Chapter Twelve: Need You Now
"...And I wonder if I ever cross your mind?
For me it happens all the time
It's a quarter after one, I'm a little drunk and I need you now
Said I wouldn't call but I've lost all control and I need you now
And I don't know how I can do without
I just need you now..."
"Need You Now" - Lady Antebellum
Three months later…
November…
Aria was curled up in bed reading a book. Taking a bite of the apple as she turned the page, she barely registered the sound of Jason coming home. It was only when he entered did she look up.
"You're home late," she said quietly as Jason undid his tie and tossed it on the dresser.
"This woman wanted me to represent her and basically told me that because he husband cheated she wanted to clean out his bank accounts and properties. I told her that she was a little hopeful that she'd get everything and she screeched at me for an hour about how he's a pig and deserves to die. Not to mention she yelled at me because she had to drive all the way to the city."
Jason kicked off his shoes and collapsed down on the bed next to her.
"I'm sorry," Aria smiled as he situated himself so that his head was in her lap.
Putting her book and apple down, she ran her fingers through his short hair, "What time do you have to go in tomorrow?"
"Not till after ten," Jason said tiredly, "I told James that I keep staying over and that I'd like a day where I'm not going to bed at eleven and getting up at five."
"A few extra hours of beauty sleep will do you wonders," she teased.
"I could use them too. My secretary told me I'm looking old."
Aria laughed, "You don't look old at all. You're just as handsome as the day I married you."
"It was only four months ago," he groaned.
"My point proven."
"I should get up and shower."
"Or you could just lay here with me," Aria whispered as her hands moved down his chest to the buttons of his shirt.
"I could, couldn't I?"
Kissing his nose, Aria quickly undid the buttons of his shirt.
Jason moved off her and pulled her so that she was sitting his waist.
"You look good in my t-shirts," he said with a smile.
Her head fell back as she laughed, "Thank you. I agree too."
The sound of Aria's cell phone ringing broke the air. Reaching over to get it as Jason held her hips, Aria smiled seeing Zack's number.
"Hi Zack," she said cheerfully as she felt Jason sit up to press kisses to her neck.
"Are you sitting down?" he asked. Something in his voice had Aria filled with worry.
"Is everything okay?"
Jason stopped kissing her and looked at her concerned.
"It's Mike," Zack said, "He's been in an accident and they don't know if he'll make it."
"I'll be there soon," she said in shock as Jason took the phone from her to talk to Zack.
And from there she was on autopilot. Mechanically putting clothing on and walking out the door. Jason drove to Rosewood Hospital but Aria barely remembered the ride. Everything passed by in a blur. When they did park and walk in, seeing her mother sitting by Zack crying, jarred her. Hugging her mother tightly, Aria pushed back her own tears as Ella recounted how the police had shown up saying that Mike had been t-boned by another driver who was speeding and slid on the road. All Aria could do was pray that Mike had some strength left in him to fight because she didn't know how anyone could go on without him.
Rosewood was a wealthy town but also a small town.
Ezra sat in the ER with Megan as she cradled her broken wrist. X-rays earlier had shown a break and now all that was left was to have it set in a cast. Ezra watched from their small cubical by the nurse's station as people he recognized passed.
Some people had even stopped by to see Megan and make sure that she was okay. But he saw someone in the ER he hadn't expect to see.
Jason DiLaurentis was standing at the nurse's station filling out paperwork. He could feel himself shifting nervously. He didn't care for DiLaurentis but he was worried for Aria.
What if she was injured of sick?
Standing, he looked down at Megan, "Sit here, I'll be right back."
Megan nodded and he left, walking down the hallway to see if he could find any information about Aria.
Jason stood at the nurse's station looking at the file before him as he filled it out. Zack had asked him to see if it was possible to figure out any other details about what had happened. Rubbing his forehead, Jason felt chills. He wasn't cold but nervous and it took a lot to make him nervous. The conversation with the doctor ran through his head over and over.
"Is he going to be okay?" Ella asked worriedly as the doctor walked up to the small group that was standing in the hallway.
"I'm Doctor Harris," the older man introduced himself, "You're his mother I presume?" Ella nodded and looked at him anxiously.
"I'm Zack his stepfather," Zack extending a hand to shake, "This is Mike's brother-in-law, Jason DiLaurentis and his wife Aria."
Jason shook the Doctor's hand. Aria's hand clutched his other one tight enough that he was sure he was losing circulation. For someone so small, she had quite a bit of strength.
