Family Ties (37 page)

“I can’t do this emotional roller coaster right now,” I interrupt.

“And you think I
can
? I still miss my dad
every day
.” He jabs his finger into his chest. “Add that to what you’re feeling right now and that’s how I feel,” he says, anger adding an edge to his tone, then pointing to me. “
You
don’t have the corner market on hard knocks. You’re not the only one who’s suffered.” He pauses a breath. “You didn’t want to be sheltered. You wanted to face things. Or is that just when it’s on your terms and it doesn’t include me?

“You can’t keep punishing me for a mistake I made when I was trying to keep you safe. You’ve always been my first priority.”

His words sting and the truth of them drives in deep. “Jas—“

“You think this is easy?” he asks, raising his voice. “It’s not. I was depressed up here without you. After Dad died, I didn’t think I would make it. I can’t do this alone, but you need to trust me. I’ve proven myself to you many times over. You said you could forgive me anything, Parker. This is anything. Walking out on me when we disagree about how you treated Mandy won’t solve anything.”  

Despite knowing how right he is, I can’t stop myself from pushing against the wrath he is directing at me. “Your stalker,” I say, my tone harsh. I know it’s wrong as soon as I say it. He didn’t ask for Mandy to stalk him. He sure as hell didn’t ask for me to give him shit for it either.

“She’s still a person, Parker! She still has thoughts and feelings just like we do no matter how twist—“

His head jerks to the right and his body crumples. I drop my purse and catch his head, cradling it in my arms as he hits the ground.

Mandy looms over us with a bat in her hands and a deranged grin on her face.

CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR

“
Tommy!
” I scream, vaulting over Jason’s limp body, tackling Mandy low. My shoulder hits her hip while my arms wrap around her legs. The bat flies out of her hands and clangs against the wall as we hit the ground.

“What— Oh my God. Derek!” he shouts. “Call nine-one-one! Ambulance and police! And Coach! It’s J!”

“Is he breathing?” I ask, looking back at him kneeling next to Jason.

Tommy checks for a pulse and then bends over Jason’s face while watching his chest. “He has a pulse and he’s breathing.”

Mandy attempts to kick out from me, but fails. She then resorts to raining her fists down on my back. Her pummeling is nothing compared to Simon’s. Tommy springs up and heaves her to her feet, then hooks her arms behind her back.

I have to see for myself. I spin around on my knees and brush Jason’s hair back around the point of impact. No blood. Tears fall and I lean in close. “I’m so sorry, J. I don’t know what got into me. Please, wake up. Please.”

I slide my hand into his and lay my head on his chest, feeling the slow rise and fall of his breathing and his familiar heartbeat.

“I made the calls. Holy shit!” Derek yells, dropping to the ground on the other side of Jason. “What the fuck happened?”

I sit up, tears still falling. “We were arguing and she snuck up behind him and hit him with a bat.”

“And I’d do it again!” she yells.

I level a glare at her. “You shut your fucking mouth!”

“Now you can’t have him either.” She laughs maniacally.

I push my hands on the concrete to rise and Derek presses his hand on my shoulder. “She’s not worth it,” he whispers.

“I don’t even know what he sees in you,” she taunts.

“Shut the fuck up,” Tommy says, jerking her back to make his point clear.

I slip Jason’s phone out of his pocket and dial.

“Hi, honey. Are you coming home tomorrow night?”

“Alana, it’s me.”

“Sara?” she asks. Her bewilderment switches to fright with her next question. “What’s wrong?”

“Jason was attacked,” I answer, struggling to keep my voice even. “He’s unconscious and an ambulance is on the way.”

“Who? How?”

“His ex-girlfriend hit him in the head with a bat from behind while we were fighting.”

I hear her suck in a breath. “You checked his breathing and pulse?”

“Tommy did. I just had my head on his chest. His breathing and heartbeat are slow.” 

“Roll him on his side.”

“But what about his spine?”

“That will be nothing compared to him asphyxiating if he vomits. I’m his mother, and a nurse, and I’m telling you to roll him on his side,” she demands, then explains how to position him.

“Okay. Give me a minute.” I set the phone down next to me. “Help me roll him towards you,” I tell Derek.

“What?”

“His mom is a nurse, Derek.”

