Chapter 35
The next morning, Manny's cell phone rings, jolting her awake
Chester: It's ok babe. It's ok.
Chester looks at the Caller ID and sees its Tommy
Chester: I got it. It's Tommy, go back to sleep.
Manny groans as she curls in Chester's arms
Chester (softly): Hey Tommy
Tommy: How Is she?
Chester: She won't leave my side, she's really shaken up.
Tommy: Other than that, she's, ok?
Chester: Yea. Danny actually saved her life yesterday.
Tommy: Did he really?
Chester: Yea. He got in front of her when the dude started waiving his gun around. He took a bullet for her.
Tommy: He did?! Is he ok?
Chester: Well, technically he took 2 but one grazed him, the other one didn't even hit him, he had a bullet proof vest on, that's what took the bullet.
Tommy: Wow. Are you guys home? I'd like to come see her.
Chester: No, we're staying at my brother Chuck's for a couple days, cause the press was all over our house when we got home.
Tommy: Got to love them
Chester: Tommy, she's talking about quitting music.
Chester said as he looks over at her, sleeping peacefully
Tommy: Chester, it's probably just the fear talking.
Chester: I hope so, she's so passionate about her music.
Tommy: Listen, I got to go, tell Manny I'm glad she's ok. Take care of her Chester. She needs you
Chester: I'll give you a call when we go back home, thanks for checking on her tommy.
Tommy: alright, sounds good.
Chester hangs up
Chester (softly): Baby, are you ok?
Manny stirs in Chester's arms as she groans
Manny: What time is it?
Chester (softly): It's about 10 in the morning babygirl. You slept all night.
Manny groans and she lays in Chester's arms
Chester: Come on, honey. Let's get you some food
Manny groans
Chester: Baby doll you got to eat sweetheart. I know yesterday was scary, it scared me too, more than you know. But please honey, I need you to eat baby.
Chester said as he consoles Manny and kisses the top of her head
Manny groans as she sits up in bed
Chester: I got you Manny. I promise.
Manny (groans): I got a killer migraine
Chester: I'm sure sweetheart. Come on, let's get something to eat, get you a shower and some fresh clothes.
Manny: You're always taking care of me.
Chester (smiles): You would do the same for me
Chester and Manny come out of the bedroom
Tori: Hey Manny, how did you sleep last night?
Manny: I guess I slept ok, all things considered.
Manny said with a smile
Manny: Hey Chuck
Chuck (nods): Manny
Manny makes herself a cup of Coffee
Manny (to Tori and Chuck): Are you guys sure you don't mind us staying here?
Chuck: Are you kidding? It's no problem at all.
They hear a knock on the front door. Chuck looks at Chester as Chester nods at him
Chester: Babe, come on let's get you back in the bedroom
Manny and Chester go in the bedroom and shut the door. Tori and Chuck go to the door, they open it to see Chad in the doorway
Chad (entering the house): Does anyone know how to answer a phone around here? Chester and Manny are-
Tori: Fine, their ok.
Chuck: Their staying here for a couple days, given what happen yesterday.
Chester exits the bedroom with Manny right behind him
Chad (exhales): Thank god you two are alright. I've been calling you guys to check on you, Manny.
Chester: I turned our phones off, for her sake.
Manny grabs her cup of coffee and sips it
Manny: I'm ok physically, just not emotionally. It's going to take some time emotionally
Chad: Chester, you might want to call mom
Chester: Is she sick?
Chad: No, she heard about the incident from yesterday and was worried when she couldn't get ahold of either one of you.
Chester: Ok, I'll call her later.
Manny: I think I'm going to go take a shower.
Chester kisses Manny
Chester: I love you babygirl. I'll be right here when you get out
Manny smirks
Manny: Love you too.
Chad: What the hell happened
Chuck holds his fingers up, signaling Chad to be quiet as Manny goes upstairs to take a shower
Chester: I don't want it mentioned if she's downstairs with us, she's been through enough already. Remember that shooting at Degrassi, right after we moved?
Chad: Yea?
Chester: The kid that killed himself, pulled a gun on Emma and Sean before he shot himself
Chester motions for the guys to be quiet, he hears the shower running and nods
Chester (quietly): The cops that talked to Chuck and I at the scene, we think, he thinks you know who in jail may have had something to do with this
Chad: You've got to be kidding me
Chuck: I said the same thing
Chester: This stays between us three
Chester hears Manny upstairs, he runs upstairs and runs to the bathroom opens the door and closes it behind him
Chester: Baby, what's wrong?
Manny: When I close my eyes, I see him, pointing that gun
Chester: Manny, honey. You're safe here. I promise. The guy is dead anyway, the police shot him and killed him. I promise babe, you're safe.
