Chapter 16 Pepper: A fresh start Part 2 (The move to Texas)

Pepper's point of view

When I was 14, I thought I had the world by the handful… I was a student at Hogwarts, along with my cousin. I met my soulmate, and I was happy with my life. My mom had passed on when I was 6… we'd had no contact since the day she gave me up to the social worker… I had forgiven her a long time ago. She had been through a difficult situation before I was born and never truly recovered.

During the summer, Tony and his family went to Malibu… I had been invited to come out for the middle three weeks of Summer vacation…

While Shane and I were at school (Richie was loving being at Military School and hadn't wanted to go to Hogwarts) Aunt Linda had started homeschooling a boy about our age who had physical disabilities. His name was Aldrich Killian. He seemed nice at first… but he had a dark side…

Aunt Linda and Uncle Vince had gone out overnight for their anniversary… leaving Richie (who was visiting from Florida) Steph, Aldrich and me home alone…

Shane was fixing lunch with Stephanie's help. Aldrich said

"Ginny would you take a walk with me?"

"Of course" I replied.

We walked around the pool… Aldrich paused at the barbecue…

"I like you a lot Ginny… I was hoping you'd enter a courtship with me"

"I'm so sorry Aldrich, I'm already seeing someone… someone I met at Hogwarts… and it's serious."

"Oh"

"I really am sorry Aldrich…"

"No you're not, but you will be I always get what I want Virginia…" he snarled then he added "can you get the gate for me? I'm going home"

I opened the gate for him and ran into the house…

"Ginny, you're shaking what's the matter?"

"Aldrich… asked me to court him…"

"He never asked mom and dad if he could get to know you better" said Stephanie

"What about Tony?"

"I should tell him, shouldn't I?"

"Yes. You really should…"

No sooner had those words tumbled out of my lips than the phone rang… it was Tony.

"Tony… I'm delighted you called… I miss you"

"I miss you too Peps… Mom and I are coming home tonight… Dad has to work unfortunately… so we're flying first class. Maybe we can have lunch together tomorrow…?"

"Of course we can"

"All right, I'll see you tomorrow"

Later that afternoon, Aldrich came back

"I need to get my transcripts, Virginia, we're moving back to Florida…"

"Ok, come in…"

I never should have opened the door.

Tony's point of view

I was doing my Physics homework, Dad was working in the lab and mom was packing… I had the beginnings of a bad headache

"Master Tony? Urgent call from Miss Ginny's Aunt"

"OK"

I ran to the phone

"Mrs McMahon?"

"Hi Tony… I've got some terrible news about Ginny…"

"What's happened?"

"This afternoon, while Vince and I were out on a date, Aldrich Killian asked Ginny to court him, and she turned him down… then last night… about 6pm he came to get his homeschooling transcripts and… when Ginny let him in… he attacked her… she's in intensive care… she needs you Tony"

"That explains the headache" I said

"Can I speak to your mom?"

"Of course… Mom, Mrs McMahon is on the phone for you"

I was beginning to worry about Pepper.

I went to the lab…

"Dad…"

"Yes Tony?"

"Mrs McMahon called… Pepper got attacked and she needs me… I need to go home… as soon as I can…"

I felt myself becoming weak…

"All right, Tony, I'll fly everyone home… I'll stay for a day or two, but then I need to come back out here"

Everything went black…

Howard's point of view

Tony fell onto the floor

"PEGGY!" I yelled

She came running

We rushed Tony to Bruce.

"He must go to Connecticut immediately… Pepper is in trouble… that's what the readings are telling me… his heart rate is up. He's got a very high fever, and he's about to start seizing unless you get him to Pepper right now."

"Obie, I need you to take care of the plans for the Expo, I have to get back to New York with my kid, his soulmate is in trouble, and he needs to be with her…"

"No problem Howard."

We were all set to fly out of Malibu when General Ross came and started sniffing around and asking questions… I punched him on the nose, Peggy kneed him in the nuts and Edwin shoved him off the plane. Once we were airborne, Edwin took over the controls (He had started to overcome his fear enough to be my co-pilot)

When we got to New York, I drove Tony straight to the hospital in Connecticut… as soon as I put him next to Pepper… and connected their hands, they both settled…

Pepper's point of view

*SOULSCAPE*

Pep?

