Announcement regarding Short Stories: I'm taking the number of revolving short stories down from 5 to 4, and eventually to 3. The reason being without a short story chapter a week, and most especially without the aid of short story months any longer the short stories are not moving fast enough. One shots, practically with chapters of 2 & 3 shots going up consecutively, and long stories now that they're getting nice long chapters are moving at a good pace and coming off the list at a good pace. Short stories are not and the time between chapters for each short story are too long! So I will not be replacing Light in a World of Dark with anything so there are now four short stories in rotation. When the next one ends there will then be three short stories in rotation which will mean less time between chapters for each short story and they should be moving at a better pace.
There is now 120 stories represented in picture in the 200 stories gallery on the DeGrassi Saviors Website.
Guest reviewers please remember to check my profile page for a response. Mary and Olivia please see my profile page for questions on your requests.
Ch. 46 These are the Days I Can't Get Back
(JEFF)
We follow Officer Tuner into the judge's chambers. My aunt and uncle are here, Fitz's brother is here too and the judge sits behind his desk. Our families sit on one side and Officer Turner motions for us to sit in the two empty chairs while he stands behind us.
"Can I say something before we begin?" I request.
"Go ahead Mr. MacPherson," the judge nods.
"It was all me, Fitz had nothing to do with it he shouldn't even be here."
"What?" Fitz exclaims. "Are you trying to get yourself kicked off the team? Don't listen to him Judge it was me and Jeff had nothing to do with it. I'm no stranger to trouble I've even been in these chambers before."
"That's very noble of both of you however with Officer Turner's report I already know both of you participated," the judge reminds us and we both look down. We probably should have known he would have had Officer Turner's police report. "I understand Mr. Delancy was beaten rather severely and under normal circumstances the two of you would very likely be charged with aggravated assault and be facing some time in juvenile hall. However, these are not normal circumstances, Mr. Delancy was in here before for an assault and attempted break-in. I'm also well aware of his history with Miss Mason whom he attacked and is now also in the hospital. Officer Turner has personally vouched for you both and I have many written character statements from your friends and teammates. In light of everything I've decided to go easy on you both. Mr. MacPherson six months of probation and 200 hours of community service. At least 50 hours of your community service will be spent giving conflict resolution seminars to young kids. Mr. Fitzgerald, six months of additional probation, which I believe gives you nine months now. Two months of anger management classes so that hopefully next time you won't solve things with your fists, and 100 hours of community service. I will be checking in with your probation officer regularly. Let me make this very clear, this not a get out of jail free card. This is your one and only chance to prove that this will not happen again. If either one of you ends up back here in front of me I will not be lenient on you again."
"Yes Sir," Fitz and I say together.
"Good. We're adjourned you boys should get to school. Your probation officer will be meeting with each of you in the next couple of days. Remember boys you've been given a second chance at life don't screw it up, I don't want to see either of you in here again under any circumstances," the judge says. We nod and get up quickly to leave his chambers with our families and Officer Turner following us.
"You both got very lucky just now," Aunt Pam says as we begin walking for the parking lot.
"We know," I nod.
"If you get arrested for solving something with your fists again Fitz I'll kill you myself," Sean warns his brother.
"Yeah I know," he nods hanging his head a little. "I promise we'll both get to school on time but my car is still at the hospital and we'd both like to go see Clare and let her know we're not going to prison, or back to Guelph," Fitz requests.
Sean exchanges a look with my aunt and uncle before they all nod and we smile. We say thanks and assure them again that we'll get to school on time. Since Officer Turner brought us here and Sean's on his motorcycle my aunt and uncle take us to the hospital.
"In and out boys you need to be at school in less than thirty minutes," Uncle Harold warns us dropping us at the entrance.
"We know," we both say as we get out of the car. We walk quickly to Clare's hospital room; besides Clare the room is empty so everyone already left for school or work. Clare looks like she's half asleep but she grins when she sees us come in.
"This better not be you both telling me goodbye before you're sent to juvie or jail or back home," Clare comments.
"No jail or juvie or Guelph for either of us just probation and community service," I assure Clare.
"And anger management classes for me so I stop trying to kill everyone that hurts someone I care about," Fitz tells her and Clare grins.
