Sara Stokes sat worriedly at the side of her daughter's hospital bed. Kelsey was still recovering, her blood sugar level on a steady decline. She gazed down at her, trying to figure out when things had gone so horribly wrong. What had happened to the days Kelsey giggled all the time, rode piggy-back on Nick, and seemed genuinely happy? Sara hadn't been able to recognize her daughter for years.
She had been surprised at how well Kelsey took her real father not being around during her younger years. As a young child, Nick had been there and Kelsey hadn't even thought twice about the circumstances. Nick loved her and played with her, and cuddled her and read her bedtime stories, and that was all that mattered. And that's all that should matter when a little girl thinks about who her daddy is.
Perhaps it was after Chloe had been born that Kelsey started getting confused about Nick and his role in her life. She knew Chloe was his only real daughter, and though he treated them the same, Kelsey seemed to become disturbed about it even more. In school, she began to learn about reproduction, and became curious about who her real father was. She'd mentioned it before with her parents, but Sara hadn't heard from the man since he'd left them.
A communication wall seemed to stand between her and her parents for the past couple years. Sara wished Kelsey would open up and say something. Anything. But she refused to open up to them about anything. Her refusal caused her angst to multiply and soon she began cutting herself, sending the teen into a whirlwind of trouble.
Sara sighed, watching Kelsey sleep peacefully for once, the medical equipment beeping every now and then. Nick and Chloe came back from the cafeteria, with a cup of coffee in tow for Sara.
"Momma, I brought you coffee!" Chloe announced, carefully but proudly carrying the cup to her mother. She tried to do anything to help her mom feel better.
"Thank you, sweet pea." She smiled a little at Chloe as she took the cup. They hadn't said anything to their younger daughter about this being on purpose. She just thought Kelsey had gotten sick.
Chloe worked herself up on to her mother's lap, one of her favorite and safest places in the world, and studied her big sister. Chloe idolized her older sister, even though she knew Kelsey got in trouble a lot.
Nick stood behind Sara and kissed her head, letting his lips linger, and put a hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. Sara kept her eyes focused on Kelsey, but put her hand over his in recognition. Nick had never been so scared in his life when he saw Kelsey laying there on the locker room bench, her body lifeless and pale. There was nothing he could do – he had to just stand by and watch as the paramedics worked on her and then loaded her into the ambulance. He hadn't understood her for years – but he especially couldn't understand why she had tried to basically commit suicide. She'd completely lost respect of herself, and it scared him to death.
"She hasn't woken up at all?" Nick checked, already seeing his answer. She'd laid there like a vegetable for a couple days now, rarely opening her eyes or speaking to them.
"Daddy, maybe you should tickle her!" Chloe suggested innocently, smiling up at her father. Nick ruffled her hair and smirked. If only it were that easy.
"Nah, we'll let her rest." Nick told his youngest softly. "Maybe she'll be ready to wake up and talk later." He added, knowing that Kelsey might be able to hear him. Nick prayed that what the doctors told her would scare her back into sanity; into a normal teenager, if there was such a thing. She'd been lucky. Just a few more minutes laying there alone, and they could've been having her funeral.
CSI CSI CSI CSI CSI CSI
Chloe walked in to the hospital the next day, her schoolbag slung over her back. It was almost half her size, and the bottom hit the tops of her legs as she walked, holding her father's hand. Kelsey had finally come into the land of the living late last night, though she definitely wasn't happy about it. Chloe knew she must have eaten something horrible, or caught some awful bug.
When they entered her room, Kelsey was sitting up in bed watching MTV on her television. She barely acknowledged them coming in, keeping her eyes on the screen, until Chloe pounced at her, calling happily. Nick caught her before she could jump on the bed.
"Woah, there, baby girl." He picked her up and set her on his hip, kissing her cheek for good measure. "Kelsey's awake now, but she's still not feeling too well."
Chloe held on to her father's neck, looking at her older sister. The expression on Kelsey's face was blank, as if she didn't care if they were here. It was like she was looking at strangers. Chloe asked to be put down, and she pulled her backpack off her shoulders.
"Kelsey, I bought stuff for you!" She reported happily, digging through the contents. The young girl proudly pulled out a picture she had drawn, and one of Kelsey's favorite stuffed animals. Kelsey smiled a little as she accepted the items. "And I brought the other thing too."
"You can give it to me later." Kelsey told her quickly.
"What other thing?" Nick caught onto the suspicious interaction. He had learned over the past few years to be highly suspicious of his oldest daughter, something he didn't like to do, but which had turned out to be necessary.
"It's feminine products, dad. Just chill." Kelsey told him, a bit of attitude etched in her voice. Nick looked at her a few moments, a warning look on his face.
Nick decided to let it go, and just then, Kelsey's doctor came in the door.
"Mr. Stokes. Do you mind if I speak to you outside for a moment?" He requested. Nick looked down at Chloe, who seemed to be entertaining herself.
"Sure. Chloe, make sure you don't bother your sister. I'll be right back." Nick instructed her, and then went outside and into a private room to talk to the doctor.
"Did you bring it?" Kelsey asked, as soon as she was sure her father was gone and not listening.
"Yep." Chloe reported, upbeat. Since she was only five years old, Kelsey knew she could easily prey on the girl's trust and good nature. She just had to make sure Chloe didn't blab to her parents.
Chloe reached into the bottom of her backpack and retrieved her mother's shaving razor from the bottom, just like Kelsey asked. She would do anything for her older sister, and was glad she could do Kelsey a favor. Her older sister had told her that the hospital didn't provide shaving razors, and to retrieve their mother's from back home. Chloe naively agreed, but wasn't sure why Kelsey wanted her to be so secretive.
