The Bet 2: Dark Secrets
By: Fox Almasy
Ch. 12
Give It Time
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Naomi stepped through the heavy wooden doors of the church and stared blankly up at the cross that hung in the front of the church behind the alter. Her eyes drifted to the statue of the blessed mother and then over to the statue of St. Joseph before her feet carried her up the aisle and came to a stop in front of the alter.
Her entire body was shaking as she stared up at the man hanging on the cross. Slowly her legs began to shake and she sank down onto the ground as tears burned her eyes. She didn't know what to do anymore. How could she go on now? She leaned forward and pressed her forehead against the carpet and felt a tear make it's way down her cheek.
"What do you want me to do? Please tell me and I'll do it . . ." but there was no answer. No choir of angels or heavenly lights to guide her. She was alone, lost and broken. Swiping at the tears, she clenched her hands into fists and stared angrily up. "Why did you let this happen?" her voice broke and she could only sit there and let her anger flood out of her.
Naomi stayed at the church for a good hour and a half, before getting a taxi back to the hospital. When she made it to Brad's floor she felt even more exhausted then she already had. The twins were staying with Jessica and Brad's step dad, but she still felt exhausted.
Brad's room was dark when she walked inside and only a little light was showing through the drawn curtains. Naomi took her seat next to his bed and let her eyes drift over his face. He looked as if he were only sleeping, but she knew the truth.
"They asked me today if I wanted to let you go. Can you believe that? If the doctors themselves have lost hope how am I suppose to keep mine? They handed me a permission slip paper and everything. They don't think you'll make it. I've read over the paper and I think I may have come to a conclusion. You almost died and now its been a month and you're not waking up. I think I may sign it . . . Just so I don't have to see you like this! You look so weak and vulnerable. So tomorrow I'm going to talk to the doctors." Naomi's voice began to crack as she took his hand and ran her thumb over his knuckles. Slowly she got to her feet and started walking to the door, but froze just as she touched the handle.
"Don't give up on me yet." the voice was faint and barely audible, but Naomi heard it. She spun around and felt tears slip down her cheeks as Brad stared at her with half lidded eyes.
"Brad!" somehow her legs managed to take her back to the bed. With shaky hands she reached up to frame his face, and smiled. "You're awake."
"I couldn't leave you behind." she quickly wrapped her arms around Brad's neck and buried her face against his chest. She pulled away slightly and smiled down at him.
"I'll go get a nurse." Brad nodded, feeling tired even though it seemed he had been out for quite some time. Naomi smiled again before hurrying out of the room. A few minutes later a short Hispanic woman dressed in blue scrubs entered the room looking relieved.
"It's so good to see you're finally awake. People were starting to lose hope." she walked to the side of the bed and began checking his heart beat and blood pressure. After that she checked his temperature and then slipped out of the room once she had finished.
Naomi appeared again and sat down on the bed by his feet. "I called your mom. She's on her way here. The twins have been staying with her. Everyone will be so glad to see you." Brad studied Naomi's face and could tell something wasn't right, she seemed stiff and jumpy even when she had hugged him earlier.
"Naomi?" she looked up and he could see the worry on her face. "What happened after I passed out." she looked away quickly, keeping her eyes to the floor as she clasped her hands together and rubbed them nervously.
"A lot happened. But you should rest now, we could talk about this later." she quickly stood up, but Brad grabbed her arms before she could leave. She tensed suddenly and Brad was so surprised, that he had let her go. She stepped away from the bed and turned to face him, but kept her eyes to the floor. "I'll go wait for your mom." and before he could protest she was gone.
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Benji stared out at the road as he drove the forty five minutes from New York City to Middletown. Brad was next to him in the passenger seat with the back of the seat pushed back . Naomi was in the back seat staring out the window while the twins sat next to her. Riley was riding with Kira in Benji's car as they followed behind Brad's truck.
Brad had offered Benji a place to stay at their house in Middletown until he was able to find a new place to stay. Kira was helping him and her and Benji had watched the house while Brad was in the hospital and now stayed in two of the guest rooms. Riley also had her own room and the house was big enough for all of them.
Benji looked away from the road briefly and over at Brad and then in the rearview mirror at Naomi. She still hadn't told Brad what had happened to her, but it was obvious something had happened. Anytime anyone touched her she went stiff and she avoided any sort of physical contact with any guys, including Brad. Brad couldn't even hug her without her becoming rigid and Benji knew Brad was confused.
Benji smiled as the familiar sight of the gravel driveway that led to Brad's house came into view. Benji slowed the truck and turned into the driveway. He came to a stop in front of the house and leaned over to nudge Brad awake. His eyes opened slowly before he sat up and stared out at the house.
