A/N: I wanted to make sure everyone knows that MYSPACE isn't really a dangerous site…well that's not true, any website can be dangerous if you're talking to strangers, but myspace was used solely for the purpose of being descriptive. So Tom, if you're reading this, please don't sue me. And, again, I disclaim! BTW, sorry in advance for any mistakes. I did my best to proof read this before submitting it, but this is long, it's late, and I've still got homework to finish and a shower to take LOL. Thanks for all of the reviews, they're extremely helpful and I do appreciate ALL of them, and welcome/beg for more!
Alex and Bobby left shortly after her confession. Well, they didn't really leave, per say, they were just standing around outside the wooden door.
Alone; just alone… she just wanted to be left alone. Why couldn't they see that? Or, maybe they could. She settled on the explanation that it was their job, their civic duty to her, to watch for any outsiders, anyone who might look guilty of committing any crimes. I.E. - The wretched, scruffy man who'd had his eye on her-and wouldn't take it off. A soft, weary sigh escaped her lips and she rested her tiny head amongst the immense pillow. It felt like heaven. Emotionally, she was no more stable than a psychosis patient. Physically, she was depleted of all energy and strength she'd ever had- a grand contrast to her usually vigorous self. Sleep overpowered her, and it wasn't long before she'd finally fallen into the abysmal depth that was her subconscious.
Alex peered into the clear glass window. Her gaze pierced every fiber of the young girls being, and never severed. The fact that her niece contributed to conflicting pain upon herself stiff left Alex staggering and speechless, waiting for an answer that would never surface.
Without letting her gaze stray from her niece, she began to talk. "We acquainted them with the facts Bobby, all their life. We must have told them over and over again about the nutcases using the internet. We warned them about the filthy old men trying to acquire the emotions of vulnerable young women." Her quavering voice couldn't conceal her distraught feelings of fear and anger. The fiery blaze in her eyes told Bobby that this wouldn't be over until the fat lady sang her way off stage, or the piece of filth hunting their niece was behind the same bars of the world's most dangerous snakes and murders… or six feet under the ground.
48 hours flew by like the strike of a bolt of lightening. Deakins forced Alex and Bobby to call it quits and take the night off, leaving him to keep watch over their niece. Hesitantly, they'd left, and only because he swore up and down that if any tormenting phone calls came their way, he'd inform them immediately.
Lying on the couch, Alex looked down at the Miniature Goren resting languorously in the crevices of her arms. A warm smile spread across her face as she thought 'this is a result of the magic him and I make. This is what comes of our love'. It wasn't until she bent down to kiss him that she noticed he felt febrile and utterly flushed for a baby of his age.
"Hey Bobby?"
"Mmm... Yeah?" He was falling into a state of lethargy, a state of which she'd just abruptly torn him from.
"Does the baby feel a little warm to you?" She inched closer to him, the baby now at arms length away from Bobby.
He outstretched his arm and hand, placing it directly on the infinitesimal forehead of the tiny baby. Jake didn't just feel warm, he felt hot, burning hot. "Yes" His reply was so sure…positive, and instinct told he and Alex that they'd better head back to the hospital, this time for the sake of their son.
Bobby gathered the diaper bag, while Alex cautiously rose from her sitting position off the couch. Not wasting any time, they hurriedly walked out, forgetting to lock their front door, inhabited their vehicle, and made the short expedition to the hospital, a place they'd been all too familiar with for the past couple of days.
Viral Infection: (N): "Infection by a virus that is pathogenic to humans. Can often lead to a cold or the stomach flu" There was a brief pause before she read on in the tiny packet provided by the pediatric nurse. "Symptoms include but are not limited to fever, sore throat, runny nose, fatigue, muscle aches, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea. Symptoms can occur within hours or a span of a few days.
Alex read intently, focusing only on her son and what he'd been so easily diagnosed with. She heaved a sigh of relief, thanking god that her son didn't have something fatal, or alarmingly dangerous. Still, no doubts plagued her mind as she settled on the decision to take time off work to spend every waking moment with her son while he was in the pediatric unit of Manhattan General. This would, unfortunately, prevent her and Bobby from guarding their niece from the evils of the pond scum that threatened to attack at any given moment.
