Wow, you guys are just great! Seriously, I look forard to updating just so
I can hear the comments I get. Its soo much fun, not to mention the fact
that I love to write it.
Just a fair warning...more for Tensleep than anyone...the end of this chapter is a bit cliffhangerish, but just a tiny bit, I swear. I will REALLY try to update in a few days, not a week, but Im not promising anything. Well, on to Review Responses, and enjoy the next chapter.
Oh... and keep in mind as you read it that everyone is REALLY overwhelmed at this point, just remember it...don't ask, just read.
Anyway...on we go!
Two-BitGortez: Thanks! Keep reading... (
Tensleep: Hey, you can do a three mile long essay of a review for all I care... just as long as it's good, of course! I mean, as I read more, my screams only get louder... Thanks for all your comments! I was sooo relieved when you said that you found Reesa to be believable, I was pretty worried about that one. And Im glad that you caught on to the Two-Bit being quiet thing... that was the reason it was there, to tell you that this is serious. Another thing that made me squeal is that you feel what Darry's going through. That's a biggie right now, in the end he really does care about his "family", even if they can be a pain, and this was the best time to bring that out, I think. Anyway...send me another review so I can scream my head off with Kiera! C YA!
Oblivious Misconception: You compared it to a book?! I cant even tell you how loud I was screaming. Seriously, I was walking out to my car and had in my hand to read because I only had time to print it off, and I started screaming. I'll tell you I go the weirdest looks, but it was all worth it. I couldn't contain myself. Im really happy that you find this to be well written and that you find the plot to be interesting... just wait... it gets better. Anyway...thanks for your wonderful comments! Here are a few more "pages" to turn. I'll try and update quicker next time! Enjoy.
Chapter 16 (Skye's POV)
Nothing made any sense. Things that people were saying would go in one ear and out the other and I couldn't catch anything they were trying to tell each other. I didn't even know if they were talking to me or not. The one time I wanted to know what they were saying I couldn't understand it at all, it was very frustrating. Not to mention that I could hardly see and that was bad as it was. The doctors had drugged me up so much that my vision was blurred and it was hard to keep my eyes open. I wasn't tired and I wanted to be alert but everything was working against me.
I knew enough to know that Ponyboy was in the room with me, although he was sitting to one side and sort of away from me. Someone had left, but I didn't remember who it was. Nothing was making any sense. I felt so detached from everything. It was irritating and I hated it.
"Pony?"
"Yeah?" He sat forward in his seat some.
"Are you okay?" For some reason I thought that he might not be all right. Maybe Clay and Miles had gotten to him again.
"What? Of course I am. Why?"
"I didn't mean to leave you alone. Sorry. I -- I didn't want to go –"
"What are you talking about?" he asked. That surprised me some. I would've thought that he realized I had left after so long. Even if he was asleep, you would think he would've caught on to that one way or another.
"I left you at home by yourself," I told him. "I didn't mean to."
"Oh, well I knew you left, I mean, Darry was sort of mad, but..." he trailed off. "It's okay. You didn't know. I just wouldn't go leaving when you know you're not supposed to anymore. Apparently there are good reasons."
Ah, that's right. He didn't know. None of them did. How could they? I didn't tell anyone. That created a slightly major problem. I was going to have to tell them and there was no way out of it. I owed them enough to know who had done this...now that I was in the hospital. The thought didn't make things any easier. There was still the fact that Clay would probably kill me if I told anyone. That was going to be a hard decision to make.
I rubbed at my eyes with my finger and thumb. "Right."
"I'm sorry this happened, though," he said and sat back timidly.
"Me too."
It got quiet after that. I didn't have anything else to say. I didn't /I to say anything else. I would, of course, give information when it was needed, but until then I had no desire to continue with the subject.
No one was going to like it, but I honestly didn't know if I'd be able to bring myself to tell anyone what happened. Maybe Reesa, because she's a girl and I wouldn't feel as awkward telling her, but no one else. I knew she had caught on to something and she would be more than pleased with herself for having done so, but she wouldn't rub it in my face. Not after tonight's incident. And as much as I love the guys, it's different telling a male what happened compared to a female. Reesa would understand where I was coming from. Girls have to live with that sort of fear, guys don't. Not usually. They wouldn't like it, but that's the way things were and if they knew me like I thought they did then they wouldn't force me into it. They'd find out when I was able to say it, but with it having just happened I'm not sure it was all that possible. Details weren't fun and even less fun was going to be confessing everything else.
It was around that time that Soda came in. My eyes were closed and I was almost asleep again, but I knew it was him. Soda's presence is unmistakable. I was glad he was there, I didn't begrudge it at all, but I was a little nervous to see him. I didn't want him to get angry again, especially not at me. His opinion was just about all that mattered to me and I didn't want him to be disappointed. Not to mention how embarrassing all of this was.
He sat in the chair right next to the bed and reached out to touch my hand. I held on with a weak grip and he knew by that that I was awake. Big mistake. "Skye, I know you're awake and I want you to answer my question."
I sunk deeper into the sheets. What was he going to ask? I was tempted not to answer and pretend that the drugs had knocked me out, but I knew he wouldn't buy it. That and he sounded so serious I was afraid not to. "Darry doesn't think you're in the right state of mind to be asked this, but that doesn't matter. I want to get this out in the open now." His voice was threatening and almost shaking. "Who did this to you?"
I continued to lay still. Damn it, couldn't he give me a little space, a little peace? I was more than glad he was there, but that all I was wanting, for him to be there. I didn't want him to pester me with questions. He always was the one to do that, like he was appointed to do so, and that sometimes made our relationship a little rocky. Maybe he wouldn't mind it if I didn't tell him now. He knew me if anyone and he would understand that I didn't want to talk about it. I didn't want to give anything away that could threaten me even more. I was over all that and I didn't want to put myself in that position anymore. Never again.
"Skye. Damn it, even if you don't know who it was, just tell me!" he almost yelled, but it was more like pleading. He squeezed my hand tighter. I knew I'd never see his side of it and so I couldn't understand what was going through his mind, but I just couldn't say it. I couldn't. "I promise he won't touch you again. I'll make sure of that, just tell me who it was!"
I thought that maybe he'd leave me alone if I make it clear that I didn't want to talk about it, so I started to make the gesture by covering my face with my free hand. But he grabbed it before I could get far and cupped it and my other hand between both of his. I hadn't realized how cold my hands were until I felt his warm ones. They were soothing, but would've been better if he wasn't so mad. He scooted the chair closer and kneeled with one leg on it so he was raised a little higher. "No. Skye, look at me." His voice was surprisingly gentle. "Look. At. Me."
I didn't want to, but I opened my eyes as much as I could and came face to face with him. He looked so serious and worried I thought he might lose it if he didn't get an answer. But I still couldn't do it. I just shook my head and bit my lower lip.
He hung his head and closed his eyes. I swore I could see his body shaking with anger.
"I'm sorry, Soda."
He kept his head down for a few more seconds then looked back up and stroked my hands with one of his. I could tell he was trying to stay calm. "Skye, I don't think you realize how bad this is. This is a big deal and you /I tell us what happened. You're the only one who can right now and none of us want to wait... /I."
I shook my head again. "Soda, please. Don't."
He moved his gaze from me to Pony trying to figure out what was going on. Pony shrugged not knowing what else to do. I hated doing this to them. I couldn't stand it. I wanted to scream it out and confess everything, but it sounds a lot easier than it is. Soda finally sat back down in his seat and let go of my hands. He looked hopeless and extremely frustrated but didn't push it any further. "All right," he said.
That, I didn't like. He couldn't just give up like that. He's Soda. Soda doesn't lose hope in anything, whether I like it or not. He's not allowed to give up on me. That's one of the things I usually count on, even if I want him to back off. It very rare that I want him out of my face, but it does happen.
