A/N: Here is the next chapter! Thanks MM for beta reading once again. I'm
starting to get writers block . . . does it show? My attempt at continuing
and finishing this story is pathetic isn't it? Please review after you
read! Thanks a lot to those who have been reviewing. Comments are much
appreciated!
Caitie looked up from her latte mug. Her eyes connected with Jamie's dark and soulful eyes. He shot her a look of concern. It was evident that this was something that hurt Caitie both emotionally and physically.
"Let's go." Jamie broke the tense silence as he rose from the kitchen table.
"Go? Where?" Caitie asked surprised.
"We're going to visit Hank at the hospital. You're hurt and I want to make sure you'll be all right."
A look of protest appeared across Caitie's face. "Jamie, No. I don't want to go. I'm fine, really I am." Her words were pleading and her expression was even more so.
Before Jamie could respond, the phone rang. Caitie went into the living room to retrieve the cordless telephone from the couch cushion.
"Hello?" she spoke into the receiver. Her voice suddenly lowered significantly. "Why are you calling?"
"I'm so sorry Caitie. Please forgive me," Alec pleaded into the phone.
"I can't do this anymore. I can't be with you."
Alec's tone grew icy. "I know what you're doing. You were just playing games with me. You just needed something to pass the time. You made me fall in love with you! How can you do that? You're so manipulative. I knew you never truly loved me. You love him don't you!" Alec's last statement was spat out with utmost disgust.
"I did love you. I did. But I can't do this anymore."
Jamie observed the tense phone conversation from the kitchen doorway. He knew something was wrong. He asked himself why would anyone be calling at five in the morning.
"Caitie, we have to go," Jamie yelled from the kitchen.
"He's there? I knew it!" Alec let out a grunt. It was just the piece of evidence to confirm his suspicions. Her 'best friend' was swooping in at a vulnerable time. He was trying to ruin his one chance. That guy is trying to confuse her.
Jamie walked over to Caitie and took the phone from her hand. He held the receiver up to his ear.
"Listen, you leave her alone. If you ever hurt her again, I'll kill you. Don't call. Don't visit. I want you to avoid her from now on."
"It's all your fault." Alec let out a mischievous laugh.
A dial tone was emitted from the phone. "He hung up."
Caitie let out a sigh of relief. Stress took its toll on Caitie whenever Alec was around.
Jamie placed the phone back on its receiver. "Let's see what our dear old friend Hank is up to."
"Jamie . . . " she began.
"Please?" Jamie interrupted her statement with an earnest look in his eyes.
Caitie reluctantly agreed. "Let me get dressed."
*
Hank walked down the halls of the quiet empty hospital. He had a cup of burnt coffee in his hand, courtesy of the hospital cafeteria. His other hand held a medical chart of a patient he has been evaluating.
Hank has been working under a brilliant man, Dr. Phillips, at the hospital. He was due to graduate that spring, with honors, from his medical school. He took the residency in hopes of becoming employed there after his graduation.
"Hank," Jamie called out as he approached his long time friend.
"Jamie, Caitie, what are you guys doing here?" Hank checked his watch. "It's like, six in the morning."
Hank mentally noted the slash on Caitie's face and realized this wasn't exactly a friendly visit.
"Could you take a look at Caitie?" Jamie asked quietly.
"Sure. Follow me." Hank led Jamie and Caitie into an empty examination room.
Hank handed Caitie a hospital gown.
"I'm not wearing this," Caitie protested. "It's not that bad. Jamie is just overreacting. You know how he is."
Jamie was always very protective over Caitie. Hank let out a big sigh. Some things just don't change from high school. Caitie was always stubborn. "All right," he agreed.
*
After a brief examination, Hank made up his mind. "Caitie, you¹re going to be fine."
"I told you so," Caitie taunted Jamie.
"But, you have to take it easy for a few days. You have some nasty bruises and they're going to be sore for a while. If they give you any trouble, take some Advil."
"Thanks Hank." Caitie jumped down from the examination table and put on her coat. She proceeded to exit the room. Jamie followed, yet before he could leave, Hank interrupted.
"Caitie, could you wait outside? Jamie, can I talk to you for a second? I just want to catch up with him. You know, I haven't seen him for a while."
Caitie nodded her head and closed the door behind her.
