Chapter 35: Sleeping Beauty
*****Same day as last chapter******
Lauren was so ready for school to start. She'd been out of school now for two weeks. Spring break had allowed her to catch up on all her assignments, which was good. Ryan had gathered up all her work and brought it to her. She was so glad that she was back to normal. Her energy level was back up, and her joints no longer hurt. She had a doctor's appointment early Monday morning, and then she'd have the note to return to school. Feeling optimistic, Lauren expected the doctor to find no problems.
"When is Mac coming home or Madison?" she asked her mom as she went into the kitchen. Brad had been by twice and Ryan nearly every day. However, she was sick of being in the house. She was hoping her sisters would take her to dinner or to a movie. Her mom would if she asked, but she missed her sisters.
Marilyn frowned. "I'm not sure about Madison. She's not called the entire time she's been gone. She was meeting her boyfriend's family for the first time—it's a big deal," she said. "But Mac and Dick's flight landed two hours ago. You should give her a call."
Lauren pulled out her phone and sent Mac a text. Her sister replied with a call instead of a text.
"Hey, Mac! How was the trip?" Lauren asked. Her mom stopped what she was doing to listen.
"It was incredible and life changing," Mac said. "I'll stop by as soon as I can. I was planning on it today, but when we got off the flight, we found out that my roommate Parker was shot yesterday."
"Oh, God! I didn't hear anything!" Lauren gasped. "Mom, did you know there was a shooting in town? Parker was shot!"
Marilyn looked dismayed. "I came home late from the board meeting and didn't catch the evening news. Your father had that business trip and isn't here to tell me," she said.
"We didn't hear," Lauren said into the phone. "Is she okay?"
"I just left the hospital. I'm heading to the beach house. Dick is freaked out because the shooting happened there, and Veronica and little Richie were almost shot. Jason's friend, Joseph jumped in front of Parker after she was hit twice. He took the third bullet. He's dead. Everything is just awful," Mac said, her voice breaking.
Lauren wanted to cry; Mac never cried. She was so strong. "You come see us when you can. Is there anything we can do? Does Parker need anything?" Lauren asked, her mom nodded in approval.
"Parker is in a medically induced coma. She may be paralyzed. I don't know yet what she'll need," Mac said grimly. "She'll have to move into my room. She won't be able to use the stairs." Lauren heard her murmuring to Dick.
Lauren put her hand over the phone and told her mom was Mac said. Marilyn's hand went to her mouth, upset. "That poor girl!"
"Just let us know what we can do. Dad'll be back in town tonight," Lauren said.
"Okay. We're here, so I gotta go. I'll talk to you soon. I love you," Mac said, hanging up.
"Is Lauren okay?" Dick asked her.
"Yeah, she was just checking in. I'll go by tomorrow to see her," Mac said. She rubbed her eyes. God, she was tired. Jet lag and now finding out one of her closest friends had been shot. Seeing Parker in the hospital had been so awful. She still hadn't awoken. The doctors were saying that she may never walk again. "I can believe this has happened. What if she never walks again?"
Dick grimaced. His own brush with scary health issues made him appreciate an able body more than he ever had, so he was felt sympathetic for Parker's plight. "Let's not think bad thoughts until she wakes up and the doctor says it's really bad," he advised.
Mac knew he was right, but she couldn't help but worry. "Either way, it's going to take her a while to recover. A spinal cord injury isn't something you can just bounce back from," Mac said.
They pulled into the beach house. "I can't believe that psycho was shooting at the house with little dude in the doorway!" Dick said, still angry at the thought. "What if he'd been hit? Or Veronica or Logan? This shit is just too messed up!"
Mac reached over and squeezed his hand. "I know, Dick. We'll get through it," she said, willing herself to believe it. He got out of the truck and went around to her side of the truck to open her door and help her down. Instead of walking toward the house, she leaned against him a few minutes, hugging him. He understood and held her tightly.
"I love you, babe," he said.
