Chapter XXI: Aftermath
Welcome back, everybody, and thanks to Invader101 for reviewing the last chapter. I'm glad to have other loyal readers too, like The Akemi Queen of Sakia, Glimerofhope and Fleeting Illicit Delicious. I know there are lots more of you, so thank you and feel free to leave a review! This story is fun to write and I'm glad to know you're having fun reading it! From what I gathered, Joey's dad will not be mourned. I figured he'd kill himself because, like so many abusers fear happening, he lost his control and knew there was nothing he could do to get it back.
Author's note, five years later: Some minor tweaks yet again. I also eliminated the recap.
The entire world watched as Lisa Angela Hammond revealed her powers. Before millions could absorb that, they saw a man snarl and blow the back of his skull off because he could not live in a world where he couldn't rule his domain with an iron fist. And then, they watched as the blonde-brown-haired blue-eyed teen girl with the bloody left sleeve sank to the ground.
In Kirkland, Washington, Gigi Hammond cried out, "Lisa," while her husband whispered his daughter's nickname, "Peacher." Eddie Hammond, though, watched his sister fall, and mentally berated himself for not being able to protect her.
At Domino High School, Lisa's friends and the young man who was to be her husband watched in horror as the events unfolded, and Seto Kaiba's heart contracted painfully as he watched his beloved turn extremely pale. At first, he feared the injury to her arm was finally taking its toll, but then he reached to her mind. No…So much blood…Too much… Seto… And then he felt her fall unconscious.
"She just passed out," he said, looking at the frightened people around him.
Mr. Darby's eyebrows raised in question. Realizing he had no choice but to tell the truth, Seto said, "We're like her. What she did to stop him we might be capable of."
Mr. Darby nodded. "That's normal, then?"
"Yeah," the boy answered. "I need to get to her."
Mr. Darby nodded. "The press is going to make it hard for all of you kids to be here for the next few days. If you want to come to school, you can, but you won't have to. Seto, you'll probably want to be out of here. Take care of your girlfriend." He said a few words of comfort to the Wheeler women, and then the group got out of the office, headed to the limo, and rode silently to Domino Children's Hospital.
Y
Paramedics raced out to the Domino Children's Hospital parking lot where two inert bodies lay. They checked one body, but only as a formality. The ruined head of the middle-aged male showed that there was no hope of his being alive, but they had to confirm that the subject was indeed dead. They covered the corpse and moved to the next patient, a fifteen-year-old girl. They knew who she was, having often talked with her when they'd brought patients to her, but now that didn't matter. Lisa Hammond was a patient herself.
"Lisa, are you with us?" a dark-haired female paramedic asked, while the other took her pulse.
"She's out cold," the other paramedic, a light-brown-haired, green-eyed male said. "It's probably the shock." The female medic nodded.
"We need a cart over here!" she shouted, and someone quickly brought the gurney. They lifted the unconscious girl onto it, and quickly rolled her into the ER. Scout Rhodes, Darla Truesdale, Jayda Yuki and Hiro Misawa were all waiting.
"Take her into that private exam room," Scout directed the medics. "Darla, go get a can of apple juice. It'll help her regain her strength." Darla nodded her blue head, gray eyes betraying her worry.
Scout cut Lisa's damaged scrub top off and removed the t-shirt beneath, as both had quite a bit of blood on them. But for all the blood, Lisa's arm wasn't badly damaged. The bullet had only grazed her arm, leaving what looked like a nasty cut. The doctor cleaned and dressed the wound, and then grabbed a cool wash cloth. She laid it on Lisa's forehead and called the girl's name softly. "Lisa, sweetie, it's all right. You're safe and in the hospital. C'mon and wake up."
Lisa's eyes fluttered open and she looked at Scout. "Here, honey, take a drink," the older doctor said, bringing the can of juice to the girl's lips and supporting her as she sat up. "Are you all right?" Lisa nodded. "Can I get you anything?"
Lisa considered this a minute. "Want Seto," she answered in a monotone. "Want Seto."
"Okay, sweetheart. He'll be here."
"Want Seto…" Lisa lay back down, and went silent again.
It took twenty minutes for the Kaiba limousine to reach Domino Children's Hospital and for the group to get into the hospital. "Guys, go upstairs and tell Mokie I'll be right there. I've got to be sure Lisa'll be okay," Seto said as they got into the hospital.
