Chapter 67
"Is she awake?" Jeff asked as they got out of the elevator.
"No, we still have her under sedation. With everything she's been through, it's better that she rests before having to face it all. But again, she's going to be fine." He showed him into the room.
Jeff stared down at her filled with emotions. With all the tubes and monitors around her, she looked so small. He wiped a tear from his face before sitting down and taking her hand. He gently rubbed at the bruises around her wrist.
"Her bruises and contusions are all superficial. They should heal." The doctor told him. "Everything's just going to need time." Jeff nodded.
"We'll have a room ready shortly, and I'll see if we can get a cot placed in there. I understand it's been a very long night for both of you. I'll leave you alone."
"Doctor," Jeff stopped him. "She's going to be all right, right? I mean did he, was she…" His voice trailed.
"Physically she'll be fine." The doctor said understanding what he was trying to get out. "She has signs of bruising but we weren't able to tell anything definitive. We'll have to wait till she's ready to tell what happened." Jeff returned his attention back to her. He remembered entering the house and seeing Shane on top of her, Jessica crying for someone to help her. He would never forgive himself, if he hadn't made it on time.
"Do I talk to her?" Jeff asked unsure what to do.
"You can if you want, or just hold her hand. Remember she made it through the hard part; she survived. As long as she gets the support she needs, she'll be okay." As he said this an orderly came in to get them. Jeff walked with them as they took Jessica to a regular room. He sat by her side, never letting go of her hand. He wanted desperately for her to wake up. He needed to hold her in his arms, but he waited having to be content just to hold her hand.
He passed the time talking to her. He talked about their future, making plans for different things they could do together. He brought up the first time they met and how she made his pulse race even then.
"I knew we'd be together." He said with a smile. He rubbed his eyes and let out a yawn. I got to stay awake, he thought to himself.
"Hey, how's it going?" Jeff watched his brother enter the room and pulled up a chair. He took a good look at his brother. "Why don't you take a break? I can keep watch for awhile."
"No, I'm okay."
"Jeff, we've been up for hours."
"Then you get some sleep. I'm gonna stay here till she wakes. I don't want her to freak out." He said and Matt knew he couldn't argue. He had been the same way just a few days ago when it was Jeff lying in that bed.
"What did the doctors say?"
"They say she's going to be fine, she just needs time to heal." Jeff told him.
"Kind of like someone else I know. Not that you've given yourself any time to rest." Matt said with a smile.
"I will. There'll be plenty of time after she's up."
"Jeff, she's going to be fine, and it wouldn't hurt if you let the doctor check you out. From what I heard you took a few hits from Shane. You should get yourself checked out. You may have reinjured something."
"I'm fine besides I have to be here for her. Who knows how she'll react when she wakes up and has to deal with what happened. We don't know what Shane's did to her."
"Miller said Shane was talking, kind of." Matt told him. Jeff looked at him to explain. "Well there was a lot of rambling, but from what they've figured out he played house."
"Yea, well that wasn't what I saw when I walked in."
"He won't talk about that. Did the doctor say anything?"
"There was nothing conclusive." Jeff said shaking his head. "I should have gotten there sooner."
"You got there as quick as you could. There was no way you could have known."
"I saw the house earlier. It stood out. If I would have just picked up on it earlier, I could have been there before she tried to escape and he attacked her."
"I still can't believe he did all this." Matt said trying to change the subject. "I mean, he built a house to imprison her in. He spent years planning all this. We should just be grateful that it didn't end up the way he wanted."
"Yea, tell that to Jess." Jeff said looking to her. "It's funny. Right now I can talk to her about anything, but when she wakes up… I'm scared I won't know the right thing to say. I mean, sorry I screwed up and let Shane torture you, isn't going to cut it."
"You know all everyone keeps doing is taking the blame for this but it wasn't any of our faults. It was mine, it was Vince's, and it sure as hell wasn't yours or Jess'. The blame needs to be placed where it belongs, with Shane."
"Yea but…"
"No buts. That's where it should be and as far as what to say to Jess? You're never at a lack of words. It'll come to you, trust me."
"I hope you're right." Jeff said looking away.
"Vince is here." Matt said and Jeff stared back at him. "I just thought you should know."
"Where?"
"He's downstairs, in the waiting room. He wanted to see how Jess was doing. I thought it was best for him to wait."
"And he was okay with it?" Jeff asked surprised.
"It's like I said. Everyone's feeling guilty, even Vince."
"Yea, now."
"Being angry isn't going to help Jess. You have to remember this is her family."
"I know that, or at least that it was her family but what about now? Vince's going to do everything in his power to make sure Shane gets off easy. How does that help Jess? How is that in her best interest? I mean, he raped her, or at least tried to. He has to pay for that."
"He will. There's no way Vince has enough power to get Shane out of this." Matt said.
"But he's going to try. That's going to hurt her."
"We'll just have to be there to support her; show her she not alone. The McMahon's aren't the only family she has anymore."
"How?"
"By being there. It won't be easy, but Jeff you love her, just keep showing it." He told him. "That's what she's going to need." Jeff took a moment to think about what his brother had told him. It definitely was going to be difficult but, looking at her, she was worth it. Jessica was all he needed and he'll do everything he can to make sure she gets through this.
