Chapter Fourteen

At the hospital, Kendall was on the phone, talking to her mother. "Mom, I have to tell you something... and there isn't any possible easy way I can say it..."

Erica interrupted her oldest daughter. "Did something happen, Kendall? You've got me so worried, calling so late and..."

"Mom, please listen," Kendall said urgently. "Gabrielle went to the football game. She was walking home when... when someone grabbed her..."

"Ohhh my God!" Erica gasped. "Why was she walking home by herself? Is my granddaughter alright?"

"No, she's not," Kendall said tearfully. "Gabrielle was- was raped."

Sadly, Erica knew exactly what Gabrielle was going through. She had been raped as well. As a result, she had conceived Kendall, the daughter she had given up for adoption.

"This can't be happening. Not again," Erica murmured as she was reminded of her own rape and the awful trauma that Michael Cambias had put her youngest daughter Bianca through.

"I am soooo sorry to tell you this, Mom; truly I am."

"Thank you for calling, Kendall. Give everyone my love. I will be there tomorrow in the late morning, unless Bianca needs me beforehand. If I am needed at the hospital, I will come right away."

"It's really late. You should get some sleep. Zach and I will be leaving soon with Ian and Spike."

"Okay, sweetie. Good night."

Tears were rushing down Kendall's cheeks when she saw a couple of police officers approaching the nurse's desk. "We are here to see Gabrielle Montgomery-Williams. We need to question her about what happened tonight," one of the officers said to a nurse.

In the meantime, the doctor had come out to talk to Reese and Bianca about Gabrielle's condition. "How- how's our daughter?" Bianca asked with worry.

"Gabrielle was given blood and she has been stabilized. She's asking to talk to her moms. You can go in and see her now," the doctor replied.

Just then the two police officers approached, interrupting the conversation between Reese, Bianca, and Gabrielle's doctor. "We need to question the victim," said one of the officers.

The doctor shook his head. "The young lady needs to be reunited with her family first. She's only fifteen years old and she's just been through a traumatic rape exam. We have given her a mild sedative to calm her and she's lost a great deal of blood," said the doctor. "I suggest you let her get some rest, then come back to question her in the early morning."

~*~o~*~

Zach had returned from the lab. They had drawn his blood which had been needed for Gabrielle. As soon as he walked into the waiting area, Spike and Ian rushed up to him.

"Is it true, Dad?" Spike demanded.

"Dad, I know you are Gabrielle's father and that you donated for Reese to become pregnant," Ian stated.

Zach sighed. He had been hoping that he would never have to have this conversation - at least this way with his boys. This was not how he pictured it would happen. "Who told you that?" he asked.

Kendall heard what was being said as she approached the waiting area. "Zach, I think it's time we tell them the truth," she said.

"Alright,' Zach said. "I am Gabrielle's biological father. I donated again as well, because Reese and Bianca really wanted to have another baby together. "

"That's not fair!" Spike exploded.

"How could you keep something like that from us?!" Ian demanded. "We have a sister and you never told us!"

"I am her father biologically, but Reese and Bianca are her parents. They are the ones raising her; just because I am Gabrielle's father doesn't change the love I have for both of my nieces. I love you guys just as much, too; you are my sons."

"It's been a long night," Kendall said with a sigh as she held her swollen abdomen. "I think we should all go home now and get some much needed rest."

Zach pressed a loving kiss to his wife's forehead. "There is nothing more we can do tonight. I think we should head home."

Kendall and Zach headed toward the elevators with Ian and Spike. They were all extremely exhausted.

~*~o~*~

A nurse lead Reese and Bianca down a long narrow hallway to Gabrielle's hospital room. Both women choked back tears when they saw their sweet daughter. She was lying in the hospital bed, looking so small and forlorn. Ugly purple contusions marred her pale flesh as beautiful Gabrielle had been battered and bruised.

Although groggy with medication, Gabrielle reached out a hand toward her mothers. Reese and Bianca hurried toward Gabrielle. Very gently, Bianca took her hand. "Mama, I was so scared," Gabrielle murmured as a rain of tears started to fall. "They hurt me. They hurt me SO much."

Bianca was blinded by hot tears that stung at her eyes. Her voice was stolen from her throat. It had closed up in pain.

It was Reese who spoke to Gabrielle. "Save your strength, sweetheart, please..."

"They... They were wearing ski masks... I-I didn't see their faces, but I will NEVER forget the creepy, hideous laughter of the woman who was driving the van," Gabrielle cried out with anguish. "It was so awful!"

Bianca gently squeezed her daughter's hand as Reese whispered soft and comforting words of love. Sadly, there was nothing they could do to make Gabrielle's pain ease. There was no way to erase the horrible events of this night. The brutal crime would undoubtedly shape Gabrielle's life for many years to come.

"Gabrielle, your mom and I will be there for you... through all of this and we won't leave," Reese promised.

"We are staying the night," Bianca said softly. "We are going to be here when you wake up."

After Gabrielle drifted off to sleep holding her mother's hand, Reese stood up. She wrapped her arms around her love. She hugged Bianca as they both began to shake with silent sobs. Gabrielle was their baby girl; their sweet, precious miracle.

"I just can't bear to see her suffer," said Bianca as she looked up into Reese's eyes. "It's not right... it's not fair. Gabrielle didn't DESERVE for this to happen."

"And you didn't deserve it either," Reese stated. "The police are going to find the ones who did this horrible thing... and they are going to pay."

~*~o~*~

Kendall and Zach had returned home with their sons. They were all weary and in need of a long rest. Ian's clothing had been soaked in Gabrielle's blood. It had mostly dried and felt sticky upon his skin.

"I need a shower," said Ian as they walked into their house.

"You take a hot shower. Your mother and I are going to bed," said Zach.

Zach and Kendall said good night to the boys, then they headed upstairs to the master bedroom. "Zach, are you alright?" Kendall asked, seeing him staring at the wall in silence.

Zach turned to look at his wife, a blank expression upon his face. He was too tired to properly think. "We should get to bed," he said as he helped Kendall slip out of her clothing and put on a nightgown.

"Zach?" she said as she knew him too well. Underneath it all, he was undoubtably tortured by the events that had occurred.

"We need to sleep. I will go back. I'll see Gabrielle in the morning," said Zach as he lovingly helped his wife into bed.

Long after Kendall and the boys had gone to bed, Zach lay awake in the darkness. Gabrielle was a part of him - his flesh and blood. She had been badly hurt. Zach was agonized because there was no possible way he could help her. He had given his blood, but that had been ALL he could do.

A hot tear rolled down his cheek as Zach lay his head back on his pillow.