"Got it, Seto," Yugi said as he and the group headed for the elevator. An orderly came to the teen CEO and led him to the exam room where Doctor Rhodes was standing outside for a moment.
"Oh, Seto, thank goodness," Scout said as he walked up.
"How's Lisa?"
Scout looked very worried, and took a deep breath. "She's very shaken up right now. She's barely said a word since it happened. The gunshot she suffered was just a graze, but I'm more worried about her emotional state right now. All she's said in the last half-hour is 'want Seto.' She needs you right now."
"Okay," he answered softly, and walked into the room. Lisa was lying on the exam room bed, staring up at the ceiling. She was in despair, and as pained as Seto had ever seen her. If You're there, help me, he prayed in his head. "Leese, babe, I'm here." She sat up and looked straight at him. He sat down next to her and she hugged him tightly and began to cry. The crying quickly became racking sobs. "It's okay, let it out; shhhh…" He rubbed her back gently in a calming motion.
Finally, after about fifteen minutes of crying, her sobs quieted. Seto grabbed a box of tissue, and helped Lisa wipe her eyes and nose. She was wearing a paper gown over her upper half which was disintegrating because it had gotten very wet. The teen boy got a good look at the bra she was wearing (a very pretty pink one with Cs crisscrossed over the cups) and asked, "Do you want me to get a new top for you? I'll bet you're cold." She nodded. "Lisa, let me go for a minute. I'll be right back, I promise." With a definite amount of reluctance, she let him go.
"Dr. Rhodes," he asked, sticking his head out the door, "Lisa could use a new top. The paper gown kind of disintegrated." The doctor nodded, headed down the hall and into the doctors' locker room and came back with a clean large blue t-shirt for Lisa to wear. Seto helped his love into the shirt, and then just sat with her for a bit. He sensed he shouldn't make her talk, opting instead for her to talk when she was ready.
"Seto," she asked finally, "did you see..?"
"I did. You were very brave out there, babe. The whole world saw…"
"I saw a guy blow his brains out," she whimpered, burying her face against his chest again. She trembled and shook. "I couldn't do anything to stop him, Seto. I didn't want him dead!" Her voice shook, and again she drifted into silence. It was at this moment, the district attorney showed up.
"Mr. Kaiba?"
"Hello, Ms. Van de Kamp. Do you want to take Lisa's statement?"
"Only if she's all right to do it," the redheaded woman answered, taking in the scene.
Lisa took a shaky breath. "I can do that," she answered softly. "I want to talk… Only if Seto can stay in here with me." Bree nodded, and set up the equipment necessary to take the teen girl's statement. When the young doctor got to the part about Jake Wheeler taking his life, she couldn't say any more. Bree thanked Lisa for giving the statement, and left.
Seto asked softly, "Should I go get Mokuba? Are you up to it?" She nodded. "I'll be right back," he said. As Seto walked toward the elevator, he pulled his cell phone out of his pocket, calling Lisa's parents.
"Hello?" Gigi Hammond greeted, sounding extremely worried.
"Hi, Gigi. I'm sorry I didn't call sooner."
"Oh, Seto, thank goodness. Is Lisa all right?"
"She was only grazed by the bullet. Emotionally, she's really shaken, though. She's barely talked since it happened. I was just on my way up to get Mokuba so Lisa can see him before I get her out of here. I don't want the press mobbing her right now."
"We've been praying she was okay. I just wish we were down there right now with you. I know this is the worst time to ask you, sweetie, but did you ask her?"
"Oh, crap, we must've forgotten to call you! I asked her Saturday night and she said yes."
"It's all right, honey. She's just like her father. He gets single-focused and forgets to tell me important things. Lisa takes after Darren so much. Did you get her a ring?"
"Yeah. This is the fourth generation it's been used as an engagement ring, and it fit her perfectly. I'll keep her safe, Gigi, and I'll make her feel better. I'll try to get her to talk to you later, okay?"
"Okay, Seto. I'll let you go, all right? Love you, sweetie."
"Love you guys, too." It came easier every time he said it. He had started to really love the Hammonds and was glad he had them to look to. He was finally at the third floor, and Roland was standing outside the door to Joey and Mokuba's room.
"Sir, is everything okay?" the security guard asked.
