Note: Once more... I am not a doctor and do not have any expertise with medical jargon or procedures. Enjoy!

Chapter 8:

At 3:50 AM Eric and Tami arrived at the hospital after leaving a sound asleep Gracie Belle with a nearly asleep Tyra. The four hours in the car were long and they were anxious and upset and it was just a rough trip.

"Good Morning Ma'am… we are here to see our daughter. Julie Taylor."

"One moment please."

They were led along a quiet corridor. They noticed police sitting in chairs outside of two separate rooms. They were taken to the closest room.

They had to show their ID's to the officers before they were allowed to enter and when they entered they were stunned.

Julie was in the bed with her right arm all wrapped up and propped up nearly as tall as her head. She had an IV like Tim said and she just looked small. Tim was draped over both sides of a small looking plastic chair with his head at a very painful looking angle but his right hand… that was holding Julie's left hand. Actually on further inspection his hand was just on the bed and her hand was holding onto his. Tightly.

Tami went over to the bed on the right side so she didn't disturb Tim and she kissed Julie's forehead about twelve times and brushed her hair back.

Eric quietly sat in the chair next to Tim.

"Do we wake them to tell them we are here?" Tami asked.

"No." Eric whispered.

Tami went out to the hall and asked for the consent papers and an additional chair.

Julie jerked awake from a nightmare with a small scream. Tim stumbled up.

"Shhh. Y'all it's alright. Relax." Eric said calmly.

"Coach." Tim said.

Julie was crying.

"Daddy."

"Oh hunny."

Tim carefully backed up and Eric slid over to gently hug Julie.

Due to the scream one of the officers poked his head in.

"Everything okay?" He asked.

"Yes. She just woke up."

That satisfied him and he left but Tami returned and had a chair and paper work with her.

"Hey sweet girl." She said noticing Eric was hugging Julie.

"Mama." She whispered. She sounded like a small child.

Tim felt a little awkward and was thinking about slipping out and finding a bathroom or food or maybe a drink.

Eric sat back down.

Then they all heard.

"Tim?" She asked shyly.

"Yeah… I'm still here."

Tami moved so she could see him.

She smiled. "Good."

Eric and Tami both gave each other a look.

Tim didn't know what to think. I thought she just wanted me till her parents got here… why does she still want me here… is it weird that I'm glad she wants me here? Shit i am overthinking this.

Tami sat down in her chair and began filling out the papers.

"Julie? Do you want to sleep more?" Eric asked.

"Uh… no dad… actually I'd really like to sit up because my lower back is getting sore… but I don't know if I can."

Tim was shaking his head.

"Don't do it… your ribs will not like that idea." He said.

"Have you broken ribs before Tim?" Eric asked curious.

"No… I have had bruised ribs before though. After a really bad tackle my freshman year and it was a bitch… uh… sorry… it hurt real bad." He got out.

Julie giggled then winced.

"Okay… laughter hurts. That sucks." She said.

"Sorry. My bruised ribs took about 4 weeks to finally stop hurting… this…" he sighed. "This will be worse."

Julie frowned at that news.

"Julie hun, when was your last period?" Tami asked.

"MOM!"

Eric and Tim both blushed.

Tami looked at her daughter and then the boys.

"Oh can it you two, you both are old enough to know how woman work. When was it Jules?"

Julie was flaming red.

"MOM!"

"Fine… can you write it?" She held the clipboard towards her.

"No... I'm right handed…" She said looking at her right arm and wondering how she was going to write for 8 weeks or more. "I just… oh jeez. 2 weeks ago." She mumbled out.

"Okay and I'm done. I'll go give this back to the nurse."

"Well… that was awkward… someone change the subject." Julie pleaded.

"Uh… how was the drive coach?" Tim tried.

"Well… it was pretty quick actually. I had to keep slowing down so I wouldn't get pulled over. Gracie Belle was a peach. Slept the whole way."

"Where is she?" Julie asked looking around.

"At the house… Tyra and her mom are watching her."

"Tyra?"

"Yeah Tim called her."

"You did?" She asked.

"Yes… you had passed out and I called your parents and Tyra… it kind of just worked out. That way they can focus on you and Gracie Belle is in her own bed. Seemed like a good idea."

She smiled. "Thank you."

Tami came back in and sat down.

He smirked. "You're welcome. Um… I need to find a bathroom. I'll be back."

Tim stepped out and asked the officers if they knew where the restrooms were located. They pointed him down the hall.

Once Tim was gone her parents gave each other another look and Tami moved to Tim's chair and scooted real close.

"Baby, are you doing okay really?" She asked.

"Yeah mom. I know it sounds nuts and I definitely think it's the morphine still in me somewhere but I actually don't hurt that much right now. I feel uncomfortable and my back feels stiff like I want to sit up but I am not hurting exactly."

"Okay… that sounds like a blessing."

