Chapter. 63
In the darkness Vincent heard beeping, along with far off voices. Opening his eyes Vincent saw white. "He's waking up!" Vincent blinked to clear his vision as he heard people moving. When his sight returned the first thing was an IV connected to his arm, lifting his head he saw was his friends and family gathered around him. "V!" Rebecca gently threw he arms around Vincent's neck. Vincent wanted to hold her but his arms were numb.
When Rebecca pulled away Elizabeth did the same. "You're such a dumbass Vince!"
"Give him some space! He just got out of surgery!" Shouted Vincent's mother.
"What's going on?" When his sister let go Vincent looked around to see he was in a hospital room. His lower arms were wrapped in bandages as well as pads on his chest.
Lyle placed his hand on Vincent's shoulder. "Welcome back to the land of the living."
"What happened?" Vincent's voice was low.
"You were shot. Corina call 911 for an ambulance and cops to arrest Catherine. You were in surgery for eight hours."
Corina holds up Vincent's leather braces, both with two holes on both sides. "The doctors said these slowed the bullets, it's why you're still alive."
"Did anyone else get hurt?"
Rebecca stood next to Vincent, her hand on Vincent's upper arm. "I'm okay thanks to you." Rebecca teared up as her grip on Vincent's arm tightened. "You almost died trying to protect me."
"Watch it!" Shouted Elizabeth, Rebecca loosened her grip and let go.
Vincent raised his hand, Rebecca took a hold of it. "It's what anyone would've done."
Vincent's father shook his head. "I don't know if I'm either proud or angry with you Vincent, but you did the right thing."
"Thanks, dad." Vincent lowered his hand. "What about Catherine?"
Lyle nods. "She was arrested. We won't be seeing her again."
"Good." Vincent's eye grew heavy. "I'm tired and I don't feel anything. Is that bad?"
"That's the meds talking." Said Elizabeth. "We'll be here when you wake up again."
"Okay." Vincent fell asleep.
...
When Vincent woke up again Everyone gathered around Vincent once more. "How do you feel?" Asked Vincent's mother.
"The same, but that might be the medication."
"You're alive, that's all I care about."
"What happens now?"
"You'll be staying here for over a month, then you'll go to a rehab center. That may take a another month or so."
Vincent sighed. "Alright." Looked round the room again to find someone was missing. "Where's Levi?"
Everyone looked to each other before Corina spoke up. "She had a break down when you were shot. Levi's at home but she's fine."
"Okay."
An intercom spoke throughout the hospital. "The visiting hours will be over in thirty minutes."
Vincent's father waved his finger. "We have to go hon. The client is waiting on her new house."
"Alright." Vincent's mother patted her son's head. "We have to go Vince. Please try to recover and don't put your life in more danger."
"I'll try mom."
"Rest up son. You did a good, selfless, and stupid thing. But I'm proud of you." Vincent's parents walked out of the room.
"Don't ever do that again. I'm not losing my brother." Elizabeth hugged Vincent and followed after her parents.
"Take care Vincent." Lyle pats Vincent's shoulder as he walked out, Corina right behind him.
"See you later Vincent?"
Now alone Rebecca held Vincent's hand. "Will you be okay."
"I'm fine Reby."
"I'm sorry."
"Stop. I did what I did, Catherine would've shot someone. If not you or me it would've been Lyle, Corina, or Levi. Don't you ever thing this was your fault. Catherine has proven she'll go after anyone close to me." Vincent covered his chest with his hand. "Talking hurts now. That sucks." Vincent took a few long breathes. "Besides, I'm still alive because you got me those braces."
Reby leaned in to hug Vincent. "Thank you."
"It's over Reby. Catherine is gone. We won. Time to rest. I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Count on it." Reby let go of Vincent and waved as she walked out.
Vincent laid back and closed his eyes. Vincent saw blood running down his chest and arms, forcing him to reopen them. Vincent turned to look at his braces and his mind went back to when he was shot, his chest was hurting again.
...
An hour later Vincent's door opened and two doctors entered. Both of them standing at the side of his bed. "Hello Vincent, how are you feeling?"
"Tired with shots of pain but I'm alive."
"That's good." The two looked at each other then back to Vincent. "Vincent, how are you and Rebecca?"
"What?" Vincent examined the two doctors. "Are you two her parents?"
"Yes. To think our first meeting would be at an operating table."
"One hell of an impression."
"After the operation Rebecca told us so much about you. Our little girl cares a lot about you."
"I care about her." Vincent smiles as he hold up his arm. "Enough to almost die for her."
"To be honest we were concerned when we saw her jump on a motorcycle with someone, but we haven't seen Rebecca so happy in a long time."
"And I'll keep her happy. I used to be an asshole before I met Reby, and I'm not going back to that." Vincent held his chest. "That hurts."
The doctors checked Vincent's bandages and vitals. "Talking too much seems to hurt, the bullet grazed your lung, it had to be stitched so try to breath slowly and talk less."
"Alright. I'm guessing you still have thing to talk about."
"They can wait until later when you're better, don't worry, we can find easily." The two walked out, leaving Vincent to wounder if that was a threat or not.
Feeling tired Vincent tried again to sleep.
...
Vincent was back at Rebecca's house, Catherine pointing a gun at Rebecca and fired. Vincent ran to stop it but he was too slow. Rebecca was shot in the chest and fell to the floor, her eye locked onto Vincent's as she went down. Vincent jolted awake, his chest burned then his arms acted up. Vincent slowed his breath to endure the pain until it calmed down.
Vincent closed his eyes again to see the same event play out. Vincent opened his eyes and started to sweat, his breathing was picking up and his chest burned again. Vincent shut his eyes as he waited for the pain to die down. This time Catherine pointed her gun at him and fired, putting five rounds through him.
Vincent opened his eyes and tightened his fists, only to make his arms hurt. "Calm down, calm down." Vincent's body was shaking. A light beeped from a machine near him and The IV in his arm poured morphine and a sleep aid into him. The pain faded away and Vincent fell into a dreamless sleep.
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