This is a really long chapter. I wrote it a pile of different ways trying to get it right. I hope you like it. As usual not for kids. Thanks for reading...
Before they even reached the room Tony could hear his family frantically figuring out what the hell to do. Although he couldn't really make out what exactly was being said he could tell that Jess was yelling at his parents and Charlie and Natalie were trying to calm her down but at the same time Natalie was crying. He looked down at Michelle, her face was buried into his chest and he knew she would be hearing it all as well. She looked up at him nervously. He kissed the top of her head and then pushed the door open with his foot and they stepped inside.
Immediately his whole family went quiet and stared at them. Tony carried Michelle over to the bed. This time he sat on the bed and pulled Michelle into his arms. He knew things were going to be hard and he didn't want her trying to make a run for it again. He was about to talk but was surprised to hear Michelle speak up and beat him to it. She was looking around at everyone. "Look at you guys, this is tearing you apart..." She looked at Jess. "Why are you yelling Jess?"
Jess looked a little stunned to be confronted like that. She wondered how much Michelle had heard. She became a little defensive but didn't know what to say, "I'm just...you...I wanted...this..."
Michelle held out her hand for her. Jess slowly walked over and took it and sat on the end of the bed. "Jess, you and I stuck together through hell before. We did that to get out of it alive and so we could be back with your family. You were amazing."
Jess shook her head. "That's bullshit Chelle..."
Charlie stepped forward, "Jess..."
"No, I'm serious. Look at what this has done Michelle. Look at what it is doing to you and Tony. God knows what you went through and all for what? All because I got involved with an asshole. I got you all dragged into this fucking mess and yet somehow it was you, Michelle that suffered the consequences of my problem!"
Michelle's voice was raised a little as well. "You didn't exactly get off free Jess. That had to have been the scariest experience of your life. AND it wasn't your fault. How are you responsible for Sam's actions?"
"Because I was the one that went out with him..."
"That is not what I asked. Tell me, look me in the eye and tell me how you are responsible for Sam's actions?"
Jess held Michelle's stare for a good minute or so before she finally dropped it and mumbled. "I don't know but..."
"No buts Jess! I dare you to try and come up with one reason of how you are responsible for what he did. We are never going to get through this if you can't accept that."
Charlie and Natalie were impressed beyond belief. They had just spent all the time Tony and Michelle were gone arguing the same point with Jess but neither one of them had gotten anywhere, if anything they had just made her more angry. Yet Michelle, in a matter of a few words had gotten Jess to stop and think. When she couldn't come up with an answer it looked like for the first time maybe some the of the weight was being lifted off her shoulders.
Finally Jess looked up at Michelle again. Her voice was quiet now, shaky. "How will I ever accept what happened to you though? Even if I couldn't have stopped Sam, if I hadn't bought him into your life, you would never have gone through this."
Tony spoke up this time. "Jess, I don't think any of us will ever accept it but we will have to find a way learning to deal with it. I know that sounds like an easy answer or lame but it is the truth. Things happen and when you can't control other people's actions then you have to find a way of accepting certain situations. You had done the right thing by breaking up with Sam. Michelle and I had done the right thing by coming to your apartment that day. So many things could have changed what happened but no one knew what we were walking into. If we hadn't kept you guys back late for telling you the news about the baby, if we hadn't driven to the house. If the police had gotten there sooner. If I had let Michelle come into the house with me instead of making her stay in the car...we could go on forever about all the what-if's but the bottom line is it happened. Michelle and I will never ever regret coming to your house that day when Sam showed up..." He looked at Michelle and she nodded that she agreed.
"Yeah but look at you guys. Look at mum and dad. Everyone is a mess. I don't know how to deal with this..."
Natalie put her arm around Jess. "We are all like this sweetie because we all love each other so much. We are all in pain because we are scared and we want each other to be alright. That is a good thing."
Charlie joined them. "There is going to be a lot of up and downs with this as we try and get our heads around it and recover from it. There is going to be yelling, crying...a lot more of all of this but that is how we are going to get through it. That is the only way we are going to get through it."
Jess nodded her head like some of it was slowly sinking in. Charlie looked at Michelle. "Chelle, I know when things are so intense it makes you feel like you want to run away but you need to start counting on us and letting us try and help you."
"I try but I'm not use to all this. I'm not use to having a family around. I'm use to having to deal with a problem on my own and when I feel like that I panic and I don't know what to do."
"You have us now. We can all help you through this. I promise you we will not let you down Michelle..."
"But you all have each other to worry about. It's not your responsibility to have to make me feel better..."
All 4 of them said her name at the same time. She looked a bit shocked. Tony tightened his grip on her. "You are my responsibility. How could you ever ever think that...?"
Michelle became all nervous. "I didn't mean it like that. I just...I don't know, I'm not...I just want you guys to be ok..."
Natalie cut Michelle off. "I'm sorry Michelle but you saved my daughter's life. You have shown my Jessica how brave and strong she can be. You have been the best thing that has ever happened to Tony. I've never seen my son as happy as he is with you. I've never seen him more passionate, devoted and emotionally open as he is with you. And now you are the mother of our first ever grandchild. I love you. Charlie loves you. Jess loves you – I think the two of you will share a bond for life after that experience and Tony...well you know how much Tony loves you so all of that makes you just as much a part of this family as any of us. And in this family we are all responsible for each other."
Tears made their way down Michelle's cheeks as she listened to Natalie. She went to speak but nothing but sobs came out. Natalie went to Michelle and leaned down so they were able to hug. They held each other so tightly. Tony kept his hand on Michelle's back for support as she sat up a little. He had tears in his own eyes. His mum had worded it perfectly and it looked like it had gotten through to Michelle. Once Natalie was done hugging Michelle she got a big one from Charlie who kissed her on the top of her head and told her he loved her and one from Jess. Jess thanked Michelle and they both told each other they loved each other.
Everything got interrupted by Connor walking back into the room. "Sorry to interrupt but I need to get this ultrasound done, give Michelle some pain medication and do another check over."
Charlie suggested that he, Natalie and Jess step outside the room for a few minutes.
Tony stayed and held Michelle's hand whilst Connor did the ultrasound. She had gone very quiet. Tony leaned in and kissed her. "No matter what the result sweetheart, we will get through this, ok?"
She just nodded her head. She was trying to think about any blows she had taken to her stomach. Mostly it had been hits and kicks on her arms, head and legs apart from the wound on her side. She thought she would fall apart if she had lost Tony's baby. The room felt so quiet as they Connor did the test and Michelle and Tony just stared at the screen, neither one of them knew what they were looking at. It was such early days it wasn't like there was a clearly visible baby to see.
