The Bet 2: Dark Secrets
By: Fox Almasy
Ch. 12
All We Can Do Is Pray
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Benji stirred and opened his eyes. He was greeted with the sight of the hospital ceiling as his eyes fluttered open. He tried to figure out what it was that had awoke him and turned his head and smiled as Riley slipped into the room with her Grandma in tow. He smiled tiredly as he held out his hand for her. Cautiously, Riley slipped her hand into his and smiled back.
Benji had been in the hospital for three days now and this was the first time he was able to have visitors. Slowly he pulled Riley into his arms and held her close, being careful to not let her touch the stitched that were in his chest.
"I missed you so much Daddy."
"I missed you to. Have you been behaving?" he felt her nod her head before Squeezing his neck more tightly. "Good. How are the twins doing?"
"They cry sometimes, but they're being good." Benji looked up as his mother stepped to the edge of the bed. She looked tired and it seemed her once black hair had more gray in it then the last time he had seen her. She reached out and brushed his hair from his face before leaning down and kissing his forehead.
"The doctors say you will be able to leave most likely tomorrow."
"Do you know how Brad and Naomi are?" his mother sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed.
"Naomi is going to be alright. They are keeping her for a few extra days, but they say her injuries are mostly emotional, although she does have some physical ones as well." Benji felt sick to his stomach just thinking about what that bastard had done to her. On top of that all he felt such unbelievable guilt. He should have been there to stop him. There was nothing Brad could do so she was his responsibility and he had failed. Benji was brought out of his thoughts at the sound of his mom's voice again. "I'm afraid though, that Brad has yet to wake up. He's still in ICU and the doctors are worried that he may not come out of it. He was really bad when they brought him in, he lost so much blood. They've done all they can for him so now its up to him on whether he makes it or not." Benji stared at his mother and could see the sorrow that filled her eyes. She had met everyone before, and when ever they would see her she treated them all like they were her sons. She turned to him again and smiled weakly. "There's someone else here to see you." Benji frowned as his mom stood and walked to the door. She disappeared into the hallway and Benji looked down at Riley to see her smiling up at him.
"It's a surprise!" her grin was so wide that Benji couldn't keep himself from smiling. He looked up and watched the door to the room as it opened. His eyes widened in surprise as a woman stepped in. Her hair was black and razor cut and her eyes were such a bright green that they almost glowed. She smiled softly before hurrying to the bed and throwing her arms around Benji's neck.
"Kira, what are you doing here?" Kira had gone to school with Benji and had been there for him when Riley was born. She had become a good friend and had helped out with Riley whenever she could. She looked even more beautiful then the last time he had seen her. The young woman smiled down at him before pressing a light kiss to his cheek.
"Your mom asked me to come with her. Besides you never come visit or anything and I really missed you and Riley." she hugged him again and Benji slowly wrapped his arms around her.
"I'm glad you came." Kira pulled back and frowned down at him. She knew he was worried, heck they were all worried.
"Benji your friends, they'll be OK. I know they will."
"I hope you're right." he leaned back in the pillows as his chest began to ache where the stitches had been put. Kira looked at him worriedly before quickly standing from the bed and smiling slightly.
"You need some more rest. So I'll go take Riley and get some lunch. We'll be back later OK." Benji nodded and waved goodbye to Riley as she smiled up at him.
"Bye daddy." he watched them leave, before allowing himself to think about the others. Naomi was awake, but how was she really feeling and Brad . . . If she lost Brad now how could she possibly get over what had happened. The twins would have to grow up without a Dad. Benji hardly ever prayed, but he felt the need to do so now.
"God . . . Please let everything be ok."
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Naomi stared up at the ceiling and felt like her soul had been crushed, like her will to live had been ripped out of her. She felt dirty, even after the shower, she still felt horribly dirty. she tried not to think and fought to keep her mind a complete blank. No matter how hard she tried though, the memories would flood back and take over like the plague.
She could feel his hands on her skin and his mouth on her body and it made her want to puke. Feeling her stomach heave, Naomi rolled to the side and reached for the bed pan. She barely had time to pull it up before her stomach took the liberty of emptying the contents of her stomach.
"Naomi are you alright?" Naomi glanced up from the bed pan and met her mother's gaze before leaning back into the pan and dry heaving. Mrs. Fluegal stared at her worriedly and gently rubbed her back as she set the bed pan down and leaned back into the pillows. Tears burned Naomi's eyes as she squeezed her eyes shut.
"Mom can you please just leave me alone."
"Naomi you should talk about what happened, it might make you feel better."
"I will never feel better! No matter what I do I'll always remember!" Mrs. Fluegal stood uncertainly as Naomi broke down into tears . Her body shook with the force of her sobs and her face was still severely bruised. Mrs. Fluegal waited as Naomi's sobs subsided into tiny hiccups. Gulping for air, Naomi glanced at her mother. "How's Brad?"
"Naomi you should rest."
"Mom. How is Brad?"
"Naomi . . ."
"Just tell me!"
"He's not doing good. He lost a lot of blood and the way the bullet was shot, it went up and hit one of his lungs. It collapsed, but they managed to repair it, but he still hasn't woken up yet. The doctors have done all they can do so we just have to wait now." Naomi was silent. She turned her head in the direction of the window and watched the clouds that hung in the sky.
"Where are the twins?" her voice was barely above a whisper, but her mother still managed to hear it.
"Brad's mother is watching them."
"Bring them to me I want to see them."
