Chapter 61: The Middle (Jimmy Eat World)

The moment he backed off me, I scrambled further into the cell, standing between the toilet and the wall, a place that would be hard to pull me from with Felo in the room. I felt disgusting and every breath seemed impossible. I was wheezing, just like my son and then the tears came as I thought of my little boy and how I'd never know him if this was my future. My cries were silent as I pressed my face against the cold wall.

With the pain in my chest, I was pretty sure I had a broken rib. That was a new one. I kept trying to take normal breaths as I looked at Felo. He looked ready to explode as he stepped into my cell and saw me cowering against the wall. Never in our time together had I allowed him to see me weak. Even when I got hurt, I was cocky but tonight had brought out the part of me that came out when Marco was standing over me.

It was a part of me that made me feel ashamed to be alive, even Britt hadn't seen me get this point, not fully. I held tight to my chest as I kept focusing on taking shallow breaths. Felo was looking at me, asking a silent question and I just looked away. I didn't even have enough strength to answer him.

This guy, if the cops didn't take him down first would be meeting Nico in person...that I was sure of. Felo turned towards the fucking evil son of a bitch that punched me.

"Why are you in her cell Mack? She's terrified."

"She's being dramatic. I was just checking in on her."

"No, that is not dramatic. She is scared. There is no reason she needed to be checked on at 3 in the morning, try again."

"I thought Captain told you and Chuck to call it a night?"

"You actually thought I'd leave her in this cell with you idiots lingering around...the captain would have my badge!"

"Well I was just checking on her...shit...I didn't know you wanted a piece...I'll let you get first bite if you forget I was here."

"Is that what you were planning to do?" Felo stepped even closer to Mack and I could see that he definitely had a height and a muscle advantage over the guy. "If you come back in this cell...if you ever touch her again, I will kill you myself!"

"A little too protective over your little dyke junkie girlfriend...aren't you?"

I stood there in awe as Felo lifted Mack up by his collar and brought him to eye level. I wiped at my face and allowed myself to relax, Felo wasn't going to let this guy hurt me. I was safe for now.

Breathe Lopez.

"You were taken off this case for a reason...now get out of her cell."

"Yea well you should be taken off the case since you have been screwing her."

"Prove it, pendejo!"

"It's a small town, Maldonado, everyone knows you been screwing that little whore since she sprouted tits!"

Felo's nostrils flared, he glanced at me and then slammed Mack against the wall. The guy gasped as Felo put him on his feet and shoved his finger against the guy's forehead.

"This is your last chance before I call the captain, get the fuck out of here!"

"I was so close to getting some of that pussy and you could have joined in but suddenly you're a fucking boy scout! She's the town bike for Christ' sake! You saw her file, she fucked 115 men in New York last summer, she probably wouldn't even feel me fucking her!"

I froze, how the fuck did he know that number? I swallowed back the bile in my throat and looked away before Felo's eyes could meet mine.

His words about not knowing a person, filtered back into my brain. I was ashamed of my summer, of what I had done and who I had let touch me.

It's a wonder that I didn't catch an STI until I got back to Lima. I was cracking with every negative thing he said about me and then it hit me.

If he'd seen my file than Padrino had seen my file and I let out a sob.

"Say one more thing and I will kick your ass myself!"

"Fine...you win, I'll go."

Felo took a step back and the guy came towards me, smaller but quicker than Felo. I backed up into the corner as he got close enough that I could smell his rotten breath.

"Remember what I said, Princess!" Mack hocked up gunk in his throat and spit towards me. I tried to move out of the way, but it landed right on my cheek and I gagged. I was utterly disgusted.

"Asshole!" I called after him as I used my sleeve to wipe the spit from my face. Felo forcibly shoved him from my cell and pulled the door closed and I slid down to the floor, curling up into the impossibly small space, realizing that maybe I needed to eat more if I could fit here.

Mack hadn't gotten the chance to rape me, but his words had done more damage than any physical assault could have achieved.

I didn't trust my god brother much these days but right then, he was acting much better than any other guy in my life except for Ian.

"Anita, get up and let me look at you."

I looked up at him through teary eyes, his hand was reaching towards me and I stared at it for a long time before scooting out from the space. With my arms wrapped around my chest, I used the wall to help me stand. Even though he was Felo and he'd shown I could trust him, I didn't want to be touched by any man, even him.

