Disclaimers: I own nothing or anyone associated or affiliated with TNA. I own only the original characters. This is just a fictional story that came from my imagination.
Chapter Content & Trigger Warnings: None this chapter
Chapter 9
By dawn, Jeff, Joe, and many other members of the TNA roster sat in the waiting room of the surgical ward at Saint Thomas hospital. They all had spoken to the authorities, relaying what they knew about the murders, the kidnapping attempt on Ella, as well as giving them Jacques Fournier's name to investigate.
Nathan hadn't the time to explain the significance of the name before he was shot, but they were all sure he intended to name Fournier as the kidnapper.
Since the Knockouts were made to stay inside the mansion, they could only give an account of what they heard on the phone prior to Nathan's death, what they saw and heard from the men, and what happened once Joe and Jeff brought Ella back to the mansion. Their statements didn't help the officers at all, but it was standard procedure to interview all witnesses.
Once everyone gave their statements to the officers, Jeff was told they would be questioning Ella, as soon as she was fully awake, to get her information on what happened. They also informed him that they would be in touch to keep the family updated.
Regretfully, some of the roster had to get to the airport for their next show after they spoke to the cops. However, they promised to call Jeff or Nina for updates on Ella as much as possible.
Now, everyone who remained in the waiting room was waiting. Waiting to hear how Ella was doing. Waiting to see how she would pull through surgery. Waiting to find out if the girl's spirit could survive all it had endured in only one night. They could not imagine the terror she must have felt.
Nina entered the waiting room then, and Jeff instantly stood, pulling her into his embrace. "I'm sorry it took me so long," she said softly. "It seemed like forever before the cars were towed. And then a policeman came on to the house, and I had to give a statement on what I knew. Taylor's staying at the house with the girls." She nervously brushed a lock of chestnut hair over her shoulder. "How's Ella? Do you know anything yet," she asked. "Please, tell me she's okay."
Jeff held her hand as he sat down in his seat. Alex moved down a seat so Nina could sit by her husband. "We don't know anything for sure yet," Jeff informed her. "She's been in surgery for about three hours."
"But—you've been here for nearly five hours," Nina said. "Why did they take so long to start operating?"
"She had a turn for the worse when she got here. They had some problems getting her re-stabilized," Jeff explained. "The doctor told us before the surgeries started, they'd had a rough time getting her blood pressure to regulate. Her pulse was all over the place too, and she had to have a chest tube put in due to the collapsed lung."
"Will the lung heal," Nina asked. "That really scared me back at the house when you, and then the paramedics, mentioned it."
Jeff nodded, his blue eyes darkening with obvious worry. "Yes, it will heal, but it will take some time. The lung got punctured by a broken rib, which made it collapse under the pressure around it."
Nina glanced around at all their friends gathered in the waiting room, desperate to hear any news on Ella, and felt her heart swell at the love and compassion they'd shown. They could not ask for better friends and loved ones. Her eyes trailed over to Joe then. She saw the worry etched on the large Samoan's dark features. He was one tough guy, but he wore his feelings on his sleeve. "How's Joe doing," she asked Jeff in a soft whisper.
Joe was treated for his wound long before Ella entered the operating room. After the medic examined the cut closer on the helicopter, it became clear the wound would need some stitches after all. Angry about being treated for a mere cut while Ella was in dire need of help, he'd stalked through the hospital's hallways. In his current mindset, it was irrelevant that Ella needed to be stable to undergo surgery. He just wanted the bullet out of her and for her lung to get treated. As soon as his own wound had been cleaned, then stitched up and bandaged, he went into the waiting room, taking his seat in the cushioned wooden chair. He had not moved or spoken since.
Jeff shook his head subtly, in answer to his wife. "His side got nicked by a bullet. He needed a few stitches, but other than that he's—"
"That's not what I meant," Nina murmured. Her eyes darted over to Joe and then back to Jeff's face. "Didn't you see the look on his face when he heard Nathan telling us about Ella being kidnapped?" She saw her husband's eyes darken at the memory.
"Yes," Jeff agreed, "And when she screamed over the phone in my office, I thought he would kill me just trying to get to my phone."