"OK." she left the room and Naomi was glad to be alone again. Her family was falling apart and all she could do was wait and see what happened. He couldn't leave her, she couldn't raise the twins on her own.
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Brad's mother, Jessica, sat in the chair provided for her and watched worriedly as her son lay in the hospital bed fighting for his life. She had gotten the call about an hour after they had been taken to the hospital and all she could feel was her heart dropping to the pit of her stomach. It brought back too many bad memories. Wade gurgled as he sat on her lap and reached up to take a fist full of her blouse. Jessica smiled sadly and looked up at Kevin where he stood against the wall holding Wesley.
Jessica looked away and blinked her eyes rapidly in an attempt to quell the sadness that threatened to take over. She had to be positive, because if they gave up then what hope would Brad have to survive? Jessica looked over her shoulder as the door to the room opened and Naomi's mother walked in. She smiled sadly before clearing her throat and clasping her hands together.
"Any changes?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
"Naomi would like to see the twins. So I'll take them off your hands now."
"Oh . . . Alright." She handed Wade to the shorter woman and Kevin followed suite. When Naomi's mother left the room, Kevin stepped over to Jessica and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I'm gonna go get some coffee, do you want anything?"
"Coffee please." he nodded and quietly slipped out of the room. She was soon left alone with Brad and the beeping from the heart monitor. "I never thought I'd have to see you like this again. The last time though, you woke up right away, so why can't you do it now? Your family needs you Brad, your friends miss you. Please wake up." but there was nothing, no movement, the heart beat didn't get stronger. He just lay there still and quiet like he was sleeping.
Jessica began to sob loudly as she buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook violently and she slowly reached out to take his hand in hers. His fingers were cold and limp and didn't respond at all to her touch. She let her hand slip form his before standing and slowly walking to the door. She just needed a short break.
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Ten days, Ten days and there was nothing the doctors could do. They said a person could stay asleep for months, but the ones who are asleep for that long hardly ever make it out. They sure knew how to look at the glass as half empty. Naomi stood in the doorway to Brad's room as Bit and Jack talked quietly to him, hoping that somehow he was hearing them. But nothing changed. He didn't move or wake up.
Bit sighed heavily and looked up at Naomi. She looked as if she hadn't slept in days and her face was still lightly bruised. Benji had vaguely explained what had happened to her and Bit wished that they had been the first ones to be attacked, not Brad and Benji. They had families.
Jack stood from his chair and motioned for Bit to follow. They walked to the door and Jack rested his hand on Naomi's arm. He pulled back slightly as she flinched from his touch, but her eyes turned to him looking sad and tired.
"Don't worry alright. He's been through a lot and he'll get through this too." she didn't reply and her eyes looked away and across the room to where Brad lay. "We'll see you later alright?" She nodded before stepping away from his touch and over to the chair next to Brad's bed.
Bit and Jack watched her for a minute before walking out into the hall and to the sitting area where Benji, Brad's mom and step dad sat with the twins. Kira and Benji's mother had taken Riley and Brad's little sister Lynn out for lunch and a movie so they wouldn't be stuck in the hospital. They all sat up as Bit and Jack entered the waiting area. All eyes were on them, pleading silently that something had happened for the better, that something had changed. Jack shook his head before taking up a chair and leaning his head back.
Something was tugging on his pant leg and he lifted his head to see one of the twins smiling up at him from the floor. Grinning slightly he reached down and lifted the child onto his lap.
"And which one are you?"
"That's Wade." Jessica answered quickly and watched as Wade grabbed onto his shirt.
"You have no idea what's going on kid. I hope your dad wakes up soon."
Naomi yawned as the room around her darkened. She could see the sun slowly sinking along with her hopes that Brad could make it out of this. It had been ten days, but he still looked terrible.
"Mom and Dad had to go back home yesterday, they had some things they needed to do. And the twins started crawling too, you should see them, they're all over the place now." Naomi paused and reached out to gently take his hand. It was cold against her skin and it only made the worry inside her grow even more. "Your little sister and Riley made you a bunch of cards, they're kind of cute. Your mom is really worried about you, we all are." she squeezed his hand before laying her head on the bed and closing her eyes. She was so exhausted and only wanted a few hours of rest.
It didn't take long for her to fall asleep, even with the beeping that was always present in the room.
"Naomi . . .Naomi wake up."
"Hmm?"
"Wake up." Naomi's eyes slowly fluttered open and automatically jumped to the clock on the wall. She frowned as she realized it was two thirty in the morning. Something had woken her up, but she wasn't quite sure what it was. Slowly she lifted her head before her eyes became wide and she sat up swiftly. The beeping from the heart monitor had turned into a long continuous beep and a line sped across the heart monitor. The line was no longer spiking.
Naomi felt herself panic as she jumped up from the chair and hurried to the door. She threw it open and stumbled into the hallway and was relieved to see nurses hurrying toward her. They pushed passed her into the room and all Naomi could do was watch as they tried to bring Brad's heartbeat back.
She felt herself shaking all over and no matter what she did it wouldn't stopped. They tried three or for times to get his heart beating again, but each time it flat lined. Naomi squeezed her eyes shut as the room began to swim before her eyes. Then slowly the room went black and the last thing she could remember was the continuous sound of the heart monitor showing a flat liner.
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Ooo a nice lil cliffy. N e way I'll try to get the next chappy up asap. Thanks again to Phoenix07 I hope u like this chappy to.
