Disclaimer: Fox Family owns them and I do not.
Hostage
Part V
By: SparksJSH
"Do you think he'll find her?" Daisy watched the sheriff carefully, ready to catch him if he lied.
Curtis smiled. He liked her; she was spunky. She was obviously in pain and frightened but she was more worried about her friend. "Peter knows these woods better than anyone I know. He'll find her."
"But in what shape?"
A helicopter passed overhead. Curtis smiled; glad he didn't have to answer the question. "That's our ride. The pilot will land up on the ridge."
Daisy knew the area he was talking about. It was a good ten-minute walk from their current position. She sighed. "So I guess we have to walk up there to meet them."
Curtis laughed. "What do you think I am? Cruel? The medics know where we are; they'll bring a stretcher down and we'll carry you out of here in style."
Daisy frowned. "Great, carried out on a stretcher. How maudlin and victimish. I should be insulted but just this once, I don't think I'll complain."
*****
Peter glanced at Shelby. She hadn't said a word since they left the cave. He was worried about her. Though she appeared only bruised, he couldn't be sure if he'd reached them before Thompson had had a chance to assault her. He hoped and prayed he had. He kept his arm firmly around her waist. He was sure it was just a matter of time before the full impact hit her and her legs gave out on her. He'd already radioed the helicopter so the medics would wait for them on the ridge after retrieving Daisy and Curtis.
He could hear the chopper as they got closer. As they came out of the clearing, a medic rushed toward them. Peter expected Shelby to pull away as the medic tried to examine her but she didn't respond at all. She must be deeper in shock than he feared.
"The other medics are on their way back. They should be here any second." The medic informed Peter. "Let's get her settled in the helicopter while we wait."
But just then Curtis entered the clearing, followed by a team of medics carrying a basket stretch. Peter was surprised that Daisy had agreed to be carried out like that. He would have found it funny if Shelby hadn't suddenly stiffened beside him. Glancing at her he saw her already pale face get even whiter. He tightened his hold, certain she was about to faint.
"Easy, Shelby. It's not what it looks. Daisy's okay. The stretcher is just a precaution. Come, both of you are going to the hospital."
*****
Roger was smiling as he entered the lodge. All the groups were still gathered there. He knew after several hours of being cooped up they were all on edge and nervous. Most everyone looked up in fear when he came in. He waited until he was sure he had everyone's attention.
"Everyone, Peter just called. It's over. It's safe to leave the lodge. Everyone should go back to a normal routine. It's been a long day, though so be in dorms in an hour and lights out at nine."
As the different groups of teens began to file out he found the Cliffhangers sitting together near the fireplace. Auggie was holding Juliette close as he had been since they'd gotten back but Roger didn't say anything. He realized they both needed each other right then. Scott was sitting in a chair scowling at everyone. Roger sat on the end of the table.
"Shelby and Daisy are safe."
Juliette blinked back tears. "Were they hurt?"
"Peter couldn't tell me much over the phone. But they did take both girls to the hospital but Peter didn't talk like they had any serious injuries. He did say they were waiting to take Daisy to X-ray. He thinks both girls will be released in an hour or so. He said to tell you that all of you can stay together here in the lodge until they got back even if it was after lights out."
Ezra tried not to show how worried he was. "Did he say anything about Sophie?"
Roger shook his head. "Peter didn't have time. The last I heard, she was out of surgery. They removed the bullet and gave her a couple of units of blood. I imagine she'll be running around here in no time like nothing happened."
"What about Thompson? What happened to him?" Auggie tightened his hold on Juliette as he asked what everyone was wondering.
Roger hesitated. Peter had briefly filled him in but he wasn't sure how much he would want the Cliffhangers to know. "He's dead."
"How?" Scott hoped he'd died a painful death.
Roger sighed. "Is it important?"
"I bet Shelby had something to do with it." David retorted. "She was already ready to hurt someone before this all began."
Jumping up Scott grabbed David's shirt. Roger came between the two boys. "Scott, back off. David keep your mouth shut or I'll put you on shuns for a week. Look, I know you all went through Hell today. You all have a right to be on edge. But nobody is going to help anybody by going at each other's throats. Scott, Thompson's dead; leave it at that."
Scott nodded after a long minute. Then he looked Roger in the eye. "Did Peter say if Thompson… If he…" He couldn't bring himself to say the word.
Roger gripped the boy's shoulder. He knew what Scott was trying to ask. "Peter didn't say. I'm sure she's fine, Scott. Now, I noticed when we served dinner that none of you ate. Now that you know Daisy and Shelby are safe, does anyone want something to eat?"
Juliette wiped her eyes and leaned her head on Auggie's shoulder. "I'm not hungry but thanks." The others echoed the sentiment.
Roger nodded. He understood how they all felt. He'd felt the same way since the moment Hank and the other deputies had arrived to secure the school. He knew they would all feel better when they saw their friends for themselves. "All right. If you decide you want something later, let me know."
*****
"We're here." Curtis informed his passengers unnecessarily as he pulled into the school. He looked at Shelby who was sitting next to him in the front passenger seat. She didn't move, but continued to stare out the window. He had a feeling Peter was going to have his hands full when the teen finally gave in to the raw emotions that she was holding so carefully in check.