He position’s Jason’s left arm next to his head. “Ready?” he asks.

I nod. We count together, then Derek pulls Jason towards him while I push.

I place his right arm down his abdomen, then pick up the phone. “Done.” 

“I’m coming up.”

I recognize her do-not-argue-with-me tone. “I don’t know where they’re going to take him, Alana.”

“I’m guessing UCLA Med Center. If it ends up being somewhere else leave a message on my cell. Otherwise, that’s where I’m heading.”

“I don’t think you should be driving that far alone while worried, Alana.”

“I’ll call your parents, honey. I’ll see you in a few hours.” 

I hang up and pocket the phone.

The wail of sirens stops behind the building. Two officers round the corner and stop in their tracks, surveying us.

“What happened?” the short one asks.

“She hit him with that bat,” I answer.

“You saw this?” the tall one asks next.

“I saw her behind him with the bat in her hands after he fell and she admitted she would do it again.”

Tall Officer takes Mandy from Tommy, pressing her against the wall and frisking her before handcuffing her. The paramedics round the corner, wheeling a stretcher between them.

“What happened?” the female with a ponytail asks, brushing Derek aside. Her partner moves next to me.

I repeat the incident for the fourth time as I push to my feet and step out of their way. They roll him onto his back and check his pulse and eyes.

“Did his head hit the ground?” the male asks.

“No, I caught him.”  

Ponytail Paramedic glances up. “Good reflexes.” 

“Is he going to be okay?”

“I can’t say for sure, but if you were able to catch him, you may have reduced the injuries we normally see.” 

Short Officer asks more questions as his partner escorts Mandy to the car.

“I’m sorry,” I interrupt. “I’m not focused on anything you’re saying. Can we do this later, please?”

“Sure. We’ll come by the hospital once we process her.”

The paramedics secure Jason to the stretcher as I turn my attention to him. “Are you taking him to UCLA Med Center?” I ask.

“Yes. It’s just a short ride, ma’am,” the male answers, lifting the stretcher and locking it.

I pick up my purse and Tommy touches my shoulder. “Let me take you. You shouldn’t be driving.”

“I’m coming with you guys,” Derek says. “Let me grab a jacket.”

“Good idea,” Tommy states.

They both duck inside for jackets. Tommy returns wearing his leather jacket and hands me Jason’s warm-up jacket. I bring it to my nose and inhale. Tears flow again as Derek joins us.

Tommy wraps me up in his arms. “He’ll be okay. You heard what the paramedic said about what you did.” 

“I accused him of starting the fight, but it was me,” I say, sobbing. “If I hadn’t said what I did, she wouldn’t have hit him. Oh…
God!
” The gravity of my recklessness sinks in and my sobbing ratchets up to bawling.

Tommy guides me to Derek’s car and strokes my hair. “Blaming yourself isn’t going to change anything or help Jason. Mandy has some loose screws. The last one was bound to fall out sooner or later. You have no control of what she does.” 

We arrive at the Emergency Department with Tommy’s arm around me. I wish it was Hunter’s arm comforting me while waiting for word on Jason. Or even Damian’s. But I know Tommy meant what he said about the team being family for me. I inherited a band of brothers willing to do anything for me and Jason.

“Coach, this is Jason’s fiancée, Sara,” he says.  

Coach holds out his hand. “Good to finally meet you, Sara. I wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Likewise, Coach,” I say, taking Coach’s proffered hand.

“They’re running tests right now. They’ll give us an update when they have results.”

“His mom is on her way up.”

“Sara, do you want anything to drink?” Derek asks.

“Coffee would be good. Thanks,” I answer. Jason would laugh since I’m not a coffee drinker, but it’s cold in here and it’ll be a long night. 

“Tommy? Coach?”

“I’m good,” Coach answers.

“Coffee for me too.”

The rest of the team trickles in over the next hour, each of them offering a comforting hug. Tommy stays next to me with his arm on the back of the chair.

I bounce my knee and tap my fingers on the chair’s armrest. If it bothers anyone, no one says a thing. I don’t even try to rein in the anxiety. It keeps me from thinking the worst.

I can’t think about a world without Jason. A life without my rushing river carrying me, safe in his arms. A story without always and forever. It would rip me apart into unrecognizable pieces.

