He walked down the hallway his footsteps heavy his body tired and lagging. He had worked all day tirelessly at the institution and would like to have went home, but instead he was walking down the hall of the hospital.
He was hoping to be able to come visit Helga on his lunch break but couldn't find the time to even eat. He was going to call, but how did you have a phone conversation with someone who didn't talk?
He opened the door to her room and stepped inside closing the door behing him. A nurse was sitting in the plastic chair trying to coax Helga into eating her dinner.
"You have to eat something." He said gently.
She looked at him and then back at her plate, but didn't make a move to eat anything.
"Come on you can do it." He said.
The nurse stood setting the fork down on the plastic tray. She offered Arnold a smile as she slipped passed and out the door, Helga scowled after her.
Arnold took up the vacated chair and picked up the fork. He speared a piece of broccoli and Helga smiled reaching for the fork. He shook his head before eating the brocolli himself.
"No, you dont want it. Remember?" He teased.
She watched him eat a few more pieces before reaching for the fork again. He shook his head holding the fork just out of her reach.
"Say please." He said.
She frowned and reached for the fork again as he ate a piece or chicken.
"Come on. Say please." He said again.
She looked at him and then at her plate. She opened her mouth and he held his breath. What came out wasnt a word, but more like a soft squeak. She reached for the fork and he shook his head.
"I know you can do it." He said.
She looked at him before digging into her food with her hands. She ate a piece of chicken with a triumphant smile. Sighing in defeat he tossed the fork onto the tray, she didn't say a word but she cleaned up her dinner.
After she cleaned her plate and pushed the tray away she reached for the remote to the television. She turned on some music channel, and sat there completely entranced by the music. She looked at the dancers and music video like a child would look at a Christmas tree with freshly stacked gifts. He didn't mind the silence too much, he found just her company relaxing and as long as he was there he knew she was safe.
"I cant believe you're here." He said and she smiled.
"They tore the town apart looking for you. Your dad offered an amazing ransom, but they never heard from the kidnapper." He told her.
She looked at him with dark, haunted eyes and he realized that she knew about the ransom offer. Their only chance at ever finding a motive for her kidnapping lay with her.
"Helga, do you know why you were taken?" He asked.
She gave a slow nod.
"Tell me. Please tell me." He begged.
She moved closer to him and he copied the action leaning towards her. Her dark blue eyes stared into his and he could swear he saw a thousand stormy seas in them. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth as if to speak. He waited, hanging on the minute, waiting with an unbearable ache to hear her voice. The door behind him opened and just like that the minute was gone. She snapped her mouth shut and scurried back into the middle of the bed, her eyes staring at the person behind him.
Big Bob Pataki stepped into the room. He wasn't so big anymore life had knocked it all out of him. He looked old and weary in everyway as he eased down into the chair next to Arnolds. Miriam had died just three years after Helga went missing, drinking herself beyond redemption. Olga had fled to italy in a manner of self preservation, leaving Big Bob all alone in the empire he had sacrificed his family to build.
"Hey Arnold." Bob said in a worn tired voice.
"Hello Mr. Pataki, would you like me to leave you alone?"He asked.
Helga immediately began shaking her head no, and Bob offered him a weathered smile.
"She doesn't like to be alone with me." Bob said.
"I can assure you it's nothing personal." Arnold said.
"I know, truth is I don't blame her. It should be her mother sitting here instead of me."
"She is in a rough place right now, she will get through it." Arnold promised.
"Of course she will. She has a stubborn streak a mile wide. Don't you Helga?" Bob reached out to touch her hand and Helga pulled away.
"Hell, that stubborn streak is probably what kept her alive." Bob said.
Arnold saw tears fill the older mans eyes as he sat looking at the daughter her barely knew, who didnt even want to know him. Arnold couldn't imagine his pain, but he knew there had to be a reason for it.
"Helga...why won't you talk to me?"Bob asked.
"She is in shock Mr. Pataki it may take awhile." Arnold said.
"You have all the time in the world now Helga. All the time in the world." Bob promised.
Through the entire visit Helga sat motionless staring at her father, not saying a single word or attempting any contact.
After a few emotionally painful minutes Big Bob decided to leave. He promised Helga he would be back the next day, but she gave no response. As soon as he was gone Arnold saw the weight lift from her shoulders. She sighed heavily before sliding down under the covers of her bed. He glanced at his watch seeing it was past nine. He stretched in the plastic chair, his back sore from the cheap plastic.
"I'm going to go, but I promise to come back first thing in the morning." He said.
She gave him a nod, and the first real smile he had seen since she came back into his life. It was small and soft, but changed her entire appearance from the ragged girl he saw now, back to the fiery girl he used to know.
The next morning he walked into the hospital promptly at six. He didn't known if Helga would be up, but he wanted to check on her before he went into work. In his right hand he carried a paper bag, containing an item he hoped to bribe her into talking with. He pushed open the door and was surprised she was awake, and staring out the window at the sun.
"Helga, I brought you something." He said closing the door behind him.
She turned her head to look at him, her eyes going to the bag in his hand.
"I remember how much you used to love to read, I'm assuming you still do." He said.
She nodded eagerly reaching for the bag in his hand, but he hesitated.
"I know that Pride and Prejudice was your favorite, so last night I stopped at a book store and got you a copy." He said pulling the book out of the bag.
She reached for it and he snatched it back just inches before her fingers could brush the cover.
"You have to do something for me first." He said.
She gave him a quizzical look before switching her gaze to stare longingly at the paperback.
"Say my name." Arnold said.
She looked at him then back at the book before slowly shaking her head.
"Come on." He taunted.
She looked at the book like it was the most sacred thing she would ever see, but shook her head again. He sighed with a shrug, pretending it didn't matter to him either way.
"Okay then, I guess I'll just return it." He said putting the book back in the bag.
"Football head." She said suddenly and he froze.
Her voice was so soft and clear he thought he might have imagined it, but the expectant look on er face let him know he hadn't.
"I'm sorry?" He said.
Football head. Football head." She repeated.
He debated not giving her the book since that wasn't his name, but the desperate look in her eyes was the first sign of hope she has exibited yet. He tosssd the bag onto thr bed with a sigh of defeat. She tore the bag and pulled out the book. She ran her fjngers lightly over the cover her eyes taking in every line and detail. She opened to the first page with a sigh of pure bliss.
"I have to go. I will come back tonight." He said.
She didnt look up from the book or give any outward sign that she heard him. She was completely enchanted and standing there watching her Arnold was beginning to fear that she wasn't the only one.
Author note: please forgive any problems with this chapter. Such as misspellings ,typos , grammar and paragraphing. My computer is fried and I wrote this entire thing on my android phone. I am hoping to get my computer fixed immediately after Christmas, but I wanted to work on my fanfictions. Please forgive any mistakes and I promise to update again as soon as I can.
