Chapter 14: Truth, love and loyalty

…

Two weeks later.

Jenna and Phil sat beside Jade's bedside in silence. There had been no change in Jade's condition what so ever. She was still in the coma she'd fallen in to that first day. Steve and Alice were outside talking to the doctors. Dr Loomis had been an absolute God send. He'd told Jenna just the week before he'd asked another doctor to cover for him at Smith's Grove and that he was staying there until something changed. He was in a hotel just five minutes from the hospital on foot. The family couldn't thank him enough. Phil had finally met the Psychiatrist just three days ago, not seeming to register it was Michael Myers's doctor. Or if he did, he hadn't put the two together. Loomis had just shaken his hand and said what he had to all of them. That he was there if Phil needed to talk to him.

Jenna's conscience was shouting louder and louder at her with each passing day. Phil didn't know the truth and she didn't want to be the one to tell him. Jade was going to do that the very next day before her attack. But as time passed, Jenna was starting to realise Phil deserved an explanation before he found out another way accidentally. She'd also managed to keep him distracted whenever Myers was there via Loomis's iPad. Surprisingly to Jenna, this had happened for the second time just the day before. Not once a month as Myers had demanded. She'd raised a mental eyebrow at this. But as she sat next to him now, she knew she had to say something, even if she hated it.

"Phil," she said softly. "Can I talk to you?"

"Sure Jen," Phil nodded immediately. "I told you that when this first happened. I'm here for any of you any way I can be."

Jenna's heart broke for him. He knew or suspected nothing of what she was about to tell him. Talk about a bomb shell. He had no idea at all. "I know," she lightly touched his hand. "But I need to tell you this and I really don't want to." She took a second and continued. "Before Jade got attacked, she was going to talk to you that Friday night when you got back. She has… Well, a story to tell you and I really don't want to be the one to do so, but I don't feel I have a choice anymore. I don't want you to find out any other way."

Phil raised his eyebrows. "What is it?"

"First," Jenna said softly. "Please promise me something? Let me finish? Hear me out? This is really, really difficult for me."

"Of course," he said.

"Second, I need you to be honest with me re the question I'm about to ask you. It's vital."

"Ok," Phil said slowly, hesitantly nodding.

Jenna had asked Loomis to keep Alice and Steve out of the way for a while, while she told Phil the truth. He'd immediately agreed. Jenna just hoped he could do so for long enough. She totally understood why they didn't want to be away from Jade's bed for too long. Neither did she.

"Ok, so first I have to ask you this Phil. Are you hoping to start a relationship with Jade?"

Phil looked surprised for a second and Jenna understood why. He hadn't expected such a blunt question. Finally he nodded.

Shit, thought Jenna. That was really, really what I was hoping he wouldn't do. Now I have to tell him everything… Jenna took a deep breath and finally started to speak.

"Seriously, please just listen to me Phil. Let me finish or I won't be able to. Jade is in fact married." She saw Phil's eyebrows rise further and a look of terrible pain and sadness enter his expression. She hurried on fast before both her courage and heart broke and failed her. "This wasn't by choice," she almost whispered. "Her husband is… Well, certainly not someone I'd have married by choice, nor any sensible woman for that matter. She has actually been held prisoner by him. She had to marry him so she could see him in… The hospital he ended up in. Prior to this, he'd taken her captive. I don't know why; I don't think even Jade does. He said she would come back to him at his house every night or we her family, would pay with our lives, as would she. He saved her life a couple of years back…" She passed a shaking hand over her forehead and wasn't surprised when it came back soaked with perspiration. "Jesus that's another long story. Anyway Jade wanted to know why, so she went to visit him and that… That was how it all started. He is in a maximum security unit which is why she had to marry him to get in. He's in a Psychiatric hospital."

Phil didn't speak for a whole thirty seconds. Jenna assumed he was waiting to see if she was done until he spoke. His voice was quiet, disbelieving. "She married some guy who's in a Psychiatric hospital? Is that where she went to visit him that first time too? Come on Jenna! That's…"

"I know," Jenna said quickly. "I know it sounds… Well insane, but I swear to God it's the truth. He wasn't in the same hospital then, he escaped from there shortly after Jade visited him, which was when all hell broke loose. He is one of the most dangerous men in the world."

"So you're telling me," Phil was looking at her as if she was mad. "That she married him because if she didn't, he'd kill her whole family? He kept her prisoner for the same reason? How dangerous is this guy? If that is true, couldn't Jade have called for help? Refused? Something?"

