Chapter 11

Seph's POV

Two days in this hospital was more than enough for me. I was finally being discharged today but they were taking nice and long about it. Even they couldn't argue a reason to keep me though. I was healing beautifully. The doctors seemed to be weirded out by how fast my recovery was going and wanted to run more tests but I denied it. They contributed my memory regression due to the trauma, physically and emotionally. It naturally regressed to what they assume was my last traumatic memory. They tried to find records from hospitals in Seattle that may have seen me after the accident but apparently there was no records for me at all there.

They said the memory loss was most likely temporary but couldn't be sure how long it could last; I could wake up tomorrow and remember everything or only bits and pieces could come back over several years. It put me in a state of not knowing what to do. Do I try to pick up my old life or do I start over?

Jason had made sure to stay at night with me. I slept for most of it and the doctors said that my body will need the extra rest from the trauma so it was natural I was so sleepy. They said I could expect to sleep majority of my days for the next week or two minimum. I wish I wasn't so sleepy so that I could talk to Jason more. I want to know more about him and also myself. He was attractive and funny, it hurt my ribs to laugh but he kept me in good spirits.

I keep calling my brother's phone and nothing. It has me very worried but I don't know any other information than the phone number listed. Jason says he's going to dig for more and try to help me. It's strange to know I have a boyfriend. I never did before...well at least I don't remember having one. Apparently I was engaged before, I graduated early from med school, and I was in the process of my residency. I feel like I had a lot going for me. Which makes me sad because I won't be able to go back to that life unless my memory comes back soon. It's looking like I'll have to start over.

Jason bought me a cellphone since mine was destroyed in the crash. It's crazy how far technology has came in 7 years, although I never had anything fancy like this. I remember still having a flip phone, although a lot of my fellow students had a less fancy version of this iPhone. It's intimidating because I'm starting to believe that Jason is pretty wealthy and I'm...not so much.

Once my discharge is processed I'm left waiting for my ride. Jason said he'd be here by 5:00 PM and it's already 5:45 PM. I try calling him but there is no answer. My mind is racing and panicking. He realized how much work it would be taken care of a broken girl and bailed. I'm distraught over the idea of being so dependent on a man I don't even know and who hardly knows me. This was literally my only option and now I have nothing. My chest hurts and I start crying. My face in my hands as I sit in the wheelchair waiting alone in my room.

"I'm so sorry. So so so sorry. Traffic was a mess, I left my phone at the house because I was in a hurry to get here. Are you hurt? Are you okay?" He rushed into the room. Eyes wide when he saw my emotional state. His hands checking by shifting my clothes, ones he brought me, to check my bandages.

I can't reign in my emotions long enough to tell him I'm ok. He finishes inspection and determines it is emotionally driven. "Well I can honestly say I'm not used to you being this emotional" He says with a laugh.

"I'm not used to being this emotional!" I raise my voice through the tears and he struggles to hold back laughter making me through my wadded up tissues at him. He erupts in laughter. "This better not be the new me." I pout.

"Let's get you home, love." He wheels me out to the car. Yup, he's definitely rich. I don't know much about cars but I know the Mercedes SUVS aren't cheap. "Okay I'm going to try and do this with hurting you as little as possible but I can't guarantee so brace yourself. He scoops me up and gently places me in the passenger seat without hurting anything. He pulls a blanket out from the back seat and hands it to me. "Here, I thought you might be cold." He says quickly before going to pack up my few things from the hospital and the wheelchair.

I was warned the drive to his home is pretty long and I doze off within minutes. I don't wake up until we get there. "its okay Johnny, i got her." I hear Jason say. Warm arms are holding me and my head is against his chest. I can even hear his heartbeat and feel his strong muscles under his shirt. He smells like expensive cologne and I involuntarily snuggle into him more. I'm mortified at first but realize we technically are dating, so this isn't new, he should be used to me cuddling with him I guess.

I'm too tired to open my eyes and look around my surroundings as we go in and honestly I'm too comfortable. Eventually he lays me on a soft surface I assume is my bed but I pout losing his body heat. It causes him to laugh. I love his laugh. It sounds so genuine and happy.

"You have to get some rest sweetie." I feel a blanket go around me and I'm back asleep.

…

"I'm gonna find you, you little bitch." I'm 9 and hiding from my dad. I kicked him in the balls for hurting Hector. Then Hector and I took off running in different directions to hide. He's 2 years older than me and typically gets the brunt of the beatings but I hate seeing him get hurt.

"Come out, come out wherever you are." the bed skirt lifts and he grabs me by the ankles, dragging me out by me feet. I fight and grab on to what I can trying to stay under the bed. He gets me out and his belt starts wailing on me.

Slap. Slap. Slap.

I cover my head with my arms and curl up just like my brother taught me, protecting the vital and fragile body parts. I hear police sirens and the beating stops. My father fleas and Hector rushes in to check on me. "It's okay Sephie. It's okay. The police are here."

Suddenly I'm in the woods, my age now. A grown up Hector is standing in front of me. He looks older than what I last remember so this must be him now. "Hey Seph." He smiles sadly at me. "Sorry I couldn't protect you again."

"It's okay, it my fault for being so far across the country!" I try to joke. I don't like the sadness in his eyes.

"I'm your big brother, I should always protect you. I do a real shit job of it. Look at us. We are so fucked up. I've always been a nutcase but damn. Your brain is like fucking scrambled eggs right now and you have been in love with a psychopath." His hand gestures up in down at me.