"How is he?" Ella asked anxious and in tears.
"I won't lie ma'am when I say that Mike is in very critical condition. He coded twice on the table but we were able to bring him back. As of right now, we've managed to stop the internal bleeding but beyond that we're not sure what kind of brain damage he could have because of the bleeding. His spine is also in questionable condition. We're not sure if he'll be able to walk again."
Ella started sobbing into Zack's chest and Aria clutched his hand.
"But he will live?" Aria asked in a shaky voice.
"The next twenty-four hours are the most important Mrs. DiLaurentis. I can't say what will happen."
Aria nodded.
"Will you let us know if there is anything else that we can do or if there is an update?" Jason asked in a steady and even voice.
"I will," Harris nodded, "Mike will be in recovery soon and you can see him."
Jason rubbed his forehead again trying to push the conversation out of his head. It would be cruel to have such a young, wonderful man like his brother-in-law paralyzed. Mike had so much to give and Jason knew the inability to walk would send his brother down into a spiraling depression that would make him irretrievable.
Aria had left after the conversation with the doctor to call her father who was on his way to the hospital from the airport where he'd landed from his conference to give an update. The news wasn't good. Mike had flat lined again since the doctor had spoken to them last and Zack had brought up the subject with him of preparing for the worst…Mike's death.
He didn't want to think about another sibling dying. Mike wasn't his brother biologically but he was his brother at heart. He'd lost Allison already. Mike was just a blow he didn't think he could take.
"Jason?"
He heard that voice and made a silent groan.
Ezra…
Turning around, he nearly bumped into the anxious man who was standing behind him.
"Is Aria okay? Why are you here?"
His patience and control were at an end he realized clenching the pen he was using in his fist.
"Ezra," he said in a tight voice, "Let's take a walk."
Ezra looked unsure for a minute and followed. They walked down to the hall where the vending machines were. Jason stopped and opened his wallet at the coffee machine.
"What are you doing here?" he asked slipping a dollar into the machine.
"Megan broke her wrist. She's getting it set in a cast."
Jason snorted and gave a humorless chuckle as he selected coffee, "You have some nerve Fitz."
"Why? Because I actually asked about the woman I lo-"
"I don't want to hear anything you have to say about my wife. Let me make something very clear Fitz in case you didn't get the message before. She doesn't love you. You broke her heart and it took me damn near eight months to put the piece back together for her. It's none of your fucking business why I'm here or why she is here with me. Go back home to your family and stop lusting after my wife. I used to pity you but I'm beyond that. I'm pissed and when you showed up at my wedding it only made it ten times worse. I don't know if you know this but the police station and Judge Vickers owe me a few favors. I'm pretty sure I could get you charged with stalking and slapped with a restraining order faster than you can say 'I love her'. Don't test me Fitz, I'm sure as hell not in the mood for this shit. Stay the hell away from my wife." Jason threatened quietly.
The machine dispensed his coffee cup with the steaming rising off the top. Jason grabbed it and glared at Ezra, "Have a good night Fitz. Give Megan my regards."
He stalked down the hallway towards the nurse's station and left Ezra standing there in shock.
Aria was seated curled up in an uncomfortable chair when Jason came back with a cup of coffee. Sitting up straighter, she accepted the cup with a sad smile and took a sip.
"Did Zack go get your dad?" Jason asked taking off his suit jacket and putting it around her shoulders.
"Yeah, my mom is sitting with Mike now. They let her in the ICU for a little bit to see him. Thank you for the jacket, I forgot how cold the hospital is."
Jason nodded, "The police are going to want to talk to your parents I imagine."
"I know," she said softly, "I just want him to be okay."
"Mr. and Mrs. DiLaurentis?"
They both looked up to see a cop standing there. Aria stood up quickly and looked at him anxiously.
"Yes?"
"Aria!"
She turned to see Byron jogging to her. Jason took the cup of coffee out of her hands before it would be spilled over them both.
"Oh God!" Byron cried, "How is he?"
"Mom is with him," Aria said giving him a tight hug back, "He's strong. I know he'll pull through."
"Are you Mike Montgomery's father?" the cop asked.
Byron let go of Aria and nodded, "I am. What happened? Is he going to be okay?"
"If you have health concerns, you'll have to speak to Mike's doctor. I can tell you what happened though. Please sit."
They all did and Aria grabbed Jason's hand nervously again and squeezed.
