Chapter 18:Incident

Miriam Pataki walked down the street. The cold night wind blew through her hair and made her shiver for a moment.

The AA meeting had gone amazing for her. There were so many people there that she felt like she could connect with. And all this time, she thought she had been alone. She thought she was the only person dealing with these kinds of issues and abuse.

Throughout the night, tears were shed, confessions were made, and lots of bonding had been done. Miriam and some of the other women there had already made plans to get coffee one morning so they could bond and really get to know one another over a warm and nonalcoholic beverage.

Miriam gave herself a happy sigh as she rounded the block. That's when she noticed the blue and red lights flashing in front of the beeper store.

She stood there in shock. Her body was basically frozen in place. Suddenly, an ambulance took off from the scene, headed straight for Miriam. She just stood and watched in shock as the ambulance casually passed by her and took a right, headed straight for the Hillwood hospital.

"Helga!" She whispered to herself as she suddenly snapped herself out of her shocked trance. Immediately, she bolted down the street towards the store.

After a few moments of heavy running, Miriam found herself in front of the store. What she saw, horrified her.

There were three police cars parked around the entrance to the store. All the lights were turned on in the store. She could see several cops searching around the store, looking for evidence of whatever crime had been committed.

About this time, Miriam watched in shock as two familiar faces walked out of the front door. "Hey hey hey buddy! Your pushing me too hard here!" Bob yelled as he looked over his shoulder at Harvey. Harvey was leading Bob to the back of his patrol car.

"Relax Bob." Harvey said with a sigh." You've caused enough trouble for one night!"

They rounded Harvey police car and headed towards the back door when Bob suddenly looked to his right and saw Miriam just standing there in shock.

"Hey Miriam!" Bob called out, catching Miriam off guard. She instantly jumped at the sound of his voice and backed up a few inches.

"Shut up and get in the car." Harvey said in an irritated tone now as he opened the door. However, Bob completely ignored. He just looked off in the distance at Miriam with a sly grin on his face.

"Your gonna bail me out, right honey?" He asked in a sly tone now.

Once again, Miriam just stood there in shock, not know what to say or do about what she saw going on in front her. Truth to be told, she was freaking out about whatever DID happen. She knew Bob could get crazy at times, but not crazy to go and get him arrested. Thankfully, before the situation got too awkward for Miriam, Harvey stepped in and saved the day.

He quickly shoved Bob in the back of his car. Surprisingly to Miriam, Bob didn't put up much of a fight. It was almost like he had accepted defeat as his smug look turned into a frown while Harvey slammed the door in his face.

Harvey then looked up to see Miriam now standing about fifteen feet away from him." Mrs. Pataki." He said in a low voice." Can you come here for a moment?"

Miriam just simply nodded and started her walk towards Harvey. She was now scared out of her mind.

"Listen Miriam." Harvey said in a low voice as she approached him." There's been an incident."

"What are you talking about?" Miriam said in almost a whisper as she looked up to Harvey with wide and frightened eyes." What kind of incident?"

Harvey let out a deep sigh and looked back over his shoulder at the store." Come inside with me. I can show you."

Miriam looked at Harvey with her worried expression and he gave her a content look in return. Miriam sighed as Harvey led her inside the store.

Once inside, the sight she saw horrified her. The living space was an absolute wreck. Bob's recliner was knocked over on its side, the cardboard boxes they used for tables had either been crushed or knocked over, and there was blood on the floor beside the piano.

Miriam's eyes instantly welled up with tears when she saw the sight. Harvey noticed this and put a hand on her shoulder. "Miriam." He said in a low and calm voice." Bob went crazy. I've never seen him act like this before. I mean, the guy used to be my friend. But he definitely has a screw loose. He was beating your daughter and her boyfriend."

Miriam had taken off her glasses to wipe her tear-filled eyes causing Harvey to remove his hand from her shoulder. However, when she heard Harvey say that she looked at him with wide eyes." Harvey." She said in a sniffle." Where is Helga? And who is her boyfriend?"

In that instant, Harvey looked away from Miriam and back out in the store. His mouth opened, but no words came out. Instead, he just looked down at the ground and sighed.