"Soda..."
"I don't want to hear it, Skye," he sighed. He shook his head and looked at me again. "Gawd, you don't even consider what we're going through, Skye. You aren't the only one suffering."
"I never said I was."
He shook his head again and looked away. "Just drop it. You can tell us when you aren't so drugged up. I just wish you weren't so stubborn."
I was frozen to my spot. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Soda was my protector, but he sure wasn't acting like it. He was so bitter and upset and all his negative energy was being directed towards me. Couldn't he see that I had gone through the most traumatizing experience of my life? Not even when mom and dad died did it hurt me so bad. When they died it was so dramatic and surreal I didn't even realize what was going on until it sunk in a week later and I cried myself to sleep every night for another week. But this had happened to me, not my parents. I was tortured for a long period of time and had been having worry and stress sickness for the last month from emotional, territorial, and sexual abuse. I wasn't going to be able to mentally cough up anything I could prevent until it was forced out of me in a way that I wasn't expecting. I didn't know what would get it out of me, but nothing easy.
My damn medication was kicking into gear again and I suddenly felt my throat tighten. With my voice choked up, I replied, "I'm sorry, Soda. Do you think I meant for this to happen? I can only apologize so much."
Soda suddenly looked scared himself. He sat upright and turned in his seat. "No... This isn't your fault.... You know it's not your fault."
"But it is."
"No!" he said. "It's not your fault, Skye. None of this is your fault. Whoever did this -- it's their fault and they'll suffer the consequences. Don't you dare think this is your fault." He reached for my hand again and this time he held it in a way I felt comfortable with.
I sniffed to keep back anything that wanted to escape. "You don't know that," I said. "What I could tell you would make your blood curl, Sodapop. It's more my fault than you know."
He shifted back slightly, like he was debating whether or not he wanted to know any details. "Ponyboy, leave."
"What?" he asked exasperated. "Soda! You can't make me leave /I."
"Do it!" he cried urgently.
"But --"
"Pony, if she's willing to tell me something –"
"I ain't saying nothing!" I cried. "Soda! I can't say nothing!"
"Why?" he growled. "Why the hell can't you tell me anything?"
"Because," I said and almost broke down into another fit of tears like earlier. "I ain't saying nothing!"
He took a deep breath and thought for a minute. "Did he threaten you?"
"N-no..."
"Tell me the truth, Skye," he growled.
"I am!" Why was he so mad? "Soda, why don't you believe me?"
"Because I know you too well," he said simply, once again sitting back in his seat. I hated him giving up so easily. This was totally wrong. But I didn't say anything in reply to that. I couldn't say anything else. It didn't matter what I tried he wouldn't except anything but what he wanted to hear. I could try and give him some truth but he wouldn't take it, because he wouldn't listen. "Skye, listen, I'm only trying to help you. Can you not see that?" He was pleading again. "I need to know. There's more important things behind this, Hunny, and we need details to find the guy." The guy. They thought it was only one person. Wait until they hear what I have to say.
"I know."
"No, you don't! Hunny, we love you and we just want to do anything we can to help you heal." He sounded like he was preaching something to me and I didn't like it. I mean, he was trying to be nice, but I didn't like it. "Can you at least promise to be open and honest with the police?"
"The police?" I asked. It didn't occur to me that they'd be coming to question me. Darry wouldn't put me through that unless he had to, right?
"Yes, the police. You must tell them the truth about whatever they need to know, okay?"
I thought about it for a minute and then nodded. "Sure."
Soda broke into a slight smile at this bit of progress. "Good..." He stared absentmindedly, obviously glad about his improvement he made with me. I wasn't being hard on purpose, I promise. He looked at me again and said, "So, how are you feeling?"
"Like shit." I groaned and slumped deeper into my sheets. Most of the pain was gone, but because it was I was drowsy and my head was spacey, so I didn't feel much of anything anymore when I moved. I could only wish that the nurses would inject more of that wonderful stuff before this dose wore off. If I felt as bad as I did now, how would I feel later on?
"I'm sorry," he said and he sounded like he meant it. "I wish there was something I could do."
I frowned at him. "You can stop yelling."
He bit his bottom lip and looked away for a second then looked back at me and tried to smile. "Right. Sorry about that."
I reached out to find his hand again and took hold of it. "And don't leave, please."
"You still want me around?" he sounded a little surprised and happy as he laughed. He shouldn't be so enthused, although it was kind of funny.
"Yeah," I said. My eyes were closing again even though I wanted to keep them open. I was so tired though. The medicine didn't have a whole lot to do with this one. I was just tired. It was late and I was exhausted.
`~`~``~``~`~`
(Darry's POV)
I sat in the waiting room for about twenty minutes before someone came out to see me. I wasn't to surprised that it had been that long, but it still worried me.
"I need to speak with a...Darrel Curtis, please." A young doctor said aloud to everyone in the waiting room. I had never seen him before, but he didn't look to be older that Soda, although I knew he had to be. I knew it wasn't Dr. Ross, who I had been told was caring for Rees, and that made me even more nervous, except that if she was dead it would be Dr. Ross who would tell me.
I stood up, taking a step over to him, "I'm Darrel Curtis."
He looked me up and down, and then asked, "Would you please come with me?"
Okay, maybe this was a lot worse than I had thought. But I suspected that he would be questioning who did this, I mean, now they would be really suspicious of all the guys. I couldn't blame them, but it made me mad.
I followed him into a small side office room off one of the main hallways, and he asked me to sit.
"What is this about? Is she okay?" I asked.
"Dr. Ross is still working on her, but we have some questions that need to be answered. If anyone, you should be able to answer them, am I right?"
"Yes, sir." Yeah, I did that more to piss him off than anything. I hated it when people called me sir.
The door opened and another man came in. He was carrying a brief case and had a large file in his hand. He sat down and got out a pen silently.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I'm Jim Taylor, I'm a social worker for the state."
I felt like groaning, but I held it back, that wouldn't help.
The doctor went on, "Okay, this is strictly on a professional level, but I have to ask these questions."
I nodded.
"What do you know about what's happened tonight?"
"Uh...not much, really. I was at work the entire day, and when I came home everyone but my little brother was gone. I thought that Skye was home, because she has been sick, but she wasn't. I couldn't do anything about it. And Reesa had been at a party with a friend, but when I got home, she had left a note saying she went out and would be home by one or so. She didn't say where she was going, so it was again out of my control."
"Do you know who it was?"
"Nope."
"Alright. We'll come back to that later. Uh...I'm sorry I have to ask this, but it might help out a little in the treatment of your sister." He paused before continuing on, "Upon exam, we found a fair amount of scar tissue in Reesa's vaginal area. Do you know where that came from?"
"Huh? Scar tissue?" I really had no idea, I mean, I didn't know what that could be from. Sure, Reesa had been through a lot, but nothing that bad...right? Not that I could think of anyway.
"Yeah, there is a lot of built up existing scar tissue. We will have to surgically remove it if we expect to have any normal healing to occur. But, we need to know what it might be from, if you know."
"Oh...well I don't know. I just...oh /I!" I felt my face pale, like all the blood had drained from it, and I shut my eyes to contain whatever I could.
"What?" the social worker jumped in.
I ran a hand through my hair and looked up, "I think I know what it /I be from..." I knew it was, but I felt so bad I couldn't even say it straight out, "She...it was out of my control, yet again, but she has had sexual relations in the past, I know. Could that have anything to do with it?"
"Uh...well, yeah. Yes, it could." The doctor said a little taken aback.
I dropped my head slightly. Hell, this was not going good. I knew that was a step in the wrong direction. Everything seemed to be a step in the wrong direction. Earlier I thought my bad week was over, it had to be...but now I was starting to think that it was just beginning.
