Teenage Rebel

Part four

By

Louise Driscoll

Thank you for the wonderful feedback, which has encouraged me to continue writing. Any ideas are very welcome.

After a few hours Emma awoke to find herself once again in the lab for now she appeared to be alone for which she was grateful, she couldn't deal with anyone's feelings now. It was hard another dealing with her own thoughts and feelings at times like these. She wondered for a second how she had got here, Joseph wouldn't have brought her for medical treatment it would have meant giving her the chance to report what he had done to her and he wouldn't allow that. She couldn't even work out what she had done this time to set him off but he had seemed really angry with her as soon as she walked through the door, In fact he'd been waiting for her arrival. She found herself briefly thinking about leaving him for good but knew he would find her if she dared leave and he would kill her or make her wish she was dead. She couldn't dare risk the beating he would give her not now she had another live to think about, Her baby had to come first and she would give this child the family and life she had never had, she made a vow she would take the abuse if it meant her baby had a father. She also knew that If Joseph ever touched their child, he would not survive the night she would kill him with her bare hands.

Shalimar sat in the back of the lab watching Emma stir and finally come too. She had finally convinced Adam to go and get some sleep an hour ago leaving her to watch over Emma. For the last hour, she had paced the lab stopping for only a few minutes as she stood next to Emma placing a hand on her friend's stomach trying to image the baby she had seen earlier growing inside of her friend. Shalimar could image older Emma as a mother but she found herself doubting young Emma's ability to raise a child when she was still a child herself. Her mind cast back to their earlier meeting when Adam had announced Emma's pregnancy to the group, Poor Jesse had been shocked by the news and had been quiet for the rest of the evening she would have to talk to him later and find what he was thinking when he woke up. Brennan had stood back and seemed to have worked out what the image was on the screen before Adam had told them the news. She had passed the gym an hour ago and seen Brennan working out his anger and Shalimar wondered whom he was angry with. Shalimar found herself wondering if Emma knew about the child, she carried inside her as she watched the younger woman and how she would feel when she found out. Shalimar was drawn from her musings as Emma tried to sit up by herself. Shalimar stepped forward deciding to let Emma know she was here before she caused herself any further injuries.

Shalimar spoke quietly as she walked to Emma's bedside trying not to startle her friend. "Hey take it slow you still injured. You need to rest."

Emma jumped at the sound of the person behind her and winced at the pain the sudden movement caused her. Emma turned slowly to look at the person behind her finding herself once again caught by the blonde who seemed to have a knack for catching her by surprise. She wondered how they had found her and why they had bothered, most adults did not give a damn about her as long as the government gave them their money she could do what she pleased. Maybe family services had found out about Joseph and these people were beening forced to give a damn or risk losing their weekly cheques, the thought made her angry and Emma found herself snapping at Shalimar. "What do you care? What did family services find out that I'm hurt and you're in trouble? Don't want to lose your income now do you."

Shalimar found herself surprised by the anger in her friends voice and found her own temper rising at Emma's angry hateful words. "No one is paying me to care about you Emma. Your part of my family - "

Emma glared at Shalimar raising her voice. "Joseph and our baby are my family I don't need you or your pity now leave me alone."

Brennan entered the lab hearing the raised voices as the lab door opened to admit him. He heard Emma's last statement and had to add his comments to the discussion before Shal lost her cool. "Joseph doesn't give a damn about you, we do Em and we want you safe."

Emma looked at Brennan for the first time noticing his entrance to the room "Joseph loves me, He doesn't mean to hurt me its my fault. I make him angry." Emma looked down as she said the words knowing they weren't true even as she said them but Joseph had been caring and loving once maybe she could get that man back.

Shalimar left the room after hearing Emma's words fear gripped her heart. She was going to try to go back to him unless Brennan could change her mind. How could Emma blame herself for Joseph's actions he was the one to blame no one else? Shalimar knocked on Adam's door informing him that Emma was awake.

Brennan knelt down raising Emma's face with a finger under her chin. so he was looking in Emma eyes needing her to see his eyes when he spoke too her. "You sound like my mother, She use to blame herself when my stepfather hurt her. Joseph doesn't love you Emma because you don't hurt the ones you love. A man never hurts a woman unless his a creep like my stepfather or Joseph"

Emma heard Brennan's words and felt the pain behind them "what Happened to your mother?"

