Chapter 28

"I am not staying here all night." Kaidyn refused, looking at the doctor.

"Doctor, she has some severe post traumatic stress issues...is there any any any way we can take her home?" Hector asked, trying his best to be nice to the doctor, who was getting annoyed with Kaidyn.

"No, she needs to stay for observation." He said, frowning, looking at her chart.

"I'm not staying here, I want to sign myself out" Kaidyn tried to set up, the dizziness not letting her sit up. Hector rolled his eyes.

"Here we go." Hector sighed.

" You could have a brain bleed and we really need to monitor the concussion." The doctor said. "You think you feel fine right now but once that morphine wears off you will be in a world of hurt and your blood pressure might get too high and you could be in some serious trouble." The Doctor said. Dominic walked in, looked at Hector and put a finger to his lips to keep his arrival from being announced.

"She'll stay. As long as we can stay with her." Dominic said, nodding.

"NO, I won't." She said, starting to sit up on her elbows, painfully trying to open her eyes that were beyond swollen.

"Yes, she will. What she means is, she's hurting and she needs more pain meds. When she gets like this, somethings just not right and I think she's really hurting. Doc, can you please help her out with that?" Dominic asked, not skipping a beat. He pushed her back down. "Lay back and relax." He said, being gentle, wiping her tears off of her face.

"I'll get something ordered to help her relax." The doctor nodded, leaving.

"Go away. Making me drugged only will last a little bit. I am still not coming back to your house. You don't gotta be here or worry about me." She fought back tears, hating that he was mad at her.

"Come on, Don't tell me to go away. You don't mean that, do you?" He asked, stroking her hair.

"I am sorry I am such a bother to you and I am sorry for making you mad." Kaidyn started breathing harder, tears falling more and more.

"Hey, hey, hey, you are not a bother. I am not mad at you. I owe you an apology." Dominic stroked her hair.

"No, I owe you one." She said, twisting to try to get up yet again. She was crying pretty hard now, making Hector look concerned.

"Kaidyn Leigh Sutton, you know my temper sucks and I am an asshole. I am sorry. I don't say it often. Please accept my apology and calm down." he said, kissing her forehead as the nurse came in.

"I can't stop crying. It hurts too much."Kaidyn said, taking in a sharp breath as the iv meds hit her.

"See, I knew you were hurting. It's gonna get better now, okay?" He asked, still stroking her hair. "Will you forgive me?" he asked, taking her hand and being satisfied to see her finally starting to calm down. She nodded.

"Is Jesse okay? Can you tell him I am sorry please" She asked, her words a bit slower and slurred.

"He's okay and it's fine." Dominic said, glad to see she was going to sleep. "We all make mistakes, Kiddo." he said quietly.

"Thank you, Dom." Shayde said, coming up to give him a hug.

"No thanks needed. I was an ass." Dominic sighed. He waited until she was for sure asleep and looked at Shayde. "So what's the plan now?" He asked Shayde as she sat down beside him.

"Well, we gotta get out of LA. You got people after you, I got people after us.." She said as Brian walked in. "It's all kinds of fucked up."She sighed, annoyed.

" I gotta bounce, Shay, you stay here and I am gonna get stuff on the move to get things packed." Hector said, grabbing his jacket to leave.

"Thanks again, Hector." Shayde smiled gratefully, reaching up to give him a hug.

"No prob, Shay. You know I always got you." He nodded.

"You want me to stay?" Dominic asked, looking over a Brian who was looking out the window, trying to hide his puzzled expression about Hector, once again.

"Nah, I'll be good." Shayde nodded.

"You can't stay here by yourself. It's too dangerous." Brian turned around, locking eyes with her.

"I am a big girl and I can handle myself." She promised.

"Well, yeah, I know this. I am just saying…" Brian looked around. "I just worry if anyone tries to come up here. Let me stay with you." he offered.

"Call me if you need anything. I will let O'Connor stay with you since he can open carry and I know he has a weapon if needed." Dominic said, giving Shayde a hug.

"Open carry, huh, Brian O'Connor? In Cali?" She asked, now intrigued. California was not an open carry state so what special privileges did he have, she wondered.

"Yeah, it's a long story." he shrugged.

"I got plenty of time, I am fairly certain." She crossed her arms.

"It's not really a big deal." Brian pulled up a chair next to hers.