Once I was on my feet, I finally took a deeper breath but couldn't bite back the groan that escaped my lips.

Fuck it hurt.

Felo stood close with his arms out just in case I fell over, but he didn't touch me. I whimpered as I sat down on my cot and just kept trying to take a complete breath, but it was near impossible. My breathing was labored but I couldn't breakdown with him hovering. What if he decided to go rogue. I couldn't take the chance.

Not now.

"Did he do something to you?"

"I'm okay."

"What did he do?"

"Fuck...Felo just go...please?"

"Listen Anita, I'm sorry about all this...I tried to get Padrino to take me off the case, but he insists that you need me on it."

"You saved me." I rasped out, "He's right...I do need you."

"I wish I could do something to stop this nonsense."

"You just did...he almost...Just go...okay?" I whispered as I sat back against the wall cringing when my stomach contracted.

"You need anything before I go?"

"Water..." I said feeling my throat dry out as I tried to breathe.

He grabbed a paper cup and filled it with water from the sink. When he handed it to me and I reached out for it my hand was shaking so badly that I couldn't hold the cup. He refilled it after I spilled most of it on myself and then brought the cup to my lips. I dipped my head and drank the water greedily.

I was able to take a deeper breath after two cups of water and felt really exhausted.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome...you are safe to go to sleep again, I'll be right outside this door all night."

"Thank God."

"I'll bring you coffee in the morning...black, three sugars, right?" I nodded and then slowly laid back onto the pillow. He looked at me longingly as he shut and locked the door. "See you in the morning."

Falling back to sleep was impossible when I couldn't breathe. So, I got up and with my arms hugging my chest, I paced the room until I felt like I couldn't stand another second and finally I fell asleep sitting up against the wall. When I woke again, there was light pouring in from the window. I got off the cot and stood in front of the mirror. Everything hurt so bad, I had tried to push past it, but it seemed impossible.

I lifted my shirt and tried to see my chest but there wasn't enough light in the room to see what kind of damage I'd suffered.

"That looks pretty bad." I snapped my head to the side and there stood Felo with my coffee. How had he opened the door and gotten so close to me? I really needed to work on being more alert, had being with Marco taught me nothing?

"Yea...well it's too dark for me in here...I can't see it."

"Well it's pretty bad...I'm going to tell the Pa about it."

"No...please, he will kill the guy with his bare hands and I know for a fact that they would never find his body. I don't want his blood on my hands."

"When you get out of here go see someone okay." He said as he handed the cup to me.

I breathed in the bittersweet smell of the coffee and then brought it to my lips. It tasted like fresh Cafecito and I raised an eyebrow at Felo. He was smiling at me when I looked up at him.

"Is this freshly brewed?"

"Yes. Once someone came in to relieve me, that I trusted, I went home...made you that. Special blend from my summer home."

"Like Puerto Rico, summer home?"

"Yup, if you ever need an escape...it's yours."

"You're amazing, thank you."

"You're welcome. Now let's get you out of here so that you can hopefully go home today, and I can stop doing all-nighters."

"What makes you so sure I'm getting out of here?"

"Because you were right last night...we have no case. We are plucking straws. Your name wasn't the only one that Kyle mentioned it just so happens that out of a list of fifteen names yours stuck out. Padrino doesn't trust that rookie to handle this right. Chuck just wants to make a name for himself, I can't blame him."

"I would be just the way to do it...of course!"

"So, Anita, I don't anticipate you being here very long."

"That's the best news I have heard since this all started."

"Yea...well I couldn't very well say that last night, I almost passed out when Chuck started suspecting something."

"Sorry."

"Look...guy named Walter will be down to get you in thirty minutes...clean up your face, do something with that hair, and drink that coffee. This guy is an ass, but he won't hurt you like Mack did. He's just a cranky viejo a few months from retiring. Just be humble...I know that's hard for you, but I know that you can do it."

"Okay. Thanks again...now get out of here before someone thinks you're sampling the goods." I said, winking at him.

I have always loved to make a man blush, it makes me feel so powerful.

All hail ME!

Felo brought me a refill of my coffee, a washcloth and a new shirt since I had dried spit on the first one. I washed myself as best as I could in the sink and then needed Felo to help me put a new shirt on. Lifting my arms felt like I was being stabbed repeatedly in the chest.

"You don't look good, Anita...he needs to lose his badge."

