*** Disclaimer: I know I've said this last chapter, but here we go.
Nicholas Tanek is the property of author Iris Johansen. I also might add
Jamie Reardon, Tanek's friend in the novel they came from. These men are
both 30 yrs old. Sorry about the mistake in the last chapter. Sometimes I
work on chapters for several days and can't remember what I wrote. Anyways
I hope ya like it. ***
*** Steve's POV ***
"Hey Jamie... yeah I'm at the hospital... no there's no change in her condition... I don't know why I'm sticking around... no, I haven't met any adults except that Darry kid... I got to go Jamie I call in a couple of days alright... alright good- bye." he hung up the phone and walked back to Chey's room.
He stopped and looked at me. "Steve, could I speak with you a moment?" He asked "It's about Chey."
I stood and followed him down the hall. In the past couple of days we began to learn more about Tanek who seemed to really care about Chey. I mean hell he stayed with her when we went get some rest.
At the end of the hall Tanek turned to me silently. "Steve I know it may sound strange for me to ask you of this, but in concern for Chey's safety I was thinking that she could come out to my ranch and recuperate. That way I could get her through physical therapy and continue her training in self- defense..."
As he trailed off I let his words sink in. Why would he even suggest this? We barely know him and he wants Chey to stay with him. Then again those super-socs that had hurt her would probably come after her again.
"Tanek... if we decide to let Chey go with ya after she's released..." I paused unable to find the right words. Damn this is so confusing. "Why are you doin' this anyway?" I asked.
He sighed. "My friend Jamie Reardon has done a background check on your cousin... what makes me uncomfortable is that the men that murdered her family are no ordinary men. These men were trained well in certain areas and are very deadly with their skill. Their boss is the kind of man that won't pay until the entire job is complete. At this very moment they are searching for Chey. On the other hand I believe every bullied child needs to learn how to defend themselves."
I knew my eyes grew bigger as Tanek explained to me how much danger Chey was in. "Alright." I replied. "But I'm only sayin' yes to keep Chey safe. Do ya understand?" I asked giving in.
"Hey guys!" Pony called from the end of the hall. "Chey's wakin' up."
I turned and ran to the room to find Chey laying there nodding her head while the doctor told her what to do. I could see her take a deep breath while the doc pulled the respirator out of her throat.
"Cough, cough, cough..." Weakly Chey lay back against the pillow, but motioned for something to write with.
I stepped forward to see what she had written, but she handed the pad to the doc to read. He nodded and replaced his stethoscope around his neck and left the room.
*** Chey's POV ***
After the doctor left I looked back at the eight eager faces. Wait a minute I thought I looked at the stranger leaning against the wall watching. Tearing the page of the pocket notebook off I began to write
Steve, I'm sorry. Who's that guy?
I looked up and motioned for Steve. When he approached the bed he took the pad from my outstretched hand and read the message silently.
"Chey there's nothin' ya need to be sorry about ok?" I nodded. "Do ya remember Nicholas Tanek? He stayed with ya."
I thought a moment then realized that he was the man who had asked if I was ok after I was stabbed.
"Y...yes I 'member ya." I whispered unable to speak loudly.
Tanek smiled; slowly he stood straight and walked to my bedside. "Hello Chey. I, your cousin, and your friends have kept vigil by your side these past few days.
How long was I asleep Tanek?
"You've been asleep for a week Chey. He looked back at Steve who nodded before he turned back to me. "Chey, your cousin and I have been talking about your welfare and he has agreed that you should come out to my ranch while you recuperate. I wanted to get your permission first." He spoke.
If Steve thinks that I'll be safer there then I will go on one condition.
"What's that?" Tanek asked handing me the pad.
The condition is that the guys can come out and visit me.
"I see no problem in that." He smiled. "I'll leave with your friends, but I'll be back with my friend, Jamie Reardon to pick you up after the doc releases you ok?"
I nodded and watched him leave the room. As soon as he did the gang got hyper.
"We missed ya kid!" Two-Bit cried jumping up and down on the end of the bed.
"I missed ya too." I whispered smiling when Darry pulled him off the bed.
"Don't worry cowgirl we'll get those socs who did this to ya." Dally spat lighting a cigarette.
"Dally don't smoke in here." Johnny said to which Dally immediately put out the end.
"I'm Glad you're goin' to ok Chey." Pony said with a smile. "We should go so that Chey can have some rest." He added.
The boys nodded picking up their things they said good-bye to me and left the room. Wow I thought. That Tanek guy seemed to really care about me, I thought. I hope I made the right decision. I added to my other thoughts, but if Steve and the guys trust him so will I.
With that settled I carefully pulled the sheet up higher and fell asleep.
