[Derek POV]
I held on to Trent and Laith while Chloe cradeled little Charlie as the medics came inside her small cramped apartment. He kept shaking uncontrollably during the seizure...I heard one of the medics say his chances were looking slim.
When we rushed down the flight of stairs I made sure to grab the overnight bags Trent had packed. Chloe was hysterical the whole time; she kept trying to get to Charlie as they loaded him up in the ambulance.
"Ma'am we can't let you ride with your son; his condition is critical and we can't risk anyone getting in the way." One of the medics told Chloe who was speechless. I loaded the bags in my car and put the boys in the backseat.
"But he's my baby!" Chloe shouted, shoving the medic to get to Charlie. The medic tried to restrain her but was having trouble, so I stepped in to help.
"Chloe. Come on we will be right behind in my car.." I murmured in her ear, trying to calm her down. I had my hands on her shoulders to keep her from trying to get in the ambulance as they started the siren and sped off. It seemed as if a switch flipped because Chloe immediately drug me over to the car.
[Chloe POV]
I dove into the backseat and buckled myself while Derek took his time starting up his damn car. "Hurry UP!" I screamed at him...I just needed to get to my baby. After I screamed at Derek he sped toward the hospital. All that kept flowing through my mind was...please let him be okay,please!
"I'm s-ss-sorry Momma. I didn't mean to hurt Charlie.." Laith murmured as tears silently streamed down his face.
"Baby, its not your fault." I softly said as I scooted him closer to me.
"Charlie started shakin' once I started tickling him...I didn't mean it Momma." He told me looking me in the eye, begging me to believe him.
"Its okay. Its not your fault...it will all be okay." I softly whispered, saying a quite prayer; hoping to God that my littlest would make it.
All of a sudden Derek made a sharp right turn, tires screeched as they his the curb. "Sorry, to much traffic...got take a short cut." He told me as he looked back in the rearview mirror. Then before I knew it we were parked by the hospital entrance. I threw open the car door and grabbed my boys hands as I raced inside wanting to know the status of Charlie. I went straight up to the woman at the front desk and asked.
"I'll let you know when I get a status update, but for now he's in emergency surgery and I need you to fill out all the information." She told me with a hint of sadness in her voice as she handed me a clipboard with a bunch of papers.
I grabbed it and went to sit in the waiting area with Laith and Trent. The only thing running through my mind was 'surgery', Charlie already had multiple operations when he was a little baby...there's no way on my salary that I could afford the expenses. I finished the paperwork as Derek came in and took as seat near me and asked what was happening. I told him about Charlie being in surgery.
it was all so overwhelming. When all of a sudden there was a tap on my shoulder from behind. I turned to see...John. My boyfriend-ish...
"Trent texted me telling me what happened. Are you okay babe?"
[Derek POV]
I cringed when the guy called Chloe 'babe'. Ugh just my luck to be semi back into my loves' life only to find out she's seeing someone. I glanced over at Laith and Trent to see something unexpected.
Laith was glaring daggers at the guy talking to Chloe while Trent was content. Odd, I didn't get a look like that...and I'm a complete stranger.
Chloe stood up and turned to me, "could you watch the boys?, John and I need to talk." She asked. I nodded my head and watched her walk down a hallway.
"Trent. Why did you tell him!?" Laith asked clearly upset about something. "I told you what he's done to Momma!"
Trent's eyes widened as if he just remembered something important. Then looked down at his hands in his lap in disappointment.
"what did he do to your mother?" I questioned sternly, raising my eyebrow. Both of them snapped their heads in my direction...clearly forgot about me.
"Well..." Laith started.
"Shh! Momma said not tell...ANYONE." Trent said putting emphasise on the word anyone.
"He's strong, he'll protect us!" Laith replied to his twin with a smug look on his face. He then turned to look at me..."sometimes, John will get mad at Momma for no reason and he'll hit her. He gets real angry when Momma doesn't do what he says right away. Once he smacked me because I didn't have my toys in place and Momma made him leave. That was the last time we saw him." I watched his expressions go from sadness, to hurt, to pure rage. I knew that my face mirrored his.
I stood up and began heading in the direction Chloe went. I got passed the waiting room area when I heard a girly shrill. I slowly turned around.
"OMG! You're Derek Souza! The famous MMA fighter; why are you at the hospital? Oh can I get an autograph or maybe just a hug, or both-" some blonde lady just kept babbling nonstop which sadly brought more people's attention to me.
In no time I was surrounded by about 8 different people, who were taking pictures of me and trying to get me to sign stuff. I was trying to get around them but was struggling...ugh being famous can sometimes suck. "Please, get out of my way." I said sternly, glaring at a few of them. While I continued to push my way through my fans I noticed Laith easily slid passed them and ran down the hall towards his mom. Damn it! I quickly shoved through the last few people and picked up my pace to catch up with Laith. I just rounded the corner when...
[Chloe POV]
I walked down the hall with John at my heels. Would I ever get a normal guy in my life? "John, I know your probably upset..just let me-" I started but was rudely interrupted.
"I've told you before, you aren't allowed to talk to other men. Stop being a stupid bitch and listen up. You are mine, and only mine" He growled at me and pushed me up against the wall, jabbing a finger in my face.
"I didnt...I wasn't...I-" I stumbled over my explanations, unsure of what was going to happen. Then I heard Laith scream,
"Let go of my Momma!" Then he ran at John and tried to push him away from me. I could tell this pissed John off even more, yet I didn't expect what happened next.
[Derek POV]
I got around the corner just in time to see John shove Laith making him fall down with a sickening crack as he hit the tile floor.
"You asshole!" Chloe shouted and started pushing John to get to her kid.
John grabbed her arm and pushed her back to the wall. "I'm done with your bullshit." he spat in her face and swung his arm, smacking Chloe across the face.
I ran up to John and grabbed him by the front of his shirt. Raising him off the ground and pinning him to the wall. I pulled my arm back, just about to punch the dick in the face when Chloe grabbed my arm,
"Derek, he's not worth it. Don't waste your time on garbage." she calmly told me. I looked into her eyes then and for a split second I thought I saw, that she felt worthless; she believed she was lower then this asshole.
I unceremoniously dropped John on the ground saying, "You ever touch or speak to Chloe or the kids, I will personally hunt you down and rip your arms off then shove them up your ass." John scrambled to his feet and darted away.
I turned around to Chloe, to see she was holding Laith in her arms as she sat of the tile floor. I walked over to them and crouched down.
"Are you both okay?" I asked quietly.
"My head hurts..." Laith spoke softly then started crying.
"I'm fine." Chloe said sternly. I didn't believe her, I saw how hard he hit her. It most definitely left a bruise. I reached out and gently grabbed her chin turning her to face me. Her left cheek had about a 2 inch gash that was surrounded by a big bruise. That bastard hit her with a damn ring on.
[Chloe POV]
Derek turned my face to look at my cheek; which I knew already swelled. I silently stood up with Laith in my arms and headed back to the waiting area where Trent was patiently waiting watching the bags. I sat there holding on to my Laith, and I whispered in his ear how brave he was and how thankful I am to be his mom. That I also loved him a lot.
A nurse came up to me then with an ice pack in hand and a disinfect wipe. "That tall young man said to give this to you, to wipe off the blood on your cheek and to put on the kid's head." She murmured quietly, she stood to walk away when she said, "I almost forgot, that gentleman said he had to make a phone call and run a few errands and would be back shortly." I thanked her as she walked away.
One thing kept running through my head; he actually still cared about me, and now even cared about the boys.