"Thanks for the ride." Peter thanked the sheriff wearily from his spot in the back seat. Daisy was asleep beside him, using his shoulder as a pillow. The doctor had told him he'd given her a shot for pain and it had evidently wiped the poor girl out. He nudged her. "Daisy?"
Her eyes fluttered open briefly and then she frowned. "It's still dark."
Peter laughed. "I know. We're at the school. Do you want to walk or do you want me to carry you inside?"
Daisy groaned but opened her eyes fully. "In case you forgot the doctor put me on crutches. I can't walk. I can hobble and no you aren't carrying me inside. Why are we parked outside the lodge and not the dorm?"
"The others I know are waiting up for us in there. I figured after all the seven of you went through today, you might all want to sleep in the lodge tonight so you could be together. Need any help?"
She shook her head. "Thanks but no. I'll make my entrance unaided. Well, almost unaided."
She opened the door and eased gingerly out. Peter smiled as he watched her hobble across the parking log. He got out on his side and then opened the door to the front passenger side. Squatting down, he looked at Shelby. "We're here. I know Scott's anxious to see you but if you want to talk before you see everyone that's okay too. We can go to my office."
Shelby shook her head. Peter sighed and moved out of her way. As she slowly walked to the door, Curtis looked at Peter. "You're going to have a rough time with her."
"Tell me something I didn't already know. Thanks for everything, Curtis."
"I'll be back up here in the morning. I know the Marshals are just itching to question everyone. I headed them off at the hospital but I know that by tomorrow I won't be able to keep them away. At the very least, I've bought them a few hours. The kids don't need that hassle tonight."
Peter nodded. "Thanks. We'll take what we can get. See you in the morning."
*****
Ezra was the first to notice Daisy as she entered the lodge. He smiled; relieved to see she was in fact okay if not a little worse for wear. As he stood, the others noticed her as well. Soon, Juliette, Auggie, David and Ezra were engulfing her in a welcoming hug.
"Easy guys." Daisy was just as glad to see them but her battered body couldn't take the enthusiastic greeting. She saw Scott hovering nearby casting worried looks toward the door. "Shelby's on her way in, Scott. I should warn you though…"
Before she could finish, Shelby stepped inside. This time Scott led the rush for a welcome hug. Before they could overwhelm her, Shelby pushed her way past them and went to the other side of the room where she stared out the window. Scott looked hurt and Daisy just shook her head before finishing her statement. "She's still pretty freaked."
Scott was fighting hard not to cry. His jaw was rocking. "Did he rape her?"
Daisy bit her lower lip. "I don't know." She answered honestly.
Scott started toward his girlfriend but Peter gently grabbed his arm. "Scott, wait. There's something I need to tell you all." He waited until he had everyone's attention. Then he filled them in on what had happened in the cave quietly so that Shelby couldn't hear.
Juliette shuddered when he finished. "I couldn't imagine having to kill someone. Poor Shelby."
"He deserved to die." Scott insisted.
"I won't argue with you, Scott." Peter agreed. "However it's not as cut and dried when you are the one who has to pull the trigger. Just be a little understanding if Shelby isn't her usual self tonight."
"Shelby hasn't been herself in a long time." David quipped. "Remind me what her usual self is."
Before Scott could throw the first punch, Peter stopped him by catching his fist in his hand. He was too exhausted and drained to deal with this tonight. "Enough. Okay, soon – very soon – all of us," This time he included everyone as he spoke and gave Shelby a pointed glance. "Are going to have to talk about what happened. The fear and the anger you are all feeling aren't going to go away by themselves. But if we talk about it and help each other we can get past it. I'm not saying it's going to be easy."
Daisy rolled her eyes. "When is anything with you easy? Okay, so we have to talk but please not tonight. I'd hate to be put on kitchens because I fell asleep during group. And that's exactly what I'm going to do as soon as I get to the couch."
Peter had to smile. "Like I said, soon, but not tonight. We are all wiped out."
Auggie put his arm around Juliette's waist. "Are we still crashing here in the lodge?"
Peter noticed how tenderly Auggie was treating Juliette and the gentle way Ezra was helping Daisy to the couch. He nodded. "Yeah, we'll just move the overnighter indoors."
The kids had already brought their sleeping bags in. David got into his near the fireplace. Auggie and Juliette settle down next to one another on the floor. Daisy, because of her bruises, got the couch and Ezra moved his bag to the floor next to the couch.
Peter dropped wearily into a chair. He watched as Scott went to Shelby. Scott was obviously trying to get the girl to join them. But Shelby shrugged his hand off her shoulder and continued to stare out the window. Peter felt sorry for Scott. He knew how much Scott loved Shelby. He knew too how much Shelby cared for Scott even if she wasn't showing it.
After a while, Scott gave up and settled down in his sleeping bag away from the rest of the group. Peter almost went to Shelby himself but he held off. He knew the troubled teen was just as exhausted as he was if not more. He hoped that by leaving her alone, Shelby would feel comfortable enough to go to sleep.
That was his hope at least. He wouldn't feel right about giving in to his own exhaustion until all the kids were asleep. He'd expected, however, for her to collapse at some point every since they left the cave together but she hadn't yet. Peter suppressed a groan. It was going to be a long night.
TO BE CONTINUED…