Chapter Twelve

Bastian, Rocky, and Jagger all watched as she fell. No one could move for they were all paralyzed where they stood.

Bastian was the first to move. Rocky kicked into gear immediately afterward. Jagger couldn't do anything…he didn't know what TO do.

"Cris. Cris, hun, talk to me. Cris, you okay? Cris, wake up," Bastian called as he rushed downstairs.

Rocky immediately jumped on the phone.

"Yes, I need to speak to Ava Mercer, it's an emergency."

While Rocky was on hold, he rushed downstairs to Bastian and Cris.

"Cris, Cris wake up," Bastian was still trying to get her to stir.

"Hey, you!" Rocky yelled upstairs to Jagger.

"Go to the kitchen and get some ice," he pointed.

Jagger stood frozen for a single moment more before his legs permitted him to move.

Rushing to the kitchen, he grabbed a hand towel that he saw on the counter and opened the freezer. Grabbing a handful or so ice, he put it in the hand towel and rushed back to the hallway.

He handed it to Bastian, who placed it on Cris's head, which he now cradled in his lap.

"Yeah, Ava, it's me," he heard Rocky say. He wasn't sure what happened next, for it was all a blur.

"Ava Mercer," the voice came over the phone.

"Yeah, Ava, it's me," he answered.

"Rocky, what's up?" she could always tell when something was wrong.

"It's Cris. She fell," he replied.

"Fell? Fell where, how?" she asked.

"She fell downstairs. No broken bones that I can tell, probably just a concussion, but she hasn't woken up."

"Bring her in."

"We're going to. I just wanted to give you a heads up, I only want you taking care of her when we get there."

"I'll arrange it. What's your ETA?"

"Ten, fifteen minutes tops," was his response.

"I'll be here."

He hung up the phone, then tapped Bastian on the shoulder.

"C'mon bro, Ava's gonna take care of her, but we gotta get her there."

Bastian nodded.

He looked at Jagger while digging through his pocket.

"Yo, man," he said, tossing Jagger the keys. "Go get the car door open, will ya?"

Jagger nodded. As he walked out the door, he turned back to Rocky.

"Hey, which car?"

"The Trail Blazer," was the answer.

A few minutes later they had gotten Cris in the back seat stretched out with Bastian staying with her, Rocky driving, and Jagger in the passenger seat.

"Just so we all have names, let's get this out there. Name's Rocky, I know you know Cris, and the guy back there with her is her cousin, Bastian. And you are?"

"Name's Jagger," the mystery man was no longer a mystery.

"You got a last name, Jagger?" Rocky asked.

"Falcone."

"Wait a sec," Bastian spoke from the back seat. "You're Lisette Martin's brother?"

"Half-brother, but yeah."

"So that's what you're doing here," Bastian said to himself, but all could hear.

"Yeah. Listen, I don't know what Cris is going through right now, but I want you guys to know I'm here to help," Jagger offered.

"Thanks," Rocky said appreciatively.

A few minutes of silence went by before they pulled in front of the hospital emergency room. Rocky saw Ava throw down her cigarette butt and rush over to the SUV.

"She still unconscious?" she asked Bastian.

"Yeah," he answered.

"Let's get her inside," she said as she waved over a couple paramedics who had a stretcher.

Bastian, Rocky and Jagger all stood off to the side after getting Cris out of the SUV to let Ava and her team do what they do.

Following them inside, they were in awe as to how fast they moved. Ava definitely was the right person to call.