First of all I just want to say thank you, thank you all SO much for the amazing reviews you have all left me for that last chapter and over this story as a whole. I was so excited to come back from my break and read them all. Can I just say some of your reactions were beyond perfect and amazing and made me laugh my ass off, I really needed that so THANK YOU!
I know I kind of left you all hanging with a terrible cliff hanger but what can I say I have an evil streak and sometimes I have no control it just breaks through and causes havoc lol. I hope I can be forgiven though and this next chapter goes someway in to making up for it.
Again I know the length it's taken me to update but what with my few days break, which I only got back from on last night and some family commitments and wanting to get this chapter right it took a little longer. I am sorry though and I do try and will continue to try my best in updating as frequently as humanly possible, I hope you all understand.
I hope you enjoy and let me know what you think of once you're finished reading as honestly nothing gives me more joy than reading your views and opinions. Honestly you really are so great to me with the detail and passion that you give me in your reviews I can't say it enough, thank you!
And if you don't review but do read, thank you all the same and I hope that you enjoy it just as much and thank you for taking the time to read my work hehe!
Chapter 10
"Controlling Panic, Trauma & Comfort"
'Blood, there is blood on my baby's hands.' Shelby finds she is silently muttering a sentence, that whenever the teacher had imagined her life with her girls was the last foreign expression to come to her mind. Shelby's body quickly tries to make exit of her vehicle but her seatbelt was somewhat hindering that progression. The brunette's hands were suddenly sweaty, heavy and not cooperating in any way with what the frantic mother was telling them to do.
In the frantic seconds it was taking for Shelby to process the situation she now found herself in and tries to untangle herself from the confines of her seat, Rachel continues sprinting towards the car with each breath she was trying to breathe getting caught in the back of her throat. 'So... much... blood' was all that was running through the young diva's traumatised mind.
Rachel's blood stained hands quickly reach out for the driver's window and she starts to bang hard against the glass, her desperate smacks causing a squeaking sound as the blood drips between the friction of skin and glass.
"Help" Rachel tries to scream out but the result is nothing more than a whisper, so she makes her smacks against the glass harder, doing anything she can think of to make Shelby fully aware of the situation.
Shelby's green eyes that had been focused solely on her belt buckle were now met with a blood smeared window and her baby girl damn near trying to smash her way through it. 'Please god, don't let this be her blood' the mother instantly prays more from an eternal reflex that anything else, it was as though that was the only thought her heart and mind could possibly conjure up.
"Help" Rachel repeats, thankfully this time finding some more volume to her panicking voice, the tears still falling thick and fast. 'Why isn't she opening the door?' Rachel's partly numb mind finally questions, using the palms of her hands to smack in to the cold glass of the window again.
'Finally' Shelby's mind celebrates as the seemingly stubborn buckle finally releases.
"I will baby." Shelby answers, hearing her daughter's desperate request as she quickly flings back the strap off of her shoulder and fumbles with the door handle before flinging that open as well, trying to be careful and not knock Rachel to the ground in the process.
Rachel lets out a gasp of pure relief seeing Shelby's green eyes connect with her chocolate ones and the barrier of the car door separating them disappear. Her emotions were quickly becoming too much though, as a strong hiccup reverberates through her upper chest and the tears choke her breathing. 'Thank god!' Rachel thinks instantly, this was no time to tame her thoughts with the use of 'Gold Stars and Holy Barbra's'.
As Shelby's legs swing around from her seat and her heels click against the cold concrete beneath her, all of the strength in her leg muscles seems to disappear and it takes a real conscious effort for the brunette teacher to keep standing.
Rachel basically dives into Shelby's body, needing some kind of contact and reassurance that someone was there and able to hold her and make everything okay. 'That is what mom's do right? Make everything okay?' Rachel's mind asks silently, just wrapping her arms tightly around Shelby's neck, being careful not to do much with her hands because of the offending blood that was almost stopping Rachel's hands from functioning.
Shelby's heart drops in her chest as Rachel's tiny body unceremoniously crashes in to her own with an urgency and desperation that pricked the mother's heart with terror. 'I'm holding her, my baby, I'm finally holding her' Shelby realises silently, knowing it was partly selfish to be thinking it but she couldn't help it, fourteen years was a long time, a long time to dream about this very moment.
The teacher's long arms softly pull Rachel in closer, the sensation of Rachel's petite body merging with her own in the most natural of positions quickly over whelming the both of them.
It was as if time was standing still just for a few seconds as Rachel's frantic heartbeat that Shelby could both feel and she could have sworn heard starts to calm from the comfort of an embrace only a mother can give.
Rachel's brown eyes shut tightly in a desperate attempt to block out just what was happening and physically the best way to do that was close her eyes. 'Make it go away, please make it go away' the young diva silently pleads with the woman who she was clinging to for a life line.
Shelby tries her best to overturn the thoughts of how overwhelmed and happy she was to finally have her youngest daughter in her arms, in an embrace that she had dreamt and imagined countless times in there years of their separation. 'Blood Shelby, remember the blood. You can get lost in this later, right now your baby needs you, she needs you' Shelby instructs herself sternly, holding a gentle hand on Rachel's shoulder to nudge her back enough so the brunette teacher could take her in properly.
Piercing green eyes scan Rachel's body from head to toe, trying to find the source of this almost taunting blood that is now smeared on her window as well as her daughter's tanned skin. Shelby can't control her hands or actions, everything was just happening without much thought, auto pilot almost.