"And how long ago was this?" the social worker asked while looking up momentarily from his paper work. I already felt like I was in court, couldn't we just do away with that at such a time? I hated the government.
"About...a year and a half to two years ago. She hasn't since then...well...until now, but that, yeah. I think we should wait to jump to conclusions until after we get to talk to her and see how this all happened."
"But she was a lot younger then, like fourteen or fifteen, am I correct? That didn't bother you?" the social worker asked. What did he think I was some stupid druggie or something?
"No, it bothered me! That doesn't mean I had any control over the situation."
"Why not?"
"Do you have teens at home? You look old enough to have them."
"Yes, I do."
"Then you should know that no matter how hard you try, there are just times when you don't know what's going on."
"I always know what's going on with my children."
"Really? How do you know they don't lie? Or run out at night after you fall asleep?"
"Because they don't."
"You don't know that for sure, do you?"
"Yes, I do. They aren't out getting themselves into trouble. Getting picked up by the police for stealing liquor or for committing a murder or for getting themselves raped. I could go on, but I choose not to, those are only the big things."
/I themselves raped? I'm positive they both /I it.
"You think I don't know that?" I almost yelled, "Look, I do my best, but I work all day so we have enough money and they are usually gone by the time I get home. I can't do anything about it. I set a curfew and I discipline them, but that only does so much good. I have more rules and control then my parents ever had. I mean, between my dad who didn't care and my mom who was too strict, things would be a lot worse than they are right now."
Yeah, he sure knows what he's talking about. Does he think that I like worrying about my two sisters in the hospital, or that I like working all day and coming home to a messy house? Do they think I want to live on the bad side of town, and that I let them go out anytime of the day or night? Do they think I have naturally known what to do through all of this, that I cant make mistakes and I do it all on purpose?
It was quiet for a minute before the doctor broke in, "Well, I need to get back now. Thank you for the information. If you will just go and wait out in the waiting room." He escorted us back to the waiting room and then left us.
I avoided looking to anyone. I was so angry and desperate. The way things were going, there was no way we could stay together. They just didn't understand. No one did...just the gang and the family.
It was a long wait after that, and I only left the waiting room to go check on Skye once or twice. I was afraid to miss the doctor, to not be there when I was needed. Not that Skye wasn't important, but she was fine, I couldn't say the same for Reesa.
As I sat waiting, I got lost in thought. I couldn't believe I had been so dumb. I mean, I didn't know it was that bad...with Reesa. She just doesn't say anything. It's like trying to save a dead man, you can't because he cant tell you what's wrong. She could, but she won't. Still, I should have known. I should have known that it could be that bad, that she needed a doctor. She made it through fine, but from what I could gather it was a big problem now. It worried me sick to think over it...I just couldn't even imagine Reesa that helpless.
"What's up, Darry?" Steve asked. "You look like you just saw a ghost man. Don't do that. Is something wrong?"
"What?" I jerked my head up. "Oh, well, they said she'll need surgery and... well, after that I'm not sure, but she should be fine."
"That's it? You didn't see nothing?"
"...No." I didn't even want to tell them anything. That didn't have to go be displayed and made public that I was an idiot and she was suffering for it. "Nothing."
"Why you seem so upset then?"
"Because...she has to have surgery. You wanna fork over the money?" I didn't say it with any expression, I just didn't care. And, no the money was not the reason. That could be dealt with, not easily, but it could. It was just a good excuse to get him off my back.
"Oh, yeah." He sat down and shut up then, I think because Dally was sending him a look. I could see it in the corner of my eye.
Soda came down after a little while then, he said that Skye was fine, she was just sleeping, so he wanted to see how things were going with Rees. I didn't tell him much. I wanted to tell him more, but not around the guys. And I wasn't going to leave that room, I couldn't.
Dally was getting really fidgety over in the corner and it was starting to get on my nerves, so I decided to question him on it, "Hey, Dally. Why are you so fidgety?"
"Because, I hate hospitals, why do you think?"
"I was just starting to think that you had to take a pee or something." I was completely serious, to.
"Hey! Well, I gotta go for a walk. Where's Skye's room, again?"
"612. You can stay up there for as long as you want."
"Are you trying to kick me outta here or something?"
I ignored his comment and went silent. I wasn't in the mood.
After Dally left Soda looked at me weirdly, "Darry, you okay?"
"Yup."
"Why not?"
"I told you, Im fine."
"Really, what's wrong?"
"Nothing Soda."
"I know something is up...you never act like this Darry."
"Do I not have the right to worry about her?"
"No, you do...I am to. But...you just...seem really out of it. You know?"
Again, I didn't say anything. He could think what he wanted, I wasn't going to explain it.
"Darry, really—"
I held up my hand. I didn't want to hear it. Pretty soon, Pony came down to sit with us.
"You get sick of hanging out with Skye?" Soda asked.
"She was just sleeping." Pony said.
"Oh. Yeah, cant blame you." He said tiredly.
I saw the doctor come out from the ER and head towards us. I stood up immediately. I figured it had to be for us. It had been an hour or so.
He came over and pulled up a chair to face me...and everyone around me. I was almost relieved, but at the same time I was terrified. I didn't know if I wanted to know, but I did.
"How are you holding up?"
"How is she?"
"Alive."
"That good?"
"Sorry, that's about what I can tell you at this point. When Reesa came in we...it was looking bad to say the least. Right now she is doing a little better, but it has taken the last hour to get her semi-stabilized. I still cant give you any sure answer, but its looking better than before."
"When can we see her?" I asked.
"In a little while, but first I need to talk with you...alone. "
"Okay." I stood up and followed him back to another empty room.
"Take a seat. "he said while shutting the door and again pulling up a chair.
I sat down trying hard to relax. I had no idea what this was all about, but once again it didn't matter.
"What's up?"
"Well, my colleague came and spoke to me earlier about the whole scar tissue...thing. And, well, I think there is more to the story. This is completely confidential, I'm not going to tell anyone, not even the police or anyone in court. This is strictly between me and you, it wont leave this room. But as a doctor, I need to know this information, and all of it. Basically, as a professional and specialist in this area, I know that there is more to this story by what I see. I know the difference between scar tissue built up over time, and scar tissue resulting from one or possibly two incidents. I already have a basic idea of what has happened, but I need to /I, for sure."
"Yeah." I nodded my head, but couldn't bring it back up to look him in the face for the next part, "It was...the same thing. I don't know how, but it was. Two years ago."
"That's what I thought, its just that I've never heard of anything like it—the exact same thing?"
"As far as I can tell, pretty much. From what I hear, it is, but not as...violent."
"Let's hope not."
I hung my head, I was such an idiot. It didn't matter if that never left the room, I was an idiot and it was my fault.
"Why didn't you bring her in? It's not on her record."
I looked up, then, mostly to see if he was angry, but he didn't seem so.
"Uh...I was young and stupid. At the time I had no idea what it could do...I thought it was something that she could just get over, I didn't know it required this type of help. If I had known at the time, I would have found a way to get her help. It would have been hard, but I would have found a way. I mean, I thought about bringing her in, but we really didn't have the money and she didn't seem to be in too much pain, so...I thought she would get over it."
"Why, then, did you bring Skye in?"
"Well, you have to understand that Reesa and Skye are very different. Rees, she's stubborn and strong." I half smiled at the thought, "She doesn't let things get her down, and she don't give in to pain, no matter how bad. I've never seen her do it, at least, and I've seen her in...a lot of fights. Skye on the other hand is just so fragile. It only takes a few blows to damage her, and she was in a ton of pain when she got home. There was no way of me knowing that Rees was in pain, but there was no denying it with Skye. I just...I cant treat them the same, it doesn't work."