Brennan looked away "She died Em, He killed her in the end and I was there Emma. Do you want that to be your child's future because Joseph will kill you one day?" Brennan placed his finger on Emma's lip stalling her protest. "You may think he will never hurt your child but he could have killed the pair of you today Emma when he beat you and he didn't give a damn about you or your baby. We found you in a pool of your own blood and Joseph had left you to bleed to death."

Emma turned away from Brennan lying on her side unable to look Brennan in the eye and see his pain knowing that unless she did something that could be her child's fate in twenty years. She had to know what awaited her child if she went back to Joseph "What happened to you when she died?"

Brennan sat next to Emma on the bed rubbing his hand up and down her back needing the physical contact with her as he told her things he had told no one else. He had a feeling Adam knew about his past. "I ended up in foster care."

Emma turned to look at Brennan "He'll kill me if I try to leave him and take our- my baby from him." Emma rested her hand on her stomach as she started to cry.

Brennan knew that Emma had the strength to leave Joseph if they supported her. So he gathered his friend in his arms rocking her offering her the emotional support she needed for now. He made a silent vow that he would always been there for her.

Adam headed to the lab after a brief talk with Shalimar who was convinced Emma would allow Joseph to hurt her again. Adam looked through the window into the lab and stood watching as Brennan rocked a crying Emma. Adam stood there for a few minutes then felt like he was intruding on a private moment. So, he headed to the recreation room trusting Brennan to call him if he was needed.

Brennan held Emma until she cried herself out "Is that better? How do you feel?"

Emma looked up at Brennan "sore thank you for being here with me. Brennan Do you think there is something wrong with me? I mean people are always hurting me or leaving me?"

Brennan stroked his hand over Emma's hair kissing her forehead "No thanks needed you couldn't have kept me away and it's nothing to do with you. You have just known the wrong type of people Em. Now you have us and we will never leave you if we can help it. Now do you want me to call Adam so he can give you something for the pain?"

Emma nodded as she yawned. The crying had worn her out and she felt like she could sleep for a week.

Brennan smiled as he watched Emma yawn then lifted his ring turning the communication device on and he asked Adam to come to the lab. Once he knew Adam was on the way, he turned his attention back to Emma "Then I think you could use a nap young lady."

Emma rolled her eyes at Brennan as Adam entered the room crossing to his patient. "Brennan said you're in pain. Where do you hurt Emma?"

Emma smiled at Adam sensing his concern for her. "My chest is sore."

Adam got Emma some painkillers as he scanned her to ensure everything was still okay with his patient. Then after checking the results he crossed back to the bed giving Emma the painkillers "would you like to go back to your room?"

Emma stared at Adam not expecting that question. Most families wouldn't trust her to be alone after she had run away from them. "You'll trust me after what I did earlier."

Adam smiled at Emma "Maybe your right I mean maybe we should lock you up somewhere." As soon as the words were said Adam knew he had said the wrong thing but he had meant his comments as a joke and older Emma would have got the joke. Young Emma had thought him serious and had gone pale at his words. Adam silently cursed himself and the families that had taken care of this young girl and caused such damage.

Brennan stepped forward when he saw Emma's reaction. "Adam was joking Emma no one is going to lock you anywhere we will never hurt you. We're trusting you not to run away can you help us by proving we were right to trust you."

Emma nodded as she kept her eyes on Adam unsure about what he would do next.

Adam cleared his throat "Emma I'm sorry scared you. I meant that as a joke but I should have thought before I spoke."

Emma lowered her gaze to the floor. "It's okay can I go to the bedroom now please?"

Adam nodded "But Brennan has to help you to your room and you're to rest."

Emma nodded her head willing to agree to anything if it meant she could get out of this place.

Brennan held up his hand "I promise I'll put her to bed." Brennan escorted Emma to her room" He didn't mean any harm his just use to teasing us."

Emma stared at Brennan "that was teasing he seemed so serious when he said it." Emma lay on her bed as soon as they entered the bedroom, the painkillers were taking effect and she could barely keep her eyes open.

Brennan covered Emma with a blanket "Rest now we're near by if you need us just call." Brennan touched the ring on her finger "you can call us with this okay like you saw me do earlier." Brennan smiled knowing Emma hadn't heard him because she was already asleep.

Tbc