Once again, I apologize to all of my peeps for the lack of updates. Holiday season was a crazy time, I barely had time to sleep, let alone write. But I'm back and feeling very inspired. I'll be updating this, Lovesick, and at the request of some very sweet people, I will be adding a couple of other stories that are already in progress. As always, Read, Enjoy, & Please Review. Big Hugs to you all!!!!
My New Year's Resolution: Less Drama in My Life, More Drama In My Stories...
Chapter 30...
10:00 A.M.
"So do they know anything new?"
Jeff asked as Gia walked away from the police offer. He'd just come in to give her an update.
"They said that the car couldn't have belonged to the assailant," Gia said, wiping her thumb under her eyes. Brian got up from his seat and put an arm around her shoulders.
"How do they know that?" Jeff asked.
"It belongs to one of the bartenders," Gia explained. "And he said a lot of people know he parks his car there."
"Well that's just fucking great," Jeff ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Did they tell you anything that might actually be useful?"
Gia shook her head, sniffing and Brian pulled her into a hug.
"Come here," Trish stood up, grabbing Jeff's good arm and guiding him toward the corner of the waiting area. She sighed, looking up at her friend. He looked tired. They were all tired. No one had slept. They were all waiting for word on Raquel.
"What?" he looked down at her.
"Lay off," Trish pointed.
"What?" he looked confused.
"Gia is upset, her sister is in there," Trish reminded him. "She doesn't need you taking out your frustrations on her."
"I wasn't," Jeff insisted.
"Yeah but you were getting dangerously close," Trish said. "We're all worried. We're all tired. We're all in this. Understand?"
Jeff nodded, "Yeah, I understand."
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Brianna watched the door sleepily as the nurse walked out after checking Raquel's vitals. Her sister still hadn't woken up and though the doctors were being careful not to seem worried, Brianna couldn't help but notice the nurses were coming to check on her more and more frequently.
Brianna rested her forehead on the bed. She was so tired but she couldn't go to sleep. She didn't want to sleep until Raquel had at least stirred or showed some other sign that she was going to wake up. She closed her eyes again, thinking about how this night had gone. It started off as Raquel's plan to cheer her up and now Raquel was laying in a hospital bed.
Brianna's head snapped up when she heard her sister starting to breathe faster. Raquel's eyes opened slowly and she started coughing.
Before Brianna could say anything to her, the coughing got worse and Raquel pulled the oxygen mask off of her face. She yanked the sheets off and got out of bed, her legs wobbling beneath her. She rushed toward the bathroom, shoving the door open and just barely making it before she started violently throwing up.
Brianna rushed in behind her without a second thought and gently pulled her hair out of her face, holding it back with one hand and rubbing her back with the other. After a few minutes, the heaving stopped and Raquel loosened her white knuckle grasp on the sides of the toilet. She fell back against Brianna, crying. Bri wrapped her arms around Raquel, resting her head on top of her sister's.
"It's gonna be okay," Brianna said, rocking her back and forth. "It's gonna be okay, I promise."
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"Everyone," one of the nurses walked into the waiting room. "I just wanted to let you know that Ms. Davenport is awake."
"She is?" Gia looked up, tears springing to her eyes.
The nurse nodded, "She's not in any condition for visitors just yet but her sister requested that I tell you all she is awake."
"Oh thank God," Gia put a hand over her mouth. Brian and Trish were on either side of her and they both hugged her.
"Thank you for letting us know," John nodded to the nurse who smiled before walking away.
Jeff released the breath he hadn't realized he started holding when the nurse came in. Relief washed over him, and everyone else, with the news that Raquel was conscious. The longer she was out, the more potential there was for brain damage. He wished he could go in to see her but he understand that they would have to wait. As long as she was awake, he felt better. Then, he noticed the police officer that interviewed everyone earlier start making his way toward the hall.
Jeff stood up, "Where are you going?"
The officer sighed, "I need to go interview Ms. Davenport."
"Not right now you don't," Jeff stepped in front of him, blocking his path to the doorway. "Didn't you hear the nurse say she's not in any condition for visitors?"
"Yes but I need to get the details while they're still fresh in her mind," The officer explained.
"It doesn't seem likely to me that she'll forget anything in the next 15 minutes," Jeff said. "So I suggest you sit down because you're not getting out of this room until the doctor says it's okay."
The officer looked annoyed but he turned, walking back to the corner he'd been sitting in.
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1 Hour Later…
Brianna helped Raquel back into bed. She'd just finished throwing up again. Bri picked up a cup of ice chips and handed a few to her sister, then put it back on the bedside table. She couldn't imagine what Raquel felt like. She couldn't imagine what was running through her head. She hadn't talked much. After she woke up there was mostly crying, hugging, and more vomiting. But not too much discussion.
"You look tired," Raquel said, her voice raspy.
"I'm fine," Brianna shook her head. "We need to focus on you."
"You need some sleep," Raquel said. "Or at least to get out of this room for a little while."
Brian shook her head defiantly, "Raquel, I'm fine."
"I know you are," Raquel said quietly. "But I really need you right now and you aren't gonna be much help if you're falling asleep."
Brianna felt tears spring to her eyes but she blinked to keep them from falling.
"At least take a break," Raquel requested.
