Ello readers!!! Ya'll know I own nothing but these words!!!! And, if you reviewed my last couple of chapters then, thanks………but if you didn't…………I still love ya for reading as far as you have.
AndromedaMarine, kathiann and Eve215 I love you guys!!!!
Restated disclaimer: Own nothing…….wish I did but I don't………
Chapter 8
Van Pelt pov.
I felt sluggish… so tired…..
But I didn't say anything I didn't want to worry Rigsby or anyone else.
The little voice in the back of my head said 'something's wrong……very wrong'.
That terrified me; what was wrong with me now?
But I had long since put my trust in my Lord to keep me safe.
I coughed once again and felt my lungs groan in pain.
This was happening too often ever since I was…..raped……..
Random coughing, loss of appetite and aching muscles.
I told no one of my bouts.
I heard footsteps and a voice ask me a if I was okay.
"I'm fine." I said.
But even my voice said I wasn't.
A cool hand touched my forehead.
"Damn!"
I didn't think I was that warm, but when Rigsby's hand felt cold, there was obviously something wrong.
"Grace, you have a fever."
A fever.
Great.
"Come on. I'll take you home."
Rigsby was worried now, that much was evident from his voice.
I nodded; maybe going home was a good idea.
I stumbled as I stepped and arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me close to Rigsby.
I slid into his car and felt a buckle tighten around me.
The car started and silence dominated.
Was Rigsby mad at me for not telling him?
I just wanted for him not to be worried.
I had already burdened him and so many others with my needs.
I felt myself cough and my shoulders and chest ached.
A hand was on my cheek; stroking my face lightly.
"Grace, you should've told me."
That was what I expected somehow.
Deep down, some part of me said 'He really does care.'
But I still felt like an useless liability.
The car slowed and I heard buckles unclasp.
"Come on."
Rigsby's voice was soft, kind…….loving…..
I heard the car door slam shut and saw my apartment building.
We entered and Rigsby asked me what room I was.
"204." I answered.
My voice was light; like I had had a bad cold.
"Got your keys?"
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my keychain with all my keys on it.
I heard Rigsby fumble through them, not knowing which one it was.
"The medium key."
Man my voice sounded terrible.
My door creaked open and Rigsby guided me into my hallway.
I saw my mom come walking towards us with a shocked look on her face.
"Rick, come here!"
My mom called my father and he moved to my side in an instant.
I sat on my couch and still felt Rigsby's arm around me.
The contact between he and I made me feel wanted and needed.
My father's footsteps were heard as he padded into the kitchen.
"Sweetie, should we take you to the hospital?"
Cool fingers stroked my face and I felt a ring lightly scrape my skin; it was my mom's hand.
"N---no I think I-I'm f-fine."
Everything I did said I was not fine.
"Drink this Grace. Then we're going to the hospital."
My father's voice sound as it did when I was a child and I didn't want to do something; assertive.
Water ran down my fingers as I drank greedily.
I didn't know how thirsty I was.
My eyes slipped closed and I breathed deeply.
"I'm so tired…."
It was the truth, I felt like I could sleep for years and never wake up.
I knew there was a silent exchange of worried glances between everyone in the room.
"Grace, we're going to take you to the hospital."
That was Rigsby's voice.
I groaned; I didn't want to get up.
Arms slid around me and I knew who's they were.
I felt safe, even with knowing that I was going back to the hospital.
And, at some time, I fell out of consciousness.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO
Rigsby pov.
I sat by her bedside and once again watched her labored breaths.
Hours ago nurses had taken more blood and said they were going to test it for numerous diseases.
Grace's eyes were closed and she looked the most peaceful that I had ever seen her.
I heard voices but I didn't bother responding to them.
"My dad told me what you did for Grace. Thank you."
My head snapped up and I saw a young man with brown red hair and soft eyes.
"I'm Grace's brother, Alex."
The man stuck out his hand and I looked at him critically.
But I shook his hand and watched as Alex pulled up a chair on the other side of the bed.
"Grace was always the baby of the family. When I was younger I resented the fact that my dad paid more attention to her than me. But when she was sixteen and we moved, I realized how vulnerable she really was."
Alex looked at me with sincere eyes.
"Now it all happened again. Just this time the scum got what he wanted."
I watched as Alex's hand moved to touch Grace's face.
There was love in his eyes but sadness on his face.
"Yeah."
That was all I could say?
After everything, I could say 'Yeah.'?
"You're going to take care of her, aren't you?"
That question caught me off guard.
This family seemed to know everything.
It was like having a bunch of Jane's around reading you.
"Uhmmmmmmm. Yes……..?…."
"You love her. You saved her; I know you will."
"I do and I will."
That was all true, I would do whatever it took to keep Grace safe.
"Just make sure she gets everything she needs. That's all I ever wanted for my baby sister." Alex said with a smile on his lips.
"You guys really love her don't you?"
That was a stupid question. Of course they did.
Alex breathed in deeply: "Grace helped us all through hard times with her loving spirit. I remember when I lost my first wife, she sat and let me talk for hours on end without moving. And when we were younger, Grace dreamed about being a child specialist with mentally ill."
Alex shook his head and a nostalgic look crossed his face.
"She was just the angel of the family. But once we moved, she changed directions toward criminal investigation. Our father was terrified when he heard his Grace was going to be a cop."
Alex laughed and I imagined Grace telling her father that she was going to be chasing down delinquents.
A knock at the door caught the both of ours attention.
A young nurse stood in the doorway with a blank expression on her face, "Excuse me, the doctor would like to go over some things on the papers with Ms. Van Pelt's family."
Alex and I exchanged worried glances.
"I'll get my parents."
That was all Alex said as he slipped out the door and walked around the corner.
The nurse placed the papers on the desk and her expression changed from vacant to a downcast grimace.
Something was wrong.
The old ache was back, the one that told me something was off.
I heard a cough and turned to look at Grace.
"Hey." I called lightly.
Her head snapped in the direction of my voice.
"Hey." She said.
Her voice sounded a bit better but her skin was still a washed-out ashen color.
"How do you feel?" I asked as I crossed the room back towards her.
I tried to sound as nonchalant as I could but I know she saw my worry.
"Fine I guess."
Footsteps rang through the hallway and I saw Grace's father in front of everyone else as he lead them in the room.
Grace's face lit up when she saw Alex and he smiled and leaned down to kiss her forehead.
The doctor walked in and picked up her papers.
She looked at each of us and then to Grace who frowned at the doctor's intense gaze.
"It seems that from the blood test, we found out two very important things."
I looked down at Grace who now had a caught her bottom lip between her teeth.
"You seem to have a non-recurring kind of hepatitis B. Most likely the virus will be out f your system in a month or two."
Grace's chest rose and fell with her deep breaths and she nodded for the doctor to go on.
"The other topic I would like to talk with you about privately."
The doctor looked to everyone in the room except for Grace to leave.
Grace's father put hand on his son's shoulder and guided his wife and himself out of the room.
I gave Grace a reluctant gaze and exited the room also.
In the pit of my stomach, I knew what was to come.
Ohhhhhhh!!! I am SO evil……*cries*…….So, what is to come???? Hmmmm???
Review to me what you think is 'to come'
Kay?
I love you guys SO much!!!! Thanks for all the support and I hope it keeps coming!
-Pasts-Hormony2