~~! The Stand !~~
Jen sighed, looking at the new schedule for the help center and seeing that she and CJ weren't working any shifts together yet again. She had barely seen him since he had been released from the hospital a couple of weeks ago. They hadn't talked about sleeping in the hospital bed together, but Jen was sure that's what his avoidance boiled down to.
Slumping in her chair, she saw David walk in and drop his backpack beside his desk.
"Hey, David. Have you seen CJ this week?"
"Yeah, we had pizza together the other night. He wanted me to go over his philosophy paper."
"Has he said anything about me?"
"Jen, it's not my place to tell you that. If CJ told me something, I wouldn't repeat it."
"He's avoiding me, David. This is worse than before."
"Go talk to him. There's no reason for you to avoid him if he's avoiding you."
"I don't know how you do this job. You talk in circles."
He grinned, replying, "It's all part of my charm."
She sulked in silence for a few minutes, before realizing that she had no idea how to get in touch with him. "I don't know how to find him." She muttered to David.
"Excuse me? I, uh, couldn't hear you." He stifled his laugh with a cough. CJ and Jen were a hilarious couple. They were great together, when they were together, but any other time, they were just weird.
"I said that I don't know where to find him. He never told me where he lives or even gave me his number."
David blinked in disbelief and tried to decide what he should do. Finally deciding that there was no harm in giving her CJ's home phone number, he scrawled it in perfect penmanship on a Post-It note and slid it across their desks to her. "You don't know where you got this." He said, jokingly.
"Thanks, David." She smiled for the first time in days and bounced out of her seat. She hurried out to the payphone on the corner and quickly dialed the number. She shoved the Post-It note into her pocket, she waited for him to answer. On the fourth ring, the answering machine picked up.
"This is CJ. I'm not here or I'm at work. Leave me one. BEEP!"
Jen wasn't sure what to say to his answering machine. She was expecting him to answer the phone. She shrugged, wondering if he could be in class.
"Hey, CJ. It's Jen. I haven't seen you for a few days and I wanted to know how you were doing. Give me a call at 555-4292 or drop by the Stand. I'm working until seven tonight. Bye." She frowned as she hung up the phone, walking dejectedly back into the help center.
~~! Meanwhile - CJ's House !~~
CJ sat on his couch, his philosophy book lay open beside him while he took notes on the pad that was resting on his knee. The soft sounds of Tchaikovsky drifted out of his stereo system as he chewed on the pencil clenched between his teeth.
The shrill ringing of the phone interrupted his study session but he tried his best to ignore it. As soon as he heard Jen's voice on his answering machine, his head shot up and he scrambled to turn down the stereo.
"Hey, CJ. It's Jen. I haven't seen you for a few days and I wanted to know how you were doing. Give me a call at 555-4292 or drop by the Stand. I'm working until seven tonight. Bye."
CJ rubbed his forehead with one hand as he listened to her message. He wasn't being fair to her and he knew it, but that night at the hospital had scared him. In his mind, things were moving too fast way too quickly, but how was a guy to talk about this, especially to her? Yet, he could hear the sorrow in her voice. He understood that the was hurting her. Maybe he should talk to her.
He sighed, throwing down his pencil in frustration. There was a simple reason why he hadn't dated in the past several years: women were complicated. They always expected something. Yes, life was so much easier and better without the complexities of the opposite sex, but it was a very lonely existence.
Instead of deciding what to do, CJ simply shook his head, retrieved his pencil from the floor, turned up the stereo and attempted to study again. Attempt being the operative word. He tried his best to concentrate on taking notes for his philosophy test tomorrow, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the unforgettable hostile hellion.
~~! The Stand !~~
Jen flipped through the pages of her psychology textbook, reading the assigned pages on the psychological aspects of alcoholism and drug addiction. It was an unusually slow day at the Stand. She'd already finished the novels she'd brought with her, and was now down to homework. Earlier, she talked to two homesick freshmen and an anorexic girl, all three of whom, she felt like she'd helped to some degree. David had taken a very long call with a man who said he was standing on the roof of his apartment building, threatening to jump. David called the police and sent them over, but the guy was no where to be found.
