Chapter 22 (Skye's POV)

My life sucks.

I was not feeling up to being positive today. After a day like yesterday, I don't think I could take much more of this shit. And God forbid, Dally was taking it upon himself to torture me. Don't get me wrong. I love Dally, but not when he's the person who thinks he's responsible for me. It's scary when he decides he's in charge. I can't even stand up without him flying off the handle. And he wonders why I'm in such a bad mood.

It also didn't help that he was the only one paying the slightest bit of attention to me. Once again, Reesa had to come in and steal the show. Not that I was enjoying any of this, and I was actually a little glad that I wasn't being screamed at for my stupidity, but she, as usual, is the one that ended up with all eyes on her. If I was stupid, I'd say it's safe to say she's possibly the most moronic person I know of. I swear everything she ever does, she has the goal of making me look like a silly little girl. A silly little girl who can't stay out of trouble. Whatever. Look where she's been.

Then there was Soda. The one person I thought who might actually care had completely flipped out on me. Why is it that if I do something wrong I get a load of shit dumped on me, but when anyone else does something worth being concerned over, they get doted over and everyone worries about what provoked them? Am I that careless and inconsiderate that no one will take the time to see my side of the story? Yeah, sorry to burst everyone's bubbles, but I'm usually the victim!

"So, I'm thinking I'll let Soda come home now. I might go and try a little work before I go back to Reesa. I've got to talk to her," he sighed. "Pony's at school, and if you don't want to stick around anymore you don't have to. Soda'll be back in a little while and I'm sure that Skye can look after herself for a few minutes."

Since when did Darry get here? Um, hello, want to come and see how the poor victim of today's corrupted society is doing? Or is that too much for him to handle? He hadn't even said hi to me once in two days and now he was going to skip out again? I don't think so!

"DARRY!" I screamed.

"Well, I was thinking of leaving in a while anyway," Dally responded, not even acknowledging the fact I had just bellowed in my condition. "I've had enough to deal with for one week. I might drop by later, though, and hang around. I don't know."

They had both blatantly ignored me, didn't they? I can't believe this.

"Darry!" I called; trying to sound a little pained.

"I'm talking, Skye. Hold on!" he barked. Ah, well, I'm sure that if was bleeding to death, I could always wait for you to finish your conversation. I mean, what's more important, right? Obviously, if you need to discuss Dally's plans that don't concern you, then by all means you have a load on your plate. Oh, but priorities first. Where are my manners?

"That's fine," Darry said. "It's up to you. Maybe Two-Bit'll come by later. He's got nothing better to do, right?"

"Probably not," Dally agreed. "So, yeah, I'm going to go now. I told Steve I would pick him out a couple of car parts."

"You mean buy?" He seemed impressed.

"No...pick out."

"Like stealing?"

"Do I look like I have the money to buy any?" Ah, that's the Dally I know. "I know of a good place about two miles from here that is stocked full."

"The Soc's neighborhood?" Darry asked, sounding slightly disapproved. Shoot, if I were stealing car parts he'd wring my neck, and he sounds a little saddened by Dally? The perks that come from not being a Curtis.

"It's not like they don't owe it to us," Dally stated simply. "Look, I gotta get. I'll see you later."

"All right. Bye."

I heard the front door slam as he left. Lucky Dally. I want to get out of here too. The one time I'm forced to stay home, I don't want to be here. What's wrong with me? Then again, where would I go worth being even if I could leave? No where, really. That's what sucks about this arrangement.

"What?" Darry stuck his head through the opening in my doorway.

"Where are you going?"

"Oh, God, Skye." He rolled his eyes. He knew I had heard him talking to Dally. Oh well. "I'm going to get Soda and then going back to the hospital. Why?"

"I don't know. I thought you'd want to sleep or something." I shrugged.

"I already did. I got like nine hours of sleep. Why?"

He was bad at this game. Really bad. Wait, he's been here all night? And he didn't find it necessary in that period of time to take a few minutes to talk to me and see how I was doing? Wow, don't I feel special.

"You don't need to go back. It's not like she's probably even awake to talk to."

"You don't know that. She's always awake. Why don't you try and sleep? You look like shit."

Oh, why thank you. I feel much better now. That was a real self-esteem booster.

"And she doesn't? Darry, she brought this on herself. Aren't you even the slightest bit mad?" This was driving me crazy. I couldn't understand why when she went over there willingly and got herself nearly killed, that she was getting all the sympathy, and when I was kidnapped and tortured, I get nothing. I get to stay home from school. That's what I get.

