[Chloe POV]
I woke to the annoying sound of my cell phone going off. Groaning, I reluctantly sat up in the chair I slept in and reached over for my phone that happened to be on a nearby table.
"Hello?" I asked groggily, rubbing my eyes.
"Chloe. I need you to come manage the diner today. I have a meeting." My boss, Hector, so kindly demanded.
"Sir. Its my day off and my son is in the hospital. Couldn't you-" I was trying to explain to him but was rudely interrupted by my superior.
"Either you're here in an hour or you're fired." This was followed by a click, notifying me that he hung up on me.
Just great. I had no one to watch my boys for me, since it was supposed to be my day off. I stood and stretched my back, then sat back down to start slipping on my shoes.
"Where are you going Momma?" I heard coming from my little boy, who survived his surgery.
"oh baby, I have to go to work. I really wish I didn't have to, but I have no choice." I murmured while brushing back his hair.
"Don't leave. Its scary here." Charlie begged me on the verge of tears.
"It'll be okay. I'll be back soon okay. Umm, I can call, umm-" I couldn't think of anyone who would stay with my boys in a hospital.
"I can stay with them." a deep voice replied while entering the hospital room.
[Derek POV]
I told Chloe that I'd stay with the boys as I re-entered the room with two cups of coffee. I walked over to Chloe handing her one while I took a seat in the chair I slept in.
"So, where do you have to go to?" I asked while taking a small sip of hot coffee.
"work." she replied.
"okay...and where exactly do you work?" I questioned in return.
"Dan's Diner, off of 16th, today. Sometimes its at Mike's hardware store, or the nightclub I waiter at. "she said with embarrassment in her voice.
"oh, okay." I was shocked that she was working three very different jobs. She stood and straightened out her clothes. She thanked me for staying with the boys as she quickly walked out.
I sat there, staring at the door she passed threw, wondering how the hell I ever left her. She was still the amazing, hard working person I remembered.
"ohh! You have a crush on Momma!" Trent practically screeched from the couch he was asleep on before. Laith then woke to this, and was interested in how Trent came to this conclusion. I reacted in a school girl type way, because my cheeks flamed and I hid my face in my hands. Normally, having people know I liked someone wasn't a big deal, but it was different this time. I mean for gosh sakes its about Chloe and its her kids finding out that I still love her! Talk about totally embarrassing. For half a day I spent explaining how I developed this feelings and my past to three young, little children.
[Chloe POV]
As soon as I clocked in, I saw the state the diner was in. Total chaos. It was extremely busy and we only had one cook, and two waitresses including me. I threw on my apron, grabbed my note pad and started taking orders.
After about 3 hours it seemed to calm down enough to at least sit a few minutes between taking care of costumers needs. Although it wasn't easy because Jessica the other waitress, really wasn't doing much except flirting with the good looking men while I took care of practically every table. The door rang notifying a new costumer came in.
I hurried to grab a few refills for another table before heading to the guy that just came in.
"Hello, what can I get you?" I asked politely.
"Cup of water and some fries." he replied in a quiet manner.
"Coming right up." I replied. I slowly walked to the kitchen to give the order to Frank. I just couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong with that man. He seemed way to reserved and upset about something.
I returned to the table with the man's order when he asked me, "what happen? How did you get a nasty bruise like that?" while pointing toward my cheek.
"it was, just umm, a bad break up with someone." I stated sheepishly.
"Shame. Don't let people control ya. Does ya no good, trust me I know from experience." he said, looking me in the eyes for the first time since he came inside. I nodded in return then turned and walked back toward the kitchen. Then out of nowhere all hell broke loose.
I looked back to see the man, standing with a gun pointed at people. He locked the door, and shouted "listen up, I won't hurt anyone unless I don't get what I came for. So, everyone get on the floor face down, and give me your wallets." No one moved, clearly afraid to do so. "NOW!" once he said that one word everyone scrambled to do what he said, that is except me. I was behind the counter watching this play out.
He picked up wallet after wallet searching for something. He grabbed another to look threw when he stopped. "Haha, okay, Hannah Minson, stand up." the woman slowly knelt, taking her time. "Get up, damn it!" This cause the woman to scurry and stand up. He cocked his gun and was about to shoot when I walked out.
"Why are you doing this? What did Hannah do to you?" I asked getting in between the two. I heard murmurs from people on the floor about how stupid and crazy I was.
"She is the reason my daughter is in the hospital. She's the reason my daughter is going to die unless I get enough money." He screamed at me, flailing his gun around.
"I'm so sorry. I never meant to hurt her. I'm sorry." Hannah said over and over again while crying hysterically.
"Tell me what about your daughter and what happened." I said calmly.
"why? So you can call me crazy? No. Just move so I can finish what I came here to do." He said, motioning me to move.
"Please, umm-"
"Greg. My name is Greg." the man said staring daggers at the woman behind me.
"Okay, Greg, explain to me what happened to your daughter and how Hannah is involved."
"I was taking Anna to ballet practice. When this lady comes out of nowhere speeding and slams into the back door Anna was next to. And if I don't get money for the medical help she needs, they're gonna pull the plug. This stupid woman is slowly killing my daughter! She could have waited to send a damn text but instead decided to ruin my life and my daughters! For God's sake she was just about to begin 1st grade, but you took that for her, you monster." Greg was crying now, and pointed the gun at me. "Move. I have to do this."
"No, Greg, you don't. Listen to me, I'll help you pay for the help your daughter needs, just put the gun down." I stated firmly.
He began to lower the gun, but his finger slipped pulling the trigger, and BANG! People then scrambled out the door, running for their lives. I stood still, a slowly looked down. On my abdomen was a huge dark red spot that was continuing to expand. It took me a moment to realize I got shot, and once I did the pain exploded inside me.
I clutched my stomach, crying out in pain. "oh fuck. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to fire. My finger slipped. I'm sorry. We need to get you to a hospital-" Greg kept going on and on.
"its fine" I chocked out as a slowly crumbled to the floor. I could barely breath. Greg bent down next to me, but was unsure of how to stop the bleeding. A few moments later several cops with their weapons drawn aimed at Greg came into the diner. They screamed at him to drop his gun and get on the ground and put his hands on his head. Only if he did that I'd end up losing a lot of blood.
"S-stop yelling at him. It was a an accident. He can't move cause he's keeping me from bleeding to death." I shouted as loud as I could. I then made show of throwing the weapon away from us.
After a few short minutes an ambulance pulled up outside and I was put on a stretcher while Greg still staunched the blood flow. We were loaded into the ambulance when a police officer asked me a few questions.
"Ma'am is there anyone I need to contact?" I told him to call Derek on my cell. He asked me a bunch of other personal questions but his last question was just unexpected.
"Ma'am, are you going to press charges on this man?"
"No." I replied sternly.
"No? Ma'am he pointed a gun at many people, he even shot you. Are you sure you don't want to press any charges?" the police officer asked yet again.
"No. I'm not pressing charges, and I understand he's going to have some jail time anyway for bringing a gun and holding people against their will." I told him, although it was more of a whisper since I was slowly losing conciousness. Before I blacked out I turned to look at Greg and said, "I'll still help you get medical treatment for your daughter." He opened his mouth to reply to me, but then it was as if the lights went out. I was surrounded by complete darkness that enveloped me in a blanket of peace and quiet.