Taylor's eyes fluttered open. As she looked at the unfamiliar surroundings, panic washed over her. She tried to get out of the hospital bed, but was stopped by a pain in her side.
"Ah, Miss Henderson." The female doctor said. "You're back with us."
"Where am I?" She whispered, her throat dry.
"The hospital dear." The doctor never stopped making her checks. "You were stabbed."
Suddenly everything came back to Taylor.: Jeff, her mother, the knife.
"I have to get out of here." Taylor grit her teeth and forced herself to move in spite of the pain. "Where are my clothes?"
Roughly, the doctor pushed her back onto the bed. "You're weak from blood loss, don't rush things. I'll let you go in a couple of hours. In the meantime, there's someone who wants to see you."
Jeff walked in the door, worry etched over his face.
"Are you okay?" He asked almost timidly.
"I'm still breathing. Take that whatever way you want." She laughed weakly.
"I'll leave you in peace," the doctor informed her. "If you need anything, buzz the nurse."
Jeff watched the doctor leave. Once he was sure she had gone, he turned back to Taylor.
"You've got to do something. You could've died."
"Jeff," Taylor began. "My mother was drunk, you smelled the booze on her. She had no clue what she was doing, she didn't mean it."
"Bullshit!" Jeff replied fiercely. "Why else would she have the knife with her? She knew exactly what she was doing."
"What am I supposed to do?" Taylor yelled. "Have my own mother arrested? Get Steffi put in care? Hell, I'd only have my stepfather dealing with me. No, I'll leave it and they'll go away."
Jeff growled in frustration. Taylor had been seriously assaulted, yet she still wouldn't do anything.
"What does she have to do before you do something?" He challenged. "I could be burying you the next time."
"Just drop it." Taylor grabbed his hand. "For me, jest let it go."
Gritting his teeth, Jeff nodded. However, part of him knew this matter was far from over.