head since I've been 5 lol), enjoy & review!
Disclaimer: I just said this two seconds earlier, nothing has changed in those two seconds *sigh*. I still don't own CR.
Chapter 7- Before It's Too Late
(Shane's POV)
I shifted, trying to get into a more comfortable position. Nate and Jason were still there, sitting in the two empty seats opposite my bed, watching me moving uncomfortably.
"Are you sure you're okay, Shane?" Nate finally spoke up, raising an eyebrow at my groan. "I can probably get some more medicine if you want, that way you won't be in so much pain." I shook my head. No, I didn't want to feel drowsy and like I'd been drugged.
"Naw. I've had enough of those. Just tell me when I can get out of here. It's killing me just sitting here, while Mitchie's who knows where, and those five psychos are still out there somewhere." I insisted, swallowing. Nate sighed.
"Look, if it makes you more comfortable, I can drive over there and check on her. Caitlyn gave me her address." He offered, and I perked up. Yes! I wished I could do it myself, but since I was pretty sure the doctor wouldn't allow that, I would be willing to settle. Before I could respond, however, Nate's cell phone ring tone went off. Nate smiled apologetically as he pulled his phone out of his pocket, glancing at the caller ID. He raised his eyebrows at me before flipping it open and raising the phone to his ear.
"Hello?" He asked into the receiver, and then his voice perked up. "Oh, hey Mitch." He smiled, and I sat up straighter, leaning forwards and hoping to catch snippets of their conversation. "Did you get my message?" Nate rolled his eyes at me and in a quick click, he put her on speaker phone. Mitchie was about to respond when there was a loud pounding in the background.
"Hang on a sec Nate, someone's at the door." Mitchie said, and Nate nodded.
"Do you want me to call you back after?" He asked, and I shook my head violently, yelling 'no'. Nate rolled his eyes again but said he would stay on anyway. I thanked him silently, and we listened impatiently as Mitchie muttered, "Jeez, I'm coming, I'm coming!" as another series of knocks began. I heard her fling open the door, and then there was silence. I frowned, and then my eyes grew wide as she gave a small gasp.
"What do you want..." She began, but then I heard her stop short. "Sandy... Austin." She breathed, and I could swear I felt my heart stop. "Oh... what are you doing in my house? Get out, get out!" She yelled, and I raised my eyes to Nate's.
"Call the cops." I demanded, and Nate nodded, motioning for Jason to give him his cell phone. At that moment the three of us heard a terror-filled scream and then... silence. I felt tears filling my eyes. "Hurry up, Nate!" I cried, flailing my arms and ignoring the pain in my shoulder. I knew this was going to happen, something had warned me, but I'd ignored it. I should have insisted on her sleeping here, or something. I should be able to do something!
"Calm down, Shane!" Nate yelled at me, grabbing his car keys. "I'm going over there. It's not far from here." With that, he fled out of the room, running faster than I'd ever seen him before.
(Nate's POV)
I gripped the steering wheel tighter, until my hands went white. I could barely breathe, and it took all my self control to drive at the speed limit and stop at all the red lights. I had never been this nervous before. I swallowed loudly, my whole body shaking and my breath coming out in shaky gasps. Then, thankfully, I turned down Mitchie's street and flung open my car door, just barely parking it before running up the steps to her apartment. I pounded on the door, and when I received no answer, I pulled desperately at the knob. It was then I realized her door wasn't locked. It swung open easily, and I raced inside, my eyes falling on the turned over table and broken glass. Shaking, afraid of what I would find, I made my way back towards the other end of the apartment, running my eyes over every little detail. I came to a quick stop as I saw something - scratch that, some one - lying near the wall. I caught my breath as I realized that someone was Mitchie. And there was blood. With a yell, I jumped forwards, rushing to her side and bending down next to her, grabbing her wrist and checking for her pulse.
"Mitchie! Mitchie, please open your eyes!" I begged, my heart racing violently. To my relief, a small groan escaped from her lips. Very slowly, she opened her eyes and blinked at me, staring in confusion.
"Nate?" She whispered weakly, moving her head to the side to survey the scene in front of her. She groaned in pain and touched her head, swallowing. "What happened?" She whispered, a dazed look in her eyes as she allowed her head to return to it's earlier position on the floor. I touched her arm gingerly, licking my dry lips.