"What do you mean?" I asked confused. In love? Psychopath? Is he talking about Jason? My ex fiance?

"That's exactly what I mean! But I don't have much time. I'm sorry, Persephone." He looks down and I know it's serious. He never calls me Persephone.

"Hector….what's wrong?" I say, scared to know.

"I...I just couldn't do it anymore. I didn't know all of this would happen to you. I'm so sorry. I thought you were in a good place, you didn't need me anymore." he's crying. No. No. No.

"No, I'll always need you Hector. Please. Please don't…" I start crying as well, knowing in my gut I'm too late.

"You'll be okay. You always healed the fastest." He winks at me right before he fades away.

I'm pulled from my dream. My pillow soaked with tears. I have to find my brother. I pull the covers back and hobble to the door, my cast making loud bang with each step. Taking a guess on which way to go, I keep moving. I hear footsteps urgently running up stairs.

"What are you doing?!" Jason is furious. But I don't care, I'm on a mission.

"My brother. I have to find him. I have to find him now." the panic mixed with broken ribs is causing it to hurt to breathe but I keep moving.

"How did you...did you hear my phone conversation?" He asks in an accusing tone.

"What the fuck? No! Jason, I have to find my brother." I don't give a shit about whatever phone conversation. I have to get to Hector before he does something stupid. He grabs my shoulders and takes in my current state; my panicked face, my red puffy tear stained face, and the urgency in my body language.

"I think you know." He says sadly.

I look at him. I do know. He's gone. Dead. Suicide. I was too late. He'd been trying since we were teenagers and now, he did it. I'm furious. I scream one big loud scream and then cry. Big sobbing cries that I know my ribs will pay the price for later, but at least the physical pain doesn't register now. Jason tries to touch me but I push away. I don't want to be comforted. I want to feel the pain. I don't to be spared the pain. My brother is gone. I collapse on the floor and Jason sits next to me careful not to touch me.

"That bastard. He left me alone. He promised. He promised after mom died, I'd never be alone." I ramble. "Now, I need him more than ever and he isn't here. He left me. He really fucking left me this time." I'm not talking to anyone in particular and I'm hysterical. "He always said I healed fast, how am I ever supposed to heal from this." My dream pops into my head. "Jason, I was supposed to save him. I always save him."

After awhile I start to get up. Jason tries to help but I push him away. I fall trying to get up and he growls, picks me up anyway. At first I start slapping his chest and demanding he put me down. He just takes me to the room and sits on the edge of the bed still holding me.

"You. Are. Not. Alone." He emphasizes every word. "You have me. You are not alone. I won't hurt you and I won't leave you, I promise you that and I'm not one for making promises sweetie."

I sob and instead of fighting him, I wrap my arms around his neck and hold on to him. I cry into the crook of his neck and he readjusts me so my head is on his chest. He strokes my hair.

After awhile I start to feel numb and we lay out on the bed next to each other. "Do you want to know the details?" He asks.

I think about it for a minute and it's silent as we face each other with our hands held in between us. "Yes." I finally answer and squeeze his hand harder bracing for the impact.

"I have been trying to reach anyone in your family for weeks. Even called police and hospitals. Finally I guess a cousin of yours called me early this morning. Anthony? He said they had been trying to reach you and I explained what happened to you. He said your brother had been planning a trip here, the police report from your accident said you told the officer you were on your way to pick him up. So that part checked out. I guess he had an episode before he left and went into a depression. Anthony said your father called his father saying his son was dead. They found him in the apartment. He shot himself in the head." He waits a minute while I digest this information. Then adds "I called around. Coroner's and police. No foul play was suspected. I had to check because of your father's history." Then he suddenly looks like he is trying with every fiber of his being to reign in his anger. "I asked about a funeral. Your father had him cremated and held a mall service, not willing to wait for you."

I know I should be mad but part of me wants to laugh. Fucking classic Dad. I knew my brother wouldn't have wanted a big deal and part of me knows he wouldn't want me to be there. He always felt guilty for exposing me to his madness. I know he would have done it here in Gotham if he wanted me there, if he wanted a big funeral, because I would have done that. No, as crazy as Hector could be, he did things with purpose. He chose Seattle for a reason. Part of me even feels like Hector said his goodbye i think as I reflect back on my dream.

Jason surprised me though. He had all the anger for the both of us that it caused me to look up at him. Really taking him in for the first time I can remember. He has these ice blue eyes that are almost gray, black hair that is mostly combed back but a piece is falling in his eyes now. His skin is unnaturally unblemished. He's handsome. I know he's tall from standing next to him in the hallway earlier. I know he's got muscles from when he held me, I could feel them even through his clothes plus he picks me up with such ease. Then to top it off he knows me well enough to know I would want answers, that I would suspect my father as well. He cares enough to get that information. Which he probably paid a decent price to get information from police and coroner documents. He feels empathy for me, anger for me.

This clearly wasn't the psychopath Hector mentioned in the dream. This man, this man was…

My lips crash into his. He pulls back in shock at first and then kisses me with double my passion. His hands are on my face. His tongue licks my lip wanting entrance and I grant it. My hands run through his hair. His hands travel down my body being gentle of my ribs and he grabs my ass, pulling my body closer so we are chest to chest. His hands slide slightly under my shirt touching my bare skin and I'm hit with a quick and sudden image of pale white skin and a flash of green.

I pull back suddenly. Confused why it felt so familiar.