Rebekah has not moved for almost two hours. She woke up after being smacked on the head by Officer Kane, if that is even his real name, and immediately ran downstairs to find Marcel had been knocked out cold as well. From the smashed vase on the floor, it seems that he was knocked out from being hit with that. She then went on to phone the police. She didn't want to and she has always been told to avoid contacting the police by her father, but she had to with Elijah and Hayley being missing. The police arrived within minutes with an ambulance and a medical team and Rebekah checked every single one of them before she let them in her house.
After her checks, the paramedics checked the bruised bump on her head and gave her some strong painkillers for her pounding headache. They then managed to wake Marcel and bandaged up his head before taking him to the hospital to have the tiny pieces of glass removed from his head, and then have the cuts stitched up. Rebekah had wanted to go with him, but someone had to be here in case the police found anything. Marcel had understood and had promised to be home soon. Rebekah had then sat down on the porch steps and watched him go, and since then she hasn't moved. Her bum is numb and she is cold and gradually getting more frustrated.
Police have been walking in and out of her house since they first arrived, some carrying bags of evidence out and others taking bags of equipment in. She has watched them all for two hours now and all she has learnt is that they don't know anything. They don't know how to track down Elijah and Hayley, they don't know where to go to try to find them, they don't know who Officer Kane is, or where he went and they don't know where Officer Preston is even though they have his number, his home address and his families contact details. Which isn't making Rebekah think that contacting them was the right thing to do. At this rate, she thinks that she could do a better job than they could and she wouldn't even know where to start.
Rebekah sighs and pulls her knees up closer to her body so she can fold her arms on top of them. She then leans her chin on her arms and watches the two officers that are currently stood at the bottom of her garden discussing the bloody knife that is in a plastic evidence bag that one of them is holding in between them. It is obvious that the knife was used to kill Jack. The poor dog. Rebekah had never really been an animal person but she had loved Jack. He was gentle and loyal and he didn't deserve to die like that.
Suddenly she feels something being draped around her and she looks up behind her to see Officer Dempsey, the officer who took her statement earlier, wrapping a grey police blanket around her shoulders. Rebekah smiles at her gratefully and then turns to watch the two other police officers again. Officer Dempsey sits down next to Rebekah on the porch and ties her blonde hair up in a tight bun as she also watches the other officers.
"You could go and get some sleep if you like. I'd come and wake you if we find anything", she says in her gentle tone.
Rebekah shakes her head slowly.
"Even if I wanted to sleep I couldn't".
"I understand. I can imagine how much you must be worrying".
"I can honestly say I've never worried about anything this much in my life", Rebekah tells her. "I don't think I'll ever forgive myself if this ends badly".
Officer Dempsey looks at Rebekah, a slight from on her face. "But none of this is your fault".
Tears slowly build up in Rebekah's eyes and she leans her chin on her arms again.
"I feel like it is", she tells the officer.
Officer Dempsey puts her hand on Rebekah's shoulder and squeezes gently.
"You aren't the one who hurt any of them and you aren't the one who kidnapped them. None of this is on you, it's on them". She is right and Rebekah knows that, but that doesn't stop her mind from trying to tell her it is all her fault.
Rebekah nods, wanting this conversation to be over. Dempsey seems to get the message and squeezes Rebekah's shoulder again before she removes her hand and puts it on her own knee. She doesn't get up and leave, but she doesn't try to ask questions and talk either. She just sits there as a kind of silent support and Rebekah appreciates that. Not many people know when staying silent is the best kind of support, she's glad that Dempsey does.
Just as the sky is starting to turn that delicious light blue with streaks of light, sunlight orange, a black car with the windows blacked out pulls up on the opposite side of the road outside of Rebekah's house. It is parked terribly and if any of the officers currently here are petty enough, Rebekah is sure that they will get given a parking ticket for causing obstruction.
The blacked out windows make the car look incredibly suspicious and Rebekah doesn't seem to be the only one to think that. Officer Dempsey stands up, also watching the car, her hand on the radio at her waist in case she needs to report anything, or call for back up. not that there isn't already plenty of police officers here. The driver side door opens then and Rebekah lifts her head. Hayley steps out of the car and looks up the garden at Rebekah, meeting her stare. Rebekah instantly jumps to her feet, her mouth falling open in shock as tears build up in her eyes again.
