Bleary eyes blinked open against a dull light. Her head was pounding and it took a few tries to blink away the fogginess. When she did she was met the worried, red, tear filled eyes of Aubrey. It was then that she registered the feeling of her hand being held.
"B-Bree?" She asked, her voice tired and strained. "What happened?" she asked, closing her eyes trying to remember what had taken place, and why her head hurt so much.
She felt the grip on her hand tightened. "You fainted, in the ambulance with Beca." She explained softly and Chloes eye flew open.
She saw Aubrey's eyes widen. "Oh my god, the fire… she, she died, Aubrey I saw it, I saw her flat line!" By this point she had already sat up and her voice was frantic as the memories flooded her all at once. Aubrey had stood up, and let her hand go in favor of placing both hands on Chloes shoulders and easing her back onto the bed.
"No, Aubrey stop. Where is she? Why aren't you with her, she shouldn't be alone- she-"
Aubrey hushed her gently and when Chloe noticed the look on her face, one that she shouldn't be wearing given the circumstances. She calmed.
"Chloe, Beca is alive. She is alive, and Stacie is with her now. You shouldn't be alone either."
Chloe stared at her. "Alive?" she asked, breathlessly as she began to relax, just slightly.
She nodded, her eyes sad. ''Yes, she flat lined, but they brought her back. They said you passed out shortly after they did.
Chloe looked down, noticing she wasn't in a hospital gown, nor was she hooked up to any machines. She still wore her own clothes.
Aubrey saw the look of confusion. "You weren't hurt. They said you'll have a head ache, but you are okay. You should lie down for a bit though-"
"How long have we been here?" She asked, cutting her off, but Aubrey didn't seem at all bothered by it.
Aubrey looked behind her at the clock on the wall. "Just over an hour."
Chloe nodded, "Stacie is with her? How did that happen? I thought there was a family only rule," She said as Aubrey took her hand again.
"When they were wheeling you both in, she woke up. Just for a few moments, but she woke up." She said.
Chloes heart skipped a beat. "She did?"
Aubrey nodded. "She was…" She trailed off and Chloe watched her carefully. Aubrey took a breath. "She was terrified." She said, "The first person she saw was Stacie."
Chloe lay back against her pillows, watching Aubrey, as she looked down. "She saw Stacie and reached for her, and by the time Stacie made it, and took her hand, she lost consciousness."
"But she's okay?" Chloe asked reaching up to wipe the tears in her eyes before they fell.
Aubrey nodded, her own tears falling. "Yeah, for now." She nodded. "The only reason they let us in the room with her, is because Stacie told them they are half-sisters. They didn't even check." She laughed halfheartedly.
Chloe couldn't even attempt a smile. Real or not. "I can't believe this happened." She said looking up at the ceiling, blinking back more tears. "I'm just glad she is okay."
Aubrey looked up. "Yeah, uh. About that." She said and Chloe looked at her.
"What?" She asked. "What's wrong?"
Aubrey looked down, "Stacie texted, um. They did an exam on her, after cleaning her up." She started.
Chloe nodded. "Yeah, and? Did she get burned? How bad is she?" She was sitting up again, her voice frantic once more.
"Surprisingly, she wasn't burned. At all. I mean her clothing got singed when they carried her out, and a lot of smoke inhalation, but she wasn't burnt."
Chloe let out a small breath. "Then what? What happened?"
With a sigh, Aubrey looked up. "Beca was attacked, somewhere in the time of her shift starting and the fire starting. She was beaten, quite badly from the looks of it." She said and watched as Chloes face took on a look of horror.
"What? Who?" She demanded as she sat up fully, swinging her legs over the edge of the bed.
Aubrey shook her head. "I don't know. No one knows, they said they hope Beca will remember." She said.
"I want to see her. Can I leave?" She asked.
Aubrey nodded. "Yeah, you didn't hurt yourself or anything, they check you out. Come on." She said standing up, and offering Chloe her hand.
She took it and got of the bed, her legs wobbled just slightly, before Aubrey's grip tightened. "I've got you,"
XXXXXX
Stacie was seated next to Becas bed. Her hands clasped together, bent at the elbows. Her face ducked down, as she prayed to things she wasn't sure she believed in. All she knew was Beca needed something.
Stacie had been in the room, when they removed Becas clothes, and revealed her battered body. She adverted her eyes, as they cleaned her up, put her in a hospital gown and stabilized her. Stacie had been given a series of questions, about her injuries, questions she couldn't answer.
One question though, she knew the answer too. But she didn't speak. She didn't know what to say, she couldn't betray Beca. She wouldn't, and she knew what it would mean. She knew Aubrey and Chloe would know what to do. Instead of answering, she remained silent, as the nurse gave her a displeased look and gently laid Becas scarred wrist on her stomach.
She looked up, as the door opened and felt tears gather in her eyes as Chloe all but ran across the room, to the opposite side of the bed. Beca was still unconscious, and didn't move as Chloe took her hand and held it in both of her own, kissing the back of it.
