Chapter 53 – The Night brings Regret

Lorenzo pulled Claudia up from the floor. "It's alright. I'm here."

He got her to stand and then picked her up and laid her on the bed where he held her until she stopped shaking.

When he pulled back from her and looked into her eyes, it made him want to kill Trevor all over again. "Let me take you home."

"No, no Johnny, I need to find Johnny."

Lorenzo looked back at the door and then made a decision..

"I'll be right back."

He went into the hallway. Jason and Liz are walking towards him and Patrick appears from around the corner and stops in front of the room.

"Patrick, how is he?"

"He's stable. It was a difficult operation, but I think he's going to be alright."

Claudia's gasp get's Liz's attention and she goes to her and embraces her.

Claudia emotionally gazes at her. "He's fine."

Liz smiled, but then Claudia passes out.

"Patrick"!

Patrick ran into the room and checked her blood pressure and put an oxygen mask on her.

"She'll be okay. I think she had a stress reaction."

He spots the marks on her neck. "Was she choked?"

Lorenzo nodded and Patrick checks her anyway.

"She's going to be sore and it might hurt to swallow for a few days."

"Okay."

Jason stepped out for a second and made a phone call and then moved back inside.

"Milo is downstairs, I want you to go home and get some rest."

Liz nodded. She knows that it is the right thing to do.

"Shawn will walk you down."

Lorenzo watched them leave and then sat in a chair next to Claudia's bed and waited for her to wake up. An hour later, she finally came around.

"Hey."

She took off the oxygen mask. "Sorry you had to see me like this."

Lorenzo stroked the side of her face. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

"Do I have to stay here?"

"No, Patrick thinks you just were under too much stress and your body shut down."

"Good, cause I really want to get out of here."

"You're coming home with me."

Claudia looked up at him. She could tell he was really serious and frankly, is too tired to argue. "Okay."

Lorenzo helped her get up and they slowly walked to the elevators as he called for a car to meet them out front. When they got to the first floor, some police officers detain them and they gave a statement and then left.

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Lorenzo held her close the whole way. They got to his loft and he sat her down on the couch and then ran her a hot bath and retrieved her when it was ready.

"You okay?"

"Yes, I'll be fine."

"There's a robe on the back of the door."

She shut the door and took her clothes off and then climbed into the tub and tried to relax. It feels really good.

He came to the door at one point and heard her crying and then cracked it.

"Are you alright?"

She quickly got herself together. "Yes, I'm almost done."

He shut the door and made her some tea and about ten minutes later, he heard the door open.

When she appeared before him, he motioned for her to sit and then handed her the cup. She sipped it for a minute and then placed it on the coffee table.

"I thought it would be good for your throat."

She smiled through tears. "Thank you."

"Why don't you tell me what's wrong?" He put his arms around her.

She took a deep breath. She had never told anyone this story, but maybe it is time to just let it all out.

"When I was seventeen, my father left me in a room with a business associate and let him rape me. I got pregnant, but my parents were so ashamed, that they forced me into a huge lie and I left after the birth. A few years later, I came home to visit because I missed him and Trevor, who knew what happened before, tried to rape me too. He beat me pretty badly, and the only reason he stopped was because Johnny had waddled into the room. He told me I couldn't tell anyone or he'd kill Johnny. So..."

"When you saw him on top of Georgie, it took you back there."

She nodded.

"I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve to be treated like that."

She watches as his face hardens. Lorenzo is so disgusted. He wished he could have tortured Trevor because he died way too easily.

"And I'm sorry your brother had to see that."

"Um, he's actually not my brother, he's my son."

Lorenzo's eyes are as big as saucers.

"You can run now if you want."

He relaxed a little. "It's a lot to take in, but I'm not going anywhere. We can save that story for another night. Let's get you to bed."

He disappeared into the room and came back with a tee shirt and some shorts with an elastic band.

Claudia went into the bathroom to change. The t-shirt is long on her and when she tries to slip on the short, she discovers they are way too big, so she just put them aside.

She walked back into the bedroom just as Lorenzo took off his shirt. She crawled into the bed and watched him take his pants off and move beside her. He pulled her against his side and an exhausted Claudia quickly fell asleep.

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Shawn walked Liz to the car and got in so she had company.

"You don't have to babysit me."

"It's okay. It's the least that I can do."

Liz smiled. "I'm Liz, by the way."

He smiled. "I'm Shawn." He held out his hand and shook hers.

"Thanks for all of your help with Anthony."

He is surprised that she knows and then he notices that she looks off and then she yelled, "Milo, stop!"

Milo pulled over as fast as he could. Shawn didn't understand what is going on and is surprised when Milo flings open her door and Liz just leans out and pukes.

"Sorry Milo."

"It's okay, you missed."

She eased her way back in and Shawn handed her a tissue.

"Thank you."

"Are you okay?"

She nodded.

"She has morning sickness," Milo said.

"Congratulations."

She smiled. "I think it was a combo of that and all the excitement."

When they got to the building, Shawn noted that she looks really pale, so he gets out and helps her and when she seems a little wobbly, he picks her up.

"You really don't have to carry me."

"No offense, but you don't look so good right now."

She nods, feeling really exhausted. Shawn took her upstairs and made sure she got settled in.

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Mac rushed to the nurse's station and Epiphany led him to Georgie's room.

"Patrick, what's wrong with her?"

"She's unresponsive, basically she's in shock. There is no medical reason that she's in this state. Her neck is bruised, but otherwise, physically she is fine."

Mac sat next to Georgie's bed.

"Baby, I need you to talk to me. Maxie is here."

"Georgie, this is your bossy sister, I need you to talk to me now or I'll tell dad what you did last summer."

When Georgie didn't respond, Maxie just couldn't take it and walked back into the waiting room. She couldn't stand seeing Georgie like that.

Georgie closed her eyes.

"We just gave her something to make her sleep. You should go home and get some rest."

Max nodded and kissed Georgie on the head. He walked back into the waiting room and hugged Maxie, knowing there is no way he's going to get any sleep tonight.

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Jason quietly entered the bedroom. He is exhausted. Shawn had told him about Liz, so he figured she'd be asleep.

"How's Johnny?"

He turned to look at her. "Why are you awake?"

"I couldn't sleep."

He took off his clothes and then climbed into the bed beside her.

"He is stable, but Georgie's still a mess, and Lorenzo took Claudia home."

She stared at him. "Don't blame yourself about Johnny."

"I should have protected him."

"You did the best you could. We all thought it was over with."

"I shouldn't have let my guard down. I just can't get the look on Claudia's face when we walked into that room out of my head."

She snuggled into him. "You're not superman, Jason and you certainly are not responsible for everyone's fate." She kissed him. "Now, get some rest."

He drew her closer to him and closed his eyes.