I can’t go there. Not now.

I leap out of my seat as soon as Alana and Dad walk in. I throw my arms around both of them and start crying again.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Dad says in a soft, reassuring tone.

I let go, swiping a hand across my cheeks. “No it’s not, Dad. We were fighting when it happened.”

“I need to hear the whole story,” Alana says. “You said it was Mandy?”

I gesture to an empty corner for a modicum of privacy. I relay the events of the last day and a half as succinctly as I can.

Dad covers my hand and my knee each time the anxiety takes over. I blow out an exasperated breath and fidget with my ring instead. This seems to be less distracting and I finish the story without more silent prompts.

Alana folds me into her embrace when I finish. “Oh, honey. You’ve both been through so much.” 

I break away. “You should meet the team,” I say, changing the subject as I swallow the sadness and tears. I lead her over and introduce her to Coach and the team.

“Thank you for being here, Coach,” she says, sitting next to him. Dad settles in on the other side of her.

“I’m glad to help. They may need more information from you later than what we keep in their medical packets.”

I return to my seat next to Tommy and slip Jason’s jacket on. I wrap it tight around my torso and lean back as I close my eyes, pretending his jacket is really him holding me close, keeping me safe. 

CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE

A gentle shake of my shoulder jolts me awake. My eyes fly open and I sit up. I scan the room, forgetting why I was sleeping on a chair.

“Sara,” a voice next to me says. Tommy. “They’re moving J.”

I jump up. “Where?” I remember I’m at the hospital because Mandy hit Jason with a bat.

“MICU.” He rises from his seat. “And those officers are here.” He points to the corner. “They want to take our statements. They already took Derek’s.”

I survey the near-empty room with more scrutiny now that I remember where I am and why. “Where is everyone?”

“Alana and your dad are upstairs. Coach and the rest of the guys left. Only four people are allowed in the room at a time.”

I stretch Jason’s jacket around me. The frigid air conditioning makes the room feel like the Arctic. “What did they say about Jason?”

“They can’t find anything, so they say it’s a concussion. He’s still unconscious so they want him where they can treat him quickly if they need to.”

Can’t find anything. I’ll take that as good news. But a low thrumming vibration inside gives me a terrible feeling of foreboding and heightens the anxiety. I can’t shake it.

The officers separate us and take our narratives of the incident. “What’s going to happen now?” I ask Short Officer, sidling my ring up and down my finger.

“She’ll be arraigned in the morning and the judge will decide if she gets bail or not. If you are saying she intended to kill him, she may remain locked up especially since she was combative during booking.”

“Thanks.” 

“No problem, ma’am. We have your contact information if we have any more questions. I’m sure the D.A.’s office will be contacting you, as well.”   

It’s like I’m a court magnet. Or was that freak magnet? I think they go hand in hand, each drawn to the other with compelling force.

We take the elevators up to Jason’s floor and one of the nurses points us to his room.

The door slides open upon our approach. The room is stark white, even in the dim lighting, making its sterility known to all who enter. In case the antiseptic odor isn’t telltale enough. A bay of windows shows the adjacent nurses’ station. Jason lies on the bed in the middle of the room, hooked up to an overhead monitor, one of several pieces of equipment hanging from swinging arms above the bed.

My heart sinks into the churning blackness the thrumming created at the sight of him.

I did this to him. I’m the reason for him lying in this intensive care unit. If it weren’t for me, he’d still be at his dorm with the guys. Safe. Sound. Smiling. Laughing. Holding me. Kissing me.

A violent shudder hits me and tears flash in my eyes. Tommy slides an arm around me and holds me in close.

I focus on breathing to keep myself from imploding. In. Out, two, three, four, five. In. Out, two, three, four, five. In.

Alana sits next to the bed with Jason’s hand nestled between hers. Dad vacates his seat on the other side of the bed and insists I take it. He and Tommy sit in the corner and talk in a murmur.

I take Jason’s hand in both of mine, bringing it to my lips as I place my elbows on the bed. “Tommy told me the basics. Is there anything else I should know?” I whisper.

“Just that you may have saved him from more injury. The doctor told me about you catching him before his head could hit the ground. That was incredibly fast thinking and brave, Sara.” 

