Disclaimer: I don't own Austin & Ally or any characters I didn't make up.
"I'm sorry Mr. Moon, but your son is attracting too many people to this hospital who don't need medical help. It's disturbing all of the floors and crowding the halls. Paparazzi and reporters are hacking into the system to know more about him. It's not good for him or the hospital if he stays here. It would be better if he recovers at home peacefully," the doctor explained to Austin's parents, Cassidy, and Ally.
"What if something happens all of the sudden? How will we help him then?" Cassidy asked.
"Austin is recovering slower than expected, but he is stable. And if anything happens, we're always one phone call away."
Later that day, Austin was moved to an ambulance and transferred to his home with his parents riding with him. After being situated in his bed comfortably, his mom sat next to him while everyone else fitted themselves on either chairs or the floor.
Elliot walked in ending a phone call, "That was the producer. Your movie shooting has been postponed."
"What?" Austin sat up slightly, "Why didn't they just hire someone else?"
He shrugged and sat down next to Cassidy on the floor, "He refused. He said you were the perfect Luke for this movie, especially after the script change." Austin reluctantly nodded and lied back down.
"That's a good thing then," his mom said rubbing his shoulder, "You can focus on recovering and stop stressing."
"I am not stressing, Mom," he argued.
"Your doctor says otherwise," Cassidy spoke from her spot. "You're supposed to be on my side, Cass," he reminded her.
"I'm never on the wrong side," she smiled.
"Ally?" Ryder asked the girl he's been watching lost in her thoughts in the corner of the room.
"Hm?" she looked up quickly. "Are you okay?" he asked carefully as if she would blow up at his question.
"You look exhausted. Why don't you go catch up on sleep?" Austin's dad advised. Ally shook her head, "I just need some air."
She got up and left the room. Heading to the kitchen, she prepared a cup of coffee, the only thing helping her avoid sleep. Dez came in and started fumbling in the medicine drawer.
"Pain killers?" she asked taking a sip. He nodded giving up, "He did too much today." Which was true. He went from lying in the hospital bed all day to be being moved to an ambulance then up his stairs then his bed. "They're in the living room in his bag. And take his antibiotics with you," she said.
On his way out, he stopped and looked at her, "When are you gonna quit this addiction with coffee?"
She sighed, "You know why I drink it, Dez."
"I do, but why don't you talk to someone about it? Maybe it'll help."
"I can't talk to a psychiatrist about this," she looked at him sadly.
"I didn't mean a shrink. We're all here for you. Austin especially. He worries about you," Dez said.
Ally felt a pang of guilt in her chest, "You mean I'm the reason he's stressing?" He shook his head, "No. Not the only reason at least."
"I'm not ready to talk about it," she admitted. "But will you be someday?" he asked. She nodded confidently and he left.
She took her cup and went to the backyard. She sat on the grass and looked at the setting sun.
It was decided that Ally would sell her house and move in with Austin. It was safer for her and better for his health if they had someone with them at all times. Austin refused anyone but her move in with him.
She did tell him that she'd sleep in a separate room though. She wasn't exactly comfortable with any physical contact with any male around her. Her nightmares and kidnapping keep flashing in front of her eyes even when she brushes against the guys or Austin accidentally when she walks past them.
For several days after Austin woke up, he had an infection in his wound. 2 days in with that infection, he weakly said goodbye to all of them and passed out. Thankfully medication kicked in and he was saved. It was a really hard time on all of them seeing his pale body sweat and shiver. He was still infected, which meant fevers, increased pain, no appetite, constant tiredness, and headaches, but he had a good day today. He was able to talk comfortably without getting tired and did not have a fever, a good sign meaning he was getting better. He only had pain and discomfort, which they all blamed on the move from the hospital.
The trial was in 3 days. She would come face to face with her ex-boyfriend hopefully for only one last time. He had his ways to get away with his mistakes, and Ally could only hope there was enough evidence to lock him up.
2am…
Everyone went home hours earlier. Ally was sitting on the couch in the corner of the room fighting sleep. She had succeeded in that task in the previous days by, again, coffee, but they ran out of it. The cup she had during the day wore off.
Austin groaned from his place in the bed. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly in worry. He had complained of throbbing pain in his wound and a severe headache before sleep.
"Come to bed," he replied, "you're exhausted."
"Did you sleep?" she said instead of answering him. "A little. Now come to bed and sleep," he demanded.
"Austin," she begged quietly.
"I know you have nightmares, but you're gonna die if you don't rest. Coffee can only keep you awake for so long," she heard his voice in the dark.
"I can't go to bed because you might need something. I shouldn't be in another room when you're hurt and alone," she said.
"There is a bed in this room, you know," he said. Taking her silence as an answer he added, "We don't have to be close. We can sleep in separate sides. I won't do anything."
As much as she wanted to refuse, her exhaustion dragged her to the bed and she lied down under the blanket. Sleep almost immediately took over her.