"Good I'm glad to hear it for both of you. Reese got what he deserved but neither of you should have gone after him. It would have killed me to find out you were hurt or in jail," she censures us but her eyes are beginning to close and she looks exhausted.
"We need to get to school and you should rest but we'll be back later," I tell her.
Fitz kisses her lips and then moves out of the way so I can say goodbye. I want to kiss her lips too but her boyfriend is right behind me so I hug her and kiss her forehead instead.
"So why'd you do it?" Fitz asks when we're in his car driving to school. "Try to take all the heat for Reese?"
"Because I know how much Clare loves you and cares about you and I knew if you went back to juvie it would break her heart. Why'd you do it?"
"Because I know how much she cares about you," he says, "and loves you," he adds reluctantly, "and I know if you were sent to juvie or back to Guelph she'd not just miss you but she'd feel guilty that you got kicked off the team because of her."
"But it would have been because of Reese not because of her."
"Yeah I know and you know but she'd still blame herself," Fitz replies and then we fall into silence until he parks at the school and we get out of the car. "So we both love the same girl and we both want to be with her," Fitz comments as we start walking to the front steps of the school.
"Yeah we do," I nod.
"For her sake can we at least agree not to start fighting for her until she's out of the hospital and healing?" Fitz requests stopping at the bottom of the steps and holding his hand out for me to shake on the deal.
"For Clare's sake I'll agree to that," I nod shaking Fitz's hand.
We hear the bell ringing for first period and run inside. We both have the same homeroom and we run straight there barely getting into our desks before the late bell.
"So what did the judge say?" Drew whispers to us while the teacher begins a lecture.
"No jail time just probation and community service, and I have to take anger management classes," Fitz whispers back since he sits closer to Drew.
"Good," Drew whispers but goes quiet when the teacher looks over and we're quiet for the rest of class.
"I've got a spare now and I'm going back to the hospital to be with Clare. I'll be back in time for third period," Fitz says as we leave class.
Drew, Owen and Bianca wave to Fitz as he leaves. Owen, Drew, Fiona, Craig, Kelly and I also have second period together so we walk together. I want to go see Clare at lunch but our first game is tomorrow and Owen wants us to eat together in the auditorium to watch the movie of the opposing team playing so we can strategize. We have a practice after school but I'll go to the hospital to see her tonight.
(CLARE)
I wake up to lips on mine, I smile into the kiss and grip the back of his neck. My lips part as his tongue glides in and caresses mine.
"I'm glad you're here," I grin when our lips break apart, "will you hold me?"
"Of course Gorgeous," Mark smiles taking off his thick leather jacket and getting on the bed to hold me. It's still early so he must have come on his spare. "Are you okay?" Mark asks as he wraps me in his arms.
"Yeah I just missed you and I'm happy that you're not going to jail," I reply kissing his neck.
"And so are we," Mark replies. I feel his deep breathing as his chest rises and falls and I long to feel my skin against his skin again. It feels like it's been so long since I felt his skin, besides his lips and his hand. I nuzzle into him a bit more and then start crying and cling to his hoodie.
"Clare what's wrong? Don't cry Beautiful you're awake and I'm not going to juvie, neither is Jeff he's not even going back to Guelph," Mark says in a soothing tone as he holds me closer and rubs my back in a soothing way.
"I was so scared that you and Jeff were going to get in trouble because of me a…"
"Because of Reese," Mark says cutting me off and tipping my chin up to meet his eyes, "not because of you and we're not even going to juvie just some community service and probation."
"I know. I'm just…" I pause because I'm feeling so much it's hard to describe it all, "just hold me close."
"Until I have to get back to school I won't let you go. Or I'll even ditch if you want and hold you all day."
"No then you will be in trouble just hold me until you have to leave," I reply.
Mark gives me a tender kiss, I place my head on his chest once more and he strokes my back gently. After a while I begin to feel sleepy again. I don't want to fall asleep again until Mark leaves but I can't help it, I drift to sleep and when I wake up it's cold and the bed feels empty. I know Mark is gone before I open my eyes, it's afternoon now and Mark is back at school but my room isn't empty.
"How you feeling? Lucas asks.
"Better, still in pain though. What time is it?" I yawn moving my bed to sit up a little and see Lucas better.
"Almost three, everyone from the school should be here pretty soon, unless they have after school activities. I hear Fitz and Jeff got off pretty easy," Lucas comments.
