Don't Dwell in the Past

I heard the gunshot.

But . . . but I wasn't dead.

When the gunshot went off, the rapist let go of me. His gun slid across the floor when he fell to the ground.

Only . . . well, he still managed to shoot me. In my arm.

My left hand immediately flew to my right arm. It was bleeding horribly. I winced at the pain.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dean come up behind me. "Good work, Mastriani," he said, handing me my ripped shirt. I used that to tie up my arm.

Not to mention I was still shirtless. And all three men had a clear view of my bra.

Then I remembered what Dean had said. Wait . . . was he in on this? I mean, on our side.

Wait. He . . . HE shot him. Dean shot the rapist. I don't remember seeing Rob shoot him.

"Thanks, Reynolds. You too."

Chandler was awake now. I guess all of the commotion awakened her. I looked at Rob and nodded my head toward her. "Right," he said and went over to untie her.

But when Chandler got a good look at him, her eyes widened.

Oh . . . yeah. She remembered the picture I showed her of him. She looked at me, then to him, then back to me. I nodded and she calmed down.

Rob successfully untied her - not that I doubted it or anything.

We saw the rapist being taken away. Dean had shot him in the leg. He was handcuffed and taken toward a police car. The rapist, I mean, not Dean (A/N: Heehee. That rhymes).

Rob walked over to me. "How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Besides my arm hurting like hell, I'm fine," I said sarcastically.

He smiled. "Good." Then he put his arm around my shoulders.

When he did that . . . I dunno. It just made me feel weird. And then I remembered how he had kissed me earlier (again). And there was more passion and emotion in that kiss.

Some of the EMT guys rushed in, checking on us. Meanwhile, I still had no shirt on.

I think Rob noticed my uncomfortable-ness, because he took his shirt off and said, "Here, I think you need this more than I do."

I smiled warmly at him and said, "Thanks." I put the shirt on, careful not to move my arm much.

Then the EMTs did their job. They took me over to an ambulance, taking me to a hospital. Lovely.

Then I noticed they were taking Chandler away too. In an ambulance, I mean.

That's how, an hour later, I ended up in a hospital room, with my arm all bandaged up and a cast on my left ankle - they said I had fractured it (A/N: Can you fracture your ankle?).

The doctor specifically told me to stay off my leg for two weeks, so I wouldn't injure it anymore. Sadly, though, I had to keep it on for two months. That means I can't go swimming at work or anything for TWO months. I can't even work out in the gym, thanks to my arm.

This officially sucks.

I couldn't help but wonder . . . what the hell was up with Reynolds? I mean, the guy used to be so nice. Then he started being an ass because I refused to go out with him. Then he goes and plays Robin to the rapist's Batman - except Batman and Robin were good, not evil. And then he's all 'I'm going to be a hero'.

I think someone forgot to tell me a little detail.

Speak of the devil.

Dean just walked in my hospital room. "Mastriani," he said, nodding his head.

"Reynolds," I replied.

He took a seat in the chair next to my bed - well, the bed I was laying on. "I know you must be very confused right now," he said, to which I nodded. "Well, after this guy escaped, he contacted me—"

"He contacted you?" I asked incredulously. "How did he know how to contact you?"

"Well, see, when we were younger, we were friends. I had no clue then, that he'd grow up to be a rapist and I'd grow up to be an FBI agent." He looked at me to see if I was following. I just blinked. I guess he thought that meant I was comprehending this . . . ?

Whatever.

"Well, I told him that if he ever needed anything, he should call me. And after all those years, I guess he finally decided to," he explained. He took his hat off and rested it on the table nearby. "This was before I started acting like an ass to you, Jess. As much as it hurt me to do that, I had to. I had to make you hate me - well, for the time being - so the plan could work out."

Wow.

Um . . . this was a lot to take in.

But wait . . .

"Was Rob in on this too?" I asked.

He chuckled. "Yes," he said. He rubbed his forehead. "Yeah, Wilkins was in on it."

I sunk back in my bed. "Why wasn't I?" I asked, hurt.

"Um, well," he said, looking a bit uncomfortable now. "We didn't know how you'd take it, so we decided to do it without you."