"She's really upset," the boy answered. "I'm going to get her out of here, but she wants to see Mokuba first. I don't know how, but I've got to make her feel better."
"Just be there for her," Roland advised softly. "My wife Lorelei lost her mother when my older boy was two. Her mom was hit by a motorcycle while on a morning jog. Lori raged and cried, and all I could do was just hold her and love her."
Seto regarded his security man for a moment, then said, "Thanks, Roland." He walked into the room, where an hour ago there had been tears, hugs and comfort.
"Hey, guys," Seto said, and then turned to the Wheelers. Joey stopped him before he could say anything.
"Say it later, okay, Seto? Please?" Joey asked. The blonde boy looked very winded, having had to deal with his emotions along with his injuries.
Seto understood completely. His father may have been mean, but Jacob Wheeler was still Joey's father. Even though he'd been angry with his biological father, Seto still mourned Richard Delaney's loss. Mokuba was sitting in the arms of Tristan Taylor and had obviously been crying.
"Thanks, Tristan," Seto said softly. Tristan gave the other boy a small smile, and Mokuba flung himself into his big brother's arms. "Mokie, do you want to go see Lisa?"
"Yeah, big brother. Is she okay?" Everyone turned to look at Seto, the same question on their lips.
"She's really shaken up. As soon as she's had a little time with Mokuba, I'm getting her out of here. I know she'd like to see all of you, but she is really upset."
"Give her a hug from all of us," Teá said.
"I will." With that, the teen CEO carried his little brother out of the room and down to Lisa's exam room.
"Big sister," Mokuba said when his brother set him down next to her, and hugged Lisa tightly. She hugged the little boy back. "Are you going to be okay?" he asked softly. She nodded tiredly. And then Seto hugged them both, being careful of Lisa's sore arm.
The three sat in a triple hug for a long moment and then released. "Mokie, I'm going to take you back upstairs now, okay? Lisa, is that all right?" Lisa nodded, again having withdrawn into silence.
Mokuba gave Lisa another hug and a kiss on the cheek. "I love you, big sister," he said softly, and she smiled back at him. But then her smile faltered, and she looked as if she was going to cry again. Seto took Mokuba back upstairs to his room, said goodbye to the group and then headed back downstairs. Lisa was quickly discharged from the hospital, and Seto carried her out the back exit to the waiting limo.
"Babe?" he asked as they sped away. "Leese, do you want to have pizza delivered later?" She didn't answer. "Leese?" He put his arm around her, and she leaned against his chest. The emotions he was feeling from her were fear, pain and despair. And there was a flicker of something else he wasn't sure of. "I'll order some pizza with pepperoni and black olives. Maybe you'll feel like it later."
He called Gino's and made the order. They drove by the restaurant instead of having it delivered. Seto hoped that the smell of her favorite pizza might perk Lisa up, but on this night there was a dullness in Lisa's eyes that could not be banished by food. They arrived at the mansion at 5:30, and Seto took the pizza into the kitchen. He thought Lisa was right behind him, but when he turned around, she wasn't there. Worried, he headed back toward the limo, fast. The driver was heading up the walkway to the front door as Seto headed down it.
"Jerry, where's Lisa?"
"Mr. Kaiba," the driver said, "she's just lying there in the backseat. She doesn't seem to want to move, sir."
Seto, without a word, moved to the limo door and Lisa was curled in a fetal position in the backseat, crying softly.
"Leese? Babe?" She wasn't talking. "C'mon, let's get you inside," he said lovingly, taking her in his arms and carrying her into the house. He knew she was of heavier build, but at this moment, he was amazed at how light she seemed in his arms. The thought that he could've lost Lisa today was agony. And to have her safe and okay in his arms would be heaven.
He took her to his bedroom and gently laid her down on his own bed. "Leese, if you're not hungry yet, I was wondering if you'd like a bath. I got some bath bombs from your favorite shop. Why don't I fill up my bathtub for you? It's bigger." She didn't say anything. So he went and filled up his own bathtub, which was as long as a queen-size mattress and as wide as a full-size mattress. It was deep enough that a single person could sit in the tub when it was half-full and be submerged just below the shoulders. Seto dropped seven bath bombs in the tub which contained seven rosebuds each. He also lit several candles so that the room was gently illuminated.