"She's on the ambulance with Arnold. I'm sorry I thought Arnold was her boyfriend." Harvey said in an almost inaudible voice.

Miriam felt her mouth hang open now. Tears were now running down her cheeks causing her mascara to run down with them.

"Wait, Arnold is the one that Bob beat up so bad?! What was he doing here at this time of night?!" Miriam asked with a bit of shock in her voice now.

Harvey looked up at her finally and gave her a somber look." Look, all I know is, I was sitting at the station and the phone rang. I picked it up and Arnold was on the other end. He didn't sound stressed or anything. Hell, he spoke in the calmest voice I've ever heard anyone in this kind of situation speak in."

Miriam placed her glasses back on her face as she continued to listen to Harvey. Harvey sighed and looked down at the ground almost like he was ashamed of what he was about to say next." Arnold told us that there a man holding a gun to Helga and that Bob was hitting her. Before I could get another word out, he said that he was going to get a closer look and he instantly hung up the phone."

At the sound of what she had just heard, Miriam's eyes instantly went wide once again, and a shocked expression came over her face. Harvey looked up at her with shame all over his face." Hell, I was gonna tell that kid just to wait for us to get over here. And we should've gotten over here faster. Heck, I guess I was in shock of what I had just heard over the phone. It took me a few minutes to snap back into reality. Once I got here, it was too late, and the damage was done. Hell, we still haven't found any clues leading to who the man with the gun was."

He then took and hand and placed it back on her shoulder again. Miriam looked pale as she just stared off into space with that shocked expression still painted on her face." Look Miriam." He said calmly." You don't know how sorry I am about all this."

Miriam felt cold and pale as she looked back at Harvey and gave him a small nod. It was hard for her to take all of this in. Not only had Bob beaten his only daughter, a man had a gun to her head and her own father didn't even do anything about it. Not to mention that he also beat her ex-boyfriend in the process. It was all too much for her to handle.

Miriam suddenly felt the world start to spin. The next thing Harvey knew, Miriam Pataki had feinted and fell onto the floor at his feet.

…

Meanwhile

Helga Pataki had not left the side of Arnold ever since they left the beeper store. From the moment they left they got him on the stretcher at the store and then to the ambulance, she had stayed right by his side.

The paramedics and the cops both had tried asking her questions. Trying to get her away from Arnold. Heck, they almost didn't let her get on the ambulance because they told her she would take up too much space. Helga made it clear really quick that she wasn't going to listen to them, and she was getting on the ambulance anyway. She wasn't going to listen to them. She was going to make sure Arnold made it through this.

Now, they were wheeling him down the hallway of the hospital. They wouldn't have even had to bring him to the hospital if it weren't for two things. For one, Arnold had a really nasty cut under his right eyes from all the hits he took. Secondly, he didn't wake up when the paramedics tried to wake him up. He wasn't responding to anything they were saying to him.

That was the part that honestly scared Helga the most. All she needed Arnold to do was the wake up and say that he was okay. But he just hadn't done it. And Helga wasn't going to leave his side until he did wake up.

However, the doctors had other plans for that. They wheeled Arnold down the hall and then to a small door when they suddenly stopped and looked at Helga who was at the tail end of the stretcher. She looked up at the paramedics who were now staring at her.

"Criminy, what are you guys looking at?! Let's get a move on!" She said in an annoyed tone as she looked at them with a scowl on her lips.

They just all looked at one another and then back to Helga." I'm sorry." One of the paramedics said to her left. He was a short Caucasian man with a small brown goatee. He spoke in a very calm tone." But we can't let you in here. The doctors need to look at him with no distractions."

Helga looked at him and sent a huge scowl his way." I won't be a distraction. I promise. I'll just sit in the corner the whole time. Honest!"

The paramedic just looked back at her and shook his head lightly." I'm sorry Miss Pataki. But we can't let you in here. It's against the rules."

Helga rolled her eyes and then spoke in an annoyed tone now." Oh, come on! Please tell me your joking! It can't be that big of a deal can it?! I mean-"Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind.