"I'm not retaliating while I'm in here...I've had worse, I'll be fine, just sneak me aspirin or something?"

"Yeah, just sit tight."

I was standing there trying like hell to brush my hair, but I couldn't, so it just needed to stay a crow's nest. There was no lifting my arms to fix it.

God, I missed Britt, this had made me understand that I'd do anything for her. All I needed was to be in her arms and away from all the people that wanted to break me. The whole ride to the courthouse that I had crashed into all those years ago, I didn't speak or move. I just kept talking to God, making promises that I knew I'd break. God knew that I wasn't perfect, but I trusted that He had my back regardless.

Felo came back with painkillers and a slice of toast. While I ate he brushed my hair into a messy bun that looked semi decent.

"Thanks."

When we walked into the hearing room, I was floored by how many people were sitting on my side of the room.

Britt was sitting right up front with bloodshot eyes holding Ian and Quinn's hands. Then there were three of my sisters, with Mami. The person that shocked me the most though, was Sue Sylvester.

I looked around for any glee clubbers, but my "family" was once again nowhere to be found. Therefore, I would follow Sue to the ends of the Earth. She taught me strength, which is exactly what I needed now and when I caught her eye she looked at me with smugness and winked. She was up to something and I was completely fine with whatever she had up her sleeve. Sue was my own warped guardian angel...sick right?

"All rise."

I stood shoulder to shoulder with Sal as the judge entered, gearing myself for whatever bail she set because I knew that I could pay it and if I couldn't one of my sisters could, no matter how I looked at it I would be going home at some point today.

"This is a bail hearing for Santana Gladys Lopez, how do you plead?"

"Not guilty."

"Considering your willingness to turn yourself in within hours of being notified of your pending arrest, I do not see you as a flight risk and because of your amazing cooperation with the local officials, I will set bail for two hundred and fifty thousand. Your case will be heard on June 14th at 9 am. If you do not appear another warrant will be issued. Understand?"

"Yes ma'am."

When the judge left I leaned into Sal and whispered, "Come to lock up and bring Damariz and a camera."

"Why?"

"Start putting my case together, the bruises on my chest are just part of it."

"Bruises?"

"Just show up!"

We were interrupted when I was tapped on the shoulder by Walter and asked to stand. Even though they knew that my bail was about to be posted they still wanted to make a show by handcuffing me in front of my family and friends. I put out my wrists for the awaiting handcuffs and kept my head down. Felo was right, Walter had been an ass making snide comments, but he didn't once try to get too rough apart from the cuffs.

He had made sure to make the cuffs extra tight. I winced as I felt the metal hit my bone.

"Ana?" I looked over and saw my B with tears in her eyes. She had seen me wince. "Are you okay baby?"

I nodded my head too afraid to speak for fear that I might cry again. My pride was keeping me from turning into a blubbering mess.

"Sandra is posting your bail right now. I'll see you soon." I nodded as they pushed at me to start walking towards the door.

The ride back to the station was a quiet one. I was on my best behavior as I saw Britt riding along side of the bus with Celia and Mami. I watched them the entire way, I kept catching Britt glance up at me through the window and I tried to smile but it was hard when I had a wire screen partially blocking my vision and pains shooting up and down my chest.

When we got back to the station Sal was waiting with Damariz by Padrino's office. They were all smiling at me. I attempted to smile back but the pain was becoming less bearable. Felo came over and whispered to Walter, who he kept looking down at me and then over to my family. He hadn't let go of my elbow and in fact had squeezed it a couple times during the conversation. I stood there just waiting as they continued to talk off to the side. Sal held his thumb up and smiled even harder.

The door to Padrino's office opened but I kept my head down, trying to catch Felo's whispers but then they stopped. I jumped when a hand came down on my shoulder. It was Padrino, he was smiling as well. He winked at me and then held out his hand to Walter for the key to my cuffs.

"Mrs. Lopez on behalf of the Lima judicial system please accept my apologies for any inconveniences. The perpetrator has been caught. You are free to go."

I stood there looking at him in confusion as he uncuffed my wrists.

"What?"

"All the charges have been dropped. This is a good thing. Walt, next time ease up on the cuffs." He scolded, and Walter mumbled an apology before scurrying away. "Come into my office."

