Disclaimer: I do not own JA or any of the characters.
Chapter 44: Help Is Here
Gillian stared in shock, repeating what Amy had revealed in her head. Trying to figure out if she had misheard. "What was that?"
"I see David."
"Are you sure? I mean, um, has he ever done anything to you? Has he given you any reason to think that way?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"If I knew that Gillian I would be able to solve it and get rid of the flashbacks. But being with him, when are together. I just, I don't know. I just can't. I can't keep this up." Amy pulled the promise ring off her finger and handed it to Gillian. "Can you give this to him, please."
Gillian took the ring and looked at it carefully, when she realised what it was she handed it back. "No!"
"What?" She asked shocked at Gillian's cold response.
"No, I will not give David the promise ring back. You accepted it so you can give it back to him."
"I can't Gill, please. For me."
"This is something I will not do for you Amy, anything else. But I will not hurt somebody who doesn't deserve it. It's not right. You're just scared. You need help to fight that feeling."
"I'm not scared."
"Don't argue Amy. You are scared and you know it." Gillian squeezed Amy's hand. "You always put on such a brave face. I don't know how you do it, but with everything that has happened, I really think that you should let your guard down, and my advice to you is not to end things with David. At least not yet, you are letting things get on top of you. You are running from your problems." She held up her hand as Amy attempted to interrupt. "No, don't even try, you were so harsh on David when he ran away, and yet you do it nearly every day. You are always running, and now your body is telling you to stop. That it is the end of the line, and you are ignoring it. As if you would carry on to build your own, just so you don't have to see what is following you, what it is you are running from. But you need to be silent. You need to understand that it is time to face everything and everyone, and let yourself feel. I know that Michael hurt you, and I also know that is when you completely closed yourself to the world. You need to harness that emotion and let yourself cry. Let othersbe there for you, but most importantly let others comfort you. Until you can do that, don't make any important decisions, such as with David." She took a deep breath to recover from her speech and watched Amy's face as she registered what had been said. "Ok?"
"Ok." Amy bit her lip and tried to block the image on that confrontation from her head.
David paced his cell. He couldn't understand what was taking so long. He couldn't understand how, if Amy was awake she wouldn't tell them he was innocent. Unless she doesn't remember. Or unless she doesn't want me to get out. But why would she want that.
"David." He stopped pacing and looked up.
"Abner, what are you doing here?"
"I'm here as your attorney."
"But you can't be, you don't do that anymore."
"David for you, for everything you've been through, I would walk through fire. You don't deserve this. You are a good man."
"Why am I still here?"
"They still think you did it."
"But Amy...."
"She hasn't been spoken to. The doctors won't allow it, they say she needs more time to recover."
"But...."
"I know, don't worry. I am going to go see her. So I can get the heads up. Although it's family only so, I will be known as Uncle Abner." He chuckled, but became serious again upon seeing David's face. "I'm sorry. I will get you out of here. I promise."
"Don't make promises you know you can't keep."
"David please, be a bit optimistic. It would make my job a bit easier."
"Sorry, slightly hard." He gestered to the room.
"I'm going to try and fix this.... and when I do.....Roderick Jones will wish he had never been born!"
"Hey mom." Victor walked calmly upto Amy's bed and slipped his hand into hers.
"Hey Victor."
"Have they spoken to you yet?"
"Who?"
"The cops."
"Why would they be speaking to me?"
"Cause of dad, they still haven't let him out."
"What? Why? They should have by now." Amy chewed her lip nervously, hoping that David was ok. The fact that he was still not released was a bad sign. It meant they weren't looking for the real culprit.
"They think he did it, and as there is no proof to say otherwise."
"What do you mean?"
"There is no fingerprints or anything. Anywhere."
"Victor I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault. Besides, I've done enough crying. It is time for me to be the man of the house with dad gone. I have to look after you and L."
"Oh honey you don't have to do that. There is the rest of the family as well."
"No! I will do it."
"Honey, if you really want to, but don't worry about me. Worry about Lauren, she needs you, and I can't be there for her, but you can."
"But what about you?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't sound fine!"
"I have my mom to look after me."
"She hasn't even been to visit you yet." Amy looked away, it was true. She hadn't come, hadn't even called.
"She's still there for me. So you just look after Lauren for me."
"Are you sure? Because I can do it you know. I can be there for the both of you."
"I know you can honey. I'm not saying you can't, I'm just saying don't make it your responsibility. You don't need that right now."
"When are you coming home mom?"
"I don't know." Nicola walked in and started fussing with the flowers on the side.
"Hope you aren't speaking too much."
"No, not too much. Just enough."
"Well now, who's this handsome young man?"
"Victor."
"Your son?"
"No, she's dating my dad."
"Ah, well now, you are lucky to have her in your life then."
"I know." Victor looked away then back at Nicola. "When can mom come home?"
Slightly taken aback at him calling Amy mom, she recovered and walked over to Amy's file. "Um, she can leave tomorrow if the doctor says she is fine, and she feels upto it. I don't see any reason why she won't be able to though."