"What? Why would I be mad? Skye, that's stupid. She barely made it out of there alive, and you want to know if I'm mad? That's ridiculous. You know, I don't have the time for this. I have to go." He was annoyed. But did I care? Nope.

"Well, what about me? I could've gotten pneumonia. You can die from that, too."

"Skye, what are trying to prove? There's nothing to prove. I know you are hurting too, but she's hurting even more and I need to be there." Right. Try and make me think you care. I can see through it all. Deep down, he was probably itching to yell at me for being as stupid as I was.

"Whatever," I sighed. I wasn't going to argue with him. He wasn't worth my time. I had a million other things I could do. Although, I wasn't sure what exactly. I'd find something. I love being able to entertain myself.

"Hun, I need to go. I have to talk to her. It's nothing personal." He pulled his jacket on and pulled the truck keys out of his pocket.

"Did I say it was?" Yeah, and even if I had, it was true. He would've have said it if it wasn't. He could be the biggest jerk if he wanted, you know.

"No, but you're acting like it," he retorted. "I don't have the time for this. I'm leaving."

"What? Are you saying I'm being a brat?" Hey, I wasn't done with him. I had a few things left on my mind.

He sighed and threw his head back. "Oh my God. Skye, you were a brat from the second you were born. Don't even get me started. But if what you mean is do I think you're being selfish, yeah, I do. Do I think you're trying to make me or Reesa look like the bad guy? Yeah, I do. Do I think you're capable of taking care of yourself? Certainly."

But all the same I shouldn't have to. I had experienced one of the worst nights of my life not too long ago and no one seemed to think I needed any special care. Maybe I didn't, but it's the thought that should've been there. When Ponyboy was jumped, everyone made sure that he was okay and took care of him for days afterwards. Shoot, he's still being asked if he feels okay enough to go to school or if he wanted to stay home one more day. I couldn't help but feel like I was being somewhat ignored.

"So, are you done?" he asked me. As if he cared. He's leaving anyway.

I didn't answer.

"Hunny, Soda will be home in awhile. You can fend for yourself in the meantime. See you later." And he left.

Right, most likely later meant he'd see me in a week or two. Whatever. As long as he wasn't around I guess that meant I could do whatever I wanted. He didn't tell me not to do anything in particular, and even if he had, who would care?

(Darry's POV)

I left Skye's room in a hurry. She was soo selfish. Could she not understand that there were more important things at hand? I mean, if she was at home and Reesa was in the hospital, didn't that mean anything to her? I was looking at who needed more help at the time. That was what I was supposed to do, wasn't it?

I walked out to the kitchen and picked up the phone. I needed to call Dean and check in with him. I wanted to go in later, but I wasnt going to be able to at that point, I had to go in and work things out with Reesa or she would never forgive me.

I decided that he wouldn't have left for the office yet, so I called his house, and luckily he answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi, Dean. This is Darrel."

"Oh, hey, how are things?"

"Uh...going a bit better now. Hey, I might make it in later, but I'm sorry I got some things I gotta get worked out this morning so I wont make it in until later if I do."

"Alright, don't worry about it. I got you paid for yesterday and any other days this week that you miss because of...well, whatever's going on. You got enough on your plate right now, you don't need to come in today."

"Uh, no...I will if I can. I want to, I really feel bad about all this, and the guys are gonna start getting angry."

"They don't know about anything, I told them that you came down sick. How are they gonna get mad at that? Don't worry."

"Alright, well, I'll still try and come in later on if I can, but I cant garrentee anything."

"Okay, thanks for calling, Darrel. I'll see you around."

Well, that worked out well. I was soo lucky to have Dean as a boss, any other guy woulda fired me by then with all the shit I have to deal with in my family and therefore miss work over. Every time someone gets sick, arrested, or well, anything...god.

I shook my head at the thought and walked out the door, it was going to be a long day...again.

I headed down to the hospital and went straight to Reesa's room. I really hoped she didn't flip out when I went in. She had been pissed the night before, and she didn't get over things that quick if she was mad enough over it. I suspected that she wasn't over it, and would start screaming as soon as I walked in, but I had to do it sometime, so putting it off wasn't going to do any good.

But before I made it to the door, Dr. Ross stopped me.

"You came to see your sister?"

I turned to face him, stopping my slow paced walk, "Yeah."

"Oh, well, can I talk to you before you go in there?"