"It's good to be home." Naomi was already up the steps with the door open as her and Kira walked in carrying the twins. Brad was slower to make it up the porch stairs because of his weakened state and every time he moved it sent a shot of pain through his stomach. He was glad to be home though.
Naomi followed him up the stairs to their room and made sure he laid down immediately. The doctors had told her that he needed to rest as much as he could and to try and not move around quite yet. Naomi silently helped him remove his shoes before instructing him to lie down. Brad did as she said, keeping his piercing blue gaze on her the entire time.
"Naomi?" She looked up. He could feel the distance between them and still didn't understand what had caused that distance. "Tell me what happened. Why are you avoiding me."
"I'm not-"
"But you are! You wont even let me touch you." at that moment one of the twins began to cry and Naomi took that opportunity to back away from him.
"I better go check on them." Brad sighed in frustration as she hurried out of the room, leaving him in the silence. He stared at the entrance way for a moment before looking up at the ceiling and closing his eyes.
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That night, Naomi changed before lying down on the bed with her back to Brad. She had left a huge space between them and Brad kept staring at her, trying to understand what had happened.
"Naomi . . . Please tell me what happened."
"Brad, I don't want to talk about it right now, please just go to sleep."
"I can't! I want to know what happened to you!" he rolled onto his side and reached out to grab her arm. She immediately went rigid and tried to pull away from him, but it was no use. He pulled her onto her back, so that she was right beside him and he was able to sit up and lean over her slightly.
"Tell me . . ." he watched as her eyes filled with tears and a few tiny drops raced down her cheeks. She squeezed her eyes shut as memories ran through her mind. She clenched her hands before staring up at Brad.
"That man raped me . . ." Brad's eyes widened and his grip on her arm went slack. Naomi took that opportunity and quickly stood up from the bed and left the room. It felt like something was gripping Brad's heart as he stared blankly into the room. The image of that man seeped into his mind and a wave of anger filled his body.
"Damn it!" he clenched his hand and ran his fist into the mattress. He leaned his head against his pillow and took a few deep breaths before standing gradually and shuffling out of the room. He could see Naomi on the couch as sobs raked her body. His feet made no noise as he went down the stairs and over to the couch where Naomi lay. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I don't want to remember it. I'm tired of the memories and talking about it and I want everyone to stop asking!" Brad stood there wanting to do something, but not knowing what.
"What can I do? Tell me what to do."
"There's nothing you can do. Just leave me alone please."
"I can't do that. I'm your husband and you can just push me away. I'm not him and I'd never hurt you."
"You don't understand! You don't know what it's like to feel him touch you. Just let it go. You should go back to bed. You need to rest."
"Naomi-"
"No just go." Brad didn't know what to say. Naomi had turned her back to him. Brad looked up as Benji slipped down the stairs and stared at him questioningly. Then realization dawned on him and he watched Brad with a gloomy expression. Brad walked over to him and looked back at the couch. Benji reached out and rested his hand on Brad's shoulder.
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect her." Brad looked down at the floor as Rosco jumped up on his leg and seemed to look at him with concern. Brad rubbed the dogs head before returning his gaze to Benji.
"Don't blame yourself." both men looked at the stairs as Kira descended them and stopped.
"Oh sorry I didn't mean to interrupt."
"It's OK. Goodnight guys."
"Night Brad." they watched Brad walk away and slowly climb the other set of stairs that led to his and Naomi's room. Kira took Benji's hand and smiled slightly at him.
"He just needs to give her some time. She'll gradually become comfortable around men again."
"I wish I would have done something."
"Stop blaming yourself, now come on and get back to bed."
"Alright." he allowed her to lead him back upstairs and to the room they had decided to share for the night.
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Naomi was aware of Brad's eyes on her as she held Wesley's hands as he attempted to walk a few steps. She smiled proudly down at her son before scooping him up into her arms and hugging him.
"He did it! Now see if Wade will do it Brad." Brad nodded and set Wade down on the floor and let him wrap his hands around Brad's index fingers as he took three wobbly steps before falling onto his butt. Brad smiled and looked up at Naomi as she stared at Wade with admiration. They would be seven months old next month, which was January and they were already trying to walk.
It had been three months since the incident that almost robbed Brad of his life, and Naomi was still not letting him touch her. He had tried everything, but she wouldn't let him close long enough to convince her that everything would be alright if she would just let him help her. Everyone kept telling him to just give her time, but they didn't get it. He knew if he didn't try to make her understand that she couldn't be like that, then she would never get over it.
Naomi looked away from Brad, feeling his eyes boring into her. She knew he was frustrated with her. She knew he just wanted to help and she was afraid that if she kept pushing him away he would leave. She just couldn't let him touch her. As soon as he did everything would come back, bombarding her, she was afraid of the memories, not of Brad.