"Mike was doing the speed limit and going through the intersection of Maple and Wallace on a green light. The driver, Tyler Marshall, is sixteen and was driving at twice the legal speed limit and hit t-boned Mike. That's all the information I can give you at this time. I'm sorry. Mr. Montgomery if you want to speak to the doctor I'll send him over."
Byron nodded and the officer left.
Everything happened in a flurry. The doctor came over and explained Mike's condition to Byron and the older man cried at the news that his son might never walk again. The sadness quickly turned to anger. They moved to a semi-private waiting room and Jason had a sinking feeling in stomach, just like when he was in the courtroom and the judge was reading the terms of a divorce that weren't going to exactly be in his client's favor.
"I can't believe they might take away his license," a woman behind them said loudly, "It's not like Tyler killed someone! For god sake's, these things happen. Move on. The only thing your father is upset at is the wrecked car."
In an instant, Byron was on his feet and turned towards the mother of Tyler Marshall.
"Move on? Move on!" Byron yelled, "My son might never walk again because of your fucking son and his driving. He might die! His heart has stopped three times!"
Jason grabbed Aria's arm and yanked her out of the chair as she tried to calm her father down. He could tell that Byron might get violent and very quickly. Blind rage made people do stupid things.
"What's happening? Why are you yelling at my wife?!" a man close to Byron's age came standing nose to nose with Byron.
"Everyone needs to stop and take a step back," Jason said standing beside the men, "Fighting isn't going to solve anything. Right Zack?"
"I agree," Zack said from where he stood by a fearful Aria.
"My son might not walk and your wife just told your other son that these things happen and that we should all just move on."
The man shot his wife an angry look and then looked back at Byron, "They do happen and I'm sorry she upset-"
"They do?! My son is in a hospital bed and his heart stopped three times? You want to tell me these things happen?! You son of a bitch!"
It happened in a split second. Jason saw a punch from Byron and stepped between the two men to intervene as the other man aimed a punch too. Jason managed to push Byron back as the police showed up a little late and Tyler Marshall's father punched him as hard as he could in the ribs as Byron hit his cheek.
"Oh my God! Jason!" Aria said instantly coming to crouch by his side. He was on his hands and knees clutching his ribs.
"I'm okay," he mumbled as an officer came to his side, "I'm not pressing charges. It's fine. The wife said something without thinking and it pissed Byron off. They both took the first punch. I'm okay."
The officer nodded as Ella came into the room.
"Byron?" she asked tearfully, "Mike's awake and asking to see you."
The police let him go and he quickly followed Ella and the nurse that was with her.
Zack was crouched down next to him and let out a chuckle, "I can't decide if you're wise or crazy."
"Byron was going to get violent either way," Jason said with a grunt, "He was angry and there was no stopping it. I could just see the police arresting him for assault. Those people seem like the type to press charges anyway."
"Are you okay?" Aria asked worriedly as she rested her hand on his back. She rubbed in a soothing circle and looked at him with concern.
"I think so. Just a bruised rib and a numb cheek. Zack, can I have a hand to stand up?"
Zach helped him to stand and Aria looked at him with worry.
"You'll have to talk to the police and then we'll go get a hotel room across the street for tonight in case anyone needs to rest or leave for a short time. Though I doubt if Ella or Byron will."
Jason nodded and clutched his aching ribs. He was too tired to disagree with her and it was nearing four in the morning. All he wanted to do was sleep.
Aria sat on one of the bed in their hotel room as Jason took off his dress shirt. She closed her eyes seeing the large bruise that was already forming on his side.
"You're not in pain still are you?" she asked quietly.
Jason shook his head, "I'm fine Aria. Don't worry."
"It's in my job description as your wife to worry."
He chuckled, "If you say so."
The brief moment of joy ended and the somber mood returned quickly.
"When you go back to home tomorrow do you think you could get me some clothes and bring them back?" Aria asked quietly, "I want to stay with my mom and dad. They need someone here with them."
"I can do that," Jason nodded sitting down on the bed next to her and holding her hand, "Do you just want a bunch of clothing for a few days."
"I would…"
Her voice broke a little and Jason hugged her close, "Everything is going to be okay. I promise. One way or another we'll get through this."
Aria nodded and sobbed, "I just don't want to lose another person that I love."
He knew that she meant Allison but a little voice in Jason's voice couldn't help but sneer at him that she also meant Ezra too.