"Hayley". Rebekah mutters and Dempsey looks at her.
"That's Hayley Marshall?" Officer Dempsey asks, but she never gets an answer.
The blanket flies from Rebekah's shoulders to the floor as Rebekah runs down the garden path, out of the gate and straight across the road, not even checking for cars. As soon as she reaches Hayley she flings her arms around her and she starts weeping into Hayley's shoulder. Hayley wraps her arms around Rebekah, returning her tight hug and smiles. She is finally home. They are finally home.
"Thank god your alive". Rebekah cries into Hayley's shoulder.
"Barely", Hayley replies, still smiling.
Rebekah laughs sadly. She then pulls her head from Hayley's shoulder as she hears the passenger door opening and she watches as Elijah steps out of the car. Rebekah lets Hayley go and instantly runs around the car and into her big brother's arms. She hugs him with that much force that she sends his back slamming against the car and he has to stop himself from groaning in pain. Elijah wraps his arms around his sister and she starts crying harder.
"I thought I was never going to see you again. Any of you", she cries against Elijah's bloody shirt.
Elijah puts his cheek on top of Rebekah's head and hugs her closer to him.
"We're here. It's alright". He tells her gently as he rubs her back with his hand.
Hayley limps around the car to where Elijah and Rebekah are and shuts the passenger side door before she leans against it. Elijah looks at her and smiles. She smiles back at him and then looks at Rebekah, who is also looking at her. Rebekah then holds her hand out to Hayley, who takes her hand is pulled into the hug. Rebekah closes her eyes and holds them both tightly to her.
After a few minutes, Rebekah pulls back slowly and wipes her wet cheeks. She then looks behind them to see that almost all of the police officers who were inside of the house are now stood on the porch with Officer Dempsey watching them. Elijah and Hayley turn around and also look at the police officers before turning back to look at Rebekah again. From the look on Elijah's face she is going to get a lecture later from him about involving the police in family business. Hopefully he forgets.
"I guess we're not just gonna be able to go in, sit down and relax then", Hayley says.
"Definitely not". Rebekah replies. "The medics are going to give both of you a full check and the police are going to take all of the photo evidence they need. They'll probably want to take your clothes too".
Elijah sighs; he isn't in the moody to be poked and prodded.
Rebekah looks both of them up and down. "You two look terrible, you know?"
"Yes, we're aware". Hayley says as she smirks at her best friend.
"Where's Marcel?" Elijah asks.
"Hospital getting stitches for a head wound. He got a vase smashed on his head", Rebekah tells them. "In fact, I think that's where you two need to be as well".
Elijah shakes his head and starts to make his way around the car. Hayley and Rebekah follow him, Rebekah grabbing Hayley's arm and putting it around her shoulder to help her with the limp. Rebekah watches as Elijah sways every few steps and she worries that maybe this time he has bite off more than he could chew. Maybe this time it isn't all just light damage that a weeks rest can fix.
They walk back across the road, up the garden path and come to a stop at the porch that is full of police officers. Officer Dempsey steps down from the porch and holds her hand out to Elijah. He takes it instantly and they shake hands.
"Officer Dempsey. Let me get you both some help". She says, turning to look at one of the police officers. The officer nods and runs back into the house for his medical kit, even though he doesn't think he can do much for the pair.
Elijah takes his hand back. "Thank you, but that's not necessary".
Everyone then watches as Elijah climbs the two porch steps before going inside the house and presumably to bed. Almost every police officer there looks shocked. Dempsey then turns to look at Rebekah, also looking shocked and like she wants to comment on what has just happened.
"He's always like that, he's used to taken care of himself", Rebekah explains.
The other officer returns and comes to stand next to Dempsey, medical kit in hand. His name badge says 'Officer Ashe".
"He needs medical attention", Dempsey says.
"I'd say he needs more than that". Officer Ashe says and Dempsey, Hayley and Rebekah both look at him. "Going off of how he looks I'd take him to the hospital". He then looks at Hayley and says, "I'd say you need to go too Miss".