"Yeah they got lucky but I wish they'd never have gone after Reese to begin with."
"You didn't really think that they would stay away did you? The two boys vying for your love, watching you lie in a hospital bed and knowing that the guy that put you there is still out there. We all knew they were bound to go after Reese, the longer you were in here the more they wanted to do something about it," Lucas says.
"I know but they could have gotten in real trouble. At least they don't seem to be fighting anymore," I remark.
"Give it time I'm sure once you're stronger they'll start fighting again," Lucas says and I close my eyes. "Better open those baby blues again you've got more company," Lucas tells me. I open my eyes just as Jay kisses my forehead.
"I should go, I'm picking Mia up for dinner before I go to work. I'll come see you tomorrow," Lucas comments hugging me before he leaves.
Jay sits down and we talk for a bit. I know when school is out because Adam, Drew, Bianca, Jenna, Maya, K.C. and Mark come to the hospital. The room is pretty full and Jay has to get to a support group soon so he says goodbye. Mark sits on one side of my bed while Adam sits on the other. Owen and Jeff are at hockey practice but I'm sure they'll be here after. Everyone is talking about school but something occurs to me.
"Tomorrow is Friday isn't it?" I ask Adam.
"Yeah," he nods.
"And the Ice Hounds first game is tomorrow, I'm going to miss it," I pout.
"Don't worry we're going and we'll record it so you can watch it later. Adam and Fitz will be here with you and you three can watch it together. I'm sure Adam can figure out how to get what we record on our phones to play on the TV," Bianca tells me.
"I still wish I could go. I'm very tired of being in this hospital bed," I complain.
"Doc says you'll get a released Sunday," Drew assures me.
"You'll be out for my birthday, it will probably be a calm night at your place anyway," Jenna remarks.
People start talking about Jenna's birthday and tomorrow's game and I begin to fall asleep. I drift to sleep to the chattering of my friends but when I wake up the room is quiet. My eyes open and I see only Owen and Jeff, both smile at me when I look at them and I smile back.
"I was beginning to think you'd sleep the whole time," Owen says.
"Not that I'm not happy to see you two but where is everyone?"
"Spinner will be here when he gets off work in about an hour. Jenna and K.C. got picked up by Joey and Caitlin to go to their place for dinner. Paige came while you were sleeping and made Adam, Maya, Drew and Bianca go home to eat, shower and do homework. Fitz was here when we got here but Sean picked him up to meet with his parole officer," Owen informs me.
"I have a meeting with him tomorrow," Jeff informs me.
"I'm sorry I'll miss your game tomorrow," I tell them.
"You can come to our next game when you're healthier," Jeff says.
"Tris wanted me to say hi, he'll come by this weekend and he's going back to school Monday," Owen tells me.
"That's good I'm glad he's okay. Any word on Riley?"
"Still in a coma, they don't know if he'll ever wake up and they still haven't caught the guys that did it," Owen growls angrily punching his fist into his hand.
Jeff must decide a change of topic is in order as he begins talking about practice. The two of them stay until Spinner comes and they both say goodnight. Spinner kisses my forehead and sits down next to my bed, he stays for about an hour with me but the doctor tells him to go home and I assure Spin that I'll be fine. I sleep all night dreaming of Mark and then Jeff and then Adam, only my dream about my twin isn't romantic it's almost foreboding. I wake up with a gasp and find Johnny in my room.
"You alright?" Johnny asks.
"Yeah, just a dream. What are you doing here so early?"
"I've only been here a few minutes, I came to see you before class," he replies.
"It seems so dark."
"That's probably because the blinds are closed," Johnny remarks getting up to open the blinds. When the sun does come in I see that it's early morning and even though I slept all night I still feel tired.
"Breakfast," the orderly says coming into the room with a tray. He sets it on my rolling tray and leaves the room, I look at it and twist my face in disgust.
"Not hungry?" Johnny asks.
"Not for lumpy oatmeal and a banana," I respond pushing the tray away.
"Should I call Spin to bring you something?"
"No I'm really not that hungry, I'll eat lunch."
Johnny doesn't seem to listen as he gets out his phone and texts someone, "Breakfast is on its way."