Julie nodded.

"Mom, if Tim and Smash hadn't heard me yell and come in…" She dropped off.

"Smash was there too?" Her father asked.

"Yeah… I know I wasn't where I was supposed to be and I feel super dumb about being alone but can we please ignore that for now?" She asked tentatively.

"Hun, we are not mad at you. Not at all. You are sixteen and it was Tyra's birthday. We knew you would go to a party. We just didn't know… We are going to talk with a detective in the morning and make sure charges are brought."

"I talked to a detective… um… Tim has her card. She said it might be…. Well he uh… he is only fifteen so she said she didn't know what would actually happen to him."

"Oh for damn sure something is gonna happen." Eric said before he could stop himself.

"Tim broke his nose." She said.

"Good." Eric said.

"Eric!"

"I mean damn hun what do you want me to say?"

"Okay woah… calm down dad…"

"Sorry sweetheart."

"Julie… how are you doing emotionally with all this?"

"That's a loaded question mom."

Eric chuckled. That it was.

"I guess I am just relieved that he didn't… um… go through with it… I mean… I could tell he was going to. It was really awful. I could feel him..."

Eric was rubbing his hands in his hair trying not to hear his daughter talk about her almost rape.

"He was… scary. I was crying and yelling and hitting him. I'm pretty sure that's how my wrist got so messed up. I remember him holding it and it hurt and I yanked it away and hit him. I couldn't breathe I was fighting so hard and yelling so loud so someone would help me and then he was just gone off of me. I could breathe and I looked up and i just saw Tim and I was so relieved. Tim saved me. We gotta feed him forever or buy him something mom. He's been so great. He never left me if he could help it."

Eric stood up.

"I'll go find him now. Maybe we can find a vending machine. He's probably hungry. Do you want anything Julie?"

"Actually I'd love a drink… I know I've got these iv fluids but a juice or soda would be nice?"

"Eric ask the nurse first. She might not be allowed."

"Okay."

Tim found a bathroom and relieved his bladder then walked down the hall lost in his thoughts.

I wonder if Julie's surgery will even happen tonight or if it will be in the morning… well I guess it is morning now. I can't believe she has to even have surgery. 3 cracked ribs sounds like shit too. She's going to hurt so much and she won't be able to do much or even feel like it. Plus her right hand... no writing. She likes writing i think. She doesn't deserve any of this. She's a nice gal. I don't even get it… so many gals give it up willingly and so easily why would anyone try to get with someone who does not want it. She's even a virgin… jeez. If Smash and I had been a few minutes later… or if we'd gone into the game room… oh God. I am so thankful I was there for her. I wish I would have slammed him into the wall though and beat him till he needed surgery. Ugh… surgery… I've never had surgery either. She said she was scared. He hit her and touched her without her consent… he had her panties off and I even got a full eyeful of his erect penis. He was going to rape her. No doubt. Listening to her version of events with the detective was horrible. I'm glad her parents didn't have to hear that. The worst was when she cried talking about him touching her with his fingers. She's never even done that before. Jeez... I don't want her to cry. Dammit. I still just don't get it. Plus, why Julie? He barely knows her… maybe that's his thrill… oh God… maybe he's done this before. Oh… I hope he goes to jail… they send kids to jail… but his dad has mega money… he might be able to buy his way out of it since it wasn't an actual rape… I hope he rots. Actually I would love to get him to myself and beat him.

Tim turned a corner and found Coach slumped down in a chair in a corner. Crying.

Do I comfort him? Or do I walk away so he can cry in peace?… ugh.

Coach looked up and wiped his eyes.

"I'm alright son." He said.

"Sorry Coach… I was just walking around…"

"Tim…" He let out a big breath. "Son, I can't thank you enough for what you did for Julie tonight."

"Oh Coach it wasn't…"

"Shut up. It was an amazing, brave, honorable thing. You saved her from a ruthless, cruel, barbaric bastard. I don't even know all the details but I know she said you pulled him off her and saved her and that is incredible. As a father, I am supposed to protect my daughters from everything but this was out of my hands and I am beyond thankful for you today Tim. I know you are Julie's favorite person in the world tonight and you're mine too. I just sure am glad we have you in our lives."

Tim was close to tears. Coach is proud of me. Julie's favorite person? Honorable, brave, amazing.I just sure am glad we have you in our lives.

"Coach… I wanted to hurt him when I saw what was happening but she needed me more so I just got him away from her as fast as I could."

Eric clapped Tim on the back and pulled him in for a fierce hug. A full hug.

"That is just admirable Tim, I prolly would have beat him to death. God help him if I see him."

He pulled away slowly.

"Well the police are guarding his room… so unfortunately he is safe... for now."

Eric nodded.

"You hungry?… I passed a vending machine."

"Sure… I could eat." Tim said with a grin.

Note: I adore my little coach speech. Let me know if you love it too.