Pulling into the Animal Clinic parking lot a few minutes later Jess cursed quietly when she saw the parking lot full of vehicles and all the lights still on. "So much for the hope that Doc had given up on me and went home to bed." Most of the vehicles were police vehicles of some sort and Jess sighed heavily resigned to another few hours of dealing with people before she would be able to get cleaned up and go to sleep. "Fish Fingers!" Jess cursed out loud. "This is going to end up with me needing to call the auto shop to get the day off isn't it Anne?" Jess said to the dog undoing the seatbelt leash and taking hold of the normal leash still hanging from her collar. That simple task was enough to make Jess lightheaded and temporarily black out her vision. Realizing she wouldn't be able to lift the dog down from the truck safely, and possibly wouldn't even be able to get herself safely out of the truck Jess gritt her teeth against the pain it was sure to cause her already pounding head and started honking the truck horn repeatedly.
The door to the Animal Clinic flew open and people came swarming out of it like bees erupting from a angry bee hive. In the lead was Dr. Deaton looking extremely concerned. He was followed by a bunch of strangers in police uniforms. Then to Jess's horror she saw Chris Argent running out of the animals Clinic as well. Before Jess could even begin to process what Argent's presence at the clinic could mean Dr. Deaton was pulling open the driver's side door and frantically asking Jess if she was alright. Anne who had been freed from the seatbelt leash keeping her in the passenger seat ran straight over Jess to try and greet the vet. Groaning as Anne trampled her Jess was amused to see the vet scoop up the wiggly dog leash and all and turning in place he thrust her into the arms of the nearest officer who staggered under the sudden weight and immediately received a complimentary tongue bath of his face, unable to fend off the wiggling dog without dropping her. The officer promptly passed her to another officer and told him to take her inside while roughly wiping the slobber from his face with his sleeve.
Unbuckling her seat belt Jess flapped her right hand weakly at the vet motioning him to back up. When he did Jess tried to slide down from the truck while reassuring him that she was fine. "I'm fine Doc. It's just a minor stab wound and a concussion." Jess said not noticing that her speech was slightly slurred. As her feet hit the ground Jess's legs crumbled beneath her as the entire night's shit show finally caught up to her. Feeling herself scooped up firmly into Dr. Deaton's arms Jess sighed softly and laid her head trustingly on the Doctor's shoulder. His strong, calming presence was so soothing. "I tried to stay in the truck after dark Doc." Jess slurred. Searching the faces of the crowd surrounding her Jess pointed her arm accusingly at Argent and angry slurred. "Him and his goons wouldn't let me." Turning again to the Doctor, who was scowling darkly at Argent Jess whimpered softly. "Please don't be mad at me...I tried..."
The last thing Jess remembered before she passed out was hearing the Doctor's voice rumbling reassuringly in her ear. "Of course I'm not mad at you child. I'm just glad you are home safe."
When Jess woke up the first thing she was aware of was the smell. The sickly stale smell of a large building with not enough windows, warred with the overpowering smell of medicine and sickness. Next the loud incessant beeping of a multitude of machines caused the pain in her head to flare aggressively. Groaning loudly Jess tried to turn over to her left side. The pain in her left shoulder and a soft tugging against her right wrist made her reconsider her plan. Opening her eyes Jess stared in horror at an I.V. attached to a pump, pumping who knows what into her system and several other nameless machines.
"Oh, hell no!" Jess snarled quietly her voice sounding rough because of her dry mouth and throat. Struggling to get up into a sitting position Jess found that her left arm was firmly strapped down to her torso and her right was too tangled up in wires and I.V. lines to be much help. Stuck lying prone, unable to even sit upto see, Jess snarled in frustration.
A soft chuckle from the left side of the room caused Jess to gasp and try again to turn to her left to see who was there causing her to jar her shoulder and tug hard at the I.V. lines. The gasp was too much for her throat and Jess started coughing. A soft whimper escaped Jess when the coughing caused her headache to flare angrily. Adding to the pain from her shoulder, arm, throat, and back.
"Relax wildcat. It's just me. Your concerned older foster brother." Derek spoke quickly approaching the bed and reaching for the cup of water on the bedside table. Slipping his arm under her shoulder he gently lifted her slightly and held the straw to her lips so she could drink thirstily. Once the cup was empty Derek gently lowered her back against the pillows. Reaching over her he began to untangle the mess of wires her right arm was tangled in.
Blinking up at Derek sluggishly through her frizzy hair Jess turned to the I.V. pump and muttered. "What the hell kinds drugs do these people have me on?" Reaching up Jess pulled the oxygen prongs out of her nose. Then feeling a bit of tape on her cheek, Jess felt around some more and discovered a thin tube disappearing up her nose. Moaning loudly Jess started picking at the tape and tugging feebly at the tube. "Get it out! Get it out! Get it out!" She chanted frantically tugging at the tube and gagging every time it shifted.
