Part 25

My hair is still wet when I step into the living room, but I don´t want him to wait any longer, and of course, I need to know what he's going to say.

He sits on the couch, staring at the TV. It's almost dark in the room; the only light is provided by the small lamp over the kitchen sink that we left on. A shiver runs down my spine as he turns his head just the slightest bit in my direction. I can´t see him clearly from where I'm standing, but I can already tell that he doesn´t look very happy.

"Hey," I whisper to hide my fear.

"Hey, beautiful," he replies quietly.

A soft smile appears on my lips. It can't be that bad if he's talking like that, right? With a little more confidence I walk over to him.

"Oh, my God, what happened to you?" I gasp when I notice the bruise on his left cheek and the cut at his lips. I sit down across from him on the coffee table and turn his face softly towards the kitchen light.

"We have to clean and cool this. Come on!" I take his hand in mine and guide him to the bathroom.

"Sit down." I point at the toilet seat. I take a washcloth out of the cabinet and wet it in the sink.

He does what I tell him to do and he rests his chin in one hand. "You know, I don´t want to complain or anything, but you didn´t even give me the slightest welcoming kiss." He tries to smirk.

"Is it too late for that now?" I ask, glad that he´s still in a good mood, despite being hit hard by someone.

"I guess not."

I kneel down in front of him, caressing his healthy cheek as I brush a soft kiss against the corner of his mouth, anxious to not hurt him. Then I start to dab the wet washcloth at the wounds on his lips and forehead. "Who did this to you? Max?"

He looks at me intensely for a few seconds before he answers, "Billy... Sean… Ryan."

"Billy?" I squeak. "I thought he was still in jail."

"Apparently not; Max and I were at the basketball court when they passed by. And Max was still pissed because of you, so he provoked Billy."

"Did Max tell Billy anything about me... us?"

"No, maybe Max doesn´t trust you yet, but in some way I think he trusts me and he would never turn you in. He knows Billy and what he's capable."

I sigh with relief. "Okay."

"You know, you're a good nurse. Maybe next time you could wear one of those short little white nurse's uniforms."

"Maybe next time you can patch yourself up," I counter with a smirk. I wouldn´t have liked to hear those words from Billy, 'cause I would have felt cheap, but when Michael says something like that... it's so different.

"Okay, I´m ready. Are there any other cuts, bruises or wounds on your body that aren't so obvious?"

"No nothing."

"Okay, then let's go back into the living room."

I stand up and toss the washcloth into the shower. When I start to leave the bathroom I can hear Michael groan in pain, even though he tries to hide it. His right hand is wrapped around his stomach.

"Nothing, huh?" I ask, concerned.

"Nothing that you can change. I can deal with it, don´t worry."

"Let me see anyway."

"Maria..."

"Michael!" I look at him sternly. "Lift up your shirt."

He gives up at that point. "Fine." He places his hand on the hem of his shirt and pulls it up a few centimeters. A blue bruise appears from the left side to the middle of his belly.

"Oh, my God!" I have to look away 'cause it seems too horrible and I can imagine how much pain he is in. "I knew it. I knew he would hit you there 'cause he knows that you're still hurt from his earlier attack."

"I'm okay.'

"Bullshit, Michael. You're not. We have to go to the hospital."

"What? No. Maria, I'm fine."

I hang my head. "Okay," I whisper and my lips are trembling 'cause I'm trying to stifle the tears that I can feel building. "I just… I just don't want you to die."

"What?" He closes the distance between us and wraps his arms around me. "Maria, I'm not gonna die, okay?" he says against my hair.

"I don't want to lose you." I sniffle against his chest.

"You won't."

"Let me at least get Angel. She works as a nurse. I don't know what she's learned until now, because she's still in training, but maybe she can have a look at it." I stare into his eyes pleadingly. He doesn´t want it, I can see it in the lines of his face, but he gives in.

"Fine. But don't wake her if she's already asleep, okay?"

"Okay," I release him and walk out of the bathroom in the direction of her bedroom.

"Angel?" I softly knock on her door.

"Yeah?"

"Can I come in for a second?"

"Sure."

I open the door and slip into her room.

"What´s wrong, I heard you guys kind of arguing."

"Michael's hurt. Billy hit him in the face and in the stomach."

"Yeah, I saw that when I opened the door for him. Really bad, huh?"

"He refuses to go see a doctor and I´m scared, 'cause it´s in the same place where Billy knifed him. So, I thought maybe you could have a look at his stomach. I know you´re still in training, but..."