"So, you didn't think Reesa was in pain?"
"No, I knew she was...but she hates doctors, and I avoid taking her to one if I can. She--you'll see how she is when she wakes up. She's feisty and hard to deal with at times. I've never seen any girl like her before."
The doctor gave me a look, and said, "Okay, being a doctor a mistake like that seems pretty stupid, but stuff like that is the most obvious stuff in the world to me, so I guess I understand."
"I'm real sorry about it, I really had no idea."
"I know, my friend told me about your reaction to it."
I didn't have anything else to say, really. I figured he would have more to tell me.
"Okay, going on. Before I let you in to see her, I need to go over her full condition and let you in on some other things. First; because of the nature of this whole situation, with two girls coming in the same night with the same injuries at different times and in the same family, we needed to investigate further. We decided to go ahead and do DNA testing, and what we found was...is unusual." He paused, "The DNA results came back almost exactly the same for both your sisters, meaning that they were raped...by the same people."
I almost gagged at that. How could that be? And who would do that? Were they singling out just our family or was it just a whole bunch of girls and a coincidence? I couldn't respond to it, I didn't know how to. I wanted to go find them and kill them, they didn't deserve to live.
Wait, did he say /I?"
"Yes. There were six with Skye, and seven with Reesa. All six matched up, meaning they were the same people, and the last one...no one knows."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.
"I'm telling you this for a few reasons. One, I want to know if you know who these people are; mostly because that is just wrong and I want them caught and thrown in jail just about as badly as you do. And two, I'm worried about infection. More so with Reesa, because she has open wounds inside and out and one more type of seamen to contend with. Besides that, we already have Skye on some antibiotics right now, and she is much stronger than Reesa, she can fight it off much better. With Reesa, an infection isn't going to be pretty and you need to be aware of that. We cant put her on antibiotics yet due to her condition and some other things, and she doesn't have the ability to fight this right now, she is too weak and her body is doing everything it can to just keep alive, there are no reserves left." He sighed and then went on, trying to give me a little time to swallow all that, "I want you to know about as much as me on this, because you're their guardian and you need to know. In the future, if there are any problems, you will need to know about this stuff. The girls might not be able to answer, we never know. Do you understand that?"
"Yes."
"Okay. That brings me to the next item to speak to you about. I want to let you in to see Reesa before we take her up to surgery. She is still bleeding enough to make this hard and we need to clean out all that scar tissue and suture her up, /I. The problem is that she isn't completely stable. I wanted her to be, so I was trying to see if we could wait it out, but that's not happening. You need to see her before she goes up, because as much I hate to tell you this, if anything goes wrong, chances are that she wont live. Surgery is a risk, a big one with someone in her condition tonight. But I need you to understand that we don't have a choice at this point. We haven't been able to stop the bleeding yet, and we are hoping that once we get the scar tissue cleaned out, we can get a better idea of what's going on and how to treat it. "
That hit me like a brick. She might not live? I mean, he had said it before, but not straight out, not like that. I understood it was bad, but it hadn't hit me how bad. Not until he said that.
I felt like crying, tears were welling up in my eyes, but I held back. I took deep breaths, and looked down to the floor as I ran my hands through my hair.
After a few seconds, I gained back most of my composure and looked up, "What are her chances? I mean, are you confident about this? Can you give me a percentage or something? Anything?"
"I'm pretty confident about it. She's made it this far, and I think that she'll be fine. She's got, oh I would say about a seventy percent chance of coming out without any complications, and even in the case that we might encounter problems, she's still got about a twenty percent chance, better than nothing."
I heaved a small sigh of relief. He did sound confident, but I was still worried. I was just so over whelmed and out of place. It bothered me that I couldn't do anything, nothing for her. Nothing.
"I never knew it could be /I bad. I knew it was bad, but not like /I." I whispered to myself.
"Well, they didn't just rape her, they did it in a very violent fashion. Not to mention that I think they basically attacked her and beat her brutally at one point. I've never seen anything like it. I mean, she has broken ribs, a lot of them, and bruises everywhere. I'm sure she has a concussion, so she'll be pretty confused. Luckily, there doesn't seem to be any broken limbs, just a lot of bruising. Hopefully, she wont remember it."
"Yeah." I said quietly. At least maybe she wouldn't remember it. If Skye could give names, then Rees wouldn't have to, and she could never look back as far as I was concerned. I mean, I didn't want Skye to remember either, but Reesa didn't need to remember being beaten on top of everything else. The only thing I cared about was that they were caught and thrown in prison.
I was still shaking, but the tears that threatened had left, and I was ready to handle things again. It was time to go back to work.
"So, can I see her now?"
"Yeah, I'll take you and anyone in the immediate family in. No more than three people though, or it will get to crowded. I'm leaving the decision of who can go in up to you. You can use your judgement on this one, it's your family, but depending on age and maturity levels, you might not want your other siblings to see this. It isn't pretty."
I nodded in understanding. I wasn't planning on letting Pony see her anyway. From what Soda had said, I didn't think it was a good idea. I was glad that Soda had thought of that and gotten a blanket to cover her before Pony came out. At least he only saw her face, and only a few glimpses of it. I decided it would be okay for Soda to see her. He had seen the worst of it, and he was mature enough to handle it. He deserved to see her, after what he had gone through that night.
We walked back out into the waiting room, and I called out to Soda, "Hey, Soda, c'mere."
He got up and walked over, "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, the doc is gonna let us go in and see Reesa, but only for a few minutes. They have to take her up to surgery soon, so we don't have much time."
"Oh."
By that time, we were following the doctor and were almost through the door to go back behind the counter and into the ER, "Darry? Where ya going?"
I turned around, I knew Pony would catch on. I looked to the doctor and he nodded. I walked over to a confused Pony with a look of hurt on his face.
"Pony, I'll be back in a few minutes, okay? Just stay here."
"But why? Aren't you going to see Reesa?"
"Yeah...but –"
"She's my sister to, Darry. I want to see her!"
"To bad. Pony, I'm sorry, but you can't go in there."
"Why not?"
"Because I said so. That is not a sight that you want to live with for the rest of your life and I'm not gonna let you."
"Why are you going in then?"
"Pony. I'm the guardian, I need to know what's going on. I don't want to see this, I never wanted to, but I have to. It comes with the territory."
"But, you're letting Soda go too!"
"Yeah, because he's already seen the worst, Pony. He needs to see her doing a little better than when he first saw her."
"I do too! What makes you think I'm not worried, Darry? She's my sister!"
"Pony, I'll explain this to you later, but I really don't have the time right now. Besides, I'm trying to make a good impression on that guy sitting over there. He's a social worker and what he says determines if we stay a family or not. Get it?"
Pony looked over to him, then back at me, and then to Soda. Soda gave him a look, telling him to listen, telling him that this was the right thing.
"Listen, Pony. I'll let you see her a little later, just not now, okay, buddy?"
He nodded and turned, going over to sit on the chairs once again.
Reesa's room was a little ways back from the main part of the ER, and the doctor had to lead us back there to show us where it was at. The room, was fairly small, but they still had a white curtain on the side of the bed nearest the door. I didn't understand why, but I guess they wanted extra privacy. There was just a foot or so between the end of the curtain and the wall and we stepped through that opening and onto the other side to see Rees. There was a young doctor on the other side of the bed, and he looked up surprised as we walked in. The doctor told him he could leave and he would go get him if he was needed, so he put away the chart and walked out silently.
Dr. Ross went over and pulled out her chart, looking over it. He stepped to the other side of the bed and checked something before saying, "I can only give you a few minutes alone. After that, I'll be in and out until we take her. Right now she's doing pretty well, but /I anything happens, you need to clear out, okay?"
"Yeah, thanks, Doctor." Soda said.