*** Hey how'd ya like that. I'm sorry that it was kind of short, but my mother is making me visit my grandmother at the Sterling House in our area. I'll try to make the next chapter longer. Tell me how I'm doin'! ***
*** Steve's POV ***
"Hey Jamie... yeah I'm at the hospital... no there's no change in her condition... I don't know why I'm sticking around... no, I haven't met any adults except that Darry kid... I got to go Jamie I call in a couple of days alright... alright good- bye." he hung up the phone and walked back to Chey's room.
He stopped and looked at me. "Steve, could I speak with you a moment?" He asked "It's about Chey."
I stood and followed him down the hall. In the past couple of days we began to learn more about Tanek who seemed to really care about Chey. I mean hell he stayed with her when we went get some rest.
At the end of the hall Tanek turned to me silently. "Steve I know it may sound strange for me to ask you of this, but in concern for Chey's safety I was thinking that she could come out to my ranch and recuperate. That way I could get her through physical therapy and continue her training in self- defense..."
As he trailed off I let his words sink in. Why would he even suggest this? We barely know him and he wants Chey to stay with him. Then again those super-socs that had hurt her would probably come after her again.
"Tanek... if we decide to let Chey go with ya after she's released..." I paused unable to find the right words. Damn this is so confusing. "Why are you doin' this anyway?" I asked.
He sighed. "My friend Jamie Reardon has done a background check on your cousin... what makes me uncomfortable is that the men that murdered her family are no ordinary men. These men were trained well in certain areas and are very deadly with their skill. Their boss is the kind of man that won't pay until the entire job is complete. At this very moment they are searching for Chey. On the other hand I believe every bullied child needs to learn how to defend themselves."
I knew my eyes grew bigger as Tanek explained to me how much danger Chey was in. "Alright." I replied. "But I'm only sayin' yes to keep Chey safe. Do ya understand?" I asked giving in.
"Hey guys!" Pony called from the end of the hall. "Chey's wakin' up."
I turned and ran to the room to find Chey laying there nodding her head while the doctor told her what to do. I could see her take a deep breath while the doc pulled the respirator out of her throat.
"Cough, cough, cough..." Weakly Chey lay back against the pillow, but motioned for something to write with.
I stepped forward to see what she had written, but she handed the pad to the doc to read. He nodded and replaced his stethoscope around his neck and left the room.
*** Chey's POV ***
After the doctor left I looked back at the eight eager faces. Wait a minute I thought I looked at the stranger leaning against the wall watching. Tearing the page of the pocket notebook off I began to write
Steve, I'm sorry. Who's that guy?
I looked up and motioned for Steve. When he approached the bed he took the pad from my outstretched hand and read the message silently.
"Chey there's nothin' ya need to be sorry about ok?" I nodded. "Do ya remember Nicholas Tanek? He stayed with ya."
I thought a moment then realized that he was the man who had asked if I was ok after I was stabbed.
"Y...yes I 'member ya." I whispered unable to speak loudly.
Tanek smiled; slowly he stood straight and walked to my bedside. "Hello Chey. I, your cousin, and your friends have kept vigil by your side these past few days.
How long was I asleep Tanek?
"You've been asleep for a week Chey. He looked back at Steve who nodded before he turned back to me. "Chey, your cousin and I have been talking about your welfare and he has agreed that you should come out to my ranch while you recuperate. I wanted to get your permission first." He spoke.
If Steve thinks that I'll be safer there then I will go on one condition.
"What's that?" Tanek asked handing me the pad.
The condition is that the guys can come out and visit me.
"I see no problem in that." He smiled. "I'll leave with your friends, but I'll be back with my friend, Jamie Reardon to pick you up after the doc releases you ok?"
I nodded and watched him leave the room. As soon as he did the gang got hyper.
"We missed ya kid!" Two-Bit cried jumping up and down on the end of the bed.
"I missed ya too." I whispered smiling when Darry pulled him off the bed.
"Don't worry cowgirl we'll get those socs who did this to ya." Dally spat lighting a cigarette.
"Dally don't smoke in here." Johnny said to which Dally immediately put out the end.
"I'm Glad you're goin' to ok Chey." Pony said with a smile. "We should go so that Chey can have some rest." He added.
The boys nodded picking up their things they said good-bye to me and left the room. Wow I thought. That Tanek guy seemed to really care about me, I thought. I hope I made the right decision. I added to my other thoughts, but if Steve and the guys trust him so will I.
With that settled I carefully pulled the sheet up higher and fell asleep.
*** Hey how'd ya like that. I'm sorry that it was kind of short, but my mother is making me visit my grandmother at the Sterling House in our area. I'll try to make the next chapter longer. Tell me how I'm doin'! ***