"Where are you hurt sweetie? What's happened? We need to get you to the hospital..." Shelby quickly rattles out as her shaking hands follow her eyes and press on to the most obvious places that the blood could be coming from. 'Head, check' Shelby mentally starts to work through her list as her hand gently snakes over the back of Rachel's head, checking for any feeling of dampness from blood. 'Face, check' she continues as her hand softly strokes down Rachel's quivering face.
"Not me..." Rachel stutters out, her head flexing away from Shelby's touch enough so the impact behind her words would be punctuated but not too much as she still needed the comfort of the older woman's presence.
"Not you, what?" Shelby asks, her well sculpted eyebrows narrowing in to a frown. "Not your blood?" She asks hopefully, her stomach dropping slightly as Rachel's head gives a numbed nod and the realisation starts to sink in. 'No, no don't say it.' Shelby pleads silently, her green eyes trying to capture every slight movement or change in Rachel's features.
"Lexi... bathroom... blood... so... much... blood." Rachel stutters out, her body feeling as though it was fighting against the tide and everything was coming out much slower than she wanted it to. Her mind was no different, hazy and as if it was in a fog, the seriousness of the situation almost too much for her to take so her body was slowing everything way down so she could cope.
A short breath catches in Shelby's chest, the relief of knowing it wasn't Rachel that was hurt suddenly dashed and replaced with the knowledge it was Lexi, her other baby, who was hurt instead.
"Take me to her." Shelby orders instantly, her left hand reaching for Rachel's trembling one trying to show support but at the same time be assertive and take control of the situation, it was the only way to get through this. The sensation of the blood dripping between the tight grip of both of the brunettes hands for a split second capturing Shelby's attention. 'Focus Shelby' the older woman's mind orders snapping Shelby from that train of thought completely.
Rachel's legs freeze into place, her brown eyes still spilling out tears that were forming faster than her eyes could release. 'But she'll find out about us living alone' Rachel's inner voice that was now sounding like a scared child, weak and lost rings through the young diva's brain.
"I...I..." Rachel stutters again, her eyes focusing on the grip that Shelby's left hand now had on hers, it was as if a strength was being passed from mother to daughter and it stopped all words from coming out of Rachel's mouth.
"Lexi is hurt Rachel, she needs help, she needs me, you both do." Shelby does her best to explain her request, her right hand still shaking all though it was more from adrenaline now, gently strokes over Rachel's suddenly ice cold cheek. "Rachel..." Shelby calls out a bit louder, realising that her youngest daughter was having trouble focusing, not that she blamed her. "I need you to look at me sweetheart, Shelby..." She tries again, her voice changing slightly as she was still getting no response. "Coach Corcoran." The teacher tries a different tactic her voice hardening instantly at the very mention of her 'Coach' persona.
Rachel's dazed eyes lift and connect with Shelby's, suddenly feeling slightly more awake and on edge than she had since Shelby had opened the car door and stepped out.
"But I'm not supposed to bring anyone back." Rachel explains weakly, her voice cowering as more flashes of what she had seen scar her mind.
Shelby's right hand tilts Rachel's chin gently and her green eyes make a strong connection with Rachel's knowing she needed to forget about her own emotions and be strong for her daughter.
"Right now Rachel, none of that matters. Lexi needs to be helped and that is what I am going to do but I need to get to her first so you need to be strong and take me to her okay?" Shelby says sternly, the bite to her voice still slightly there but the motherly side was over taking it again.
"But... Lexi said I... and she was mad because of Jesse and..." Rachel mutters in reply more to herself as her petrified eyes scan Shelby's for some kind of anchor to attach on to.
"But nothing Rachel, look at me honey. " Shelby snaps, squeezing Rachel's hand tightly and cupping Rachel's cheek with her other hand so their eyes were connecting properly again. "Lexi needs you to be strong for her, you can do that right?" The teacher asks knowingly as Rachel gives the faintest of nods. "Take me to her, now." Shelby orders this time not getting chance to worry if Rachel was going to listen because the diva was off.
'Strong for Lexi, I need to be strong for Lexi. I can do that, I need to do that.' Rachel instructs herself silently, her hand gripping Shelby's with great urgency as her legs pound the pavement beneath them as she all but runs in to the apartment, dragging Shelby right along with her.
Rachel was focused, each step that she normally would take with greatly caution was flown over as Rachel used her natural speed to her advantage and managed to climb the stair case in what she was sure was a new record.
Shelby all though in great physical health, especially for her age was struggling to keep up. A pencil skirt and heels were hardly running or stair climbing clothes. As they rounded the final corner once much to the teacher's relief the stairs were over, Shelby's over working mind quickly noted the overall condition of the apartment building.
The door was ajar, where a fleeing Rachel hadn't shut it properly before. Rachel uses her free, blood stained hand to shove it back fully and drag Shelby in to the one bedroom apartment, now just frantic to get Lexi the help she needed and for once be strong for her sister instead of the other way around.
Shelby's hawk like eyes, quickly notice the fact the apartment was one bedroom and a huge sense of dread and worry from realising the girl's had lied to her hits her full pelt in the very pit of her stomach.
"Bathroom" Rachel interrupts her mother's thoughts unknowingly as the teenager stands a step behind Shelby in the kitchen area. 'I can't go in and see that... see her again I just can't.' Rachel reasons with herself, pure horror of what she had seen minutes before tormenting her brain.
"Bathroom?" Shelby questions taking a second to understand what her youngest daughter meant. "Lexi's in the bathroom?" Shelby concludes still in somewhat of a question as Rachel grips Shelby's hand in response of the older woman's assumption being correct.
