Chapter 10
Piper came running down to the edge of the lake where Gage was fishing with Chris. She plopped herself down beside her father letting out an exaggerated sigh.
"What's the matter Piper? Not having a good time?" Gage asked.
"I can't go swimming thanks to this," she complained holding her cast up for Gage to see. "I'm tired of fishing," she continued, "And Mom keeps hugging us and crying."
Gage was silent for a moment before he asked, "Is she crying now?"
"I'm not posse to tell you," she flatly stated.
Chris sat down on the other side of his father, "Is she going to be okay Dad?"
Putting an arm around each of them he assured them that Mom was going to be fine, wishing he felt as sure as he spoke.
A week had passed since they broke the case at the Tyler Mental Facility. Nurse Hampton in order to save herself filled in all the missing pieces on Dr. Welsh. First how Carol Barnes' murder was accidental she had been trying to escape from Welsh's estate where he had often taken the patients to make his films. He had locked her in one of the bedrooms on the third floor and she had fallen to her death climbing out the window. He had brought her back to the facility and made it look like she had jumped from the roof.
Leigh-Ann was different she had become pregnant; Welsh wanting to cover his tracks had an abortion performed on her against her will. Being in the fragile state she was in Leigh-Ann had taken her own life.
Hampton told them what Welsh had done to Syd he had done to countless other patients. Gage hugged both the kids closer to him.
"Piper how bout you look after my fishing line while I go see if I can get Mom to come down here with us."
"Okay," she sighed again taking the fishing pole from her Dad.
Getting up Gage headed up the trail to where the camp was set up. Syd was coming from the other direction with her arms full of wood for the evening fire. Going to her he took the wood from her.
"Thought you were catching supper," Syd smiled a wistful smile. Her eyes were rimmed red giving away that she had been crying.
Gage set the wood down and took her in his arms she leaned her face against his chest he felt so good.
"Your daughter was worried about you," Gage told her kissing her forehead.
"Ratted me out did she?" Syd asked looking up into her husband's face.
"Not really I wormed it out of her," he said pulling Syd closer.
"Gage, I know this has been hard for all of us. but I feel that I'm getting a little stronger every day."
"Syd."
"No listen to me, I know I still have a lot to get past but two days ago I couldn't even have decided this. The HOPE center has a group for victims of rape I'm going to become part of that group when our vacation is over. This is not going to beat me I've got two beautiful kids that need me and I'm not about to let them down," she declared adding, "Or you for that matter."
Gage remained silent holding her finally speaking, "I should have protected."
Her fingers were on his lips, "Please Gage no you did everything the way you should have there is no blame here. Trivette was there and a whole hospital full of police no one would have believed this would happen. We just need a little time to heal," she murmured her head lying against his chest once more.
Pulling back from her Gage took Syd's face in his hands gently caressing her cheek with his thumb. Even though he knew this was something that would always scar their lives he could still see her slowly returning to him. Together they would get past this he trusted their love to see them through, as did she. Leaning forward he tenderly kissed his beautiful wife feeling her arms twine around his neck. He gently lifted her in his arms the kiss becoming more passionate.
"Mom, Dad come quick Piper caught a fish, a great big old fish," Chris was shouting excitedly.
Both Syd and Gage smiled widely at each other as Gage set her back on her feet holding her close for a moment more before turning to their son.
Chris had Syd's hand in his now and was tugging her towards the trail that led to the lake while Gage took the other one and they took off to find Piper. The little girl was jumping up and down excitedly as the fish flopped around in front of her on the shore.
"I caught a fish Mommy," she was shouting excitedly as Gage went to take it from the hook.
"And with a broken arm too," Syd cried out picking the child up and swinging her around.
"Looks like we are going to eat well tonight," Gage laughed.
"No Daddy we can't eat him," Piper cried out, "We have to put him back."
"Put him back," both Chris and Gage exclaimed at the same time.
Seeing the look on Piper's little face all of them knew they had no choice and soon the fish was swimming back to the center of the lake.
As the children raced up the trail and back to camp Sydney turned to Gage catching his hand in hers she made a small declaration, "This is what our lives are about Gage and I for one am not going to let anything stand in the way of this."