I followed Sal and Padrino into the office with Damariz hot on my heels. I felt so tired and sore. Using handcuffs during sex had always been a kink of mine but that was gone now. I never wanted to wear those again, even if it was during sexy times. As soon as the door was closed, and the blinds were drawn, Padrino opened his arms to me and I stepped into them, near tears.

"It's okay, Nanita." He whispered as he rubbed my back. After I got my crying under control, I stepped back, wrapping my arms around myself.

"What happened? Why the reversal?"

"We got our guy. I called you in here to see your bruising."

"I told Felo to keep his mouth shut."

"Well he cares about you Santana, just like we all do. Besides, Sal told me about your request and I'm here to make sure this gets handled. So, come on, I changed your diapers, so let me see."

I lifted my shirt and they all gasped. Damariz came over to me and ran a light hand over my upper abdomen.

"You need to go see a doctor...this is really bad."

"Well, you are a doctor."

"Yes, but I don't cart x-ray machines around on my back."

"Well you should know better by now." I said as I dropped my shirt.

Padrino turned to Damariz.

"Can you take pictures of these bruises, I have a guy from internal affairs coming in this afternoon."

"Okay, Tio. You got it!"

As I walked out of the building I saw the cops ushering in Kyle and Sandy Ryerson, I guess he moved from Marijuana to pills and powder.

Sal leaned into my ear while wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

"Your cheer coach got a confession out of Sandy. It came through as you were in transit from the hearing. They dropped all the charges and Brittany should have picked up your car by now."

Relief filled my chest as I finally felt the tears soaking my cheeks. I looked over at my sister who were smiling back at me as we walked to the car. I suddenly realized that there was only one place that I wanted to be at that moment.

"Sal...can you do me one last favor?"

"Yea?"

"Take me to the hospital."

"You sure that you don't want to see your family first? Gladys is preparing dinner at the house."

"I'll stall her Sal, Santana is right, she should go see a doctor." Damariz said and I shrugged.

"Okay, well let's get going, she invited me, and I cannot turn down those bacon fritters."

"Seriously, you too with the fritters?"

"They're heaven, Santana. So, let's get moving."

When I walked into the NICU, after washing my hands three times, I found Britt already there holding Isaac on her chest. She looked up at me with a smile on her face but with tears in his eyes.

"I knew you'd come here first." Britt whispered. I smiled as I leaned in and kissed her lips.

"How is he?" I asked.

"Not good. Maybe if you hold him with your Mami magic he will get better."

"After his treatment is done." I said feeling too dirty and too afraid to hold him. I sat on the stool in front of Britt and placed my hand on Isaac's back.

Seeing him like this steeled my resolve to stay clean. I could feel how congested his lungs were and wished that I could trade places with him.

I rubbed his back, occasionally running into Britt's fingers. There was still that spark when I touched her, and it felt so good. It felt like I hadn't touched her in an eternity, but it really had just been one day. I looked up at her and she was still smiling back at me.

"So, you're free now? Sal called."

"Yea...they dropped the charges."

"Thank God...I went to church with Quinn last night and we prayed for you."

"Really? That means a lot to me B."

"It helped me feel closer to you."

"I feel the same way, when I go it makes me feel closer to Papi."

"We should go together. Can we?"

"We can."

"So, how about you, are you okay?"

"Yea...I'm fine."

"Full honesty Ana..."

"I'm just worried about Isaac."

"That's not completely it, you look like you're in pain."

"A little...one of the cops roughed me up and I'm pretty sure if Felo hadn't shown up he'd have raped me instead I have bruises, but Pa saw them and is going to file charges."

"Let me see." There was a steeliness in her eyes knowing that someone had hurt me...again.

"Right now?"

"Yes."

I stood up and then lifted my shirt...the bruises had gotten dark some of them were almost black from what I had seen in the pictures that Damariz had taken.

"Oh my...Ana...you need to get checked out."

Nurse Becky came over after hearing Britt's voice raise in alarm and looked at my bruises. She looked concerned.

"How many times do I have to preach to you two? If you don't take care of yourselves, you can't take care of him. Dr. Jindahl is on call today, I'll page him."

"Thanks, Becky." I said, and she nodded before leaving us alone again. I sat down and looked back at Britt pleading for her to not worry over this, but I knew she would.

"B, I'm fine."

"No, you're not. You wince when you breathe just like Isaac and you have been doing it since the courtroom."

"I have?"

