Authors Note:
Okay things might get a little rough in the next couple of chapters, I know why make them suffer but it wouldn't be a Matt Houston story without some twists and turns. Thanks for the nice comments and like I said before just borrowing these characters and adding some of my own. Enjoy.
CHAPTER 16
Nothing good ever came with a phone call or a knock on the door in the middle of the night.
Star knew this from experience. When her father was killed it was a knock on the door in the middle of the night that had woken her and her mother to be given the news that would change their lives forever.
When her mother and little brother had been taken from her it was a call from the hospital to her step father that had woken them up and had shattered Star's life.
Now the phone was ringing at Houston's house and she closed her eyes, willing herself to ignore it. But it was hard to do that. She had snuck down with a blanket and pillow to the couch and Beast had follow her and sleep at her feet. She loved that he had taken a liking to her and her to him. He was such a teddy bear but others feared him and he would not let anyone get too close to her which she liked. But now the phone was ringing and had woken him but no one else.
"Let's let it ring, Beast. I don't want to answer it. No good news ever comes in the middle of the night."
It stopped ringing and Star let out the breath she was holding. She got up to see if they had left a message. She got close but saw no message was left as she turned to go back to the couch the phone rang again.
She reached for the phone and answered it.
It was the hospital and they wanted to speak to either CJ Parson or Matt Houston. She said they were asleep and if they wanted to leave a message. The nurse on the other end said no that if she could wake them it was concerning Jake.
Star gasped and looked up to the rooms upstairs and asked if she could hold while she got them.
She put the phone down and walked up the stairs dreading that she had to wake boss man. Beast followed her and she petted his head, "I should have never answered it Beast you know it's not going to be good news. Oh God please don't take Jake away from them."
She knocked lightly on the door and waited. She knocked again and still no answer. She opened the door and Beast barged in.
"Beast no!"
But it was too late. Beast jumped on the bed waking both CJ and Houston.
The light was turned on and Houston looked to the door and yelled, "Star what's going on, why is the mongrel in my bed."
Star stepped back out of the room. Houston was upset and she had seen that look before from her stepfather. Scared, she ran down the stairs, grabbed her stuff not wanting to be on the receiving end of Houston's anger.
Beast followed her and blocked the door, CJ and Houston followed him.
"Where the hell do you think you're going and why did you wake us up? What's going on Star?"
Star pointed to the phone and started to cower in the corner. CJ saw her and yelled at Houston, "You're scaring her, stop it. Star, did the phone ring? Oh my God Jake!"
Star nodded and Houston ran to the phone CJ grabbed onto the couch and Star came to her and sat her down.
"What did they say, Star? How did you hear the phone call while you were sleeping with Carol and Maureen?"
She looked at Houston on the phone and back to CJ.
"I came down to the couch. I wanted to sleep with Beast and the phone kept ringing and I shouldn't have answered CJ only bad news comes this late. I should know."
CJ hugged Star and rubbed her back and whispered that it was okay.
Houston hung up the phone, He came over to the couch and looked worried.
"CJ we got to go its Jake they are taking him into surgery they found something with his heart its affecting his breathing. They have to perform the surgery now. That was Emma she thought we'd want to know."
CJ covered her mouth and started to cry, "No, No, no Houston not Jake. Oh my God we got to go he needs us. I'll go change just give me 5 minutes and I'll be ready."
She looked like she was barely holding it together. She got up and Houston grabbed her by the arms.
"CJ I need you to be calm okay. I cannot have you like this it isn't good for you, me or Jake. We will get through this I promise you but I need you to listen to me okay."
She nodded, he hugged her and led her to the stairs.
"Go get changed I'll be right up after you okay I got to wake Uncle Roy and tell them what's going on. Star, do you mind making us some coffee? Its 3:30 and I'm going to need some to keep awake."
"No problem boss man, do you have a thermos? I'll pour it in and send you guys some of the leftover cake that sugar and caffeine should keep you guys going."
"I appreciate it and I'm sorry I yelled at you. The hound from hell startled me and I took it out on you. Star, never run from us okay. You looked like you were about to bolt out that door. I'm all bluster sometimes but I admit when I'm wrong and this time I was dead wrong can you forgive me."
Star smiled, "water under the bridge boss man you just triggered something from the past and I don't do well with people yelling at me sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for. I'm the guy who should be doing that. So we're good right? I still need your help today need to find Jake's mom okay."
She nodded and watched him go up the stairs. She went to make the coffee and Beast followed her.
"Okay boy, boss man gave us a task to do so let's get the coffee started and then find the thermos. Next will find a bag to put the leftover cake and a plastic fork and spoon. I wonder if he has Kleenex CJ's going to need them. I wish they didn't have to go through this and we will be sending up prayers okay boy."
Beast barked his agreement. Star got everything together and was packing the bag she would be handing to Houston and closed her eyes.
"Momma if you're around please don't take him away, you can tell they are special people and they don't deserve this type of heartache. They took me in Momma and yesterday was the first day in a long time I felt normal that I was seen and listened to too. They treat me like I'm part of their family and I didn't know how much I missed this till now. I miss you and Jake so much but don't let them go through the same pain I went through. It's an ache that never heals. Please Momma if you have any pull up there now's the time to use it. Oh and thank you for Beast, he is my guardian angel can't thank you enough for bringing him and all of them into my life."
Houston was coming down the stair CJ following right behind when they heard Star talking to her mother and stopped. CJ placed her hands on Houston's shoulders and he covered his with hers. They waited till she was done and a minute more to give her some privacy. Houston started talking loudly and CJ joined in.
Star rushed from the kitchen with the thermos and bag with the cake and Kleenex.
CJ came over to Star and took the bag and thermos and handed them to Houston and pulled her into a hug. Star was stunned but didn't fight and hugged her back.
"There's cake and Kleenex in the bag okay. Jake will be fine. He's got all of us pulling for him. Maybe I'll talk Roy into stopping by the hospital to see this special little guy everyone else has seen him but me."
CJ let her go and Houston did the same thing and pulled her into a hug, "Thanks I appreciate that try to get some sleep okay we have a long day ahead of us and you're going to be in charge of that mongrel he only listens to you it seems."
Uncle Roy came down the stairs and hugged CJ, "It will be okay you need to listen to Mattlock CJ you need to be strong for Jake and I don't want to be visiting you in the hospital. Jake is in good hands and he'll be alright okay? Please call us when you get any news."
Houston took CJ's hand and they walked out of the house. Uncle Roy and Star followed them out the door as did Beast. He followed but CJ motioned him back he wanted to go with them like he knew that Jake needed him also, but Star called him back and he ran in and straight to his bed with the blanket Jake had used when he was found.
Star sat next to him on the floor.
"It's okay buddy I know you want to help too but all we can do is wait and pray. I'm here for you and you're here for all of us."
"Star, you need to try to get some sleep. I know it's hard but we need to help where we can and that's in finding Jake's mom. I'm sure there will be a lot of footage to look at."
Star smiled, "I will you too Roy you need to get some shut eye it's going to be a tough day but I have faith that everything will turn out okay."
"I like your optimism but I need you to call me Uncle Roy. Everyone in the family does and that's what I consider you, family so will you do me the honor?"
Star smiled, "Sure Uncle Roy whatever you say."