Chapter Eleven

Hunter P.O.V.

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

With the airport coming into view I make one last attempt at getting through to Sophia. "Please, just behave yourself."

I hear her quietly say "yes, sir." But it's hard to decipher if she actually means it or what. I guess we'll find out. I just don't understand why she is acting out like this. I'm grateful for the quiet drive we've had, it's given me a chance to think about a lot of things, and hopefully Sophia has done the same. I didn't want to hear her whining the whole way here, but I will talk to her before bed tonight because she sounded like she genuinely wanted to talk to me about something.

"Okay, let's go," I reply as I find a parking spot that my truck will fit into. I jump out and go to the passenger side and open Sophia's door for her, she's reluctant but gets out when I give her a stern glare that says not to test my patience right now.

Catching a glimpse of Sophia's face, it has worry written all over it. I gently take her hand in mine, her much smaller one it seems, and give it a gentle squeeze. "Everything will be fun honey, I promise." She rests her head on my shoulder for a moment as we walk toward the main doors. I hear my phone ring, indicating a call coming in.

"Hello? Yes, Mr. Schmitt, we just walked through the main entrance. If you walk straight down the escalator from baggage claim you should see us in a minute."

"Oh wait, I think I see you." Sophia's father replies.

"Uhhh, yes! I see you! Stay there, we'll come to you."

Replacing my phone back into my pocket, we head to where her parents wait patiently. They're smiling, of course they are, they're finally here with their daughter. I knew this would be good. As we get closer I feel Sophia tense up, my God, they can't be that bad. I whisper in her ear that everything is going to be fine.

"Hi! You are Mr. and Mrs. Schmitt I assume? It's wonderful to finally meet you both!"

"Ja, it's wonderful to meet you as well Hunter. Hello Sophia, you look well. Even better than when you left Germany, you're eating well then?"

"Hi mom..dad. Yes, I'm eating, I ate when I was at your house too, despite what you believe. Hunter keeps me on a good schedule, he's been great."

I can hear the sass in her voice, better get out of here before she causes a scene.

"Alright then, let's get going. We've got a bit of a drive back to the house. Sophia, help you mother with her bags and we'll get going. Are you hungry? We can stop for a sandwich on the way home or wait until we get there to cook something up?"

Mr. Schmitt speaks up, "oh wow, we haven't eaten anything since we got on the plane. We could both probably use a bite to eat if it's not to much trouble?"

"Obviously it's not any trouble at all or he wouldn't have offered."

Throwing Sophia a glare, "hey, knock off the attitude okay? I'm serious." She rolls her eyes in response, and that's when I've had enough. "Do you want to tell me what the problem is now or later? I'd say we need to have a talk when we get home, what do you think?" Hopefully she's gotten the hint about what it means when I say that we need to have a talk, because I'm absolutely fed up with her.

"Nope, I'm fine." So much damn sass, what the hell has gotten into her? I'm so caught up in my own thoughts that I don't have enough time to react when I see her slip and head down the cement stairs that lead us to where the truck is parked.

"Sophia! Honey, are you okay?" Dropping the bags in my hand, I run over to where she is in front of me.

Crying, "noooo, my ankle. It hurts. It really really hurts Hunter!" Sophia yells out.

"Shhhh, let me see it." Its swelling already, and starting to bruise. Shit, it's probably broken. "Okay, come on, the truck is right over there, I'll carry you. We need to go to the hospital right now."

Sophia's mother looks worried, "Ma'am? I'm sure everything will be okay? Maybe just a cast, but even that will need to wait until the swelling goes down.

Her father pipes in, "should I run back inside and see if I can get some ice? It needs it as soon as possible."

"That would be great! If you can't find within a few minutes then don't worry just hurry back out here. Call if you get lost." I reply quickly.

"Oh I know how this works, she's broken it twice in gymnastics in years past but each time was worse and harder to heal." Mrs. Schmitt replied, grabbing the two bags I dropped on the ground. Carrying Sophia back to the truck, I try to keep my movements steady so her leg doesn't get jostled around too much. "You can just throw those bags in the bed of the truck, we can pull the cover over them in case we get the rain that's being predicted, and we can lock it so everything is safe." She nods her head and then goes to the passenger door and opens it for me, "try to rest your leg up on the dashboard or something. To keep it elevated." Sophia whimpers as I put her into the truck.

"Dad! Over here!" Sophia yells out. I look behind me and see him jogging over with a bag of ice. Oh thank heavens!

Grabbing the last two suitcases, I toss them into the bed of my truck and then grab the edge of the cover and start unrolling it and then lock everything up. Mr. Schmitt approaches just as I'm finishing up in the bed. Jumping out, I meet him by the passenger side, taking the ice I thank him immensely.

"You're welcome, I'm glad I was able to find some. Let's get the girl to the hospital now." I nod in agreement, handing Sophia the bag of ice, and then walking over to the driver's side. I get in and fire it up and pull out of my spot.

It takes twenty minutes to get to the hospital, by the time we get there Sophia is complaining about her ankle hurting more. "Okay, sweetie we are almost there. Pulling up now. Close your eyes and try to relax, I'll carry you in when we get parked."

Looking over, she actually does have her eyes closed, Good, I'm glad. I feel awful. I just want her to feel better and get some relief.

"Let's go baby, we're going to go get your ankle all checked out and fixed up." I reply softly, opening the passenger, I gently scoop Sophia into my arms and Mr. Schmitt closes the door behind me. Walking toward the entrance, I maneuver her around the revolving doors. Calling out to the woman at the front desk, "ma'am? We need some help over here! I think her ankle is broken."

"Okay, sir. We will get you admitted right away. Can someone get this man a wheelchair please? And can I get a name please?"

"Sophia Schmitt, date of birth is November 15, 1996." Setting the sweet girl down into the wheelchair, the nurse immediately wheels her past the double doors. As her parents and I begin to follow back, the nurse stops us, "would you mind if only one of you came back right now?"

"Sure, Mrs. Schmitt?" She gives me an encouraging look and tells me to go ahead and follow back with Sophia.

"We'll see you back there when the xrays are done." She nods and follows her husband to the waiting room. "Alright, let's go sweetie. Everything is going to be fine." I take her hand in mine and squeeze it gently.