"I can't... it's... help her." Rachel stutters out, releasing Shelby's hand reluctantly but giving her a strong nudge in the direction of the bathroom at the same time.
Both of them knew things should be panicked and out of control and in a sense they were it was just the realisation of what exactly was happening that seemed to stop them dead in their tracks for a few seconds.
"Of course you don't, I will." Shelby promises, the sinking feeling in her stomach hitting her full force as a switch flicks in the young mother's body and prescience of mind. 'Snap out of it Shelby, take control, be a mom, be their mom' The teacher orders silently, using a free second to take in a deep breath before turning around to Rachel with serious eyes. "Call an ambulance and tell them to hurry up okay and whatever you do don't come in to the bathroom, you don't need to see her hurt again." Shelby instructs moving towards the slightly ajar door which leads into the bathroom, her 'Coach Corcoran' authority somehow slipping in to gear.
Shelby rolls up the sleeves of her jacket, preparing herself for what she was about to walk in on, all kinds of images running through her over imaginative mind. The clearing of Rachel's throat though was enough to make Shelby's green eyes search for her youngest again.
"She will be okay... right?" Rachel asks hesitantly, her eyes silently begging this basic stranger for some kind of reassurance. Shelby, slightly unsure how to answer that question, hesitates slightly the ability to speak disappearing from her. Rachel gulps her brown eyes scanning her mother's for some kind of strength, like she had received when she'd found herself falling in to her embrace.
"Yes... she's going to be fine Rachel, I'm here now" Shelby answers strongly, forcing her own doubts, fears and worries to the very back of her mind as she gives Rachel a knowing glance. "Just call the ambulance honey, okay?" the mother suggests before taking a step in to the bathroom knowing not another second could be lost if her promise wasn't going to turn in to a lie.
Rachel nods in agreement and quickly paces the apartment for the landline, praying to god some luck would go her way and it would be in its holster like it should be. 'Phone, find the phone, call an ambulance, be strong for Lexi' Rachel tells herself, the making of the list of orders making it easier for the terrified teenager to process.
Shelby's eyes, body, stomach, soul and mostly her heart weren't ready to see what she had just walked in on. 'God the blood' Shelby's mind points out the obvious as the scene in front of the mother comes in to an all too real focus.
'My baby' Shelby's inner voice starts up as all strength in the teacher's legs disappears and she crashes down to her knees, a gasp escaping from her quickly constricting lungs.
Lexi was laid out on her stomach in front of her, completely motionless, her once beautiful face covered with a thick curtain of the teenager's brunette locks, blood from a wound to the side of the girl's head pooling onto the tiled floor turning the grout between each one red. It would be heartbreaking for anyone to see let alone for Shelby, this was her child, her little girl, her flesh and blood, her baby.
"Lexi" Shelby strains out, shuffling closer to Lexi's head, manoeuvring so her back was against the side of the bath tub, trying to ignore the sensation of the blood seeping underneath her skin. 'God what happened? Is she breathing, dear god, is she breathing?!' Shelby instantly panics, her trembling hands reaching out and brushing some of the bloody hair from her daughter's face, earning another gasp of shock.
Lexi's face was unrecognisable, what had happened suddenly becoming painfully clear, she had been attacked, beaten up, but the reasons behind it completely unknown. The swelling along with blood, some of it clearly sticky where it was starting to dry on the young girls face, was making Shelby's eyes sting with tears.
"Lexi..." Shelby repeats, her left hand cupping the side of Lexi's face that wasn't hidden into the tiled floor. "Lexi, can you hear me honey? I need you to open your eyes for me, its Shelby..." The increasingly on edge teacher explains, a strong sense of relief hitting her as the sensation of air from Lexi's bloody, split, swollen lips brushes across the back of her hand. 'She's breathing!' Shelby's mind screams with relieved joy.
"Lexi, you need to open your eyes and try to talk to me, you've been hurt but you are going to be fine, I'm going to make sure of it." Shelby promises, her heart thudding against her chest so fast it was serving as a base line for the panicked scene.
The right side of Lexi's face was lying against the cold tiles of the floor so hidden from Shelby's view but her left side, now Shelby had brushed back some of her hair, was visible. A slower amount of blood was descending down from Lexi's split, left eyebrow but there was no sign of any movement behind her closed left eyelid.
"Lexi, damn it" Shelby snaps, the worry turning in to an urgency to get some kind of reaction for Lexi. "Look, I am Coach Corcoran and I have never had a teenager defy me and get away with it and I will be damned if the first one to do so is going to be my daughter. I get what I want Lexi, I am warning you right now. Open your damn eyes!" She shouts, bending forward so her face was mere millimetres away from Lexi's but still there is no movement.
'Come on baby, open your eyes for me, please open your eyes' the Coach's mind encourages, the tone softer than what was actually coming from her mouth.
"Alexis Alice Berry, I am your mother and I am DEMANDING that you open your eyes this instance!" Shelby orders, her Coach Corcoran tone in full force.
Something about the last order had worked as Lexi's left eye flickers slowly a few times before struggling to open as a guttural groan escapes from Lexi's lungs, her left hand that was out stretched in front of her face on the tile's twitches.
"Yes, thank god!" Shelby celebrates momentarily; her left hand gently brushing down Lexi's swollen cheek noticing the fingerprint marks forming on the neck skin of her eldest daughter. 'Who did this to you?' Shelby's mothering brain questions silently, quickly remembering there were more important things to deal with before all the questions.
Lexi's head tries to lift from the ground but it falls back down after a split second, feeling as though a ton weight was sitting on top of it. 'Wh... What is... happening?' Lexi's fogged mind asks as the pain starts to creep in to the young girl's consciousness.