A loud chuckle escaped Derek's lips as he shook his head and gently brushed the hair away from Jess's face. "Not sure I should do that. You've been asleep all day long. And your so tiny I think missing a few meals might actually kill you." Seeing Jess's eyes well up with tears he sighed and gave in. Grasping the tube he made a face and began to pull it slowly out of her nostril leaning way back to avoid having to touch it more then necessary. Finally getting the entire tube out he tossed it carelessly to the side and wiped his hand on the blankets. "I had to tell them something to get the nurse to let me come in and check on you. I don't think I could have convinced the Sheriff or the Social Worker who were guarding you door all day today, but once the Social Worker made a nurse your temprary guardian, and the nurse promptly kicked them all out for the night I showed up acting frantic asking if anyone had seen you." Derek smirked again proud of his acting abilities. "Told the nurse that I had just got back into town and heard people talking about the attack on the young vet's assistant and hadn't been able to get in touch with you." Feigning great concern Derek turned to Jess with the biggest, most intense pair of puppy dog eyes she had ever seen. "Please mam." He practically whimpered. "I can't find my little sister anywhere! We just moved to town to be together after Social Services separated us a few years ago when I got close to aging out of the system. The homes they kept putting her in were so awful. I knew she was thinking of copying me and running away from the system when she got old enough. But Social Services refused to let me have any contact with her. She suddenly started messaging me again about a year ago and then a few days ago she told me she had followed me to Beacon Hill's and gotten a job with the vet. I was out of town and started making plans to come back right away. I need to find her!" Derek begged softly his eyes shining with concern.
Jess stared at Derek in awe and had to shake her head softly to escape the spell his puppy dog eyes had caused. Facing away from him Jess drawled."Damn boy! You should need a license to wield those things. Is it safe for me to turn and look at you again or are you going to keep trying to get me to help find your imaginary sibling?"
Sitting down on the right-hand side of Jess's bed after carefully shifting all the wires and tubes out of the way Derek fiddled with the controls to help lift the head of the bed slightly. Seeing that Jess was still not sitting comfortably Derek slipped his arm under her shoulders and gently shifted her so she was sitting comfortably against the pile of pillows. Refilling the cup of water Derek held it to her lips again for her to have another drink. All without saying a word or making eye contact. When he didn't have anything else to do he began fussing with the blankets trying to straighten out all the wrinkles.
Reaching out Jess laid her hand on Derek's arm. "I always wanted another older brother. I have one honorary older brother already but I left him back in New York with our honorary father figure when I started living like a Nomad out of my truck." She spoke softly and tried to make eye contact but Derek just turned slightly to avoid eye contact and kept fussing with the blankets. "What's wrong?" Jess asked.
"I shouldn't have left you hurt and alone in your truck!" Derek suddenly blurted out jumping to his feet and pacing angrily around the room running one hand through his hair and clenching the other into a tight fist. "I overheard the Doctor and Nurses saying that you had a major concussion and serious bloodloss! I should have drove you to the hospital myself and made sure you were taken care of." Turning angrily to Jess Derek stomped over to her and leaning slightly over her he grabbed her right arm hissed. "I told you to call someone for help! I told you not to drive!"
Seeing the real concern is his eyes, along with deep dark bags under them, made Jess suspect he hadn't slept at all since the Incident. Smiling softly and tugging her arm free she shifted as far over as she could and patted the side of the bed. "Come sit down brother. Watching you pace and stomp around is making me tired." Jess said quietly using her own puppy dog eyes and pouting when he still hesitated. "I'm hurt, drugged up, cold, and frightened. Once they realize I am awake they will descend with their countless questions and demands and before I know it I'll be in a foster home with complete strangers. And they will probably try and make me go to school." Jess whimpered softly batting her eyes at him. "Come and sit with me to help me get warm." Jess begged patting the bed again.
Derek glanced towards the closed door of the private room and looked unsure. "The nurse that they made your guardian, who let me in to sit with you, said I was supposed to get her the second you woke up..." Shifting his weight awkwardly Derek closed the hanging curtain partway around around bed. Then he took one step away from the bed and then another. Pausing at the edge of the curtain he glanced back and forth between the door and the bed.
Seeing his resolve weakening Jess gave it all she had and managed to get her lower lip to start trembling and sniffed pitifully. "Please?" Jess whispered softly letting her voice waver pathetically.
Instantly Derek strode back over to the bed and ducking under the wires and tubes he settled himself beside her. Gently sitting her forwards he slipped his arm behind her back and laid back against the mound of pillows beside her. Lifting her right hand to cover her mouth Jess gave a huge yawn and turning towards Derek she cuddled into his side laying her head down on his shoulder. Jess smiled softly as she felt the blankets being carefully drawn up over her injured shoulder and a strong arm wrapped around her back holding her firmly but gently.
"When the nurse asks, cause she will ask, they always do, tell her I woke up while you were in the bathroom and ripped the feeding tube out myself in a panic. You came out of the bathroom in time to stop me from ripping out my I.V. and I grabbed hold of you and wouldn't let go. Then just say that we both fell asleep while you were waiting for me to calm down enough so you could safely leave me to tell the nurse." Nuzzling into the warm shoulder Jess picked up the call buttons lying in the edge of the bed and tossed it out of reach. "And wouldn't you know it. The call button was JUST out of reach." Jess said mischievously as as closed her eyes and let herself drift back to sleep.