Tony?

Are you OK?

No!

Where are you?

I don't know

Hang on… lumos maxima!

Tears streaked down Pepper's cheeks… she was trembling uncontrollably. I slipped both my arms around her, letting her cry…

I don't know what I'm supposed to do next

Well, you'll have a physical exam, some tests, and you'll talk to someone who's a mental health specialist… most likely my godmother… Pep, I know this is awful… I know you're hurting, and I know you're struggling, but I want you to know I'm here… if you need me… I love you so much it hurts… don't worry I know you probably can't say that to me right now, and I'm fine with it, you've been through a terrible experience… and if I get my hands on the bastard who did this to you, girl, I'm not going to be held responsible for my actions… and neither will Bruce nor Jay… and I can practically guarantee there'll be very little left… I know that's not what you need to hear, baby, but… I needed to say it.

No, I meant about where I'm going to live… I can't go back there Tony, I can't!… the thought of that… is just too much for me… I can't do it… knowing that that's where… I was… by someone I thought I could trust. By someone who I thought of as… a friend.

Pep, look at me… don't worry, we'll figure this out.

I pulled her close to me and rubbed her back. She stopped crying so much, though she was still shaking uncontrollably. We lay skin to skin… because I knew that would comfort her best.

I think we should try to rest… and when you're feeling up to it, we'll talk to your godparents about everything. Right now, I'm going to wake up and talk to my parents about this, OK?

OK

That's my girl… I'll be back here in a little bit. I won't be leaving the room.

*EXIT SOULSCAPE*

I woke up in a hospital room with Pepper in my arms. Dad was asleep in an armchair nearby, Mom was curled up on his lap, her head nestled against his shoulder. Her eyes fluttered opened and she yawned

"You're awake" she whispered

"Yes, I am and need help… Pepper is going to need a lot of grown up help that I'm not sure if she'll get from her godparents…"

Pepper groaned in her sleep… her breathing became shallow and rapid

"Easy, Pep, it's just a nightmare… you're safe… I'm right here…"

She woke up, tears streaming down her cheeks…

"Why are my godparents not here?" she asked

"I don't know…"

Shane's point of view

I was worried sick… I was supposed to be going on a dinner date with Marissa, but obviously, I couldn't. I made a checklist of people to call… she was first on that list. Next, I called the police and an ambulance.

"Rissa, hey it's me, listen, I'm really really really sorry about this, but can we take a rain check on dinner tonight? Something awful happened and I need to handle it… I promise I'll make this up to you…"

"OK Shane… what happened?"

"Killian did something unforgivable to Ginny."

"What did he do?"

"He violated her in front of Stephanie and since I'm the babysitter, I have to take responsibility for this situation"

"Oh no… that's horrible, Shane… I'll see you another night…"

"OK and I'm sorry again… I'm going to have to call my parents and…"

"You don't have to apologize… I understand."

I didn't realize it then, but telling Marissa the truth about what happened was the biggest mistake I could have made…

After Marissa and I talked, I called the hotel my parents were staying at

"Hello, my name is Shane McMahon, my parents are Vince and Linda McMahon, and they're spending the weekend at your resort, is there any chance you could put me through to their room as a matter of urgency?"

"Of course"

Linda's point of view

Vince and I were in bed at the hotel… he was snoozing comfortably beside me. The phone rang.

"Mrs McMahon, you have an urgent call from your son"

"Put him through, please… Shane what's wrong? It's our anniversary we've been eagerly awaiting this night away for ages, you know how hard it is to get your father to take even one night off."

"I wouldn't normally do this, mom, but… Something terrible happened, you need to come home immediately, I need grown-up help."

"We'll handle it when we get home"

"No you won't, you can't. You need to come home right now… this is really, really grave. If you don't come right now, Child Protective Services will come and take Steph and me from your care. You're going to have to come home right now… I've already had to cancel my date with Marissa. Ginny's been attacked by Killian, and I called an ambulance and the police. Killian was arrested. Steph is traumatized and if you don't come home right now, I will get emancipated and adopt Steph… and Ginny…"

"What happened? That boy wouldn't say boo to a goose"

"He raped her… in front of Steph"

"WHAT? Oh my lord, we'll come home right now…"

"Do you know why it happened?"

