:) For reviewer-Aleera GiacoRavenne-thank you for inspiring this chapter! Hope you, and everyone enjoy it! Please review my lovely readers! xoxo
Gabriella was awoken by her alarm the next morning at 6am. She rolled out of bed unwillingly and dressed quickly. She stood over her sink, scarfing down a breakfast wrap with eggs, salsa, and sausage in it. She gathered her lunch and midday snacks into her bag and shoved her phone into her bag, heading out for the hospital, locking her door behind her.
It was a hot morning already, the humidity sweltering. As she was walking down the street she saw a group of young boys playing soccer in the street, and waved hello. As she passed them and turned down the street, a black SUV with House Whele flags on it whipped past her, and a moment later she heard the boys yelling and shouting. Assuming that the car had disrupted their game, she continued walking, until she heard a shout, "Doctor! Doctor!"
Gabriella turned and saw one of the boys running up to her, "Doctor! Come! Our friend is hurt bad!" Her heart skipped and she took off running around the corner, the boy close behind her. She came to a halt when she saw the group of boys huddled around the fallen boy.
It appeared to her that the SUV had struck him, causing him to fly through the air and strike the stone wall behind him. His left leg lay at an awkward angle, his breathing appeared rapid and shallow, and she could see a dent in his head that was leaking blood.
"Oh goddamn…shit!" she muttered, kneeling next to the boy, inspecting his injuries. She pulled out her phone and dialed Tom, "Come on…Tom! I have a hit and run two blocks from the hospital. Yea! I need a backboard, neck brace and fluids immediately!" She hung up the phone and tore off her button down shirt using it to bind his head wound. She didn't try to move him, knowing he could have a spinal injury.
She stood, dancing in place, waiting for the emergency team to arrive. Less than three minutes later they were there, taking vitals and getting the boy strapped to the backboard and securing his neck. Gabriella turned to the boys, "Does he have family?"
The boy who had come to get her spoke, "Just a sister. His name is Jason Pierce."
She nodded and laid a hand on his shoulder briefly, "Thank you. You guys helped save his life." She took off after the team, and arrived shortly after them, finding them working on him.
Tom looked up at her, "He has a broken femur in the left leg, a shattered knee, collapsed lung, and intracranial bleeds. He needs surgery immediately."
Gabriella nodded and headed toward the OR's, "I'll take the leg." Tom didn't try and stop her, she was a force of nature and there was no way to stop her.
Gabriella stood at the sink outside the OR, scrubbing her hands and forearms. She was so angry, but she would hold it together for Jason. She watched as they wheeled him into the room and put him under with sedation. She entered the room and after gowning and gloving up, slipped a mask over her face. She looked across the table to the neurosurgeon who would be taking care of Jason's head and nodded, they went to work.
Hours Later
Gabriella sat holding Jason's cold lifeless hand, her insides numb. The boy couldn't be more than 10, and he was dead. He had stroked out on the table. They had tried everything to save him and hadn't been able to. She looked up to the clock, it was nearly 1pm. She stood and stripped off her gown, noting with a detachment that her clothes underneath were stained with his blood.
She walked sedately out of the OR, out of the Hospital, down the street and into the Senate headquarters. The guard at the door started at the sight of her, but when she flashed her ID badge, he hesitantly let her into the chambers. A low gasp and murmurs ran around the chambers at the sight of her.
Consul Whele, not surprisingly was the first to rise and ask, "Doctor Hasan, I believe, what trouble brings you here?"
Gabriella's head snapped up, her eyes connecting with his. Whele could have sworn he saw lighting flash in her eyes as she spoke, "You Consul Whele bring me here." She stalked closer and pointed a finger at his chest, "A boy is dead because of your carelessness." She saw fear flash on his face and knew she had been right about him being in the SUV. "You killed that boy that your car struck. You didn't even stop, you just left him there to die" she hissed at him.
Whele took a step back, attempting to escape her anger. "I was indeed in the car when the regrettable accident occurred, but as I'm sure you're aware, I was not driving. We had an emergency here in the Senate, and that is why we were rushing. I truly regret the loss of any young life in Vega, and especially this one."
Gabriella could see that he was playing to the Senate, wriggling his way out of this. She took a step back and straightened, "You had every ability to stop the car and see if the boy was alright. To get the boy into the car and take him to the Hospital. But you didn't. I thereby accuse you of negligent homicide."
Gabriella heard the intake of breath from around the room and felt satisfaction. She knew it wouldn't stick, but by God these people, and all of Vega would know what kind of man Whele was. She looked around the chambers, eyeing each member making sure they saw the blood on her shirt.
General Riesen stood, "Unfortunately for you Doctor Hasan, you don't have the authority to accuse a Consul of that sort of crime. If you wish to do so, you must bring evidence to the authorities."
Gabriella looked first him and then Whele full in the face, and then snorted in contempt, "Why? It would never stick." She walked up to Whele and grabbed his hand, laying Jason's bloodied picture of his parents into his hand. She stared up into Whele's face and was pleased to see his face whiten, "May God forgive you, because I cannot. You murdered that boy."
