Ch4
Walker blinked as the morning sun shone into the truck. He thought he would never fall asleep. Thank God he didnt hear any screams during the night.
Meanwhile in the apartment Rick was waking up and saw Gina getting dressed. She finished putting her pants and shirt on and she turned to look at him.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?"
"To the market. We need groceries."
"Not like that you arent."
"Why do you care how I am dressed? Afraid another man is going to look at me? You wouldnt care anyway."
He walked over and grabbed her and she cried out in pain.
"You mean like your ranger friend? Are you sleeping with him you little slut?"
"Let me go Rick you are hurting me!"
"Answer me damn it!"
"No I'm not! Whats the matter Rick scared? You should be you arent even half the man he is!"
He brought his fist back and punched her right in the nose.
She brought her hands to her face as she cried out in pain. He brought her hands down and punched her in the mouth as blood spilled from her lip and nose. Before she could make a sound he gave her one more powerful punch to the face and she fell to the floor not moving. He then grabbed the money from her purse and walked out to the bar.
Walker saw Rick walk out and down the street. He felt this was the perfect time to talk to Gina. He got out of the truck and walked over to the apartment. He knocked on the door and got no answer. He knocked harder and still got no answer.
"Gina? Gina are you there?"
The uneasy feeling in his stomach came back as he opened the door. The smell of alcohol immediately hit his nostrils and he had to walk over several beer cans. His stomach turned as he saw what she had to live in. He walked towards the bedroom and ran over to her as she lay on the floor not moving.
"Gina! Gina!"
He kneeled down and checked for a pulse. Thank God she was still breathing. He took out his phone and dialed 911. He then hung up and called Trivette to tell him what happened and to meet him at the hospital. He then grabbed a towel and gently wiped the blood from her nose and face. He was afraid of this. This might have been the straw that broke the camels back for her. How could she survive a beating like this?
He took her face in her hands.
"Hang on Gina. You hang on. I'm here. Help is on the way."
She didnt open her eyes as Walker silently prayed for the ambulance to come. When he found Ricky Donovan he was a dead man.
AT THE HOSPITAL
Walker paced the floor as Trivette looked on. Alex would have been there but she had to stay home with Allison who had a cold. Trivette promised to keep her updated. Walker turned as a Doctor came out.
"Ranger Walker shes a very lucky girl. She does have a broken nose and a split lip but shes awake. She does however have a slight concussion from a blow to the face. We also found bruises all over body and marks from a belt on her stomach and back. She'll have to stay here a couple of days but shes lucky to be alive after the beating she took. Especially considering her small size. Shes asking for you."
Walker felt his hands clench at his sides and Trivette put a hand on his shoulder.
"Go to her Walker. I'll call Alex."
Walker followed the Doctor to Gina's room and walked inside. The Doctor left the two of them alone and Walker sat down beside the bed. She bit her lip as she tried not to cry.
"Hey Walker."
"Hey there. How are you feeling?"
"I'm in pain."
"I'm sorry Gina."
"Dont you dare be sorry Walker. This isnt your fault."
"I didnt protect you."
"I didnt let you. I should have told you what Rick was doing to me to begin with, but I was scared."
"I know and you dont have to be scared anymore. After you get out of here you are coming with me to my ranch. I'm also going to find Ricky and make him pay for what he did to you. Thats a promise.
She shyly looked down.
"Ok. I would love that more than anything."
They were interrupted by Trivette.
"Hey Gina. How are you?"
"I'm ok Jimmy. Just in pain."
Walker got up and walked over to Trivette.
"Stay with her Trivette."
"Where are you going?"
Walker looked ahead with a look in his eye that Trivette never saw before.
"To get Ricky Donovan."
After finding out which bar he would go to from Gina Walker drove over there. He couldnt wait to get his hands on him.
Rick saw Walker's truck pull up to the curb and got up in a hurry. He turned to his two friends.
