Here is the next chapter. I went ahead and posted. Only two more chapters. Amber
Chapter 27
Callie screamed. She couldn't approach until she was given permission by the judge. She wailed. As Carson Drew and Ned Nickerson both knelt beside her. Callie watched with bated breath. Her husband had her arms and was ready to pounce. Fenton Hardy demanded. "Your honor. We have a doctor here."
The judge nodded. "Bailiff let the Doctor through. Are this child's parents here?"
Callie and Frank both answered. "Yes!"
Joe hurried to his poor niece. He rolled her over and she had fallen on her face. Her nose was bleeding and swollen. He checked her pulse and it was rapid. Unbeknownst to the defense Joe had seen Juan Garcia's gesture to his niece. The motion had scared her to death. She had probably had a flashback, poor kid. Now she has a broken nose and probably a concussion.
The judge said. "Jury please return to the deliberation room, bailiff remove the defendant, the audience needs to clear out. Do we need an ambulance doctor?"
Joe nodded. "Given her obvious trauma, yes and your honor I want to point out that Juan Garcia gestured to her with his hands as if he was shooting a gun at her."
The defense attorney sneered. "My client did no such thing."
Fenton was furious. "Check the recording."
Brooke's eyes started fluttering. She moaned and sat up. "Daddy!"
Frank didn't care if he was found in contempt. His daughter called him. He jumped over the railing. "I'm here baby. Daddy's got you."
"My face hurts."
Joe checked her pupils. "Do you feel nauseous?"
"Very..Oh I'm going to throw up!"
The defense attorney pulled his lunch out of a plastic bag and handed it to Ned. Who managed to put the bag under her face just in time. Brooke felt her head explode in pain as the sickness came. She was so embarrassed. When the fit passed she laid back down with her head on the floor. "Sorry."
"Don't apologize. Miss Hardy, did you see Juan Garcia gesture to you in any way?"
"He made a gun with his right hand and waved his hand as if he was shooting."
The judge first called for an ambulance then asked to see the tape. He asked for council to approach. They both did and watched the feed together. The judge rebuked the defense attorney. "Mr. Clifton you'd better get control of your client. That was uncalled for."
"Your honor I put in a motion for a mistrial."
Judge Marshal Douglas sneered. "I will not grant that. The jury did not see what was happening. The defendant will be remanded and not allowed to watch anymore testimony."
The defense attorney nodded. "Maybe that is best, your honor."
Callie was gripping the banister. "Your honor please let me approach my daughter!"
Marshal Douglas nodded. "Yes come forward."
Callie rushed behind the gate. "It's alright baby. You're safe."
Brooke moaned. "Are we really? What about Claire and Ford?"
"Honey agents are with them. So is your Aunt and grandmother." Fenton soothed.
The medics came up. "What happened?"
Joe said. "She fainted. She hit her face when she fell. Let me see your stethoscope. I'm a doctor. Get me a backboard and C-collar."
Frank refused to move from Brooke's head. He soothed her. "It's going to be alright pumpkin. They have to put a collar on you and put your head on a backboard because of the head trauma."
Brooke's eyes filled with tears. "I won't be able to move! Daddy! I hate that!"
Joe soothed her. "I'm right here kiddo. I'm riding with you. Your parents will follow the ambulance as well as grandpa okay."
"Okay."
Joe handed Frank his keys. He had driven separately from them. The medic's wheeled Brooke to the ambulance and Joe climbed in the back right after her. He took her hand. "It's okay kiddo."
"My nose really hurts so does my head."
Joe said. "You hit the floor hard and your nose took a lot of the impact."
Brooke's phone buzzed. She looked at the display. It was Ben. 'Oh great! Then she remembered something. She typed. 'Isn't your uncle an ENT doctor?'
Ben typed back. 'Yes you met him at our Christmas party. WHY?'
Brooke didn't answer with words. She took a picture of her now bruised face and swollen nose and sent it. 'I fainted in the courtroom after my testimony. Juan Garcia scared me. I'm so embarrassed.'
