A/N - Hey, everyone. There was a little confusion with titles/songs/whatever. I was looking for the chapter title's song. Anyhow, since it was a little confusing, I posted this chapter early. And from now on, it's the Alexz Johnson song the chapter title is from to get the preview:-D
Enjoy, and review!
-JQ-
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Chapter Two…Bitter Pill to Swallow
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Tom pulled his Viper into the Harrison's driveway, idling it as Jude hopped out the passenger-side door. "Be back," she muttered, darting for her house.
"Jude! Is that you?" Sadie's blonde head popped out from behind the corner, fresh tears falling from her eyes.
"Sadie, where's Mom?" she demanded, running over to her sister.
"She's in here. I called the paramedics, but they're not here yet. I'm worried, Jude!" Sadie led her over to the kitchen, where Victoria was sprawled out across the linoleum floor. Her hair was tousled and her face was lying in a fresh pool of dark red blood.
"Mom!" Jude screeched, rushing over to her side. "Sadie, what happened!"
"I don't know! I came home and found her like this! I called you and then called the ambulance. She was holding this…" Sadie held up an empty Tylenol bottle, worry in her face.
"Oh, God. Mom…Mom…Wake up!" She shook Vic, urging her to wake up.
But it was no use. Victoria was completely out of it.
"It's not supposed to be like this, Jude." Sadie choked back a sob. "She's our mom. She's supposed to take care of us. Not the other way around."
"How did I not see this coming?" Jude moaned, collapsing on the floor next to her unconscious parent.
Sadie sneered. "Oh, like you would. You're never home, anymore. You're out with Tom or at the studio. It's all about you…it always has been."
"Oh, don't turn this on me, Sadie! You're the one who gave up on university for your stupid acting career. Yeah, how's that coming!" she taunted, hitting a nerve.
"Shut up, Jude!" Sadie took a step toward her sister, daring her to open her mouth again.
"Excuse me?" The two sisters spun around at the sound of a new voice. They rushed to the front door where a paramedic was standing, gurney in hand.
"This way," Jude ushered him in, showing him to Victoria.
"Thank you," he muttered, waving another EMT in. The two of them strapped Vic to the gurney and carried her out without another word.
"Would one of you like to come in the ambulance?" The first paramedic asked. "Only one."
Jude nodded at her sister. "Go ahead, Sadie. Tom's waiting outside for me."
"Of course," she scoffed. Sadie followed the man out to the ambulance, hopping in the back. Jude sighed and made her way out to Tom's Viper.
"What's going on, Jude. I saw your mom," Tom questioned as Jude got back in his car.
She broke down. "Tommy, she took a whole bottle of pills. She won't wake up and…Sadie…she… She blames this all on me. And…and…Oh, God. She can't die. She just can't. It's not fair. I didn't even get to see her today, and now I might never get to talk to her again!"
Tom sighed. "Jude…hang on, girl. We'll get you to the hospital and everything will be fine."
"How do you know, Tommy?" she growled, not really angry with Tom, but angry with the world.
"I just do."
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Tom and Jude stepped into the hospital, searching for Sadie.
"Miss Harrison?" Jude turned around at the mention of her name. A short, plump nurse with soft brown hair was standing behind her, clipboard in hand.
"I'm Jude," she informed her.
"Right. My name is Elena. Your sister is down in ICU, with your mother. I was told to notify you that you could go see her when you get here. But…" Nurse Elena glanced over Jude's shoulder at Tom. "Just you."
Jude nodded. "Okay. Thank you." The nurse smiled and went back to the station.
Tom put his arm around her waist, pulling her in for a tight hug. "I'll wait here, Jude. Just keep me posted, okay?"
"I will," she promised, hugging him back.
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Sadie wiped her eyes dry for the tenth time since she'd taken her seat next to Victoria. "Mom, why did you do this? You were happy. You and Don were happy. You were finally getting to enjoy your life. What made you do this?"
Sadie laughed. "This is something I'd expect from Jude, not you. You're way too strong for this." She sighed. "I just wish I knew why you did this. Everything was perfect…for once."
"Sadie?" Jude's soft voice drifted in from the open door behind her.
"Yeah?" she replied, not turning around.
"How is she?" she asked tentatively.
"They pumped her stomach, but she's still unresponsive. Her vitals seem fine, but she won't wake up. The doctors say we just have to wait for her to decide she wants to be conscious again." Sadie still wouldn't look at her sister.
Jude settled herself in the other chair next to her mother, sighing deeply. "Sadie…"
"What?"
"Let's not fight, alright? At least for Mom. She needs us to be strong."
Sadie nodded slowly. "Okay."
"Look, I know I'm not home as much as I should be. But…that's no reason for Mom to do this, is it?"
"No," Sadie said. "And that's what's been getting to me. Why would she do this?"
"I don't know," Jude admitted.
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A/N - Why would Vic do this:-D Review and tell me which song "Bitter Pill to Swallow" is from…(easy one this time!) You'll get a hint as to why Vic did it!
25 reviews for the next update!
Love,
JQ