"Sure. What's up?" Jamie asked in a light tone, anticipating many questions. He casually leaned against the examining table.
Hank dropped his voice until it was only a whisper. "The bruises, how did she get them?"
Caitie looked up from her latte mug. Her eyes connected with Jamie's dark and soulful eyes. He shot her a look of concern. It was evident that this was something that hurt Caitie both emotionally and physically.
"Let's go." Jamie broke the tense silence as he rose from the kitchen table.
"Go? Where?" Caitie asked surprised.
"We're going to visit Hank at the hospital. You're hurt and I want to make sure you'll be all right."
A look of protest appeared across Caitie's face. "Jamie, No. I don't want to go. I'm fine, really I am." Her words were pleading and her expression was even more so.
Before Jamie could respond, the phone rang. Caitie went into the living room to retrieve the cordless telephone from the couch cushion.
"Hello?" she spoke into the receiver. Her voice suddenly lowered significantly. "Why are you calling?"
"I'm so sorry Caitie. Please forgive me," Alec pleaded into the phone.
"I can't do this anymore. I can't be with you."
Alec's tone grew icy. "I know what you're doing. You were just playing games with me. You just needed something to pass the time. You made me fall in love with you! How can you do that? You're so manipulative. I knew you never truly loved me. You love him don't you!" Alec's last statement was spat out with utmost disgust.
"I did love you. I did. But I can't do this anymore."
Jamie observed the tense phone conversation from the kitchen doorway. He knew something was wrong. He asked himself why would anyone be calling at five in the morning.
"Caitie, we have to go," Jamie yelled from the kitchen.
"He's there? I knew it!" Alec let out a grunt. It was just the piece of evidence to confirm his suspicions. Her 'best friend' was swooping in at a vulnerable time. He was trying to ruin his one chance. That guy is trying to confuse her.
Jamie walked over to Caitie and took the phone from her hand. He held the receiver up to his ear.
"Listen, you leave her alone. If you ever hurt her again, I'll kill you. Don't call. Don't visit. I want you to avoid her from now on."
"It's all your fault." Alec let out a mischievous laugh.
A dial tone was emitted from the phone. "He hung up."
Caitie let out a sigh of relief. Stress took its toll on Caitie whenever Alec was around.
Jamie placed the phone back on its receiver. "Let's see what our dear old friend Hank is up to."
"Jamie . . . " she began.
"Please?" Jamie interrupted her statement with an earnest look in his eyes.
Caitie reluctantly agreed. "Let me get dressed."
*
Hank walked down the halls of the quiet empty hospital. He had a cup of burnt coffee in his hand, courtesy of the hospital cafeteria. His other hand held a medical chart of a patient he has been evaluating.
Hank has been working under a brilliant man, Dr. Phillips, at the hospital. He was due to graduate that spring, with honors, from his medical school. He took the residency in hopes of becoming employed there after his graduation.
"Hank," Jamie called out as he approached his long time friend.
"Jamie, Caitie, what are you guys doing here?" Hank checked his watch. "It's like, six in the morning."
Hank mentally noted the slash on Caitie's face and realized this wasn't exactly a friendly visit.
"Could you take a look at Caitie?" Jamie asked quietly.
"Sure. Follow me." Hank led Jamie and Caitie into an empty examination room.
Hank handed Caitie a hospital gown.
"I'm not wearing this," Caitie protested. "It's not that bad. Jamie is just overreacting. You know how he is."
Jamie was always very protective over Caitie. Hank let out a big sigh. Some things just don't change from high school. Caitie was always stubborn. "All right," he agreed.
*
After a brief examination, Hank made up his mind. "Caitie, you¹re going to be fine."
"I told you so," Caitie taunted Jamie.
"But, you have to take it easy for a few days. You have some nasty bruises and they're going to be sore for a while. If they give you any trouble, take some Advil."
"Thanks Hank." Caitie jumped down from the examination table and put on her coat. She proceeded to exit the room. Jamie followed, yet before he could leave, Hank interrupted.
"Caitie, could you wait outside? Jamie, can I talk to you for a second? I just want to catch up with him. You know, I haven't seen him for a while."
Caitie nodded her head and closed the door behind her.
"Sure. What's up?" Jamie asked in a light tone, anticipating many questions. He casually leaned against the examining table.
Hank dropped his voice until it was only a whisper. "The bruises, how did she get them?"