"...Sure." I said. Great, I just couldn't wait. I mean, I didn't know if he knew what had happened the night before, or what but this was bound to be bad. I mean, I knew that maybe Reesa had hurt herself the night before when she got up, and he could be wanting to tell me something about that, but I suspected something more like, "Im going to have to tell the social workers about what happened last night, you know that, right?". I didn't want to have that conversation, but it looked bound to happen.

I followed him into an empty office nearby, and sat down in a chair across from him.

"Did you get some sleep? You look a bit better."

"Yeah, plenty."

"Good, you needed it."

I nodded, I had needed it, as much as I didn't want to admit it the night before, "Is she okay?"

"We had a hard time getting her to calm down, but everything seems to be fine...surprisingly."

I nodded silently again.

He continued on, "You want to tell me what happened last night?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, your sister was obviously very upset about something. What was it? I'm not mad or anything, I just need to know."

"Well, how about you tell me something first, and then I will answer your question."

He sat there for a second, "Uh...okay."

"Why didn't you tell me about the drugs?"

"Is that what all this is about?"

"Well, yeah. She was doing drugs...not to mention everything else. I think I have a right to be a little bit concerned. She is sixteen years old."

"I understand that. You were always going to be told everything, and eventually you would have been told about this also. There is no excuse, but it was a group decision made by the team of doctors working with your sister that it wasn't something that needed to be brought up yet. The amount of drugs in her system was so minimal, and considering the circumstances, we strongly believe that she didn't take any. She was most likely exposed to it for an extended amount of time, causing her to have it in her system. There were more important things that needed to be taken care of then small traces of drugs in her blood stream, and you had enough on your plate. I'm sorry that you found out the way that you did, that was not meant to happen on our part. It was only our intention to care for more important things first before moving onto more minor situations."

"Minor situations!?! She has been into this before. There were months at a time that she came never came home because she was stoned!. She over dosed once! Then she got over it, she hasn't done that for a few years to my knowledge...but how do I know? What if she's going back to that? Then what? God, I'm already scared enough over this whole thing...happening again...and now this?"

"There's nothing I can really do to help you out with that one. There is no way to determine any thing long term, I'm just telling you my speculations on the situation. I really can't go there, that would be crossing my professional bounderies, this is now about trust."

"Yeah...well..."

Could I trust her? I mean, I thought I could, but with everything hitting the fan, how did I know? Shoot, she can put on a real good face...she had before and she could again. Then a thought popped into my head.

"Did Skye have drugs in her system?"

"No."

"But how could Reesa if she didn't take any if Skye didn't?"

"Well, there could be a number of possibilties, ranging from the time it took to get each of them here from the time of exposure, the amount of time they were each exposed, how much they were exposed to, and maybe the guys didn't even start until after Skye left. I don't know, I really don't, but medical evidence supports the possibility that she didn't take any, but was exposed. And to tell the truth, for that much damage to be inflicted, she had to have been there for quite a while, and with that head injury, I highly doubt that she was concious for a whole lot of it. It could have been impaired judgement, or she could have been made to do it for a cover up of some sort. There are too many possibilties for anyone to jump on this."

I guess that made some sense, but I still didn't know if I believed it. I nodded my head. I understood where he was coming from, but I was just so worried.

"So how do I know?"

"I don't know, that is between you two. You need to go talk to her, just please don't get her worked up again. She doesn't need that right now and you won't get anything figured out if we have another episode like last nights come back to haunt us. Alright?"

I nodded my head again.

Then he continued on with something I didn't expect.

"There is one thing I can tell you that might help you out, that is if you want to hear it."

I looked up to him, "What?" I asked curiously.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Does Reesa drink much?"

"Well, she's done it a few times, but not really. She tends to be the one who throws it out if she finds it around the house."

"When she drinks, what does she drink? Is she into hard drinks, like hard liquor, tequille, or the like?"

"No! Not that I know of. She has gotten drunk like once...the first time she drank. But she thinks its sick for the most part. Unless she's out to piss me off or she's on some weird kick. Why?"

"On the night she came in, there was a large amount of alcohol in her system also. By the substances found in her blood, we determined that the alcohol had come from hard drinks, mainly a strong brand of liquor and/or tequille. Does that sound at all like you sister?"

"No...that...are you sure?" I was so confused. How was that supposed to make me feel any better? She was drunk too and that was gonna help me? It was making things even worse. What did he think he knew that would make things better?