After what felt like hours, Connor turned to them and smiled, "Baby looks fine to me. I think you have been really lucky on this one but from what I can tell everything looks normal."
Tony kissed Michelle and then shook Connor's hand. "Thank you, thank you, that is the best news." He turned back to Michelle, "We are still going to be parent's sweetheart!"
She let out the breath of air she had been holding and reached up and hugged Tony. She totally forgot about her side and so when she sat up and stretched herself out to reach him it pulled on the stitches and the wound. Connor could see what was going to happen as she did it and at the same time that he put his hand out to stop her and called her name, Michelle screamed out in pain. Tony had no idea what had just happened and just about had a heart attack when he heard her scream and Connor shout.
Michelle began to drop from his arms and he struggled to hold onto her. Once he caught onto what was going on he panicked about where to hold her and what to do. Connor had jumped up and was now holding the other side of Michelle. He instructed Tony on how to slowly get her lying down again. As they went to move her Michelle cried out in pain again. "Please not yet...wait...just give me a second."
Tony kissed her head and tried to soothe her. Then Connor said they had to do this because the longer she was like this the worse it was going to be. He promised Michelle he would get her pain medication as soon as he got her lying down again. They both supported all of her weight as she lay back down. Tears streamed down her face and as soon as she was down Connor pressed for a nurse.
Natalie, Charlie and Jess all walked back in to see Tony hovering over Michelle trying to soothe her whilst she whimpered in pain. A nurse rushed in past them and Connor asked her to get a pain injection. Charlie rushed over to Michelle. "What's happened?"
Tony told his Dad that Michelle had sat up too quickly and pulled on her wound. Charlie used a medical word back and that made Connor ask if he was a doctor. Charlie told him he was a surgeon and then Connor went into more detail with Charlie over Michelle's wound. Tony almost smiled to himself as he watched how within a second the conversation became one he could barely understand as the babbled in their doctor lingo. He kept stroking Michelle's forehead. When the nurse came back in with the injection, Connor gave it to Michelle straight away. Then he asked everyone but Tony to step outside so he could check on the wound.
Tony helped Connor with Michelle's gown and luckily everything was still intact. The area had gone quite red but other than that it was alright. Within minutes Michelle became very sleepy and then nodded off to sleep. Tony was surprised at how quickly she fell asleep but Connor assured him it was ok, he had just given Michelle some very powerful stuff. Tony sat back down next to her and held her hand.
After Michelle had been asleep for half an hour, Charlie suggested to Tony that whilst she was asleep maybe they could all walk down and get a coffee and something to eat. Tony didn't want to leave Michelle but after some negotiating he agreed to go for the walk as long as they were quick and bought the drinks back. He wanted to talk to his family anyway so this was a good time.
Normally he would never have approached the situation in this way but after everything they had all been through together it seemed fitting. When he was with his family he stopped them outside the cafeteria. He blurted out that he wanted to marry Michelle. He wanted to ask her now. He was talking so fast they all struggled to keep up. He told them that he had been biting his tongue from asking Michelle this whole time but he couldn't wait any longer. His mother had been keeping hold of his grandmother diamond ring as an air loom and he wanted to combine that diamond with another one and have a ring made up for Michelle but he also didn't want to wait that long to ask her. They all hugged him and told him it was the best decision he would ever make. Everyone was so excited. Tony asked their opinions if they thought it would be ok if he did it now without the ring. They all told him that he should go for it. He was so excited. This whole time, every time he went to comfort Michelle or they talked about 'looking after each other' he wanted to ask her to be his wife. He wanted her to officially be a part of his family. He knew it was quick but with what they had been through, he couldn't imagine his life without Michelle in it.
Michelle opened her eyes with a fright. She had been having a nightmare. She was sweating and breathing very heavily. She was surprised to see she was the only one in the room but quickly figured that they must have all just gone for food or something. She lay staring at the ceiling thinking. She felt revolting, now that she was sweating she felt even worse. No matter how hard she tried to think about the good things, like the fact she was back with Tony and that the baby was ok her mind kept taking her back to Sam and what had happened. It made her skin crawl. She felt like she could still smell him, still feel him on her. She was so agitated it was impossible to feel comfortable. She needed to shower, she wanted to scrub every inch of her body until he was gone. She wanted to wash the smell of smoke and his scent out of her hair. She knew the doctor might not approve but she didn't care, no one understood how she was feeling right now. She needed to feel clean before she could even think about feeling better. She had tears running down her cheeks and the more she thought, the worse she felt. She slowly slid out of the bed and made her way to the bathroom.
Tony approached the room with butterflies. He hadn't figured out exactly when or how he was going to ask Michelle, he just knew it was going to be very soon. They all made sure to be very quiet as they entered the room in case she was still sleeping. The lights were off so it took a moment for Tony to see Michelle wasn't in her bed, he turned and saw that the bathroom light was on, the door was shut and he could hear the shower running. His heart dropped.
Charlie dropped the sandwiches he had in his hand. "No...No way...she wouldn't...there is..."
He didn't get to finish as Connor walked in, saw them all standing there in shock, "What's going on?"
Tony was shaking his head. "Michelle is in the shower?"
"WHAT?"
"She begged me before to ask you if she could wash up she was..." he was conscious of how to word it but it didn't matter because Connor knew what he was getting at, they all did.
"Tony, she is not well enough." He walked over to the door and called Michelle's name.
They heard her voice; it was quiet and very obvious that she was crying. "I'll be out in a minute."
Connor tried the door but she had locked it. "Michelle, you can't do this. You are not well enough, especially to be on your own without telling anyone."
"Please just...I'm fine. I have to shower."
"Unlock the door."
"No."
"You can't have the door locked Michelle. I know you think this is going to make you feel better but it won't. Unlock the door."
"It will make me feel better, you don't understand. I'm not unlocking the door. I'll be out soon."
Connor looked back at Tony. "You need to get her out of there. I don't trust her in there on her own."
"I'll talk to her, I'll go in. I should have just listened to her before. She begged me that she needed to get 'him' off her..."
Connor's voice was really strong and assertive; nothing like it had been before. "I'm getting the nurses, they can unlock the door..."
Jess didn't really understand why Connor was so freaked out by the situation. "Why can't we just let her shower?"
"Jess, I don't mean to sound rough here but Michelle is not in a stable frame of mind to..."
"What? What are you worried about?"
Charlie put his arm around Jess. "Connor is worried that Michelle will hurt herself."
"Michelle wouldn't hurt herself, what are you talking about?"