It was Bobby who went over to explain the situation to Teresa. Lightly, he rapped on her door, expecting an invitation to come in. He stood in the same position five minutes later, still waiting for a response, which had yet to come. Fearing the worst, he pounded one more time, and when he didn't receive any notion that Teresa was okay in there, or any response from her all, he kicked the door in, hard, and without warning.
"AHH SUN OF A-", she stopped herself quick enough to grab her nose, blood droplets dribbling down the sides and bridge of it.
"Are you okay!" He rushed quickly to her side. She was looking awful thin and tired, worse than when she'd first been admitted, and he'd wondered if she'd been eating right, in fact, he wondered who'd been in charge of keeping her well. Whoever it was, they were doing a lousy job and he wanted a word or two with the unqualified doctor.
"I was fine until you smashed a door into my face" She was sore… bitterly sore at him for the sudden invasion. Who did he think he was, literally AMBUSHING into her room like that? Didn't he have other rape victims to injure?
He let out a sigh and strolled towards her, lifting her chin with his pointer finger and thumb, and tilted his head for a better view of the damage. "A nurse is going to need to take a look at that" he finally decided.
"Gee. Thanks Sherlock Holmes, you sure you intelligent. What would I ever do without you?"
"Come on, I didn't do it on purpose, besides, you didn't answer me. I got worried"
"Have you never heard of going to the bathroom? Besides, what would you have done if anyone was in my room? Plan on knocking him out with my door?"
"No" he said, but that wasn't a half bad idea, he thought to himself.
"As if anyone would be coming in with that giraffe of a detective and his partner at crime bunking right outside my bedroom door" She had noticed Barek and Logan, which authenticated his assumption that she hadn't been sleeping right. Barek and Logan hadn't gone on duty until around 2 A.M., at which time he and Alex had been informed personally by Deakins. The mere fact that she was aware of their presence could only mean that she'd noticed them come in and start their shifts. He knew this because Logan informed him before he even invaded her room that he and Carolyn had yet to introduce themselves to her, under the assumption that she was peacefully sleeping.
"Jake" he began, "is sick. Your aunt and I are going to be off duty for a few days. He's been admitted here, so we'll try and make it to see you as much as possible. If you need anything, just calls us down in the pediatric unit"
"Is he going to be okay?" she had a genuine look of concern in her exasperated, ocean green eyes.
"He'll be fine; it's just a viral infection. He should be good as new in a few days"
She let out a deep breath. Relieved, she nodded. "Alright; Aunt Alex I said hi, I guess"
"I will sweetpea" He went to peck her head, a sign of affection, and a sign that he was fixed to go, but she stepped back. She wasn't ready for affection yet, and she wasn't sure if she'd ever be ready for it again.
He understood, of course, but it still hurt. She shouldn't be fearing him, of all people. He was as harmless, couldn't hurt a fly. Nonetheless, he left well enough alone and exited the room, addressing a nurse and assigning her the job of cleaning up his niece's bloody and possibly broken nose.
Comfortable: (ADJ) - "Free from stress of anxiety; as ease"
It was the way she felt around Barek and Logan. For two days already they'd had the assignment of guarding her, keeping her out of harms way. She'd finally started attaining decent amounts of sleep, and she attributed that to the ungodly way she trusted the two detectives. Truth be told, trustworthiness wasn't a strong point for her, but somehow, she felt unworldly safe in their protection; safe, as if no one could harm her, even the man who kept 24 hour watch on her from unknown distances, and made unwelcome phone calls to her in the wee hours of the night, hoping to catch her off guard.
Not a single visit from Bobby and Alex, though she didn't mind. She'd spent time resting, and was in utter peace. She knew they were busy with their son, he was sick, after all. Not to mention, it wasn't like she didn't get random visit from her other family members, because she did. Evening visits from her grandmother, and afternoon visits from the uncle, whose name she wouldn't disclose because he brought her hamburgers to eat, instead of the road kill the hospital tried to force feed her. She got morning visits from her aunt on occasion, and everyone else just popped in and out irregularly. They truly were an odd bunch. Giving an exasperated sigh, Teresa shifted herself in an upright position, only, of course, to finish the remainder of her fries from 12:00 P.M., when her uncle dropped them off for her.
There was a light knock on her door and she figured she'd better respond, fearful that she'd end up with another broken body part. "Come in" she invited, though she wasn't in the mood for any visitors. Didn't her visitor know she was eating greasy, fried foods, though her doctor forbade it?
