Chapter 29
As Hope was dragged inside the building. I tried my hardest to get to my feet. Even if I changed into one of my alien forms that could fly I didn't think my shoulder could stand it. I managed to roll over on my stomach and began to crawl. I heard a few screams from inside, and a shot rang out. My vision was beginning to blur but I could see the woman carrying Harmione out. Harmione was kicking and screaming. Police sirens blared in the distance.
I didn't see Hope. A fear grew deep inside of me that something must have happened to her. Something must have for that woman to carry Harmione out like that. The sight of Harmione caused my blood to run faster. Aderaline kicked in, and with a loud scream I got to my feet. The wound in my knee burned like Hell. I stiffened my muscles and held my breath as I tried to remain standing. I transformed into Goop. Doing so allowed the bullets to easily pass through my body. They clanged against the concrete below. In a rush I turned into Big Chill. It hurt but I flew over to the woman. She tried to put Harmione in her car. As she heard the gushing wind of my flight pattern she turned and fired the gun again.
I turned intangible, and blew my ice breath on the gun shattering it.
The woman gasped. I swooped around and flew directly at her. In one quick motion I body slammed my body into hers. She hit the side of the car door busting out the window. The glass shattered into a million tiny pieces. Harmione screamed and ducked down in the car. I opened the car door and swiftly pulled her from it. My ice breath let out an icy fog as I spoke.
"Are you okay, baby?"
Harmione nodded.
"Give her to me!"
I held on to Harmione tightly and changed into Humungosaur.
"What do you want with my Harmione, who are you?!" I shouted as Humungosaur.
The woman glared. There was a hint of subtle sadness in her eye. Her lip trembled, and she shook with despiration.
"My name is Hadara...I'm her Grandmother."
My eyes enlarged even larger. Hadara got to her feet and ran off in the opposite direction as the police approached. I started to follow her, but I didn't want to put Harmione in anymore danger. I transformed back into myself. My knee gave way and I kneeled with Harmione in my arms. She had tears in her eyes. I stroked her face and kissed the top of her head. An officer ran over to us. There were also ambulances that arrived on scene. Harmione and I were taken to one. A nurse doctored my wounds. Harmione sat next to me wrapped up in a blanket. She sniffled and wiped up under her nose with the back of her hand. Officers cleared the school building. There was still no sign of Hope. Panic began to overcome my body.
"Can you stay with her please?" I asked the nurse.
"Daddy no!" Harmione screamed. She pulled at my wrist.
"Just for a second, I've got to find Mommy...okay I promise I'll be right back."
The nurse held on to her.
"Come here sweetie, would you like a piece of candy?"
The wound in my knee was severe, but since I transformed into Goop, I was at least able to walk even if it was with a limp. My shoulder was bound and wrapped in gauze and tape. I limped past a few people. Mrs. Brunner was talking with another teacher.
" ...what happened in there?" I asked trying not to sound hysterical.
"Oh...Mr. Tennyson, is Harmione safe?"
"Yes...she's right over there..." I told her and pointed.
"Mrs. Brunner..."
"You can call me Shannon."
"Shannon." I restated. "Where's my wife...where's Hope?"
Mrs. Brunner didn't say anything she only turned her head toward another ambulance.
"It was crazy, she just came in and demanded to see the Tennyson girl." A teacher spoke out.
I ignored their conversation and limped as fast as I could over to the ambulance. A first responder tried to stop me, along with a few other medical personal, and one police officer. I could see Hope from where I was. She was lying on a gurney with an oxygen mask.
"Hope!" I shouted. "No, No!"
I grunted as I stepped up into the back of the ambulance.