He slid the chart back in a slot at the bottom of the bed and walked out of the room quietly.
Just a fair warning...more for Tensleep than anyone...the end of this chapter is a bit cliffhangerish, but just a tiny bit, I swear. I will REALLY try to update in a few days, not a week, but Im not promising anything. Well, on to Review Responses, and enjoy the next chapter.
Oh... and keep in mind as you read it that everyone is REALLY overwhelmed at this point, just remember it...don't ask, just read.
Anyway...on we go!
Two-BitGortez: Thanks! Keep reading... (
Tensleep: Hey, you can do a three mile long essay of a review for all I care... just as long as it's good, of course! I mean, as I read more, my screams only get louder... Thanks for all your comments! I was sooo relieved when you said that you found Reesa to be believable, I was pretty worried about that one. And Im glad that you caught on to the Two-Bit being quiet thing... that was the reason it was there, to tell you that this is serious. Another thing that made me squeal is that you feel what Darry's going through. That's a biggie right now, in the end he really does care about his "family", even if they can be a pain, and this was the best time to bring that out, I think. Anyway...send me another review so I can scream my head off with Kiera! C YA!
Oblivious Misconception: You compared it to a book?! I cant even tell you how loud I was screaming. Seriously, I was walking out to my car and had in my hand to read because I only had time to print it off, and I started screaming. I'll tell you I go the weirdest looks, but it was all worth it. I couldn't contain myself. Im really happy that you find this to be well written and that you find the plot to be interesting... just wait... it gets better. Anyway...thanks for your wonderful comments! Here are a few more "pages" to turn. I'll try and update quicker next time! Enjoy.
Chapter 16 (Skye's POV)
Nothing made any sense. Things that people were saying would go in one ear and out the other and I couldn't catch anything they were trying to tell each other. I didn't even know if they were talking to me or not. The one time I wanted to know what they were saying I couldn't understand it at all, it was very frustrating. Not to mention that I could hardly see and that was bad as it was. The doctors had drugged me up so much that my vision was blurred and it was hard to keep my eyes open. I wasn't tired and I wanted to be alert but everything was working against me.
I knew enough to know that Ponyboy was in the room with me, although he was sitting to one side and sort of away from me. Someone had left, but I didn't remember who it was. Nothing was making any sense. I felt so detached from everything. It was irritating and I hated it.
"Pony?"
"Yeah?" He sat forward in his seat some.
"Are you okay?" For some reason I thought that he might not be all right. Maybe Clay and Miles had gotten to him again.
"What? Of course I am. Why?"
"I didn't mean to leave you alone. Sorry. I -- I didn't want to go –"
"What are you talking about?" he asked. That surprised me some. I would've thought that he realized I had left after so long. Even if he was asleep, you would think he would've caught on to that one way or another.
"I left you at home by yourself," I told him. "I didn't mean to."
"Oh, well I knew you left, I mean, Darry was sort of mad, but..." he trailed off. "It's okay. You didn't know. I just wouldn't go leaving when you know you're not supposed to anymore. Apparently there are good reasons."
Ah, that's right. He didn't know. None of them did. How could they? I didn't tell anyone. That created a slightly major problem. I was going to have to tell them and there was no way out of it. I owed them enough to know who had done this...now that I was in the hospital. The thought didn't make things any easier. There was still the fact that Clay would probably kill me if I told anyone. That was going to be a hard decision to make.
I rubbed at my eyes with my finger and thumb. "Right."
"I'm sorry this happened, though," he said and sat back timidly.
"Me too."
It got quiet after that. I didn't have anything else to say. I didn't /I to say anything else. I would, of course, give information when it was needed, but until then I had no desire to continue with the subject.
No one was going to like it, but I honestly didn't know if I'd be able to bring myself to tell anyone what happened. Maybe Reesa, because she's a girl and I wouldn't feel as awkward telling her, but no one else. I knew she had caught on to something and she would be more than pleased with herself for having done so, but she wouldn't rub it in my face. Not after tonight's incident. And as much as I love the guys, it's different telling a male what happened compared to a female. Reesa would understand where I was coming from. Girls have to live with that sort of fear, guys don't. Not usually. They wouldn't like it, but that's the way things were and if they knew me like I thought they did then they wouldn't force me into it. They'd find out when I was able to say it, but with it having just happened I'm not sure it was all that possible. Details weren't fun and even less fun was going to be confessing everything else.
It was around that time that Soda came in. My eyes were closed and I was almost asleep again, but I knew it was him. Soda's presence is unmistakable. I was glad he was there, I didn't begrudge it at all, but I was a little nervous to see him. I didn't want him to get angry again, especially not at me. His opinion was just about all that mattered to me and I didn't want him to be disappointed. Not to mention how embarrassing all of this was.
He sat in the chair right next to the bed and reached out to touch my hand. I held on with a weak grip and he knew by that that I was awake. Big mistake. "Skye, I know you're awake and I want you to answer my question."
I sunk deeper into the sheets. What was he going to ask? I was tempted not to answer and pretend that the drugs had knocked me out, but I knew he wouldn't buy it. That and he sounded so serious I was afraid not to. "Darry doesn't think you're in the right state of mind to be asked this, but that doesn't matter. I want to get this out in the open now." His voice was threatening and almost shaking. "Who did this to you?"
I continued to lay still. Damn it, couldn't he give me a little space, a little peace? I was more than glad he was there, but that all I was wanting, for him to be there. I didn't want him to pester me with questions. He always was the one to do that, like he was appointed to do so, and that sometimes made our relationship a little rocky. Maybe he wouldn't mind it if I didn't tell him now. He knew me if anyone and he would understand that I didn't want to talk about it. I didn't want to give anything away that could threaten me even more. I was over all that and I didn't want to put myself in that position anymore. Never again.
"Skye. Damn it, even if you don't know who it was, just tell me!" he almost yelled, but it was more like pleading. He squeezed my hand tighter. I knew I'd never see his side of it and so I couldn't understand what was going through his mind, but I just couldn't say it. I couldn't. "I promise he won't touch you again. I'll make sure of that, just tell me who it was!"
I thought that maybe he'd leave me alone if I make it clear that I didn't want to talk about it, so I started to make the gesture by covering my face with my free hand. But he grabbed it before I could get far and cupped it and my other hand between both of his. I hadn't realized how cold my hands were until I felt his warm ones. They were soothing, but would've been better if he wasn't so mad. He scooted the chair closer and kneeled with one leg on it so he was raised a little higher. "No. Skye, look at me." His voice was surprisingly gentle. "Look. At. Me."
I didn't want to, but I opened my eyes as much as I could and came face to face with him. He looked so serious and worried I thought he might lose it if he didn't get an answer. But I still couldn't do it. I just shook my head and bit my lower lip.
He hung his head and closed his eyes. I swore I could see his body shaking with anger.
"I'm sorry, Soda."
He kept his head down for a few more seconds then looked back up and stroked my hands with one of his. I could tell he was trying to stay calm. "Skye, I don't think you realize how bad this is. This is a big deal and you /I tell us what happened. You're the only one who can right now and none of us want to wait... /I."
I shook my head again. "Soda, please. Don't."
He moved his gaze from me to Pony trying to figure out what was going on. Pony shrugged not knowing what else to do. I hated doing this to them. I couldn't stand it. I wanted to scream it out and confess everything, but it sounds a lot easier than it is. Soda finally sat back down in his seat and let go of my hands. He looked hopeless and extremely frustrated but didn't push it any further. "All right," he said.
That, I didn't like. He couldn't just give up like that. He's Soda. Soda doesn't lose hope in anything, whether I like it or not. He's not allowed to give up on me. That's one of the things I usually count on, even if I want him to back off. It very rare that I want him out of my face, but it does happen.