Logan walked in, Carolyn following close behind him. "Morning sunshine" he joked.
"Yeah, sure" Giving off a little glare, she shoved another French fry in her mouth. Had he not noticed her lack of enthusiasm when she invited him in? Was it too much to ask to be left alone to eat? She had to admit though; she did enjoy their short visits. He was cocky, arrogant, and sarcastic, and she was the only one who could intelligently retort back to his comments-and leave him speechless.
He reached for a French fry, only to get his hand slapped away. "Paws off buddy"
"Oh but I think I better taste one, just to make sure they're not poisonous, you never know what this bastard is capable of"
"Oh but you see I know the man who brought me these fries, and he brought them specifically for ME, which means PAWS OFF" she had given him his final warning. The next time he reached, she'd be forced to take further action, and he wouldn't be happy.
Carolyn detected the sense of seriousness in Teresa's vocal tone and grabbed Logan by the collar of his striped shirt. "Let's go big guy, we'll send someone to get you your own fries"
"But…but" Logan stuttered. Carolyn's height and frame no longer surprised him. He had realized long ago that she was capable of just about anything she put her mind to, and found it best to obey her, rather than get on her bad side. He followed her out the door like a puppy that just got his bone taken away. Shutting the door behind her, Carolyn smiled and parked her spot in front of the heavy wooden door.
Teresa finished the remainder of her fries, crumpled the greasy, used up napkins, and flung them to her side. Yawning a bit, she rested her head back on the pillow, getting comfortable again. Reluctantly, she shut her eyes, not really expecting to fall asleep, but doing so anyways.
A cold, soft, well-manicured, and large hand woke her up an hour later. "Hey" he whispered. His hand rested gently on her forehead, and then on her wrist.
She stirred, and slowly turned her head to see him. "Hey" her tone was just under a whisper, but it was all she could muster.
"How are you feeling" he peered down at her, towering her like he was the Eiffel tower, and she were Barbie.
Her vision began to clear; just enough so she could get a better view of who was truly above her, though the voice had pretty much already given him away.
"Tired" she replied. How did she look?
"You're looking a little better, have you been getting enough rest?"
She looked at him. Was this some kind of test? Was she passing? "Yeah, loads of it" It wasn't entirely a lie. She had been getting a lot more rest than she started out getting. Aside from the light night phone calls from the man who raped her but did not dare show himself, she'd managed to sleep a few hours a day, and some of those hours even included times when she didn't dream about her rape and shoot up in fits of sweats or convulsions.
He passed her a piece of paper, folded into fours. "This is from your aunt; she sends her love, by the way"
Skinny fingers reached out, and long, malnourished finger nails closed upon the paper. Turning to the side, she placed the letter on the night stand. "Thanks. I'll read it later, I promise."
"Okay, that's fine" He reached over and stroked a stray away from her silky cheeks.
She smiled some, and, preparing to give an excuse, laid her head upon pillow once again, forcing a yawn.
"Tired?"
"Very much" She forced another yawn. 'Yep' she thought 'this is believable'.
"Well, I'll get going then." He stood to walk out, and noticed that Logan and Barek must have gone down for food. "They're-"
"I'm sure they'll be right back, besides, the doctors keep a good eye on me. Go ahead; if I need anything, I'll call."
"Are you sure?" He was hesitant about leaving her alone.
"GO" she coached. He nodded in gratitude, and continued his journey back to Alex and their son.
"I've finally got you alone" The foul scent of his breath filled the cool air.
She reached for the 'Call Nurse' button, but he smacked it away. "Not this time" he meant business. He had her cornered. She looked, side to side, back and forth, and saw no one. Weren't Logan and Barek due back by now?
"There's no one here to save you this time" he hissed at her, angry, but full of desire and lust.
"They'll be back" It was a safe fact to admit, as she turned her head slightly, only to catch a glimpse of the ever large figure of Logan.
Superman (N): "A man with more than human powers"
Jackass; he stormed in like a damn jackass, no plan, no thoughts, all arrogance and strength, ready to pounce, ready to fight, ready to save. A shot fired from her rapist's end and Logan dropped hard against the tile floor.