"Leese," he said as he came back in the bedroom, "it's ready. Why don't you go into the bathroom and get in?" He helped her off the bed and then she wouldn't let go of his hand. "Lisa, do you want me in there?" She looked at him and nodded. "Okay, then," he answered. He followed her into the bathroom, vaguely realizing that he was still in his gym clothes. Lisa, either ignoring or not caring that he was in the bathroom with her, stripped off her clothes and stood naked in front of him dispassionately. This wasn't like the time she was sick with the flu, he realized. At least then, she hadn't had that horrifying blank look on her face.
Lisa eased into the tub and stared off into space. Had she been okay and okay with him being in the bathroom, Seto knew she would have talked to him. Her very silence scared him because even when she was frightened, she would talk, but this was a different silence. "Lisa," he said, "I'm going to use the sponge and help you clean up a little, all right?" Still, she was silent… What can I do? He grabbed a sea sponge and got it wet, using it to run the warm, scented bath water over his love's shoulders and then gently began washing her bare back. She was unresponsive for the most part and that scared him.
The young man got his love clean, and hoped she would relax and open up. "Do you want to get out now?" Seto asked when she looked up at him. She nodded and he reached with his powers to grab her bathrobe. He helped her into it and walked her to his bed where a pair of her clean underwear and a warm nightgown was waiting.
"Lisa, I'm going to get a shower and change into my pajamas, okay? Then we can have some dinner." It was 7:15 now, and it would be a good idea for them to eat something. Seto headed into the walk-through closet and shut the door. He selected a pair of gray cotton pajamas for himself, as well as a clean pair of boxers. He quickly got in the shower and scrubbed himself off. Seto couldn't remember ever being this worried, except when Mokuba had been in surgery. The Lisa he loved so much now had withdrawn and was acting completely out of character. Help me, Lord. I don't know how to help her, he prayed.
Seto expected that when he reentered his bedroom that Lisa would be in her nightgown. However, the sight that graced his eyes was the woman he loved, sitting in only her panties, her knees drawn up under her chin and her arms wrapped around her legs. Her blue eyes were full of tears, and the young man knew he'd need to hold her close and let her cry.
"Lisa," he asked, sitting down on the bed, "are you okay? You're going to get cold if you don't get that nightgown on."
She looked at him, and flew into his arms, crying. She began sobbing and keening. Her emotions were incredibly strong and Seto had to raise his mental shields a bit so he could keep himself together. "Leese," he soothed, "you're going to be okay… let it out." He gently rubbed the bare skin on her back, continuing to make soothing noises. She sobbed for a good twenty minutes before she finally started to calm down. "Lisa," he asked when she looked up at him, "can I get you something?" She shook her head. "Can I do something for you?" he asked.
Lisa looked up at the young man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. I almost died today, and… The part of her that was logical and calm wasn't in control right at this moment and what she wanted the most was to be close with Seto. And so she leaned up and kissed his lips, pressing against him. Oh, she wanted this…Why had she not given into this before?
Seto, for his part, enjoyed Lisa kissing him and pressing herself close. But then he came to his senses. "Mrmph… Leese, what are you thinking?" She looked up at him, the hunger in her eyes saying more than any words could. "Do you want to do what I think you want to do?" he asked, getting more than a bit nervous. She nodded, the hunger not abating. "Leese, it wouldn't be right. You're not okay tonight and I'd feel like I'd be taking advantage of you. It wouldn't be right."
And then for the first time in quite a while, she spoke. "Don't you..?"
"I want to, but…Leese, after what you've been through today, I don't want us to wake up tomorrow regretting our first time. I don't want us to start our life together on the wrong foot and I love you too much to let that happen. Why don't I give you a backrub and get you relaxed, help you get your nightgown on and then get our dinner up here? We could watch a movie, too."
To his relief, Lisa nodded, again looking on the verge of tears. "Seto… honey, I'm sorry." He wiped her eyes.
"Leese, don't be sorry. You saw horrible things today, and I don't blame you for being so upset. Just relax." He got her to lie down on the bed on her stomach, and he grabbed a few body butters. "What body butter would you like? I've got mango, key lime and lavender."
