Reckless (Wrecked) (40 page)

“Try to say something else,” said Jonathan.  He was off to her right, possibly the one squeezing her hand.

She squeezed it back, trying to let him know she wanted to talk but couldn’t.

“She moved!  She gripped my hand!  Sarah, I know you can hear me.  You’re in the hospital.  You were shot, but you’re okay now.  You’re okay!  Did you hear me?”

She was too absorbed with the shock of what he’d said to let him know she’d heard. 
Shot?  Who shot me?  What about the baby?  Am I going to be blind from it?  Did they sew my eyes shut?
  The panic set in as she considered the fact that she might never see again.  She moaned again, louder this time, determined to open her eyes if it was at all possible.  She focused everything she had on forcing her lids open.

“She’s trying to say something again,” said Candi, her voice now on Sarah’s left.  “Sarah, say it again.  We can’t understand you.”

“Eyes … won’t … open …,” she said, barely able to get her mouth to form the words.

“Here.  Let me help you,” said Candi.

A blindingly bright light seared Sarah’s eyeballs as her lids were forced open.

“Gaaaahhhh!” she screamed, praying for darkness again.

The fingers immediately left her face.  “Ooops.  Sorry.  I was just trying to help.”

“Water …,” Sarah whispered, just before the blackness closed in around her, sending her back into sweet oblivion.

***

Kevin watched as his parents got out of the car and approached the front door, the Buckleys still struggling to get out of the back seat.  Kevin and Candi were waiting for their parents in the living room of the safehouse they were staying in - one thankfully manned by the local police department and the local FBI office, working as a team.  They hadn’t been there a full twenty-four hours yet, but they’d made it this far without being shot or stabbed, so things were looking good.  At least, as good as they could look, all things considered.  Xena was still at the vet’s office after her surgery, and James was being carefully watched by Candi.  Sarah was upstairs.

Kevin sighed heavily as Candi’s arm slid around his waist.

“Nervous?” she asked.

“Yeah.  Preparing myself for my dad’s usual bullshit.  I’m afraid I’m going to end up punching him in the head at some point.”

“He’s not going to do anything to make you want to punch him,” she said, a vague scolding tone to her words.

Kevin could tell - nothing was going to get her too upset today; she was too excited about seeing her parents.  Kevin wished he felt the same about his own.  “You don’t know my father very well, do you?” he asked, wondering what the guy was going to do to embarrass him today.  Sarah was probably still too sick in body and mind to even care what Frank did.  That alone was enough to put Kevin on edge.  One false move and his father was going to be one sorry mofo.

“I may not know him that well, but I know on the phone he sounded … better,” Candi offered.

“He was probably just behaving himself because he knew people were listening.”

Frank was walking up the path to the door, allowing his wife to go in front of him while he carried a small overnight bag in his hand.  The doorbell rang a few seconds later.

“At least he’s not busting down the door.”  Kevin looked over as a uniformed police officer walked around the corner to invite their guests in.  Kevin moved away from Candi’s embrace to greet his father at the entrance to the room. 
Might as well get it over with.

The door opened and he listened as first his parents and then Candi’s exchanged greetings with the officer.  Moments later, his father appeared from the foyer, entering the living room.

Kevin expected there to be manly handshaking and possibly shoulder slapping as a greeting, so he was completely taken off guard when his father took too big steps and pulled him into a strong embrace.

“Son …”

Kevin stood stock still, not sure what to do at first.  As his father continued talking, he found his arms moving up of their own volition to hug him back.

“We were so worried.  We thought you’d been kidnapped or … worse.”  His voice caught, and he pulled back.  His eyes were bloodshot and shining with unshed tears.  “We’re so happy you’re okay.”

“Yeah … thanks.  We’re not exactly okay, though, are we?”  Kevin felt the anger rising up in him.  His father so carelessly disregarding his daughter’s situation was enough to make him lose it.  Kevin had never paid much attention to his sister and father’s relationship before, but he sure was now.

“We heard about Sarah.  They said she’s here.  Can we see her?”

“That depends,” said Kevin, stepping away from his father.  Before he could say anything else, his mother appeared at her husband’s side.