"Beca, baby, wake up." She whispered and Stacie could see her tears falling in steady streams.
Aubrey walked up behind her and placed her hands on her shoulders, rubbing her thumbs into them. Stacie relaxed slightly and leaned into the touch.
Chloe lifted a hand to gently run along the fresh bruises that littered Becas face. Around her eye, on her cheek, forehead. The split in her bottom lip.
"What happened to her?" She asked in a weak voice.
Knowing she wanted to know the extent of her injuries, Stacie straightened up. "Uh, what you see there, they guessed she was punched, repeatedly. She has various bruises on her arms, and legs. A concussion, and three broken ribs. Her stomach is pretty bad. No other broken bones though. Someone did this too her." She said and they could hear the edge in her voice.
Chloes eyes didn't leave Becas face, as she brought her small hand up and kissed her knuckles.
"I don't understand. How could this happen? She was getting better. She was feeling better. And now, this. This is going to push her back…it's going to-"
"We can't think like that, Chlo." Aubrey said softly. Chloe looked up at her for a moment, before looking back at Beca. "We have to believe that she can get through this, and we have to be there for her."
She nodded tearfully. "We will. We will always be here." She said, then looked up at the two on the opposite side of the bed, for confirmation.
They both nodded, sad smiles on their faces. "Always." Aubrey said, her own eyes shining with tears.
Chloe nodded, looking back at Beca, keeping her hand firmly held in her own, as she pressed her lips to the cold skin. "Wake up, Becs, Wake up."
XXXXXX
"It's been 14 hours…this is getting worrisome."
Aubrey stood with her arms crossed, staring down the doctor who was treating Beca.
"I understand your concerns Ms. Posen, but I assure you, Beca will wake up. Her tests came back, normal. This, could very well be something Beca is doing on her own." He said holding the clip board in front of him.
"Are you insinuating, Beca is purposely not waking up?" Stacie asked from her place beside Aubrey.
They were standing outside Becas room, Chloe was still seated beside her bed, she hadn't moved. Making the nurse work from the other side of the bed on Becas pain medication and bandages.
"It's possible. This was most likely extremely traumatic, she could be simply protecting herself, keeping herself in an unconscious state, as a way to ensure safety."
Stacie looked down, before looking at Aubrey. "That sounds possible." She said softly.
Aubrey nodded with a sigh. "Yeah, yeah it does."
The doctor looked between them. "Does Beca have a past history of violence, or any physical or mental abuse that-"
"Yes, she does. But you won't find it any records. None of it was ever reported, and Beca is dealing with it." Aubrey said, her tone clipped. Beca had been doing just fine, and she didn't want any doctors or snoopy police officers, digging around in Becas past, it wouldn't do any good.
He nodded. "And the scars, on her wrists?" He asked looking at her chart.
Aubrey took a breath through her nose. "Are scars." She said. He looked up.
"Yes they are."
"Scars are things of the past," She said. "Hardly something that needs to be brought to her attention. She is very aware, and she is healthy. Well, as healthy as she can be."
Stacie linked her fingers with the slightly shorter girl and smiled at her sticking up for and protecting Beca, even against Doctors.
"Alright, then I guess that's all there is on that. I will be back to check on her soon." He said giving a small smile and a nod, as he turned and walked down the hall.
"She is in better hands with you, than she is with professionals." Stacie smiled as they turned and walked back into the room.
Chloe had her head resting on the edge of the bed, her hand holding Becas.
"Chloe, love, why don't you go home and have a shower, and some food. Get some sleep."
Chloe sat up, shaking her head. "No, I'm good. I can't leave." She said shaking her head slightly and straightening her posture. "What did the doctor say?"
Aubrey and Stacie stood beside her, looking at Becas resting form. "That she is okay. They she is likely keeping herself in an unconscious state. A defense mechanism. She is protecting herself. So, just talk to her, let her know she is safe, and she isn't alone. Let her now that she can wake up." She said gently.
Chloe looked at her. That made almost too much sense. After everything, she finally found a way to protect herself. To keep herself away from harm.
"Ladies,"
They turned, in confusion at the sound of the doctor's voice behind them. He motioned toward the door.
"It looks like a relative does live in the area, Mr. Mitchell,"
Their hearts fell into their stomachs and Chloe stood up, slowly as Mr. Mitchell walked in.
"This is Becas Father."
Three sets of guarded, angry eyes met one set of concerned, knowing eyes. He stepped forward, and Aubrey and Stacie moved so that the three of them were blocking Beca from his view.
He stopped, clearing his throat. "Excuse me," He said politely, before giving them the smallest smile. Not a kind smile. One they could only describe as malicious.
A/N: I don't know for certain that the theory I wrote with Beca keeping herself unconscious is real or not. For the story sake. Let's say it's real. PLEASE REVIEW. UH OH.