I looked at him skeptically. "Was this supposed to be some kind of lesson? For me to not run off without telling Dr. Krantz?"

He laughed. "No. Not intentionally."

I folded my arms across my chest.

Ow, that hurt.

"You guys totally suck," I said, pouting.

"Hmm..." he said. Then he got up. "Sorry, but I'm gonna have to cut this visit short," he said."Oh, and sorry about your arm and leg." Then he left, shutting the door behind him.

And then he opened the door again, saying, "Wait, I have a question."

"Okay," I said.

"Is Wilkins really your kids' father?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said, sighing.

He gazed at me, cocking his head. "You love him, don't you?"

My eyes widened. "Uh, what would give you that idea?" I stammered.

He smirked. "No reason," he said. Then he just walked out again.

Pfft. Men.

I wonder where Rob is . . .

I fell asleep like that. Wondering where he was and what he was doing.

- § -

"Mommy," I heard a voice say. "Mommy, wake up."

"Five more minutes," I said, grumbling.

Then I heard someone chuckle.

My eyes snapped open.

Ow.

I forgot how bright hospitals are.

I winced from the light and the pain in my arm. My leg didn't hurt so much.

After my eyes adjusted to the light, I looked around. I saw Autumn right next to me, holding my hand.

Oh, that's why my arm hurt.

Then I saw Aaron sitting with a man in the far corner of the room.

Wait, that's not just any man . . .

"Rob?" I asked.

He nodded. "Hey, Mastriani," he said, getting up and walking over to the bedside. "How are you feeling?"

I thought briefly about what Reynolds had asked before he left. Did I?

"A little sore," I admitted, "but I'm okay."

He smiled. "Good," he said, "because you get to go home now."

I sat up, instantly regretting it.

Ow . . . my head.

"Jess, how many times have I seen you do that?" he asked, chuckling.

"Too many to count," I replied. I heard him laugh again.

I rubbed my temples, trying to stop the headache, when I felt something soft being shoved in my lap.

I looked up at Rob, "What're these?" I asked.

"Your clothes," he said, in an 'are-you-that-stupid?' kind of way. "Your friend, uh, Kara went to your apartment to get them for you." He gestured toward the clothes. "Go change."

Grudgingly, I got out of the bed, clutching my clothes to my side. As I was walking - hopping - to the bathroom, I realized something.

Rob saw my bra.

Wow, that's embarrassing.

Wait, why do I even care?

Aren't I supposed to hate this guy? I mean, he cheated on me with a slut. Need I say more?

But . . . but what if what he says is true? What if he never did mean to kiss her and she kissed him?

What if—

Uh, Jess, just walk. Or hop. Or, just MOVE.

I got in the bathroom, shutting the door. Then I slowly and carefully slipped my clothes on, realizing that Rob probably saw my butt. You know, from the stupid hospital gowns that don't fully close in the back.

I'm just getting off to a great start, aren't I?

After I was finished, I checked my face in the mirror. I took my hair down, combed my fingers through it, then put in back up. Then I washed my face off and dried it.

Voila!

I walked out of the bathroom - well, walking is an understatement - to find Rob reading a book to the kids. Autumn was sitting on the bench a little ways away and Aaron was sitting on a chair next to Rob. They looked so much alike.

Like father like son.

Rob looked up when I came out. "Ready to go?" he asked.

I nodded and walked toward their little group. Rob stood up, as did Aaron. I said to Autumn, "Come on, sweetie, we're leaving."

She did. Get up, I mean.

Rob stopped and turned around. "Wait here, Jess, I'll get a wheelchair for you."

My eyes bugged out. "A wheelchair! I don't want a wheelchair!" I shrieked.

Rob smirked. "Then how do you propose you get around? Hop?" he asked. I narrowed my eyes. "And you can't even use crutches because of your arm." Then he turned back around to go and get the wheelchair.

So, I stood there, balancing on my one foot/leaning on the wall. Rob came back in with a wheelchair.

Hmph.

"Come on, Mastriani, have a seat," he said, gesturing toward the wheelchair. "And don't worry; I'll go fast for you."

I turned my head to glare at him. "You're going to regret this," I said, to which he just laughed. Then I carefully sat myself in the wheelchair. "I feel like I just skipped 50 years of my life," I grumbled.