Charlie was trying to keep his voice down in case Michelle could hear. "Not intentionally. When people go through an experience like she just has they feel like they need to wash their body to get rid of the feelings associated with it and the smell. But they often end up scrubbing their skin raw because it never feels clean enough."
Jess looked horrified.
Tony went to the door. "Sweetheart, will you let me in?"
He could hear her crying and it broke his heart. He had to ask again before she answered. "Can you just give me a couple minutes and I'll come out? Please?"
"Michelle, they are going to come and unlock the door and come and get you if you don't open up. I'm sorry baby..."
"WHAT? They can't do that! I have a right to privacy."
"They will come in Michelle..."
She yelled but her voice was broken with sobs, "Stop them Tony! I'm begging you don't let them come in. I just need a few minutes. I need everyone to leave me alone!"
"They are worried about you. I am worried about you."
Tony turned and looked at Connor as they waited for her to answer. Connor kept his voice down. "Tony, even I can hear it in her voice, she is not ok. A patient that has been through what Michelle has just been through would never be allowed to get up in her condition and have a shower without supervision and the door locked. I am worried about what she is..."
Tony stopped him. "I know, don't say it. I know. Get me the key and I'll go in, ok?"
Connor left the room. Jess stood shocked at hearing the sadness and desperation in Michelle's voice. Charlie and Natalie were standing ready to help in any way possible. Tony felt sick. He knew that Connor was worried that not only could Michelle hurt herself because she was so unstable but that she was also a candidate for hurting herself because of the emotional pain she was in. He could hear in her voice that she wasn't right and he cursed himself for leaving her. For letting her wake up without him there and giving her time to think and do this. He tried once more. "Please baby, come out."
"No. I'm not done." She sounded angry which made him even more concerned.
Connor reappeared with the key. He handed it to Tony. Tony told everyone to step out of the room so they had privacy. He promised to press the button if he needed help. They all left the room. Tony took a deep breath and unlocked the door and opened it. As he opened it, Michelle jumped to the other side.
"Who is that? What are you doing?"
"It's me baby, just me." He pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The room was full of steam to the point he could barely see a foot in front of him. Michelle had moved behind the shower curtain. She put her head out the side. Her face was red and swollen. Her voice was the most vulnerable he had ever heard her. "Tony...please just give me a minute."
He stepped closer to her. His stomach was in knots. She was not ok. "I love you Michelle. I know what you are trying to do but..."
"What?"
He simply walked over and stepped inside the other side of the curtain under the water. She didn't know where to go or what to do, she was stuck and exposed. Tony looked and could see that Michelle had been scrubbing all of her skin so much that she was completely red, she had some parts that looked almost raw and even areas where she had scrubbed so hard she was bleeding. He burst into tears, he was utterly devastated.
Michelle thought Tony was going to grab her and pull her out but she didn't feel done. She didn't feel like she had gotten Sam off of her yet. She still didn't feel clean and she hadn't even gotten to her hair yet. She panicked and stepped back under the water and started to keep scrubbing. She felt Tony's arms wrap around her and his hand went for the washers she had but she held on tight. "Its ok baby, you are clean. Give me the brush." Michelle felt her body start to shake. She didn't feel clean. She still felt like her skin was crawling. Why couldn't Tony understand and just let her do what she needed to do. "Stop it Tony...leave me alone, stop it." She hadn't noticed what she had done to herself. She could barely see through the tears, water and steam. Her body stung but it was almost like the pain helped her to know which parts of her body were getting clean. She wrestled with him over the washer. She wasn't giving it up. She couldn't believe Tony had unlocked the door and come in. That he was standing fully clothed under the water fighting her for a stupid washer. "What are you doing Tony? Why are you doing this?"
Tony hadn't really used any force yet with Michelle of course, he didn't want to hurt her but he was very surprised at how much she was willing to fight for the washer. "It's not going to make you feel better baby, you are just hurting yourself. This isn't going to help you."
"Yes it is. It is helping. I'm just trying to get clean Tony, that's all."
Tony finally used his strength to completely over power her. He wrapped his arms around hers and pinned them to her body, then he used his hand to make her drop the washer. Once it had fallen to the ground he kept holding her. She had resisted for a few moments but it was clear very quickly that he was willing to use as much strength as he had to and she had no hope. They were both soaking wet and the water was pounding on them. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know what to say or how to make her feel better, he was out of his depth and it scared the hell out of him. He couldn't believe how rough he had just had to be with her and he could see how incredibly shocked she was that he had done that. Other than the sound of the water pounding on them there was silence for a few moments. The most powerful silence in the world. He hated not knowing the solution to a problem or how to fix something and he felt like he was letting her down by not knowing what to do. She had stopped trying to fight him, she knew she had no hope and she had no strength. Over the water he barely heard her say, "I'm not going to try and run anywhere Tony...I've got nowhere to go"
He loosened his grip on her and then bent down and picked up the washer and turned the water off. He went to grab a towel. He couldn't take his eyes off her. He had never seen her look this vulnerable, it was completely overwhelming. He was panting and tears were still streaming down his cheeks. He went too wrap the towel around her, but he felt like he couldn't even dry her because it was going to hurt too much. Didn't she feel the pain?
"It was just a shower! Why can't I even take a fucking shower? You don't understand how I feel. You don't know what this feels like. All I wanted was to feel clean..."
"Look at you! Look at you Michelle. You were scrubbing your skin so hard you're bleeding and have scratches. I do understand, I do!"
They were yelling. "If you understood you would help me. If you had to barge in here then you could have helped me. Let me just stand under the water for another minute, let me wash my fucking hair!"
"NO! I am helping you, I'm trying to help you. You are clean from him Chelle. He is not touching you anymore...it's just me...it's just me."
They stared at each other. He so desperately wanted to just wrap her up in his arms but she was really angry and upset. She didn't understand, she really couldn't see what was happening. He watched as her eyes dropped and she looked down at herself. It felt like someone had stuck a dagger in his heart and just continued to twist it around as he watched her realise what she had done. He could tell she was seeing for the first time the redness, the scratches and the blood. Her body began to shake and her face scrunched up as she started to sob. "I just wanted him off me."
He figured now was the time she would let him place the towel on her. He ever so gently put it on her shoulders and then he kissed her forehead, "I know sweetheart, I know."
She took the towel from her shoulders and began to dry herself. He would have so gently touched each spot but she tried to just do it quick. He went to help her but she pulled back. "Careful with yourself baby."
He couldn't even take off his own top and give it to her because he was soaking wet himself. He had her stand in the corner out of site as he opened the door and asked someone to grab something for Michelle to put on. He heard her ask for a top so he asked if there was anything besides the gown. Jess ran off to get find something.
