Chapter 32 – Broken

The exact moment Sara tried to grab for the banister, the door opened again. Nick heard Charlotte scream and rushed out, looking up just in time to see Sara start falling. She fell in slow motion and Nick started sprinting toward the steps. He reached Charlotte while Sara's foot caught in the railing and they all heard a crack that seemed amplified as Sara screamed in fear and pain. She was swung into the railing before the rung gave way and set her free, going down the steps again, head first on her back.

Charlotte was only halfway up the steps and seemed to be glued to the spot while her mom fell toward her. She felt herself being pulled down the steps but still wasn't able to move. Nick had grabbed her out of the way and was trying to make a grab for Sara too but he couldn't get to her in time. She bounced off the steps before landing in a heap on the landing. Nick looked up at Jeff in disgust before running down the stairs, after Sara. She wasn't moving, lying in an awkward position, heaped against the half wall that separated the living room from the staircase. Nick put Charlotte back on the steps and ran to her, collapsing to his knees before he even stopped.

"Sara?" he whispered, resting an arm on her shoulder and leaning forward. He tried to push her shoulder so she would roll a little. She groaned and let him roll her onto her side. "Sara," Nick whispered again, relived this time.

"Mommy!" Charlotte heard her mom groan and ran down the steps from where Nick had put her.

Nick looked up and saw Jeff standing at the top. He didn't take his eyes off him as he took out his phone and called Brass.

"Jim, I need you to get a uniform and an ambulance down here." Jeff rubbed both hands through his hair at the same time. Nick had seen that gesture many times before from guilty men. He gave him a disgusted look before turning back to Sara. She was wincing in pain, clutching her left leg. Charlotte was sitting near Sara's legs and Nick was up near her head. He stroked her hair and told her it was going to be ok. She had hit her head pretty bad on the wall and was a little disoriented.

Nick heard Jeff walk down the steps cautiously behind him. He knelt down beside Charlotte before she noticed. When she did she jumped and pressed against Nick in fear. Nick looked up at Jeff.

"Don't touch her," he said as he wrapped his arm around Charlotte. Nick's voice was low and smooth, dripping with loathing. Jeff didn't really know what to say so he just stood and stepped back.

Sara's consciousness level was improving, but with it came pain. She had a headache forming behind her eyes but that was nothing compared to the ripping pain trough her leg. She was positive it was broken and she couldn't concentrate on anything past that pain. Her vision was swimming and she couldn't tell who was sitting in front of her.

An ambulance got there within a few minutes, followed closely by a cop car, and Brass' car. Nick didn't want to, but he had to let Sara go to the hospital so he could talk to Brass. He had to keep Charlotte with him, even though she had burst into tears when he told her that. Sara was rushed off while he recounted what he had seen to Brass. Jeff was taken off in the cop car for further questioning. Nick held Charlotte's hand and when he was finished talking to Brass he gave her a big hug. His brother and sisters had kids and he spent as much time as he could with them so he knew how to handle kids. She never really stopped crying until he did hug her and even then, she held him tight and he had to pick her up because she wouldn't let go.

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It was a pretty bad break. A spiral fracture that had ripped through so much tissue it was almost sticking out. She had to have 8 pins put into her leg and she was in a lot of pain for quite awhile. She also had a concussion. Nick and Charlotte got to the hospital about an hour after she did. They couldn't she her right away because she hadn't woke up.

When Sara did wake up she couldn't remember where she was. She didn't want to open her eyes because her head hurt so much, but she had to find out. She opened them slowly and squinted at the light. Her eyes slowly got used to it and she looked around. She saw a woman standing beside her.

"Oh, good, you're awake." Her voice was cheery and welcoming. She was wearing all white which kind of hurt Sara's eyes.

"Who…" Sara's voice was raspy so she cleared it and tried again. "Who are you?" she whispered.

"My name is Mary-Lou. I'm your nurse." She smiled and folded her hands behind her back as she spoke. She was a short but slightly chunky woman with fair skin dotted with freckles. Her hair was frizzy and red but it looked good on her.

"My nurse?" Sara looked straight ahead and tried to remember. When she looked straight ahead her eyes fell on her legs; one was wrapped in a big white cast. Her eyes opened wide and her mouth fell open. Then she remembered. Jeff. Stairs. Charlotte.

"Oh my God, Charlotte," Sara whispered as she remembered her daughter had walked in the door before she took flight down the stairs. "Oh my God, Charlotte!" she said louder. She looked over at Mary-Lou. "Where is my daughter?" she asked desperately.

"Its ok, miss. Your daughter is out in the waiting room with your husband. I was going to go and tell them when you had woken up." She gave her a sweet smile and patted Sara's hand.

"My husband?" Sara asked, confused. Then it hit her. "Oh, no that's Nick. He's not my husband," but she was gone.

Sara looked around her room. It was a private room with a window to her right and left. Beside one window was the door so she assumed that was a window into the hallway. However, both windows' shades had been drawn. There were 6 single chairs in the room, all with wooden frames and red upholstery.

Sara was only alone for a minute before she heard the door open. She saw her daughter's face pause a moment and then Charlotte bolted toward her.

"Mommy!" she yelled as she hopped up onto the bed and flew into Sara's arms. Sara hugged her tight and closed her eyes, holding her daughter's head to her chest. They hugged for a while then Sara pulled her back. She looked at Charlotte with a smile that the little girl returned. She had Chester in one arm, pressed against her favorite blue sweater with a kitten lying across the chest that she was wearing. Her hair was getting longer and curlier; it now rested on her shoulders. Her face was streamed with forgotten tears that had been replaced by the glowing smile.

"How are you?" Sara asked with a slight quiver in her voice.

"Good," Charlotte said.

Sara looked up. Nick was standing just inside the door. He was smiling at the exchange and he waved a little when she looked up. She smiled at him and waved him over. Charlotte got comfortable in Sara's lap as Nick walked over. Sara held out her hand and Nick took it while he pulled a chair up to her bed.

"Thanks," she whispered, "For taking care of her."

"It wasn't a problem," Nick answered with a smile. Sara's smile widened and she let go of his hand, bringing it to his collar and pulling him to her. She kissed him and he kissed her back. She pulled back but stayed close.

"I love you." She was getting better at saying it and now it felt more natural then ever. Nick smiled and repeated her sentiment.

Author's Note: How do you like it? Review review review! Ok I promise there will be more Nick and less Jeff from now on!