She spun on her heel and before exiting the chamber, turned and gave a short bow, "I thank the Senate for its wise judgment today", the words laced with poison. She exited the chambers, seething.
Michael stood like a stone statue as the Senate chambers buzzed. He had never seen Gabriella so angry. He had never seen Consul Whele so upset and afraid in public. The fact that the man hadn't stopped to help the boy, and hadn't alerted the Senate to the accident was galling, but Gabriella was right, he would never face charges. He was too slippery.
Michael felt righteous anger swell in his chest, the man was despicable. He stepped down from his post and stood in front of Consul Whele and heard the room go silent. He looked at the man in disgust, "You don't deserve to represent the people of Vega. You are weak and undeserving." He turned and strode out of the room.
Gabriella went back to the Hospital, just because she was angry as a wet cat didn't mean she could leave other patients needing care to be neglected. She went to work after changing her clothes, completely engrossed. Eventually Tom came to her at 11pm and sent her home. She walked through the streets of Vega and saw that they were quiet and deserted. Word of the accident had clearly spread through the streets.
Gabriella sighed deeply as she entered her house, and let out a yelp at the dark figure sitting at her kitchen table. She lunged across the kitchen to the freezer, grabbing her gun and pointed it at the figure, which was strangely still sitting.
"I understand you are upset after today, but do refrain from shooting me please, Gabriella", Michael's deep voice pierced her fear.
She lowered her gun slowly, and set it on the counter. She ran a hand over her face, closing her eyes. She opened her eyes after a minute and walked over to the table and sat across from him. She sighed deeply, today had been a shitstorm of horrible.
Michael said nothing for a moment and then rose, crossing to the fridge, and came back with an open bottle of beer. Handing it to her as he sat, she gave him a small smile of thanks. Gabriella took a small sip, not really having the energy to drink. She just wanted to take a hot shower, crawl into bed and never get out. Michael could feel Gabriella's despair, as though it was a real, physical, tangible thing.
"You should be more careful about the threats you make against Consul Whele" he spoke softly. Her eyes cut to his, her mouth tight with anger.
She shook her head, "Really? I think he should be more careful when he's out driving so he doesn't murder more children. Just because he's a Consul doesn't mean he's absent of responsibility. In fact he's more responsible for the people of Vega."
"I understand. You are right, but he still wields power and can make your life in Vega incredibly difficult. Please be careful." Michael rose and stood staring at her for a long moment, "I would hate to see anything happen to you."
As he strode towards the door, Gabriella had a flash of memory, "Wait! Did you still want to train tomorrow morning?"
He turned partially, "Did you?"
She shrugged, "What else am I going to do? Watch more kids die?" To her surprise, she saw Michael flinch at her words.
Gabriella sighed, "I'm sorry. Yes, I'll be there. East gate at 6am, right?" Michael nodded and then exited her house, shutting the door softly behind him. Gabriella sat at her table for a long time after he left, sipping on her beer, thinking of the boy, Jason who had never woken up. She eventually stood and went to shower, standing under the hot water, trying to let the hot water scald away the pain of the day. She shut off the water after she could no longer feel her skin and changed into her pajamas. After climbing into bed, Gabriella curled around her extra pillow, crying softly, mourning the loss of Jason.
Eventually, exhausted, she fell asleep, her pillow wet with her tears.
Michael leaned against the wall outside Gabriella's bedroom, listening to her cry herself to sleep. He fought himself; he couldn't go in there and comfort her. He was already too involved with her, and knew he shouldn't have said anything about worrying if something happened to her. He moved away from the wall and took off into the night sky, heading towards his tower.
He stripped off his jacket and threw it onto the chaise, whirling when he heard movement in the room. His eyes focused on Becca, lying on his bed, naked, save for a sheet. He sighed, "Good evening Consul Thorn. Is there something I can help you with?"
She gave him a seductive smile and held out a hand, "There is, actually. I have this itch that you are just so good at scratching." Moving away from her hand he pointed to the door, "Please leave Becca. I told you this was over."
He watched as anger marred her beautiful face. She rose from the bed and moved across the room to stand in front of him, "How dare you! Do you know how many men would give anything to spend a night to be with me? I thought you loved me?!" Her voice rose to a shriek.
Michael stared down at her impassively as she yelled at him. He stepped away and gathered up her clothes, handing them to her silently. She glared at him for a moment before snatching them and dressing quickly.
She marched up to him and slapped him across the face, "You will regret this, angel" she spat the last word. Michael watched as she sauntered out of the room, and sighed when she was gone. –That was…awful-he thought to himself.
He flopped down onto his bad and lay staring up at the fresco on the ceiling; he missed his brethren. He even missed Gabriel. He thought he understood how Gabriella felt, alone and without family, orphaned. Despite knowing that he needed to be careful with her, he was anxious, excited even, to see her tomorrow morning.
"Stupid flyboy" he whispered to himself.