His Dad asked how they were going. Tony gave his dad a look like 'not good' and then said quietly. "When we get some dry clothes, I'll get you to check Michelle's arms and legs."
He closed the door again and looked back at Michelle who looked like she was huddled in the corner. She looked up at him.
"I'm sorry I didn't speak to the doctor earlier about getting you a shower Chelle."
"It doesn't matter."
It did matter. It mattered so much. She didn't look angry anymore, she just looked lost and sad like she didn't know what to say or do.
"I would never have left if I thought you were going to wake up that quickly. What happened baby?"
She shook her head. "It wasn't that, I told you, I can feel him on me still. I can smell smoke and his scent in my hair. It feels like my skin is crawling. I just needed a shower."
Jess ran all the way to the gift shop at the hospital on the next level. She spotted boxer shorts and pyjama type tops. The boxer shorts were men's but at least the tops were ok. Knowing Michelle needed loose fitting clothes, she bought large ones. She ran back as quickly as she could and knocked on the door and handed them to Tony, "Sorry this is all I could find."
Tony thanked Jess, closed the door and went over to Michelle. He helped her get into the shorts and top. She was quiet and she looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders. "Chelle..."
"I don't understand Tony. I'm not a child. I've been through some pretty nasty situations with work you know and I have had to deal with them and look after myself. Now, I can't even take a shower without everyone going crazy?"
"You have never gone through anything like this before at work baby. This is so completely different. Remember that case with the Peterson woman Chelle? She had been assaulted and taken into CTU medical and it was you that was so worried about her that you went down to look after her and make sure she was ok. I remember very clearly she tried to leave so she could shower and be on her own and you wouldn't let her..."
Michelle was surprised Tony had bought that up. She hadn't even thought about it. "Well you know what? I was wrong back then. Now I know what she must have felt like and I should have let her do whatever it was she needed to do to feel better."
"No, you were right back then Chelle. I know you understand from training that you made the right call then. You looked after that woman and she was ok. I fell even more in love with you that day as I watched you care for that woman. Right now, you are not thinking clearly about everything and that is totally understandable but that is why I had to barge in like that. You are not..."
"I'm not at work now! I don't care what the right protocol is or not. I just want to feel clean...to feel better."
"And do you? Do you feel better?"
Michelle stared at him as he challenged her. She hated this. She couldn't think straight because of the medication and she didn't feel like she was ever going to win no matter what she said. No, she didn't feel better but maybe if she had just been left alone for long enough, left to take a proper shower, she would.
Tony wasn't going to push Michelle to answer him. He knew that she couldn't answer him with a 'Yes'. He wondered if he was wrong to have bought up that old case, he thought it would make her remember and see that he had just done exactly what she would do but all it seemed to have done was question her judgement on how she had handled that case.
She didn't answer him. She slid down the wall slowly and sat on the ground. She seemed defeated and confused. Tony opened the door now that she was changed and Charlie came in. "Hey Chelle."
She looked up at him and forced a small small, "Hi Charlie."
He walked over to her. He could see why Tony looked so devastated now that he could see Michelle. It wasn't so much the physical side, it was how it showed how she was feeling emotionally that hurt so much. He had a hard time keeping it together but he gently touched her ankle, "You are bleeding a little Chelle, mind if I just check you?"
"I don't mind but I'm ok really."
He ran his hand near a couple patches on the top of her knee and thigh where she had scrubbed so hard it looked a little raw. "Does it hurt?"
"Charlie you must see some pretty bad situations with your work. How do you know that you are always doing the right thing when you are treating them?"
He was a little confused as to where this was coming from because he hadn't really heard her conversation with Tony. "I guess I don't always know. Sometimes you just have to follow your instincts and hope you are getting it right."
"I think there are times at work when I follow the rules, not my gut instinct...and it has been wrong."
Tony was still standing behind his Dad listening. He waited to see how his Dad responded.
"You are only human Chelle. No one is ever going to get it right all the time but I am sure you always do your best and that's what counts the most."
She was nodding her head as she listened to him. It was clear she was trying to take it in but she was struggling to make sense of her feelings. "My Dad always use to tell me to..." She couldn't get it out before she burst into tears. Charlie put his arms around her and hugged her. He spoke gently, "I bet you're really missing your Dad right now." He felt her nod her head and then grip on to him even harder.
After a minute Charlie noticed that Michelle was ever so slightly shifting different parts of her body, like she was in pain but not ready to let go of him even though it hurt. "Let me help you Chelle, I can tell you are in pain."
Michelle didn't realise that Tony hadn't left the room and was still behind her. "I feel like my skin is crawling because I can't stop thinking about Sam. That's why I need to shower...why I need to be clean. What else am I supposed to do?"
Charlie wished he could take away what Michelle was feeling. He looked over her shoulder at Tony and they gave each other a look of guilt that they didn't have an answer for her. "Charlie, I don't want to upset Tony anymore than I already have but I need you to tell me what I'm supposed to do?"
Tony stepped in closer and touched her hand, making her pull back. "Sweetheart, I don't want you worrying about me."
She looked shocked that Tony was there. Charlie pulled back as well and let Tony step in closer. "Sorry Tony...I'm sorry."
"Hey hey...come here, why are you saying sorry?"
"That you got wet, that I did the wrong thing even though I should know better..."
"Michelle, I didn't say that stuff because I was upset with you for what you did, I was just trying to help you understand why I was behaving that way. You were so upset with me for not letting you finish showering..."
"Because it was the only thing I could think of Tony. You stopped me from doing the only thing I could think of that might make this feeling go away."
"Baby, I freaked out. I don't want you to feel like this, I'd do anything to make it go away but I know scrubbing your skin off isn't going to work and all it is going to do is cause you more pain."
There had been no shampoo in the shower and Michelle hadn't had time to scrub her hair. It was sopping wet but she could still smell cigarette smoke and other scents she was relating to Sam. She held the end of her hair out, "Smell it, I'm not going crazy Tony, I can smell him...I can smell smoke in my hair. It is revolting. Can't you? Don't you want any trace of him gone?"
Tony leaned in and smelt her hair. She was right, he could make out a very faint smell of smoke. "I never thought you were crazy baby, no one does...we all understand exactly what you were trying to do. I just..." He looked at her and he wanted to give her what she wanted. If he could smell the smoke then he could be sure as hell the smell would be amplified to her. He looked at his Dad. "I can smell smoke and I want to help Chelle wash her hair. If that is going to help, then we need to do it."
Charlie agreed with Tony. "Ok but this has to be done right. I'll get the girls to go and get some shampoo and everything and I'll talk to the doctor." He looked at Michelle. "You have to let Tony help you."
