Chapter 32 It's My Turn to Save You
Dylan looked into Brenda's car, not seeing her he looked around. Where the hell did she go? He noticed the convenience store and walked toward it thinking he would ask them if they had seen her.
"DYLAN!" he heard the shrill scream from the alley. Dylan ran into the alley, he waited for his eyes to focus in the dark. He noticed struggling and the muffled sounds of crying and a women's voice. Dylan moved quickly not even thinking about anything as he grabbed the guy off of Brenda and tackled him to the ground. Dylan punched him as hard as he could over and over and over again. Brenda scooted up as she wrapped her arms around her legs and swayed back and forth. She cried harder letting out her voice now as she cried hysterically.
The man was knocked unconscious as he lay on the cement. Dylan could have killed him and not have even thought twice. He had been waling on him but someone must have heard Brenda's screams because before Dylan had a chance to or tend to Brenda a police car was in the alley.
Dylan ran to her side. "Oh my God, Brenda." Dylan wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed into his arms. Dylan saw Brenda's lip was bleeding and that she was naked from the waist down. He took off his jacket wrapping it around her, covering her. "It's ok…I am here baby." Dylan comforted her holding in his own tears as she broke down in his arms.
Brenda sat looking down; the paramedic had checked her out, cleaned her up, and made sure she was decent. Dylan had been talking to police for the past 15 minutes and he couldn't keep his eyes off her. The man was taken to the hospital, because of Dylan and arrested. Since Brenda was assaulted but not raped there was no need for a rape kit but they gave her the option to go to the hospital, which she declined.
Brenda didn't say much on the way home. Dylan kept looking at her and she seemed withdrawn. Dylan pulled into the hotel and looked at her, his heart broke for her. Brenda held her boxer shorts against her chest and she slowly walked with Dylan to his room. He held her leading her down the hallway not knowing what to say to her. He was doing well keeping his own emotions in and he did it for her. He felt like falling apart, yelling and screaming, throwing things and crying, but that wouldn't help anything. Someone had hurt her, hurt her badly and she may never be the same. He felt weird asking her if she had been raped or how far the man had gotten and thought maybe Brenda wouldn't want to tell him if he had been too late. But Dylan learned from the police it had been an attempted rape and he had saved her. As Dylan led Brenda inside the room he finally said something to her.
"Baby? What do you need? What can I get you?"
Brenda trembled and started to cry again, "Thank you." she whispered wrapping her arms around his neck. He had saved her, if Dylan hadn't had come when he did she would have been raped and maybe possibly beaten even more than she was. Brenda left that scene shattered emotionally but she couldn't help but feel relieved, relieved she had answered his call, relieved he had been there.
"Come on." Dylan said quietly leading her into the bathroom.
Brenda stood drained and in shock still. She didn't want to be alone. All the drama with Dylan didn't matter she needed him and she wasn't afraid to admit it.
"Bath or shower?" Dylan asked getting towels ready for her.
"Shower." Brenda nodded saying it almost under her breath.
Dylan leaned in starting the shower for her and checking the temperature. He gave her a weak smile but his eyes said something else. "Ok…call me if you need anything…ok?" He set his arm around her and rubbed down her arm as Brenda flinched.
Dylan leaned down looking at her arm, which was scrapped and bruised from when she fell to the ground. "I'm sorry Bren."
"It's ok…can you help me?" Brenda was sore and the muscles she wasn't used to using ached with all the fighting she had done.
Dylan nodded slowly and gently helped her with the tank top and Brenda moaned painfully. Dylan held her keeping her balance as she slid down the over size sweats the paramedic had given her. She looked at Dylan who was trying to be respectful and not look at her.
Brenda forced a joke, if she didnt she may go crazy, "Stop being weird, it's not like you haven't seen me naked before. And it hurts to laugh."
"I know sorry." Dylan wasn't sure how to act and he found himself apologizing after everything he did or said. He figured it was best just to do whatever she said.
Dylan pulled back the shower door and checked the water one more time. "There you go Bren." Dylan said sweetly.