"Not…" Jenna looked him straight in the eyes now, this time holding his eye contact. "Not with this man, no. He's been captured now, hence in MSU, but before this we couldn't take any chances. His doctor is here, waiting to see when…" She repeated the word firmly. "When there's any change in Jade's condition. When it's safe, he'll help her get a divorce. She wants you too Phil, she really, really does. But her captor/husband said he didn't care if she dated another, long as she came back to him every night. Jade tried to argue but…" She felt tears rush to her eyes. Thus far she'd managed to hold them back, but now she was losing that particular battle. "She tried to argue, but he refused. She tried to tell him how no relationship would work that way, but…" She pulled out a tissue and wiped her eyes. "Mom and dad don't know this. They believe she's happy with him. We couldn't tell them; dad would probably try and kill him himself and mom's heart would break. I only know the truth because Jade cracked and told me."

Jenna looked up at Phil and could now see anger in his eyes. "So why are you telling me?" He demanded. "To hurt me? You've certainly succeeded there."

"No," Jenna pleaded, reaching towards him to hug him, but he shrugged her off. "I'm telling you because Jade was going to do just that. She wants to be with you Phil, but couldn't do anything without telling you the truth. She was terrified you'd leave once you knew and wouldn't blame you either. But she really, really likes you and I mean really. She'd give anything to be with you. She was over the moon when you bumped in to each other that day."

"Well that's funny," Phil stood up now. Jenna's heart broke for him. The pour guy had just been hit with a major blow and the woman who he loved was unconscious and couldn't tell him herself. "Then why didn't she tell me this before now? Why has she led me on thinking a relationship would be possible knowing the truth all along?"

"Because it would be," Jenna stood up now, keeping her voice gentle, even as the tears now began to fall. "She really wants this, Phil. But she couldn't do it on a lie. She even considered letting you go, she told me someone better than her deserved you. But this isn't her fault, none of this is. She's trapped and will give anything to get out of it to see how it goes with you. I really didn't want to tell you this, it was Jade's job. But I also didn't think it was fair to keep you in the dark any longer."

"This guy," Phil said, not looking at her as he strode to the door. "Is this why you've been keeping me distracted? You've asked me for coffee abruptly twice now Jenna. Don't think I didn't notice. I may have been in shock, upset, pick your word, but I noticed alright. Was her husband here then?"

"Not… Not physically of course no," Jenna whispered, the tears falling faster. "He was here virtually via an iPad. Dad requested it so he'd know Jade really was hurt. She has to go up there to see him once a month. That was one of his demands."

"I need air," Phil said, pulling open the door. "I'll be back though; I'll promise you that. No, correction. I'll promise Jade that." The door closed.

Jenna could only nod at the closing door. What could she possibly say to him? She sank down beside Jade's bed again and cried silently. "Jesus Sis," she managed eventually through her tears. "Please come back to us, we need you, so does Phil, even if your bastard of a husband does not…"

Shortly after, Loomis, Steve and Alice returned. Jenna didn't even try to wipe her eyes. After all, they'd assume and rightly, she was crying about Jade. Even if they didn't know the exact reasons why. As soon as they'd sat down, Jenna asked Loomis for a quiet word. They headed in to a private room.

"He knows," Jenna said in a hollo voice, unable to meet Loomis's gaze. "Phil. I had to tell him."

"Of course you did," Loomis said softly, putting a gentle hand on her arm. "That was a wise decision." The gesture was too much and Jenna felt her tears fall once more.

"He wants to know who her husband is," Jenna said eventually. "But I can't tell him, no way! But I think he deserves to know, just… Just in case."

The Psychiatrist met her gaze and nodded. They both knew what Jenna's "just in case" might mean. "I'm supposed to be calling Michael today anyway," Loomis said. "His doctor called me today and said Michael had requested it."

Jenna snorted. "Why the fuck would he do that? There's been no change and why does he care?"

Loomis shook his head. "That I do not know but I will honour this. He is, after all, her husband."

Jenna nodded reluctantly. "Do you want me to try and find Phil? He did say he'd come back."

At that exact moment, they heard Alice speak. "Phil, darling. Are you ok?"

"Oh God," Jenna felt her heart break for Phil all over again. "I feel so sorry for him right now."

"I will not lie, as do I. Go and ask him to come in here Jenna and I'll call Michael in just a moment. I'm just waiting for the message to say he's in there."

Jenna's heart felt so heavy as she headed out and asked Phil to follow her. Her pain only grew worse when he shook his head and glared at her. But she knew it wasn't her he was angry at; it was what she'd just said. Unless of course he thought she was lying? But why would she? She was happily married so it wasn't like she had an ulterior motive or something. "Please," she said quietly. "Someone wishes to speak to you."