When I said that I was totally serious, but Rob just laughed again.

The nurse that gave Rob the wheelchair also gave him crutches for me. Autumn and Aaron were each holding one. They looked like two halves of a whole.

With my arm in a sling and my leg in a cast, I felt like I had fell down a mountain. I mean, it certainly seemed like it. But no. I had an encounter with a rapist. Just my luck.

- § -

When we got back to my home, I was all hopped out. The stupid hospital people didn't let us keep the wheelchair and I couldn't quite use my crutches yet, thanks to my retarded, injured arm.

So, yeah, I had to settle for hopping the whole time.

Hey, at least my one leg was getting a workout.

Actually, when we got out of the car, Rob was all, "Do you want me to carry you?"

I looked at him weirdly and said, "Wilkins, I can carry myself."

He smirked and said, "All right."

As soon as I hopped through my bedroom door, refusing any help from Rob, I collapsed on my bed. I let out a huge breath and stared at the ceiling.

I got the remote out of the night stand next to my bed and turned the TV on. There was really nothing on, considering that it was 9 AM, so I just settled for a re-run of Family Guy.

About a half hour later, someone knocked on the door. "Come in."

Rob came in. "Hey," he said, bringing in a tray of food. "I hope you're in the mood for bacon and eggs."

I smiled thankfully. "Breakfast in bed?"

He walked closer, setting the tray on my lap, since I was already in a sitting position. "Sure," he said. Then he walked back toward the door. "Let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks," I said, really meaning it. "And I will."

He smiled and left, shutting the door behind him.

God, the food smelled delicious. So, naturally, I dug in. It tasted just as good - if not, more - than it smelled. I finished the bacon, eggs, toast, and orange juice in, like, five whole minutes.

Right then Autumn came in. "Hi, Mommy," she said, plopping on my bed next to me.

"Hey, sweetheart," I said, placing the tray on the night stand. Then I kissed her forehead. "Did you eat?"

She nodded vigorously. "Yeah! Rob is a really good cook."

I laughed. "Yeah, I know, honey. He really is something, isn't he?" I murmured.

She nodded her head again. "Uh huh," she said. "Mommy, are you and Rob dating?"

I sputtered. "W-what?" I stammered. "No, honey. No, we're not."

Her face fell. "Oh," she mumbled. "'Cause that would be really cool if you were." She started fidgeting a little. "Mommy, why don't me and Aaron have a daddy? All of the other kids in day care do."

I stared at her. "Uh, Autumn, honey, you do have a daddy. You just, uh, you don't know who he is," I explained. Okay, wait, that was a lie. "Well, you have met him, just—"

"Is Rob our daddy?" she asked. Her face brightened up when she asked it.

Okay, this is getting weird. I don't think I can deal with this right now. "Sweetie, we'll talk about this later, okay? When Aaron is here, too."

"But, Mommy, I can just get Aaron in here now," she whined.

I patted her head and kissed her cheek. "I know, baby, but Mommy isn't feeling well right now, all right?"

"Fine," she pouted, getting up off of the bed. "Oh, and Aunt Kara left a gift on the kitchen table for you."

I looked at her in question. "Oh, did she now?"

"Yep," she said. "Want me to get it for you?"

I smiled at her. "That would be great, sweetie. Thanks."

Then she left. About two seconds later, she came padding back in, with said gift in her hand. "Here," she said, handing to me.

I took it and the card she held also. Autumn then left, not too interested in my gift.

I read the card first. The front of it had a smiley face with a giant band-aid on its cheek and had "Get Well Soon" printed on the bottom. The inside had Kara's handwriting on it.

Jess,

Hey. I heard what happened. The WHOLE story, too. You know, with Dean and everything. GOD, that must have been hard to go through that. I feel for you, girl.

Well, listen, I got you a little present. You can use it any time, if you feel better and want to have a little fun.

Hope you get better soon!

Love,

Kara

It sounded interesting.

But . . . well, I knew I shouldn't have expected anything appropriate from Kara.

I tore the gift-wrap from the present to reveal a box.

Ribbed for her pleasure . . .

You have GOT to be kidding me.

Disclaimer: Meg Cabot owns the 1-800-where-r-you characters.