"I think it was more than just hoping his friend was okay, or guilt over their argument, Jeff. I could hear him shouting. And the way he left the house…it seemed—more like desperation to get to her before she got hurt. I think you know, as well as I do—he's in love with her."
Jeff looked into his wife's brown eyes then, and realized the truth in her words. He had watched Joe's actions toward his niece all evening. He saw the way Joe looked at her, the way he held her while they danced, let alone the fire in his eyes when Matt was dancing with her. Jeff knew they'd obviously argued as well, and then Joe was drinking non-stop. Not to mention, when Joe found Ella and helped Jeff get her home—he simply would not leave Ella's side.
Jeff realized full well that Joe did indeed love his niece, but he just didn't know how to deal with the situation at that precise moment. "I know he loves her," he admitted to Nina. "I'm just not really sure how to feel about it right now. And in answer to your question, he's a ticking time bomb," he whispered. "I don't think I've ever seen him so worried and stressed out."
Jeff was a nervous wreck himself. It seemed a lot longer than five hours from when Ella was first brought to the hospital. And they still hadn't found anything out about her prognosis. "I wish they would at least send someone out here to let us know what's going on," he said worriedly, as he mechanically sipped on the hospital's overly strong coffee.
Joe nodded, but still did not say a word.
"Surely, they won't take much longer," Sabin spoke up. "I mean, they have to know her family and friends are out here sweating bullets." He flushed when AJ cut him a glare at mentioning 'bullets'. "Sorry," Sabin uttered. "But you know what I mean."
"It's okay, Chris," Jeff told the young wrestler. "You're right."
"I'm gonna go outside for a couple minutes," Joe announced, finally speaking up and rising from his chair. It did not take a rocket scientist to realize Sabin's comment struck a nerve. "I'll be back soon. I just need some air and to clear my head…" he trailed off, and hurried across the waiting room.
"Joe… I'm really sorry," Sabin said, feeling horrible for inadvertently upsetting his friend.
Joe just kept walking without a backward glance, merely putting his hand up as he stalked through the doorway as if to say, 'shut up while you're ahead'. An awkward silence ensued, once he had disappeared from sight.
"He's not taking this very well, is he," Kevin Nash drawled in his deep bass voice.
Jeff shook his head. "No better than we are," he said, squeezing Nina's hand. Then he rose from his chair. "If anyone comes out to give an update on Ella, someone call my cell, or text me—immediately," he said. "I'm going to talk to him."
He followed the direction Joe had gone, walking briskly past the soda and vending machines, and out the front entrance of the hospital. It did not take him long to figure out where the younger wrestler had gone, as he heard a loud banging commotion around the corner of the building. Joe's voice carried over to him in a series of frustrated growls, grunts and colorful curses. Jeff jogged hurriedly around the building to an area laden with a few benches and a couple trash receptacles. One of which, Joe was pummeling.
"Kid, cut that out," Jeff said, running to him and grasping his arm as he pulled him away from the large trash can. "You'll get yourself arrested and then what good will you be for Ella? She's going to need our support more than ever when she wakes up from surgery."
"Better to get arrested over a trashcan's assault than Sabin's murder," Joe growled bitterly. "I'd be free in a couple of hours."
"He didn't mean to upset you, Joe," Jeff said, sitting down on one of the benches. He motioned for Joe to sit down too. "You know Sabin… He's not the epitome of tact." He saw turmoil more than he saw fury in the Samoan's dark eyes, and knew the young man was suffering just as he suffered. Each minute they didn't know what was happening with Ella, was a minute of pure torture.
"I know. I just—" Joe groaned in frustration and finally did sit down next to Jeff, panting from the exertion of punishing the trash can. He held his head in his hands and finally let himself give into the sorrow. He quietly sobbed out the anguish he was feeling, knowing if he didn't unleash it, it would eat at him until he completely lost control. "I'm a horrible person, Jeff."
"No, you're not. You saved her life, Joe," Jeff said softly, patting his shoulder. "Ella probably wouldn't have lived, otherwise. You don't have any idea how grateful I am to you."
"No, you don't understand," Joe protested. "Everything's so messed up now—Everything. Ella and I had a fight. I said some things I didn't mean at all. I insulted her over and over—I couldn't seem to make myself stop. And she believed me—every word. I could see it in her eyes. I hurt her, and I don't know how to fix it."