I shake my head and Johnny grins. Since all I've done is lie in a hospital bed I ask Johnny about school and how things are going with Samantha. He says school is fine and then spends half an hour talking about Samantha with a huge grin on his face. In fact, he's still talking about her when she comes in with Jeff, the latter of which is holding a paper bag.
"We brought a more appetizing breakfast of a chocolate muffin," Jeff says and I smile taking the bag. He sits on the side of my bed while Samantha sits next to Johnny.
"How do you feel? Any better?" Samantha asks.
"Still some pain, very tired and really bored," I reply.
"Just a couple more days and you get to go home," Jeff reminds me.
"Yes and I'll be very happy to sleep in my own bed again," I smile.
Johnny stays for a few more minutes before he has to leave to get to class. Samantha and Jeff stay until my brothers and their significant others come, for one the room is getting full and besides Samantha and Jeff have to get back home so he can get ready for school. My brothers, Paige, Bianca and Maya stay while I eat my muffin but Adam, Bianca, Drew and Maya need to get to school and Paige to work. Spinner works 12-9 today so he stays with me.
"Good morning Clare how are you feeling?" The doctor asks coming in and looking at my chart.
"Ready to go home," I complain again.
"Almost but we need to keep you here for a couple more days and when we do send you home you'll still need to take it easy," the doctor says looking at Spinner and not at me. "Resting in bed for a week while you heal, then you can slowly begin resuming activities, including school but start with half a day at first."
"We'll all make sure she rests and stays in bed, between our family and all our friends someone will always be home with her," Spinner replies with a single nod of his head. I groan thinking of staying in bed for another week but then again maybe Mark can stay in it with me, with this thought I smile carnally and Spin shoots me a look when he sees it.
"You're looking much better, although you didn't eat I see," the doctor remarks at my uneaten breakfast.
"Lumpy oatmeal wasn't appealing my friends brought me a muffin."
"Well I'm glad you ate. I'm going to have a nurse come in to take your blood and have a tech come in for a sonogram of your stomach so we can see how you're healing," the doctor tells us before putting my chart back and leaving the room. Spinner stays for the tests and after the doctor is there for my sonogram and says I'm healing well. Mark arrives during the sonogram as he's on his spare and just like yesterday he stays through lunch.
"You know I have to stay in bed for a week and then can only go to school for half a day at first," I tell Mark when we're alone in the room.
"You need to rest, and heal," Mark replies kissing my forehead.
"I know but I was hoping you'd stay with me as much as you can and hold me all night, and most of the day."
"You know I will," Mark grins.
"Good because I've been dying to be in your arms and against your skin," I reply and look up to meet Mark's lips in a tender kiss.
Once again I fall asleep in Mark's arms and he leaves when he has to get back to school. In the afternoon Adam, Maya, Jenna and K.C. come with Mark. Drew and Bianca are going to the game, so are Johnny and Samantha, Tris is going with Zane. Drew and Bianca were going to record the game on their phones so I could watch it later but Simpson arranged for the game to be broadcast on a local channel so I can watch it live from my hospital room. Everyone here will watch it with me. Sean, Jay and Paige also come to watch the game from my hospital room but Spin, Emma and Lucas have to work tonight.
It's not quite like watching the game at the arena but with everyone in my room watching it live it's almost as good. There's lots of energy and we all cheer when an Ice Hound makes a goal, especially Owen. The Ice Hounds win and everyone in my room goes crazy causing the hospital staff to come in and ask us to be quiet. Now that the game is over people start to leave, both so they don't get yelled at and so that I can rest. Everyone leaves but Mark, he stays with me and I'm almost asleep when Spinner comes after work. After seeing how I am and asking about the game Spinner leaves so I can rest and Spin makes Mark go home as well. I fall asleep shortly after they leave only to wake to a pair of lips sometime later but I know they're not Mark's lips. My eyes open and I see Jeff's face lit by the heart monitor.
"Sorry didn't mean to wake you, I had a dream about you and had to come see you. You looked so beautiful sleeping I couldn't resist kissing you," he explains his presence before I ask.
"What time is it?" I yawn.
"A little after two, you can go back to sleep."
"That's okay you woke me from a dream that wasn't so good."
"You want to talk about it?" Jeff asks taking my hand.
"No," I shake my head, "tell me about the game."
"I thought you watched it on TV?"
"I did but it wasn't like being there."