"I love you, too," Mac said. She raised her head for his kiss, more grateful for him in her life than ever before. She didn't have to be strong alone anymore. He was a part of her. No longer did she even make plans without thinking of him. Their lives had become that interwoven. The trip they'd just came back from was probably one of many they would take together. Mac knew without a doubt that their trip to India had impacted Dick even more than it had Mac because he'd never truly understood what it meant to go without. He had never fully understood how blessed America was and how lucky he'd been growing up even with his own personal tragedy in losing his brother. Seeing so many children living in squalor had shaken Dick.
Now they'd come home to learn that his family—for the Echolls were his family—had a brush with death. It wasn't what either of them were ready to face. However, they finally pulled a part and walked hand in hand to the door.
They rang the bell and were welcomed by Logan. He gave them a tired smile. "You're back," he said.
Dick moved in to embrace him. "Dude, you almost died again!" Dick exclaimed as he gave Logan a bear hug.
"I'm okay, Dick," Logan said, smiling ruefully at his best friend. "I think my property value is going down, though."
"Screw that," Dick grumbled as he stepped into the door. "Where's little dude?"
"He's in his bouncing chair," Logan said. Last month, Keith and Alicia had gotten him this interactive chair that allowed him to bounce if he wanted to bounce or to sit if that's what he wanted. It was stationary even though it was similar to a walker. However, it had a dozen things on it for him to play with. Dick liked the thing almost as much as his namesake.
Mac hugged Logan while Dick made a beeline for the baby. "Veronica said she'd be home as soon as Parker's parents made it back to the hospital," Mac said.
"She still asleep?" Logan asked.
"Yea. The nurses seem to think that she should be conscious by tonight. The morning at the latest," Mac said. "Is Trina here?"
"No. She'll be back tomorrow night. She took Mary with her to look at apartments," Logan said.
"She's going to flip out when she hears what happened," Mac said.
"I'm thinking we'll not mention Richie almost getting shot to her," Logan said.
"Good idea," Mac said.
Dick frowned. "You know I won't be able to keep that one to myself," he said. "My little dude almost got axed by some deranged Barbie killer!"
"Is that what they're calling him now? A Barbie killer?" Logan asked, somewhat amused at the title.
"No, that's just what Dick is calling him," Mac said, rolling her eyes.
"All the girls were hot chicks. Jessi was smokin' hot and so is Parker," Dick said. "Luckily, Parker didn't die." An alarmed look came into his eyes. "You don't think the killer will try to finish her off, do you?"
"Veronica has suggested that," Logan admitted. "Dad has posted deputies at the hospital, though. One in street clothes and one in uniform. He's hoping to spot someone that'll be a little too curious."
"He needs to catch this guy already," Dick said in annoyance. Mac held out her hands for a turn holding Richie. Reluctantly, Dick handed him over.
"Luckily, she's not said anything about her concern to Duncan or he'd never leave the hospital," Logan said.
"He wasn't there when we were there. Veronica said he went home to see Lily, but he'd been there all night," Mac said. "How's he holding up?"
"He's a wreck," Logan said. "It was a really bad night. I'm just glad Parker didn't die. I'm not sure he'd ever be the same if he'd lost her so soon after finally having her."
"If they can survive this, they'll make it through anything," Mac said.
"True," Logan agreed.
"We'll probably have to move my stuff upstairs and move Parker down to my room at the house," Mac shared. "She probably won't be up to navigating stairs even if she can walk."
"That's a good idea. Let me know when you need some help with it," Logan said.
"My fraternity brothers will do it," Dick said. "Being president has some perks."
"Have you guys ate? I was about to order some food," Logan said.
"We haven't eaten since we landed, so that'd be nice," Mac said. "How about burgers? I've had way too much rice and spice. I've been missing a nice soy burger!"
"You crave soy? That's just wrong!" Logan teased as he grabbed the takeout menus. "Pick one that has your gross burger on it. I'll order for Dick and me."
No matter how much time Mac and Dick spent together, she knew that Logan would still always know better how to order his dinner. Mac tended to order what he should eat while Logan would order what he'd actually order for himself. It was an amusing factoid of their lives. She hugged Richie while Dick made faces at him, making him laugh. He'd started laughing a month or so ago, and it was the cutest thing. Dick loved making him laugh even more than he loved making Lily. Richie was the first baby that Dick had got to spend time with. Coming to visit him now was just what they needed.
