AN: I know it's been a while since I updated anything. Sorry 'bout that. To be honest I don't know when that will change. I'm regrouping from a major burn out from this site and life in general so when I'm back to myself hopefully I'll find time to write more. I do have a new motto for my life now though. "I'd rather laugh with the sinners then cry with the saints". In short, no more miss nice Tempest. The reason why I'm updating this is because I'm just more or less using my own story to practice my editing and revising skills so it's easier then writing and revising new stuff from scratch. There is talk of me making time to write Tough But Tender this weekend so I'm gonna see where that goes. Anyway, since I don't know when I'll update TBT or Adrenaline I thought I'd put this note on here. I know there are some peeps curious about if I'm still alive. Thanks for your emails people, they mean the world. Cheer, you know you're my inspiration to still be here, much love from the land of the Hockey boys! Ian, dude, thanks for being there and for all the support. Damn Atlantic ocean, cause you know I'd help you out with your other little issue if it wasn't in the way. There are a few other issues I have to 'take out' in England anyways but I think the airport staff would take exception to my rifle in customs. giggles New chapter in three…two…one…!
Chapter 15 - I wanna go Home!
They arrived at the hospital and Vince was admitted right away. He was put on an IV of antibiotic and they cleaned the cut. It turned out something that had gotten into his body via the cut, likely off the knife he'd cut himself on had given him blood poisoning. The doctor decided to stitch it while Vince was there because it was so deep and plus if it was closed the reasoned it shouldn't get infected again.
When it was done the nurse left Nyssa to try to cool Vince off with cool cloths since it was obvious she was not leaving his side. Vince woke up with a lucid look on his face for the first time all day after he had been out of it in the hospital for about 2 hours.
"Where am I Nys? How the hell did I get here?"
"We had to take you to the hospital. You had a nasty infection in your hand and blood poisoning which gave you one hell of a fever. We couldn't wake you up at home when I got home from school so we brought you here. You don't remember fighting with me about how much you hated the hospital?"
"No, I don't remember the drive here either. How did you get me to the car if I was unconscious?" Vince couldn't figure that out for the life of him. No matter how strong she was there was no way she could move him if he was an unconscious dead weight. He was very well aware of how much he weighed.
"Oh shit! Dom helped me get you here. Speaking of whom, he's still waiting outside. Dom helped me get you up the stairs and he drove here. I should tell him you're awake. He feels bad that he didn't check on you when you never got up today. He's been sulking and feeling guilty in the hall." She went into the hall and told Dom he could come in now because Vince was awake and ok.
Dom came in and did the typical 'man, I knew it was nothing act'. The doctor came into the room to check on Vince's status.
"When can I go home?" Vince asked as the doctor checked the stitches and Vince's temperature and blood pressure.
"We'll be discharging you tomorrow after a night of observation. I can't see any reason why you won't get out tomorrow if you continue to improve this rapidly."
"No way am I staying in here overnight. I'm fine and I'm going home now. I'm not stayin here all night." Vince started to get up. Dom shot him a dirty look, warning him to listen to the doctor.
"Young man its standard hospital policy to keep patients as sick as you were when you arrived in over night and on an antibiotic drip. You can have one of your friends pick you up tomorrow at 11am."
Nyssa had dealt with her brother when he was sick and Danny always pulled the same sort of thing. The first time when he'd been shot they'd wanted to keep him for a week and he'd nearly flipped out. Danny had been happier at home. She figured Vince would be the same way. She interjected on the doctor and Vince's conversation.
"Can't he go home if we promise to keep him quiet in bed for the rest of the night? You really don't want him here, harassing everyone and being a general pain in the butt. And he will be a pain, I'll tell ya. I took care of my brother through an infection following a gun shot wound so this would be a piece of cake."
"Is this your brother young lady?" The doctor turned his eyes toward Nyssa, wondering what kind of family it was that they nursed each other better from gunshot wounds.
"No, this is not my brother. My brother passed away in the line of duty after he was shot a second time. Only he died instantly that time. But I can take care of Vince and make sure he takes it easy and takes his pills. He'll never stay here. Better to release him to me and Dom so we can make sure he goes straight back to bed. If not he'll just end up either taking off on you or harassing your staff."
"Well…" The doctor considered the young lady in front of him and her points. It was most unusual but the man did look like he would be a terrible patient.