Naomi glanced at the clock and saw that it was almost nine. Sighing she lifted Wesley up and turned to Brad.
"We should put them to bed." Brad nodded and followed her up the stairs. Benji, Kira and Riley had left two months ago. Benji had found a small home in Middletown and Kira was currently living with him. She was working as an RN and Brad could see how glad Benji was that she was there. She had been good for Naomi as well. Kira seemed to be one of the few people Naomi would actually confide in.
It didn't take them long to get the twins to sleep and they had quietly went up to their room, not talking or touching. Brad laid down on his side and stared out one of the windows. He could feel Naomi lie down as the mattress shifted beneath her weight.
"Goodnight Brad."
"Goodnight Naomi." then they were silent again. Somehow Brad managed to fall asleep.
Brad jerked awake a few hours later and squinted at the clock in confusion. Rolling onto his back, Brad glanced over at Naomi as she whimpered. Her hands were gripping the sheets tightly as beads of sweat broke out on her brow.
"Please . . . Please don't." she thrashed about slightly as the nightmare took over. Brad quickly reached out for her and shook her gently.
"Naomi wake up." she flayed wildly before sitting up and gasping as her eyes shot open. Tears were streaming down her face and her entire body was shaking violently. "Naomi." it was then she seemed to notice Brad's hand on her arm and she quickly pulled it away from him. "Naomi please just let me help you!" she didn't answer as she slipped out of the bed and hurried out of the room.
Brad quickly followed her down the stairs and watched her collapse onto the couch where she wept uncontrollably. Brad felt lost, he couldn't help her.
"Naomi . . ." she looked over at him her face full of anguish. "maybe you should go into New York tomorrow and visit Kris and Kelly. You haven't seen them since . . . since we were in the hospital. It might be good to go talk to them. I'll take care of the twins."
"OK." her voice was barely above a whisper as she looked away from him again and stared straight ahead.
"Why don't you come back to bed."
"I'm going to sleep out here." Brad sighed and ran his hand quickly through his hair. He was so frustrated. He didn't want to make her feel worse though.
"Alright. I'll see you in the morning." Naomi nodded and pulled the throw blanket from the back of the couch and wrapped it around her as she lay down. Brad watched her for a minute before trudging back up the stairs and returning to his bed.
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Naomi waited patiently as she knocked on the apartment door. She could here the locks being undone before the door was thrown open and Kelly stood there smiling at her.
"I'm glad you came to see us! It's been too long. How are you feeling?" Kelly frowned at Naomi's expression and quickly ushered her into the apartment. "What's wrong?"
"I think Brad is going to leave me."
"Why would you say that?" Naomi didn't answer as she walked farther into the apartment and sat down on the couch.
"I keep pushing him away and he's only human. Anyone would have given up by now." Kelly sat beside her and rubbed her back lightly.
"Don't talk like that. Brad loves you."
"Yeah but how much can he take?" Kelly was silent as she stared down at the carpet. She didn't know how Naomi felt, but she did know that it wasn't good for her to keep people out.
"Then don't push him away anymore."
"I can't Kelly. I'm so scared . . . I keep replaying that day and it just wont end."
"Then let Brad take care of you. It might help you. Let him remind you what it feels like to be loved."
"But I'll just remember, I know I will."
"They're not the same though Naomi. That man wanted to hurt you and Brad and he succeeded, but you can't let him win! He wanted to break you so show him you can't be broken. And show Brad that you still love and trust him." Naomi glanced at Kelly before smiling weakly.
"Thank you Kelly."
"You're welcome. Now lets have fun today." Naomi nodded and watched Kelly hurry off to grab her purse.
Naomi returned home around eight that night and let herself into the house. The TV was on and Brad was asleep in the recliner looking worn out. The twins were asleep on a blanket that Brad had spread out on the floor. Naomi smiled before walking over and taking the twins one at a time to their room. She went back downstairs and watched Brad sleep, before reaching over and shaking him awake. His eyes fluttered open before moving up to look at her.
He quickly sat up and glanced at the clock. When he returned his gaze, his eyes widened as Naomi threw herself into his arms. He was caught off guard for a moment before wrapping his arms around her and hugging her tightly. He was afraid that if he let go he would lose her again.
"Naomi?"
"I'm so sorry for pushing you away!" her voice was muffled as she buried her face into the front of his shirt.
"It's OK."
"Lets go to bed."
"OK."
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End of this chapter hope you enjoyed. I couldn't kill Brad :D. well thanks Phoenix07 for your review. Next chappy up soon hopefully. I'm actually on a roll!