Jeff shook his head. "Joe, it's fixable-"
"And then I was too late to save her parents," he continued. "I couldn't save your sister, Jeff." He struggled with his emotions. He loathed crying but the urge claimed him at such a time. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save them all."
Jeff broke down too. He'd not had a moment to stop and think of the sister he lost. Now the realization hit him with a tremendous force. Slowly managing to pull himself together, he put his arm around the younger man's shoulders. "It isn't your fault, Joe. There was nothing you could have done any different than you did. I'm grateful, and so thankful you were able to save Ella. She's my sister's daughter, and thanks to you I not only have my niece, but the last piece of my sister as well."
Joe nodded, and wiped at his eyes. "I just wish I could've done more. I killed two of the men who attacked Ella," he said with venom in his voice. Jeff could see he needed to let out the mental strain he was under. He let him talk it out, figuring it would help him relieve some stress. "I found one knelt next to her. He was…" he trailed off and swallowed hard. "He had...a knife in her mouth. I shot the guy. I thought he'd die quicker than he did though and I made a mistake. Ella was shot a second time, because I failed her."
"Joe, this isn't your fault at all," Jeff said, reeling from what the man had done to Ella. "So don't try to make it your fault."
Joe shook his head. "It was all just made worse by how I treated her earlier. I can't believe how mean I was to her. You know what I said to her before she left the party?"
Jeff simply shook his head, letting his friend get everything off his chest.
"I said that I hoped I'd never see her again." He shook his head again. "I didn't mean it." With a growl, he jumped to his feet and looked up at the sky, "I DIDN'T MEAN IT!" He shouted with all the anger and fear he had bottled inside him.
While he'd found Ella and she was in the best place she could be, there still was no guarantee she'd pull through. He was scared to death.
He fell back down on the bench next to Jeff and spoke softly, his throat raw from his shouting. "After I killed the first guy, I turned around and two others were trying to grab her. Just like vultures…there was no reprieve from these guys' attacks." He swallowed and continued. "I killed one, but then the other…he was evidently the Fournier that Nathan mentioned. He said—some stuff that didn't sit right with me," Joe averted his eyes, nervous about confessing the events of his and Ella's evening.
"Like what," Jeff asked. "You have to tell me, Joe. Any information could help catch the guy."
Joe puffed out a heavy sigh. "Ella and I—well, you know how we had not parted on very good terms years ago. We somewhat made up last night, till I ruined it later. Anyway—it was no secret that Ella had a crush on me when we were younger—and when I saw her for the first time in years, last night—she took my breath away." His eyes still avoided Jeff. "I kissed her. We made out..." He quickly decided to keep the extent of the make-out session to himself. Not to protect himself, but rather Ella. "And Fournier let me know he saw us." He sighed again and rubbed the tense muscles in his neck.
"Did he say anything else?"
Joe sighed. "Yes. Initially, he told me he needed Ella, but that he'd kill her if I didn't let him have her. I've got a bad feeling about this Jeff—a really bad feeling."
"Joe, for now we have to take this a day at a time. Let's focus on Ella healing first. Then getting her home, and then mapping out a plan to protect her."
"I know. I'm just not a very patient man."
Jeff noticed ever since Joe confessed about his kissing Ella, the Samoan was avoiding eye contact with him. "I'm not pissed, Joe."
The young wrestler lifted his gaze to his boss' face.
"About you and Ella," Jeff clarified. "I'm not mad at you for kissing her."
Joe felt relief surge through him. "I'm glad, Jeff," he said softly. "Because I love her."
"I can see that."
"I know I messed up with her last night. But I want you to know, I'll never hurt her again or take advantage of her."
Despite the fact that he took things too far on Jeff's patio, he would not pressure her to make love, till she was ready.
Jeff nodded. Any insecurity he had about Joe and Ella dating, left immediately. "Okay, fair enough. Honestly, I think I'd be glad for her to date you. I know I can trust you. I'd rather she date someone I know really well, and care about, than some college frat boy who has only one thing on his mind."