"Don't try and move honey, just focus on opening your eyes and breathing okay?" Shelby instructs clearly, her long fingers brushing away some more hair from Lexi's multicoloured face and neck. Shelby could see how hard breathing was for Lexi, each breath was shallow and quick to release. 'She's probably got broken ribs' The coach summarises having seen enough of them throughout her career to recognise the signs.
Lexi frowns from the noise and unfamiliar voice, the taste of blood turning her stomach that like the rest of her body was aching with a pain so intense the urge to just sleep was almost too tempting. 'Sleep, just let me sleep' Lexi's mind instructs her body as her left eyelid starts to drop back closed.
"Lexi, Lexi no you need to stay awake for me honey. Stay with me sweetie. It's Shelby; it's going to be okay." Shelby promises, gently holding both of her hands to Lexi's shoulders as the teenager makes an attempt to roll on to her back.
"ARGHH" Lexi groans loudly the pain from the movement ripping from her ribs and stomach, through her back and up to her chest and neck. Her brown eyes struggle to open, her right one completely swollen shut but her left could open just enough to make out the brunette teacher's face so close to her own.
"Careful, don't move." Shelby instructs firmly, as both of her arms wrap around Lexi's blood covered head and lift it to nestle in to her lap. "Easy, easy does it." She coaches as a breath catches sharply in Lexi's chest from the pain of the movement causing Shelby to stop instantly. "Sorry, god I'm sorry... it's okay, I'm sorry." Shelby apologises her heart ripping more and more on the inside seeing her little girl in a pain the coach could only imagine.
"R... Rach... Rachel..." Lexi stutters out, forming the 'R's only making her split lip worse as a soft stream of blood drops down her chin and painful tears escape from both of her eyes and cascade down her battered face. 'Rachel, god, please tell me Rachel is safe...' Lexi mentally pleads, knowing she would never be able to say that out loud at this point, just thinking it was painful enough but it was her first and only real thought other than the pain she was in.
Shelby never once stops from examining every inch of Lexi's face, her heart sinking the more she did so though. Lexi's right side of her face was less hidden now it was sat in Shelby's skirt and the teacher could make out a completely swollen shut right eye with dried blood stuck to any space of once delicate soft skin imaginable.
"She's safe; I promise you she is safe. She's calling you an ambulance and they are going to get here and take you to the hospital and make everything better." Shelby finally manages to assure her clearly terrified daughter as her brown eye tries to focus with Shelby's green ones.
Lexi moans loudly as the pain in her head suddenly comes in to the focus, it was beyond intense and was the pain that managed to break through the hazed fog she was now in. Her shaking hands instantly try to reach up to alleviate some of the pain but Shelby's hands were quicker in stopping them.
"Don't move Lexi, try and lay still." Shelby orders as she gently pushes Lexi's weakened arms back down to her side. "I've got you" She adds hoping knowing that would be some kind of a comfort.
"He... head." Lexi mutters out trying to communicate just what it was that was causing her so much agony, the desperate look in her face begging for Shelby to help her. She looked and was broken in so many ways and in a lot of ways this was the most vulnerable Lexi had ever felt or been in front of anyone, let alone her mother.
"I know baby, I know..." Shelby says weakly, the tears forming in her green eyes becoming too much to hold back any longer. 'God please hurry up with that damn ambulance' the mother frantically pleads, trying to stay as calm as possible on the outside for Lexi's sake.
Shelby's eyes look over the wound a few inches above Lexi's right temple, it was deep and nasty not that she couldn't get a great look because of Lexi's matted, bloody hair. 'Reduce the blood flow' Shelby suddenly remembers from one of her many first aid courses. 'Why couldn't that have kicked in earlier?' the panicking mother silently rages, scanning the small bathroom for something to use.
It was a struggle but somehow Shelby manages to reach the towel rack without disrupting Lexi's head that was lying lifeless on her lap, the blood pooling in to the dark material. After a tug the middle sized towel, drops loose and Shelby yanks it back towards her, doing her best to fold it over a few times before placing it to Lexi's wound causing the girl to grimace.
"Sorry, sorry but we need to try and stop some of this bleeding." Shelby explains, the pain at knowing she was responsible for the pain her baby was in hurting her deeper than the brunette had ever thought possible. She softly dabs the towel into Lexi's head, applying a fair amount of pressure as the blood was still coming pretty fast.
Lexi lets out a groan, wishing she had the strength to pull herself up or away in some way but she couldn't, she couldn't even make a noise without great struggle. Every inch of her body was in pain, all she wanted to do was cry; she was confused, hurt and scared all she wanted was whatever was happening to stop. 'Sleep, sleep sounds like a good idea' Lexi's inner voice suggests, the pain becoming too much to handle.
"No, no Lexi... Lexi open your eyes... well eye" Shelby corrects realising her right eye wasn't going to open for a while at the least with all the swelling. "I know it's hard but you need to stay awake for me, the ambulance won't be long." She adds trying her best to sound positive and keep Lexi at least somewhat conscious and with her.
Lexi could hear Shelby's voice and the words somewhat made sense but they were muffled, all she could really focus on was the fact the pain was drifting away the more she relaxed in to the soft pillow her head was now on, which actually happened to be her mother's lap.
"Sleep" Lexi whispers the action causing more blood to run down her chin from her split lip. 'Just let me sleep... please' the hurt teenager begs, pain induced tears falling from both of her now closed eyes.