"If that's true, why is it only family can visit?"
"Because of your.... accident. The implications of it on your life. So by saying family only, it lessons the risk of anybody getting in that shouldn't actually be allowed in."
"Oh. That's a good idea I guess."
"The doctor will be coming in later, he will be giving you your last check up. Then he will decide whether or not you can go home tomorrow."
"Ok, thank you." Nicola checked around the room again before leaving.
"She was nice."
"I know.... is Lauren here?"
"No, she was helping Mrs Kozlowski with something."
"Donna was round?"
"Yeah, she brought Ariadne round and L started fussing."
"Oh right."
"Mr Van Exel came too, with Rebecca. Too many girls."
"Who brought you?"
"Mr Van Exel. He agreed there were too many girls and offered to bring me here."
"Can you ask him to come in?"
"But only family is allowed."
"I know, but I also know who did this to me and it wasn't him. So he is safe."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Victor gave her a hug and then left. It was a few minutes before Bruce entered though because Nicola had been hanging around the doors and he didn't want to be told he couldn't go in.
"Hey trouble."
"Hey. I hear you chickened out of being in a housefull of girls."
"I didn't chicken out, I was being nice and offered to bring Victor here to see you."
"Yeah, yeah."
"So how are you doing?"
"Ok, I should be able to leave tomorrow."
"That soon?"
"Yeah, I can speak and swallow, eat food etc. The only thing wrong with me was some bruises and a slit throat." Bruce grimaced. "Sorry."
"That's fine. I thought it was weird that Lauren didn't seem too stressed."
"How is my mom?"
"She's.... herself." Bruce smiled. "Hasn't she been to see you?"
"No, I don't think she wanted to be here again. Too many bad things have happened."
"True."
"So.... are you going to sit down, or are you going to stand there like some ornament?"
"I'll sit." He walked over and sat on the seat, gently taking Amy's hand in his. "I can't believe you're back in here."
"I know what you're thinking, but don't you dare say it."
"I wasn't thinking anything."
"Course you weren't and it had nothing to do with David or how I seem to be alot more vulnerable since I've been with him."
"I'm insulted." Bruce looked away. "Why would you think anything like that?"
"Bruce, I know you.... don't insult my intelligence."
"Sorry." He looked back at her. "I can't help it."
"What.... insult my intelligence?"
Bruce chuckled. "Not much wrong with you really, is there?"
"Nope."
"Too bad." Amy smiled.
"I will forget you said that."
"What.... too bad?" He dodged away from her expecting her to lash out, but she was still.
"Hey, look let's just drop it shall we?"
"Fine, but only cause you're in here."
"What do you mean?"
"I thought we were dropping this!"
"We were.... are."
"Ok, so how have you been?" He looked around the room and noticed a ring on the side. His heart felt like someone was squeezing it as he reached out and picked it up. He turned it over and he felt slightly relieved. 'It's just a promise ring, I haven't lost her yet.'
"Bruce are you ok?"
"Yeah." He cleared his throat. "Yes, I'm fine."
"It's just a promise ring."
"I know." He looked up at her. "Why aren't you wearing it?"
"I had an x-ray and had to take it off."
"Liar."
"Am not."
"Put it on then."
"I can't."
"What's up?"
"My hands are swollen."
"That's BS and you know it!"
"I just can't.... ok?"
"What's wrong Amy?" He gripped her hand and put the ring back on the side. "Come on you can tell me. We are friends remember, you always confide in me."
"But it's about my love life." Amy tried to grin but burst into tears.
"Hey, hey. I said I would be there for you, always. If that means that you need to talk about your love life than it's fine with me. I just don't want to get all the gossip, I'm not comfortable in the girlfriend role." He was sub-consciously brushing her palm in a circular motion with his thumb. "Stop crying, please." He reached round her and pulled her into a hug. He rocked her gently and waited for her to calm. Finally she sniffed and went quiet but he could hear in her breath that she wasn't finished. The occasional sharp intake of breath that threatened to turn into a sob. His heart ached for her, and he wished he could make it all better for her.
"I've been getting flashbacks." He remained silent so she could continue without interruption. "I've been getting flashbacks from when Stu...." Bruce tightened his hold on her. Stroking her back gently. "But, but, I don't see Stu, I don't see him. I see, I see David." He felt her tense with the strain of not crying.
"Let go Amy, you need to let go." She relaxed a bit, but when she started to sob she tensed up again. "Amy, come on. You always do this. You always let out a little then stop yourself. You need to let it all out. You need to free yourself from all your emotional baggage. Come on. It's only me in here. I promise I will buy you a nice, cold beer if you do." She went loose in his arms as her tears ran freely, he held her tight and carried on rocking her. Finally she stopped, and sighed. Her breathing became slow and rhythmic and as he laid her back on the bed he noticed she had fallen asleep. "Guess you've been holding that in a long time hey." He kissed her forehead and walked to the door. "I still love you, and I always will." Bruce sighed and walked out of the room, to be met by an angry nurse and "Abner, what are you doing here?"
