Chapter 5:
"I'm going to be all right, aren't I?" Gosalyn asked.
Drake smiled and nodded his head. "Yeah, sweetheart. You're going to be fine. I'm just so glad that you're awake." He said.
Gosalyn had a tear in her eyes. "What's wrong with me?" She asked.
"Well, you know... you got a few cuts and bruises. And you hurt your head a little bit. And pretty soon, you're gonna go have an operation." Drake said.
Gosalyn's eyes widen with fear when he said that.
"An operation?" She asked.
"Yeah. You got kind of banged up a little bit. Hey, don't worry about it, all right? The best doctor in St.Carnard-- he's flying home early from his vacation to fix it." Drake reassured her.
"How long have I been here?" Gosalyn asked.
Drake sighed. "Since last night. When you went to the party with Max." He said.
Gosalyn looked confused when she heard that.
"I didn't go to the party with Max." She said.
Outside with Morgana, Max's mom walked up to her.
"Morgana, how's Gosalyn?" She asked.
Morgana couldn't look at her and sighed. "She's the same." Morgana said.
"What have the doctors say?" She asked.
"Her condition is very serious. She has a depressed skull fracture. She needs surgery." Morgana said.
"Oh god. I am so sorry. Is there anything that I could do?" She asked.
Morgana looked at her. "You want to know what you can do? You and your son better stay away from me and my family. And what kind of a mother will let their 17 year old son take out a 14 year old girl!" Morgana said.
Gosalyn looks confused at Drake.
"I didn't go to the Max." She said.
Drake raised an eye brow at that.
"Well, you said that you were going to a movie and dinner." He said.
Gosalyn chuckled nervously when he said that.
"I know, I guess I'm grounded for life then huh?" She asked.
"We'll talk about that later. Right now the only thing that matters is making sure you get better. I was worried that I was going to lose you." Drake said.
Gosalyn looked at him worried.
"Is it that serious?" She asked.
Drake nodded his head. "Yeah, it is." He replied.
"Well, I guess I learned my lesson. From now on, I won't complain about your rules. I'll be good, I promise." Gosalyn said.
"It will be a fresh start for all of us." Drake said.
The door opened and Weber walked in.
"Sorry for interrupting." He said.
"It's okay come on in." Drake said.
Weber walked in and closed the door behind him.
"Aha. Look who's awake." Weber said.
"Yeah, she woke up a few minutes ago." Drake said.
Weber smiled. "That's wonderful, Mr. Mallard. Well, when do you think I might be able to talk to your daughter?" He asked.
"I can talk now." Gosalyn said.
"Gosalyn, it might be too soon sweetheart." Drake said.
"It's okay dad, I can handle it." Gosalyn said.
"I'd like to stay in the room if you don't mind." Drake said.
"That's fine. So, Gosalyn how you feeling?" Weber said.
"Not so good. I'm going in for surgery pretty soon." Gosalyn said,
"Well, I wouldn't take too much of you're time then. I just want to ask you a few questions about the car accident." Weber said.
Gosalyn looked confused and scared when she heard that.
"What car accident?" She asked.
With Morgana and Max's mom.
"Um, you want my family to stay away?" She asked.
"Yes, I'm sure you understand." Morgana said.
"Yes, I understand. And for what's it's worth. Max feels just horrible about what happen." Diana said.
"Well, Max is out of the hospital, he's going to be just fine. Gosalyn on the other hand is fighting for her life. So excuse me if I don't believe or do I care about him. So you can take you're apologies and stuff it." Morgana said. She then walked away from her.
Back with Gosalyn.
"You don't remember being in the car accident?" Weber asked.
Gosalyn shook her head. "No. Is that how it happened, my head getting all banged up?"
Drake sighed. "I haven't had a chance to tell her everything yet." He said.
"What do you remember about last night?" Weber asked.
Gosalyn blinked. "I remember being at the party with Ali and Honker." She replied.
"Did you see Max Duck there?" Weber asked.
Gosalyn nodded her head. "Yes." She replied.
"Had he been drinking?" Weber asked.
"Yeah, he had a couple beers. Dad, I wasn't drinking, I swear." Gosalyn said.
Drake nodded his head and smiled. "I know honey, it's okay." She said.
Gosalyn then turned back to Weber. "Why are you asking me about Max?" She asked.
"He was in the car with you when it crashed." Weber said.