Shelby's heart jumps in to her mouth realising she was losing this fight, she keeps her right hand holding the towel that was now applied to Lexi's head wound and uses her left thumb to stroke away the blood from Lexi's shuddering chin. 'She's shaking, god she's going in to shock' the mother realises, noticing how the colour camouflaged by the injuries on her daughter's face was greying.
"Lexi... Alexis" Shelby tries again, 'hell it worked calling her it before and right now I'll do whatever it takes to get her to look at me again even if it's just to send me a death glare' the teacher rationalises her actions silently as for a split second Lexi's left eye looks ready to pop open again.
"Lexi..." Lexi corrects, her voice weaker than it had been before which was worrying considering it hadn't been strong to start with.
"I know honey, your name is Lexi but I need you to open your eyes Lexi, look at me, talk to me... shout at me Lexi come on, it's not like it would be the first time. Please, please swear at me even, anything just stay awake for me baby please!" Shelby pleads, the desperation in her voice only increasing with each second her eldest daughter remained silent.
Lexi could hear that her mother was desperate so the injured teen, slowly opens her mouth to speak but it was too much energy and effort that she just didn't have to waste so her jaw closes again with a sigh. 'I'm sorry I just can't' Lexi explains silently as everything starts to go black.
The tears that the new found mother had been fighting to keep hidden finally break the green eyed seal they were swimming behind and flood Shelby's face. 'No, no Lexi... baby please baby.' Shelby mentally pleads, sniffling back some of the tears but not having a great amount of luck.
"Alexis, don't you dare give up young lady. You are a Corcoran and my damn daughter which means you don't know how to give up, do you hear me?!" The panicking teacher rambles out, praying that maybe some of her words would have an effect and get Lexi to open her eyes again.
"Ma'am?" an unfamiliar voice calls from the bathroom doorway waking Shelby from her thoughts of utter disappear, enough for the woman to take glance at where the voice was coming from.
"You took your god damn time didn't you?" Shelby snaps at the paramedic who if they were honest was not expecting that kind of reaction but at the same time not fazed by it.
"Ma'am, we really need to see to..." The paramedic tries to steer the conversation back to the teenage girl who was clearly in need of medical attention.
"My daughter and you are damn right you do." Shelby interrupts, not meaning to be so abrasive and rude but if she was honest it was a defence a defence to try and hide the fact she was so scared and worried and had let her mask slip enough to actually cry in public.
The paramedic nods in agreement guessing that arguing with the angry brunette woman wasn't going to be either the smartest of the safest of options. He kneels down next to where Shelby was still cradling Lexi's bleeding head in her lap, towel pressed against the wound.
"Ma'am" The paramedic prompts, his hands gesturing to Lexi as Shelby's green eyes look up from the bloody and beaten mess that was her eldest child.
Shelby shakes her head trying to regain some control of her actions, her heart tugging in her chest as the thought of actually letting Lexi go, handing her over to the paramedic made her stomach sink. This was her baby, her child who was seriously hurt and the thought of not holding her, talking to her, being there for her was like a knife piercing the teacher's heart. 'They know what they are doing Shelby, it's their job' Shelby's rational side tried it's best to remind the panicking mother. 'But she is my baby, I am her mother and I've just found her again and now she is hurt, she needs me, I promised I had her, I promised' Shelby's mother voice argues back, having been deprived for fourteen years to be a mother in anyway not at all liking the idea of taking a step back again.
"Shelby" Rachel's panicked voice from the living room area of the apartment breaking all of Shelby's thoughts clean from her brain.
"It's okay Rach, I'm coming." Shelby calls back, sniffling back her tears fully and looking to the paramedic with a pointed 'Corcoran' glare. "Look after my baby" Shelby warns, helping the paramedic take Lexi's motionless head and body in to his arms so he could help her.
"We will" The second paramedic affirms, entering the bathroom himself for the first time and placing down their equipment to the side before joining his partner on the blood stained tiled floor.
Shelby watches them for a few seconds before nodding and reluctantly rushing in to the living room where Rachel's voice just seconds before had come from. 'Rachel needs you too Shelby' the older brunette reminds herself, rubbing her hands across her face to try and wake up a little, the smell of drying blood making her want to heave.
Rachel's legs scuff against the floor as she paces back and forth with a worry that was eating her from the inside out. Both of her arms wrapped tightly around her own body in a weak attempt to give some kind of comfort to herself. 'She has to be okay, she has to be okay' the young diva repeats within the confines of her mind like a mantra.
"Rachel?" Shelby calls out cautiously not wanting to scare her youngest daughter seeing how already distressed the fourteen year old clearly was.
Rachel's head snaps round faster than lightning hearing her Coach's voice, it was reassuring and comforting. 'Mom' Rachel silently answers, addressing the woman she hadn't known for more than three days and realising that was how she looked at her. Not as Coach Corcoran or her teacher but her mother, sure it was awkward, weird and confusing but it was also oddly right and fit and was what Rachel needed, she needed her mother.
"What's going on? Is she okay?" Rachel rattles out quickly, taking a basic lunge towards the older woman remembering how safe she had felt before in her arms and partly seeking that again. Rachel's brown eyes try to fix on to Shelby's as fast as possible, wanting comfort from them, from her.
Shelby feels her heart drop into the very pit of her stomach at her youngest daughter's question, she wanted to be honest but at the same time she wanted to comfort Rachel one was definitely going to have to give for the other to happen.
"The paramedics are with her sweetie, she's in the best hands okay?" Shelby replies meekly, instantly regretting it as Rachel's face turns in to horror and whitens by a good few tints. "No, no she's going to be fine." The mother quickly adds on, unable to bear the look on Rachel's face any longer.