Drawing her into his arms again he made his own declaration, "Nor will I Syd, Nor will I"
The End
Piper came running down to the edge of the lake where Gage was fishing with Chris. She plopped herself down beside her father letting out an exaggerated sigh.
"What's the matter Piper? Not having a good time?" Gage asked.
"I can't go swimming thanks to this," she complained holding her cast up for Gage to see. "I'm tired of fishing," she continued, "And Mom keeps hugging us and crying."
Gage was silent for a moment before he asked, "Is she crying now?"
"I'm not posse to tell you," she flatly stated.
Chris sat down on the other side of his father, "Is she going to be okay Dad?"
Putting an arm around each of them he assured them that Mom was going to be fine, wishing he felt as sure as he spoke.
A week had passed since they broke the case at the Tyler Mental Facility. Nurse Hampton in order to save herself filled in all the missing pieces on Dr. Welsh. First how Carol Barnes' murder was accidental she had been trying to escape from Welsh's estate where he had often taken the patients to make his films. He had locked her in one of the bedrooms on the third floor and she had fallen to her death climbing out the window. He had brought her back to the facility and made it look like she had jumped from the roof.
Leigh-Ann was different she had become pregnant; Welsh wanting to cover his tracks had an abortion performed on her against her will. Being in the fragile state she was in Leigh-Ann had taken her own life.
Hampton told them what Welsh had done to Syd he had done to countless other patients. Gage hugged both the kids closer to him.
"Piper how bout you look after my fishing line while I go see if I can get Mom to come down here with us."
"Okay," she sighed again taking the fishing pole from her Dad.
Getting up Gage headed up the trail to where the camp was set up. Syd was coming from the other direction with her arms full of wood for the evening fire. Going to her he took the wood from her.
"Thought you were catching supper," Syd smiled a wistful smile. Her eyes were rimmed red giving away that she had been crying.
Gage set the wood down and took her in his arms she leaned her face against his chest he felt so good.
"Your daughter was worried about you," Gage told her kissing her forehead.
"Ratted me out did she?" Syd asked looking up into her husband's face.
"Not really I wormed it out of her," he said pulling Syd closer.
"Gage, I know this has been hard for all of us. but I feel that I'm getting a little stronger every day."
"Syd."
"No listen to me, I know I still have a lot to get past but two days ago I couldn't even have decided this. The HOPE center has a group for victims of rape I'm going to become part of that group when our vacation is over. This is not going to beat me I've got two beautiful kids that need me and I'm not about to let them down," she declared adding, "Or you for that matter."
Gage remained silent holding her finally speaking, "I should have protected."
Her fingers were on his lips, "Please Gage no you did everything the way you should have there is no blame here. Trivette was there and a whole hospital full of police no one would have believed this would happen. We just need a little time to heal," she murmured her head lying against his chest once more.
Pulling back from her Gage took Syd's face in his hands gently caressing her cheek with his thumb. Even though he knew this was something that would always scar their lives he could still see her slowly returning to him. Together they would get past this he trusted their love to see them through, as did she. Leaning forward he tenderly kissed his beautiful wife feeling her arms twine around his neck. He gently lifted her in his arms the kiss becoming more passionate.
"Mom, Dad come quick Piper caught a fish, a great big old fish," Chris was shouting excitedly.
Both Syd and Gage smiled widely at each other as Gage set her back on her feet holding her close for a moment more before turning to their son.
Chris had Syd's hand in his now and was tugging her towards the trail that led to the lake while Gage took the other one and they took off to find Piper. The little girl was jumping up and down excitedly as the fish flopped around in front of her on the shore.
"I caught a fish Mommy," she was shouting excitedly as Gage went to take it from the hook.
"And with a broken arm too," Syd cried out picking the child up and swinging her around.
"Looks like we are going to eat well tonight," Gage laughed.
"No Daddy we can't eat him," Piper cried out, "We have to put him back."
"Put him back," both Chris and Gage exclaimed at the same time.
Seeing the look on Piper's little face all of them knew they had no choice and soon the fish was swimming back to the center of the lake.
As the children raced up the trail and back to camp Sydney turned to Gage catching his hand in hers she made a small declaration, "This is what our lives are about Gage and I for one am not going to let anything stand in the way of this."
Drawing her into his arms again he made his own declaration, "Nor will I Syd, Nor will I"
The End