"Well, that was the main reason why we had such a hard time stabilizing her. We had to be extra careful about any medications we put her on with all the drugs and alcohol in her system. If we had given her the wrong thing or the wrong amount of the right thing, she could've died easily. That was why we had to wait so long for surgery, a major reason why it was so risky. That was why we had such a hard time all around. That complicated things a lot."

"Why are you telling me this? Why didn't the cop bring it up?"

"A girl who has been assualted in such a way is commonly drunk...but not high. The police obviously didn't find her having alcohol in her system to be unusual enough to bother with. And basically I am telling you this because from what I have heard from your sister, she only woke up a few times through out the course of the assault, but she said that she passed out very quickly each time, although she doesn't remember why. In the many cases like this that I have seen, it seems to be a common practice to get the girl drunk before. Your sister said she wasn't drunk before, and there wasn't much time for that as I heard it, but with the amount of injuries, specifically her head injury, and the fumes that she was constantly inhaling combined, a few forced swigs of a strong drink would do her out real fast for a lasting amount of time. Basically, from what I have gathered, every time she woke up, they would force some liquor down her throat until she started choking uncontrolably or until she passed out...but ultimately until she was out cold again. A few, three, four, or more times of that and you've got a drunk girl at her size and tolerance level. It is very likely that that happened, and it is very likely that she woke up more than just a few times, but doesn't remember it. And with the amount of alcohol in her blood, I suspect that they forced her to down about two bottles of that stuff. And probably combined a bunch of other things in a third bottle just to make sure they got her good enough each time...especially the last few times. These guys are ruthless, and it seems completely plausible that this was part of their plan. Do you understand?"

"So you're saying that if they forced her to get drunk through the whole thing, then they probably forced her to get high? What good would that do?"

"Make it look like it was more her fault, like she went over there high and drunk and was asking for it because people do crazy things on drugs. Then they made it look like she kept doing them though-out the whole time...that's a defense for them if they get caught."

"So you think that this was all planned out before hand? That doesn't make sense, I mean with her story..."

"But they didn't care if it was her or someone else...anyone..."

"If it was planned then why didn't they do that to Skye?"

"In many cases, it isnt ever proved, but it is my belief that they have moods. Sometimes they want it for themselves but they are nicer about it, sometimes they want to torture someone, sometimes they want both, sometimes they want it for themselves so bad that they don't give a damn about what they do to the victim, and sometimes they are so drunk that they just keep going. The thing is that they know that they have moods, and they have premeditated things in place for each mood to protect them. It seems to me that with Skye it was pleasure for them and torture for her but not much more, and with Reesa they were more drunk, more hungry, and more ruthless, so they had more things in place to protect them. If she is drunk, she doesn't remember, she doesn't fight, she gives them a defense in court if they get caught. It's the perfect set up, or at least the best they know how to use."

That did make sense, and knowing Clay he had had it all set up. Maybe he had been waiting for her the whole time and he had it all set up for when she did come, but he didn't know when she finally would if she ever did. Maybe it was all a fluke that she showed up that same night, but maybe it was just another of his traps...one that finally worked.

Oh my god... what bastards...

I couldn't have that discussion any longer, so I stood to leave, but sat back down when yet another thing hit me square in the nose.

I looked down to the floor, afraid to bring it up...

"Hey, did the social workers get a hold of this?"

"Do they know?"

"Yeah...Do they?"

"No, I didn't say anything. They asked about it, but I told them that she was upset over what had gone on the night before, that she was just getting things back together in her head, and she got over it after we gave her a few drugs. Just know that we can't use that one again, and I'm risking a lot lying for you. So be careful."

Wow, this doctor was amazing. I would have expected him to just go and tell 'em...but he seemed to have too much experience in the field or something. I didn't know why he trusted us so much, but he seemed to understand us, to understand the situation.

"Hey...thanks." I said and then I walked out, making my way once again to Reesa's room. Here goes attempt number two.

I was so mad at myself. I couldn't believe I had doubted her. After everything the doctor brought up it got more confusing but it also became more clear that it wasn't her fault. It made sense that they would make her drunk and that either they were high, or forced her to get high, or both. I just couldn't believe I had dumped that on her at a time like this when she needed me to believe her more than anything. I really hoped she would talk to me...that in itself would be a miracle. It would be a while before I could ever make it up to her, but the one was getting her to realize that I knew I was a jerk and that I was sorry. I did believe her, I was just scared, but I had come around.