Jeff smiles and begins recounting the game to me and after a while I begin to drift to sleep again.
(FITZ)
"I'll get her inside," I tell Spin running around to open Clare's door.
It's late Sunday morning and Clare was released from the hospital a short time ago. Spinner and Paige came to pick her up and I came with them. I pick Clare up and she hisses slightly in pain, I give her a worried look when I hear the hiss and she kisses my cheek to assure me she's okay. Spinner unlocks the door and I carry her inside where everyone else is waiting to welcome her home. Everyone says welcome home or similar sentiments and I set her gently on the sofa so she can visit with everyone.
"Are you hungry we made some lunch," Emma comments.
"I'll happily eat anything that isn't hospital food," Clare says and people laugh.
"I'm starved, I'll bring you a plate," I tell Clare kissing her cheek to go into the kitchen and Johnny comes with me.
"Jeff, Samantha and Anya wanted to come and see Clare, welcome her home," Johnny tells me as we start getting food.
"Are you telling me because you think I'm going to fight with Jeff?"
"Well yeah," Johnny says.
"We came to agreement not to fight over Clare," I say and Johnny smiles, "at least until she's better," I add before leaving the kitchen with some food for Clare and myself.
I give Clare her plate and sit on the floor next to her so if she needs something I can get it. People eat and talk, Jeff, Samantha and Anya come by and stay for a couple of hours to welcome Clare home and they have some lunch. Johnny leaves with them, or rather he leaves with Samantha because the two have a date. K.C. and Jenna are the next to leave because she's getting tired and wants to lie down in her own bed. Shortly after they leave Zane takes Tris home so he can rest but everyone else stays. When Clare begins to tire of the crowd I carry her back to her room and put her in bed.
"Can I get you anything?" I ask her.
"I want to shower but I can't," she pouts.
"I can give you a sponge bath," I grin and she smiles.
"A sponge bath would be nice."
"Okay stay right here and I'll everything ready," I tell her. I leave her on her bed and then go to the living room waving Adam over but Drew comes too. "Clare wants to shower but since she can't do that yet I'm going to give her a sponge bath. So we'll be occupying the washroom for a while."
"Just remember she needs to rest," Drew says and I grimace at him.
I ignore Drew's comment and go into the kitchen to get some candles. I start the water and light the candles, when the water is warm I put in the stopper, I only filled it with a couple of inches of water so that it doesn't touch any of her incisions. I dim the lights since I could only find a few candles and we need to be able to see. Lastly, I get a fresh towel from the closet. I return to Clare's room but not to get her, to get her pajamas. I find her softest nightie and panties and put them in the washroom then return and pick Clare up carrying her into the washroom.
"I can walk you know," Clare remarks as I set her in the washroom.
"No you're supposed to rest besides I like holding you in my arms," I grin.
She's wearing loose sweats right now without undergarments and I carefully take those off and then kneel down to get her socks off. I take her hand and she steps into the bathtub and sits down slowly. When she gets comfortable I take the shower pouf from where it hangs and put some body wash on it. I start at her feet, lifting her left foot out of the bathtub and carefully washing it then doing the same with her right. She puts them back in the water to rinse them off and I slowly wash her legs to the upper thigh. I take a washcloth and rinse her legs. Then I wash and rinse each of her hands and arms, her neck and very carefully I wash her breasts and make sure no water gets near her incision. I have her sit up a little to get her back, when she's thoroughly washed I help her to stand and dry her off. I didn't wash the one part I really wanted to because I didn't want it to lead to anything and it would have. After helping her into her pajamas I pick her up and take her to her room once again.
"Will you get undressed and get in the bed to hold me please?" Clare requests.
"Happily my love," I smile.
I took off my jacket when we came in but I get off my shirt, jeans, socks, and shoes. Then I crawl on the bed and get under the covers, I let Clare get comfortable and then lie down next to her and wrap her in my arms. She puts her head on my chest and begins dragging her fingers over my chest.
"What are you thinking about?" I ask her after a few minutes and while softly rubbing her back.
"Nothing," she replies softly but quickly so I know she's lying. I also know she's pretty much always thinking about something except for when she's in orgasm.
"You know if you're thinking about Jeff you can tell me," I prod assuming that she doesn't want to tell me because she's thinking about Jeff.