"Hey!" Helga said as she turned around to see who it was. However, before she could get a good look. She turned back around to see Arnold being wheeled into the room. As bad as she wanted to, she didn't fight against whoever was holding her. She knew it was just a person doing their job and she didn't need to cause any more trouble.

Helga watched with a frown and her hands by her sides as the door slammed shut in front of her and Arnold was no longer in her sight. That's when she felt the person's arms unwrap from around her.

"I'm so sorry honey." She heard a high-pitched feminine voice say from behind her." But I had to hold you so they could get that poor boy in the room!"

However, Helga didn't look to see who was behind her. She just continued staring at the door in front of her in silence. Waiting for Arnold to walk back through there. For him to hug her and tell her he was okay. But it never happened.

"Honey, do you want me to take care of that?" Helga looked over her right shoulder to see a skinny nurse in blue scrubs standing in front of her." Your nose is bleeding just a bit. We can patch you up if you just follow me for just a moment."

The nurse in front of her looked like a very nice lady to Helga. She was a short and skinny African American woman wearing a nice and refreshing smile. However, Helga didn't feel like talking or getting herself patched up or anything of the sorts. All the scared about was if Arnold was okay.

Helga slowly shook her head as she looked at the nurse with a blank expression. The nurse just sighed as looked at Helga with a more concerned look now." Look, I understand if your still scared or don't wanna talk. I just wanna patch you up. We don't have to talk."

Despite the nurse's kind gesture, Helga just shook her head again and spoke this time." Thanks for the offer, but I think I just need to take a walk." And with that Helga started walking down the hallway.

"Um, miss." She heard the nurse say in a stern tone after she took a few steps away." I think you should stay here. It's getting pretty late out."

Helga stopped in her tracks and turned around to try her best and fake a reassuring smile this time." I'll be fine. I promise." She said in an exceptionally low voice this time.

Helga turned around and continued her walk out of the hospital. She needed to go and find a place to think. Away from all these people. Away from all the questions. She just needed to be alone for a while and process everything that had just gone on in the past two hours.

Thankfully for Helga, no one tried to stop her as she walked out of the front door of the hospital and into the cold fall night.

…

Whichever one of the nice paramedics on the ambulance had given her a large pink jacket, Helga would have to make for sure to thank him or her. It was freezing outside. Sure, it didn't cover her bare legs, but it sure did help with keeping the rest of her body warm as she roamed the streets of Hillwood.

She roamed as many places as her legs would take her. Gerald field, the mighty Pete, the boarding house, P.S.118. All the places were her and Arnold had made so many memories together over all the years.

Whether they were good memories or bad memories, she wanted to think of them. They made her think of the simpler times in their lives. Back when they were just kids. Now, Arnold was laying in the hospital because of her father.

Now Helga found herself sitting on the bench at the park. The same one her and Arnold had sat at and talked at just a little over a month ago.

Helga was sure Miriam had tried to call her. Well, she at least HOPED Miriam had tried to call her. She actually had no clue. She had stuffed her phone in one the pockets in the large jacket she had, but besides that she hadn't even touched it.

Helga just sighed and looked out into the pond in front of her. The streetlights in the park stayed turned on throughout the night, so they allowed Helga to see if anyone was going to approach her. Thankfully however, no one was in sight.

She leaned down and picked up a rock with her fingers. She carefully looked at rock and spun it around with her fingers. Strangely enough, the rock looked to be the shape of a small football.

That's when the blank expression on her face quickly turned into a scowl. Suddenly, she swung her right arm and threw the rock violently. It skipped about three skips before it finally sunk down into the dark pond.

Helga let out an angry huff as she felt tears welling up in her eyes. She tried to hold them back for a second, but she knew it was no use.

One by one, the tears started to fall down her cheeks. She let out a small sob as she stared at the ground now." Oh, Arnold." She said somberly to herself as her tears now fell onto the pavement below her." Where did this go all wrong?"

She sniffled as she leaned back up to angrily wipe at her face with the sleeve of her rain jacket. The freezing air of the night was making her now wet face unbearably cold.

"I'll tell it where it went wrong." She said now angrily to no one." I decided to drag you down with my messed-up life. Heck, I should've known he would find out eventually and it would lead to this! Arnold may be dense, but he isn't stupid! Why?! Why did I have to bring the little football head so much pain?!"