"Well, you probably don't have to worry about either one too soon. Right now, I think she hates me. Plus, I know Ella needs to heal. Not just physically—she saw her parents get killed," Joe said, popping his knuckles. He shook his head, unable to grasp the horror of the situation.
"I know," Jeff sighed. "I need to see about her having some counseling, if she'll agree to it." He patted Joe's back then, and spoke softly, "And in the meantime, kid, just try to hang in there. We'll get through this, for Ella's sake. We have to because she's going to need us. And stop thinking she hates you. She is a very forgiving young lady."
Joe nodded in agreement. Changing the subject slightly, he asked, "Did you and the others find anything when you left the house? Did you get any of the other men?" He could not help but hope they had killed them all.
Jeff nodded. "Yeah, we saw five of them—well, six, counting the one who came out of the woods and ran to his car, I'm assuming it was Fournier. We got five of the six. Nash, Kurt, and Shelley each killed one, and I got two. Fournier got away, obviously. I tried to get a shot on him, but he managed to drive away."
Joe counted up the men in his head. "There must have been eight total then. Why would it take eight men to kidnap one girl?"
Jeff shook his head and replied, "I don't know. But something tells me if he wants her so badly, he isn't going to give up on her."
"Yeah, well he wasn't counting on me standing in his way either," Joe retorted.
That's true, Jeff considered. He, as well as the rest of their close-knit friends knew how territorial and protective Joe could be when it came to his loved ones. He remembered a time a couple years prior when Madison Rayne, a mere five-foot-three, was attacked by an obsessive fan at an airport. Needless to say, Joe took care of the problem quickly. Yes, Joe will keep Ella safe, I know, Jeff thought, watching his friend intently. He had the beginnings of an idea forming in his head.
Joe noticed this, and stared back at his boss, confusion reflecting in his eyes. "What is it?"
Jeff chose his words carefully. "I know you'll keep Ella safe. I have no doubts about that." He paused and then asked softly, "Would you—Do you think you could stay at our place for a while, and help me watch her? I'm going to take some time off, but I'd feel better with some extra protection for her. I'll pay for you to fly back and forth to the shows. But do you think you'd have the energy to keep up with the shows and the travel—?"
Joe held up a hand to stop Jeff. "You don't even have to ask, Jeff. I'm there. Anything you need; I'll do whatever I can. Ella will need protection, and I don't think my nerves could handle my being away from her very much. I have to know she's okay."
"It may mean staying with us for quite a while," Jeff warned, wanting Joe to realize the burden of what he was asking.
"If my presence won't bother you, then it won't bother me to stay with you guys in the least. I want Ella to be safe." He took a moment to pop his neck to relieve some of his tension. "I'll, of course, pitch in financially."
"You'll do no such thing," Jeff told him. "Helping me keep Ella safe is repayment enough for me."
"Let's discuss it later," Joe said, patting Jeff on the back. But secretly, the Samoan already had his mind made up. He never had his living made for him, with the exception of his childhood, and he wasn't about to start.
Thanks, Joe," Jeff said softly. "You don't know what this means to me." No sooner than he spoke, he jumped as if he had been shot. "Got a text," he explained as he grabbed his vibrating cell phone. No more than a second after looking at the screen, he shoved it back in his pocket and was on his feet. "She's out of surgery."
Without another word, he and Joe were running for the waiting room. When they reached the room, the surgeon was standing in the doorway talking to Nina.
"How's Ella," Jeff demanded, his brow furrowed in worry.
The surgeon shifted his eyes from Nina to Jeff and Joe. "Mr. Jarrett?"
"Yes," Jeff answered right away, popping his knuckles. "How did she do in surgery, Doctor…"
The surgeon pulled off his surgical cap, "I'm Doctor Sullivan," he replied, reaching out to shake Jeff's hand. "And Ella pulled through the surgeries."
He didn't elaborate on her condition however, and this worried Jeff. However, he waited patiently for the doctor to continue.