Ally's body was pushed against the concrete floor roughly as he straddled her hips in anger. "You little bitch," he seethed in her face as he tore at her shirt. She shook with fear and mumbled, "No, please, no."
She looked to her right to see Austin lying in a pool of his own blood staring at her with cold, empty eyes. "This is your fault," he croaked out with blood.
She looked back above her just as he spat, "This is your fault." She screamed with pain and fear hoping someone would save her.
"This is your fault!" she heard Mimi's sobs in her head. "We were all fine without you!" Cassidy added.
Scott lifted his hand and punched her jaw. He grabbed her arms and dug his nails into her skin, "This is your fault." His hands wrapped tightly around her neck choking her. "You don't deserve to live," she heard Mike's voice as she struggled to breathe.
Ally screamed and jolted up in bed. Austin woke up and sat up abruptly in fear. "Argh!" he cringed holding his wound as he felt pain from his sharp movement.
"Oh my God," Ally gasped as she turned to him before standing to run to the kitchen, "I'm so sorry. I'll go get the pain meds. Just wait-" His hand reached out and grabbed her wrist halting her in her tracks. A wave of fear and panic shot through his touch and she yanked her hand from his grasp.
He looked at her confusedly before realizing why she did it as she held her wrist tightly in front of her chest. She caught a glimpse of sadness on his features dimly lit by the rising sun coming through the curtain.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…" he stammered. "It's not bleeding is it?" she asked nervously from her spot. "No, no. What happened?" he questioned as she sat on the edge of the bed.
"The usual," she said, "I'm not going back to sleep after that."
"What was it about this time?"
"I don't want to talk about it," she trailed off looking down.
"When will you be ready to talk?" he asked.
"Not now," she whispered disappointedly. She got up and headed for the door, "Go back to sleep."
2 hours later…
Ally hugged her knees tighter to her chest as she stared at the backyard from the bay window located at the end of the hall. She kept herself awake by watching the birds fly over the trees.
The sound of a door opening startled her. Austin emerged out of his room. He held the wall next to him for help to slowly make his way to her. His other hand held his wound over his shirt.
"Austin, get back-" she stood up to help him back to his bed. "Sit," he ordered. Something in his tone made her reluctantly sit back down.
He let out a breath when he made it to the bay window seat and sat down carefully. "You should be in bed," she said immediately noticing the slight pain in his eyes.
"And you should be happy," he fired back.
She turned her attention back to the backyard looking out. He did the same, and they sat in silence for a while. Ally wondered if this is all he wanted to do. Look out the window in silence.
"I miss you," he said quietly breaking the silence.
"I'm right here," she chuckled humorlessly.
"No, you're not. You're so distant from me. I know you're hurting. I know you're reliving that day over and over every day. I know the guilt is eating you up inside out. I hate seeing you like this. I hate that you think you can't talk to me. I'm here for you. I'm always here. And I want to help you. I love you, you know that didn't change," he looked at her softly.
"I know," she swallowed, "but you shouldn't."
"What? Why?" he asked confusedly.
"Ever since I came into your life, nothing but bad has happened. I'm the reason you got shot. I'm the reason you almost died. You were the one who was in pain for days and yet I'm the one here acting all hurt and broken."
"First, if you didn't come into my life, I would still be an alcoholic asshole. Second, you were in pain for days too, not just me, and you have the right to feel more pain," he said.
"If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have had to risk your life to save me," she sighed.
"If it wasn't for me, you'd still be held hostage by him. So let's say you owe me a favor because I saved you. Let go of the guilt and doubt you have in your head because it shouldn't be there," he smiled.
She cracked a small smile, "How did we ever get together?"
"To The Moon and Back, remember?" he reminded her.
"To The Moon and Back," she smiled at the memories.
"Are you ready now to start talking to me again?" he asked.
"Step by step," she nodded.
"I'll take what I can get," he chuckled.
"Wait," he said all of the sudden, "Isn't the trial in 2 days?"
"Yeah," she replied. "Are you prepared to face him again?" he asked carefully.
"You and the rest of the group will be there, won't you?" she spoke confidently.
"We have to," he laughed, "we're eyewitnesses. But that doesn't mean we're not there for you too."
She rolled her eyes with a laugh. "That's the first genuine laugh I've had in days," she smiled.
"Well, then I have served my purpose," he got up holding the wall, "I need to go back to bed. This sitting up is painful. Wanna join me?"
She raised her eyebrows at his suggestive expression, "Step by step, Moon."
He laughed, "Was worth a shot."
For the first time in so long, she felt the pain inside her decrease a little. But the moment he shut the door behind him, everything she was feeling earlier came back again.
I have been trying to update for so long now. School started 2 week ago so I'm so busy studying and preparing my studies. Freshman year is not as easy as they made it sound.
The rest of the story will be uploaded in the sequel, Sing It Out. I will try to update soon and put the new story up, but it might take longer than usual. Look out for the sequel, coming soon!
(Soon not meaning longer than 2 weeks.)
However, the sequel won't be up if this chapter does not get at least 5 reviews! If you want the sequel, review!