For the next few minutes, Helga just sat there in silence. Tears flowed down her cheeks, but so sobs came from her lips. She decided to hold it all in.

It was at this moment she suddenly heard the clicking of metal from behind her. A cold metal pressed against her right cheek and before she could let out a scream, a cold hand covered her mouth.

"Shhhhh." She heard someone whisper from behind her." I came here for one thing and one thing only." She instantly recognized that voice. Curly!

"Now, I can't stay long. The cops are patrolling the streets. So, I'm gonna tell you this once and once only. Now, are you gonna listen?" Curly asked in a low, almost inaudible, voice.

Helga rolled her eyes and reluctantly nodded her head in agreement. The feeling of Curly's cold and clammy hand against her mouth was already getting unbearably uncomfortable.

"The cops still have no idea that I was even at the scene. And I plan to keep it that way." He then dug his gun barrel into Helga's cheek causing her to flinch in pain." So, if you tell anyone that I was there. You know what'll happen to you. And you little boyfriend Arnold."

Helga felt like crying. Sitting here all defenseless against a creep with a gun. She wanted to fight, she wanted to scream, she wanted to run. However, she just sat there and nodded her head in understanding.

"Now." Curly continued in his low voice." I'm fixing to let go of you. But you need to promise me that you won't scream and cause any attention. Because, we damn sure wouldn't want anything bad to happen to your little Arnold, right?"

Helga instantly shook her head in agreement now as she could now feel tears starting to streak down her face. Slowly but surely, she felt Curly remove the freezing gun barrel from her face and his cold and clammy hand from her mouth.

She never looked back to see if Curly was still standing there. For the next few minutes, she just tried to keep her breath steady and focus on the task at hand. Keeping quiet.

Finally, after a few minutes of silence, she couldn't hold it in anymore. A sob escaped her lips as she dug her face into the palms of her hands." Why does the whole world have something against me?' She asked herself through sobs as she looked up into the night sky.

Helga fell back into the bench now as she could feel more tears now start flowing from her eyes. However, she was snapped out of all this when she felt her phone buzz in her pocket.

"Probably just Miriam." She said in a low voice to herself as she rolled her eyes and fished in her pocket for her phone. All though Miriam was her own mother, she really just didn't feel like talking to anyone at all right now. No one except for Arnold. That's why her phone almost fell out of her hand as she finally looked at it.

"Arnold!" She shouted as she read the name 'Football head ;)' on the screen of her phone. At the speed of lightening, she slid her finger across the screen and pressed the phone against her ear.

"Arnold!" She quickly yelled into the phone as she violently wiped the tears from her face. For a second there was no response, but as Helga opened her mouth to speak again, a soft female voice came over the phone.

"Helga, is that you?" Stella Shortman asked through the phone.

Instantly, Helga lowered her voice and calmed herself down." Oh, hey Stella." Helga said in a more normal tone now." Sorry I thought it was Arnold."

Stella sighed through the phone before she spoke again." Actually Helga, Arnold is the reason called you off of his phone. He just woke up and asked me where you were. Then, he wanted to call you, but I didn't know where his cell phone was. Turns out it somehow it got stuck on the ambulance."

Helga couldn't help but feel herself get a sudden rush of excitement." Well, thank you Stella." Helga said excitedly." No offense to you or anything, but why isn't HE talking to me on the phone? I mean didn't you say that he wanted to call me?"

Stella just let out a tired sigh." Well, he told me that he wanted to make sure you were okay. And after what happened tonight, I just figured you two should talk in person. That is if that's okay with you!"

"No no no." Helga said as she stood up from the bench." That's great! I promise I'll be over as soon as possible!"

"That's great honey. Arnold will be so happy to see you!" Stella said sounding relieved for a moment.

Helga was about to hang up when she heard Stella speak one more time." And Helga." She said into the phone now, her voice sounding somber now." I'm really sorry about what happened to you guys tonight. You have no idea how relieved I am to know both of you are okay."