Brenda carefully stepped in letting the hot water rinse away the dried blood, asphalt and dirt. Dylan shut the door carefully as he heard the subtle whimper of crying. Dylan moved his hand across his face feeling badly for her. This sort of thing could happen to anyone but why her? Dylan started to walk toward the door.
"Dylan." Brenda called out.
"Yeah baby." Dylan turned back to the shower.
"Don't leave me alone." Brenda voice cracked from her tears.
"I am not going anywhere." Dylan said leaning against the counter.
Dylan heard her crying and even though she was in the shower he didn't care. He couldn't stand there and not comfort her. It was like she was calling for him without asking. He sensed she needed him and he did exactly that. He lifted his shirt over his head and stripped down to his boxers. He gently opened the shower door and before he even made it in all the way Brenda wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest. Dylan taken back about her forcefulness at first gently wrapped his arms around her and let her cry. Brenda cried for being saved, she cried because it happened, she cried because she was scared, she cried because she had too. Dylan closed his eyes feeling her pain and silently cried with her.
**
The girls sat quietly, no one had said much since Donna talked to Dylan. They had been patiently waiting for any news from Dylan but they assumed he didn't know where she was either.
Donna sighed, "I hope Bren is ok."
"Me too." sighed Gina.
"Me too." The girls one at a time responded.
Valerie looked down, "I wish I didn't try to get her to open up. I should have just shut up."
"I agree." Kelly said looking at her.
"Kelly." Gina shook her head, "You aren't helping."
"I am just saying, she had a right to be mad at you and you had to egg her on." Kelly made her opinion known to Valerie
"I think it was everyone." Donna said sadly.
"Why?" Gina said looking at her cousin.
"She wasn't herself and I don't know…I don't think Brenda likes to tell us stuff anymore. Maybe we all have just grown apart. Maybe she doesn't trust us anymore. I mean none of us knew she was pregnant, none of us reached out to her while she was in London. I mean I wrote her a handful of letters but it wasn't personal, it was mostly this is what's going on. I feel guilty too."
"Brenda is tough, she'll be ok." Valerie said one of the only ones still drinking.
Gina felt bad, she liked Brenda and she hoped she was alright, for everyone's sake especially Brandon's. "How are things with David, Valerie?" Gina tried to spark conversation.
Valerie smiled, "Good, I missed him so much."
Donna rolled her eyes. Valerie noticed right away.
"What it was ok for Brenda to date him but not ok for me?" Valerie seemed insulted.
"No." Donna shook her head, "It has nothing to do with that, I just cant believe you guys did that to her, that's all."
"You could have at least talked to her about it, Brenda knows what its like to still be in love with someone from the past. She would have understood. If there is anything I learned from the Brenda…Dylan…Kelly triangle is honesty is the best policy…or even just communication." Kelly nodded agreeing with herself.
"I know…you guys are right, David and I did it all wrong, but I cant change anything now, I just have to apologize to her and hope she will forgive me." Valerie shrugged.
"Honesty? Communication?" Gina looked at Kelly, "Is that what you think you learned?"
"Absolutely." Kelly nodded again.
"So…all that stuff you said to Brandon about it being hard to see him with me and that him being back has made you think about a lot of things, you were just being honest with him?" Gina said as she stared at Kelly.
Kelly shook her head with disbelief, "Yeah…I think I was."
Janet who had been quiet most of the night, because she didn't know everyone that well and who was she to put her two cents in finally did, "Are you still in love with Brandon?"
All the girls eyes focused on Kelly now, she suddenly realized how uncomfortable Brenda must have been for her to just leave the way she did.
Kelly looked around at the girls again, they were too waiting for her to respond. "I don't know." Kelly played it off focusing on Gina.
"Oh come on Kelly." Valerie said egging her on too.
Kelly swallowed hard and looked Gina dead in the eye, "I do…I do still love Brandon."
Gina smirked shaking her head, "I don't believe you."
"I am being honest…I thought that's what this whole conversation was about…being honest…communicating with your friends."
"Yeah…it was about that but you honey are not my friend…you are just a bitch." Gina got up and stormed into her bedroom slamming the door.