Suddenly, the door opened breaking the silent atmosphere of the center causing Jen to look up automatically. She had hoped that it was CJ. Instead, the man that stumbled through the door was wearing a dirty pair of jeans and a grungy t-shirt. His long hair was greasy and stringy, falling in his eyes. Peering closer, she saw this his eyes were rapidly darting around the room and he was bouncing on the balls of his feet with pent-up, excess energy.
"I want to talk to David," he announced, staring down each of the men in the room in turn.
"He ... he's not here right now." Jen replied, stepping closer to the guy. Her arms were raised in a harmless gesture as she cautiously approached him.
"Don't come any closer," he yelled, pushing his hair out of his eyes with one hand and taking a step back.
Jen stopped in her tracks, keeping the distance that was already between them. "I just want to help you." Her voice was even and soothing.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the help center volunteers reaching for a phone and he moved, faster than Jen thought he could. Suddenly he was behind her, one arm around her waist, while the other hand held a large knife to her throat.
Jen's eyes went wide and her breath came in gasps as she instinctively tried to move away from the blade.
"Back away from the phones," he commanded, waving the knife toward the other employees for a moment before moving it back to Jen's throat. "Everyone move into the corner." He pointed toward the far corner where there were no desks and no phones. "Slowly or else Blondie here gets to see what her jugular looks like."
"You don't want to do this." Jen's voice trembled as she spoke. She tried her best to keep her wits about her, knowing that if she didn't she would die. But it wasn't easy.
"Shut up, Lady." The man yelled, tightening his grip on her waist.
"Let her go. We'll comply with whatever you want, just let her go," one of the other workers said, from the back of the room. His name was John and Jen had worked many shifts with him, though they hadn't really gotten to know each other.
"I want to talk to David." Her captor ground out, becoming annoyed very quickly.
"He went out to get lunch. I don't know when he'll be back." Jen bit her lip to keep from crying. Her hold on her emotions was quickly failing. She silently hoped that David wouldn't be coming back anytime soon, but another part of her wanted out of the situation as soon as humanly possible.
"Well, I guess everyone should just make themselves comfortable then." The man said, pulling Jen with him as he moved further away from the windows.
Jen turned and saw David walking by the large windows on his way to the door. His jaw dropped as he glanced in the window and did a double take when he saw what was going on inside. She shook her head at him as much as she could, trying to keep him from entering the building. He nodded, dropping the bags that he was carrying and running toward the payphone on the corner.
Dialing 911, he relayed what he knew about the situation to the dispatcher, who promised to send the police and an ambulance as soon as possible. Pulling thirty-five cents out of his pocket, he hurriedly put the quarter and the dime in the machine, only dropping them twice. He dialed CJ's number, mumbling, "Pick up. Come on, pick up."
He waited for the answering machine message to play and the beep to sound before screaming, "CJ! It's David! Pick up the phone! It's an emergency!"
"What's wrong?" CJ asked, slightly panicking after hearing the urgency in David's voice, as soon as he picked up the phone. "What's going on?"
"There's something happening at the Stand. There's some guy in there and it looks like he's holding Jen hostage with a knife."
"What!?" CJ nearly screamed, grabbing his keys off the kitchen counter. "I'll be right there." He said, throwing the phone down and running out the door.
David hung up the phone and moved back over to the door of the Stand. He warily peered through the door and was relieved when he could see the back of Jen and the guy clearly. She was still standing and he took that as a good sign. Straining his hearing, he tried to make out what was being said.
"Please just let me go." Jen pleaded for the fifth time in ten minutes. Tears were falling down her cheeks now. Ever so often the guy's hand would jerk and the knife would come closer to cutting her.
"Not until David gets here." He was getting nervous about being here. He hadn't meant to stay this long. He glanced toward the windows, trying to shield what he was doing from passers-by. "Hey, you." He pointed to one of the women sitting on a chair closest to him. "Close the blinds on the windows. Slowly."
She trembled as she walked to the windows and closed the blinds. She saw CJ's car pull up to the curb and she knew that someone had called him. Turning her head slightly she saw David crouching by the door. He nodded to her when he saw her, but his attention turned to CJ as the taller man ran up to him. She moved back to her seat, smiling reassuringly at Jen.
"Is he still in there?" CJ asked, trying to see what was going on through the door.
"Yeah. He just sent Joy to close the blinds on the windows."
