A/N. Hey there all you lovely people. Thank you guys so much for sticking with my story, despite my lack of updates. You guys make me want to update everyday. Unfortunetly, I suck at updates (it's a flaw I'm trying to fix). I should have another update up soon, so comment and make me happy :) And now, Chapter 15...
Chapter Fifteen
"Wake up you son of a bitch!"
Arthur Carlin jolted from his bed, a layer of sweat covering his brow. He stared through the bars at the new presence in the room. Squinting through the cover of darkness, he saw the outline of the shadow-clad figure.
"You bastard. You took her away. You took her away from me."
"A-Aiden?" Arthur said, stepping forward. He felt the ground give way as Aiden grabbed his shirt collar.
"You took her away from me," he repeated as he pulled Arthur towards him.
The cold bars pressed against Arthur's face as he struggled for air. "Aiden, please. I can't…I can't breathe." His chest ached as he fought to find air.
"Can you feel it? Your heart beating out of your chest? Fighting to breathe…fighting to live?" He tugged on the collar, hard. "Can you feel life slipping away? Is that how Ashley felt…when you tore her away?" Letting go of Arthur, Aiden turned around. "You took away the one person that I love more than anything in this world….the one person Spencer loves most in the world. She may never wake up, but you're still allowed to breathe?" He shook his head. "I will make you pay." Using his index finger to wipe away a falling tear, he turned for one final look at Arthur Carlin. "I will make you pay," he vowed.
Arthur watched in silence as Aiden slipped out of the room. Short, raspy breaths left Arthur's lips. His head fell into shaking hands as the tears fell. What have I done?
"I don't want my daughter around someone like…her," Paula Carlin shouted at the interns. "She's a bad influence and I will not have my daughter subjected to her ways."
The interns shot each other sideways glances at Paula's speech. "But isn't Ashley Davies, you know, unconscious? Can she really draw your daughter to the "dark side" when she can't even open her eyes?" Dodger questioned.
Paula shot the 20-year old intern a glare which caused the young girl to withhold further comments. "I'm just trying to protect my daughter. When you are older and have families of your own, you will understand. But for now, if you want to keep your jobs then you know your tasks." Paula turned, and with a supercilious smile left the interns to their jobs.
"Ok, is it just me or is she pissed off at something," Jordan asked, running his fingers through his thick brown hair.
"Not something, someone," Dodger replied, pulling her shoulder-length brown hair into a ponytail. "This Ashley must have done something to rub Dr. Carlin the wrong way."
"Who'd want to rub her any way," Jordan joked, earning a slap from Dodger.
"Perv," she said. Glancing down the hall towards Ashley's room. "Although…now I'm curious. Mind if I take on the task of looking after the terrible Miss Davies?"
Jordan shook his head, "Not at all. I don't want to be anywhere near Doc Carlin's line-of-sight." He leaned closer to Dodger and whispered in her ear, "Don't tell anyone, but she scares me." This remark earned another slug from the short girl.
"Alright kid, well, I am off to check on the Devil's spawn." She stood on her tip-toes and kissed the 6 foot 4 boy on the cheek. "Tell your girlfriend that I'll see her later." With that, Dodger turned and headed down the hall.
Spencer's eyes started to droop. She'd spent the better part of the night talking to Ashley, trying to elicit a response from the sleeping girl. Her heart felt heavy after all her attempts appeared to have no affect. The loneliness and helplessness that Spencer felt overwhelmed her. Her shoulders seemed to relax, but she still fought as the sleep tugged at her eyes. She refused to take her eyes off Ashley. Spencer was terrified that if she feel asleep she would wake to a world without Ashley, and Spencer was not prepared to lose her girl. She shifted in her chair, hoping that a change of position would combat the Sandman.
"Maybe you should try lying down next to her," a voice said from the doorway.
Spencer jumped and her eyes darted to the doorway. A young girl stood there, arms crossed. Spencer rubbed her eyes and got a better look at the intern. She stood at about 5'5". She had brown hair which was pulled back loosely into a ponytail. She walked over to the bed and stood above Ashley. "Well, she certainly doesn't resemble the Devil."
Spencer's eyes raised, "What?"
"Well by the way Doc Carlin was describing her, I just figured that she'd be carrying a pitchfork and have horns." She turned her gaze towards Spencer and held out her hand. "I'm Dodger, by the way."
Spencer licked her dry lips, "I'm Spencer. Spencer Carlin."
"Yeah, I figured you must be the daughter 'destined to fall under the dark powers of Darth Davies'," she said sarcastically. "Your mom is kind of scary, did you know that?"
Spencer cracked a smile, "After 17 years you kind of learn to avoid her when she's in a bad mood." Her face became serious, "What's she saying?"
Dodger sat down in a chair next to Spencer. "Oh, I don't know. Something about her corrupting you. She told all the interns to keep you away from her." Dodger watched as Spencer's eyes fell to the floor. "Good thing you got me watching your back then, huh?"
Spencer's eyes met Dodgers and she noticed the mischievous glint in her light-blue eyes. "You mean…you're not going to…but you could lose your job."
"Well chick, what can I say? I'm a sucker for love. And when I saw you watching her sleep…" her voice trailed off. "It's been a long time since I saw love that strong. And I'll be damned if I am the one who takes a love like that out of this world."
Spencer took Ashley's hand before turning her gaze back towards Dodger. "Thank you," she whispered.
"Anytime Spence." She turned to leave. "You know," she said once she got to the doorway, "I meant what I said earlier. You should try lying in bed with her. Maybe feeling your arms around her will comfort her. Make her feel safe, Spencer." With that, Dodger left Spencer and Ashley alone.
Spencer stood slowly and gently sat on the bed next to the sleeping brunette. She carefully laid on her side, wrapping her left arm around Ashley's torso. "Can you feel me Ashley? I'm here, waiting for you. I love you," she whispered into her ear before placing a soft kiss on Ashley's cheek. "Goodnight babe."
