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Chapter ten: Suffering Through It All
"A B C D…" Jasper sung quietly in a dry voice. He was messing with one of Parker's shoe laces.
The children had been in the car for over thirty hours. They were dehydrated and famished.
Parker stroked Haley's hair anxiously. Her breathing was labored and her hacking had worsened to the point where she was coughing up blood. She had finally fallen back asleep after awakening numerous times do to her coughing.
Emma stared blankly at the infants. She watched their chests rise and fall worrying the whole time that their breathing would stop.
Jack was awake. He, Hannah, and Mel murmured about things that Parker could quite make out. Every time Jack moaned in pain the murmuring would cease and a few "Are you okay?" or "Jack?" would fill the thin silent air.
Jodie and Abe stared at each other with fixed curiosity.
"Will Abe's tooth grow back?" Jasper asked.
Parker nodded, "Yes Jazzy, his tooth will grow back."
Haley coughed violently in her sleep. She whimpered after it ended.
Parker caressed her pale face. Her hair was greasy after not showering for awhile.
"Parker, I thirstys!" cried Jodie weakly.
"I know Jodie. I'm sorry." Parker whispered patting Jodie on the head.
"When will the game be over?" Mel asked as she started to braid Hannah's hair.
"I…I…don't know Mel…I…I…don't know…" Parker whispered hoarsely.
He licked his dry cracked lips. He could taste the salty blood.
Parker felt a dry, warm hand against his cheek. The thumb belonging to the hand moved up and down in a soothing manner.
Looking down he saw the glint of Haley's once bright brown eyes, now dull, staring up at him worriedly.
"Parker?" she rasped weakly.
"Sh…" Parker soothed, "Don't talk…"
Haley stared up at him, tears ran down her cheeks. Parker's heart broke. Haley was in pain and he couldn't give her the care and attention she needed.
Nicky and Celeste cried weakly in Emma's arms.
"Sh…sh…I know you're thirsty. I wish there was something I could…" Emma started to hum to the infants.
"Parker, is sissy going to be okay?" Jasper asked.
"I'm…fine…Jazzy…don't…you…be…worrying…about…me…" Haley smiled weakly. She reached down to pat her little brother's head.
"Haley, you shouldn't talk. You need to save your energy." Emma scolded.
Haley through her sister a disapproving look,
"I…can…talk…if…I…want…to…" Haley started to cough.
Parker patted her on the back gently.
"Hals?!" Parker rasped franticly, "Hals?!"
"P…Parker…I'm…f-fine…y-y-ou're…s-scaring…t-the…k-kids…" Haley gasped.
Parker held her head up so she could breathe.
"Hals, maybe you should stop talking…you're obviously in a lot of pain…" Parker said gently.
Haley laughed weakly, "Me? In…p-pain? PB, I'm…" Haley gasped in pain.
She choked as a trickle of blood ran down the corner of her mouth.
Parker stared at her, pain visible in his eyes.
Haley regained her breath in a matter of seconds.
She leaned against Parker's chest in defeat. He wrapped his arms around her and slowly rocked her back and forth until she slipped into unconsciousness.
Emma stared back down at the infants and began to hum again.
Jack leaned against the back seat sleepily. His leg began to hurt again. Trying to ignore the pain, he listened to Mel and Hannah talk about what they hoped would happen at school.
Jodie and Abe stared at each other solemnly. Neither saying a word.
Jasper began his chant over again, "A B C D E F G…H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z…"
The words sounded haunting as they floated through the dry air. Parker wondered if they'd ever see the light of day again.
Sorry for a short chapter. Don't worry, the kissing scene will be coming up shortly. And there's going to be a surprise at the end involving Angela and a type of a test…can U guess the type of test? PLEASE REVIEW!!