“Darling!” she said, rushing over to hug him.  Kevin accepted her affection and patted her back while she cried.  “We were so worried!  Worried sick!”  She stepped back and looked up at him.  “We assumed the worst. All those FBI agents killed!  Murdered!  The only bit of hope we had was there was no sign of … you being hurt.”

“Thanks to Sarah, none of us were.”  He glanced over at his father, giving him a hard look before going back to his mom.  “If she hadn’t taken our attacker down, we’d all be dead, just like those agents.”

Kevin’s mother threw her hand up to her mouth, a squeak of shock coming out.

Frank walked over to stand next to his wife, putting his arm around her waist.  “Don’t cry, now, Angie, we discussed this.  We’re going to keep our heads cool and help the kids figure out their next moves.  Cool heads, remember?”

She nodded, wiping tears from her cheeks and clearing her throat.  Kevin watched as she fought to gain control of her emotions, her expression so close to crumbling he knew just one wrong word and she’d fall apart.

“Where’s Sarah?” asked Frank.  “We’d like to see her if the doctor says it’s alright.”

“He’s up there with her.  You just have to knock on the door, and they’ll either let you in or tell you to go away.”  Kevin sighed.  “But Dad, listen … maybe you shouldn’t go up.”

“Son, I’m going to go visit my daughter.  She’s been gravely injured, and she needs to see her parents.  She needs our support.”

“Yeah, that’s true that she does need your support,” said Kevin, his voice raising with anger.  “She’s needed it her whole life, not just now; but you haven’t managed to give it to her before, so I’m not sure I trust the fact that you’re going to give it to her when she’s lying on her back in a hospital bed and not doing well at all.”

Frank said nothing for a long while, just staring at Kevin and then at Candi.

Kevin watched his girlfriend lift her chin a little in response, and he was fiercely proud of her in that moment.  She’d never let his dad intimidate her, which said a lot.  Frank could be an overbearing prick sometimes, used to getting his way and not caring who he hurt in the process.

“Your father’s not going to do anything wrong, Kevin, sweetie,” admonished his mother.  “You don’t need to talk like that to him.”

Kevin turned to his mother, his complete lack of respect for her evident in his expression.  “Mom, I’m sorry to have to say this to you, but what the hell would you know about it?  Dad’s been treating Sarah like shit for years, and you’ve just stood by and let him do it.  Or should I say, you
sleep
by and let him.”

Angie’s hand flew up to her throat.  “What …?  What are you saying, Kevin?  It’s not like that … I’m not like … what kind of mother do you think I am?”

Kevin was happy to feel Candi’s presence at his side.  She’d moved closer, and her warmth was all the support he needed right now to lay out all of the truth to his parents.  He noticed that the police officers who’d been on the perimeter of the room had quietly filed out.

“I think you’re the kind of mother who cares more about appearances and material things than the happiness of her children.”

“Kevin, don’t talk to your mother that way,” said Frank.  He didn’t sound mad, like Kevin had expected him to.  He sounded tired.

“I’ll talk to her any way I please.  All I’m doing is telling her the truth, something she should have heard from me a long time ago.  It never should have gotten this far.  And while I’m on the subject, I have some stuff I’d like to say to you too, Dad.”  That word
dad
left a bitter aftertaste in his mouth.

Frank held up his hands.  “You have every right to say what you want to say.  But I have some things I’d like to say as well.”

“Fine.  Wait your turn.  What I want to say is that the way you’ve been acting towards Sarah, towards the Buckleys - especially Jonathan - is inexcusable.  I don’t care what she’s done, Sarah is your daughter, and she needs your love.  Not your anger, not your criticisms, not your bullshit.  I used to just ignore it and let her handle it, but not anymore.  She’s my sister, and I’m not going to let you bully her anymore.”  He stopped and then let out a huge breath.  It felt like he’d vomited out about ten years of pent-up frustration at his parents, and while it was cleansing, it was also stressful.  His pulse was pounding out of control, and all he wanted to do was finish off this little talk with a good tackle, pinning his father to the ground and pummeling him.  But the feeling quickly dissipated in the wake of his father’s response.