"One bullet went clean through her left shoulder," the surgeon explained. "Some reconstructive surgery was required. However, the other bullet lodged into her liver. So, I had to perform a liver resection, which is basically cutting away the part of the liver that's damaged." The doctor paused when he saw the look of horror cross Jeff's face. "It's absolutely safe, Mr. Jarrett. The liver grows back to its normal size in time." He moved on to the rest of Ella's injuries. "We also did a procedure on her collapsed lung. We brought in a pulmonary specialist who did a surgical pleurodesis." Assuming, before he even finished the sentence, that the people watching him would not comprehend the procedure, he delved into the details. "A surgical pleurodesis is a procedure that's intended to cause inflammation of the lining around the lungs. The irritated tissue reacts by producing scar tissue, which causes the two layers of the lung lining to stick together. This removes the space where fluid can build up around the lungs." The doctor paused, rubbing the back of his neck. "Ella also has a pretty severe concussion. I'm not exactly sure of what grade it is yet because that's usually determined by how long the symptoms last. Seeing as she's not regained consciousness at all since she came in, I'd have to assume it's a grade two or three."
"How's she doing right now," Joe asked, finally voicing his own thoughts.
"Honestly…she isn't doing as well as I'd like," the surgeon answered. "We've done all we can, and she's still very…distressed, for lack of a better term." He met Joe's black glare, and elaborated a little more. "We're having a hard time getting her vital signs to regulate. Her pulse is still very erratic, and her blood pressure is staying way too low. As I stated, prior to her surgeries she never regained consciousness… Until some changes occur, her body is systematically shutting down. It's just a very bad situation for the girl to be in," he said, a touch of sadness in his eyes. "I didn't want to operate on her till she stabilized, but it became obvious she wasn't going to stabilize and time was running out, so I simply had to go ahead with it."
"Please, just tell us… Will she be all right," Nina asked, tears glistening in her brown eyes.
"That's very hard to say right now," Doctor Sullivan said gently. "The first forty-eight hours will be the most critical. We've moved her to the tenth floor for now, the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. We'll take it a step at a time, and keep our eye on her. We'll do everything we can, I promise," the surgeon said softly, seeing the fear mirrored in the eyes of Ella's loved ones. The large, dark man standing with the Jarretts was all but pacing like a caged animal, his wrath obvious. Doctor Sullivan continued with caution, not knowing whom the big Samoan would take his rage out on. "If she improves—and improves enough—over the next few days, I will move her out of Trauma, and into a private room. Then…well, we'll just have to see how she progresses from there."
"How long till she recovers fully," Joe asked, his ebony-colored eyes daring the doctor to give him an answer he did not like.
"Sir, I'm sorry…right now, I can't give a time frame because she's not even stable yet."
Joe fought the urge to choke the life out of the doctor. He stared him down instead. "Is Ella going to die?"
"I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen," the surgeon replied softly. "I promise."
"Can we see her," Joe asked, wanting nothing more than to change the subject.
Doctor Sullivan eyed the large Pacific Islander. "I'll allow family to see her later on today, yes."
"Doctor," Jeff started, "Joe is family, and he saved Ella's life. And I'll tell you something else, after the night we've had, there's no way on earth we aren't seeing her now," he continued, indicating himself as well as Nina and Joe. "And Joe and I are staying with her. "She'll be scared when she wakes up." Jeff spoke softly, but there was authority in his tone. He was not leaving room for argument.
"That's where I have to draw the line, I'm afraid," Doctor Sullivan tried reasoning with Ella's uncle. "I can't have—"
"Doctor," Joe cut in then, "Ella saw her parent's murders. One of her attackers got away, and he made it very clear that he intends to come back for her. We're not leaving her alone and unprotected."
The doctor looked between the two men and could see, despite their air of hardheadedness, the fear and rattled nerves that were plaguing them. He reluctantly caved when he realized how he would feel if it were his own daughter in Ella Roberts' situation. "All right, you can stay with her around the clock till we can get a cop to guard her door. Then, I'll let you have regular visiting hours with her. Once we move her to a private room, you can then stay with her around the clock as long as she's here."
Jeff nodded, relieved he and Joe were able to get the surgeon to bend the rules a little. "Thank you," he said, taking Nina's hand. Then they and Joe were starting to follow the surgeon out the door when Jeff suddenly stopped. He turned, his gaze falling on his employees throughout the room.
"You guys should go home and get some rest. I appreciate the support more than you could know, but you all need your sleep."
