Casey's POV
I walked as casually as I could manage down the dismal hospital corridors. I'd felt less nervous fighting the kraang then how I felt now. Due to my phone being smashed I hadn't been able to call ahead and ask how he was doing. Not that I wanted to know anyway. There are somethings you just need to find out in person ya know.
That still didn't stop me worrying if he was paralysed or in a coma or had brain damage. Guess I was about to find out.
As I opened the ward doors I felt like someone was playing hockey with my insides due to my nerves. I spotted Angel and her Nana sitting out side a room. Both of them looked in a state of shock Angel especially.
I was seriously thinking about turning around an running away. They hadn't seen me yet so there was still time-
"Casey!" Angel yelled her voice quivering. She rushed towards me.
"Oh Casey I'm so... so sorry" She sniffed trying to hold back tears "I told Nana about your Dad had done to you- I didn't have a choice I ..."
"Shhh it's alright" I said running my hands up her arms to try and calm her down. "Can ya... tell me what happened?" I asked tentatively.
She sniffed and nodded before taking a shaky breath. "Well ... I was in my apartment when I thought I heard someone on the fire escape. I knew ya'd just got outa hospital so I reckoned that it was you. So I went out on it only to find your Dad standing on the window sill. I didn't think- it never crossed my mind that he'd ... "Her face went pale as she relived the moment "Oh god then his broken body was in the alley and I ... I was screaming and Nana called the ambulance. There was blood everywhere and his body was so unnaturally bent so I thought... I thought..."
She finally broke down into floods of tears and I immediately wrapped my arms around her shaking frame into a comforting hug. She cried into my shoulder drowning my t-shirt in snot and tears but I didn't care. What I did care about however was how my Dad could do this to her. The poor kids gonna be scarred for life. How the hell is she gonna cope with seeing someone who she once saw as a father figure try to commit suicide right in front of her! I ain't got a problem with him doing whatever he wants to me; but he can never hurt my family.
I heard someone shuffle in front of me and I looked up to find Nana standing there.
"Casey dear, why didn't you tell me about your father" She had such a look of disappointment on her face that I couldn't help stare at the floor in shame. I had seen that look before. It was the same look I had seen Splinter give his sons and I think my mother might have given me when I would come home covered black and blue.
"I'm sorry" I said meaning it more then I ever had before.
I really wanted to tell her, but I couldn't. As far as she knew my Dad had just been going through a rough time since my Mum's death and so we needed someone to take care of Shadow while I was at school and he was ... busy.
If she had known she would've told child services. She probably thought she'd get custody over me and Shadow or something. Although I hate to say it that never would have happened. Her retirement fund can hardly support her and Angel. She wouldn't be able to cope with me and Shadow. Plus she's getting old, she rarely leaves the apartment anymore and she sleeps mosta the time. Not to mention that no social worker in their right mind would let a kid stay in my estate.
Nana sighed and lovingly stroked my hair. "I know dear. But I could have helped"
That didn't make me feel any less guilty. "Did ya tell them about how he ... Ya know hurt me and stuff"
She shook her head. "I didn't see the point he's going to be here for a while so he can't hurt you. And making you deal with him being arrested for child abuse on top of everything else your going through wouldn't help you in the slightest."
I let a sigh of relief. I don't know what I would've done if she'd told them. Then I realised something.
"How did ya pay for his treatment?"
She touched her nose "I always have a little tucked away for emergencies" she said.
I couldn't believe this. They barley have any money as it is and yet she's wasting her precious dollars on my Dad. This wasn't right.
"You can't do this!" I argued.
Nana just shook her head. "Nonsense, you are part of our family now dear"
I shook my head in fury "I promise I'll pay ya back every cent"
How I have no idea. I still have to pay April back as well on top of this. I guess I could ask old Hob for my job at his garage back although I doubt he'd let me within a mile of that place after what I did. It was an accident!
She gave me a sad gaze but nodded "Alright dear. But I do not mind if you pay me back in a day or a decade. I just want you safe. And if my money is keeping your father here and away from you then I think it's well worth spent"
She gently prized Angel out of my arms who had stopped crying now.
"Come on Angel. Casey needs to see his father now" she said.
"Sorry about ya shirt" Angel said wiping her nose and nodded giving me an apologetic look.
I brushed it off "Don't worry about it Sis"
I gave them a quick goodbye before heading of to my Dads room. I slowly opened the door. I felt time freeze as I stepped into the room. All I could do was stare at the person I called Dad. He was unconscious lying on his back with his legs that were covered in casts being held up. His head was in a neck brace and the rest of him was wrapped in bandages. I felt the breath catch in my throat. Even after all he'd done he's still my Dad and the last thing I want is for him to be hurt.