"Lavender, please," she said softly. He opened the jar and the sweet scent of lavender touched his senses. The scent was relaxing to him, and reminded him of the sachets his mom kept in her lingerie drawers. He got some of the butter out of the jar and put it on Lisa's bare back. The skin on her back was smooth and soft, but he could tell she was very tense. He gently rubbed her neck and shoulders, and then moved down her back. He could feel her relaxing, physically and mentally as he massaged her. Oddly, he knew this should be driving him crazy, considering she'd made clear earlier what she wanted earlier, but it wasn't. All he cared about at this moment was making her feel okay again. He massaged her back, shoulders and neck for half an hour, and then stopped.
"Leese?"
"Hm?"
"Shall I help you get your nightgown on you?" he asked.
"Okay," she answered softly, sitting up. He grabbed the nightgown, a cream-colored, long-sleeve cotton gown with little purple flowers all over it and a little ruffle at the bottom and helped her into it.
"I'm going to go get us our pizza, Leese. I'll bring a few sodas up, and you can pick what you want." She nodded and he headed down the stairs to get the food and drinks. He headed back upstairs quickly with the food and drinks and discovered his love sitting up, but under the covers and watching TV. "Hey, are you feeling better?"
"A little bit," she said softly. She'd turned on Whose Line is it, Anyway because she needed a laugh or at least something that kept her mind off things. Seto brought her a plate with two slices of pizza on it and a can of her favorite diet cherry cola, then came back with his own plate and a can of lemon-lime diet soda. He got into bed next to her and they watched and ate silently, except for a few chuckles when the men on Whose Line did something terribly funny.
"Hey, Lisa?" Seto asked at the commercial. "Would you like a little more pizza?" She nodded and he went to the table and got the box. He brought it back, and together they finished the last four slices of pizza in the box. It was a little bit early in the evening, about nine o'clock when they finished their dinner, but the couple was exhausted. "You don't feel like watching a movie, do you?" Seto asked his love. Lisa shook her head, already starting to nod off. "Okay. I'll clean this up quick."
Seto picked up the pizza box, got out of bed and went and picked up the cans of soda he and Lisa hadn't opened and drank. He carried everything downstairs, put the cans back in the fridge and tossed the pizza box in the trash. He put the two plates in the dishwasher and headed back upstairs to his bedroom. Is it our bedroom now? He wondered at this because though he and Lisa likely wouldn't do anything, he had a feeling that they wouldn't sleep in separate rooms now.
"Leese?" he called softly, walking into the room. He looked at her and saw she was sound asleep. Despite the injury to her left arm, to him she still looked angelic. He smiled a little bit at the sight of her. She was sleeping on her right side, her full lips were parted as she breathed and he could see her long, pretty eyelashes. "Good night, Leese," he said softly, kissing her cheek. He climbed into bed next to her, and (to his surprise) was fast asleep within five minutes.
Y
Where am I? I'm running through a dark place. I hear a gunshot and screaming. I burst into a hallway at Domino Children's and I'm running toward the screaming. Oh, please, God, no! Don't let this happen! Joey's dad has Mokuba in a tight grip and has that gun to Mokie's head, like Kemo did. Somehow, I know Joey's dead. Somehow, Joey's dad got into the hospital.
"Let him go!" I shout, desperate to free Mokuba. "He's just a baby! Take me instead!" I'd rather die than let Mokuba be harmed again. But Joey's dad knows how to torture me.
"Oh, you'd like that, wouldn't you? My son said the same thing… right before I did this!" He cocks the gun and fires. He drops Mokuba's dead, bloody body and moves towards me. I'm paralyzed and part of me is screaming to run, but I cannot move. And at this moment, part of me doesn't care. He moves toward me with the gun, grinning like a demon. Mokuba's dead, Joey's dead, and I won't be able to get away.
Goodbye, Seto… Joey's dad comes to me, covered in Joey's and Mokuba's blood. "Say goodbye, XXXXX!" He fires…
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Lisa woke up screaming. Seto, fortunately, was already awake having sensed his love's nightmare. "Leese…Leese, it's okay…you're safe, Mokie's safe, Joey's safe and everybody's safe. He's dead, he can't hurt you anymore."
She blinked a few times to reorient herself and looked into her beloved's eyes. "You're okay?" Lisa asked. He nodded. "Just hold me," she said softly. Lisa lay down and Seto held her, rubbing her back again while hugging her close. She fell back to sleep, and he followed soon after.
And that concludes Chapter 21. Read and review, folks!