Chapter 5:

"Hey… how was the x-ray?" He didn't really know what to ask or say.

"Fine I guess. They were x-raying my ribs and the technician touched my wrist to help me move and I screamed and nearly passed out. So they x-rayed that too. It hurts worse than my ribs currently."

"You didn't mention it earlier."

She shook her head.

"No, I know… I didn't know it hurt. But looking at it now I would say something is definitely really wrong with it."

Tim sighed.

"I'm sorry you got hurt."

She nodded.

"Me too. But thank God you came in."

"yeah…" I need you to stop getting in so much shit. Is what he wanted to say.

"Are my parents coming?"

Tim nodded. "Yep. But they were in Dallas so it'll be a while."

"Oh Shit. I forgot they had gone away… Was that who you were on the phone with in the hall?"

"oh um… no. I hope you don't mind… I called Billy to tell him where I am."

"Of course I don't mind. Um… do you need to go?"

"Not a chance Julie. I'm not letting you out of my sight."

She blushed. "Good."

"Good?"

"Yeah… good. I feel safe with you and I trust you and yeah… good."

He smiled. "Okay."

A knock on the door startled them both. Tim stood up.

It was two new cops and a female detective.

"Hello Miss Taylor. My name is Detective Wolfe. I'd like to ask you some questions if that is okay?"

"um… sure"

"You are Julie Taylor?"

"Yes."

"You are seventeen?"

"No… No ma'am... I'm only sixteen… I'll turn seventeen in February."

"Okay… are your parents on their way?"

"Yes. But… they were in Dallas so it might be a few hours. Tim is going to stay with me."

"Tim?" The detective asked.

"Uh… Yes ma'am…. Tim Riggins." He held out his hand and she shook it then glanced at her papers. Tim sat back down.

"The same Tim Riggins who witnessed the assault?"

"Yes ma'am."

"What is your relationship?"

Tim looked at Julie.

"Friends." They said together.

"I see…" she wrote a note in her notebook.

"You are a minor. Do you want to wait for your parents or are you okay chatting with me?"

"I'm okay with it."

"Do either of you have a relationship with Joseph McCoy?"

"JD's Dad?" Tim asks confused.

"Um… JD… Joseph Daniel McCoy… age 15." She states.

"Oh sorry." Tim says looking at Julie.

"I didn't know his name either… I only know him as just JD." Julie says carefully.

"Tim?" The detective asks.

"Oh um… well JD is on the team… football… and I play too. Uh… actually. Her dad is the coach."

"Interesting. You are the coach's daughter and JD is on the team?" She scribbled on her notebook.

"Yes."

"Does JD get to play much?"

"Well no ma'am… he is a freshman and we have a senior as starting quarterback… uh… actually her Ex, Matt."

"Interesting. So has JD shown any aggression towards this Matt or the coach?"

Julie looks to Tim because she has no idea.

"Um… I have no idea ma'am."

She scribbles in her notebook again.

"Matt's last name is?"

"Saracen."

"Okay and Miss Taylor, have you interacted with JD before tonight?"

"um… at a party last week he wanted to talk… uh… actually he grabbed my arm that night and Tim…"

"Tim did what?"

"That party was at my house so I politely asked him to remove his hand." Tim said trying not to smirk.

"Okay… any other interactions?"

"No. I barely knew who he was. Tonight I went into that room to avoid Matt, my ex-boyfriend. He and his new girlfriend had just arrived and were making out in the hall. Anyway I slipped into the room and he was already there."

"Okay can you tell me what happened next?"

"Oh um… everything?" She asked nervously.

The detective looked between the two teens.

"Yes, I need your official statement. Um… Mr. Riggins can step out if you'd like."

"Can she wait for her parents for this part?" Tim asked not wanting her to be alone.

"Well sure. If you want… Miss Taylor?"

"Um… I don't know. I guess I'd rather get it over with."