Helga just let out a deep sigh as she started walking down the street now." It's okay, really." Helga said in a low voice. She knew Stella wanted to hear more, but she decided to just end the conversation for now. She just wanted to forget about her little encounter with Curly and see Arnold.

"Hey look, I'll be over at the hospital later." Helga said as she picked up her pace." I'll see you in just a few minutes."

…

Helga slowly looked up at the door that was labeled with the number 243. That was the number that the lady at the front desk had told her he was in.

After entering the hospital, every single doctor and nurse had stared her down as she walked down the hallway. In response to their staring she had made sure to send a scowl towards each and every one of them so they could know for sure not to talk to her.

Helga knew her face probably looked terrible after the two punches Bob landed on her. Her cheeks we're extremely sore and there was no doubt she would wake up with two black eyes in the morning. But she also knew that Arnold had it much worse than her. There was no telling how bad he would look in the morning.

Helga let out a shallow sigh as she slowly opened the door to Arnold's room. The door creaked as she opened it slowly. She peeked inside to see Arnold leaned over in his bed talking to his mother about something she couldn't hear.

As soon as Helga opened the door, Stella looked up to see Helga standing there and a look of fear came across her face.

Helga quickly stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Before she had time to say a word, Stella instantly met her with a warm embrace.

"Oh Helga." She said in a tone that sounded like she was fixing to burst into tears." Are you okay? Oh please tell me your okay!"

Helga couldn't help but let a small grin crack across her face as she hugged the woman back around her torso." I'm fine Stella." Helga said in a happy tone." Really! Now, how is Arnold?"

Stella broke the hug and looked at Helga with tears in her eyes." He's okay. The doctors said he should stay overnight but the doctors said he should be okay."

"Well, that's great!" Helga said giving Stella a supportive smile now.

Stella couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh and crack a smile of her own." I know, I know. But he really wants to talk to you."

Helga suddenly felt herself get nervous. She swallowed the lump in her throat before she spoke again." Okay, I'll go talk to him."

Stella just nodded and smiled at the girl." Thank you. I'll leave you two alone for a minute." And with that, Stella quietly walked past Helga, opened the door, and closed it shut behind her. Leaving Helga all alone standing in the doorway.

Helga sighed to herself as she slowly walked in the room. It was a dull colored room with boring grey wallpaper and no pictures to look at. There was a small grey couch on the far-right end of the room sitting beside Arnold's bed. He was lying there staring at the T.V. when he suddenly noticed Helga walk in the room.

"Oh, hey Helga!" Arnold said in an excited tone as he slowly but surely sat up in his bed.

Helga felt herself smile happily as she looked at her love. He looked awful. His hair was all a mess and his blue hat was missing from his head. He was dressed in a light blue hospital down with his white sheets covering his legs. His face looked even worse, however. Both of his eyes were extremely swollen, and both of his eyes were extremely red. He had a huge cut under his right eyes that looked like it was about five inches long. There were a few stitches there that were holding the skin together. The rest of his face was busted up pretty bad as well, covered in huge swollen red marks. Surprisingly enough though, his lip wasn't even busted.

"Hey." Helga replied quietly as she walked over and sat down on the right end of his bed." How you feeling?"

"I feel fine." He quickly replied." The doctors got me doped up on some pain killers at the moment, so I don't really feel a thing."

Helga felt herself let out a small giggle now." Well, I'm glad to hear it football head."

Suddenly, his relaxed gaze turned into a serious look as he spoke again." The real question is, are you okay? And who was that man with a gun?! I didn't see him once I got inside!"

Helga tore her eyes away from him for just a moment as she now stared at the ground. Fear started to take over her as she remembered what Curly had told her just a few moments ago. She couldn't tell Arnold! He would go to the police! And she couldn't see her football headed love god get hurt now! She didn't want to see him go through anymore pain. Not after tonight.

"Look." She said with a shaky breath." First, I feel fine. And second, I don't know who the man with the gun was. He was a complete stranger to me. I had never seen him before in my life!"

"Well, can you describe him?" Arnold asked her with curiosity in his voice.

Helga just stared at the ground as she let out another shaky breath." No." She said quietly." He had a hood over his head. And I can't remember much about him."