Brianna didn't want to leave. She didn't want her to be by herself.
"I…I want to talk to Jeff," Raquel requested.
"Jeff?" Brianna repeated.
Raquel nodded.
"Okay," Brianna sighed. She could see that Raquel wasn't giving up on making her take a break from bedside duty so she stood up. "I'll be back."
She walked out of the room and down the hall, running a hand through her hair.
When she got into the waiting room, everyone stared at her expectantly. John walked over to her, putting an arm around her shoulders. She leaned against him, grateful for the support.
"Jeff," she sighed. "She wants to talk to you."
Jeff looked surprised but then stood up.
"I'm afraid I'm gonna have to step in," The police officer in the corner got up, walking over to them. "I need to speak with Ms. Davenport immediately."
Brianna tensed. John must have felt it because he pulled her a little closer.
"Cant it wait a few minutes?" John asked.
The officer shook his head, "I've already waited too long. As I stated earlier, I need to get as many details as I can from the victim-"
"Her name is Raquel," Brianna glared.
"From Raquel," the officer corrected. "While the incident is still fresh in her mind."
"Fine," Brianna sighed. "But I want to be there."
"I cant allow that," he shook his head.
"Why not?" John asked. "She probably needs someone in there with her."
"Ms. Kavner might influence her statement," the officer explained.
"How would I influence her statement?" Brianna asked angrily. "That doesn't make any fucking sense."
"Calm down," John rubbed her arm slowly.
"This is stupid," Brianna rolled her eyes.
"We'll stand outside the room," Jeff said, putting a hand on Brianna's shoulder. "If we think it's getting out of hand, we'll just step in."
The officer looked like he wanted to object but he sighed, walking out.
"Okay," Brianna nodded. John took her hand and led the way down the hall toward Raquel's room.
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John held Brianna's hand as they stood in front of Raquel's room, watching through the window as the officer questioned Raquel. He could tell how much it pained her that she couldn't go in and sit with her sister. It took everything in him not to wrap his arms around her and hold her as close and as tight as he could but he wasn't sure how she would react. She was at least allowing him to hold her hand and that was good enough. If she needed more, she would let him know.
Jeff was pacing back and forth, occasionally glancing into the room.
"You okay man?" John asked.
Jeff nodded quickly, not making eye contact.
Brianna looked up at Jeff, "You can go in as soon as he's done."
"I know," Jeff said, still not looking at them.
"Jeff," she released John's hand, reaching out to take Jeff's. "I wanna thank you again for everything you did tonight."
"Yeah," John agreed. "If it hadn't been for you, who knows what would have happened."
"You don't have to thank me," Jeff said. "I did what I had to do."
They stopped talking when they heard Raquel's voice. John turned and he could see that she'd started sobbing. Brianna turned away from the window, resting her forehead against John's chest. He put his arms around her, pulling her close to him. He wanted to go in and stop the interview. He wanted to pick the cop up and punch him for whatever he may have said to upset his good friend but he knew that wasn't an option. And he knew it wasn't likely that Raquel would get through the questioning without getting emotional so there wasn't really anything he could do. He looked up at Jeff, who was staring into the room, his jaw clenched tightly. He was obviously thinking the same thing John was.
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15 Minutes Later…
Jeff stood at the doorway to Raquel's room. The officer was gone, John had convinced Brianna to go to the cafeteria and get some food with him. The doctor had given Raquel a sedative after the emotional questioning and now she was asleep. Jeff had been given permission to go in but he wasn't sure if he could do it. Then he remembered that she wanted him there. She asked for him earlier. He walked in, sitting in the chair beside the bed.
He reached out, gently touching her small hand, "I'm sorry Raquel…I'm sorry this happened to you."
The only sound she offered was her breathing.
Her put his hands over hers, "If I could find that guy, I would make him pay for what he did to you."
He stroked her hand with his thumb, not knowing why he was talking when he knew she couldn't hear him.
"I know we fight a lot," he said. "But I do care about you…and I'm sorry I didn't get there sooner..I'm sorry I let this happen."
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"Is it cold out here or is it just me?" Brianna asked as she and John stood outside. She wanted some fresh air so he brought her into the hospital's courtyard.
"I'm not that cold," John said. "You're tired. You always get cold easier when you're tired."
She nodded, stepping closer to him as a breeze blew by.
"Come here," he put his arms around her.
She rested her head on his chest, taking a deep breath. Brianna didn't care about any of the tension that had been between them. She would probably lose her mind if he wasn't there with her. Nick and her father hadn't bothered to get there. They hadn't even called. But John, John was there with her every second and she truly believed that he would have made the effort, even if he was in another city, to get there and be with her. John kissed the top of her head and she looked up at him, meeting his blue eyes.
"You okay?" he asked.
She nodded, still looking at him, studying his face. He had a face she could look at for hours and never get bored.
She got up on her toes on impulse, her lips just barely brushing his. She was surprised at herself and didn't move for a second, looking down, not knowing what to do. John was obviously surprised too but he reacted before she did. He tilted her chin up with his thumb and leaned down to kiss her again. She knew she should probably move away but the signals from her brain weren't reaching the rest of her because she stood there, closing her eyes as his lips got closer to hers. But before he could, her cell phone rang.
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