"It is if you are still a cop, blue eyes." Shayde said, looking at him, watching for his reaction.

" I am not a cop. I used to be. I know Dom told you the story. He had to have told you.. How would I be a cop and be around him?" Brian's tone sounded a bit defensive. He was tired of everyone because they kept accusing him of being a cop when in fact he had given up his career to help Dominic and the crew get their names cleared.

"Didn't say you were, I am asking if you still are. There's a difference." Shayde said, still staring at him. "You were a cop when you first friended him. That is all I am saying. So you can't say him trusting you now means you're not a cop because that means nothing. He could still have bad judgement." Shayde said matter of factly.

"Yeah, well I am not a cop. Anymore." Brian said, sighing. "Doesn't mean I still can't use the open carry to protect us" Brian said, stretching out his legs and moving his feet back and forth. "So, what else you want to ask me?" he asked, looking in her eyes, grinning at her.

"Why do you care about helping us?" Shayde asked, seriously curious.

"Why do you care if I care about helping you?" He asked.

"Not this again." Shayde groaned, laughing.

"Yup, this shit again." He nodded, grinning. "No, seriously, I don't really know. I just think if it were me, I'd want someone to help me. And you seem pretty cool to hang around with so it's kind of a bonus." Brian said with a shrug.

"I hear you like the ladies in distress." Shayde teased, making Brian roll his eyes.

"Who'd you hear that from? Rome? He's always bustin my balls." Brian laughed.

"No, not him. But I am sure he can fill me in on the details." Shayde smiled coyly.

"So, where are you thinking you are gonna go after this? Kaidyn is tired of moving. Is she gonna accept another move?" Brian turned serious, looking at Kaidyn sleeping and the only sound of the monitors beeping keeping it from being super quiet.

"She won't really have a choice. I gotta do what I gotta do to keep her safe. We have a house in Florida. I just gotta figure out a way to get us there without anyone knowing we are going." Shayde said, sighing. She had not been able to work on this part of the plan because she had been so busy trying to make sure Kaidyn was okay.

"I am good at plans. It's on my resume." Brian nodded, only half joking.

"Yeah, I am gonna pass on your resume since it says Cop on it." Shayde, too, only half joking.

"No, really I can help." Brian said, turning serious. "Get some rest and think about it?" he asked, covering her up with a blanket.

"Maybe" She sighed, drifting off into a fitful sleep. Outside it started to storm and Kaidyn screamed, making Brian jump since she had been so quietly sleeping.

"What's wrong, Kaidyn? Shayde and I are here." Brian said, reassuring her, hoping she had not woke Shayde.

"My head. Really hurts" She said, finally able to open an eye. "Brian?" She asked, still not able to see completely but happy to be able to open at least one eye.

"I am right here, Shay's napping right there. Want me to call the nurse?" He asked as Shayde stretched.

"I guess I can let you call her Shay too." Kaidyn said, holding her head. "Brian, it really hurts" She complained.

"Yeah it's time for some meds." Brian called the nurse.

"She okay?" Shayde asked, yawning.

"Yeah, she's okay. Just hurting." Brian said, watching Kaidyn's heart monitor speed up and beep faster.

"Here we go. I am up." Shayde said, knowing what was about to happen. Brian looked at

her confused.

"Her anxiety. She has really bad anxiety. Be prepared." Shayde watched Kaidyn sit up and try to touch her face. The tears were just pouring down her face now. Shayde held her arms out once she was back in bed and hugged her. "It's okay, Kk." She promised.

"I am gonna see if they can add something for her." Brian whispered to Shayde who gave him an approving nod.

"I wanna go home. If we had a home." She sobbed, breaking Shayde's heart.

"I know, Sis, it's okay. We are going home. I am working on it, Ok? I am gonna be working from home and we are going back to Miami. I just gotta figure out how to get us there, okay? Just rest for now and we will talk when you feel better." Shayde promised. "Just try to get some rest, please?" She asked, stroking her hair until she thought she had her back asleep.

"Miami?" Brian asked, raising an eyebrow. "You sure that is the best place to go back with you know who?" he asked, whispering from behind, almost in her ear..

"No, I don't want to leave Roman and Tej. I won't have any friends and I will have to be all alone. I don't want to move again" Kaidyn whispered, in between dozing off from the meds, her words a bit slurred.