"She took a bullet to her stomach, trying to save some kid." I heard an officer respond. She was alive but just barely. I backed up into the side of the ambulance interior. The metal clanged as I did so. I hit my fist against it as tears came to my eyes. The back door swung loudly as I banged my fist. It caused a few people to jump. I walked leisurely back over to the other ambulance. I wiped my tears and tried to put on a brave face for Harmione. Hope was taken to the hospital. She was outfitted in a hospital gown and placed in a room. Harmione and I got cleaned up and changed clothes. I couldn't leave Harmione alone so we both stayed at the hospital over night. There was a couch in Hope's room which Harmione slept on. She brought coloring books and a stuffed cat with her. I was called out to the hall that night by a doctor. He informed about Hope's condition.
"Well ...as you know we did an ultrasound, and she has had surgery to close the wound and remove the bullet."
I only nodded.
"We've given her IV fluids, and she is wearing a breathing tube."
I saw her. They didn't need to tell me that. I just nodded again.
"She'll need a blood transfusion we-"
"Me." I interrupted. "Give her mine."
The doctor sighed.
"We will yes...and we will do all we can for her you know...it's just...she seems to be in a coma, it's not clear if she'll wake up from it or not."
I shifted the weight of my feet and tried not to break down in front of the doctor.
"I'm awfully sorry...we'll get that blood transfusion set up right away."
The doctor brushed past me. I looked around and left the hall for the men's bathroom. There was no one in there when I entered. I took off my jacket and tossed it on the sink countertop. The metal of my zipper clanged against the tile floor. I turned on the faucet and just allowed the water to gush loudly. I splashed my face with the water and backed up into one of the stalls. I suddenly felt myself unable to catch my breathe. I held my chest as it got tighter. I began to sweat and shake. My emotions overwhelmed me and my stomach grew queasy and my head began to spin. I vomited violently into the toliet. I took in a few quick breathes before vomiting again. I sobbed loudly and spat into the toilet bowl. I flushes it and held my stomach. My hands became clammy. How could I let this happen? I sobbed loudly again and began to choke. My throat was burning hot as I tried to hold back the vomit. About two or three more times and my stomach was empty. I began to dry heave. I tried to gather myself and splashed even more water on my face. My nerves were shot. I gagged a little but held it back. I sobbed into the sink. Before I knew it I found myself on the floor, with my elbows on my knees and my head in my hands. I brushed my fingers through my bangs and just sat on the floor up against the wall and cried into my hands. In that moment I felt it would be easier to die, but knew that wasn't an option. I picked up my jacket and left the hospital for a few minutes. I went to a small gas station not far from it. There I bought something I thought I'd never buy. I wasn't myself. I felt as if Hope took part of me with her into her comatose state. I shouldn't have, and Hope would have got upset if she knew. However, I needed something to numb me. Desperately.
"Two packs of short, light in a box...and...and a lighter" I told the store clerk and slapped down the money. I showed the lady my driver's license. I made my purchase and stood outside the hospital in a zone that was convient for me. It was still dark out but dawn was approaching. I lit up a smoke and stood smoking my first cigarette. It didn't faze me, it consumed me. I might have coughed a few times, but I tried to ignore it. I didn't get much sleep. By the time visiting hours occurred I went back for another pack. Even with Harmione with me alive and well my life was no longer charmed.
It was 10:30am in the morning, November 1st; and Harmione was awake coloring in one of her coloring books. I was sitting near Hope's bed, just staring at her. I had a tourniquet wrapped around my arm under my jacket from giving Hope my blood. I heard a quiet knock on the door. Harmione and I both looked up. It was Julie.
"Hi...Ben...Harmione."
Harmione waved shyly.
"I brought her some flowers."
Julie was carrying a bouquet of lilies. She went to the bathroom sink, and filled up a hospital cup with water. She placed the lilies in the cup by the bed on a hospital end table.
"I thought she might like them, I knew they were her favorites."
"Lilacs." I said softly.
"What?"
"Lilacs are her favorites."
"Oh..." Julie said somberly and took a seat. She pulled her bag off from around her torso, and fumbled with her hands.
"Have Gwen and Kevin been here?"
"They were here last night."
"Oh...and your mom and dad did they-"
"They left just before you came."