"How can you be so sure?" Rachel asks her hands nervously wringing in front of her lap as her entire body shakes, wanting to believe her but at the same time needing more assurance.
Shelby takes in a deep breath and a stride forward, out reaching her slightly blood stained hands as she grips Rachel's shoulders so she can hold her back enough to truly look in to her eyes.
"Because I'm her mom and that means she is a Corcoran and us Corcoran's don't give up so easily, we're fighters honey and I may not know Lexi as well as you but I get the strongest impression she is one hell of a fighter." Shelby answers honestly, watching as Rachel's lips for a second twitch in to a smile at the true statement of her sister's strength.
"She's the strongest person I have ever known in my entire life" Rachel explains, nodding faintly as the noise of the paramedics removing Lexi from the bathroom on the gurney distracts both mother and youngest daughter.
Rachel lets out a gasp, the paramedics for the most part were blocking her view of Lexi but just knowing her usually strong, together sister was laying on the gurney they were pushing was enough to break her heart. 'This has to mean she is seriously hurt' Rachel silently assesses, her chin starting to tremble. 'Of course she is seriously hurt Rachel, did you not see the blood before' another side of Rachel's brain quickly butts in, almost making Rachel jump.
Shelby's heart much like Rachel's jumps into her mouth as the realisation they were taking Lexi to hospital hits her, all though it was never in question. 'Rachel can't see her like this, not again' Shelby's inner voice quickly points out causing Shelby's legs to stride forward so her body was now blocking Rachel away from the paramedics and Lexi.
"Rachel, don't look honey" Shelby suggests strongly, her green eyes willing Rachel's brown ones to look up and not try to search for Lexi.
Rachel gulps but nods in agreement forcing her eyes away from the gurney and focusing solely on Shelby as tears streak her face again as the worry for her sister overwhelms her.
"She... its bad isn't it?" Rachel whimpers, struggling to breathe causing Shelby's arms to take immediate action and to wrap around her youngest daughter.
"The doctors will help her Rachel." Shelby assures the shaking girl who buries her head into her mother's chest to shield her own eyes from the sight of her bloody and beaten sister being rushed to the hospital.
'I'm holding her again.' Shelby's frantic mind suddenly points out both making Shelby's heart soar and sink, wishing more than anything it was under better circumstances. Shelby's fingers gently lace through Rachel's brown locks in an attempt to soothe both her and Rachel's heartbeats. 'How do I make he feel better?' the older woman's mind silently questions, praying for some kind of an answer just wanting to ease at least one of her daughter's pain.
Both mother and daughter knew that their new found position should be awkward, uneasy and unwanted but it wasn't, it couldn't be more opposite. The embrace felt caring, wanted, needed and like the most natural thing in the world. Neither Shelby nor Rachel was sure just how or why it felt like it did but they were glad and relieved as both of their hearts needed it more than anything especially right now.
"We are going with her aren't we Shelby?" Rachel suddenly asks, pulling her head back enough to crook her neck up and connect her tear filled eyes with Shelby's, the look of worry never once disappearing. "She acts tough but she doesn't like to be on her own." Rachel reveals knowing deep down if Lexi could hear her she wouldn't be best pleased.
"Of course we are, of course we are." Shelby affirms, turning her head back to the paramedics who by now were ready to go down to the ambulance and rush the girl on the gurney to the hospital she desperately needed to be at. "We will follow in my car, where will you be taking her?" Shelby asks, her arms wrapping tighter around Rachel feeling the young girl's body shudder, clearly struggling with her own emotions.
Rachel for her part just zones out, burying her head further in to Shelby's chest, the strong beating of the teacher's heart not only drowning out the conversation she didn't want to hear but in the oddest way soothing her own frantic heart's beat. 'Lexi will be okay, she will be okay.' Rachel mentally chants, hot tears choking her as they slip down her face.
"Rachel, Rachel honey..." Shelby says tenderly, lifting her left hand to stroke along Rachel's cheek tenderly to get her young daughter's attention, her heart sinking feeling the wet tears underneath her skin. The older woman smiles sadly, fighting her own tears knowing Rachel needed her to stay strong for her.
"Huh?" Rachel mutters, lifting her head from Shelby's chest suddenly becoming aware of everyone and everything around her again. The paramedics and gurney were gone and it was just Shelby and Rachel standing alone n the one bedroom apartment that suddenly felt threatening.
"Its okay sweetie, come on we need to get to the hospital." Shelby says calmly, not wanting to release her daughter from her arms but does all the same. "Lexi is going to want to see your face when the doctors give her the all clear." The older woman chirps, trying to be positive and take control and be the mother she had longed to be for fourteen years.
Rachel nods in agreement, gripping Shelby's hand tightly not willing to lose the only thing that was giving her any kind of comfort that normally she would seek from Lexi. The gesture was instant for Rachel and it felt natural and if she was honest she didn't even think about doing it, it just happened.
The entire car journey to the hospital, only a minute if that behind the ambulance was silent and not once did either Shelby or Rachel break the strong grip that both brunettes's had on the others hand. It was a silent connection and reminder for both of them they weren't alone going into what was honestly the unknown.
Of course not even 'Coach Corcoran' could get answers once they finally arrived into the always busy emergency room of the hospital, they were just shuffled off in to one of the rather cold waiting rooms which luckily held some relief a hot drink and vending machine.
"Here, drink this." Shelby says kindly, offering Rachel a very hot cup of tea once they were seated in the large waiting room that was completely empty apart from them.