"Okay, I'll do it, but Maria, there's no guarantee here. Without an x-ray and medical supervison it´s only speculation, you have to know that."

I nod. "Yeah, I know, but it would make me feel a little better."

We go back to the living room together. "She didn´t wake you up, did she?" Michael asks Angel.

"No, I have to do some homework. Okay, lay down on the couch."

Michael obeys, albeit reluctantly, and lifts his shirt. "Okay, let me see..." Angel sits down next to him and looks at his stomach. "I have to probe your belly and it might hurt a little, okay?"

"Go ahead."

Angel starts to probe his skin, centimeter by centimeter. He winces in pain from time to time, but refuses to say anything or even make a sound. "Maria, can you get me the penlight from the desk in my room?"

"Sure." I go get the pen and hand it over.

"Thanks. Just follow the light with your eyes, Michael... Good. Do you feel dizzy at all?"

"No."

"Headache? Irregular heartbeat? Pressure in your stomach?"

"Nope."

"Okay, if you develop any of those symptoms you need to go to a doctor – immediately. It seems like it´s just a bruise. Your abdomen is supple. Anyway, I'd advise you to go see a doctor, at the very least, if the pain and the bruising on your skin doesn't improve in the next couple of days."

"Okay!"

Angel stands up and turns to me. "There are some ice packs in the freezer for his face. And..." She walks to the bathroom and comes out with a tube in her hand. "This is a cooling gel. You can rub that on the bruise on the stomach, but not in the face."

"Thanks, Angel," I tell her.

"Never mind. Good night then."

***

I go back into the living room with the ice pack wrapped in a towel. Michael sits upright on the couch again, his eyes following my movements. When I stand right in front of him, he grabs my wrist and pulls me down to straddle his lap.

"Be careful, Michael. I don´t want to hurt you even more." I start to press the ice pack softly against his bruise on the cheek. "What else did Max say? I can´t believe that he knows now."

"Oh, he sooo kicked my ass when we got home – in a literal sense. He yelled and screamed at me, called me a traitor and then left my apartment."

"I guessed as much."

"But after two hours he came back, willing to listen to the whole story. He´s still pissed, but we´re like brothers. We went out to play basketball and he wasn´t screaming anymore. So I think that's a good sign."

"Okay. Make sure you watch your lips better. I can´t even really kiss you now."

"I know. As if Billy knew what I was planning tonight, huh?"

"Don´t say that." I let the icepack fall to the couch and wrap my arms tightly around him. "I´m so scared that something bad will happen to you," I whisper against the skin of his neck.

He lays his hands on my shoulder and soflty pushes me back away from him. "What's that all about, Maria? I've been hurt countless times before today. Why're you so scared this time? Is there something you want to tell me?"

"Ava came to me at school today. You know who Ava is, right?"

He nods.

"She told me that there's a Hurricane meeting tomorrow afternoon at Billy´s place. He´s planning something big against the Bandits, she said. And he wants to talk about it tomorrow with the rest of the gang."

"He attacks us whenever he can, Maria. That's Billy."

I shake my head wildly. "No, Michael. This is different. He's never made such a big deal about it. I'm scared that he´ll do something very bad. What if he plans to kill someone? Maybe you?"

He scratches his eyebrow. "I´ll talk to Max about it."

"I´ll go to Billy´s apartment tomorrow," I blurt out.

"WHAT? You're kidding me!"

"I have to." I gaze down at his chest.

"No, you don't. Look at me, Maria." He waits until I lift my gaze to his. "You WON`T. I can´t help you, if you're trapped at his place."

"I wouldn´t forgive myself if something happened to you and I could've prevented it," I whisper.

"Well, I wouldn´t forgive myself if Billy hurt you tomorrow and I could've prevented it. So, Maria, promise me, that you won´t go there. It's too dangerous. We'll think of something else."

I don't answer.

"Maria!" His tone is a little angry now. "Promise me."

"Okay!" I don't want to, 'cause I think it´s the only way to find out about the truth, but I know that he really cares. And I´m kind of relieved, 'cause the thought of going back to Billy´s apartment really freaked me out. "I promise."

I pick up the icepack and press it at his bruised cheek again. He lets his hands wander over my thighs to my hips to pull me closer against his body. "Think you can give me a little kiss again?" He moves my hand with the icepack away from his face and lets it fall to the couch again. Gently, so as to not hurt him, I start to press soft kisses against his forehead, his temple, his right cheek and finally I brush my lips over his mouth – gently so that the cut won´t start to bleed again.

"Stay here tonight?!" I half ask, half plead.

"Sure."