"Is he saying much? Can you hear him?"
"Yeah." David sighed, hanging his head. "He wants to talk to me. I think he's the guy that called earlier and said he was going to jump off the roof of his apartment building. I sent the cops over there, but they couldn't find him."
CJ nodded, taking in all the information. "Did you get a name earlier?"
"Yeah. He said it was Don."
"Are you coming in with me?" He asked, his hand on the handle of the door.
"You can't go in there, CJ." David tried to pull his hand away from the handle.
"David, it's Jen. I'm going to help her, whether you come or not."
Taking a deep breath and looking around the street as if hoping the cops would get there would actually make them appear. When no sirens could be heard, he nodded to CJ and they both stepped into the building.
Don whirled around when he heard the door open. Jen gasped as the blade pressed into her throat from a moment. Her eyes widened when she saw CJ. She hoped that he wasn't planning on doing anything stupid.
"Are you David?" Don asked, pointing his blade toward both of them.
"Why don't you just put the knife down, man?" CJ kept his voice even and non-threatening. His eyes locked with Jen's and he knew that she was terrified.
"Are you David?" He screamed, pressing the blade into Jen's throat until she cried out. A few drops of blood slid down her throat where the knife had broken the skin.
Suddenly, sirens could be heard outside, and Don's eyes darted between CJ and David. He looked out the door and saw several cops taking up positions on the street.
"Okay, let's just stay calm. We don't want anyone getting hurt." CJ's hands were held, palm down in front of him to show Don that he didn't have a weapon. He took a tentative step forward and was dismayed when Don took a step back, pulling Jen with him.
"Stay back, David." Don said, pressing the knife against the skin under Jen's jaw.
"My name is CJ." He said, calmly, stopping where he stood. "Why don't you let her go? You don't want to hurt her."
"Where's David?" Don screamed, his voice ragged as his breathing increased as the sight of the cops coming closer to the building.
CJ shook his head slightly, hoping that David understood that he shouldn't say anything. CJ was handling it. He would get Jen away from the guy. Everything would be all right.
"Let her go and I'll tell you where David is." CJ said, taking a step forward and reaching a hand out towards Jen.
Don's hands shook as he moved the knife away from Jen's throat. He let her go, giving her a shove away from him and lunging at CJ. Jen screamed, watching Don attack CJ, the knife coming dangerously close to cutting CJ's body. They wrestled for the knife; CJ backing Don up against the wall.
David ran for the door, throwing it open and screaming for the cops to get inside and help.
Jen's eyes widened at the immediate danger to CJ and she screamed, "No!" The knife flashed as Don freed his hand from CJ's grip as his attention diverted at the sound of Jen's voice.
She ran toward them, knocking CJ away as the blade came down. She cried out as the knife slashed through her shirt, leaving a bloody trail across her left shoulder.
Don stared at her, dropping the knife when he realized that he had cut her. His eyes went wide and he turned, running for the back door as the cops burst through the front. They ran after him, tackling him before he could leave the main area.
CJ turned away from the scuffle, pulling Jen into an embrace, mindful of her injured shoulder. Once in his embrace, she let go of what was left of her control and sobbed into his chest as he rocked her slowly back and forth. "You're okay. Everything's okay. He's gone now. You're okay." He whispered, trying to reassure her.
She remained silent, crying out her fears in the safety of his arms. He rubbed her back, trying to calm her. "Let's sit down, okay?" He said, as she swayed slightly in his arms. He craned his neck to see her shoulder. It was bleeding freely, so he quickly slid his button-down shirt off and pressed it against the wound.
He led her to the couch and sat down with her as the paramedics entered the building and came over to them. They slowly approached, trying to make their presence known so that they wouldn't scare her.
"Jen, the paramedics want to take a look at you and make sure that you're all right. Are you okay with that?" He asked, still rubbing gentle circles on her back. "I'll be right here. I'm not going anywhere." She didn't respond to him and he was beginning to worry. "They're going to look at your shoulder, okay?"
She flinched at their touch, moving closer to CJ. He spoke soothingly to her, telling her what they were doing. She clutched his t-shirt in her hands as the paramedics treated her wound.
"We need to take her down to the hospital. She needs a few stitches to close this wound."