Once I reached her door, I opened it and walked in. Reesa was awake, but the room was quiet and she was just sitting in her bed, fiddling with a stray thread. The good news was that she was finally sitting up and she looked a bit better than before.

Soda was sitting next to her, watching her intently. I wondered what I had missed, or what I was interupting, but I wasn't going to leave and have to go through this a third time.

Soda looked up from her as I stepped into the room, and jumped when he realized it was me. Reesa had glanced up but quickly averted her eyes so as to not make eye contact.

Pretty soon Soda was right in front of me, taking me by the shoulder and pushing me out of the room. Not once did Reesa look up at me...

That was when I realized what I had done. I was an asshole. There was nothing left to it. I had hurt Reesa, and she was pissed...still. She didn't want to talk to me. She wouldn't even look at me. How was I gonna fix this one? I couldn't blame her, when I thought about it, but I really hoped she would give me a second chance. The doctor was right, I had jumped on her too fast, way too fast.

Soda and I ended up in the hall, the door to her room closed with Soda facing me intently.

"Are you kidding me? You actually thought...? What is wrong with you?"

Great...he was pissed too. It took a lot to get Soda mad at you, and the fact he was told me even more of how hard this would be. I had made a huge mistake. The stern tone of his voice startled me, but more than that it scared me. He obviously knew where Reesa was standing and by the signs in the road, it wasn't looking like she was ready to talk to me yet.

"Soda...I was not thinking straight last night and --"

"You sure as hell wasn't! You know how upset she is, Darry? Of all people..." he was shaking he head...he was lecturing me. God...that was a change in roles. "I thought that you would know how much she needs you right now. More than anyone, she needs you to know where she is coming from, and then you go and yell at her for doing something she didn't even know she had done? God, Darry!"

"Hey! Shut up! I know. Okay? I don't need you to tell me...I know I was an ass-hole. I know I made a mistake...I know." I turned away from him then, not able to face him any longer, his eyes burning like they were, but when I spoke again my voice was quiet, almost a whisper filled with sadness and guilt, "I was just so scared...that she was into this crap again...that this was the beginning of another year of hell...Oh god, Soda...I just couldn't...I didn't know what to think or do or...Oh God..."

He put his hand on my shoulder, "What are you going to do now?" he asked seriously, not even trying to offer any kind of comfort to me.

"I don't know...but I know I was wrong. I had a nice long chat with the doc, and I know she didn't do it...they made her or something...I know that...but will she listen?"

"I don't know...I just don't know..." I turned back around to find him gazing at the tile beneath his feet, "I guess you just have to go in and see."

So I did. But it didn't go as well as I had planned or hoped at least. See, she wasn't too happy to see me and she wasn't ready to hear me out yet.

When I walked in she glanced up at me and then cast her eyes down to the bed sheet, "What do you want?" Wow, that was a bit on the hostile side...

"Hey...Chill out for a minute. I gotta talk to ya...just let me talk for a minute."

"Why should I? You remember what happened the last time I let you do that?"

"Yeah...that would be why I'm here...just hear me out."

She sighed, "Alright, but give me one good reason first. Just one, that's all I need."

Did she have to be so difficult? I mean, was it not hard enough already?

"Because I'm your brother, and I'm the one who takes care of you. Just...you're going to listen to me one way or another."

"That isn't a good reason. You're also the one who flipped out..."

"And you didn't?"

"Not until after you did."

"Okay...I'm not going to do that this time, I came here specifically not to. If you flip out...then...but I'm not going to...I will not."

She didn't say anything to that, just stared straight ahead.

"Look, I'm...I know I was wrong...I was just -- "

"Really?"

"Um, does the fact that I am here and struggling for words not tell you that?"

"It could be an act. For all I know Soda or someone is making you."

"Reesa, think about what you just said...no one can make me do anything. You should know that better than anyone."

She looked at me steely eyed, trying to put on an armor that she didn't have. I knew she didn't want to get upset, like crying upset, so she as trying to be mad...if she let me apologize she thought she would loose it or something. Not that it should matter in front of me.

"Look...Really, I know I was wrong...I shouldn't have jumped at you like that and --"

"Darry!" She bit her lip..."You are such an ass-hole. Nothing short of it..."

"AND it was stupid of me to do that. I am here for a reason --"

"What's that? To bring out the true bastard in you?"

"Yes, Reesa." I sighed. How was I gonna get through to her? "Look...I'm here to try and make this better...to work through this like an adult and go on with life. That's what --"

"Make it better? Act like an adult? Where the hell did you get those idea's? Sure didn't have them before. God...did you go to a shrink or something? I thought they only gave advice to the insane and you sure as hell aren't insane...you're just a fucking asshole."