"Yes. I know you Ana. I know everything about you. This reminds of when Aden was alive, and you tried to ignore the pain that you were in. You may have gotten me to ignore it back then but now, I'm putting my foot down as your wife."

I felt a chill run through me at the mention of my father's name and a reminder of the pain he had caused but then there was the title.

"Your wife?"

"Always, baby."

The buzzer on the breathing machine dinged and Nurse Becky picked Isaac back up. She was giving me a stern look.

"Dr. Jindahl is on his way up to get you. It's not safe for you to hold him with potential internal bleeding."

Britt nodded and gave the nosey nurse a thumb up. Isaac was sleeping peacefully as she put him back in the glass box thing. I couldn't be mad that people cared about me.

Knowing that my son was getting the best care helped me to relax. I needed to focus on his recovery but also my own.

"Santana? Brittany? Is everything alright?" Dr. J poked his head into the room.

"Hey doc...ready to check me out?"

"Yes, and I've got a wheelchair out in the hall for you."

"Is that necessary?"

"I insist."

"Okay, fine."

"Well come along, he'll be here when I'm done with you."

Britt held my hand as I sat in the wheelchair. Dr. J pushed us into the elevator and proceeded to ask us about our futures outside of the drama.

I didn't really feel up to talking but it didn't seem to matter because he and Britt were having an animated conversation.

My chest was hurting but I had just been ignoring it the best I could but that apparently hadn't been working well. Now though I was starting to agree with Britt that I definitely needed to be checked out.

Once we were in an exam room, Britt helped me to climb up onto the table. Dr. J sat there holding his tablet and looking at me with expectancy.

"Okay, so why don't you tell me what's going on?"

I sat on the exam table and crossed my arms over my stomach.

"I got arrested last night."

"I see...because of the drugs."

"Yes...something like that."

"So, what happened?"

"One of the cops roughed me up this morning."

"Male or female?"

"Male...he punched me repeatedly in my chest."

"Did you file a report?"

"Yes."

"Okay Santana can you take off your shirt for me?"

I pushed past the burning in my gut and tried to raise my shirt but couldn't bear the pain.

"Shit!" I couldn't lift it and began to gasp for air. "B?"

Britt quickly rushed over to help peel my shirt off. I let out a hiss as I put my arms back down. B had her lip as she looked down at me.

"Okay lie back for me."

After I laid flat on my back Dr. Jindal came over to me and started to press in places and I couldn't help but cry out every time.

"Doc you're killing me!"

"I'm going to send you for a chest x-ray. Is there any chance you might be pregnant?" I looked at him and then over at B.

"Possibly a...slight chance" I whispered.

Britt pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and kept blinking. I knew that she was trying not to cry.

"Was this planned?"

"No. I had sex with Marco, so he'd sign the divorce papers. We didn't use protection."

"When was this?"

"Early last month and then I had sex again last Friday."

"Okay, I suggest you follow-up and get a test in the next couple of weeks."

"Okay."

"What about drug usage?"

"Not since Saturday."

"So, four days then."

"Yes."

"Have you given any thought to rehab?"

"Yes, after graduation I'm going for 28 days."

"Good! Okay well let's get you checked out."

After the painful x-ray, Britt and I sat in the exam room while Dr. J went to check on another patient. She hadn't spoken since before the whole pregnancy thing and I really wanted to see where her head was in all of this. I knew that I should have spoken up sooner, but it hadn't come up at all and I had totally forgotten about it until Dr. J asked.

"Honesty B."

"So, you think you're pregnant?"

"It's too soon to tell but my hormones are all over the place like the first time."

"What happens if you are?"

"Nothing will change between us B, unless you want it to, I promised we would stay single until we were both ready. I meant that."

"I'm scared...I mean these last few days have been crazy, but I feel closer to you than ever. It's just, how could we possibly take care of another baby with Isaac being so sick and us so rocky?"

"B, it's okay...we will deal with this just like everything else...one step at a time."

"Does Ian know?"

"Well...he was there, B. I don't think it would shock him."

"Yea...and what if it's...Marco's?"

"I refuse to believe that. There's no way that after all the sex we had that suddenly, he gets me knocked up this last time. No. If I'm pregnant, it's for sure Ian's."

"If you say so."

"I do say so. Just...please don't worry, B. Please?"

"Okay. okay...I will try not to."