"Soda..."
"I don't want to hear it, Skye," he sighed. He shook his head and looked at me again. "Gawd, you don't even consider what we're going through, Skye. You aren't the only one suffering."
"I never said I was."
He shook his head again and looked away. "Just drop it. You can tell us when you aren't so drugged up. I just wish you weren't so stubborn."
I was frozen to my spot. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Soda was my protector, but he sure wasn't acting like it. He was so bitter and upset and all his negative energy was being directed towards me. Couldn't he see that I had gone through the most traumatizing experience of my life? Not even when mom and dad died did it hurt me so bad. When they died it was so dramatic and surreal I didn't even realize what was going on until it sunk in a week later and I cried myself to sleep every night for another week. But this had happened to me, not my parents. I was tortured for a long period of time and had been having worry and stress sickness for the last month from emotional, territorial, and sexual abuse. I wasn't going to be able to mentally cough up anything I could prevent until it was forced out of me in a way that I wasn't expecting. I didn't know what would get it out of me, but nothing easy.
My damn medication was kicking into gear again and I suddenly felt my throat tighten. With my voice choked up, I replied, "I'm sorry, Soda. Do you think I meant for this to happen? I can only apologize so much."
Soda suddenly looked scared himself. He sat upright and turned in his seat. "No... This isn't your fault.... You know it's not your fault."
"But it is."
"No!" he said. "It's not your fault, Skye. None of this is your fault. Whoever did this -- it's their fault and they'll suffer the consequences. Don't you dare think this is your fault." He reached for my hand again and this time he held it in a way I felt comfortable with.
I sniffed to keep back anything that wanted to escape. "You don't know that," I said. "What I could tell you would make your blood curl, Sodapop. It's more my fault than you know."
He shifted back slightly, like he was debating whether or not he wanted to know any details. "Ponyboy, leave."
"What?" he asked exasperated. "Soda! You can't make me leave /I."
"Do it!" he cried urgently.
"But --"
"Pony, if she's willing to tell me something –"
"I ain't saying nothing!" I cried. "Soda! I can't say nothing!"
"Why?" he growled. "Why the hell can't you tell me anything?"
"Because," I said and almost broke down into another fit of tears like earlier. "I ain't saying nothing!"
He took a deep breath and thought for a minute. "Did he threaten you?"
"N-no..."
"Tell me the truth, Skye," he growled.
"I am!" Why was he so mad? "Soda, why don't you believe me?"
"Because I know you too well," he said simply, once again sitting back in his seat. I hated him giving up so easily. This was totally wrong. But I didn't say anything in reply to that. I couldn't say anything else. It didn't matter what I tried he wouldn't except anything but what he wanted to hear. I could try and give him some truth but he wouldn't take it, because he wouldn't listen. "Skye, listen, I'm only trying to help you. Can you not see that?" He was pleading again. "I need to know. There's more important things behind this, Hunny, and we need details to find the guy." The guy. They thought it was only one person. Wait until they hear what I have to say.
"I know."
"No, you don't! Hunny, we love you and we just want to do anything we can to help you heal." He sounded like he was preaching something to me and I didn't like it. I mean, he was trying to be nice, but I didn't like it. "Can you at least promise to be open and honest with the police?"
"The police?" I asked. It didn't occur to me that they'd be coming to question me. Darry wouldn't put me through that unless he had to, right?
"Yes, the police. You must tell them the truth about whatever they need to know, okay?"
I thought about it for a minute and then nodded. "Sure."
Soda broke into a slight smile at this bit of progress. "Good..." He stared absentmindedly, obviously glad about his improvement he made with me. I wasn't being hard on purpose, I promise. He looked at me again and said, "So, how are you feeling?"
"Like shit." I groaned and slumped deeper into my sheets. Most of the pain was gone, but because it was I was drowsy and my head was spacey, so I didn't feel much of anything anymore when I moved. I could only wish that the nurses would inject more of that wonderful stuff before this dose wore off. If I felt as bad as I did now, how would I feel later on?
"I'm sorry," he said and he sounded like he meant it. "I wish there was something I could do."
I frowned at him. "You can stop yelling."
He bit his bottom lip and looked away for a second then looked back at me and tried to smile. "Right. Sorry about that."
I reached out to find his hand again and took hold of it. "And don't leave, please."
"You still want me around?" he sounded a little surprised and happy as he laughed. He shouldn't be so enthused, although it was kind of funny.
"Yeah," I said. My eyes were closing again even though I wanted to keep them open. I was so tired though. The medicine didn't have a whole lot to do with this one. I was just tired. It was late and I was exhausted.
`~`~``~``~`~`
(Darry's POV)
I sat in the waiting room for about twenty minutes before someone came out to see me. I wasn't to surprised that it had been that long, but it still worried me.
"I need to speak with a...Darrel Curtis, please." A young doctor said aloud to everyone in the waiting room. I had never seen him before, but he didn't look to be older that Soda, although I knew he had to be. I knew it wasn't Dr. Ross, who I had been told was caring for Rees, and that made me even more nervous, except that if she was dead it would be Dr. Ross who would tell me.
I stood up, taking a step over to him, "I'm Darrel Curtis."
He looked me up and down, and then asked, "Would you please come with me?"
Okay, maybe this was a lot worse than I had thought. But I suspected that he would be questioning who did this, I mean, now they would be really suspicious of all the guys. I couldn't blame them, but it made me mad.
I followed him into a small side office room off one of the main hallways, and he asked me to sit.
"What is this about? Is she okay?" I asked.
"Dr. Ross is still working on her, but we have some questions that need to be answered. If anyone, you should be able to answer them, am I right?"
"Yes, sir." Yeah, I did that more to piss him off than anything. I hated it when people called me sir.
The door opened and another man came in. He was carrying a brief case and had a large file in his hand. He sat down and got out a pen silently.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I'm Jim Taylor, I'm a social worker for the state."
I felt like groaning, but I held it back, that wouldn't help.
The doctor went on, "Okay, this is strictly on a professional level, but I have to ask these questions."
I nodded.
"What do you know about what's happened tonight?"
"Uh...not much, really. I was at work the entire day, and when I came home everyone but my little brother was gone. I thought that Skye was home, because she has been sick, but she wasn't. I couldn't do anything about it. And Reesa had been at a party with a friend, but when I got home, she had left a note saying she went out and would be home by one or so. She didn't say where she was going, so it was again out of my control."
"Do you know who it was?"
"Nope."
"Alright. We'll come back to that later. Uh...I'm sorry I have to ask this, but it might help out a little in the treatment of your sister." He paused before continuing on, "Upon exam, we found a fair amount of scar tissue in Reesa's vaginal area. Do you know where that came from?"
"Huh? Scar tissue?" I really had no idea, I mean, I didn't know what that could be from. Sure, Reesa had been through a lot, but nothing that bad...right? Not that I could think of anyway.
"Yeah, there is a lot of built up existing scar tissue. We will have to surgically remove it if we expect to have any normal healing to occur. But, we need to know what it might be from, if you know."
"Oh...well I don't know. I just...oh /I!" I felt my face pale, like all the blood had drained from it, and I shut my eyes to contain whatever I could.
"What?" the social worker jumped in.
I ran a hand through my hair and looked up, "I think I know what it /I be from..." I knew it was, but I felt so bad I couldn't even say it straight out, "She...it was out of my control, yet again, but she has had sexual relations in the past, I know. Could that have anything to do with it?"
"Uh...well, yeah. Yes, it could." The doctor said a little taken aback.
I dropped my head slightly. Hell, this was not going good. I knew that was a step in the wrong direction. Everything seemed to be a step in the wrong direction. Earlier I thought my bad week was over, it had to be...but now I was starting to think that it was just beginning.
