This chapter follows on from 'Forsaken, Chapter 64' and 'Feral, Chapter 18'...
The next morning
Monday
Marcus' House
New York City
5:22 A.M.
I looked in on the girls, before heading into work; there was a lot of clearing up to be done in the City!
First, I checked in on Chloe, but she wasn't in her bed.
Next, I went onto Mindy's room and found both girls fast asleep in Mindy's bed. Chloe must have come through during the day or night and crawled into bed with Mindy. They had both slept clean through yesterday; they really were knackered, plus the fact that both girls were wounded! Seeing them both lying there asleep, it was difficult to see them as anything other than two teenaged girls, but I knew better; these two were hardened vigilantes, who had won a great victory.
My first stop, on the way to work, was to visit the hospital. I wanted to check on the status of the boy; last I heard he was at death's door. As far as the two girls are concerned, he had died on the way to the hospital. However, I got a call, early yesterday morning to say that he was alive, but it would be touch and go. I didn't want to get the girl's hopes up, just in case and Chloe had already lost him twice, she couldn't survive going through it a third time!
I had left a note on the kitchen table, asking Mindy to call me, as soon as she woke up.
I haven't heard from Dave, so I can only assume that he was wiped out, too!
6:36 A.M.
Man, my head hurts!
"Ow, get that elbow out of my ribs, bitch!"
"Sorry, Mindy!"
"What's the fucking time?"
"Er... Just after half six, on Monday morning!" I replied. "I think we may have slept in... I've never missed an entire day before!"
"I have; you get used to it!" Mindy groused. "Anyway, what the fuck are you doing in my bed?"
"Sorry, I had a nightmare... I think," I replied, a little unsure of myself.
"Okay, I'll let you off, but people might start to get ideas, if we keep sleeping together!"
"Funny! Damn, I need a shower and no offence, but so do you!" I said, wrinkling my nose.
"How about a bath! I am really sore and could do with the lovely hot water!"
"Sounds like a good idea. Who goes first?" I asked.
"Neither, it's big enough for both of us... But don't get any ideas... And don't tell Dave... Ever!" Mindy cautioned, then smirked. "And keep your hands to yourself!"
Damn, it felt so good, to sink into the bubbles and hot water!
My body was covered in bruises, not to mention my left side, where I had been kicked, which was now blue and purple. Now I like purple, but not on my skin! I admit though, that I am a lot better off than Chloe, this time around. I saw her bruises, as she got into the bath; she was fairly well covered too, not to mention that she had been shot, twice. They were both shallow wounds, thanks to Joshua absorbing most of the bullets' energy!
I couldn't think about Joshua right now and won't bring it up, as I knew that it would be too painful for Chloe.
"We are two bruised and battered bitches, aren't we?" Chloe commented.
"Tell me about it, but it's nothing I haven't had before!" I replied.
"Yeah, but you didn't get shot, this time!" Chloe groaned.
"One advantage we have, is that we are both young and our bodies will heal quickly," I replied, smirking. "How's the shoulder?"
"Hurts like hell, but I can live with it!"
..._...
We lay there, for what felt like hours.
It felt wonderful and whenever the water got cold, we let some out and more hot water in.
I jumped as my cell rang; I had brought it into the bathroom with us. It was Dave and we had been in the bath for about forty minutes, according to the clock.
"It's Dave, now don't make a sound!" I warned Chloe, who just grinned, mischievously.
I answered the call.
"Hi Dave!"
"Hi gorgeous! How are you both?"
"We're okay. We just woke up and I'm having a bath!" I replied, casually.
"Hi Dave! I'm having a bath, too!" Chloe called over.
Fucking bitch!
"Both of you, in the same bath?" Dave laughed. "I thought you said, you didn't go in for that kinda thing?"
"Mindy has such a lovely soft touch, Dave!" Chloe called, laughing. "She really knows where to put her fingers!"
"Shut up, bitch! Don't fucking encourage him!" I shouted, blushing madly, but laughing anyway.
I could hear Dave laughing hard, at the other end of the connection.
"You got anything useful to say, cunt, as I have a bitch to drown!" I growled.
"I just wanted to know that you were both okay," Dave replied, calming down.
"What about you guys?" I asked.
"We're all fine. No major injuries, just a lot of bruises, but you know how that goes! How are Chloe's wounds?"
"She's in pain, but okay, for now. Although, she's about to be in a load more fucking pain!" I replied, glaring at Chloe, who was now giggling uncontrollably.
"I'll call you later, don't get yourselves too excited, now!" Dave teased, dropping the call.
I glared at Chloe.
"You are one evil, little bitch! Dave will never let this lie, you know that, don't you?" I said, grinning, before splashing Chloe and starting a water fight!
"I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist it!" Chloe replied, semi-apologising, but still laughing and splashing back.
Safehouse A
Chicago
I put my cell down and just stared at the floor.