Michelle shed a tear in relief. "Thank you. Thank you."
As Charlie left the room, Tony put his arm around Michelle and kissed her forehead. They stayed close and held each other. After a couple minutes Tony began to talk. "Sweetheart, if you will let me, there are other things I can do to try and help. I can't take away everything but I can be here with you and help you."
"How are you though Tony?"
"What do you mean?"
"None of this is easy on you. I've never seen you so distressed before. I hate what this is doing to you. I want to help you feel better as well."
"Every time you let me in baby, I feel a bit better. All I care about and want is for you to be ok. I just need to be close to you. I'm sick of feeling like I am going to lose you and I need to be with you."
"I need to be with you to Tony. You make me feel better. You won't lose me, I promise."
They looked at each other and smiled. Then Michelle said with a tiny laugh, "I never knew how strong you are!"
"What do you mean?"
"When you took the washer off me..."
"Did I hurt you?" Tony looked panicked.
She put her hand on his chest. "No. I could just tell as soon as you held me like that I had no hope of ever getting out of your grip. You are really strong...big muscles!" She smiled at him to reassure him she was saying it in a good way.
Finally he gave her his cheeky grin back and spoke with a bit of a sarcastic tone. "Well...you know how much I work out..."
They both laughed a little. "I love you Tony."
After what felt like a long time Charlie returned with a bag of things. "Ok, I spoke with Connor. He is happy for Tony to wash your hair, but under no circumstances are you to be left alone. As soon as you are done, you need to be back in the bed so he can do a set of obs and check you out. Ok?"
They both nodded. "Thanks Charlie."
"Of course. Ok, Chelle...Natalie and Jess picked out some scented shampoo and conditioner for you along with some body wash and some more dry clothes for you both. One of us will drive home and pick you both up some of your own clothes soon but these will have do for now."
Tony looked at the top and shorts from the gift shop and laughed, "Sooner rather than later on the clothes would be good."
Charlie smiled and then told them he would leave them to it. When he had closed the door behind him, Tony whispered into Michelle's ear, "Do you kinda get the feeling it's like we are kids again getting orders from dad?"
She laughed. "Yes! But your dad is amazing."
Tony took his own wet clothes off and then helped Michelle out of the top and shorts she was in. "The water is going to sting sweetheart."
"I don't care."
He helped her back over to the shower. After he turned it on he stood behind her, he kissed her on the shoulder. "Alright sweetheart - I'm in charge. I don't want you touching the washer or anything. You let me do this for you...deal?"
"Deal."
Tony washed Michelle's hair for her 3 times with the shampoo before she was ready to move onto the conditioner. He felt so good being so close to her and having her seem so much more content. He couldn't believe the difference in her demeanour already. He could tell the water was stinging her body but she didn't seem to care, nothing seemed to matter more than getting as much water and soap on her as possible. He was surprised at how good it felt himself to have a shower. He held her close the entire time and when she would turn and kiss him and thank him he could feel his heart recovering a little. They used half a bottle of the body wash and they even joked that they were both going to smell of nothing but strawberries when they were done.
Michelle ran her hand over the stitches on his thigh, "does it hurt?"
"Nah, it's ok. I was lucky it just grazed me."
"Looks like more than just a graze Tony."
"I don't want you worrying about it baby. It will heal in no time, they have given me stuff for pain. Honestly, it is ok."
She looked up at him, she wasn't convinced but didn't have the energy to push it. He noticed that she was starting to look very pale and becoming more and more unsteady on her feet. He was holding her but it felt like he had to keep tightening his grip on her or else she would stumble. "I think you have had enough sweetheart. I need to get you back into bed."
"When can we go home?"
"I don't know baby. Soon I hope but I don't want you to leave until you are ready.'
Natalie had taken Jess home to shower and change and then they were going to drop by Tony and Michelle's apartment and pick up clothes for them. Charlie had stayed behind. Tony's phone had been ringing non-stop for the last 10 minutes and he figured it must be important and so he answered it. It was Michelle's lawyer, Luke. He had been trying to get hold of Tony to let him know that Doug was now out. Charlie thanked him and hung up the phone, he slumped down into a chair. He was so torn. He knew they needed to know but with everything else was going on he didn't want to add to their stress. He was really worried about Michelle. The shower incident had only proved how vulnerable she was right now. He didn't know yet what Sam had done to Michelle but he knew enough by her injuries and behaviour it wasn't good. He was having trouble trying to comprehend the feeling of relief that his own daughter had not been assaulted but at the same time knowing Michelle had been to protect her. It instantly made him feel a very powerful 'fatherly' protection over Michelle. He liked that she seemed comfortable with him. When she opened up to him in the bathroom and hugged him it had felt really good. He wanted to be there for her and the fact that she was allowing him to be was a very good start.
The police stopped by the room and asked if they would be able to get a statement from Michelle. He told them that she wasn't up to it today, could it possibly wait at least until tomorrow. He asked what was happening with Sam and Ashley. He was dumbfounded to find out that Sam was being held in the same hospital only one floor away. He had been pretty badly injured but was stable and would be ok. Ashley had already been released on bail by his parents. Charlie felt sick. Even more news he had to tell Michelle and Tony. When were these 2 going to get a break? He sat racking his brain for all the things he could possibly do to help them both. He called his secretary and explained he had had a family crisis and she was going to have to re-arrange his entire schedule for at least a week. She had seemed surprised, as a surgeon that was not an easy task. He wasn't in the mood to go into detail, he just told her to get it done, and he wasn't able to be at work for the week.
Tony had managed to get himself dressed into the boxers and top and was now trying to help Michelle. She was getting weaker and weaker. She was so grateful to him for helping her like that, she couldn't stop thanking him. He just wished he had pushed the point earlier so they had never had to go through this in the first place. He was so use to seeing victims of assault and all kinds of situations and he never had a problem knowing what to do but when it involved someone he loved so much it felt so completely different. In some ways he felt like all of his training and knowledge had left him and he was trying to just take each minute as it came and learn along the way.
He looked at his watch. It was 11:30am. He didn't feel tired though, his body was full of adrenalin. Once he pulled the top over Michelle's head, he opened the door and asked his Dad to help. Charlie rushed in. He was shocked to see how much paler Michelle looked. Her eyes were having trouble focusing and he could see if Tony wasn't supporting her, she would be falling down. "We need to get you back in to bed."
She nodded. Charlie helped Tony pick Michelle up and take her back into the room and to the bed. "Thanks Charlie. Thank you for listening to me and for helping me."
"Anything I can do Michelle, you just let me know. Do you feel better?"
"So much better."