"And how long ago was this?" the social worker asked while looking up momentarily from his paper work. I already felt like I was in court, couldn't we just do away with that at such a time? I hated the government.
"About...a year and a half to two years ago. She hasn't since then...well...until now, but that, yeah. I think we should wait to jump to conclusions until after we get to talk to her and see how this all happened."
"But she was a lot younger then, like fourteen or fifteen, am I correct? That didn't bother you?" the social worker asked. What did he think I was some stupid druggie or something?
"No, it bothered me! That doesn't mean I had any control over the situation."
"Why not?"
"Do you have teens at home? You look old enough to have them."
"Yes, I do."
"Then you should know that no matter how hard you try, there are just times when you don't know what's going on."
"I always know what's going on with my children."
"Really? How do you know they don't lie? Or run out at night after you fall asleep?"
"Because they don't."
"You don't know that for sure, do you?"
"Yes, I do. They aren't out getting themselves into trouble. Getting picked up by the police for stealing liquor or for committing a murder or for getting themselves raped. I could go on, but I choose not to, those are only the big things."
/I themselves raped? I'm positive they both /I it.
"You think I don't know that?" I almost yelled, "Look, I do my best, but I work all day so we have enough money and they are usually gone by the time I get home. I can't do anything about it. I set a curfew and I discipline them, but that only does so much good. I have more rules and control then my parents ever had. I mean, between my dad who didn't care and my mom who was too strict, things would be a lot worse than they are right now."
Yeah, he sure knows what he's talking about. Does he think that I like worrying about my two sisters in the hospital, or that I like working all day and coming home to a messy house? Do they think I want to live on the bad side of town, and that I let them go out anytime of the day or night? Do they think I have naturally known what to do through all of this, that I cant make mistakes and I do it all on purpose?
It was quiet for a minute before the doctor broke in, "Well, I need to get back now. Thank you for the information. If you will just go and wait out in the waiting room." He escorted us back to the waiting room and then left us.
I avoided looking to anyone. I was so angry and desperate. The way things were going, there was no way we could stay together. They just didn't understand. No one did...just the gang and the family.
It was a long wait after that, and I only left the waiting room to go check on Skye once or twice. I was afraid to miss the doctor, to not be there when I was needed. Not that Skye wasn't important, but she was fine, I couldn't say the same for Reesa.
As I sat waiting, I got lost in thought. I couldn't believe I had been so dumb. I mean, I didn't know it was that bad...with Reesa. She just doesn't say anything. It's like trying to save a dead man, you can't because he cant tell you what's wrong. She could, but she won't. Still, I should have known. I should have known that it could be that bad, that she needed a doctor. She made it through fine, but from what I could gather it was a big problem now. It worried me sick to think over it...I just couldn't even imagine Reesa that helpless.
"What's up, Darry?" Steve asked. "You look like you just saw a ghost man. Don't do that. Is something wrong?"
"What?" I jerked my head up. "Oh, well, they said she'll need surgery and... well, after that I'm not sure, but she should be fine."
"That's it? You didn't see nothing?"
"...No." I didn't even want to tell them anything. That didn't have to go be displayed and made public that I was an idiot and she was suffering for it. "Nothing."
"Why you seem so upset then?"
"Because...she has to have surgery. You wanna fork over the money?" I didn't say it with any expression, I just didn't care. And, no the money was not the reason. That could be dealt with, not easily, but it could. It was just a good excuse to get him off my back.
"Oh, yeah." He sat down and shut up then, I think because Dally was sending him a look. I could see it in the corner of my eye.
Soda came down after a little while then, he said that Skye was fine, she was just sleeping, so he wanted to see how things were going with Rees. I didn't tell him much. I wanted to tell him more, but not around the guys. And I wasn't going to leave that room, I couldn't.
Dally was getting really fidgety over in the corner and it was starting to get on my nerves, so I decided to question him on it, "Hey, Dally. Why are you so fidgety?"
"Because, I hate hospitals, why do you think?"
"I was just starting to think that you had to take a pee or something." I was completely serious, to.
"Hey! Well, I gotta go for a walk. Where's Skye's room, again?"
"612. You can stay up there for as long as you want."
"Are you trying to kick me outta here or something?"
I ignored his comment and went silent. I wasn't in the mood.
After Dally left Soda looked at me weirdly, "Darry, you okay?"
"Yup."
"Why not?"
"I told you, Im fine."
"Really, what's wrong?"
"Nothing Soda."
"I know something is up...you never act like this Darry."
"Do I not have the right to worry about her?"
"No, you do...I am to. But...you just...seem really out of it. You know?"
Again, I didn't say anything. He could think what he wanted, I wasn't going to explain it.
"Darry, really—"
I held up my hand. I didn't want to hear it. Pretty soon, Pony came down to sit with us.
"You get sick of hanging out with Skye?" Soda asked.
"She was just sleeping." Pony said.
"Oh. Yeah, cant blame you." He said tiredly.
I saw the doctor come out from the ER and head towards us. I stood up immediately. I figured it had to be for us. It had been an hour or so.
He came over and pulled up a chair to face me...and everyone around me. I was almost relieved, but at the same time I was terrified. I didn't know if I wanted to know, but I did.
"How are you holding up?"
"How is she?"
"Alive."
"That good?"
"Sorry, that's about what I can tell you at this point. When Reesa came in we...it was looking bad to say the least. Right now she is doing a little better, but it has taken the last hour to get her semi-stabilized. I still cant give you any sure answer, but its looking better than before."
"When can we see her?" I asked.
"In a little while, but first I need to talk with you...alone. "
"Okay." I stood up and followed him back to another empty room.
"Take a seat. "he said while shutting the door and again pulling up a chair.
I sat down trying hard to relax. I had no idea what this was all about, but once again it didn't matter.
"What's up?"
"Well, my colleague came and spoke to me earlier about the whole scar tissue...thing. And, well, I think there is more to the story. This is completely confidential, I'm not going to tell anyone, not even the police or anyone in court. This is strictly between me and you, it wont leave this room. But as a doctor, I need to know this information, and all of it. Basically, as a professional and specialist in this area, I know that there is more to this story by what I see. I know the difference between scar tissue built up over time, and scar tissue resulting from one or possibly two incidents. I already have a basic idea of what has happened, but I need to /I, for sure."
"Yeah." I nodded my head, but couldn't bring it back up to look him in the face for the next part, "It was...the same thing. I don't know how, but it was. Two years ago."
"That's what I thought, its just that I've never heard of anything like it—the exact same thing?"
"As far as I can tell, pretty much. From what I hear, it is, but not as...violent."
"Let's hope not."
I hung my head, I was such an idiot. It didn't matter if that never left the room, I was an idiot and it was my fault.
"Why didn't you bring her in? It's not on her record."
I looked up, then, mostly to see if he was angry, but he didn't seem so.
"Uh...I was young and stupid. At the time I had no idea what it could do...I thought it was something that she could just get over, I didn't know it required this type of help. If I had known at the time, I would have found a way to get her help. It would have been hard, but I would have found a way. I mean, I thought about bringing her in, but we really didn't have the money and she didn't seem to be in too much pain, so...I thought she would get over it."
"Why, then, did you bring Skye in?"
"Well, you have to understand that Reesa and Skye are very different. Rees, she's stubborn and strong." I half smiled at the thought, "She doesn't let things get her down, and she don't give in to pain, no matter how bad. I've never seen her do it, at least, and I've seen her in...a lot of fights. Skye on the other hand is just so fragile. It only takes a few blows to damage her, and she was in a ton of pain when she got home. There was no way of me knowing that Rees was in pain, but there was no denying it with Skye. I just...I cant treat them the same, it doesn't work."
"So, you didn't think Reesa was in pain?"