I went quiet. This was going to be a long discussion. "Look...knock it off...okay? Just shut up. I'm trying to be...I will get this out and settle this. You don't want to hear it? Well, okay, but you're going to anyway. That's the breaks, girlie. You know what? You can't even talk, Reesa. God, if I'm a fucking bastard then you must be the worst bitch on the face of this earth."

The look on her face almost scared me at first. It was full of shock and awe...but more than that it said, "You want to challenge me?" That was probably a bad sign...maybe I went to far.

But then she let a wry smile slip out, like she thought the whole thing was funny.

"Let the best insult win...you just did. Get goin." The best part was that she was completely serious about it too, and I hadn't even meant to insult her. Hell, it was the truth...but whatever it took. I wasn't going to throw the chance away now.

"Reesa..." I let out my breath, "Okay, I know I was wrong...I know I was wrong...you didn't take those drugs, I know that now. And I know that I should have known it last night. It wasn't that I didn't trust you, its just that I thought that there was a possibility that all the trust we had built up over the last two years could be a lie, and that scared me...more than anything. It scared me that maybe things weren't like I thought they were, maybe you were still out there into that shit...that's all...And I shouldn't have thought that, because I trust you...but I realize now that as much as I trust you, I'm still scared, still worried. And I do trust you, but it's hard sometimes. I'm still afraid that you might go back to your old ways, even though I know you wont. But the thought is still there and to have one of my worst fears come back again and have to face it again...that was too much for me. I should have stood back and looked at everything logically, but instead I panicked, I lost it and...I'm sorry. I don't know how it is I can get you to believe me, but I'm really sorry. I've just been so worried over this and...I never thought that this would all happen, I thought it was behind us and when it all happened again...I didn't know what to think. I was bound to happen at some point, me loosing it completely, and I would have had it any other way...I would have rather lost it for anyone else...but I can't change that now. No matter how many times I say this, I don't know if you'll believe me, but I'm sorry."

"Okay...I guess I can try to understand that...but Darry...I'm never going back there again. Sure, the thought crossed my mind at times, but that was the worst time of my life. I never want to go back there again. I will never re- visit it...it scares me, Darry...it scares me too. I hated my life then...and I...look I went back on Sunday night, but I never wanted to. There are very few things that would ever make me go back, that would ever bring me to fall that low again. But that happening to Skye? Not if I could prevent it, if it has to do with them hurting my family, including the gang, I would go back, but nothing else...ever. I had to then...but I had been fighting tooth and nail to never go back...I was soo terrified to go back there. I knew what would happen... or I at least knew it was a possibility, but I didn't think I had a choice. I knew that I could handle it better than Skye, I didn't want her to have to deal with this shit...but I already had...and I didn't take a lot of things into consideration, but it was worth it to me if there was a chance she would still be there...that I could stop it so that she didn't have to learn what I did and go through that. I already had it dealt with in my head, Darry. It was done before it happened, and I'm not sorry about all this now..."

"Well, I can accept that. Can you accept what I have to say? Can we reach a mutual understanding and forgive each other and move on now? I'm willing, are you?"

"What made you change you mind? Just out of curiosity, I mean...I accept that."

"Facts...time...hearing your side of it. I...before I came in here I went and talked with the doctor and he told me some things that...helped me to realize that you didn't have to take anything to be high...like the air being so polluted or you being forced could and probably did make you high...and it made sense to me...it put a different view in my head that helped push back my fears and to tell you the full honest truth, I don't have any doubts anymore...none."

She nodded her head, "Then that's that. I'm good, you good?"

"I'm good...you're good?"

"Yup."

Wow, what a relief...and to think that it might not have all worked out, I think it was a miracle. Thank goodness.

I stepped farther into the room then and sat next to Reesa's bed, "So you look a little better."

"Yeah, to bad the pain don't just leave."

I laughed a little at that. I had never heard her comment like that on pain...I guess she really was over it then.

I sat there silently for a while, just happy that that was all over. A few minutes passed, but I had to go.

"Hey, Rees? I hate to go but I hafta go to work for a while and no one's at home with Skye so...gotta check on her...you okay by yourself?"

"Yeah. Fine. I'm falling asleep here anyway so...might as well get outta here."

"'Kay." I got up and left and went home with Soda on my heals, he was real tired. Couldn't blame him.