Chapter 13: I Need You
"Mmmh-mmhm!" Raven squeezed her eyes tight and pushed the palms of her hands on his shoulders, trying to push her mysterious attacker off. She felt him release and step back, his arms still around her waist.
"Who the hell do you-" catching sight of the man she froze, "wh-what are y-you, when…" gasping for air she backed up against the coffee counter. "Alex, how-what are you doing here?" Alex smirked, "I've missed you baby. It been so hard being without you"
Raven's eyes narrowed, but she was still in too much shock to say anything. Letting go of her waist Alex ran his fingers down her cheek. Whipping her head to the side she growled, "don't you dare touch me."
Alex sighed, "c'mon baby, don't be mad." "Don't be mad! How the hell could I not be mad after what you did?"
"Hey, man, how's she doing?" Victor asked Garfield as he came into the waiting room. He sighed and leaned against the doorframe, "no change." Victor looked at the linoleum floor, "it's only been a day, and the doctor said she may not come out of it for a week." "But what if she doesn't come out of it at all?" Victor exhaled deeply, "I don't know Gar, let's just hope that it doesn't come to that."
Garfield turned to Richard, "where's Raven?" "Getting coffee, she went to the Café, it's down the hall." Nodding Garfield turned and headed in that direction.
Stepping into the café he looked around for her, spotting her over by the coffee machines he maneuvered through the tables to get to her. His breath caught in his throat when he saw a man grab her around the waist and kiss her. He couldn't tell if she was kissing back but that didn't matter. Turning around Garfield walked out of the café and out the hospital doors.
"What are you doing back in Jump City?" Raven asked putting a lid over the last coffee cup. "I heard about Roy and Kori and I wanted to be here for them." "And how did you find out about them?" "I just happened to have been in Jump this week, doing some research for work. I've been staying at the Four Seasons and Vic gave me a call a few hours ago."
Raven turned around to face him, "wait, so, you've been in Jump City for how long?" "'Bout a week." "Were you even going to tell me? And, and Victor knew?" Raven felt the anger growing inside her with each passing minute. 'Everyone is lying to me. All the people I've always believed I could trust.'
"Ya, but Vic didn't want me to tell you. He called me only to tell me what happened, he didn't want me to show up. But I had to. I'm really sorry about what happened to them. I hope their both okay."
Raven sighed and grabbed the coffee trays. "I have to get back," she replied emotionlessly and headed to the waiting room.
When she heard Alex's footsteps behind her she closed her eyes for a second and tried to breathe.
Garfield stood outside the hospital in the parking lot by his car. He didn't want to leave, but, 'I can't stay there with them. I can't watch her be with him, whoever he is.' Closing his eyes Garfield leaned up against his car and tried to think. 'I want to be there for Kori but…'
Setting the coffee on the table in the waiting room Raven took hers and sat down. "Raven, are you okay? And who's that?" Richard asked concerned. Raven sighed and sat back in her chair. "That's Alex; you'd know him as Aqualad I guess. I just can't believe he's back." "Is that good or bad?" Richard asked raising an eyebrow. Raven looked up at Alex, who was talking with Victor and Karen. Well it didn't look like talking, more like an interrogation, "I'm… not sure." She replied.
Opening the door Garfield pulled a chair up next to the bed. "Kori, I know I was just here but, I don't know what to do. I love her so much Kori. I can't stand to see her with anybody else."
Garfield dropped his head and listened to the rhythmic beeping of Kori's machines. "Please wake up Kori, I need you. I need you to tell me what to do."
Roy moaned and opened his eyes. The blurring image of the white ceiling eventually became clear. Squinting his eyes from the florescent lights, Roy turned his head to the side. "Raven?" Raven looked up and smiled. "Hey there, how're you feeling?"
"What happened? Where am I?" Raven's smile faded, "you were shot. You're at the hospital, they doctors were able to remove the bullet from your spin and they said there is no nerve damage, so you'll be fine, but you won't be racing for a while." She said solemnly.
"Roy, I have some bad news, really bad news." Roy looked up at her with nervous eyes. "It's about Kori, she's-"
"Kori!" Roy screamed sitting up but wincing at the pain. Raven pushed him back down gently. "Don't try and move too much you're still weak. "Kori…in the alley…that man."
"Yes Roy that man shot you. Kori's still alive. But she got hurt, very badly, she's-she in a…a coma Roy."
Raven heard Roy's breathing increase and become heavy, "wh-what? What did the doctors say?" "They said that she could be under for a week to ten days, or more. It's been a day, and nothings changed so far." Roy slammed his fist down on the mattress, "how could I let this happen?" "You didn't let this happen, Roy. This isn't your fault." "Can I see her?" Raven sighed. "Not yet, you have to stay in bed, but I'm sure you can see her soon. I'll go get a nurse; I'll tell them you're awake." Raven gave him a gentle smile and headed into the hall.
After informing the nurse that Roy was awake, Raven turned around to go back to the waiting room. "Raven!" Sighing Raven ran her hand through her hair and turned around. "Alex, what do you want? You said you came to see how Roy and Kori were doing, that has nothing to do with talking to me."
Alex laughing and pulled Raven to him, "c'mon baby." Raven's eyes narrowed and she looked up into his eyes, "I am not your baby."
"Can't we put what happened behind us and start over." "There is no us anymore, Alex. You left, without a goodbye, without a phone call, without a damn letter! I want nothing more to do with you." Pulling her closer he ran his fingers through her black hair, "you don't mean that," he whispered breathlessly in her ear.