"Do me a favor? I need to get out here quick. When that Ranger comes in you never saw me."
"You got it buddy."
Rick ducked out the back and Walker walked in. He saw two guys at the bar get up and walked over to them.
"Alright. Right now I'm really not in the mood so unless you want to get hurt I am going to ask this once and only once. Where is Ricky Donovan?"
One of the guys put a finger on Walkers shoulder.
"He aint here. Now get lost."
Walker grabbed his hand and bent it back and the guy screamed out in pain. Walker let him go as the other guy tried to punch him. Walker easily ducked the punch and gave him a karate chop to the stomach. The guy began to lose his balance as Walker gave a him a karate chop to his face and then swept his legs from out underneath him. He didnt get up as the first guy tried to punch Walker with his other hand and Walker grabbed his arm and threw him onto the pool table. The two guys took off and Walker walked out. He would find Donovan if it was the last thing he did. He got in his truck and drove back towards the hospital.
When he got to Gina's room he saw she was asleep and Trivette walked over to him.
"The Doctor gave her some pain meds so she'll be out for awhile. Did you get Donovan?"'
"No. When I got to the bar he wasnt there. I'll find him though and when I do hes going to wish he was never born. Trivette do me a favor and stay with her for awhile? I want to go home and shower and change and then come back and stay with her."
"You got it. Then when you come back I'll go to Ranger headquarters and see what else I can dig up on Donovan."
"Ok thanks."
"Hey Walker?"
"Yeah?"
"Joking aside man just admit it. You feel something for her dont you? I've never seen you act this way with an abused woman before. Not like this."
"Yeah Trivette I guess I do. Since the moment I laid eyes on her, but one step at a time. As soon as shes released I'm going to take her to my ranch where she can heal and get her life back on track."
"Thats a good idea. Go ahead. Go home. I'll be here."
After Walker showered he felt more awake. He got dressed and drove back to the hospital. He walked into Gina's room where she smiled.
"Walker."
He smiled back.
"Hey there. How are you feeling?"
"Sore but I'm better now that you are here."
They stared at each other and Trivette took that as his cue. He got up.
"Well I think I better get back to Ranger headquarters."
He looked at Gina and pointed at her.
"You take it easy young lady."
"I will Jimmy. Thanks."
"Alright then."
He walked out and Walker sat in the chair next to bed. He stared at her.
"What?"
"Your nose...your mouth. I'm so sorry."
"Walker you need to stop apologizing. This wasnt your fault. I didnt let you in. I should have."
"I wont let him hurt you again."
"Walker he's still out there."
"Not for long. I'm going to find him dont you worry and I meant what I said. He wont hurt you ever again. Thats a promise."
"I hate that you have to see me like this."
"You look gorgeous."
"No I dont. I look horrible."
She looked down.
"Gina look at me."
She looked up at him and he gently took her face in her hands as to not hurt her and she got chills up and down her spine.
"You are beautiful and I dont want to hear otherwise."
The tears slipped down her cheeks and he wiped them away as she began to choke the words out.
"How can you say that Walker? Look at me. I have bruises all over me. My face is all mangled. You know Ricky never once told me I looked beautiful? Not once. He made me feel so ugly and worthless. Thats because I am. I dont deserve a man."
She tried to look away and he gently forced her to look at him.
"Gina Donovan I dont ever want to hear you talk like that again. I'm sure Ricky probably beat the self confidence out of you but we'll get it back. I dont ever want to hear you talk about yourself like that again. You are NOT worthless and you are NOT ugly. You are beautiful and I dont want you to ever forget that ok?"
"I'll try Walker."
"Gina."
"Ok. I wont."
"Thats better."
He wiped the rest of the tears away and she took his hand.
"Stay with me?"
"I'm not going anywhere. I promise."
"Thanks Walker."
"You dont have to thank me. Now get some sleep. You're safe now."
"Ok."
She relaxed and closed her eyes and was soon asleep. Walker kept his hand on hers the whole time.