He scanned her arms and legs and wondered how the hell she could feel better at all but he knew she didn't mean physically. The doctor in him wanted to inspect every mark on her body. He didn't want to step on Connor's toes but he knew Michelle felt more comfortable with him. Now that he knew Sam was in the Sam hospital, the thought crossed his mind to either have Michelle transferred to his hospital under his care of have her be released into his care at home.
Connor walked in and was happy to see Michelle back in the bed. He was not happy to see how pale she was and the marks on her arms and legs. He took her blood pressure, temperature and gave her an injection for pain. He told them that they would put some cream on her legs and arms and bandage some of the areas. Once he had left the room Charlie asked Tony to sit down, he needed to talk to them both.
Tony took Michelle's hand in his and sat. His Dad looked very nervous and he wondered what he could possibly be about to say. "What's wrong Dad?"
"Your phone was ringing non-stop so I ended up answering it. It was Luke, he was trying to reach you both to let you know that Doug was released this morning."
Michelle had forgotten about Doug the last 12 hours with everything else that had happened. She could feel her heart begin to race.
Tony became angry. "Fucking hell. I had forgotten that was this morning with everything else."
"That's not all kids. The police stopped by to see if Michelle could do her statement, I put them off until tomorrow but I did find out that Sam is being treated here at this hospital as well. He was in bad shape but is stable."
Tony's eyes became enraged. "Where is he?"
"I don't know the room, I was just told on the next floor. You can't do anything Tony!"
Michelle looked like she was starting to panic. "He is here? Why would they bring him to the same place?"
"I don't know Chelle. You are safe though. He would be under police protection and we are all here."
Tony was pacing the room. He wanted to go and pound the guy. It was far too tempting having him so close. He just wanted 5 minutes alone with the guy.
Charlie became nervous as he watched Tony's body literally puff up and a look of rage spread across his face. He got ready to have to pounce on Tony at any second if he tried to leave the room. Then when he looked back at Michelle he saw her trying to remove the covers like she was about to get out of the bed. "Chelle, please don't get up."
"I have to. I can't stay here. I won't stay here. None of you can be here. It is too dangerous. He threatened all of you..."
"But he can't get to you Michelle. The police won't let him move and the second he is well enough he will be taken to jail."
She was shaking her head. Fear radiated through her body.
Tony's voice was loud, assertive and angry. "What about that Ashley guy?"
Charlie sighed. "He was released on bail by his parents."
Tony threw his hands up in the air. "What the fuck? How the hell did he make bail? He kidnapped a federal agent?"
"I don't know. We all need to try and stay calm though and talk this through." He knew his words were lost on them. Tony was furious and pacing the room and Michelle was doing her best to try and get out of the bed but the medication was clearly making it really hard for her to co-ordinate her body to do what she wanted. She became more and more frustrated.
Connor walked into the room and saw Michelle struggling to get up. "Michelle? What are you doing?"
Her words were slurred. "I have to go. Sam is here."
Connor sighed. He had specifically asked the police not to tell Michelle because of course it would send her into a panic. "He is locked down Michelle, he isn't going anywhere. You can't get up."
She stunned everyone in the room when she yelled back at him. "Why didn't you tell us? How could you let me think I was safe here and yet that man is just a floor away? And Ashley is out!"
"I knew it would panic you and I didn't want to upset you if I didn't have to."
"Well Ashley can come and see him you know. He can be walking around the hospital. How long do you think it will be before Sam knows...unless he already does?"
"Ashley wouldn't dare come to the hospital..."
Michelle's frustration was clear in her voice. "We work with people like this every day! You have no idea how stupid people can be. You can't ever assume someone else's actions...especially when they are desperate."
Tony had moved back over next to Michelle. She wasn't getting anywhere fast and he was ready to stop her if she actually got to the point of getting off the bed but he agreed with her. How could anyone expect her to be ok with this?
Connor was stumped. It was true that Ashley could come to the hospital. "Would you feel better if I put security on your door?"
"I'm not staying doctor. No one can make me stay."
"You are right, I can't force you to stay but Michelle you are not well enough to leave. You need to hear me when I tell you we can keep you safe."
Before he knew what was happening, he heard Tony say he was sorry and then he ran out of the room before he or Charlie could stop him. Charlie tripped getting up off the chair and Tony made it out the door and by the time Charlie got outside he couldn't see him. He ran back to Connor. "You need to warn the security on Sam NOW!"
Connor bolted out of the room. Charlie turned around just in time to see Michelle lean to the side and then tumble out of the bed onto the floor. He rushed to her. She looked shocked but she was on a mission to try and keep moving however the medication was making it impossible for her to do what she wanted. She kept squinting her eyes trying to focus, she was shaking and her bottom lip was quivering, ready to cry. "Michelle, look at me. Look at me."
She looked up at him barely. "Are you ok? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"I have to get Tony..."
"Security will stop him and bring him back. I need to make sure you are ok."
"Charlie you...you don't understand. Tony's the best we've got. He can outsmart a hospital security guard. He knows how to do stuff he can..." She was mumbling and it was hard for Charlie to completely understand what she was saying. His heart was pounding, the repercussions of Tony doing anything to Sam would be huge. He was well too aware of his son's temper and the amount of pain and rage Tony felt over what Sam had done was more than enough to cloud Tony's judgement. He prayed the officers guarding Sam would be able to calm him down.
He looked down at Michelle and felt sick. He wanted to just pick her up and hold her tight and let her know that everything would be alright. He picked her up and she struggled a little as he put her back on the bed. He wrapped his arms around her. "It's going to be ok...it's going to be ok." She stopped fighting against him and relaxed in his arms. "I love him Charlie, don't let anyone hurt him."
Tony was standing in a cleaner's closet. He had locked the door. He had made it up to the floor above them and could see 3 armed officers standing outside a room. He had no chance of getting in there. He thought about everything Sam had done to his sister and Michelle. He thought about how scared Michelle was, how much pain she was in. The fact that the person responsible was only a few meters away and he couldn't do anything about it was too much to comprehend. He kicked the shelves next to him, and then he kicked them again over and over before he started punching anything within reach. Every punch and kick was what he wanted to be doing to Sam right now. Once he started he found it hard to stop, he was full of rage and it felt good to go completely nuts. He could hear people trying to open the door and shouting at him to open it but it didn't stop him. He kicked the wall as hard as he could and his foot went through the plaster.
When the door finally opened, Tony stopped and put his hands up in the air. "Sir you need to come with us."
Tony nodded his head and stepped out of the room. His hands were bloody and his foot hurt like hell.