As he leaned in closer to her she felt him push her up against the nearby wall. Struggling to push him away she turned her head, "Leave me alone, Alex. Stop!" Raven found her self raising her voice, yet no one came to help her. "Alex, don't do this. Please!" Closing her eyes Raven turned her head so far that she felt her cheek press up against the cool white hospital wall.
Suddenly the grip around her waist loosed and she heard a yelled and a loud thud. Whipping her head around she saw Alex hit the floor. Through gritted teeth she heard, "Don't…touch…her!"
"Garfield?" He turned to her and her eyes widened; his gentle green eyes were now black with rage. "Are you hurt?" he asked coming up to her. Still shaky, Raven shook her head, "no, I'm-Garfield look out!"
Before Garfield could turn around he felt a punch connect with his face, slamming him against the wall.
"Alex stop! Please, leave him alone." Running up to him she tried to grab his arm to pull his away but he merely pushed her away. Getting up off the floor she ran to stand in between them, looking up at Alex she tried to control her anger, "don't hurt him."
Alex narrowed his eyes preparing to say something…
"Hey! What going on?" Richard yelled coming up to them, "you're in a hospital. This is hardly the time or the place."
"Are you okay?" Raven asked gently looking up into Garfield's eyes. By now Richard had forced Alex out of the hallway and back into the waiting room.
Turning away from her he replied curtly, "I'm fine." Sighing Raven rested her hand on his check and turned his face towards her. Gasping, her eyes widened, "you're bleeding."
"I-it's nothing." "Yes, it is. Here, let me help you." Leading him to a near by bench she pushed him down and turned to go into the ladies room. Leaning over the door frame she starred at him, "don't move."
Coming back with a handful of tissues she held a few of them to his nose. Raven saw him wince at the pain and the guilty feeling was so strong that it hurt almost physically. "Thank you for coming to my rescue back there. I'm so sorry, Alex isn't a bad man, he really isn't. I don't know what came over him."
"That's Aqualad isn't it?" "Yes," changing the subject quickly she pulled the bloody tissues away and asked, "were you injured anywhere else?" "I'm fine, Raven." Turning to get up she quickly pulled him back, "wait,"
Garfield turned slightly to face her. "I just want to make sure you're alright," she said trying to defend herself. Resting her hand on his check once again she tilted his head up to make sure his nose wasn't bleeding anymore. "The bleeding stopped."
Garfield smiled gently at her, "thank you." Starring up into his eyes she replied emotionlessly, "you're welcome," almost as if hypnotized.
Before she could even register what she was doing she found herself pulling his face towards hers, closing her eyes she felt his lips meet hers.
Surprised, Garfield wrapped his arms gently around her waist, pulling her closer.
Raven felt him pull her closer and she found herself smile against his lips at the warmth she felt with his arms around her. Wrapping her arms around his neck she slid her hand into his hair and pulled his face even closer deepening the kiss.
Raven felt lost in the kiss. For once her mind wasn't in control, her heart was. And this felt…right. Pulling away she looked up into his eyes.
"Raven…I" putting a finger to his lips she smiled, letting it slid off his lips she felt him tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and saw him lean in so their lips could meet again.
1 week later
The week passed slowly, with everyone trying to continue with their work. Each nigh they came back to see if there was any change, and there never was. Kori was in the same condition she had been in that first day.
Roy started physical therapy and was walking on crutches now instead of sitting in a wheelchair. He couldn't walk on his own, but he was getting there. Alex had said good-bye to Roy and once again left without a word. This time however, Raven not only didn't care, she was glad.
Roy wasn't happy about Richard being at the hospital but Raven had convinced him not to say anything. Yet, every time he saw Richard come out of Kori's hospital room, he felt himself grow angry.
"Have you talked to the doctor yet?" Raven asked anxiously resting her hands over Garfield, which were wrapped around her waist.
Richard sighed, "no he hasn't come out of her room yet. I called Victor and Karen and their on their way."
"Has she come out of it yet?" Karen asked as anxious as Raven was. Victor placed a hand on her shoulder, "I should probably call Roy, tell him I'll come pick him up and bring him to the hospital." Karen sighed, "okay you do that. We'll wait here. I'll call when I find out anything." Kissing her lips Victor turned and ran out the hospital doors.
"How is she?" Richard asked as soon as the doctor opened the door and stepped out. Dr. Morgan looked up, a bit surprised, "she coming out of it. There shouldn't be any side-affects from the coma, but just in case we'll be monitoring her condition."
"Can we see her?" Raven asked. "Yes, of course, just not all of you at once, one or two at a time." With that the doctor turned and headed through a large white painted door.
Brushing a strand of hair out of her face Garfield look at Raven, "you should go first Raven." Watching Raven's eyes widen and feeling her physically shake Garfield turned to Richard, "maybe you should go in with her?"
Stepping through the door Richard and Raven both looked at the nurse inserting yet another needle into one of Kori's bandaged arms. The nurse turned at the sound of the door. "Oh, well, I'll just get out of your way. Try and be quiet though, Miss Anders is still groggy and a bit disoriented." Richard nodded and with that the nurse headed out the door.
Pulling a chair up to the bed Raven sat down, Richard standing behind her. "Breathe Richard," she whispered to him and heard him exhale sharply. Turning to look down at Kori Raven watch as Kori's eyes slightly opened and closed again while her head lolled around on the pillow.
"Kori? Kori?" Raven whispered. "It's Raven and…Robin." Richard looked down at her with wide, curious eyes. "I think she'll respond to that." Raven whispered.
"Ro-robin?" Groaning they both saw her eyes flutter open slightly, "Ro-robin…"
To Be Continued