CJ nodded at them, hooking a finger under Jen's chin and raising her head so that she was looking at him. "Can you walk?" He asked, concern evident in his voice.
She stared into his eyes, a fresh wave of tears visible in hers. She nodded after a moment when his words finally registered in her mind. Clinging to his hand like it was a lifeline, she slowly stood up. He was right beside her, one hand resting on the small of her back. She started to take a step forward, but raised her head and saw the knife laying on the floor. She gasped as the events of the last few minutes rushed back to her. Her eyes rolled back in her head and CJ caught her as she fainted.
"Jen?" He easily scooped her up and rushed outside to the waiting ambulance.
Laying her on the stretcher inside, he sat on the bench nearby. Instinctively realizing that CJ was no longer holding her, she moaned, conscious returning quickly. Before CJ could release her hand, she latched onto his, refusing to let go.
He tried to stay out of the paramedic's way as he assessed Jen's condition and bandaged her shoulder. "Talk to her, son. Let her know you're here." The paramedic smiled at CJ's obvious concern for Jen. CJ leaned his head close to hers and whispered reassurances to her for the entire ride to the hospital.
An hour later, Jen was situated into an ER exam room. CJ was sitting on the edge of the bed holding her hand in his.
She lay on her side, facing him. Even though her eyes were closed, it was apparent that she wasn't asleep.
The nurses had given her a sedative to calm her down and reduce the chance of breaking the stitches. The sedative in addition to the painkillers were making her drowsy. But Jen didn't want to sleep. Every time she succumbed, the nightmares would return. 'Would he be there the next time she awoke?' she asked herself, afraid of the answer being no.
She opened her eyes slowly, knowing that he was there with her by the feel of her hand in his. She sighed lightly and his head turned toward her. He gently brushed blonde locks away from her eyes and smiled down at her.
"Hey there, sleeping beauty," CJ said softly.
"You stayed with me." She said, smiling up at him.
"You actually thought that I'd leave you alone?"
"I was afraid that you wouldn't be here when I woke up." She whispered, looking down at the intertwined fingers.
"I wouldn't leave you stranded and alone like that... especially after you were so nice and stayed with me, oh, just two weeks ago."
"Thanks," she said softly.
"You're welcome," he said, still smiling. "So, how do you feel?"
"Sleepy, but I think it's just the shot they gave me."
"Why don't you try and get some more sleep? When the doctor says that it's okay, we'll check you out."
"I don't want to sleep." She grumbled, picking at the blanket with her free hand.
"Now don't be a baby. You need it."
She sighed, looking out the window and shuddering. "I can still feel that knife against my throat."
"Shh... try not to think about it." He soothed, squeezing her hand.
Abruptly the door swung open and she jumped, clutching CJ's hand. Her nurse walked into the room, smiling sheepishly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you. That door sticks all the time."
"It's okay." CJ replied, looking down at Jen. She smiled half-heartedly.
"Well, young lady, are you ready to get out of here?"
"Yes," Jen replied, relieved.
"I've got some forms that you have to sign and I need to make sure that someone will be staying with you tonight."
Jen looked from the nurse to CJ and back to the nurse. "I don't need anyone to stay with me tonight. I'm fine."
"Ah, honey, you've been through such an ordeal today. You really need to have someone with you tonight." The nurse flipped through the papers on the clipboard, furrowing her brow and looking through them again. "Why do you and your boyfriend here talk about it while I go find the missing paper for your discharge," she suggested, already heading toward the door.
"Oh, he's not..." The nurse was gone before Jen could finish.
"What's wrong with going back to your house? Won't your Grams be there?"
"No, Grams went to New York to visit my parents and Jack is supposed to be staying with David tonight."
"What do you say to coming back to my place with me?"
"I couldn't intrude."
"You wouldn't be intruding. Besides, I have to pay you back for those nights you spent with me."
"You don't have..."
"I want to." He interrupted her. "So, what do you say?"
"Okay. I'll stay with you tonight."
He smiled, "Good. I'm glad."
The nurse returned as Jen smiled back at CJ. "I see you found someone to stay with tonight. Now, if you'd sign these, you can be on your way."
To Be Continued...
Author's Note: "Ok, so we produced the sequel. How do you like it? Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and read our work. We hope you're enjoying it." - The Evil Sisters.