“I wasn’t even thinking. I just reacted. One minute we’re fighting and the next he’s falling right in front of me. I was horrified. I just wanted to protect him.” 

“They couldn’t find evidence of skull fractures or intracranial hemorrhaging. Bleeding inside the skull,” she explains in non-medical speak. “I’m pretty sure there would have been both if his head hit the pavement. If Mandy really was trying to kill him, she’s not as strong as she thinks. He does have a nasty hematoma, a bruise.”

I twine my fingers through his and keep his hand sandwiched between mine. “I should have kept my mouth shut.”

“Honey, you can’t blame yourself for this,” she tells me.

“I picked that fight with him.” Tears fall anew. “I was rude to Mandy when Tommy caught her. Jason didn’t like it and told me so. That led to the argument we were having when she snuck up behind him with the bat. If I hadn’t said anything to her…God, Alana. I was like Simon and Tibby,” I mutter.

“Sara, we all have moments when we get carried away with our anger. Just because you grew up in an abusive household does not mean every unkind act is because of that. Maybe what you said wasn’t the best thing to say to her. But she also chose to take a bat to my son’s head. She made her choice just like Simon and Tibby made theirs.”

Her choice of words takes me back to sessions in Sam’s office, but with a motherly tone.

She folds her arms on the bed and leans in. “You and Jason have always been good for each other. Don’t let his decision to keep the whole truth about Mandy and Becky from you or your moment of weakness ruin the both of you.

“Mike and I weren’t perfect, honey. Marriage is a lot of work. Sometimes the work is easier than other times. You two moved boulders together.
This
is just a stumbling block.” 

“What if he’s still mad at me when he wakes up?” I cradle his hand at my neck.

“Are
you
still mad at him?” she asks, turning the question around on me like Sam would.

I shake my head. The anger left when I watched him falling before me. “I just want him to wake up.”

“He loves you, honey. Even if he’s still mad, he’ll get over it because he loves you.” She exhales and stands up. “I need some water.”

Dad leaves with her and Tommy remains in his seat. I press the back of Jason’s hand against my cheek and brush my fingers through his hair. His hand twitches.

“Jason!” I call, leaping out of the chair. “Jason!” I cup my hand against his head, still tangled in his locks.

His eyes flutter open.

“J!” Tears fall again.

Tommy runs to the window connected to the nurses’ station and knocks on it for their attention.

Jason’s lethargic eyes track to my face. “Parker,” he whispers.

“Yes.” I smile. “Welcome back, Sleeping Beauty.”

“Still the best damn smile,” he murmurs, touching my face for a brief moment before his arm drops heavily on his chest.

I open my mouth to ask him what he means when two nurses and a doctor come in asking us to leave while they examine Jason. We step out the door, watching through the window next to it. I press my palms together in front of my mouth and Tommy’s arm slips around me. I lean into him, thankful he insisted on staying with me.

Alana and Dad run up behind us.

“What happened?” Alana asks panicked, grabbing my elbow. 

“Ow!” I recoil.

“Sorry,” she apologizes.

“He’s awake and he recognized me. They’re examining him right now.” 

She throws her arms around Dad when my elbows, knees, and right side of my body flare in agony.

“Augh!” I double over, feeling like Simon just beat me. But after two years, my body isn’t used to it.

“What’s wrong?” Tommy asks, stooping over with me.

“Everything hurts all of a sudden.” I gasp for breath.

“Did you get checked out?” Alana asks.

“No. Jason is the one who was injured.” 

“You caught him and you tackled Mandy. Do you remember any soreness from doing either of those?” she asks.

“No.”

“Your adrenaline must’ve been high from the fight beforehand. Come on.” She gestures with a wave. “Let’s go to the restroom.”

I follow her with a limp and she locks the door behind us.

“Take off the jacket first.”

I slip it off, then pull off my shirt with difficulty. She turns my hands while eyeing my arms. There are  scrapes on both elbows, and bruising from my right elbow to my shoulder and on my ribs.

“I’m guessing there are more scrapes on your knees, as well as more bruising on your leg.” 

She helps me back into the shirt and jacket, then takes out some ibuprofen from her purse. “Take four,” she instructs.

“Isn’t that a lot?”