Arnold just sighed and fell back into his bed." Well, it was stressful night for you. Maybe you'll remember more in the morning."

Helga just shook her head lightly and silence fell through the room.

Finally, after a few moments, Arnold now let out a sigh of his own." The doctors told me you left as soon as they got me here. Why didn't you stay? You needed to be checked out yourself."

Helga continued to stare at the white tiles on the ground as she spoke again." Well, I just needed to be alone for a while. I feel fine I promise!"

Suddenly, a puzzled look came across Arnold's face." Why did you need to be alone? Is there something wrong?"

However, Helga didn't respond. She just continued to stare at the ground with a look of guilt on her face." Nothing's wrong football head. I guess I just feel responsible for this whole thing that went on tonight."

"Helga." Arnold said in a low voice as he felt a frown come across his lips." Don't put this on yourself. I did all of this for you! I did this so you could be safe!"

Suddenly, Helga tore her eyes away from the ground and looked up at him as tears started to roll down her cheeks again." Well, if it wouldn't have been for my screwed up life, we wouldn't even be in this mess in the first place." She suddenly yelled at him now.

Arnold just stared at her taken back by the sudden anger in her voice." I was jealous! I wanted you all to myself so I decided that I should try and keep our relationship a secret. Criminy, I knew something like this was gonna happen! Arnold I could've lost you for good tonight! You could've died tonight because of me and my selfish attitude!"

And with that Helga started sobbing out of control now and she looked away from Arnold. She quickly tucked her knees to her chest now and wrapped her arms around her legs.

For a few moments she stayed like this. Just sitting there crying. That was until she felt a hand softly grab her shoulder.

She quickly turned around to see Arnold looking at her and giving her a supportive smile now." But you didn't lose me. Did you?" He said in a low voice once again.

Helga didn't respond. She just frowned as she felt tears roll down her face. Her sobbing had come to an end, but her breath was still shaky as she tried to slow her breathing.

"Come here." Arnold said as he slowly laid back on his pillow now." I want you to lay next to me."

Helga sniffled as she softly spoke." Why?"

Arnold just continued to keep giving her a supportive smile." Because we've both had a long night and we both need some long overdue sleep."

Helga slowly nodded as she processed what the football headed boy had just told her. Slowly, she crawled over until she was lying next to him.

Arnold lifted the white covers on his bed so she could slip her cold bare legs under the covers. Carefully, she wrapped her arms around him laid her head down softly on his chest.

"See, is that better?" Arnold asked quietly as smiled down at her. Helga just gave a quick nod.

For the next few moments, it stayed silent between the two blondes. Helga's warm breath lightly tickled Arnold's chest. Although he was tired out of his mind, it still caused sparks of electricity to run down through his body.

"Why'd you do it?" Helga suddenly asked breaking the tension." Why did you come inside and stand up to Bob like that?"

Arnold just laid his back and started to caress her long blonde locks that were currently a mess." Because you deserve a better life than that." Arnold said softly." No one deserves to live through anything like that. And when you care about someone the way I care about you; you do whatever you can do protect that person and make sure they are safe."

His suddenly lowered his voice as he continued to speak." And Helga Geraldine Pataki. I'd do anything to make sure you are happy. To make sure you live the best life you can. Because Helga Geraldine Pataki. I love you."

It was at this instant, that Helga G Pataki's heart melted. How could someone love her this much after all the mean and nasty tricks she had pulled over the years? How could it be no other than the love of her life Arnold Shortman? It all didn't seem real to her. Almost like a dream come true. Well, if it was a dream, then she was going to savor this one forever.

For a minute, the room stayed quiet. All that could be heard was the howling wind outside. Finally, Helga spoke in a very light tone." Football head, I love you too."

Authors Note: So, I decided to leave this chapter on a semi-happy note! And I also just wanted to announce that chapter updates might slow down in the next few weeks. College starts back for me and I won't have as much time to work on this story. I'm not saying I'm going to stop! I'm just saying that I probably won't update as often. However, I will still try my best to get the chapters out as soon as possible for you guys!

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. As always, keep those great reviews coming and I'll see you next time football heads!