Chapter 12
It was almost four in the morning when Leah began to stir. It wasn't long until her eyes fluttered open, confusion quickly splashing her mind as she looked around, finding herself in a hospital room.
"Mama?" She mumbled, hoping someone would be there.
"Leah?" Brooke whispered, tears leaking from her eyes.
"Brooke?" Leah turned her head, facing her friend, "What happened?"
Brooke choked up, not able to answer. Instead she leaned forward, tears streaming down her face, burring her head on Leah's shoulder, "I'm so sorry."
"Leah?" Joanne questioned, all the commotion causing her to wake. It wasn't long before Joanne fully woke, and was over by the bed, holding Leah's hand tightly, running her hand through her blonde hair. "I'm so happy you're okay."
"What happened?" Leah tried again, hoping Joanne would be able to answer.
"You don't remember?" Joanne asked her eyes stinging with tear, watching as Leah shook her head.
Joanne sighed. She squeezed her daughter's hand and began telling her what happened. Inevitably the story caused Leah to break down and cry. She felt dirty. She heard about these kinds of things happening to other people. But happening to her? It made it all real. If there was any good out of this, it was that Leah wouldn't remember much, which would make it easier for her to get over. But it still didn't stop Leah from crying.
"It's okay baby," Joanne cooed, holding her daughter tight, "We'll find this guy, and do anything we can to make him pay."
"And if you hate me I understand." Brooke said, "I should have stayed with you."
"I don't hate you Brooke." Leah sobbed, and stopped there. She couldn't get any more words out even if she wanted too.
"How about we go home?" Joanne suggested, and earned a nod from Leah. "Maureen, want to go get the doctor?"
Joanne's eyebrows turned up when she didn't get an answer. She looked behind her, seeing an empty chair. She was so concerned about Leah; she didn't even notice Maureen was gone.
"She said she would be back later." Brooke stated.
"Where'd she go?" Joanne asked.
Brooke simply shrugged.
"I'll be right back." Joanne said, before kissing Leah on the forehead, and then heading out the door. She had a feeling she knew where Maureen was, so after getting the doctor, she pulled her cell phone out and called Roger, hoping he was close enough to stop Maureen before she did God only knows what.
Vince Arom. That was the only thing flowing through Maureen's mind as she stormed down the streets of NYC, looking for the hotel party Brooke and Leah were at only hours before. It took her about an hour to find, and once she did find it, she barged right in.
Her hands tightened as she stepped on the elevator, adrenaline pumping through her veins. When the doors opened she could hear the loud music from down the hall. So she followed it, until she came to a stop at the party, happily letting herself in.
She helped herself to the music and turned it down, "Vince Arom?" she called out, scanning the room, smirking a little as all eyes were on her, the source of silence. "Please…Vince Arom, grace me with your presence."
Soon the tall, dark haired man stepped out of the crowd, a cocky, wide grin on his face. "That's me. Who's asking?"
With out hesitation, Maureen ran full speed towards the guy, but before she reached him, she felt something pull her back. She tried to struggle whatever was holding her, but it was no use. She turned her head to see what it was, her eyes widened with surprise.
"Roger? Let go!"
"No." Roger said, his hands firmly griping her upper arms. He forgot how freakishly strong Maureen was. "Calm down Mo, fighting this guy isn't going to solve anything."
"Yes it will!" Maureen said, still trying to break free. "He hurt Leah, now I'm going to hurt him."
"Hurt me?" Vince laughed, "I'd like to see you try."
"Listen man, shut up!" Roger said, "Or I seriously will let her loose on your sorry ass." His attention went back to Maureen, whispering in her ear, "I get that you want to teach this guy a lesson, I think all of us do, but it won't help you out in the long run. You'll be the one getting charged in the end, not him. Do you really want him to get away with what he did?"
Maureen calmed down some, shaking her head.
"So why don't you let Jo handle it. She can bring him to court. He'll lose so much more than if you were to kick his ass." Roger stated.
"Aw…she's not going to fight?" Vince said in a baby voice.
"Just wait!" Maureen shouted, "My wife is a fucking lawyer!"
"I'm scared…I didn't even do anything." Vince said.
"You know what you did you sick little shit!" Maureen screamed, while Roger practically dragged her out of the hotel room, put her in his car, and drove her home.
Joanne, Leah and Brooke made it home first. All three of them climbing out of the car. Leah ran straight up the stairs, with Joanne right behind her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Joanne asked.
"I want to take a shower." Leah said
Joanne nodded, "Okay, well…you know if you need me-"
"I know." Leah cut in, pushing pass the lawyer, and towards the bathroom.
Joanne sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. She didn't know how to handle this.
"How's it going sweetie?" Angel asked, as Joanne entered the living room.
"Just great." Joanne replied with a fake smile.
Angel quickly pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly.
Just then the front door opened and Maureen and Roger walked in.
Joanne pulled out of Angel's hug, heading for the two new comers. She eyed Maureen with a slight frown, shook her head in disapproval, before heading up the stairs.
"Okay…" Maureen sighed. She eyed all three of her friends. "Thanks for everything."
"No problem." Collins said, rubbing her shoulder. "Anytime."
Angel gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek, before her and Collins left. Roger patted her back, and followed the couple out the door. Maureen waved bye to all of them, before shutting the door and locking it.
She stood at the doorway, before heading into the living room. She smirked at Brooke who quietly sat on the couch. "Spending the night?"
Brooke nodded, looking up at her, "Please."
"You know where everything is." Maureen said.
The drama queen turned around, and slowly one by one made her way upstairs, not sure what was going to happen when she reached the top. Was Joanne going to yell at her? Or would she already be asleep?
She entered the bedroom. Her eyes fell on the bathroom door. So she used this time to get ready for bed. In that time Joanne came out of the bathroom. She stood still for a moment, just watching Maureen, until finally she spoke.
"So were you just going to go and beat this guy up?"
Maureen turned around facing her, "Look what he did to Leah."
"I know Maureen, but fighting him…" She shook her head, trying to clear it, "You can't always go around acting on your impulses! Beating the shit out of someone won't solve anything! You should have stayed with us at the hospital. You should have been with your family."
"Well I'm sorry for wanting to hurt someone, who hurt our daughter!" Maureen yelled. "It made sense at the time!"
"Well grow up a little, and you'll see fighting doesn't make sense at all. It's immature!" Joanne said.
Maureen clenched her jaw, ready to scream back, when a voice stopped her.
"You guys?"
Joanne and Maureen both turned their attention towards the open door where a sobbing Leah stood.
Leah tried to wipe the free falling tears, but it did nothing as more kept pouring out. "Can I sleep with you?"
"Come here." Joanne said, pulling her crying daughter in her arms.
Maureen and Joanne came to a silent agreement to let their arguing slide for the night, and all three of them climbed into bed.
Leah lay in between her moms, curling up next to Joanne. She laid her head on the lawyer's shoulder and cried herself to sleep. Joanne stroked her hair until she too fell asleep. While Maureen laid wide awake, watching her wife and daughter, until finally an hour later, she fell into a deep slumber.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
I re-wrote this chapter so many times...i hope i did okay. Also i decided not to have Maureen fight Vince for a reason...
So until next time!