“It’s prescription strength, which is what the ER would give you.” 

I take the four pills and swallow them with a drink from the bottle of water she hands me out of her purse. I hand her back the bottles.

She takes the water. “Keep the ibuprofen. You’ll need them. Take more in six more hours if you’re awake. If not, in the morning.” 

Dad and Tommy are still outside the room when we return.

“Anything?” Alana asks.

“No, but the second nurse didn’t stay in there long,” Dad answers. “Are you okay, sweetheart?” he asks, rubbing my left shoulder.

“Scrapes and bruises.”

“We should get you checked out.”

“Dad, Alana’s a nurse,” I remind him.

“I just saved you an enormous hospital bill, Andrew,” she says.

He hugs her from the side and holds on to her. I’m glad he came with her. With Mike gone, she needs another adult to lean on, even if she won’t show her vulnerability right now.

Dr. Green steps out and joins us with Jason’s chart in hand. “It looks like he’s going to be okay. All the reflex tests are good. He remembers what happened before being hit on the head. He does have a headache, which is normal, and we gave him something for it.” He folds his hands in front of him. “I want to keep him until morning and repeat his CT to make sure. You can go back in once the nurse is done. He’ll probably end up sleeping the rest of the night, though.”

“You should go back, Tommy,” I say.

“Probably, but I’m staying if you’re staying.” 

“Sweetheart, go home and get some sleep,” Dad says.

“I’m good. I want to stay with Jason. You and Alana can go back to our place and crash if you want,” I offer.

“I might take you up on that,” Alana says. “I haven’t slept in a while.”

“Just let me know and I’ll give you guys the keys.”

“I want to see him before I go anywhere,” she says.

The nurse comes out a few minutes later. “You can go in now,” she announces.

Alana heads in first. We resume our places next to the bed and remain standing, with Dad next to Alana and Tommy next to me.

“Hi, honey.” She kisses Jason on the cheek.

“Mom, what are you doing here?” he asks sluggish, almost slurring.

“I came up with Andrew as soon as Sara called. You’ve had us all worried sick.”

“Thanks for coming with her, Andrew.”

“No problem, Jason. Just rest up.” He pats Jason’s shoulder.  

“Where’s Parker?” he asks, his gaze still glued to them. “Did she go home?”

“Right here, J,” I say, weaving his fingers between mine.

He turns his head with care. “Oh, hey…Tommy.” 

“Hey, J. The guys were all here earlier.”

“They didn’t have to do that.” He gives my hand light pressure. “I’m sorry for picking that fight.”

“I started it. Not you.” 

Dad and Alana leave the room in silence. Tommy brings me a chair and he joins Alana and Dad outside the room.

“No, you were right. You did what I should have done,” he says.

I caress his jaw. “How about we just agree that we could have handled it better? I was afraid I was going to lose you tonight. I don’t want to argue anymore.”

“What happened to Mandy?” he asks, his speech clearing from the sluggishness.

“She’s in jail.”

“The cops found her?”

“I tackled her before she could run off. Being friends with Damian finally paid off,” I jest.

He lets out a laugh. “Ow.” His free hand splays against his head. “My head hurts like hell.” 

“I’ll try not to make you laugh anymore. You should get some sleep.”

“So should you.” 

“I’m staying here with you.” I run my thumb across the back of his hand.

“Go home and sleep, Parker.”

“You’ll have to kick me out of here to leave you and you’re in no condition to do that, so you’re stuck with me.”

“I like being stuck with you.” He yawns. “I’m sleepy. I think they gave me something for my headache.”

“They did,” I confirm. “I’m going to step out for a minute.” I lay his hand on the bed and kiss his forehead.

I join everyone in the waiting area. “He’s sleeping,” I tell them, then fish the keys out of my purse and hand them to Dad. “There’s leftover lasagna in the fridge. Help yourself to anything you need in the kitchen and bathroom.”

“Thanks, honey,” Alana says, standing.

“Tommy, you can go if you want. I think he’ll be sleeping the rest of the night.”

“I’m not leaving if you’re not leaving.”

I hug Dad and Alana as they leave. “I still have Jason’s cell if you need to reach me.”

Tommy and I return to Jason’s room. Tommy carries a chair over and settles down next to me.