Chapter 4
Grace pov.
I was back with my assailant. He was touching me, defiling me. "No, no please!" I shouted. I felt his hands trailing over my thighs, his knife dragging also. Trails of my blood ran to the ground and pooled there.
"Grace, Grace wake up!"
Hands so disgusting and evil…..
My eyes snapped open. Tears were running down my face leaving warm trails.
I saw Rigsby in front of me, his neck bent over my face.
His hand touched my face lightly. "It's okay." He whispered to me.
He wiped away my tears and I leaned into his touch, the gentle touch so unlike my nightmares.
I whimpered and saw Wayne fall to his knees by me.
My tears slowed and he repeated his reassurance.
I smiled sadly. "Thank you." I whispered.
I truly owed him so much. Wayne saved my life and he knew what happened to me yet he still stayed near me.
I remembered back to the day he told me he loved me:
"Van Pelt." I looked up from my magazine.
"Hmmm?"
"Grace. Like graceful. Such a pretty name."
I looked at him like he had grown three heads.
"I love you."
I breathed in quickly.
It was just the pain medication. I told myself.
Just the medicine.
I gave him my speech on how we couldn't'; I would have to leave as junior agent.
I looked over and saw he had fallen asleep.
I breathed deeply and closed my eyes.
That was just the medicine.
Could it have been more than just the drugs?
Could he actually love me?
No, the last man who claimed he loved me tried to rape me. Since then I haven't trusted a man in a romantic relationship.
"Anytime." Wayne whispered. He removed his hand from my face and took my hand. He brought it to his lips and kissed it lightly.
I felt myself blush; I wasn't used to being treated carefully by a man.
I heard someone clear their throat and saw my dad standing behind Wayne with a small, knowing smile on his face.
"Do you want anything sweetie? I was going to get some food." My father asked quietly.
"No thanks." I answered, my voice hoarse from crying.
"Agent Rigsby?"
That surprised me.
My dad had seemed on-edge near Wayne before I fell asleep. What had happened?
"No thanks."
My dad walked over to the other side of the bed where my mom was asleep. He shook her lightly and her head snapped up.
"Come on sweetie. You should eat something."
My mom stood and looked disoriented for a moment then walked out with my father.
Wayne stood and sat in the chair my mother had been in only moments ago.
"Are you feeling any better?" He asked worriedly.
"A little bit." I muttered; my throat sore.
"That's good."
I laid my head back on my pillow and closed my eyes.
Why were we small-talking? This man, he saved my life. And, maybe he loved me.
Maybe.
If he did, it would be rude of me to keep ignoring him. It would be like in high school where you had a crush on someone and they knew that but disregarded it.
But even if Wayne loved me, I didn't deserve it.
I was worthless; defiled; already used.
Raped.
Tears stung my aching eyes and Wayne noticed.
"What is it?" His voice was slightly panicked. But he hid it well.
I shook my head 'no' and tried to blink back the useless tears.
"Grace, what is it?" Wayne asked. This time his voice was demanding.
"I'm useless; worthless." I choked out.
"No. No you are not." His voice was loud and I jumped slightly causing my thigh rub against the rough bandaging on it.
I bit my lip to keep from crying out.
"Grace?!" Wayne shot up and laid his hand on my forehead.
Then I felt something warm on my thigh. I looked down and saw what it was.
Blood.
Red blood quickly flowing from where I had been stabbed.
Wayne ran out the door and shouted for the doctors.
People flooded into my room calling out orders rapidly.
But, I was dozing off; out of consciousness.
Footsteps were heard but I fell out of awareness.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
I felt a hand in mine and something warm on my forehead.
My eyes fluttered open and I saw my dad standing over me with a relieved look on his face.
My mom stood and almost ran to my bedside.
"We were so afraid to lose you. The doctors said you ruptured an artery. They could barely get you to stop bleeding." She explained.
"I'm sorry."
My eyes filled with tears that poured down my face.
Man, shouldn't I not have any tears left? I had cried so much already; how was there any left?
I felt the pressure on my hand tighten and I looked with blurry vision over to see Wayne watching me.
His eyes told me a story by themselves.
I saw worry and fatigue.
"You should get some sleep." I told him quietly.
"You are worried about me? You almost died twice this week. I'll get some rest later."
I nearly smiled at the tone in Wayne's voice.
"I don't want you to sick because of me." I whispered.
Wayne shook his head slowly in protest.
"I'll be fine. You just get better."
I nodded and saw my dad looking at us with knowing eyes.
My dad knew what had happened to me when I was sixteen. He knew I rarely trusted a man romantically.
So, why did he keep looking at me with those glances?
Like he would soon lose me to someone.