Julie nodded and brushed her bangs from her face and pulled her hair behind her ears.
"Do they know...about you?" She asked out of the blue.
"What about me?" I replied.
"You know how you get...we all remember what you want through before Hope came into your life...We're all just worried you'll relapse and do something stupid...and revert back to that state you were in."
"If I recall, I only got that way because I felt alone, because you dumped me. And Gwen and Kevin went off to school and never bothered to answer my calls."
Julie looked down.
"And you didn't have Hope...I'm just saying that it feels a lot like that again." Julie responded gently and looked back up at me.
"You're wrong...it's not like that this time, because I still have Hope, she's right here."
Julie looked at Hope, and exchanged glances with Harmione.
"Could I talk to your Daddy alone?" She pondered toward Harmione.
"Anything you have to say you can say in front of Harmione."
"Ben..."
"Harmione...baby..."
Harmione walked over to me.
"I need to speak to Julie alone...can you step outside for a second."
"Okay Daddy. "
"Can I take Mr. DJ?" She asked pointing at her stuffed cat.
"Yes baby, of course."
Harmione ran to her toy and picked him up. They left the room subtly. Julie and I stood simultaneously.
"What is it you want to say?"
Julie walked over to me and stared at me deeply. She had a lining of tears in her eyes. She hugged me tightly.
"I'm so sorry!" She cried. "I know how hard this must be for you, but I don't want you to be in the dark again, I said I'd always be your friend and I want to prove that to you, but I can't!"
I gently grabbed her shoulder and pulled her away.
"You just being here is enough."
"But I want to do more, I didn't want Harmione in here...because...because I didn't want to tell how scared I am for her; of how she'll go through life without a mother."
"She has a mother Julie!"
"Ben, wake up!" Julie screamed.
"Hope is in a coma, there is nothing we can do for her now except pray that she'll awaken one day, and that day may or may not ever come...Harmione needs someone in her life now to be a mother figure to her."
"And you think you're the right person for the job?!" I yelled. "Julie, don't do this to me!"
"I understand how you must feel, Herve broke up with me last weekend."
"You don't know how I feel, don't act like you know what it's like to be me!"
"Ben, I know how lonely and hurt you must feel, how Harmione must feel!"
"No you don't Julie, you don't have a clue how Harmione and I feel!"
"Then help me too, let me be there for you, take your pain away...something!"
"Julie...not now." I said softly. "Not ever...you're right maybe this is just like last time...but I'm not alone...I have Harmione...and Hope."
Julie stood crying.
"I have two women in my life to numb my pain, I don't need you Julie."
Julie's mouth opened as if she was about to say something, then she closed it.
"I'm sorry Herve broke up with you, and probably broke your heart."
Julie sniffled.
"I'll level with you there...it hurts doesn't it?"
I sighed heavily.
"And if all you're looking for is pity sex, I'm not gonna fall for it and whip it out for you..."
"Benjamin Kirby Tennyson, I care about you!"
"The way you came in here, the way you came onto me, and these crocodile tears you got going on, says you care an awful lot, but it's not me you care about is it Julie?"
Julie took in a few deep breaths.
"Is it Julie?"
She still didn't answer me.
"It's hard for you to admit that all you've ever cared for is yourself..."
The door opened wide and Julie stormed out. She turned toward me in the hall in anger.
"You need to stop pushing people away when they only want to help, that's why you feel so alone!"
I folded my arms.
"That's your problem!"
"Ouch, now I feel really bad!" I yelled back. "At least I don't toy with people's emotions to get what I want!"
Julie scoffed and huffed loudly. Her voice high-pitched and shrill.
"Is that what you think I did, are you kidding?!"
She left at the end of the hall. I looked in the room at Hope, then at Harmione. I kneeled near her.
"You want some breakfast?"
She nodded with a small smile.
"Me too...come on."
I was still unable to pick her up because of my shoulder, so I took her by the hand and we left the hospital.