"Don't move, okay? I'll explain everything later." At that precise moment, I heard sirens in the distance. "Just hang on, Mitch. Just a little bit longer, just hang in there." I rambled, seeing her begin to close her eyes. She blinked again, smiling up at me, as she fought to stay awake. I took a deep breath, fighting to stay calm, telling myself that she'd be okay; she'd pull through.
"Freeze!" The shout echoed throughout Mitchie's apartment, and I froze, starting to turn around but stopping as I heard the harsh voice speak up again. "Hands in the air! Get up against the wall and don't even think about trying anything funny!" The voice commanded, and I obeyed quickly, stepping forwards and leaning against the wall, shaking.
"Mitchie needs help!" I pointed out, still pressed to the wall, my hands above my head. I glanced back to see the police officer's eyes flicker to where Mitchie was lying, his gun still pointed at me. "Don't just stand there! She needs help!" I cried, and the police officer growled at me, narrowing his eyes.
"Why'd you do it, kid? Did she cheat on you or something?" He asked, and I frowned. My eyes widened as I realized what he meant. I shook my head fervently. I could never hurt Mitchie, ever.
"I didn't do it!" I yelled, "Help her!" But the police officer only raised his gun more as three more police men raced into apartment, their guns drawn. "Please, she needs help right now!"
"Shut up, kid. Hands behind your back." The officer demanded, and I groaned as he approached cautiously, his gun raised in defence. I moaned loudly as he pulled out a pair of handcuffs, snapping them shut and pulling me out of the apartment before tossing me carelessly into a waiting car. The police car's lights began to flash, and the siren blared, pulling away from the apartment, leaving me to freak out about whether Mitchie was okay... or not.
(Still Nate's POV)
"I don't get what it is with young punks these days." I leaned my head back against the cold gray wall, wrapping my arms around my knees.
"Don't I get like, one call or something?" I demanded, raising my eyebrow at the officer, who had been rambling on for the past thirty minutes. I supposed I should have listened to him, but my mind kept wandering back to Mitchie. I wrung my hands together nervously, and the officer sighed.
"Yes." With that, he motioned for me to follow him out of the small cell and down the corrider. He handed me the phone, and I could've sworn I heard him mutter something along the line of 'kids these days'. With a sigh, I quickly dialed the number for the hospital, and asked for Shane.
"Hello?" I heard Shane ask as he picked up the phone, and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath.
"Hey Shane." I said, my tone giving no trace of what was going on.
"Nate! What happened? Is Mitchie okay?" Shane demanded right away, and I could just see him sitting up straighter, his hand gripping the receiver until his fingers turned white. I gave a loud sigh.
"Well, gee, Shane, I wouldn't know because the minute I arrived, I got arrested." I replied sarcastically, rolling my eyes.
"What?" Shane exclaimed from the other end of the line, his tone shocked. "Why? What did you do?" He was nearly screaming, and I hoped they didn't wonder why Shane was screaming.
"Shane! Dude, chill-ax (A/N: sorry, I just had to put that)! I didn't do anything. They got me mixed up with them. But Mitchie... she looked really bad, Shane." My voice came out as nearly a whisper, and I heard Shane's sharp intake of breath.
"Is she all right?" He demanded, and I felt my shoulders sag.
"I don't know, Shane." I admitted. "They dragged me out of there before I could find out. But... she didn't look good, Shane. Be prepared..." I trailed off as I heard Shane slam something down.
"No." Shane's voice was icy cold and dangerous sounding. "She'll be okay. She has to be okay..." He continued, but his voice broke and he paused. "Are you at the police station still?" He asked suddenly, changing the subject quickly.
"Yeah." I replied, knowing he was only switching subjects because he couldn't take the news.
"I'll have Jason come get you right away." Shane said, and I could all ready hear him explaining everything to Jason.
"Thanks man. See you soon. And I'm sure Mitchie will pull through." I tried to offer him some sort of comfort, but I only heard him swallow from the other end.
"Thank you." His voice was barely above a whisper, and I fought to hold off tears. Don't break down now, Nate, you have to be strong. For Shane, for Mitchie, for everyone's sake. You can't break down. "Bye." With that, he hung up, and I closed my eyes, releasing a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding.
I only hoped that everything would turn out okay, because I didn't know how much more any of us could take.