"Hello. I'm an adult and I think I have a say in this. I wanna go home." Vince did not appreciate being talked about like he did not exist. He shot Nyssa a dirty look for her slights on his character and then gave a challenging look to the doctor.
"Fine, we'll send him home in the care of the two of you. Keep him quiet for the evening and don't let him strain his hand at all. Plus he has to take these pills three times a day for the next seven days." Nyssa took the pills and the nurse came and unhooked Vince. He got up and Dom left so he could get dressed. Nyssa stayed.
"You sure are difficult you know that?" Nyssa asked as she read the pill bottle trying not to laugh at the tough guy whining to get out of the hospital early.
"I hate the hospital. I want to go home."
"Well you get your wish. Danny hated it here too. I always got him out early and took care of him at home." Nyssa looked up with a wistful expression in her eyes, thinking back to the good days of having her brother at home with her, taking care of her and needing her to take care of him in return.
"You must miss him huh?" Vince paused in the middle of dressing, pants on but not much else, and looked at Nyssa.
"Lots. But it gets easier to remember the good things with time. Besides I didn't want to have to sleep in the basement without you. I'd get scared and end up staying with Leon. I don't want you in a fist fight with Leon with that bad hand." She giggled.
Vince growled and grabbed her. He'd never gotten around to put his shirt on. He pulled her against him. "You don't belong in any bed but mine." He kissed her and she responded like she always did to him. Instant and primal. She broke it off this time, conscious of being in a hospital room.
"Let's get outta here V." He finished dressing and they left. Dom would not let Vince drive as per the doctor's orders. Nyssa climbed in the back and assumed Vince would take the other front seat, boys riding together. She was wrong. He crawled in the back with her and lay down across the seat with his head in her lap. He was still tired even if he didn't want to stay in the hospital. She played with his hair while she stared out the window. They were home before she knew it. It was only 6pm. They helped Vince into the house and put him to bed. Both of them missed the look Dom gave them about they're ride home. He was more confused then ever about his best friend.
Nyssa tucked him in then lay down beside him, on top of the covers.
"I'm gonna go visit my dad. I haven't been to see him since my brother died so he has no idea what I've been up to. It could take a while. I want you to stay here in bed and not do anything. Ok?"
"Stay in bed with you I could do. Stay here alone, I'm not so sure about." Vince leered.
"Vince, you better listen to me. If I come home and you're anywhere but in this bed, so help me…" She trailed off, leaving what she would do threateningly absent from the conversation. "And if you're good while I'm gone I'll stay home from class tomorrow and take care of you since you're not allowed outta bed then either. Ok?" Vince smiled at her thinking it would be nice to be taken care of for a change.
Nyssa changed into the girliest outfit he had ever seen her wear. It was a long skirt with dragons on it. It kind of wrapped around her and tied at the waist. She put on a white tee shirt with a red dragon on the front and strappy sandals that tied up her legs. She put on silver hoop earrings and put up her hair in a messy bun. She looked awesome to him.
"Sure you have to leave? You should stay here and let me unwrap you."
"You need to sleep and I need to do this. I'll see you soon."
She leaned over and kissed him goodbye then left. She took his car up to Lompoc.
She went in and went through all of the security checks. This time her dad was brought into a small room with a table and two chairs. They embraced and Mark cried.
"Nyssandre. You're so pretty. You've grown so much. And you're thinner then the last time I saw you. You look great."
"I missed you so much Daddy. I know you told me not to come here but so much has happened I need to talk to you about it."
"Of course sweetie. What's on your mind?"
"Well, when Danny died you know the state left me with Mom's second husband Ed right?"
"Yeah. Not that I was happy about it."
"Well, me neither but there wasn't much I could do. But then one day I was staying at Manda's and she took me out to some car show." Nyssa was careful not tell him a street racing meet. She knew her dad would not take it well. "But we got separated and I got into some trouble so I got a ride with a guy I met there."
"Nyssa I don't like where this is going."
"I know Dad but hear me out. Vince wanted to drive me home but I wouldn't let him."
"Why not?" Mark couldn't understand why she wouldn't take a ride home when it was offered.
"Let me finish Daddy!" Nyssa giggled, then sobered for what was to come. "I never wanted to worry you when you were stuck in here but Ed has a drinking problem. I was wearing some of Manda's clothes and if I'd gone home dressed like I was for the car show he'd have flipped out at me. He's taken swings at me in the past and I didn't want to know what he'd do if I went home in Manda's outfit that late at night in the car of a strange man."