As I walked in a noticed two doctors standing observantly in the corner of the room obviously on suicide watch for when my Dad woke up. As I went to sit in the chair by his side I could feel them staring straight into me. When I sat down they were still looking at me and I realised that they were waiting for me to take his hand. Like normal people do when their loved ones end up in a hospital.
These suicide squads would be able to read you like a book. I had to hold his hand or they'd know something wasn't right.
So I reached out tentatively to wrap my fingers around the hands that once had beaten and strangled me. It felt so wrong to run my fingers over his bloody knuckled while they were limp and lifeless instead of raining all hell upon me. It was like I was betraying myself. I hated it.
Suddenly a doctor rushed into the room with red spiky hair an glasses. He had cheerfulness radiating off him and a huge smile on his face. It made me want to hit him. He practically skipped over to sit down next to me. His perky attitude was really getting on my nerves.
"You must by Arnold Jones's son. I'm sure your dad would be happy to see you. You know if he could wake up" he chuckled. The urge to punch him was very tempting. "Now your father has two fractured legs due to the velocity of his jump. It's actually quite fascinating how the gravitational potential energy..."
He went off rambling to himself about some science mumbo jumbo. God this guy was more annoying then Donnie.
"Look man is my Dad gonna OK?" I butted in.
He seemed startled that I'd interrupted him but then he just put on that cheery smile and said "Well miraculously he suffered no major head or spinal injuries so he should be right as rain in a few months."
I let out a sigh of relief I didn't know I was holding. I'm jut glad my Dad is going to be alright.
"Doctor Chaplin there is a phone call for you" a nurse said poking her head round the door.
The man's face lit up like a kids on Christmas and with a quick apology he lept out of the room.
When he was gone the two others came towards me.
"I'm afraid I have to ask you why you think that you father would have tried to kill himself" he said with the concern of a drone.
"He'd been... sad since my mum died" I said choosing my words carefully. "He might've drank which coulda made him wanna... ya know..."
Then man nodded and his partner spoke to me instead.
"We need to find you a place for you and your sister to stay. Unfortunately Mrs Bridge is unsuitable for us to let you stay with. Do you have any family who would be happy to take you in while your father is here?" he said whilst checking his watch.
"Yeah" I answered with an idea forming in my head "I do"
The pair nodded satisfied and made to leave the room.
"It is our lunch break now. Do you mind if we leave you?" they asked.
I shrugged. "Sure I'll be fine"
They left leaving me alone with the person who taught me to never give up fighting for what was right and who beat me to pulp every other night.
I was thinking of leaving this depressing place when I heard a soft wheeze come from my dad. I froze as I saw his eyelids flutter open and take in his surroundings. He stopped and felt time freeze as our eyes met.
"Son" he whispered with a break in his voice "I'm sorry"
No. He wasn't. I'd heard it to many times before why should now it be any different. I tried to look away as he opened his mouth to tell his lies again but it was impossible. Like all the other times I still wanted to hope.
"I mean it this time Casey" a tear trickled from eye leaving a clean streak down the side of his face. "I will change. I will get help and we can be a family again"
He squeezed my hand and out of reflex I snatched it back. The last time he squeezed my hand he broke it.
He looked so earnest and sorry that I could feel myself falling for it again. But I'd woken up. When he... did what he did, it let me finally realise that there was no hope left for him. That he really was a heartless bastard. Yet I felt my heart beg me to give him one more chance. And like a wuss I listened because I just needed a Dad again and so did Shadow. She deserves a real Dad.
"I believe you" I stuttered. I could feel my heart breaking at the hope coming from him "But when those men come back you can't tell them what you've done to me or they'll never let you see me or Shadow again. You have to promise me"
Tears of joy streamed down his face "I'll do whatever you want son. I'll do whatever it takes for us to be happy again"
He reached out his hand for me. Slowly I took it in mine and he gently ran his fingers over mine. At his sensitive gesture I knew that there was at least 1% chance of things getting better. Exhausted he fell asleep soon after and I carefully let him go and peaked outside.
I spotted Angel still sitting out there looking a lot better than she had earlier.
"Angel!" I whispered. She looked up and I motioned for her to come over to me. "Can I borrow ya phone?" I asked.
"Sure" She said handing it over.
"Thanks" She went back to sit with her Nana and I dialled up April's number. She answered on the first ring.
"Hey Casey! Is everything alright" She asked worried.
"Everything's cool. But could I ask a favour?"