“You have every right to feel this way, Kevin.  I’m man enough to admit that.  You probably want to pop me right in the nose right now, and I don’t blame you.  I … we … didn’t come here to fight or to lay blame or argue.  We came to see if you and your sister were okay and see what we could do to help.  Obviously, we have some issues to sort out.  I take responsibility for that, and for our situation at home.”  He glanced at his wife who nodded while wiping tears off her face.  “I’ve been under a lot of stress for the past couple years, and I’ve taken it out on you guys … especially your mother and sister.  I’m sorry for that, I really am.”

“Everyone has stress in their lives.  That’s not an excuse,” said Kevin, not at all ready to just forget everything his father had done.

“I know that.  But some people handle stress better than others.  It brings out the ugly part of my personality, unfortunately.  But your mother has convinced me to get help.”  He held out his arm for her and she quickly stepped over to be with him.  “I started to see someone … a therapist.  And I want you to know I’m going to keep going until I get everything worked out.  I’m committed to it a hundred and ten percent.”

“He’s done really well so far, Kevin.  You’d be very proud of him.”

Kevin was more than stunned.  His father had always talked really badly about therapists, calling them quacks and thieves.

Candi took a step towards Frank.  “I think it’s great that you’re doing that, Mr. Peterson.  Congratulations.”

She squeaked in surprise when he released his wife and stepped up to give her a warm hug.

“Thank you, Candi.  That means a lot.”  He let her go and walked back to be next to his wife.  “We’re really worried about Sarah.  We’d like to see her.  But if you think we should wait, we’ll wait.  Whatever you think is best - you know your sister better than we do.  We don’t want to cause her any more pain; I hope you can believe that.”

Kevin didn’t know what to say.  If this wasn’t a trick, it was maybe exactly what Sarah needed … real parents.  But if it was just his father being an ass, which he was really good at being, then it would be the last thing she needed.  He shook his head.  “Who are you, and what have you done with my father?  You know … Frank Peterson?  Mister Hardass himself?”

Frank grimaced, raising his hand halfway.  “Still me.  Still a hardass.  Only now I’m trying to channel it in other ways.”

Kevin shook his head.  “Let me go ask her.  I’ll be right back.”  He nodded at the Buckleys who were still standing in the front hall on his way up.  The sounds of them greeting a jubilant Candi followed him up the stairs.

He took the stairs three at a time up to the temporary hospital room they’d made for Sarah in the safehouse.  She was lying in an official hospital bed, wearing comfortable pajamas one of the agents had bought for her.

She turned her head as he entered.  The doctor nodded and left them in the room together.  “Hey, bro,” she said in a soft voice.

“Hey, sis.  Listen, I have some good news and some bad news.”

Sarah looked at him blankly.  “I’m not sure I can handle any more bad news in my life right now.”  Her hand went down to her stomach and rubbed it absently.

“Okay, I’ll skip that part.  Good news … dad seems to have had some sort of epiphany and is no longer a flaming assbag.”

Sarah remained quiet, her face impassive.

Kevin wasn’t sure what to do with that response, so he talked some more.  “He’s seeing a therapist.  Can you believe that?  And he was really nice to mom, too.”

“So?”

“So … and here comes the bad news you didn’t want to hear … he wants to see you.  They both do.”

“No,” she said turning away, but not before he saw the tears in her eyes.

“Come on, Sarah.  Don’t be like that.”

She whipped her head back, glaring at him.  “I can be any way I want!  I don’t have to see those jerks ever again if I don’t want to!”

Kevin took her hand off the top of the covers, rubbing it awkwardly.  “You’re right.  You don’t have to.  No one will let them up here if you say no.  But I think you should let them up.  Talk to them.  For me?”

“Don’t do that, Kevin.  Don’t ask me like that.”  She was crying now, letting the tears fall freely down her cheeks.

“If I thought for a second that he’d say anything rude to you, I’d beat his ass out on the front lawn myself.  But I honestly think he wants to just apologize and try to be supportive.”

She snorted angrily.  “He doesn’t even have a clue how to do that.”

“He seems different.”  He squeezed his sister’s hand to shut down the argument he saw coming.  “I know it hasn’t been very long, but maybe almost losing us made him see the light.  I don’t know.  But seriously.  Just give him one chance, and if he screws it up, I’ll throw him out myself.  I’ve got your back.”

“I know you do,” she said, sighing pitifully.  “Fine.  Show the assbag in.  But don’t you
dare
leave me alone with him.”