"Did he ever manage to hit you?" Nyssa knew her father was going into icy calm mode, never a good sign.
"A few times, no big deal. But anyway I told Vince to take me to Danny's garage so I could stay the night there and go to school the next day but when Vince saw the place he wouldn't leave me there."
"I'm liking him more and more." Mark raised an eyebrow waiting on his daughter to continue.
"Yeah, he took me back to his place and let me use his bed for the night."
"I take back my earlier statement. You slept with him?" Her dad looked scandalized.
"Yes and no. We shared his bed but he stayed on his own side and was a perfect gentleman about it. He even drove me to school the next day, and he told me he'd teach me how to drive a standard and how to drive Danny's car. So we took the car out after school that Monday and when I came home Ed knew I'd been late to school and hadn't spent the night with Manda. He was pretty mad. He called me some names and well…"
"Well what sweetheart?"
"He tried some stuff. He only managed to kiss me but that was only because Vince got worried I was taking so long to get back out to the car and came in to check on me. He was waiting to take me out to dinner and then he found Ed doing what he was. He threw Ed off me and when Ed took a run at me he scared him off. But the thing was Ed had already packed up all my stuff and put it outside."
"He kicked you out."
"Yeah. So Vince took me in."
"Do I know this Vince person Nyssa? I don't like the sound of this one bit. Why don't you go live with John?"
"Because Manda's mom hates me perhaps?"
"No she doesn't."
"Besides that," Nyssa didn't want to go into the whole situation of Manda's mom again. "You do know Vince. He use to come visit his friend Dom Toretto. You must remember Dom Toretto?"
"Yes, I remember Dom. What does this man you're living with have to do with him?"
"Well, it's really Dom's house. Vince is the sorta shaggy guy that used to come around and visit Dom and he lives in Dom's house too. They had an extra room they're letting me use. Dom's sister is just a bit older then me." Nyssa was careful to hide the fact she was sharing a room with Vince, no matter how innocent it currently was. "Vince is helping me learn to drive Danny's Skyline and Dom says I can work for him in his garage if I go to college to learn mechanics."
"Dom Toretto huh? Are you street racing?"
"No. Of course not." Nyssa knew her dad saw the fact that she wanted to written all over her face. Her dad did not look impressed.
"There have been things I was more thrilled about Nyssa."
"I know. I'm gonna be ok though Dad. I'm happy there. Say, is my old car still at the house? You still own the big house right?"
"Yeah, I still own in and your car is still there. Why don't you move back in there? There's no need of you staying with strangers when we have our own house."
"I won't live in that big house alone Daddy. It's too big and lonely. I'm really happy with Mia and Letty at Dom's. Just try to be happy for me ok, and don't worry. I'm ok and you know where I am."
"Ok, but call Uncle Steve and get copies of the house and car keys incase you need a place to stay ok? Then I won't worry about you so much." Nyssa nodded her agreement. Steve was not really her uncle, just a close family friend but he and her dad had been best friends since second grade.
"Ok. I guess you heard mom took off?"
"Yeah. I heard." Mark sighed. "I can't believe she changed so much so fast. Leaving me I understood. She couldn't stand to lose her status in the community. But abandoning you kids with that loser she married was just beyond decency."
"Yeah, I wonder if she was on something. I had some people look for her but no one ever found her. Best the last PI could figure she ran back to Porto Rico. I figured she should know about Danny, no matter how terrible a mom she was for the last few years of his life."
"You did your best to tell her, that's all you can do sweetie."
"I know." Nyssa sighed and looked at the clock. She knew the guard would be along to tell her she had to leave soon. She still had a few things to talk about. "Daddy?"
"Um hum?"
"Think you could give me an allowance till I finish school and start working for Dom?" Nyssa looked up at her dad, embarrassed to be asking him for money while he was stuck in jail.
"Nyssa, I can more then give you an allowance. I can take care of you. There are ways, money that Steve can show you how to get to. You have credit cards in your name and the bills will be paid. Don't worry about it. Just talk to Steve and you'll be all set. You can take whatever you need sweetheart. Don't worry. There's lots." Mark tried to tell her he had lots of money the government had never been able to find set aside. "The house is in your name. I guess it's really your house now. There's no need for you to slave in a hot garage all summer you know. You can just spend my money, live in your house and take it easy."