Gosalyn gasped. "What? Is he okay?" She asked.
"He's fine. He was treated and released last night. You don't remember being in the car with Max?" Weber asked.
Gosalyn shook her head. "No, the last thing…. I remember is being at the party."
"Can you think of any reason why you would be in the car together?"
"Not really, unless... unless he was giving me a ride home. Why don't you ask Max? I'm sure he can tell you everything." Gosalyn said.
"Mr. Duck "claims" he doesn't remember anything either." Weber said.
Gosalyn was shocked to hear that. "What do you mean he "claims"? You don't think he's lying do you?…Wait a minute, Max was drinking… And we were in a car accident. Is he in any trouble?" Gosalyn asked.
"Gosalyn, I'm sure you're aware it's against the law to drive under the influence of alcohol." Weber said.
Gosalyn nodded her head. "Yeah, Max was drinking, but are you sure he was drunk?" She asked.
"We're certain of it. We tested his blood alcohol level." Weber said.
Gosalyn sighed. "How bad was the accident?" She asked.
"It was very serious. You and Max were thrown from the car." Weber said.
"You're lucky to be alive, sweetheart." Drake said.
Gosalyn didn't want to believe this. She has a huge crush on the guy.
"Do you usually wear you're seatbelt when you're in a car?" Weber asked.
Gosalyn nodded her head. "Yeah, all the time." She replied.
"Any idea why you weren't wearing it last night?" Weber asked.
Gosalyn shook her head. "No." She replied.
Drake looked at Weber.
"Why do you ask, Detective?" He asked.
"Just curious. Seems odd that your daughter wasn't buckled up when she knew the young man driving her home had been drinking." Weber said.
"This is kind of freaky." Gosalyn said.
"What is honey?" Drake asked.
"That I can't remember anything from last night. It's like hours of my life are just gone." She said.
"It's actually not that unusual. I've seen it happen with other accident victims. People's memories often return a few days later. I'll give your father my card. Call me as soon as you remember anything, okay? It's very important." Weber said.
He handed Drake his card, Drake looked at it.
"We will." Drake replied.
"Thank you." Weber said.
He walked out of the room.
Gosalyn sighed and rubbed her head.
"Maybe it's a good thing that I can't remember anything." She said.
Drake looked at her confused. "Why? What do you mean?" He asked.
"I don't want to get Max in trouble." She said.
Drake was shocked to her that.
"Gosalyn, you can't protect him." Drake said.
"I know but…" Gosalyn said.
"But what? What are you thinking?" He asked.
Gosalyn just sighed. "Never mind." She said.
Drake just looked at her and wondered what she was thinking.
Minutes later Morgana, Launch Pad are in her room
"In a few minutes, the nurses are gonna come in and prep you for surgery, and then you'll go off to the O.R., okay?"
Gosalyn sniffed. "Is it going to hurt?" She cried.
"Sweetheart, they'll give you a painkiller. You won't feel a thing." Morgana said.
"And then when you wake up, you'll be as good as new." Drake said.
"Will you be there?" Gosalyn asked.
"We'll all be there, sweet pea, your whole family." Morgana said.
"Gosalyn, we're so proud of you. You're such a strong little girl. You're gonna do just great. I'm not worried about a thing." Drake said.
"I am. I don't think that I've ever been more scared in my entire life. More scared when Tarus Bulba was after me again." Gosalyn said.
Launch Pad walked over to her. "It's okay to be scared Gosalyn. Heck, I get scared all the time when I crash my plane." He said.
"Yeah but Launch Pad you cause it. I didn't. I don't even remember the crash." She cried.
"Hey, Gosalyn, did your Dad tell you the exciting news?" Morgana asked.
Gosalyn looked at them. "What news?" She asked.
Drake looked at her. "Well, I was thinking this summer. You and I could go to Paris for a father daughter trip. What do you think?" He asked.
Gosalyn's eyes lighten up.
"That would be cool!" She exclaimed.
"We're all going to be by you're bed side when you get back." Morgana said.
"I'd like that. I am the luckiest person in the world. To have you all for a family. I love you all." Gosalyn said.
"You're going to be fine honey. You hear me Gos?" Drake asked.
Gosalyn started to cry.
The nurses came into the room.
"Ready Gos?" One nurse asked.
"Ready as I'll ever be I guess." Gosalyn said.
