Chapter 35: Safe

The private room was still except for the methodical beeping and panging of medical equipment and machines. Laurie Bridges was quite used to and fond of the silence. When it was quiet, it meant that she was alone. When there was noise, footsteps above her, gunshots that she was far too afraid to wonder at whom they were being fired, Daniel's screams as he beat or raped her, Laurie became terrified and found she sometimes was unable to breath. In the hours upon hours of silence, she could close her eyes and imagine she was somewhere other than locked up in that basement or in chains upstairs. In the chaos, there was no escaping the reality of her tragedy and torment. Yes, Laurie very much enjoyed the stillness of her room and was blissfully accustom to it. What she was not yet readapted with was the substance that filled this hushed room. It poured in from all directions and splashed against her skin and the walls, covering everything from the pale flowers on the wallpaper to the speckled tile. She took a moment to peak at the source and the sudden new phenomena stung her eyes. She far from minded the mild pain. She simply grinned, soaking in the pure white energy.

Laurie sighed in utter relief and peace as she rolled her head to the other side. The metallic doorknob twisted and Laurie instinctively tensed. Her mind knew she was safe, but there would still now always be that fear. A man that she recognized clothed in a long white coat stepped inside and offered his patient a pleasant grin.

"Laurie," he nodded, "there's someone here to see you."

Her visitor stepped through the door and they greeted one another with a warm smile as if they were old friends. It wasn't until she noticed what the man carried in his arms that her smile widened, transforming into an open-mouthed grin that looked as if it could turn into a laugh at any second. The man returned the gesture and made his way across the room and to the bed.

"Hey girl," the visitor spoke softly, "thought you could use some company."

He slipped the infant that had been squirming in his grasp into Laurie's arms and she let out a small burst of laughter, broken in her throat as if there were internal tears behind the joy. She stared at the child with a gaze that held the maturity of a woman twice her age. She was not simply a helpless teenage victim of a serial killer. She was not a young woman, broken down by all that society and life had thrown her way. In that moment, she was only a mother, strong, yet gentle, young, yet aged.

"Just a few minutes," the doctor ordered in a kind voice as he exited the room, "Laurie needs her rest."

The man nodded and Laurie looked up at him thoughtfully. She silently examined the man who had helped save her life. She glanced over the scrapes and bandaging on his head and face and then her eyes found the sling around his arm. Her gaze turned solemn and she hesitantly shifted her focus away from the agent.

"Hey," Morgan whispered, "what is it?"

"It's just –" Laurie sighed and reluctantly continued. "You're hurt – because of me. You're friend – or partner – was shot. I – I asked one of the nurses. She said he'd have to use a crutch for awhile."

"Don't worry," Derek shook his head, "believe me, he's used to them. That kid gets banged up all the time."

"But – I mean – both of you are hurt and all you were trying to do was help me. Those – those kids. They were my age. He killed them because the boy saw me. They're dead because of me. They – they didn't do anything wrong and now –"

"You didn't do anything wrong either," Morgan interjected, both firm and compassionate. "None of this is your fault, you hear me? You survived a situation that most people wouldn't have been able to. You never stopped fighting, even with a bullet in your stomach. You kept your head and got out alive. And because of that, you got your son out alive too."

Laurie glanced down at her child and allowed a small smile to prick at the corner of her lips. Morgan stared at the girl in awe and swallowed, not desiring to reveal to her the next surprise he had, but knowing that it had to be done and would come a lot easier from someone she trusted.

"Laurie," Derek sighed, "there's something you should know. While you were gone, your foster parents – they –"

"They bailed, didn't they?" Laurie shrugged. "It's okay. It's not like I expected them to be out looking for me or anything."

"There are people who never stopped looking, though," Derek smiled, "The people from your church were still handing out flyers when we got here. Some of them are here, at the hospital now, or on their way. We'll figure this out and find somewhere for you to go. You've got a lot of people out there who care about you. Don't forget that."

"What about you?" Laurie narrowed her brow. "I heard what happened. You got Daniel Griffin. I'm safe. My son is safe. Your job's over, right? I can't imagine that you do this for everyone you save. So, why are you still here?"