"Thank you." Rachel replies automatically taking a few seconds to register that Shelby was even offering her a drink. The young diva takes it in to her shaking hands sheepishly before blowing across the cup and taking a sip but instantly pulls a face. "Ugh! What in the world" Rachel recoils, suddenly offended by the drink and handing it back to Shelby, the displeasure at the taste etched across her face.
"Sorry, it's sweet, helps with the shock." Shelby explains, having some trouble hiding the amused smirk that pricks at her plump lips. 'I know I shouldn't find my daughter's pain funny but that face is just too funny not to laugh at' Shelby mentally rationalises her actions, glad and welcoming the distraction from nothing but dread and worry over Lexi.
"That should be banned, it is a good job I'm not a diabetic I could go in to some kind of coma due to that." Rachel rants, her face still showing the displeasure of the taste she had just experienced. 'That may just be the worst thing I have ever consumed' Rachel tells herself, not realising how much tension this little moment was lifting. "Don't laugh, it tasted foul. Is there any way to get the taste from my mouth without some kind of sandpapering of my tongue?" Rachel sasses, some of the fogginess clearly having lifted from the brunette's mind.
"Well I am glad to see you haven't lost your over dramatic tendencies." Shelby giggles, reaching in to her purse and pulling out a stick of gum offering it to her young daughter who was practically ready to sandpaper her tongue to get rid of the taste.
"I am not overly dramatic, god you sound just like Le..." Rachel hesitates as she unfolds the gum piece and her shoulders slump suddenly remembering just why they were in the hospital waiting room in the first place. 'For a second there everything was normal and okay again' Rachel's inner voice says sadly, causing everything in the teenager to deflate.
Shelby wanted to say something to ease Rachel's clear pain, she wanted to assure her it was all going to be fine but the teacher knew no matter what she said in till the doctor came and gave Lexi the all clear nothing in the world she could say would have any effect. 'God do something Shelby, do something...' Shelby's motherly voice orders but Shelby's mind was blank, what could she do? How did she make this better?
Almost luckily the door to the waiting room opens and breaks both Rachel and Shelby from their own thoughts.
"Sorry, I was just wondering if there was anyone I could call for you while you wait for news." The elderly nurse offers sweetly, having seen the look in both Rachel and Shelby's eyes many times before which told her making calls and informing other family members was clearly the last thing on their minds.
Shelby's green eyes narrow slightly wondering if Rachel was going to fess up with the truth or carry on what was clear to the teacher to be a pretty well rehearsed lie all though she wasn't entirely sure why it existed but she could hazard a guess.
"Uh..." Rachel hesitates quickly; 'If she finds out, if anyone finds out, the wrong person, they could tell the authorities and they will separate us Rachel' Lexi's voice and words run through the increasingly panicking teenager's mind like a locomotive. The young diva's jaw falls open as Shelby's presence beside her becomes all too noticeable.
"There is your father Rachel, I can't believe I didn't think about it sooner. Do you have a number we can reach him on? He should know as soon as possible so he can get back, shouldn't he?" Shelby asks knowingly, her green eyes watching every movement that Rachel's tiny body makes beside her. 'Just be honest Rachel, tell me what is going on' Shelby's inner voice instructs silently, praying and urging her daughter to do the right thing.
Rachel's entire body stiffens as Shelby's words. 'I am not built for this type of lying; this is what Lexi does... I just... I ... I just agree and look adorable if too many questions start getting asked. Shelby's eyes burn... Gold stars I'm going to break, please forgive me Lexi' Rachel silently rambles out before gulping once and forcing her head round to look to Shelby.
"Um actually I think that number may have been misplaced." Rachel squeaks out as the nurse leaves sensing this was a conversation she wasn't wanted or needed for.
"Rachel, you do realise that I was in your apartment today and all though it was under some horrendous circumstances my eyes still didn't fail to notice it is a one bedroom apartment, right?" Shelby asks pointedly, not wanting to bagger the poor girl who was dealing with so much right now but at the same time just wanting some answers.
Rachel pauses, her bottom lip becoming trapped under her upper front teeth as she bites down nervously shifting slightly in the uncomfortable waiting room chair, the sweat pouring down her forehead and face. 'She knows, oh gold stars, she knows and Lexi isn't here, she's laid up in one of these cold, lonely hospital rooms in only Barbra knows what condition and I am here failing miserably at keeping everything together like she has done so effortlessly for all these months.' Rachel mind screams at her, her young body starting to shake unable to deal with the growing stress.
"Rachel, Rachel honey calm down." Shelby quickly intervenes practically seeing and hearing the cogs turning in her youngest daughter's mind. The older woman gently runs her strong left hand across Rachel's shoulders and down her back in a soothing motion. 'Well done Shelby, cause the girl to have a panic attack the first time you try and do some parenting. What is wrong with you?!" Shelby's inner voice snaps, only causing the teacher's guilt to rise up in her stomach.
"It's a lie, all of it. I'm sorry but Lexi said we should lie and I agreed with her because well it's Lexi and she is normally right about these things and she can lie much more proficiently than I can. Well it's not all a lie exactly; our daddy Hiram really is dead." Rachel rambles out, her habit of an increasing speed to her words coming in to full force.
"Rachel, breathe" Shelby instructs firmly, unable to stop her Coach Corcoran natural reactions as she notices how wild Rachel's brown eyes were now as they erratically search Shelby's face for some kind of recognition that she understood Rachel was telling the truth now.
Rachel jumps at the request/order and all words for a second cease as the young diva just focuses on taking in a few deep breaths and regaining some composure.