Hayley nods, "I know".
"I can take you both while these guys finish up here", Dempsey says.
"Good luck getting him to go to a hospital. He hasn't been to one since he was a teenager". Rebekah tells them.
"I'll talk to him". Hayley says, removing her arm from around Rebekah's shoulders.
Hayley doesn't wait for them to give their opinions, she just sets off limping up the steps and into the house. Once she is inside, she looks up the stairs and lets out a deep breath. There are a lot of stairs and this is going to feel like hell on her leg. She holds on to the banister and it takes her longer than it ever has before, but she manages it. She then limps to Elijah's open bedroom door, already able to see him lay on the bed with his eyes closed.
She steps into the room and stops. He looks so peaceful just lay there and if he wasn't currently cut, bruised and still bleeding, she could stand there and watch him lie there all day. But he needs help and so does she, so she limps the rest of the way to the bed and sits down on the edge of it right by his waist. Elijah's eyes open slowly at the feeling of the bed dipping, still slightly on edge and he smiles when he sees that it's Hayley.
"How are you feeling?" He asks, his voice just above a whisper.
"Good considering everything". Hayley says, taking his left hand in both of hers. "You don't look so good though".
"I'll live". Elijah says, closing his eyes again.
"How do you feel about what you did though?" She asks, hoping that it isn't a sore subject even though she has no doubt that it will become one when everything sets in.
Elijah sighs. "It was the only thing I could do".
"I agree with you. He would've never stopped coming for us".
Hayley then bites her lip, looks down at their hands and starts to play with his hand.
"We need to go to a hospital, Elijah", she says as gently as she can.
He shakes his head and Hayley looks up at his face again.
"I can take care of us". He replies.
"Not this time. These aren't just little cuts and bruises... they're serious". Hayley looks down at their hands again and moves his hand with both of hers to rest on her stomach.
Elijah's eyes open again and he instantly looks at where his hand is resting. His expression is soft and tender, but she knows that he will be worrying about how their baby is doing after everything they have been through. Wondering whether it has even survived, which Hayley thinks that it has, or else she would be a lot more panicked and she would be struggling a lot more with all of this than she is.
"How long?" He asks, still looking down at her stomach.
Hayley shrugs. "I'm not sure. About nine, or ten weeks".
"Does Rebekah know?" His eyes look up to meet hers.
"Yeah", Hayley answers. "She was there when I did the test. And she was there the first time I threw my guts up".
Hayley smiles to herself at the memory of being sat on the bathroom floor with Rebekah. Elijah sits up slowly and moves to put his forehead on Hayley's shoulder. Every movement seems to be such a massive effort for him. Hayley takes one of her hands from his that is still on her stomach and moves it to the bit of his chest that his shirt is exposing. She places her hand there and then runs it up to the side of his neck, stopping there and closing her eyes when she feels his pulse beating against her hand.
Elijah nuzzles his forehead against her shoulder and closes his eyes again. All he wants to do is sleep and keep Hayley in his sights at all times, preferably within touching distance at all times as well. But he knows that she is right, he can't patch up wounds like these, they need to see a professional. He will just have to ignore his hate for hospitals.
"We definitely need that vacation now". Elijah says and Hayley smiles.
"Definitely". She says, leaning her head against the back of his. "I like the idea of Hawaii".
"I thought you wanted to go to Italy?" He asks.
"We can go there too". Hayley says causing Elijah to smile.
Elijah lifts his head from her shoulder and pulls back just enough to look into her eyes. He then looks down at their hands on her stomach, Hayley's hand still warm and soft on top of his. He then looks up into her eyes again and nods.
"We should go to hospital", he says.
Hayley smiles. "Yes, we should".
Elijah smirks and rolls his eyes.
"Do you not like hospitals?" She asks him.
"I hate them".
"Why?" Hayley asks, confused.
"The last time I was in there was because of the last beating father ever gave me. I guess the memory has stuck with me". He tells her and he looks down at their hands on her stomach again. "I'll never be that kind of father".
Hayley nods and moves her hand from his neck to his cheek. She rubs her thumb on his cheek until he meets her gaze again and she gives him a small, but sad smile.