"What about you," Kurt Angle spoke up, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I'll have to take some time off. I'll catch up on sleep. It'll be fine."
"Are you sure," Talia asked. "I feel horrible about leaving when you—"
"Don't worry," Jeff said. "Just get home, or to your flights, or wherever you need to be. I'll leave Dixie in charge while I'm gone." He looked back at Joe, Nina and the surgeon waiting on him. "I'm gonna go now. Thank y'all so much for your support."
"No problem, Jeff," Steve Borden said as he and the others stood and stretched their legs. "We just hope Ella recovers well."
Jeff nodded and not knowing what else to say, turned and followed as Doctor Sullivan led them down the hallway. They turned around the corner and got on an elevator to get to the tenth floor. Moments later, they stepped off, and followed the doctor down another corridor.
"She may be in and out of consciousness for the next several hours—once she initially awakens. Due to her collapsed lung, she was struggling to breathe, and fought us, even when we first put her under. We wound up having to use a heavier anesthetic on her in order to stop her struggles," Doctor Sullivan warned, stopping outside an ICU room's door. "Also be prepared for all the tubes and wires. It's a frightening sight, but I assure you, each one of them is vital right now."
"Okay, thank you," Jeff said softly, psyching himself up for the worst.
"If you need anything, just ask one of the nurses at the desk and they will reach me." With that, the surgeon smiled encouragingly at them and then walked away to go see his other patients.
Jeff turned to Joe. "Why don't you go on in and have a few moments with her," he suggested. "I know you need to be alone for a bit."
Nina nodded her agreement.
"Thank you," Joe said graciously to both of them. "That means a lot to me." He turned then, and headed into Ella's room.
He heard the rapid, irregular beeping of the heart monitor in the corner, and looked at her sleeping form lying in the hospital bed. She wasn't stirring at all. He stepped up to the bed and gently took her limp hand in his. Paler than usual, her long black lashes cast sweeping shadows down her ashen cheeks.
"Ella," Joe whispered softly, as he leaned down and brushed his lips over her temple. "Honey, can you hear me?"
Remembering the doctor's warning, he noticed the wires hooked up to her from the electrocardiograph machine next to her bed, as well as the IV in her hand. A tube protruded from the sleeve of her hospital gown, and was sending a slightly bloody fluid down to a container hooked up to her bed railing. Ensuring that she would have enough oxygen, a nasal cannula had been placed in her nose. A bandage hid the small cut marring the skin of her neck, and the bruises on her face had darkened to a purple color.
Joe felt helpless. And the feeling angered him.
"Ella, you can't do this," he said. "Don't you dare give up. You have to fight, honey. I can't lose you. I just…can't." His eyes burned with more tears and he didn't even bother to fight them as they streamed down his face. "I'm sorry for everything I said. I didn't mean one word of it. Please, believe me, Ella. I was drunk and my stupid pride was wounded. But… I never should have said any of those horrible things." He kissed her cold hand and held onto it. "Please, come back to me, Ella. Please, baby." A sob escaped his throat. "I always thought my career would come first, and finding someone to love would be second. But, that isn't how it worked out. I love you more than life itself, Ella. You come first for me. If I don't have you, nothing else matters."
Despite his worry, Joe was grateful for the fact she was asleep, even though he would have loved to hear her voice. He knew, however, the more she slept the less pain she would feel, and the quicker she'd heal. Unable to bear the burden of worry alone, he stepped over to the door and motioned for Jeff and Nina to enter.
"Is she okay," Jeff asked, stepping through the door with Nina. Worry dimmed the usual light in the older man's blue eyes.
"As good as she can be, I guess," Joe answered, quite shaken. Mentally preparing himself before entering the room had not been enough to soften the blow of seeing Ella in such a fragile state.
"Are you up for staying overnight with her," Jeff asked, seeing how Ella's appearance affected him.
Joe's eyes met Jeff's head on.
"I'm not leaving her. I just want you to be as prepared as possible," he said. "She looks very frail."
Jeff took a deep breath and blew it out. "Okay. Let's get in there." Then he and Nina entered the room, along with Joe, to finally see Ella with their own eyes.