Valerie eyes widened as she brought the margarita to her lips, "I friggin love slumber parties.
**
Brenda sat in the hotel robe on the edge of the bed. As Dylan came into the bedroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. He stopped and looked at her, he was sure she felt his stare but didn't acknowledge it. He slowly went over to her suitcase, which was still stashed there and grabbed two things that looked like pajama's or lounge type clothes. He reached in to the side pocket grabbing a pair of panties out. Dylan had lived with Brenda long enough to almost know her clothing as well as his own, they did share a closet and dresser, and still to this day Brenda was an anal packer. He walked over to her tossing the articles of clothing on the bed and sat next to her.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Dylan thought he would try, if she refused she refused but at least he would have tried.
"You are going to be mad at me." Brenda shook her head.
"No I won't." Brenda looked at him meeting his stare. Dylan noticed the cut on her lip and a light bruise had started to form across her cheek. He brought his hand to the side of her ear and played with her hair.
Brenda closed her eyes and sighed, "I went to that liquor store to buy a pack of cigarettes and when I walked out I lit one, then he grabbed me from behind and dragged me into the alley." Brenda started to tear up again remembering it.
"You think I am going to judge you for smoking? Oh Bren…look at me." Dylan laughed lightly, "Who am I to judge people's addictions?"
"Anyway after the drama with the girls I just needed to get out of there." Brenda looked down.
"Oh shit." whispered Dylan, which made Brenda look over at him. "I forgot to call Donna, they are probably climbing the walls wondering where you are." Dylan got up and walked to the phone at his bedside and started to dial the beach apartment.
"Don't tell them…please. Just say I am here and I am fine."
Dylan nodded, he didn't really want to get into that over the phone any how. As Dylan explained to Donna, that Brenda was safe and sound, Brenda got up and started to get dressed.
She slid her underwear up over her bruised and scratched thighs. She moved slow because of the soreness and unwrapped the tie of her robe. She threw it on the bed and picked up the tank top. Brenda slowly and carefully stuck her arms in and pulled it down over herself. She looked up and noticed Dylan looking at her.
"It's just like you to try and sneak a peak of me naked when I am slow and handicapped." Brenda was too drained to smile or laugh even though she attempted to make a joke.
Dylan shook his head seriously, "I'm just sorry this happened to you Bren."
Brenda slowly winced as she sat down, the man had hit her so hard she fell to the ground and what was most sore was her hip, upper thigh and butt. Dylan walked over to her grabbing her pants. He slowly dressed her bottom half, trying to be as gentle and slow as possible so he wouldn't hurt her. Brenda walked over to her side of the bed taking down the covers and gently lowering herself into it. Dylan changed and disappeared from Brenda's sight. She was hoping he was coming back, she didn't want to sleep alone and was hoping this whole thing wouldn't give her nightmares. Dylan came back in holding a bottle of water and some ibuprofen in the other. He sat on his side of the bed and leaned over to her.
"Here you go, this should help a little." Dylan handed over the bottle of water and 3 ibuprofen.
"Thanks." Brenda sighed out swallowing them down.
Dylan turned off the light and rested his head on the pillow. He felt Brenda slowly grunt painfully as she scooted in closer to him. She found her spot, the spot she had always slept in, her head resting on his lower shoulder or chest rather, arm across his chest. She felt him gently wrap his arm around her lower back. He leaned in kissing her gently on the forehead.
"Thank you Dylan…for saving me…for taking care of me." Brenda whispered as she closed her eyes, finally feeling safe for the first time all night.
"It's my job…I am sorry it just took me so long to show up." Dylan answered back.
"You are the only person I would trust to do the things or see the things you have seen tonight…I don't know if I can ever repay you."
"You already have." Dylan whispered. "It's my turn to take care of you."
Please review…its so not over yet but it is coming to an end sooner than later. Hope the writing as ok, its hard to write a scene like the almost rape scene, you want it to be visual and dramatic but not graphic. Anyway…let me know what your thinking and yes more to come with G/B/K and Brenda and Dylan.