Chapter 4

His coffee was waiting for him on the counter when he got to the diner the next night. Standing behind the counter, though, there was an unfamiliar older waitress who flashed him a grin while pouring a cup of the steaming liquid for another customer at the far end of the counter. There was a note under his cup and he read it hastily.

Darrel,

Sorry I'm not there. The hospital called, I guess my uncle isn't doing so great. They say he's dying. I'll see you tomorrow,

Just Cole.

Darry sighed. She wrote as if she didn't care if he died, but she had to care, didn't she? He thought for a minute before he ran back out to his truck and stuck his keys in the ignition and tearing down the road. Stopping in front of the house, he hurtled up the steps and swung open the door.

"Hey Superman," Steve gazed up from the poker game that was taking place on the living room floor.

"Where's Pony and Soda?" He asked.

"Pony's in the shower and Soda's in the kitchen," he said.

"Hey Soda?" Darry bounded into the kitchen.

"Yeah, Darry?"

"I have to go back out, don't ask questions. Make dinner and make sure Pony gets to sleep on time. I'll be back later," he said quickly.

Soda nodded curiously as Darry slipped out of the door again.

Upon arriving at the hospital, Darry realized that he didn't know where to go or even the last name of the girl he was looking for.

"Where are the stroke patients?" He asked the doctor that he first came across. The man looked taken aback by his abruptness and studied Darry's ripped jeans and his dirty shirt before saying anything.

"Third floor," he said.

"Thanks," Darry hurried past him and got onto the elevator.

When he reached the third story landing, he looked around. She wasn't there. Only the occasional nurse passed him by, traveling into various rooms.

"Have you seen a girl with dark hair?" He asked one of them, "Her name's Cole and her uncle is here."

"If the person you are looking for is here, sir, she would be in the waiting room," She said in a calming voice.

He nodded and the nurse continued past him. That was the first time he asked himself why he was there. Was there any true reason for him to be here? He peered into the waiting room carefully.

And there Cole was, sitting in the far corner of the room, curled up in a ball the best she could with her bony limbs. She was dressed in jeans and a grey shirt. Darry had only seen her in the diner, so it was strange to him to see her dressed in normal clothes.

He smiled at the sight of her and walked across the abandoned room and sat down in the chair beside her, but she was sleeping quite soundly, although there were goose bumps on her arms. He took off his jacket and laid it across her shoulders. She didn't wake.

He read a magazine while she slept beside him.

"Darrel Curtis," She spoke weakly from beside him a little over an hour later.

"Hey," he smiled at her.

"What are you doing here?" She asked him.

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Everything's fine," She said hurriedly.

"How's your uncle?"

"Bad, the last time I checked," She told him.

"So I guess everything isn't fine then." He said.

She was about to answer him but the doctor knocked at the door and stepped in. "Ms. Peters, your uncle is stable for the moment. I suggest you go home for the night and get some sleep, we'll call if anything changes."

"Alright," She yawned and stretched her arms before standing up. It was only when Darry's jacked fell off her back that she realized it had been there. Darry picked it up and stood up beside her.

"I'll take you home," He said.

"You don't-"

"I want to," he interrupted.

"Okay," She nodded, too tired to protest further.

"Are you really planning on working tomorrow?" He asked her on the way back to her house.

"Yeah, what else would I do? I hate waiting in that damn hospital," she said.

"Maybe you should just stay home, you look beat," he suggested.

"Sleeping all day won't bring in the money," she said simply.

The stopped in front of her house, but she didn't get out. The house was dark, she couldn't help but notice. He noticed it, too.

"Will you come in with me?" He couldn't remember her ever asking anyone for anything, but there she was with her tired eyes and cold hands.

He really should get home; Pony and Soda would be waiting.

"Yeah," He said quietly, swinging open the door and going to the other side to open the door for her.

He followed her as she sped up the walkway and unlocked the front door, leading him inside. She walked through the foyer not bothering to turn on any lights. Suddenly, as if just then remembering that he was with her, she stopped.

"Are you alright?" He asked her, he listened closely, but not a sound echoed throughout the house. He had never been in such a complete silence and he was glad to hear her speak once again.

"Please don't leave," she turned to face him, her cheeks were pale.

He touched her bare arm, trying to reassure her, "I won't," She shivered at his touch, but didn't pull away.

She looked up into his eyes; warm eyes; hot ice, if that was any way to describe them. And by sudden impulse, he kissed her lips lightly; he could almost feel her heart beating as he deepened the kiss. He pulled her closer and she wrapped her shaking arms around his neck.

She had never been that close to him before. She had never been that close to anyone before. She couldn't make herself pull away. She was so tired, though; Tired of everything, tired of life itself.

"Cole," Darry pulled away, "You're not okay."

It was the first time that she noticed the hot tears pouring down her face. She had her arms around his neck still and she laid her head on his chest. He rubbed the small of her back soothingly.

"Don't leave," She repeated softly.

"I'm right here," He said.

Avenging Angel