Charlie heard his name over the loud speaker asking him to come to room 5b immediately. As he stood up a nurse appeared at the door. "Mr. Almeida, we have your son we need you to come with us straight away."
"What about Michelle?"
"I'll stay with her and she will be fine. Please make your way to 5b. It is up one level, turn left out of the elevator."
Charlie looked at Michelle. "I'm fine, just make sure Tony is ok." She slurred.
Ashe walked past the nurse he whispered, "Keep a close eye on her, she is trying to get up. Don't leave her alone for even a minute."
He ran all the way to 5b. When he entered he found Tony sitting on a bed. His hands a bloody mess. Connor was there. He had told the officers to back down. Everyone understood and he wasn't in trouble, they just wanted Tony to calm down. Charlie walked over to Tony and put a hand on his sons shoulder. "What happened Tony?"
"I didn't touch him, I couldn't get near him..."
"What happened to you?"
Connor answered for Tony. "We found him in a cleaner's closet punching and kicking the walls and shelves."
Charlie was relieved. "Let me see your hands son."
"Where is Michelle?"
"A nurse is staying with her, she is ok. Probably asleep by now she was really out of it." He took Tony's hands in his and started to inspect them. Connor helped him wash up the blood. They were swollen and covered in little cuts. They thought they should have them x-rayed.
"I don't need an x-ray, I can move them fine." He turned to Connor. "I'll pay for the damage I caused."
"Let's worry about that later and concentrate on getting you fixed up."
Charlie hugged Tony. "You scared me to death."
"Sorry Dad. I feel better for letting off some steam though. It doesn't seem fair that Sam is lying there getting help, being protected after what he did."
"I know, its bullshit. But Tony, you can't touch him or else you will be charged and then what will Michelle do? What will we all do? I need you to stop and think about that."
Tony nodded his head. "I know."
The nurse hadn't taken Charlie seriously when he said not to leave Michelle alone for a minute and had gone off to check on other patients. She stuck her head in the door once or twice but ended up being distracted. Michelle was going out of her mind worrying about Tony.
She was angry that Connor didn't seem to understand how bad it was that Sam was in the same hospital and Ashley was roaming free. People thought that if you just had police there then everything was ok. Her work had taught her a million times over no matter how secure you think something is, someone will always find a way if they really want to. She thought about all the things that had happened over the last couple years with her Dad and Doug and how much the 'system' had failed her. Considering it was something she had spent her whole life working for, right now it seemed like the most useless thing in the world. She could only count on herself and Tony. The nurse stuck her head in the door again.
"What is happening?"
"I don't know the facts but I believe your husband has been charged and the police have removed him from the premises. Your father is with him, I am sure they will contact you as soon as possible."
"They just left?" A feeling of loneliness overwhelmed her.
"I only know a little of what I have heard, I'm sorry."
"Charged with what?"
She shook her head. "I really don't know, that is just what I overheard at the nurses' station. You should try and get some sleep."
Michelle was going to say Tony wasn't her husband and Charlie wasn't her Dad but decided it wasn't worth it. This nurse was useless. She pretended to close her eyes until she heard the door shut again. Now that she knew Tony and Charlie had been taken away from the hospital she knew she couldn't stay there. She felt like a sitting duck just waiting for something to happen. Fear set in and she felt so alone. She had to get out of there. She knew she was drugged up and not thinking clearly so she tried to run the situation over and over in her mind to make sure she was doing the right thing. She didn't have her phone and she didn't even know Natalie's number to call her. All she could think was to go back to their apartment and then try and call the police or Natalie and find out where Tony was. She prayed that he was ok. She didn't care what happened to Sam, she just needed to know Tony wasn't hurt.
She half fell, half stumbled out of the bed. Her body hurt and her legs were not steady but she made it to the wall where she could lean against it for support. She stuck her head out the doorway and saw that nobody was paying any attention so she tried to move as fast as she could down the hall. Her legs were not working fast enough and she felt anxious. She had to get off this floor before Connor or anyone else saw her. She made it to the lifts and got inside. She pressed the button for the ground floor and when she got out she saw she was near emergency. She needed to rest. Her head was spinning and she was so tired. She saw an empty bed at the end of a block and made her way over. Her body ached. A bruise from Sam on the top of her thigh was throbbing. Every time she took a step, pain radiated through her leg. She couldn't climb up onto the bed so she slid down the wall so she was sitting on the floor. She tried to close her eyes for a few moments to catch her breath.
Charlie and Tony walked back into Michelle's room. Tony was anxious to get back to her as quickly as possible and Charlie had agreed he could check Tony out properly once they were back in the room. The second he walked in he saw Michelle was gone. He turned to Charlie who said loudly, "Fucking hell! Where is that fucking nurse?" He stormed out of the room.
Tony followed his Dad to the nurses' station. He hadn't heard his Dad speak like that before. As soon as he reached the desk Charlie pulled the nurse aside. "Where is Michelle?"
"She is asleep in her room."
"No she fucking well isn't. I told you not to leave her side!"
"I'm sorry, she looked like she was falling asleep and I am busy with 5 patients of my own, I can't afford to sit watching someone sleep!"
Charlie was yelling. "I told you to stay with her, if you couldn't do that you should have said so. Where the fuck could she have gone? When was the last time you checked on her?"
"About 20 minutes ago. She asked what was happening with you guys and..." The nurse stopped talking when she realized she had told Michelle that they were with the police and Tony had been charged when clearly that was wrong.
Charlie was staring at her, "and?"
"Look, I heard that her husband was being charged. When she asked I told her that and that you were with him and that I would let her know as soon as I heard more..."
"Who the fuck said Tony was being charged, who is not her husband by the way. Do you have any facts right?"
The nurse looked like she was about to burst into tears. "I'm sorry. I thought you were her Dad and Tony was her husband. The nurses were all talking about what happened and we thought that Tony had been charged and taken to the station with the police. I didn't know..."
"You told her we left the hospital?"
She just nodded her head.
Both Charlie and Tony swore loudly. They turned to each other. Tony was panicking beyond belief. Charlie put his hands on his shoulders. "Think Tony, where would Michelle go?"
"Our apartment. That is the safest place for her. Dad...she is nowhere near well enough to be up like this. She doesn't have any money, proper clothes, a key to get in..."
Charlie was shaking his head. "I know. But she can't have got far in less than 20 minutes. She couldn't even get out of the bed when I left her. Let's get the hospital searched first."
They caught Connor and a security guard and organized for a search of the hospital to be done. Charlie phoned Natalie and told her what was happening and to stay at Tony's apartment in case Michelle made it there somehow. Charlie had never been angrier in his whole life. He felt ill at the thought of Michelle trying to go anywhere in her condition. Tony snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Oh My God, she must be scared to all hell if she thinks I've been charged and at the police station. She is going to think she is all alone. Fuck Dad, we have to find her NOW!"