After leaving the hospital B drove us to my mother's house since my sisters had all flown in to be by my side. I was so sore as I walked stiffly with my hand in Britt's, my chest was wrapped up under my shirt. Dr. J told me to take it easy if I could.

As time passed, I felt gross. I hadn't showered since before jail and didn't want to be touched. I just wanted to show my face and then go the fuck home.

I had refused narcotics, so I was doing my best to just take it slow with aspirin. When we walked in B threw herself in front of me as people were running up for hugs.

"She has two cracked ribs...don't hug too hard!"

Everyone froze including Sal who stood next to my mom in the kitchen.

"How did that happen? You were fine this morning!" Celia said as she made her way over to me.

"Dumb cop roughed me up."

"Sal, we can't let them get away with it!" my mother said gesturing towards me.

"No worries, Captain Rivera already knows, we took pictures at the station and there is a police report."

Even with Sal explaining away the issue my family continued to go back and forth over what happened and what needed to be done. I held my hands up as everyone started yelling about me being just a little woman and I had enough.

"Stop! Padrino is looking into it and internal affairs are coming in tonight. Just please leave it to him. I don't want to fight with them, honestly, I just want to graduate and get the heck out of Lima for good."

Dinner was a quiet affair for once. Damariz kept shooting me looks every time I cringed, finally she had enough, and I was forced to bring up another topic I didn't wish to discuss.

"Why didn't you get medication, Ana?"

"I'm trying to stay sober."

"You've been sober since December...right?"

"No." the uproar was immediate. Then my mom spoke up.

"Mija when was the last time?"

"Saturday." there was even more yelling after that...I was so tired, so I leaned over to B.

"Take me home...please?" I was near tears and just wanted the peace and quiet that only existed in my apartment. Britt turned pink as she looked at me and placed a hand on top of mine. I looked in her eyes and could see the anxiousness. "What is it, B?"

"We um...we got evicted. The landlord said it was because of the cops showing up...we have to get our stuff all out by tomorrow. He is going to give you a check for the balance."

I sat there staring down at my plate as the whole room disappeared...I could feel the anger bubbling under the surface.

"Where did you sleep last night?"

"At Quinn's"

I slammed my fists down the table and immediately cried out in pain.

The room suddenly went quiet as I sat there somewhere between pain and anger.

"This is bullshit! I paid that cabron ten thousand dollars! There is one month left on the lease! Where are we supposed to live?"

"Aqui mija, what's wrong with here? Your Papi can't torment you anymore... just come home...you and Brittany."

"Really Gladys! You hear that Ana? Problem solved!" Britt squealed.

"No. I can't come back here. Sal, can you please get me back in for the last month? Threaten him...I don't care what you do but I'm not moving!"

Sal could see the tears brimming, put his fork down and stood up.

"I'll go see what I can do right away."

"You can finish eating, I'm not a monster...just after please?"

All it took was one short phone call from Sal and my landlord backed off. He had changed the locks on us, so I had to show up, in pain at his office with Sal to pick up the new keys.

He took one look at me and looked ashamed.

"Did someone pay you to kick me out?" I asked him.

He blushed.

"Who was it?"

He shook his head.

Sal put his hand up and I watched as he verbally threatened the man to honor the lease until July 31st free of charge.

"That's a good apartment, I can't forgo two months of rent!"

"I'll pay...that's not a problem, just let us back in."

"Fine. Full rent plus security for the next two months up front."

I pulled out my debit card and he looked surprised.

"Oh, did you think that'd be a problem? I can buy this whole building if I wanted to, all I need is those two bedrooms upstairs."

He stood over us as the rent processed and when it was approved, he pushed new paperwork at me that I quickly signed and then gave me the keys.

Out in the parking lot, Britt was pacing as she chewed her fingernails.

I hated seeing her like this.

"B?" I called.

She finally stopped and looked at me, tears in her eyes.

"So?"

I dangled the keys and she wiped at her eyes.

She hugged Sal and then he left us there after patting my back.

Once we were alone in the apartment, things were still looking disheveled, I reached for Britt's hand.

"My turn to lead?" I asked, and she looked crazed and nodded. "Did you take your meds today?"

"They were locked in here. The pharmacy wouldn't refill them since it was less than 30 days since my last refill."

"Assholes. Okay...so meds. Shower. Cuddles?"

"Please?" She whimpered, and I leaned in and kissed her.

"No worries, Daddy...Lollipop's got you."

And finally, she grinned.

Thank God.