"First of all, I would not be thinking about Jeff while lying with you practically naked in my bed. Secondly if I did tell you I was thinking about Jeff I think you'd be mad," she comments.
"I won't be mad. So if you weren't thinking about Jeff then why don't you want to tell me what you were thinking about?"
"Thinking about Adam," she replies.
"So lying nearly naked in bed with me you were thinking about your twin brother? I think I'd have liked it better if you were thinking about Jeff," I remark and she giggles.
"Not like that, somethings wrong I'm worried about him he seems sad or maybe even depressed, but he's trying to hide it."
"Clare he's been really worried about you. The whole time you were in the hospital we had to force him to leave the room for anything, he wouldn't hardly leave your bedside, eat or sleep. You're out of the hospital but you're not better yet and he's your twin if you're in pain or something he'd know. I'm sure once you're back at school and doing better he'll be happier," I assure her.
"Yeah I'm sure you're right. Didn't you meet with your probation officer today?" She questions changing the subject.
"Yeah and I found out what my community service will be, working with preschool kids. After school until March when wrestling begins and then I'll have to bring the practice and match schedule to my probation officer so we can work out when to do my community service."
"I can see you working with little kids, I think you'd be good at it. As long as you don't lose your temper."
"Don't remind me I have my first anger management class tomorrow," I grumble and Clare kisses my chest. I start to say something but there's a knock on her door and she calls to come in.
"Dinner's ready do you want to eat with us?" Paige asks poking her head in.
"Yeah we'll be out in a few minutes," Clare says and Paige smiles before closing the door again. "You'd better get dressed," Clare remarks.
"In this house I'm pretty sure I could eat in my boxers, Drew does it all the time but I'll at least get my jeans back on," I reply with a wry smile before I kiss her forehead and get out of bed.
"Can you get my robe I'm not getting dressed again and I'm not eating in my nightie," Clare says as I pull on my jeans.
"I wouldn't let you eat in your nightie anyway," I respond before walking to the door to get her robe from the hook on the door. Just as I get it down I hear Clare shriek in pain and I rush back to her. She's hunched over in bed and clutching her stomach.
"What happened?" I question putting my hand on her back.
"I started to get out of bed and a shooting pain went through my stomach," she tells me.
"Well yeah, because you had multiple surgeries and you're still healing from stitches and everything. Next time you need to move wait for me or one of us to help you," I scold her.
I help her get her robe on and tie it loosely. Then I pick her up and carry her out to the kitchen setting her down at the table. I sit next to her and we eat with everyone, Clare doesn't eat that much and she looks a little pale.
"Clare you okay?" Spinner asks her when she slumps down in her chair a bit.
"She tried to move on her own earlier and hurt her stomach. I think I should get you back to bed," I remark setting my fork down.
"Better make sure she didn't pop a stitch or something too," Owen remarks.
"She can hear you and I didn't pop stich it just hurts and I'm not that hungry," Clare responds glowering at us for talking like she's not there.
"You should lie down again anyway," I comment pulling Clare's chair back and picking her up. I take her back to her room and lie her on the bed. I return to the to the kitchen and get my plate going back to Clare's room and finishing my dinner sitting at her desk. "Do you need your pain meds?"
"No it feels better to lie down."
When I finish eating I sit on the bed and help her get her robe off, "Lie back."
"I was going to do that anyway what did you have in mind?" Clare questions while I hang her robe back up.
"I want to look at your abdomen and make sure that you didn't hurt yourself worse than you think," I reply sitting on the bed again.
"I just shouldn't have moved so fast I'm fine," she asserts.
"And I just want to make sure," I insist lifting her nightie to look at her abdomen. She hasn't popped a stitch and it looks just as it looked when I gave her the sponge bath so I think she's okay, of course I'll keep a close eye on her tonight. I kiss her belly and pull her nightie back down.
I take my plate to the kitchen and Clare wants to watch a movie so I put one in her laptop and set it at the of her bed. Clare falls asleep before the movie is even over, when it ends I turn off the laptop and set it back on her desk. I brush my teeth, get ready for bed, take off my jeans and get in the bed with Clare wrapping her in my arms.
"Good night my love," I whisper kissing her temple, "I don't know what I would do without you."
Look no cliffhanger! Update soon picking up most likely the next day with Owen or Adam's pov and including Lucas' pov.