They rolled her out of the room, Drake just watched as they pulled her away.
Drake walked away. "Drake, where are you going?" Morgana asked.
"I have something to take care off." He said.
He walked out of the hospital doors.
Morgana and Launch Pad looked at each other.
"That's not a good sign." Launch Pad said.
Morgana sighed. "Why don't you go after him, I'll stay here." She said.
Launch Pad nodded his head. "Right." He said.
Launch Pad took off after Drake.
"Darling, I hope you don't do anything stupid." She said.
Max is at the coffee shop wearing a hat and sunglasses.
"Thank you." Max said.
Reports wore following him around.
"Max, what do you have to say?" The one reporter asked.
"No comment." Max said.
"But what about.."
"I said no comment." He said.
"Aw, come on. The son of the local newscaster and a 14 year old girl in an accident. You have to admit it's great press." The reporter said.
"I said no comment!" Max exclaimed.
"Awww, what's the matter Max? Afraid of a little press? I thought that with you're dad being a newscaster you would be used to it." A voice asked.
Max looked around and saw Drake standing by the door.
He gasped. "Mr. Mallard what are you doing here? ." He asked.
Drake walked over to the cash register.
"Oh, I'm just here to get a good cup of coffee. You know it's hard to sleep when you're daughter is having brain surgery." Drake said.
"I know, I'm…" Max trailed on.
Drake grabbed his cup of coffee and turned to him.
"You're lucky that I don't tear you to shreds! Because of you, my daughter is having brain surgery and you get to walk around a free man. I haven't had a descent nights sleep in 3 days! I'm worried sick that she's going not going to make it through the night. And you have nothing but a few cuts and bruises on you! And all you get to say is that you're sorry? You must think you're god's gift for women huh? Some big honcho. What you get thrills from little girls? That's what Gosalyn is a little 14 year old girl. She has her whole life ahead of her. And you came along and ruined it." Drake said.
"I didn't mean…" Max said.
"You didn't mean what? You didn't mean to talk her to cut class with you? Get drunk and get behind the wheel with my daughter in the car? Stop me when you had enough. Cause I can go on all night, if I had too. I'm going to make sure you pay for what you did. That's a promise. I know you're type all too well. I'm just warning you that I'm going to be watching every move you make, every twitch. So watch you're back. And if you see me walking down the street you better as hell turn the other direction and run. I can't even look at you. You're nothing to me, and I will make sure you will spend the rest of you're life behind bars. I will make it happen. If Gosalyn doesn't make it I will hunt you down like a dog you are. You might think that I'm just doing this to scare you? This is a promise." Drake said.
Just then Launch Pad walked in and saw them.
"Whoa, easy there Drake. You don't want to do anything you might regret." Launch Pad said.
"Oh, that's okay L.P. I'm not regretting this one bit. We're done here. By the way Max is that you're convertible out front? " Drake asked.
"Yeah, why?" Max asked.
"Just good to know." Drake said.
Drake and L.P. walked out of the coffeehouse.
They walked back to the hospital.
"Was that really necessary to pour the coffee in his car?" Launch Pad asked.
"No, but it felt good." Drake said.
They then walked over to Morgana was still sitting there.
"Any word yet?" Drake asked.
Morgana shook her head. "No, nothing." She replied.
Drake sighed and sat down on the seat.
"Excuse me, Mr. Mallard. I'm attorney Derrick Beagle. I was wondering how you're daughter is doing? " He asked.
Drake looked up at him. He never saw this guy before in his life.
"She's still in surgery Mr. Beagle." Drake answered politely.
"Have they said how it's going?" He asked.
Drake shook his head. "No." He replied
"I hate to bring this up, but I have to ask yo a few questions." Derrick said.
Drake sighed. "Look, Derrick I know just as much as you do. Gosalyn doesn't remember the accident." Drake said.
"Well, then maybe we could talk about the events leading up to the accident." Derrick asked.
Drake looked at him. "How are you involved anyways?" He asked.
"As of right now, I'm representing Max Duck." He replied.
Drake rolled his eyes at that. "Oh well in that case, I'm afraid that I can't help you. I couldn't care less what happened to that punk." Drake said as he started to walk away.
"Drake, please I'm only trying to fill in the blanks." Derrick said as he followed him.
"Look, all I know is that Gosalyn was supposed to go to the movies. Apparently, she went to some party instead." Drake said.