"He asked her to court him"

"He never got our permission for that"

"She turned him down… because of Tony and under the pretence of getting his school transcripts because they're moving back to Florida, he came back and that's when he… did it…"

"Tony is a very nice young man, he did ask our permission… and he was very gracious about it."

"I called his parents and asked them to inform him of what had happened, but because they're soulmates, Tony collapsed, and they're both at Greenwich hospital."

"Oh…"

"Stephanie went to her room four hours ago, and she hasn't come back down yet"

"I'm going to wake your father right now, and we'll come straight home"

"OK Mom"

Vince groaned and opened his eyes, rolling over to face me… he pulled me into his arms and said

"Ready for round 2?"

"Normally, I'd say yes Vince… but I can't, something horrible has happened… we need to go home"

"WHAT?"

"Shane called… Ginny's been… violated and if we don't go now Child Protective services will take Shane and Steph from us"

"I'll call Jerry… and then I'll call… and see if he… so that… and then we can… at home"

"Good idea"

Vince called our attorney and then he called his friend

"I'm in Greenwich right now dealing with some personal stuff… yes, there are police cars… yes… OK, I'm going over right now… sure, I'll do that"

Shane's point of view

My father's best friend came over…

"Shane, your parents are on their way, your dad called me and I volunteered to come over and check on you and Steph. I just wanted to tell you that you've handled this amazingly… your parents are proud of you and so am I."

"Thanks sir, I appreciate that…"

"Where's Steph?"

"She went upstairs a couple of hours ago, she hasn't come back down, yet I was waiting for the police which is why I didn't go upstairs to check on her yet."

"Maybe you should go and check on her now?"

"OK… the police are here"

"I know I spoke to the Detective in charge… I told him that I'm a friend of your parents and that they are on their way back…"

I went upstairs to check on my sister…

"Steph? Are you OK? Stupid question, of course you're not… I need to speak to you."

"Go away!"

"Steph, mom and Dad are on their way home… Dad's friend is downstairs…"

"GO AWAY, SHANE!"

I went back downstairs

"Is Steph OK?"

"She wouldn't talk to me"

"Probably best to leave her alone for a bit, then."

I heard a car draw up the driveway… Mom and Dad were home.

Mom came immediately to me… Dad spoke to his friend, and then he went to check on Stephanie. Mr McDevitt spoke to the police and Child Protective Services… Dad's friend waited with us while Mom and Dad went to the hospital.

Vince's point of view

Ginny looked so small and fragile in that bed… Tony was with her… she was fast asleep with her head on his shoulder, he had his arms around her, very tightly. He was incandescent with rage.

"Why did you leave?"

"Today is our anniversary"

"Why not hire a babysitter or something?"

"Shane offered… he's responsible"

"Yes, he's responsible for his cousin getting raped and almost murdered by that boy… and I bet Aldrich Killian gets a pass because of his disabilities. I wouldn't put it past this ridiculous country to do that because they don't have an appropriate facility for him… if I get my hands on him, I won't be held responsible for my actions, and I'm sorry, but there will not be very much left!"

"I doubt that very much."

"Mr McMahon is right… The boy has been taken into a facility for disabled criminals, and he won't be getting out any time soon"

"He's a violent criminal… he raped my soulmate! He would have probably murdered her if Stephanie hadn't screamed when she did. If he gets a pass, there will be a lawsuit."

Ginny moaned in her sleep, Tony ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her softly…

"Sh sh sh shh! It's OK baby, you're safe… I'm right here, I've got you. Go back to sleep, OK? You need your rest."

She moaned in her sleep again and snuggled closer to Tony before she let out an almighty snore and went back to sleep.

Tony's point of view

Pepper eventually recovered from her ordeal… but because of some very unfortunate things that happened, we ended up taking a break… for several years. She moved to Texas, and when she finished high school she went to Louisiana State and then UCLA, she graduated top of her class with a degree in business administration. I went to MIT, and got my Master's in Physics, and then I started working for my parents. I met a girl… she was about as different from Pep as it was possible to be… we had fun for a while, but then… things changed. Maya gave me a gift I could never ever repay… but my relationship with Pepper was not as… turbulent and a lot more stable. I felt like I could be myself around her, and that she could be herself around me.