"Hey Kaidyn, would you go if me, Tej and Roman went with you?" Brian asked, making Shayde's head pop up and look at him like he was nuts.

"Yeah, that would be cool." Kaidyn said, drifting off to sleep. "Yeah, that would work." She nodded, slightly asleep now.

"Nice of you to invite yourself to come with us." Shayde said, clicking her teeth, something she did when annoyed.

"Yeah, I thought it was." Brian laughed, shaking his head and shrugging.

"Pretty sure you shouldn't be seen in Florida, much less in Miami, wouldn't you say?" Shayde asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Well, I figure I may as well take my chances." Brian replied with honesty. "From what I understand, we are running from the same people, so why not let me help you?" Brian asked, searching her eyes.

"You sure your boys will feel the same way?" Shayde asked, checking her phone.

" Tej and Rome are actually from Miami. Between the three of us, we know the streets. We can help. I promise." Brian said.

"Being around us is a death wish, you know how bad it's gonna be for you and your boys if he finds you?" She asked, running her hand through her hair, annoyed they are going over this again.

"The risk is worth it. Why does Hector get to be there and you don't trust me?" Brian asked, hoping since she had to stay in this room with him he would finally get some answers.

"I have known Hector as long as I have known Dom. and why do you care?" She asked, amused at his question.

"Just wondering was all. So I know how we can get to Florida and not have anyone see us get there." Brian nodded, a twinkle in his eye.

"Yeah, how?" Shayde asked, folding her arms, interested in his sudden lightbulb.

"Shayde!" Kaidyn sat up, breathing hard.

"I am here, KK. What's wrong" Shayde asked, jumping up and walking over to Kaidyn.

"Johnny's here." She gasped, trying to get up, struggling like she was trying to run.

"Kaidyn, he's not here. I promise you. I have been watching all night" Brian interjected. "You're safe." he promised, looking at Shayde concerned.

"It's just the meds, sometimes they can make people hallucinate." The nurse said, seeing how concerned Brian looked. "That Benadryl I gave her will help relax her mind. It's pretty powerful in the IV. Don't be surprised if she sleeps the rest of the night." The nurse smiled, working on the computer beside the bed as she talked. "She's lucky to have great parents like you to stay with her." She commented, making Shayde almost spit out her Dr. Pepper.

"Oh, no, it's not like that." Shayde said, looking at Brian in shock, who was grinning and thought it was pretty funny.

"I am sorry, she looks like you both." She smiled apologetically. She left the room, dimming the lights. "She should rest for the rest of the night." She nodded.

"She does not know my sister." Shayde laughed. "Glad that is over." Shayde rolled her eyes, sitting back and looking over her shirt to make sure she had no spit on her.

"That was pretty funny actually. Wonder what Hector would think of that?" Brian teased with a grin. Shayde punched him playfully in the arm.

"Jealous much?" She asked and he nodded.

"Totally." Brian said, looking her in the eyes. She smiled an honest smile and settled in the chair, hoping for the rest of the night to be an easy night.

"I know it's paranoia, but I almost felt like that nurse was fishing for info." She admitted. "I can't wait for the day I don't have to hide info and I can just be, you know?" Shayde sighed, her shoulders suddenly feeling so heavy.

"I understand, I'd be worried too. Come here. Let me hold you and you get some rest." Brian said, pulling her over into his arms. She was too tired to object and he was nice and warm. She lifted her head up from his chest and looked at him.

"Thank you for staying tonight." She said, closing her eyes. She didn't want to give in to him but she couldn't lie, it felt good to be held in his strong arms.

"Not a problem." He replied, shocked he was able to get her to agree to be in his arms, much less relax, He played with her hair until she fell asleep.

"Do you need a blanket for your wife?" A different nurse came in, checking on Kaidyn and seeing him still awake. He almost started to say she's not wife, but he decided to just nod.

"Thanks." He said after the nurse covered him up.

"So you just gonna leave it be and not tell them?" Shayde asked warm and sleepy. He grinned and rolled his eyes.

"I just figure why bother offering any info up. We don't want to confirm or volunteer info to anyone we don't know, right?" he asked, feeling her start to relax again.

"You passed that test" Shayde nodded, drifting back off to sleep.

"Hello." Brian answered his phone.

