Chapter One-Hundred and Thirty-Six
Clarissa held John close as the nurse cleaned his wounds. She listened to his breath rattle in his chest, and she knew that he was fighting the pain. "It's okay, Pumpkin…" She kissed the crown of his head, able to feel his fever from the infection in his wounds through his hair.
His long fingers dug into Chance's fur as she laid over his lap, taking comfort in his dog being so close to him. "Hurts…" He whimpered, burying his face in Clarissa's shoulder as the nurse's hands brushed over a particularly tender spot.
"I know baby." She rubbed her fingers through his hair, trying to sooth him as best she could. "I know."
Thomas paced across the kitchen floor, looking at his wife before he spoke. "Clarissa, I don't want John around Claire right now. I don't think it's a good idea at the moment."
"Thomas-"
"No. He's going to Asher's until the detox is over. End of discussion." He picked up the phone, dialing the number for Asher's home.
Clarissa stepped toward him, taking the receiver from his hand and hanging it up. "Thomas. He needs us." She stated, looking into her husband's eyes. "We told him we would be there for him. If we force him to go to Asher's… he may never trust us again."
Thomas heaved a sigh, taking his wife's hands in his. "Clarissa, he's out of control. We don't have the skill needed to help him. Asher, knows more about this than we do. John needs professional help."
Clarissa shook her head; how could he do this to her -to them? She'd lost her youngest child to a miscarriage, and now he was taking away the boy who'd helped to heal her aching heart. "He's my son, Thomas! You can't keep him away from me!"
Thomas gripped her arms, trying his best to calm his wife. "Clarissa. We can't help him. We can't give him what he needs to recover from this." He jumped back as Clarissa's hand collided with his cheek, holding his face as she stormed away from him. "Clarissa!"
"Fuck you Thomas!" She cried, slamming the door on her way out.
She slammed the door to her car, starting the vehicle before she rushed to the hospital to be with John as his recovery began again. "I swear." She wiped a tear from her cheek, not seeing the light change just before another car slammed into the driver's side of her car.
John looked up from Chance's happy face as a huge ruckus started in the hallway, listening to the doctors shouting orders as a woman on an ambulance cart was rolled by his room. He caught a glimpse of auburn hair, and the light blue of Clarissa's nail polish as she was wheeled passed his room. "Mom!" He cried, ripping the leads from his body and yanking his IV out of his arm. "Mom!" He stumbled from the bed, his body still weakened from his battle against the new drugs in his body.
A nurse rushed into his room, catching him as he stumbled forward. "Johnathan, stop." She held him up as he fought against her, his attempts to get to his foster mother like that of a wild animal. "She's in shock. She can't have any more excitement."
"Mom!" He shouted, his fingers digging into Joan's arm as he tried to get to Clarissa. "Mom!"
Joan held him close as he struggled against her, able to feel his body wearing itself out. "Johnathan. Please."
"Momma…" He sobbed, finally collapsing into the woman as his body gave up against his will. "Momma…"