Teresa froze, he was getting violent now. "At least tell me your name" she was using reverse psychology on him, and prayed that it would work.
"I suppose I can tell you, after all, we'll be getting to know each other real well" The way he said it frightened her, and she scrambled around the room, looking for any form of a weapon she should attack him with. A glare off the wall, just to the side of Logan, nearly blinded her and she turned to see what was standing in the way of her and safety.
Gun (N) - "A weapon consisting of a metal tube from which a projectile is fire at high velocity into a relatively flat trajectory"
Fumbling nervously with the gun on his belt, she tried to jerk it free. She looked and sighed some when she noticed Logan was still breathing, a good sign, though the loss of blood would no doubt kill him if he didn't get medical attention.
"Andrew" the dark eyed, putrid man said, standing opposite her, watching her every move. "My name is Andrew"
"Why" her voice was shaky, and though she tried to hide her fear, it was no use. "Why are you doing this! Just leave me alone!" Her voice had just qualified itself as a shout, alerting the nurses. Immediately one ran to get Bobby and Alex.
With much force, and more struggle, Teresa managed to break Logan's gun free.
"Because" he said, "I want you. I want you more than I've ever wanted anyone or anything in my entire life, no matter what it costs" He cocked the gun so it was level with her tiny frame.
There was no way to explain her reaction, but to say she was frightened was an understatement of the matter. Defensively, she lifted Logan's gun, facing it at Andrew. Steadying her hand the best she could, she acted as though she feared nothing, especially him.
"One more-", he began, only to be interrupted by Teresa.
"Move and I'll shot" Her voice was unstable at best, but nonetheless stern. She meant business.
"Good, then we'll go together. Together for eternity" Mental Case; it was the most charming way she could describe this sorry excuse of a man.
"Then so be it" Bearing a strong resemblance to her Aunt, she stood her ground refusing to let some unfit for life man torment her any longer.
He cocked the gun, released the lock and shot.
Alex and Bobby walked in, but it was too late, she had done the same, the force of her bullet trampling the man to the ground. It took a few seconds, but the force of his bullet knocked her down as well, landing her in the middle of the hospital bed, her deep red blood staining the soft white of the sheets and pillows. Alex fixated her sight on her niece, mesmerizing the way she looked, the way she sounded, remembering her sweet voice, remembering how much she loved her, freezing her in time, and then realizing the seriousness of the situation.
It was a marathon, and she just had to win. She bolted across the room, despite his strong grip on her wrists, and landed near her niece. Observing the wound, she noticed the bullet enter in the body through the stomach. Blood was draining rapidly, but the sixteen year old was still conscious.
Alex gripped her hand, sweat forming between their palms. "Hang in there, we're getting you help, just please, please, hang in there" Tears welled in her hazel of her eyes as she begged her niece to survive.
Teresa nodded, her body beginning to numb. Alex felt like it was her fault, and she knew it. She could see the guilt mixed in with her Aunt's tears and she wiped them away, her Aunt's face a mere two inches from her own. "It's not your fault" she whispered.
"I should have been here" Alex would not be swayed.
"Your son needed you, and I had Logan and Barek" Managing to carry a conversation with Alex amazed her. Her body was growing weak and her breathing shallow, inhaling and exhaling now a triumph.
"I still…" Alex couldn't finish her sentence. There weren't words to describe the way she felt. Continually, she prayed in her head for the safety of her niece, and swore up and down at the doctors who had yet to show up.
"How's Logan?" Overcoming the pain, she managed to continue carrying the whispered conversation she and her Aunt were sharing. It wasn't long now and she knew it.
"Your uncles with him, he'll be fine. Let's worry about you now"
"Alright" Her eyes fixated on her Aunt's. She took another low, deep breath then whispered. "I love you"
"I love you too sweetie" She was proud, Teresa seemed to be pulling through, and she slowly began to calm down.
"Let go of my hand" Command; it was more of a command than a question, and one Alex hesitantly followed. She looked at her niece quizzically, and released her grip, the sweat that formed between them now dripping on the tile floor and mingling with the droplets of blood from the gruesome crime scene.
Her chest rose slightly, and then fell. She watched for another but there wouldn't be one. She shook her, gently at first, and then fiercely. "TERESA!" Alex screamed her name; not even a flinch. Teresa was gone, and there was no bringing her back.