"I'm sorry I left her Tony, I thought the nurse wouldn't leave her side."
"It's not your fault Dad, if I hadn't gone crazy, none of this would have happened."
They took the lift down to the ground floor. Once there they split up and Charlie took the emergency department, whilst Tony headed out the front. They had their cell phones to keep in touch. Security was doing a sweep of all the other floors.
It only took Charlie 5 minutes to find Michelle. She had fallen asleep and was curled up in a tiny ball on the floor of one of the rooms. The boxer shorts had ridden up her thigh a little and her hand was resting on the deepest, darkest bruise. It shocked him and he felt ill again imagining what she must have been through. He called Tony who ran back to them. They both stood there for a moment watching her, catching their breath. They were both so relieved. Charlie's eyes were watery. "Thank fucking God. Oh My God, thank God she is ok."
Tony walked over to Michelle and crouched down beside her. He gently stroked her head. He got a fright when she pulled away and tried to jump up. He caught her, "It's me baby, it's Tony."
She looked at him with sleepy eyes for a moment, trying to figure out if she was dreaming or not. He stroked her cheek, "Hey, everything is going to be ok."
"I thought you were taken to the police station?"
He shook his head. "The nurse had it all wrong. I wasn't charged. I didn't even get close to Sam."
She scanned his hands. "What happened to you then?"
"I got into a fight with some shelves in a cleaners closet. Baby, I am so sorry. So so sorry you were left and told the wrong thing, I can't imagine how scared you must be."
Her bottom lip began to quiver. She could hear Charlie apologizing. She tried to stop herself from crying.
"Where were you going sweetheart?"
"Our apartment. I didn't know what else to do but I couldn't make it, it's too hard...my thigh is killing..."
He sat down and pulled her onto his lap. "I'm sorry. We will get you back upstairs and..."
"NO!"
They were both surprised at her outburst.
"I'm not going back there. I have to leave the hospital. We all do."
"Chelle..."
"No, I can't do this anymore. I don't feel safe here, I hate it." She couldn't keep the tears back any longer.
Tony cradled her and stroked her hair and kissed her on the forehead. "What do you want sweetheart? What do you need?"
"I want to be allowed to leave here. I'm scared of Ashley and Sam." She ran her hand near the bruise again, it hurt so much it felt like she was going to pass out from the pain. "My thigh..."
Charlie bent down beside them. He was sure the position of the bruise would make Michelle uncomfortable for him to see but he had an idea. Tony had turned and was looking at his Dad, pleading with his eyes for him to help.
Charlie cleared his throat. "I have a thought."
They both looked at him with eager eyes.
"How do you feel about me caring for you Michelle?"
"What do you mean?"
"You are not well enough to normally go home, you should be under constant supervision of a doctor. I can do that. I can sign you out into my care but this needs to be taken seriously. You would need to stay with me and be willing to let me look after you?"
Michelle's eyes lit up a little. "You would do that?"
Charlie nodded his head. Tony's voice was hopeful, "But Dad, Sam and Ashley know where you live. We can't go there. I don't want you guys there."
"So we either cram into your apartment or we stay at a hotel until we sort something out. Maybe for the time being, everyone would feel more comfortable at a hotel."
Tony nodded his head. "That would work."
Charlie turned back to Michelle. "Chelle, do you think you are going to be comfortable with me treating you? It's not like a broken arm or something, you have a lot of different wounds that need attention and I need to know that you are going to be able to open up to me, talk to me, let me help you."
Michelle's voice was shaky and quiet. "Has Tony told you what Sam did to me?"
Charlie put his hand over Michelle's and shook his head. "No. I don't really know anything yet." He hesitated. "Let's try something. You were telling Tony that your thigh hurts. Will you show me what you are talking about?"
Michelle looked at Tony and he smiled at her and nodded his head. "It's a bruise I think, near the top of my leg where Sam...where he...pinned...tried to pin me down. It is really throbbing and it is a lot more noticeable than it was a few hours ago."
Tony and Charlie winced. Charlie asked Tony if he could move to the side. He then asked Michelle to sit with her legs straight out. "Can you show me?"
Michelle slowly pulled the shorts high enough to reveal the bruise. She didn't need to reveal anything other than the top of her leg. Tony couldn't believe it, he had seen a light bruise when they were in the shower but it had gotten so much worse. "Dad, that's 20 times worse than it was when we showered."
Charlie ran his hands around the edges of it where it was raised. He pressed down on the side of it. "How does that feel?"
"Tingly, like pins and needles."
He pushed and prodded around the side of her thigh like he was trying to feel for something. "This will hurt, try and bare with me." Tony held her hand. Charlie pushed the middle of the bruise to see how the color bounced back. Michelle let out a small whimper.
Charlie looked at Tony. "I need to get a scan done of this. Could just be a very deep bruise but I'm not happy to leave it. I can take Michelle for a scan at my clinic before we go to the hotel. That way I can also pick up everything I would need." He looked back at Michelle, "I know there are going to be things like that and your stomach Chelle that may make you feel a little uncomfortable but if you think you will be ok with it, then I can get you out of here?"
Tony was relieved. He hated the thought of them all having to go to another hospital and there was no one in the world he trusted with Michelle more than his Dad. He looked at her. "Baby, Dad is the only person I trust with you. I want you to feel comfortable but I would love to have you home with me. We can all be together."
Charlie looked at Michelle. "Do you trust me Michelle? Do you think you are going to be able to talk to me and let me help you?"
Michelle nodded her head but tears still made their way down her cheeks. "I trust you. I don't want to go to another hospital. Would you really do this for me?"
"Of course I would. And I would love nothing more than for us all to get out of here and have time together." He tried to lighten things up a little. "We can order in room service and watch movies."
"Thank you Charlie. Thank you."
Charlie smiled. "Ok then. I'll sign you out. Tony, why don't you phone your mum and let her know what is going on. Have her and Jess pick a nice hotel and pack up some things."
Tony thanked his Dad again. He picked Michelle up and put her on the bed. Once his Dad had left he kissed Michelle on the lips. "I am so happy we are leaving. Do you feel better?"
"Your dad is amazing. I feel so much better. I can't wait until I can just lie in your arms again properly."
"Well sweetheart, for the next week, that is all we are going to do. Hold each other, pig out on room service, watch movies and finally...finally have some real time together."
I hope you liked this chapter. Please review and let me know what to think. I'll only keep posting if people are reading and enjoying it. Thanks so much:)