Manny: I'll be out in a few minutes, go back downstairs with your brothers, babe.
Chester: You sure?
Manny: No, but I'd rather you spend time with your brothers than watching me shower and be all upset and emotional
Chester: Well, you know I don't mind watching you shower
Manny chuckles
Chester: Hey, I meant what I said babe. You're safe here, and when you feel up to going back home, we will.
Manny: Thanks babe. That makes me feel a little bit better
Chester: We're all here to help you, Manny. Help you through this. I'm sorry I wasn't there when it happened in high school. But I'm happy to be here for you now, as your husband and partner
Manny smiles in the shower
Chester: I love you honey
Manny: Love you too baby
Chester opens the door and closes it behind him and goes back downstairs
Chuck: Is she ok?
Chester: She had a small breakdown. She closed her eyes in the shower and all she could see was him.
Chad hangs his head
Chad: Poor Manny
Chester: Dude you can ask Chuck, I was ready to go down there and bust down some doors to find her yesterday.
Chad: Well, hell yea you would've.
Chester goes in the bedroom and gets his cell phone. He gives the guys a concerned look
Chuck: What is it?
Chester (quietly): A news reporter called my phone asking about Manny
Chad: Are you serious? How'd they get your number?
Chester: I don't know, but I'm not returning their call, that's for sure. I'm gonna call mom so she stops worrying
Chester dials his mom's number
Chester: Hey mom
Mom: Oh, I'm so happy to hear your voice. Is Manny, ok?
Chester: She's shaken but other than that she's fine yea. We're staying at Chuck's for a couple days to dodge the press.
Mom: Is the press following you?
Chester: They were at our house when we were coming home yesterday. I'm just trying to keep her as safe as possible.
Mom: Well, that's all you can do honey. Listen I got to let you go, give Manny my love. Love you son
Chester: Love you too mom.
Chester hangs up as Manny comes downstairs, Chester smiles at her as she walks over to him and wraps her arms around him
Chester: Are you ok, sweetheart?
Manny: I'll be fine, eventually.
Chad: I'm glad you guys are safe, and I'm glad you're ok Manny.
Manny grins
Manny: Thanks Chad, me too.
Chester: You going to get something to eat babe?
Manny: Yea I will
Tori: I made breakfast earlier, you're more than welcome to leftovers. You both are
Chester: Thanks Tori. Seriously, you guys are the best
Chuck: It's what family does, they're there for each other in times of need.
Manny smiles as she goes into the kitchen and gets herself a plate a food to heat up. while Chester, Chuck, Chad, and Tori are in the living room
Tori: Listen, you guys are welcome to stay as long as you guys need. It's seriously no problem. As long as you both are safe
Chuck: Both of your safety's are what's most important here.
Chester: Yea I know.
Chuck: What are you going to do about your jobs?
Chester: Well, my boss at the record store heard about it and called me, asked how she was and all that, and he told me basically take care of her and come back when I'm ready. I haven't heard from the radio station yet. I'm thinking about Jayme, over at the label and asking him for a job.
Chuck: Like what?
Chester: I don't know, something at least.
Chuck: Well, If that don't work, let me know. I can probably get you in at my work, My boss is looking for people anyway.
Tori: If Manny really decided she wants to quit music, I can get her in where I am, it's an office job, which is great for her, she won't have to deal with the public or anything.
Chester: Yea that's true
Chester looks into the kitchen and sees Manny eating
Chester: I just hope she really don't quit the music industry. It means so music to her
Chuck: I don't think she will
Chad: Well, I'm always a call away if you need anything. Any of you
Tori: I know buddy, we apricate it
Chad: I got to get going, I got to go to work.
Chad gives his brothers a hug goodbye, he goes and says goodbye to Manny, and he leaves
Tori (to Chuck): Don't you have work today too, hon?
Chuck: I called my boss yesterday and explained the situation and told him I wouldn't be in today. My family needed me.
Chester: You didn't have to do that bro
Chuck: I wanted to, deal with it
Chester laughs
Tori (to Chuck): I got to get to class
Chuck kisses Tori
Chuck: I'll see you tonight babe.
Tori: Bye guys
Tori leaves
Meanwhile, back at Emma and Sean's
Sean (to Emma): Have you heard from Manny today, babe?
Emma: No, I talk to Chester last night. I told him tell Manny to call me if she needs me
Emma sits down on the couch and hangs her head
Emma: I just can't help but think of the shooting we had at School, when Jimmy was paralyzed, and Rick died.
Sean sits down next to Emma on the couch and rubs her back
Sean: Never thought we would have to relive that day again.
Emma: I will never forget that day as long as I live.
Sean: Me neither.
Emma: Especially you trying to get the gun from him.