'OMG! That looks painful. I'll take an uber to the hospital. Mom and dad are both on duty.'
'You don't have to do that. I don't want you to get in trouble.'
'I won't get in trouble. I'm coming.'
'Get your sister to bring you. That at least is free.'
'Which hospital?'
'VHC of course. My Uncle is watching me like a mother hen.'
'Good! See you soon, bright eyes.'
Brooke put her phone away. Her uncle was raising an eyebrow. "What my boyfriend texted me. I had to tell him what happened. He's coming to the hospital."
"You've got a good one there kid." Joe said.
Benjamin Culpepper had connections. He called his Uncle at home. "Uncle Pete it's Ben um did you get the picture of my girlfriend that I sent. She fainted today and fell on her face."
"I did. Which hospital is she going to?"
"VHC? Could you pick me up and take me there? I want to make sure she's okay. I can get a ride home from mom and dad."
"I'm on my way buddy."
His uncle did not dawdle for which he was grateful. They sped to the hospital. Ben hit the doors. His uncle put a badge on his shirt. He said to the girl at the front. "What room is Brooke Hardy in. I'm an ENT and am here for a consult."
"She's in obs three."
Pete Culpepper did not wait for her to say anything else. He simply waved his badge at the strip by the ER doors and they both went in. They both ran into Joe Hardy. Joe nodded. "Tom good to see you."
"I hear you need a consult."
Ben was shifting from foot to foot. "My uncle's the best."
Joe ruffled his hair. "I know kid. Go see your girl. She's been given something for pain and nausea so she's a little woozy."
Ben moved the curtain. "Brooke! Oh bless your heart you're so bruised and swollen."
Brooke's eyes couldn't focus on him. "Ben...who that?"
"It's my Uncle Pete you met him at our Christmas party remember"
"Oh yeah. Need an ENT. My nose is broken."
Pete approached the bed. "It doesn't look crooked. I should be able to do a manual realignment. After the swelling goes down I'll be able to tell you for sure. Has she had a CT scan?"
Callie nodded. "She just came back."
"Then I'll go look at it. I'll be back."
Ben sat on the bed. "You look awful bright eyes."
Brooke stuck out her tongue. "Wish I hadn't looked at him."
Frank growled. "He's lucky I didn't see it. I would have catapulted over that railing and beaten him bloody."
Fenton smacked the back of Frank's head. "No you wouldn't have because I would have gotten to him first."
Brooke said. "Aww aren't they sweet? Mommy have you checked on Claire and Ford?"
"Yes dear they're fine."
"They want to keep her here for observation." Callie said.
"I don't want to stay. Want to go home."
Frank soothed her. "Now dear we've talked about this you have a concussion. They want to monitor you."
"Uncle Joe can from home."
Joe came in. "You need to have neuro checks. It's going to be annoying but it's necessary. You're also getting some bloodwork done."
Peter Culpepper returned to the bedside. "Yes a manual realignment can be done in a couple days. She's going to be admitted for three days. I can do the procedure on the third day. That will give the swelling enough time to go down."
Brooke growled. "I don't want to stay in a stupid hospital. No sir. I want to go home."
Joe patted her leg. "She's had some pain medication. She also has a concussion."
Brooke said. "I went WHAM."
Ben kissed her forehead. "You sure did. Corporate please."
Brooke made a face but then grinned. "Fine but only because you said please."
Dr. Cassandra Culpepper opened the curtain. "What on earth happened. When Ben texted me that you were here that he would need a ride home. I thought he was joking."
Brooke shook her head. "No ma'am. I fell on my face. I fainted after my testimony. I'm a weakling. Apparently Juan Garcia still scares the hell out of me."
Frank soothed her. "Honey, he should scare you. He's a dangerous man and he hurt you twice. Don't be embarrassed because of your feelings."
Ben jerked his thumb towards Frank. "What he said."
Brooke's face crumbled. "He wants to kill me."
Fenton soothed. "That isn't going to happen. Your parents are going to go home after we get you settled in a room. I'm going to stay with you."
Brooke nodded. "I'm good with that. Mom and dad have to get to Ford."