"Thanks, Chloe. You're such an awesome sister." She praised her, knowing Chloe would relish in it. The little tyke didn't know any better. Kelsey had been going crazy not being able to cut herself the last few days. The pain after her attempted suicide had been unbearable, and she desperately needed that release. She had just taken the object into her hand and planned on stashing it under her pillow or something, but heard a voice at the door, and a body stepped in.
Unexpectedly, Warrick came in the room moments later to pay one of his favorite nieces a visit. He carried flowers, and had a small smile on his face. Warrick had been worried sick about Kelsey, having heard about what she did.
"Uncle Warrick!" Kelsey exclaimed, the first person she was truly happy to see. Warrick was always so cool to her, and like an older brother.
"Hey, Kelsey. How you feeling?" He asked her, bending down to kiss her forehead, then ruffled Chloe's hair.
"A little better." She told him, quickly hiding the razor underneath the thin white sheets. Kelsey knew everyone was shocked and disappointed in what she had done, but mostly concerned. They were all being supportive right now, but soon the questions would come, she knew. And she planned to shut them out, just like before. This was supposed to be a message that she would not put up with being handled and controlled.
"We're all so worried about you. Lindsey keeps asking." He informed her, putting one of his arms over her legs in a half-embrace. As he did this, Warrick felt something under Kelsey's sheet. His fingers found the object and his eyebrows crinkled in question.
"What's that?" He asked, brushing the object again curiously. Kelsey was terrified. She couldn't let him see that she was already trying to cut herself again.
"Oh…uh, nothing." She stumbled, having no idea how to dismiss it away. Warrick looked at her, and could tell she didn't want him to know something. He hated to be so suspicious, but from what Nick and Sara had told him, and her recent behavior, Warrick knew he had to be.
"Let me see." He commanded gently, motioning with his fingers to bring her hand above the sheets.
"Warrick, it's nothing!" She snapped a little loudly, further convincing him his suspicions were correct. Kelsey gripped the razor tighter under the sheets and tucked her hand under her leg in defiance. She stared at Warrick, wondering why he was being an ass all of a sudden.
"If it's nothing, then why are you hiding it?" Warrick pointed out logically.
Chloe didn't see what the big deal was. It was only her mother's razor that Kelsey needed to shave her legs. Why were Warrick and Kelsey making such a big deal out of it?
"Warrick, it's just mommy's razor." She told her uncle, opening a whole can of worms without realizing it.
"You little bitch!" Kelsey yelled, sitting up and pounding her fists into the mattress. Chloe stared at her sister wide-eyed, like she'd just slapped her in the face. Tears started to brim in her arms at the outburst. What had she done?
"Kelsey!" Warrick reprimanded her, not believing that she'd call her five year old sister such a word.
"She is! I told her to keep it a secret!" Kelsey glared at her sister, knowing she'd just blown her cover. Warrick could see that Chloe was very hurt and upset, but he needed to get through Kelsey's thick head right now.
"Chloe," He said calmly, reaching into his back jeans pocket, retrieving his wallet. "Why don't you go down to the vending machine and get yourself a candy bar, okay?"
Chloe nodded, though she still felt very betrayed and scared by her sister's yelling. She took the bill from Warrick, and walked out of the room, defeated. Warrick turned back to Kelsey, his eyes steeled.
"Kelsey, give me the razor now." He told her, his tone all-business. It was a tone he'd never had to use with Kelsey, but she was continuing to put herself in great danger.
"No!" She refused, still keeping her hand firmly tucked under her upper leg.
"Fine, I'll just have to get it myself." He announced. Kelsey, especially in her fragile state, was no match for Warrick. Grabbing her right arm, he easily pried the tense limb out from the blankets, revealing a white-knuckled hand, firmly clutching a razor. Her other hand went to his, trying to pry it off, but he quickly grabbed both her wrists in one hand. With his other, he pried the razor out of her shaking hands.
"I hate you!" She screamed, using all the energy she had been building up to push him away and bat at his arms. "You're just like my parents!"
"Kelsey, stop!" He boomed, tossing the razor on the floor. It scattered over the tiles and disappeared under one of the chairs. He grabbed her wrists and pinned them to her sides. Kelsey looked at him, terrified, his face inches from hers.
"Don't you see what you're doing Kelsey?" He boomed, not willing to see Kelsey's life crumble to pieces in front of him. His green eyes were intense as he continued. "Not only are you destroying your own body and health, but you're worrying your family to death! Your selfishness has caused them so much pain! Your parents are trying to help you! Can't you see that? And then you use your five year old sister to get a razor so you can have five minutes of relief? Don't you see how selfish you're being!"
Kelsey just stared at him, her eyes welling up with tears. Warrick had never yelled at her like this before ever. At first it angered her, then scared her, but then she could tell how much she had scared him. She deserved that. She'd called her own sister a bitch. What kind of person was she turning into?
Warrick's form in front of her was becoming a blur as Kelsey started sobbing. He just let her cry for a few moments, then slowly released her wrists. Though crying was normally not a good thing, Warrick couldn't be more relieved. She never cried. She'd been frozen for the past few years, never showing any sort of emotion. Warrick felt her wrap her arms around his neck as she continued to sob.
Kelsey didn't care who heard her. She bawled like a little baby for the next ten minutes. She didn't even notice that her father had come back in, bewildered at the scene in front of him, but strangely relieved. All Kelsey could feel in the next few minutes was Warrick's arms wrapped tightly around her, and the feeling of finally being saved…snapped out of the horrible nightmare that had been the last few years of her twisted, lonely life.