"Mr Van Exel, could you please explain to this nurse, that I am Amy's uncle and I need to see her urgently." Abner tilted his head meaningfully.
"She's asleep."
"Damn it." He looked at his shoes then back at Bruce. "How did you get in if you aren't family?"
"I um...."
"He must have sneaked in when I wasn't looking." Nicola snapped and hurried into Amy's room to check on her. She was soon back out. "She doesn't look like she will be awake for a while. She looks exhausted!" She looked at Bruce suspisciously, but he met her eye defiantly so she walked off in a huff.
"Did you speak to her?"
"Yes, did she say anything about David?"
"No." Bruce knew it was a lie but he didn't like the way Abner was speaking.
"Did she anything to you about what happened?"
"No." He breathed easier, this time he had told the truth.
"Damn. I was hoping to get to speak to her before the cops do."
"Well when are they speaking to her?"
"As soon as she gets out."
"That's tomorrow." Bruce leant against the wall.
"Right."
"Why do you need to speak to her?"
"I'm Mr McClaren's defence attorney."
"You don't do that any more."
"Which everyone seems to take delight in telling me. I do 'do that' just only when it is a rough case and I like to take a back seat, an extra pair of eyes if you will. But I wish everyone would stop pointing that out."
"So is there that much evidence against David then?"
"No, there is just alot of power against him."
"Same thing really."
"We really shouldn't be talking about this."
"Obviously."
"God you are the jerk David said you were."
"McClaren called me a jerk?"
"Well not in so many words. But yes."
"Whatever I don't have time for this." Bruce walked over to where Victor was sitting. "Come on mate, time to go back to the girlies."
"Excuse me.... are you looking after Victor?"
"No, Amy's mother is. I just brought him here."
"McClaren." Roderick stood over David and kicked the poor excuse for a bed. "McClaren."
"Huh?" David sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"Somehow you have managed to weasel your way into getting bail. The fact that you are being charged with murder just doesn't seem to have the effect it should, anymore."
"Really?" He sat up, hope building in his chest.
"No I was joking." Roderick walked out laughing and slammed the door behind him.
"Jerk." David lay back down, trying to get to sleep. He suddenly heard alot of commotion and jumped up trying to see what was going on.
"No, it's not right."
"Look I just heard what you did to him, that's an abuse of power, and now I am here for him."
"Do you have the paper work?"
"Yes. Here."
"But, but...."
"Shut up Rod and go get him. You'll just get yourself suspended again."
"Fine. Wait here!"
David could see Roderick storming towards his cell, and he quickly moved back to the bed.
"McClaren, seems my joke had an undesirable effect. It came true. Get up, now!"
David didn't wait to be asked twice and ran out the door. "Abner, how did you...?
"Not here. Come." Abner hurried out of the station and David followed after grabbing his stuff.
After they were quite a distance away from the station, Abner finally spoke.
"Look, I know you didn't do it, and I'm not the only one. It seems it is only Roderick and one more officer. It was not enough to keep you there and the trial has been postponed."
"But it was tomorrow."
"Since when has that ever stopped a judge from postponing it?"
"True, but I was also held on murder charges."
"They will be gone by tomorrow."
"They will? How?"
"Amy is released from hospital tomorrow."
"She is? Is she ok?"
"I believe so." Abner tapped the wheel as he impatiently waited at a junction.
"I thought you were going to speak to her?"
"It was family only."
"Oh.... but Victor isn't family."
"Don't know about that, calling Amy mom and all."
"How do you...." David's head snapped round.
"Nicola was very talkative. Especially when you are arguing with her."
"You questioned her about Victor huh?"
"Yeah, although Mr Van Exel managed to get in to see her."
"He did? How, damn that man."
"David.... what's wrong?"
"Nothing, it just seems that whenever Amy is in trouble I can never comfort her and he is there. He comforts her, never me."
"But she isn't with him, she's with you."
"Don't go there Abner. Don't even bother. I have been there and it did nothing for me." David sat back and looked around. "Where are we going?"
"To the hospital."
"But...."
"We must see her. She was asleep when I left, she should be awake now." Abner gripped the wheel tightly and sped up. "She will see us first."
"She will see us first? What are you talking about?"
"The cops are talking to her tomorrow."
"What does it matter if they talk to her first. I am innocent."
"Yes but so far she hasn't said anything. Which could mean she doesn't remember, in which case you are in big trouble."
"Thanks for the optimism."
"Changed your tune now. Anyway the judge owed me a favour. We need to see this through if he is to be happy with his decision. I don't want to lose any enemy."
"I understand. Thank you for calling in your favour."
"No problem mate. You have done more than enough for me in your time, and Amy is helping you get to be yourself. She has made a huge difference in your life whether you realise it or not." David smiled and looked nervously up, as they drew closer to the hospital.