"In the park?" Derrick asked.
"Yeah, and now my little girl in there having brain surgery, all because of the kid you represents." Drake said.
"Have you talked to Gosalyn? Did she tell you why she got into a car with someone who had been drinking?" Derrick asked.
Drake was starting to get mad.
"I TOLD YOU! She has no memory of the accident or the events leading up to it." Drake pointed out.
"None at all?" Derrick asked.
"The doctor did say that she'll might get it back in a couple of days." Drake said.
Just then Gosalyn's best friends Ali and Honker walked up to him.
"Excuse me, Mr. Mallard?" Honker asked.
"Hello you two." He said.
"We don't mean to interrupt." Ali said.
"Derrick these are Gosalyn's best friends. Ali and Honker." Drake said.
"Nice to meet you two." Derrick said.
"How is Gosalyn?" Honker asked.
Drake sighed. "She's in surgery. She had a very severe head injury, and they're operating right now." He replied.
Ali and Honker gasoed at that.
"Oh no!" Ali exclaimed.
"She's going to be okay isn't she?" Honker asked.
Drake shrugged. "It's too early to tell." He said.
"I'm so sorry Mr. Mallard. If only we didn't go to that stupid party." Honker said.
A nurse walked up to them.
"Mr. Mallard if you're up to it, I need you to sign some paper work." The nurse said.
"All right, I'll be right there. Excuse me." Drake walked away from the twosome.
"Guys, I know that you're really worried about you friend. But if you don't mind, can I ask you a few questions?" Derrick asked.
"Gosalyn's dad must be really mad at her. She'll probably be grounded forever." Ali said.
"Oh, trust me, if she pulls through, he'll be so grateful, the last thing he'll be thinking about is punishing her." Derrick said.
Honker and Ali looked at each other.
"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure." Ali said.
"Why you say that?" Derrick asked.
"Well… you see the thing is… She was already grounded before the party." Honker said.
"So how do you think she got her Dad to agree to let her go?" Derrick asked.
"She lied about where she was going. But, please, you can't tell Mr. Mallard." Ali said.
"Don't worry he already knows." Derrick said.
"Oh good. I hated keeping that secret." Honker said.
Derrick sighed. "Guys, the thing is... I really want to help, and not just Gosalyn, but Max too." He said.
"I heard that he was in the car too." Ali said.
"That's right." Derrick said.
"Personally, I think that Max deserves what he gets." Honker said.
Honker was starting to have feelings for Gosalyn but didn't say anything.
"What do you mean by that?" Derrick asked.
" Don't listen to him. I think Gosalyn would like that, if you'd help Max. She…"
Honker elbowed Ali in the side.
"Go ahead. Finish what you were gonna say." Derrick said.
Ali and Honker looked at each other.
"You see Gosalyn had a major crush on that guy. She was totally trying to get him to notice her. They did hang out a couple of times." Ali said.
"I see, thanks for being honest with me. You've been a big help." Derrick said.
"Do you think Gosalyn is going to be okay?" Honker asked.
"I hope so. We'll just have to wait and see." Derrick said.
He then walked away from the twosome.
"I hope we didn't get her into any more trouble." Honker said.
Drake is walking around in circles.
"What's taking them so long?" He asked.
"The last thing we want the surgeons to do is rush." Morgana said.
Olivia walked up to them.
"Is it over?" Drake asked.
Olivia nodded her head. "Yes." She replied.
"How'd it go?" Morgana asked.
"It was a complicated operation, but everything went smoothly. Gosalyn's vital signs were strong the entire time." Olivia said.
"Oh thank god." Morgana said
"Where is she now?" Drake asked.
"Well, they're taking her out of recovery, back to her I.C.U. room." Olivia said.
"And then what?" Drake asked.
"And then we pray for the best." Olivia said.
"Can I see her?" Drake asked.
Olivia nodded her head. "Sure, you can wait in her room." Olivia said.
"You coming Morgana?" Drake asked.
Morgana shook her head. "No that's okay. You can go." She said.
Drake nodded his head and walked away.
Drake walked into her room and saw her.
"She looks so peaceful, she's going to be just fine. I can feel it, the worst is behind us." He said.
He walked to her bed and sat down in the chair next to Gosalyn.
"Gosalyn, honey I'm right here." He said as he held her hand.
To Be Continued….