Sean: Last thing I wanted was him shooting you, babe. I mean he was dead set on shooting you, I didn't want to lose you.
Emma: Speaking of losing, I found something a few days ago, hang on
Emma gets up and goes in their bedroom closet and pulls down a shoe box and brings it in the living room and sits back down next to Sean
Sean (chuckles): You found a shoebox?
Emma: No, look inside it babe.
Sean opens the box and laughs as he sees all the letters he wrote Emma while on deployment
Sean: Oh my god, you kept all of these?!
Emma: Well yea, they meant a lot to me, they were from you, while you were away
Sean: Oh my god, babe, I can' believe you kept all of these!
Emma smiles as she kisses Sean
Emma: Did you really think I got rid of them?
Sean: Honestly, yea
Sean said as he laughs. Emma's phone rings
Emma: Hello?
Manny: Hey, Em
Emma: Hey, how are you doing?
Manny: I'm still pretty shaky but I'm ok I guess
Emma: I'm glad you're safe at least. Are you home?
Manny: No, we're at Chuck's.
Emma: Oh, cause of the press yesterday?
Manny (cries): All I could think about was that day in High school, all over again, and not seeing Chester anymore or seeing Rose when she's born
Emma: Oh, honey, It'll be ok. You're safe now Manny.
Manny (cries): It was so scary
Emma: I know, and I'm so sorry you had to relive that nightmare again
Manny: Chester, Chuck and Tori, they've all been so sweet, and Chester's been taking such great care of me.
Emma: He better be
Manny: He didn't leave my side at all last night
Emma: I'm glad, he's taking good care of you
Manny: Chuck and Tori have been gracious enough to open their house to us
Emma: Aw that's great Manny.
Manny: I think I want to quit music
Emma: No way! You love being a singer, Manny! It's been your dream since you quit taking acting classes, and it's what bought you and Chester together.
Manny: I know, I know. I just -I just I don't want to deal with the stalkers and crazies. After the shooting in high school, I hoped I'd never be near or in a shooting again, and now here we are.
Emma: I know Manny, but unfortunately, we can't predict what's going to happen in the future. I mean, for example, in high school you thought you would Marry Craig, but he ended up having a drug problem, yet again.
Manny: Not one of my finer moments
Emma laughs
Emma: But you get my point though
Manny: Yea, I see your point.
Emma: This is just a bump in the road of your career, Manny. You'll get through this, I promise. You have all of your friends and Family by your side throughout this
Manny: Yea, you're right, Thanks Em. I feel better about everything now
Emma: Good. You know I'm always here for you. Let me tell you, if I quit every time I got scared, I wouldn't be married to Sean right now or having our daughter in a couple weeks.
Manny: Yea, I know.
Emma: My point is, you can't let fear rule your life or your life choices
Manny: I know.
Emma: Trust me, Manny.
Manny: I know, I know
Emma: Let me let you go, I'm gonna spend some time with Sean before I go to bed
Manny: Ok, thanks for the advice Em
Emma: Anytime Manny
They hang up and Emma curls up next to Sean on the couch
Sean: How's she doing?
Emma: I think she'll be ok.
Sean: Think so?
Emma: Yea, I think she heard the message I was trying to give her
Sean kisses the top of Emma's head as he pulls her in close to him
Sean: She's lucky to have you as her best friend. I know I'm lucky to have you as my wife and my child's mother
Emma smiles
Emma: Oh yea?
Sean: Most definitely
Emma: Well, that makes 2 of us
Emma smiles as she leans up and kisses Sean
Sean: I love you, babe
Emma: I love you too, baby
Sean places her hand over Emma's stomach and feels Rose kick as he smirks
Sean (softly): Daddy loves you too princess. Mommy and I can't wait until you're here
Emma smiles as she places her hand over Sean's
Emma: A few more weeks and she'll be here with us
Sean: I can't wait.
Emma: Me either, babe
Emma snuggles in Sean's arms on the couch as she lays her head on his shoulder
Sean: Someone's tired.
Sean said with a smile
Emma: Just enjoying the moment with you, is all
Sean: Let's have a date night before the baby comes
Emma (smiles): I like that idea
Sean: Good
Emma: I love our date nights
Sean: We will have the rest of our lives for date nights baby.
Emma: Sounds perfect to me
Sean smiled as he runs his fingers threw Emma's long blonde hair
Sean: No matter what happens, I promise you Emma, I will always be there for you and our kids.
Emma: I know you will, baby
Sean: I love you with all my heart, and nothing will ever change that
Emma: I know, babe. I love you too
Sean: Nothing I wouldn't do to make you happy, babe
Emma snuggles closer to Sean as he kisses the top of her head
Sean: Come on, beautiful, let's get you to bed
Emma groans as she and Sean get up and go upstairs to bed