"No, I knew she was...but she hates doctors, and I avoid taking her to one if I can. She--you'll see how she is when she wakes up. She's feisty and hard to deal with at times. I've never seen any girl like her before."
The doctor gave me a look, and said, "Okay, being a doctor a mistake like that seems pretty stupid, but stuff like that is the most obvious stuff in the world to me, so I guess I understand."
"I'm real sorry about it, I really had no idea."
"I know, my friend told me about your reaction to it."
I didn't have anything else to say, really. I figured he would have more to tell me.
"Okay, going on. Before I let you in to see her, I need to go over her full condition and let you in on some other things. First; because of the nature of this whole situation, with two girls coming in the same night with the same injuries at different times and in the same family, we needed to investigate further. We decided to go ahead and do DNA testing, and what we found was...is unusual." He paused, "The DNA results came back almost exactly the same for both your sisters, meaning that they were raped...by the same people."
I almost gagged at that. How could that be? And who would do that? Were they singling out just our family or was it just a whole bunch of girls and a coincidence? I couldn't respond to it, I didn't know how to. I wanted to go find them and kill them, they didn't deserve to live.
Wait, did he say /I?"
"Yes. There were six with Skye, and seven with Reesa. All six matched up, meaning they were the same people, and the last one...no one knows."
I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.
"I'm telling you this for a few reasons. One, I want to know if you know who these people are; mostly because that is just wrong and I want them caught and thrown in jail just about as badly as you do. And two, I'm worried about infection. More so with Reesa, because she has open wounds inside and out and one more type of seamen to contend with. Besides that, we already have Skye on some antibiotics right now, and she is much stronger than Reesa, she can fight it off much better. With Reesa, an infection isn't going to be pretty and you need to be aware of that. We cant put her on antibiotics yet due to her condition and some other things, and she doesn't have the ability to fight this right now, she is too weak and her body is doing everything it can to just keep alive, there are no reserves left." He sighed and then went on, trying to give me a little time to swallow all that, "I want you to know about as much as me on this, because you're their guardian and you need to know. In the future, if there are any problems, you will need to know about this stuff. The girls might not be able to answer, we never know. Do you understand that?"
"Yes."
"Okay. That brings me to the next item to speak to you about. I want to let you in to see Reesa before we take her up to surgery. She is still bleeding enough to make this hard and we need to clean out all that scar tissue and suture her up, /I. The problem is that she isn't completely stable. I wanted her to be, so I was trying to see if we could wait it out, but that's not happening. You need to see her before she goes up, because as much I hate to tell you this, if anything goes wrong, chances are that she wont live. Surgery is a risk, a big one with someone in her condition tonight. But I need you to understand that we don't have a choice at this point. We haven't been able to stop the bleeding yet, and we are hoping that once we get the scar tissue cleaned out, we can get a better idea of what's going on and how to treat it. "
That hit me like a brick. She might not live? I mean, he had said it before, but not straight out, not like that. I understood it was bad, but it hadn't hit me how bad. Not until he said that.
I felt like crying, tears were welling up in my eyes, but I held back. I took deep breaths, and looked down to the floor as I ran my hands through my hair.
After a few seconds, I gained back most of my composure and looked up, "What are her chances? I mean, are you confident about this? Can you give me a percentage or something? Anything?"
"I'm pretty confident about it. She's made it this far, and I think that she'll be fine. She's got, oh I would say about a seventy percent chance of coming out without any complications, and even in the case that we might encounter problems, she's still got about a twenty percent chance, better than nothing."
I heaved a small sigh of relief. He did sound confident, but I was still worried. I was just so over whelmed and out of place. It bothered me that I couldn't do anything, nothing for her. Nothing.
"I never knew it could be /I bad. I knew it was bad, but not like /I." I whispered to myself.
"Well, they didn't just rape her, they did it in a very violent fashion. Not to mention that I think they basically attacked her and beat her brutally at one point. I've never seen anything like it. I mean, she has broken ribs, a lot of them, and bruises everywhere. I'm sure she has a concussion, so she'll be pretty confused. Luckily, there doesn't seem to be any broken limbs, just a lot of bruising. Hopefully, she wont remember it."
"Yeah." I said quietly. At least maybe she wouldn't remember it. If Skye could give names, then Rees wouldn't have to, and she could never look back as far as I was concerned. I mean, I didn't want Skye to remember either, but Reesa didn't need to remember being beaten on top of everything else. The only thing I cared about was that they were caught and thrown in prison.
I was still shaking, but the tears that threatened had left, and I was ready to handle things again. It was time to go back to work.
"So, can I see her now?"
"Yeah, I'll take you and anyone in the immediate family in. No more than three people though, or it will get to crowded. I'm leaving the decision of who can go in up to you. You can use your judgement on this one, it's your family, but depending on age and maturity levels, you might not want your other siblings to see this. It isn't pretty."
I nodded in understanding. I wasn't planning on letting Pony see her anyway. From what Soda had said, I didn't think it was a good idea. I was glad that Soda had thought of that and gotten a blanket to cover her before Pony came out. At least he only saw her face, and only a few glimpses of it. I decided it would be okay for Soda to see her. He had seen the worst of it, and he was mature enough to handle it. He deserved to see her, after what he had gone through that night.
We walked back out into the waiting room, and I called out to Soda, "Hey, Soda, c'mere."
He got up and walked over, "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, the doc is gonna let us go in and see Reesa, but only for a few minutes. They have to take her up to surgery soon, so we don't have much time."
"Oh."
By that time, we were following the doctor and were almost through the door to go back behind the counter and into the ER, "Darry? Where ya going?"
I turned around, I knew Pony would catch on. I looked to the doctor and he nodded. I walked over to a confused Pony with a look of hurt on his face.
"Pony, I'll be back in a few minutes, okay? Just stay here."
"But why? Aren't you going to see Reesa?"
"Yeah...but –"
"She's my sister to, Darry. I want to see her!"
"To bad. Pony, I'm sorry, but you can't go in there."
"Why not?"
"Because I said so. That is not a sight that you want to live with for the rest of your life and I'm not gonna let you."
"Why are you going in then?"
"Pony. I'm the guardian, I need to know what's going on. I don't want to see this, I never wanted to, but I have to. It comes with the territory."
"But, you're letting Soda go too!"
"Yeah, because he's already seen the worst, Pony. He needs to see her doing a little better than when he first saw her."
"I do too! What makes you think I'm not worried, Darry? She's my sister!"
"Pony, I'll explain this to you later, but I really don't have the time right now. Besides, I'm trying to make a good impression on that guy sitting over there. He's a social worker and what he says determines if we stay a family or not. Get it?"
Pony looked over to him, then back at me, and then to Soda. Soda gave him a look, telling him to listen, telling him that this was the right thing.
"Listen, Pony. I'll let you see her a little later, just not now, okay, buddy?"
He nodded and turned, going over to sit on the chairs once again.
Reesa's room was a little ways back from the main part of the ER, and the doctor had to lead us back there to show us where it was at. The room, was fairly small, but they still had a white curtain on the side of the bed nearest the door. I didn't understand why, but I guess they wanted extra privacy. There was just a foot or so between the end of the curtain and the wall and we stepped through that opening and onto the other side to see Rees. There was a young doctor on the other side of the bed, and he looked up surprised as we walked in. The doctor told him he could leave and he would go get him if he was needed, so he put away the chart and walked out silently.
Dr. Ross went over and pulled out her chart, looking over it. He stepped to the other side of the bed and checked something before saying, "I can only give you a few minutes alone. After that, I'll be in and out until we take her. Right now she's doing pretty well, but /I anything happens, you need to clear out, okay?"
"Yeah, thanks, Doctor." Soda said.
He slid the chart back in a slot at the bottom of the bed and walked out of the room quietly.