"Daddy, stop trying to cross me over to this idea you have of me living in the big house. It isn't going to happen. But I'll take the money, only because I really need it." Nyssa giggled.
"You can't blame me for hating the idea of my little girl staying with a bunch of street racing guys in a party house ok?"
"I guess I understand. But I'm happy Daddy. What else would I do all summer? Wait for my friends to get off their jobs in a big lonely house all day long. Spend summer alone? Just trust me that I'm happy ok?"
"Ok, ok, you're happy. I get it." Mark laughed. "Just be careful, and finish school."
"I will." Nyssa gave her dad Dom's number. "I won't come here again if it bothers you Daddy. I just had to tell you this to your face."
"I miss you too much to tell you not to come anymore. But don't make a habit of it. I hate to think of you in a place like this, even just to visit. Stay out of trouble baby, you don't want to end up in jail like me."
"I'll be a good girl Daddy. I promise." Nyssa stood up and her father did too. They hugged just as the guard came in to tell them visiting time was over.
Nyssa left the jail and called her Uncle Steve right away. He met her at Dom's and she left the Nissan there. On the drive to her old house Steve gave her bank account numbers, her two charge cards, the keys to the house and her old car her dad had bought for her 16th. When they arrived at the house they went straight into the garage. Her baby started right up on the first key flick. It was a '67 mustang convertible. Candy apple red. It was in pure stock condition and had been perfectly restored. It was in show car shape and not meant for racing. She thanked Steve and headed home to Vince.
She found him in bed but he reading not sleeping when she got home.
"How'd it go with her dad?" He asked her, looking up from his magazine.
"It was good. He's not too thrilled about me staying here but he thinks I'm staying in a room upstairs with Mia and Letty. Say, you up for a little slow stroll to the driveway?"
"Yeah. Why? Did anything happen to my car?" Vince asked suspiously on their way up the stairs.
"No, I just have something else to show you." They went up to the drive and she showed him the mustang.
He had to know where it came from. She told him the story and what happened while she visited her dad. She told him it had been a 16th birthday gift and it had been a year or more since she had seen it and just figured that the house and the contents of it would have been confiscated at first, and when she found out they had been in her mom's name at first and now were in fact in Nyssa's name she had just never gone to get it.
"I figured so that I could stop driving your car and not worry about learning to take the skyline everywhere so fast I'd go get this and drive it around. Ok, back to bed for you."
"I'm not weak all of a sudden." Vince growled, not liking it when she pointed out that he was supposed to stay in bed.
"Well, you still need to stay in bed tonight or back to the hospital you go." They headed back down to Vince's room and he crawled back in bed.
"You still feeling weak baby?" She asked.
"No, of course not." Came the answer but she could tell he was fibbing.
"I'm tired out myself. Glad I'm not getting up for school tomorrow." She started to change into her night dress. It was one she wore when it was hot outside. Spaghetti straps and a silky material. She slid into bed. "See you in the morning V." She lay on her back and next thing she knew he was looming over her.
"Not going to bed without your good night kiss are you?"
"Well I thought you'd be tired."
"I'm never too tired for kissing you." She held her arms open and he leaned in and kissed her. He kissed her eyelids and the tip of her nose after her mouth. "Thanks for standing up for me and making sure I got to come home. I get fucked up in hospitals."
"I could tell. My bro hated them too and I always did take him home and take care of him."
"How did it go with your dad? Was he mad that you went to see him even though he told you not to? Dom said the same thing but he was always secretly happy when we visited him anyway." Vince moved away, lying back on his back, hand behind his head.
"Yeah, he was happy. He's going to give me my allowance till I get out of school and get a job. He wants me to visit him again, just not all the time. And he wants to meet you." She giggled.
"Really? He wants to meet me?"
"Yeah he does. Now go to sleep."
"Only if you sleep over here with me."
"I don't know. It's awfully hot in here as it is."
"You want me to sleep don't you?"
"Yeah, you need your rest."
"Well I won't be able to sleep if you don't come keep me warm." Nyssa giggled. It was just like Vince to put a spin on the situation that he didn't want her over with him because he just liked her against his side. It was because he needed her for something.
"I see." She rolled over and put her head on his shoulder. He had never instigated contact like that before, so she figured she'd give in to his request. Normally they just ended up together over night. She thought that they might just be making progress here. She went to sleep with a smile on her face. Of course the fact that she wasn't getting up early the next day likely helped.
