Yelena put the Mercedes in park in front of Frederick and Val's huge house
"You sure you want to go barging in? It could be nothing" Chris said, unbuckling his seatbelt
"Chris. Something is wrong. I can feel it."
She didn't know why, but her nerves were on one thousand now that they'd made it to Val's. Something within her made her spine tingle, the twins kicking wildly within her like they could sense the bad vibes too.
She got out, making her way up the mouth of the round driveway, Chris not far behind and rang the doorbell. The house was dark even though both of their cars were parked in the driveway and Yelena bounced from foot to foot impatiently before knocking loudly.
After what seemed like eternity, a light flipped on inside, footsteps sounding and Frederick answered the door, opening it a few short inches
"Yelena. This is a surprise." he slightly slurred
Yelena took in his disheveled appearance, his eyes red and glassy "Where is my sister?" she asked sternly
Somewhat of a sinister smile crossed her brother in law's face "She's resting. For the first time in days, you should come back later or I'll have her call?"
The smell of bourbon on his breath made her want to wretch. How he was standing and somewhat coherent here in front of them was beyond her, which only made her heart pound faster with anxiety.
Frederick was always so well put together whenever she saw him. She recalled how Val had told her he was something of a perfectionist. A neat freak. Looking at him right now, she wouldn't believe it if she didn't somewhat know him. His white button down shirt was wrinkled, his pants undone, his hair is disarray.
She didn't know what came over her, but her hands reached out and shoved the door with all her might as she slipped past him. If it weren't for the fact that he was drunk off his ass, she knew she would have never managed to do it.
"You fucking bitch!" he swore
She sprinted down the hall, his footsteps heavy behind her. When she reached the stairs, she heard a loud crash and the sound of scuffling and she knew Chris was on him.
"Val?" she called softly, opening ever door to every room, searching. She'd only been in their home once and couldn't remember for the life of her where the master bedroom was.
Finally she found it, creeping into the room quietly. It was pitch black with the curtains drawn, the only source of light coming from the massive walk in closet, she looked inside, finding no human life. Just as she was about to turn off the light, something caught her eye that made her blood run cold. There in the middle of the immaculate closet, where she remembered was never a shoe or a tie out of place, was of Frederick's belt, tossed carelessly on the floor.
The sound of the shower running in the master bathroom caught her ears and she ran as fast as her feet would allow. She turned the knob frantically, but it was locked
"Valilisa?" she called loudly, still twisting at the handle, practically beating the door down.
Tears streaming, she backed away from the door before ramming her shoulder into it with everything in her. It didn't move budge. It took her four tries before finally, it broke away from its frame with a bang.
The sight before her brought her to her knees and a wail escaped her
There, in the walk-in shower was her sister in a broken and bloody heap.
"Val." Yelena said, grabbing a towel, throwing the shower door open. She didn't bother to turn off the water which was ice cold, almost shocking her to the bone. Val's body was an ocean on bruises and angry red welts and scratches and she was almost afraid to touch her, but she knew she had to get her out of the shower at least
"Val." Yelena sobbed, brushing her tangled wet hair out of her face, cradling her head in her lap "Can you hear me?"
She couldn't even tell if she was breathing. She wrapped her in the towel "Chris!" she yelled over and over until finally he found them
"Holy shit." he swore
"Help me get her out." She begged
Chris shut the water off and slipped his arms around Valilisa, lifting her effortlessly from the cold shower floor, checking her pulse "She's breathing, stay her while I go get my phone" he said, laying Val gently on their bed
"Where the fuck is he?" she snarled
"He fucking left." Chris told her, disappearing
Yelena cradled her sister's head, stroking her soaking wet hair. Not an inch of her was recognizable, she was so badly beaten "I'll kill him. I'll kill him, I swear it." she vowed
The paramedics didn't take long to arrive on the scene and rushed Valilisa to the hospital, convenient enough where their father was admitted just three floors down from him. While the doctors looked her sister over, Yelena and Chris spoke with the police and filed a report
"I want that bastard found and behind bars."
"We have a warrant out for Mr. Caro's arrest. Being that he fled the scene of the crime. Once we locate him, he'll be indicted."
"Indicted? Did you see what the hell he did to my sister? I want him fucking incarcerated when you find him."
She exchanged a few more nasty words before the officer ran for the hills and advised they'd be in touch and would be back to speak with Val
Yelena felt like her chest was caving in. Her whole family was somewhere in the hospital and she was trying to figure out just how she would tell her mother about what happened without tipping off their father. The man was fresh off a near death experience, she didn't need him almost dying on her again
"Breathe Yelena." Chris reminded her
She drew in a shaky breathe, wiping away the tears that wouldn't stop coming.
Chris placed his hands on her sides, rubbing small circles "If you don't relax, I will have one of these nurses medicate you. You're working yourself into another panic attack."
"It just keeps getting worse, how is this even possible?" She could feel her throat tightening and she struggled to drag the oxygen back into her lungs
"I could have lost my father and sister all in a week's span."
"Shhhhh... she's going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine."
She placed her face in the crook of his neck, hugging him and he stroked her hair, kissing her forehead tenderly
"Yelena?"
They both turned, finding he nurse that had watched over their father standing before them, Judy, Val had called her
"Your sister is in recovery. She's going to be fine."
"How long has this been going on?" Yelena asked
The older women looked conflicted to answer, but sighed heavily "I'm not suppose to say, confidentiality and all... but that we have on record? We've seen your sister six times in the past four months."