"Hey Holmes, how are the girls?" Hector asked.

"They are good. Both resting." Brian said, putting Shayde in the chair and reclining it for her. He was really shocked she didn't wake up.

"Good, because I slipped something in Shay's drink to make sure she got some rest." Hector admitted.

"You know she's gonna kill you when she finds out." Brian grinned as he stepped into the doorway, the farthest away from the girls he could go as to not wake them.

"I ain't scared, no worries." He laughed. "Do I need to come relieve you to get some rest?" Hector asked.

"Nah man, I am good. I got Tej and Roman posted outside the room just for extra help and we are all good here" Brian promised. " Hey I was thinkin on how we can get the girls to Florida and not be tracked" He said, not sure if he realized Hector knew he was going to be joining them.

"I am all ears" Hector said, thinking Brian would have a logical idea.

"We will load the cars up in trailers and have the trailers take the cars for us, you know what I mean? You get what I am thinking?" Brian asked, not wanting to spell out the plan word for word.

"Semi's, yeah. We will need semi's to get those cars there for sure. I like it. I'll get working on that." He promised. "Need at least two of them bad boys." he mused, scratching his chin.
"Thanks man." Brian nodded.

"Hey Brian, are you sure you want to get mixed up in this? I mean, you got enough problems but this is gonna be a deathwish." Hector warned.

"So I have been told." Brian said, shaking his head. "It's all good. I got this." he promised, sounding just like Shayde. "How's Sprinkles, Did you get that situation figured out?" He asked, watching Kaidyn start to toss a bit.

"Hells no. I had to have Jesse and Leon catch that lil bastard." Hector complained. "Sprinkles really hates me." He noted.

"That's funny though." Brian chuckled. "I can't imagine how things will be when she wakes up and is full fledged awake. She's had to be heavily medicated." Brian said, speaking of Kaidyn.

"Yeah, she has something called hyper-vigilance. It's from anxiety and trauma. She notices every little change and she can pick up on things that most people wouldn't because she has so many issues. She can tell if you are stressed or lying if you don't have a poker face with her." Hector said, giving him a bit more insight on Kaidyn.

"Thanks for the heads up. She's trying to wake up. I'll text you with some names we can try to get some semi's set up." Brian nodded, hanging up. He paced around the room, hands in his pockets.

" Is everything okay?" Kaidyn asked, her head turned facing him.

"Hey, you are awake. Yeah, I am good, just getting some steps in" he nodded. "How you feelin?" He asked, coming to sit by her.

"I am okay, hurting a little bit but I don't want to call anyone and please don't get Shay." She requested, her mouth dry from the meds.

"I won't. We will just let her sleep." Brian promised.

"She's asleep? Wow, she must trust you. She never sleeps around people she doesn't know." Kaidyn said, her eyes widening in shock.

"Yeah, she can be pretty stubborn, huh?" Brian asked, grinning.

"Yes, very." Kaidyn said, starting to try to rub her eye. He grabbed her hand.

"I wouldn't rub it or it will swell back up." he warned, trying to not upset her.

"Thanks, it's a habit" She said, not missing a beat. "So you like my sister?" Kaidyn asked, making Brian look at her. He tried to remember the poker face and that if he couldn't pull off the lie he had no choice but to be truthful.

"Why would you ask that?. You think I got a shot?" he asked, looking at Shayde sleeping so peacefully. He still found it amusing Hector slipped her something.

"I don't know. I just want her to be happy again. She's always sad." Kaidyn yawned, holding her head. "My head really hurts, do you think we can call the nurse?" She asked, feeling restless.

"I'm on it" he nodded, clicking the call light button.

"Thanks Brian." She said, holding her head. "You sure Jesse's okay?" She asked.

"Yeah, he's got a broken rib but he's okay" Brian promised.

"Do you think Dom really meant he was sorry?" she asked a bit later after some silence.

"For sure I do. He was pretty upset with himself about what he said to you. He had a lot going on this week and he just got stressed out." Brian nodded.

"Is it raining?" She asked, looking outside watching the lightning but the curtain was almost closed.

"It is. Want me to open it for you so you can see it better?" he asked. getting up to open the curtain.
"Yes, please." She said, trying to readjust. Shayde opened an eye and smiled at how Brian was being with her and closed her eyes again. She let herself drift off into a very deep and much needed sleep.