Things were bad, but Mac believed that they would get better.
They had to.
******Neptune Memorial Hospital******
The killer reveled in his power. He stood not five feet from Veronica Mars, and she didn't even realize the danger she was in. Her wariness and anxiety were palpable. He watched as she spoke quietly to the woman's parents. At first, he was annoyed that the son of the Italian mobster had kept him from killing the woman Duncan Kane loved. Now, however, he was enjoying seeing all the upset and stress his actions had caused. His next two victims would sow both confusion and despair. They'd never see it coming.
Veronica hugged Duncan who had arrived back at the hospital. "How's Lily?" she asked.
"Fine. She wants to come see Parker," Duncan said.
"What did you tell her?" Veronica inquired.
"I just told her that Parker had been in an accident and was in the hospital," Duncan said. "Are her parents back?"
"Not yet. You just missed Mac and Dick. They came here straight from the hospital," Veronica shared. "They went to see Richie. Dick was really upset that he'd been put at risk."
Duncan grimaced at the reminder. "I'm not sure what I'd do if something came close to hurting Lily," he remarked.
Veronica grew alarmed at the thought. "Let's hope this psychopath has some limits he won't stoop to," she said. The alternative's too horrible to contemplate for long.
"I'm going to go sit with Parker. Do you want to come?" he asked.
"I should go home. Logan's watching Richie. He may want a break," Veronica said.
Duncan said goodbye and went to Parker's room. He moved to her side and placed a kiss on her lips. She wasn't on a full ventilator—just some oxygen in her nose. "I'm here, sweetheart. I wish you'd wake up and come back to me. We're all very worried about you. I need to see those beautiful brown eyes of yours. Your smile always makes my day," he said.
She breathed in and out, but there was no movement. He couldn't help but think about Meg in a very similar position. However, she'd been pregnant with Lily, and he'd been so racked with guilt. Her death was always with him. Every time he held his daughter, he couldn't help but think about how utterly he'd failed Meg. She'd been so good to him and had loved him so much. He'd broken her heart and pushed her away when she'd needed him the most. She must've been horrified to find out she was pregnant. The fear of telling her parents must've been tremendous.
She'd been like Sleeping Beauty and had woken up. However, they'd lost her anyway. If Duncan hadn't been so focused on Veronica, she'd still be alive. His selfishness had killed her. It wasn't something Duncan could easily forget. Now he couldn't help but wonder if something he'd done had caused this. Was Parker a target because of him or was this random like the other girls? The fact that she wasn't on campus when she was shot made Keith and Veronica suspect that she may have been selected. Since Parker wasn't in the habit of making enemies, Duncan had to consider that he was the true target. Parker was hit too many times, though, for the killer to not have been targeting her. Duncan had been in his line of sight and not been shot. However, if someone wanted to hurt him, they'd see Parker as a likely target. He considered that Lily could be in danger once again from an unknown enemy.
Duncan moved to the chair that was next to the bed. An hour passed as he waited for Parker to wake up. Finally, she stirred, and Duncan jumped to his feet.
"Parker? Baby, wake up! You can do it!" he urged. He picked up her hand.
Parker opened her eyes, pain pushing her consciousness awake. She focused and saw Duncan. "Duncan?" she asked. "What happened? Why do I hurt so bad?"
"I'll get a nurse!" he said anxious.
He moved quickly to bring a nurse. Her parents were coming down the hall to see her. "She's awake!" he called out.
Quickly, her room was filled with activity. The nurse and her parents made it to the room.
"Oh, sweetheart, you're awake!" her mom said, her relief palpable.
"What happened?" Parker asked, wincing as she tried to sit up. Suddenly, she realized something, and she pulled the covers back. Relieved, she saw her legs.
"What's wrong?" Duncan asked her. He was on one side of the bed, her parents on the other.
"My legs! I thought they were gone!" she said, looking down at them.
"You were shot, honey," her dad said. "You're going to be okay, though."
Parker looked grim as she finally looked up at them. "I can't feel my legs," she revealed.
******Chapter End******