Yelena's heart restricted painfully, her green eyes wide "Six times?" She said incredulously. This was an ongoing thing and her sister had never uttered a word. No wonder the woman knew her on a first name bases
"We've treated her for multiple injuries. Each time it's worse than the lasts . I've tried so many times to get her to talk to someone and every time she has refused." the nurse looked somewhat guilty
Yelena reaches out and squeezed her hand "She won't again. Not while I'm here." she assured "Thank you."
Judy gave a small smile "You can go in and see her when you're ready."
Yelena thanked the woman again and went into her sister's room
Val looked so small, curled up on the single bed and Yelena rushed to her side
"Val..." she sobbed. She started to throw her arms around her but caught herself, remembering her cuts and bruises
Her sister didn't dare met her eye "I'm okay." she croaked hoarsely
"Why didn't you tell me? Why didn't you say anything?" Yelena asked
Val only looked down at her hands, fidgeting with the massive diamond on her ring finger
"Valilisa answer me." Yelena snapped
Val visibly flinched, tears sliding down her battered face
Chris touched her shoulder "Yelena." he said sternly "Let her be. Can't you see she's already shaken up?"
Yelena has to reign in her temper "I'm going to get mom."
Val's hand shot out and grabbed her wrist, her grip ice cold "Don't." she said through clenched teeth
Yelena snatched her wrist back "That sick bastard beat you with a fucking belt Valilisa."
"Not now, not with everything going on with daddy." Valilisa pleaded
"Daddy awake Val. God knows he'll probably have another heart attack when he finds out what that sick fuck did to you-"
"No! You can't tell him, please Lena. If you want to get mom, fine but please don't let daddy find out about this, he can't handle this. Not now."
Yelena let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through her hair "I'm still going to get mom." Yelena told her stubbornly
Val turned he eyes downward, fidgeting with the hospital bracelet around her wrist "Okay." she finally agreed
When the doors finally closed on the elevator is when she let Chris hold her while she fought back tears. He stopped the elevator and stroked her hair and told her gently that she couldn't cry and that she had to at least get her mother before she could let it all out. She put on a brave face for her father, looking so lively in his hospital bed, his green eyes, the same green eyes they shared so happy and full of life. Life that she'd almost lost. As quietly and unhurried as possible she was able to pull Emilia aside while her husband was being examined for the umpteenth time
"Mom." she said shakily, the tears rushing back to the surface
Emilia's blue eyes filled with panic almost instantly "What's wrong sweetie? Is it the babies?" she asked, touching her stomach lightly
"It's Val..."
She barely got the whole story out before her mother went fleeing to the elevator
Val was right were they'd left her, a nurse checking her over
"Valilisa, cosa é successo, eri in un incidente?" Emilia asked, rushing to her daughter's side
Yelena gave her sister a hard look, daring her to lie. No way in hell would she let her sister pretend to be in denial about what her husband had done to her, even for their parents sake.
"Who did this to you?" Emilia demanded, looking at the nurse for answers when Val wouldn't look at her
The nurse bowed her head, keeping her mouth shut
"Frederick." Yelena spat nastily since no one else would speak
"What?" Their mother said incredulously "Why would he do this to you?" she said, touching Val's bruises face lightly
"He's been beating her. This isn't the first time."
"Yelena, will you stop it!" Val snapped at her
"Well someone has to speak up since you fucking won't!" She snapped back. Chris touched her shoulder to calm her and she knocked it away "How long has he been doing this Val? Before the wedding? You married him even after you found out what a sick fuck he is?"
"You have no fucking idea what I've been through! I had no one to talk to, no one told run to! He controlled every move I made. Don't you dare talk to me like you've been through this with me when you haven't even been here."
"That monster beat her with one of his belts, I found her unconscious in her shower." she told their mother "She's been in here six times since the wedding."
"Do what you do best Lena and leave, I want you gone." Val told her
Emilia was truly at a lost for words, her face drained of all color "Yelena I need to speak with your sister. Alone."
Swallowing her rage, she stormed out of the room, Chris behind her.
She tapped her foot impatiently as they waited for the elevator. She wanted go check on her father one last time before they headed back to the condo.
With as much strength as she could muster after the shit week she had, she tried to smooth over her face as she returned to her father's room
"Ah, there she is!" Nik said cheerily when she arrived, his smile broadening "I believe you have some exciting news share with your Papa?"
Despite the stress and exhaustion she felt, she smiled warmly before turning to Chris "I told you while you were still asleep, I think it's Chris's turn."
For the first time ever, she could have sworn she saw his cheeks redden. Was he actually blushing?
Chris scratched the back of his neck awkwardly "Yes sir, we're having twins." he announced
Nik clutched at his chest, his green eyes going wide
Yelena and Irina both rushes to his side, but his look of shock quickly turned into a grin "I kid, I kid." he said in his thick Russian accent
"That's not funny." Irina said in Russian, rolling her eyes
"Too soon daddy."
"Congratulations." Nik said, putting his hand out to Chris
Jericho shook it firmly "Thank you sir." he said respectfully
"Please, call me Nik." he reminded "Twins." he repeated, raising his brows at the idea.
"Girls." Chris said with a heavy sigh
Nik could only muster a pitiful look for the Canadian "Welcome to my world. Tell me Christopher, are you any good with a shotgun?"
Sooooo... some of you already had a wild idea as to what's been going on with Valilisa if you've been catching the hints even from "Teach Me". Thank you all for reading, sorry this was late... life. You already know. Up next his the homecoming from hell. Don't forget to review! Until next time