"I know", she says.
She then pulls his lips to hers and they share a short, but tender and loving kiss. Hayley then pulls away and rests her forehead against Elijah's. She doesn't want him to worry that he will be an abusive father and she doesn't want him to think that she thinks he will be either. She knows that he will be nothing like any of their fathers. He will be the perfect father, she knows it.
There is a gentle knock on the door and they both look up to see Rebekah stood there with her phone in her hand. She had seen them from the landing and didn't want to interrupt, but Dempsey wants to get them both checked out sooner rather than later and going to the hospital means they can see Marcel.
"Sorry to interrupt, but Officer Dempsey is ready to set off", Rebekah tells them.
"We were just about to come done". Hayley replies, moving her hand from Elijah's cheek and standing up slowly.
Elijah also stands up, swaying for a few seconds before he looks steady.
"She is going to want to talk to you both about what happened later as well". Rebekah says, without the usual bite in her tone.
"Can't we tell her on the way to the hospital?" Hayley asks.
"No, she needs an official written up statement".
"So what you're saying is that even after everything we've been through, we don't get a day off?" The brunette asks, jokingly.
"You gave up your job years ago, darling, every day is a day off for you", Rebekah replies. She then gives Hayley one of her most sassy smiles before she leaves the room.
Hayley sighs and turns to face Elijah again. She was really hoping that they could just be left alone to have some peace before diving into all of the drama and details. He smiles down at her and brings his hand up to tuck a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
"If we get all of this over with today, then we can stay in bed all day tomorrow". Elijah says, smirking.
Hayley smiles back at him and puts her hands on his chest.
"That sounds perfect".
Elijah then leans down and kisses her on the cheek. He pulls back and they smile at each other for a few seconds before Hayley sighs again. The longer they stay here the longer it will be before they can crawl in bed and relax.
"Come on". Hayley says and takes Elijah's hand in hers as she limps to the door. He follows her, swaying every few steps.
It takes that long to get down the stairs that Elijah expects Rebekah to come back in and tell them to hurry up. She doesn't, but it wouldn't surprise him if she did. They walk outside to see most of the police officers have left, now there seems to only be four of them here, all of them stood in the garden discussing something.
They walk past them, holding hands and make their way to Rebekah who is stood next to a police car right outside the garden with Dempsey. When Dempsey sees them, she makes her way around the car and gets into the drivers side. Rebekah looks at them and gives them a smile. She then opens one of the back doors for them and holds it. Elijah climbs in first and shuffles across to the other side, Hayley getting in next. Rebekah then shuts the door and climbs into the passenger seat in the front of the car.
"Marcel is going to meet us at the hospital", Rebekah informs them. "He had to get five stitches on top of his head. You're probably going to need stitches as well, Elijah".
"I don't want to worry you, but I'd say he'll need more than just a few stitches". Dempsey says as she starts the car and pulls out of the parking spot.
"Yeah, we're probably both going to be in there for a while", Hayley comments.
"You're also probably going to want to inform your officers about a crime scene in one of the warehouses at the docks", Elijah says.
Dempsey looks at him through the rear-view mirror.
"Is that where they took you?" She asks.
"Yes", he replies.
"Do you know which warehouse?" Dempsey asks, hand on her radio.
"Unfortunately no".
"It was near the water though", Hayley adds.
While Dempsey radios in for a unit to go and check the docks and Rebekah texts Marcel continuously on her phone, Hayley turns her head to look at Elijah. He is looking out of his window and he looks like he could fall asleep at any moment. Hayley shuffles across into the middle seat and Elijah looks at her just as she settles against him and rests her head on his shoulder. She wraps one arm around his and grabs a handful of his sleeve while she holds his hand with her other hand.
Elijah smiles and kisses the top of her head before he leans his head back against the head rest and shuts his eyes. Hayley also shuts her eyes. Today is going to be very stressful and none of them have slept which will only make it even more stressful. It's going to be filled with statements, doctors and lots of questions that none of them really want to answer. But all of the stress of today will have been worth it when they get to curl up in bed tonight and sleep.