"Just tell me what's really going on Rachel, I'm Coach Corcoran and as you will learn very little gets by me without me at least registering it somewhere in my mind for use later on." The teacher explains, wanting if she could to keep this somewhat lighter and upbeat than the rest of the early evening had been.
"If I tell you, you have to promise and I mean absolutely promise that you won't tell a soul. I shouldn't even tell you really, I promised Lexi I wouldn't but..." Rachel's eyes well back with the worried and fear filled tears for her sister's safety and health. "Lexi needs help now too, even more and she is in position to keep doing what she has been." Rachel explains somewhat still cryptically all though to her it all made complete sense.
"Just take your time Rachel, its okay honestly it is." Shelby encourages, her hand still rubbing soothing motions across her daughter's shuddering back and shoulders.
"Umm, well basically we lied about our dad Leroy, he isn't away on business." Rachel reveals to an already suspecting Shelby who just nods to show she was listening. "He..." Rachel's heart starts to ache from the memory saying it out loud not easy as part of her mind still refused to believe it had happened. "He loved Daddy Hiram so much and when he got sick it... well..." Rachel trips over her words struggling to find the best way to explain without making Leroy look bad because to Rachel he wasn't, at least she was struggling to steal believe he wasn't.
Shelby's sinking feeling only gets worse as Rachel tries to explain, Shelby may not have been around her daughter's long but apparently reading them and in-between the lies they try to tell was coming rather naturally.
"Daddy Hiram got diagnosed with cancer about a year and a half ago now, he had some treatment but after three months they explained that there... there wasn't much they could do." Rachel reveals, her voice choking up with the tears she was fighting from falling. "Dad Leroy he decided we should move back to Lima, somewhere daddy loved and wanted to be so we did." Rachel explains, forcing a smile as she remembers the look on Hiram's face when they had first moved back.
"Then uh it was just helping Daddy be comfortable you know? It was nine months before he..." Rachel stops everything in her body for a second stopping so she could get through what she had to say next. "He passed away..." Rachel starts again after a large gulp still building up the courage to admit something aloud that in till now had been a secret kept only between the two brunette sisters. "Dad Leroy he, he struggled, he was heartbroken, we all were." Rachel continues as some tears start to escape from her chocolate brown eyes that were focusing on the young girl's wringing hands in her lap. "He left, he must have had a mental breakdown or something, I'm not entirely sure but I know he had his reasons for leaving." Rachel adds quickly trying her utmost to defend her father's actions that deep down she knew had been nothing but selfish and wrong.
'Well that just confirms my suspicions' Shelby silently seethes, the very thought that their father just upped and walked out on two teenage girls who had just lost their father to cancer made her feel sick. 'I understand being in pain and grieving but surely you would do that with your children not just leave them to fend for themselves.' She continues, somehow managing to contain all of her rage on the inside.
"Lex she, she didn't even seem shocked she just kept going you know? It's what she does I guess, I was too caught up in grieving and convincing myself dad would be back to pay much attention but Lexi she, she had it together." Rachel reveals the love and admiration for her sister that she almost forgot to show Lexi coming out freely.
"So, your father passed away... uh six months ago right?" Shelby asks curiously as Rachel gives a nod of 'yes'. "So for six months how have you survived without any adult, how have you paid the bills and... fed and clothed yourselves?" The mother questions as she tries to hide the bitterness towards Leroy that was in her words from Rachel.
"Lexi, she had a job but uh because of school she could only work weekends but she'd been saving ever since daddy got sick so we had enough to get by." Rachel explains blinking back some tears as memories that haunted her and she wished she could forget fill her young mind. "Then uh three months ago she, she just said we were moving and well we ended up here in Akron." Rachel adds knowing it would be Shelby's next question how they ended up in Akron, so just beat her to the punch.
"But you only started school this week? How have you managed to do that, surely child services have been in touch?" Shelby asks confused and slightly dazed if she was honest, all though she had her suspicions hearing that Leroy had actually abandoned his daughter's was a lot to take in.
"I don't really know, Lexi she... she deals with all of that stuff, with everything really." Rachel sobs out, the tear barrier breaking and the sobs just recoiling through her body. "What am I going to do if she's not okay Shelby? I can't look after myself like she can, I'm not strong like Lexi, I fall apart, I need her, Shelby I need my sister." Rachel cries out as Shelby once again finds her arms automatically wrapping around her youngest in an attempt to calm and soothe her pain.
Shelby had been expecting this kind of outburst and breakdown and knew all other questions would have to wait right now she had one daughter in a critical condition being seen to by doctors after some unexplained beating and her other daughter emotionally falling apart from the worry, upset and strain of it all.
Right now was time for Shelby to be what she had always wished she would have the chance to be, a mother but more importantly her girls' mother and by god she was going to do everything possible to be the best one she could for them.
So there we are chapter 10, I truly hope it was worth the wait, once again I am sorry about that, I promise I am working my fingers to the bone on the keyboard to be faster hehe.
The next chapter again will be Shelby, Lexi and Rachel centric with more bonding and some explanations with Shelby taking more control or trying to take more control of the situation now certain things have come to light.
If you do review, thank you truly and I can't wait to read what you think and if you don't I just hope you enjoy this chapter all the same and thank you for taking the time to read! You are all beyond amazing to me both with this fic and the support you have shown me with some of my person issues. That support truly means more than you can know so thank you and if there is ever any of you that need any support or someone to just vent to I am always here for you also!
In till next time (Which will hopefully be sooner, rather than later) stay safe, happy and well ;;'x