"Perfect. Do you want Mr. Riggins to stay or step into the hall?"

Julie looked at Tim. Tim shrugged. It was her call.

She licked her lips. "I think… I think I'd like him to stay."

"Okay. Whenever you are ready."

"Alright… well…"

Julie gave her full statement all the way till the ambulance. Tim tried not to cringe as she relived every detail.

"Okay. That's all I need. Do you have any questions for me Miss Taylor?"

"A few… yes."

"Alrighty go ahead."

"What happens next… like legally? Do I have to go to court or um… what happens?"

The detective hesitated.

"The thing is Miss Taylor… Mr. McCoy is only fifteen so…"

"So he gets a free pass?" Tim shouted.

"Calm down Tim." Julie said.

"No, Mr. Riggins. Not a free pass. But it is a factor in how we move forward. With both of you being minors it does matter."

Julie and Tim both frown.

"It will also matter that 2 witnesses described in detail exactly what they saw and they were separated and gave identical statements and Miss Taylor's statement is identical as well. All of that factors in. Also the extent of your injuries but am I correct in assuming you do not have that information yet?"

"I don't… they x-rayed my ribs and my wrist but i don't have any other injuries except... Uh i was told i'd probably have a bruise on my thigh where he uh... pulled my legs apart. Um... The nurse said they were going to come back after the radiologist looked over the images. Do they give you that information?" Julie asked.

"Yes, but we don't share it or anything."

"Okay…So… can you tell me possibilities of what comes next? I'm sorry if I'm not supposed to ask or if you don't know. I just like to be prepared for things and as you can imagine, i'm not feeling very prepared right now."

Tim thought. No shit.

"No no hun, you're fine. You can ask whatever you want. So for right now I guess all I can really tell you is that we are taking this very seriously. Mr. McCoy is being treated for his injuries down the hall and then will be taken to the police station for a probable arrest."

Julie froze.

"He…"

"Jules… it's okay." Tim said scooting his chair closer.

Her voice was squeaky. "He's here in this hospital?"

Tim put his hand on her left hand. "Yes. He broke his nose." Tim said.

"You knew he was here and didn't tell me?"

"Julie… try to breathe please. He has 2 cops on his door and you have 3 in yours plus me. You are safe. No one's gonna hurt you here."

She swallowed and took a deep breath. Then nodded.

"I'm sorry." She said.

"Do you have any other questions?"

"Can he be made to stay away from me? Um... permanently?" She asked.

The detective made a note in her notebook.

"Do you fear him?"

Tim narrowed his eyes. Was that a serious question right now?

"I know it seems like a stupid question but I have a method. Do you fear JD McCoy, Miss Taylor?"

"Yes. He scares me, I am afraid he will hurt me again and I don't ever want to be in the same room as him."

She scribbled in her notebook.

"Any other questions?"

"One more I think… um… while he is here in the hospital can the police stay? I mean I know you all have busy…"

"Yes. I will have 2 guards stay on your door. Only medical staff, your parents and uh… Mr. Riggins will be allowed to enter. Is that alright?"

"Yes ma'am." Julie said. She was thankful Tim could stay and no one else could bother her.

"Alright I'll let you try and rest. If you need anything here is my card." Julie took the card but didn't have anywhere to put it so she handed it to Tim who slipped it into his pocket with her phone.

The detective left.

"Jules where are your clothes and things? I have your phone but nothing else…"

"They put everything in a bag under the bed when i went for the x-rays."

Tim peeked under and found it then settled back in his chair.

Julie flicked on the TV and found something to watch.

She was hurting a lot in her wrist and even in her chest, under her right breast. It made her a little more nervous about the x-ray results.

When she was being brought to her room she had asked for a pain pill and they gave one Tylenol with some water but that was clearly not doing the trick. Hopefully a little TV and Tim could distract her from her physical pain. Her emotional pain was just on a constant replay in her head.

Thoughts?