I was glad that both girls, were safe and that they were obviously in high spirits!
I tried to get the image of two teenaged girls, naked in a bath together, out of my mind! I couldn't wait till Mindy was back here, with me, in Chicago. They really must have been exhausted to sleep so long! I had woken up yesterday evening after a good many hours of sleep and so had Marty, Kim and Abby. They had all done really well, especially Abby, who had been invaluable to our efforts.
I watched as the mesh gate slid open, letting in Dr Bennett's Jeep SUV, followed by the safehouse main door sliding open. By the time I had got up and walked out of the briefing room, Sophia was bounding down the stairs and Dr Bennett was getting out of the SUV, along with Curtis, who gave Sophia a big hug and got an enormous wet lick in return.
"I thought you guys might like some breakfast!" Dr Bennett said.
"Yeah, she cleaned out most of the McDonald's Drive-Thru!" Curtis added.
I opened the back door and found a pile of McDonald's bags. We carried them all upstairs to the kitchen and I kicked Marty, Kim and Abby, out of bed.
"Breakfast, come and get it!" I yelled.
..._...
"Heard anything?" Dr Bennett asked, looking worried.
"Yeah, I just called them. They woke up a little while ago and are now having a bath... Together!" I replied, with an evil grin.
"Yuck!" Curtis offered.
"They both okay?" Dr Bennett asked, ignoring Curtis.
"They are both okay, just hurting a little. They should be back home tomorrow," I replied.
"Thank God!" Dr Bennett replied, grabbing some food and a coffee.
The other three drifted in and also grabbed some food and a coffee, before digging in.
Nobody talked much, we all just ate, glad that we had survived!
..._...
About an hour later, my cell rang.
I answered and raised the cell to my ear and instantly regretted it!
"He's alive!" Mindy yelled, jubilantly.
"Joshua?" I asked, tentatively.
"Yes, Marcus just called. The boy's alive and he'll stay that way! He's lost a lot of blood, but he survived!" Mindy explained, happily.
"How's Chloe taking it?" I asked.
"I don't really know. She hasn't said a word, since I told her. She broke down almost immediately and started sobbing. I assume with relief!" Mindy replied.
"I'll pass it along. I suppose you're gonna go along to the hospital?"
"Yeah, once Chloe has recovered; as I'm not fucking carrying her!" Mindy replied.
New York City
We had been told that we could see Josh, later that morning.
Chloe had sorted herself out and apologised for going to pieces on me! I told her not to worry about it, not to mention the fact that it had made me feel slightly uncomfortable!
We headed out, on the BMW and met up with Marcus, at the hospital. He advised us that Josh was a mess and that we might be in for a shock.
..._...
Josh was in a private room and had what looked like dozens of wires vanishing under his bandages and bed clothes.
He was awake, but looked drowsy. He smiled when he saw the three of us. What skin we could see, was various shades of black, blue and purple. Chloe actually winced.
"I look that bad, do I?" Josh whispered.
"You've looked better!" I replied.
"So have you!" Josh whispered back and tried to laugh, but grimaced with the pain of trying.
"Sorry, Josh," I said, feeling very concerned.
"It only hurts when I laugh," Josh said, getting his voice back.
"Well don't laugh then, dickhead!" Chloe responded, tears running down her cheeks.
"What are you crying for?" Josh asked.
"I was so scared, that I had lost you again," Chloe admitted.
"I couldn't let him kill you," Josh replied, smiling.
"So, are you intact?" I asked.
"They removed one bullet, the other three went straight through me. Nothing major was hit, thankfully. But the wounds hurt like hell!" Josh replied.
I saw Chloe peek under the bed clothes and smile mischievously.
"What?" I asked.
"He's still got the most important bits!" Chloe replied, with a giggle.
"You had to check him out?" I asked, incredulously.
"Taking advantage of a wounded boy, Chloe?" Marcus asked, with a laugh.
Josh looked a little embarrassed.
"Well, you've seen me naked, does that mean I can see you naked?" Josh asked.
"No, it certainly does not!" Chloe replied, forcefully, but she still blushed.
"You liked what you saw?" I teased.
"I dunno, I've nothing to compare him with!" Chloe replied, shyly. "But, yeah."
"Great, thanks! Could we change the subject, please?" Josh asked, a little pink colour, rising in his cheeks.
..._...
We weren't allowed to stay long, so we headed to Safehouse C, to start packing our kit and taking it over to Marcus'.
The kit would be shipped back to Chicago, tonight. Marcus was not overly pleased about receiving another, dubious, late night visitor, but was pleased to have all the incriminating evidence removed from his house, as soon as possible!
Chloe and I were due to fly to Chicago, early tomorrow morning.
Suffice to say, that last night with Marcus was happy and enjoyable, thanks to Josh being alive, but subdued as I would be leaving Marcus again. But Marcus promised to come to Chicago for a few days, once he had cleared up the mess that he said I had left all over New York!