Still glaring at her, he eventually stood up and followed her in to the private room where Loomis was waiting.

"Mr. Burgess," Loomis held out his hand. "Do you know who I am? When we met recently you didn't show it if so."

Phil shook his head. "Sorry, no. I don't know who you are."

Jenna could tell he was trying to be his usual polite self, but his emotions were all over the place. She made to leave them to it when Loomis rested his hand on her arm. Jenna understood. Phil may need her after this. Or he may hate me, she thought sadly.

"My name is Dr Samuel Loomis. I am a Psychiatrist from Smith's Grove State hospital."

Phil's eyes widened as he shot Jenna a brief glance. But it was too quick for her to see the expression in it. "Ok, so I'm guessing this has something to do with what Jenna has just told me. I'm afraid I don't buy it, Sir. If this is some stupid joke, it's not funny."

Smiling sadly, Loomis produced his ID and showed it to Phil. Phil examined it for a second, then slowly nodded. "Ok, so you really are a Psychiatrist. But I still refuse to believe Jade married one of your patients. That's… Well, insane! But I did, however, notice Jade's wedding band. I looked just now. So she really is married. How considerate of her not to be wearing it the times we've met."

"She didn't want you to…" Jenna began.

"Yeah yeah, find out that way. Save it, Jenna. Who is this guy then if he exists?"

Loomis's phone buzzed right at that moment. He looked sympathetically at Phil. "I'm about to introduce you," he said quietly. "If you need to talk to me, I'm more than willing."

"Typical shrink," Phil muttered. "Whatever."

Loomis didn't react to the insult, for which Jenna was very grateful. She knew Phil would never have said that if he wasn't so upset. She had a feeling that even just from their brief interaction, the Psychiatrist knew it to. He pulled out his iPad and hit the button. Jenna glanced over just as Myers's face appeared on the screen, as clearly as before. His cold, emotionless gaze fixed on his doctor.

"This is the call you requested," Loomis said quietly. "Still no change in your wife's condition I'm afraid. I'll take you through to her in just a moment, but first, there's someone I need you to meet." Slowly, Loomis turned the iPad towards Phil.

Jenna watched, her heart pounding at double speed. Phil stepped forward and looked at the screen. He and Myers's gazes met. After a second, a text came through on Loomis's phone. He raised it and both Jenna and Phil read it.

You are Phil Burgess?

Phil looked back at the man on the screen. He couldn't speak. Jenna saw it when the shock changed to fear. She couldn't stop herself then, she stepped to his side and put her arm around him. Of course he was afraid. Phil could only stare at the screen, unable to move or speak. Finally, he just managed to whisper two words.

"Michael Myers."

"Now do you understand?" Jenna said very softly, tightening her arm around him. "Why she had no choice? Why she was so afraid? But also why she wants to be with you so badly? You really care about her Phil, whereas he does not. Michael Myers doesn't care about anyone."

Phil looked back at Myers and took an automatic step backwards, as if the killer were in the room not on the screen. Jenna put both arms around him now. Another text came through.

I asked you. You are Phil Burgess?

All Phil could do was nod. Jenna looked imploringly at him. Phil looked back and understood what Jenna was saying just with one look. We don't want your life in danger to. Bit late for that, Phil knew as much.

Jenna felt both terrified and a rush of love for Phil, when he suddenly opened his mouth and spoke. "I love Jade, Mr. Myers. I've loved her since we were fourteen years old. I will stop at nothing to protect her. I wasn't here when she got attacked and God damn it I wish I had been! I'll be damned if I'll let you do this to her. She was apparently going to tell me everything before she got attacked. You apparently said you don't care if she dates another as long as she keeps to your demands. Well good, because I intend to show her I love her when, yes I said when, she wakes up. Her husband doesn't love her, but I do."

Phil's and the killer's eyes locked this time. Jenna covered her mouth to stifle a gasp. Loomis was smiling slightly.

As you wish.

Phil stared at the text in disbelief. "As I wish? Oh my God! You cruel uncaring…" He stopped himself. Jenna now pulled him close and hugged him as tightly as she could, before leading him from the room.

When Loomis entered with the iPad moments later and Jenna and Phil saw Myers's gaze rest on Jade's still face, it was all Phil could do to knock the iPad to the ground. Now he understood exactly what Jenna had been talking about. Jade was married to a remorseless, masked and silent killer. The guy who'd killed his sister aged six then a group of babysitters aged twenty-one. Teenagers no less. How the hell had Jade got herself in to this? But damn it he loved her! Just as he'd said to Myers, since they were fourteen. He'd be there for her even if it was literally, the last thing he did.