A Reason (A Reason, Season, Lifetime Series) (13 page)

“I’m dizzy
, but awake. Go ahead.”

“Did you heal him?”

“Not really. I got the bullet out, it had to come out the way it went in. It would have hit an artery if it went any further. Ryan gave me a snickers bar.”

“Yes, my wife needs chocolate like that too. Kevin is in the driver’s seat and we’re going to get moving now. We’ll be going fast with the sirens on, but not too fast. You let us know if it bothers you. Not everyone can handle lying down and riding at the same time. We all need a story that works to protect Emma. They can’t know what she can do, because we don’t know what they would do if they did know. My wife does the same, but Kevin knows
, because they have known each other for years. So I am hoping Kevin has the bullet?”

“Bet your Italian ass. I’m not stupid. That bullet will never be found, though we won’t be able to explain that. No matter what happens, you just told us you had first aid training from last summer and we let you help until help arrived. You don’t know anything
else, and since I am the State Trooper and Mr. White here has given you some strong medications, you won’t remember much of anything. You will be released into the care of Marie after we make sure you're okay, which I am sure you are. You’re one strong and amazing young lady. Your sister is being driven to the hospital by Marie and Grant. They will beat us there, I’m sure, because I told Marie to leave and go straight to the hospital and wait.”

It is kind of nice to have my secret
s out, to know that there are other people like me, and have people to trust. It’s also a little scary.

“You can sleep if you need to, babe. Can I lay next to her?”

“Sure. You both are almost 18, though with his driving I should probably strap you both in. Climb on and get comfortable, I’ll take care of the seat belts.”

Ryan picks me up and arranges me so we’re both on the stretcher. I’m a little too out of it to say much, so I just enjoy being in his arms. His nerves have calmed down now, everyone in the ambulance is calmer so I can relax and just let go.

                              **************

“Emma? Can you hear me, honey? I’m the doctor here in the Glens Falls Emergency Room. Can you try to open your eyes and talk to me?”

“No. Where did Ryan go?” I don’t remember getting out of the ambulance or him getting up.

“They gave you a bit too much valium I think. You’re so tiny I think they gave you enough for a grown man.” I hear the woman say.

I feel Ryan grab my hand and open my eyes to look into his green eyes. “Hey, did I snore again?”

“Yeah, and you drooled on me a little. I still love you though. I think they thought you weighed more than you do. Your bra size throws men off, I don’t think we can blame Mr. White for giving you a little too much when you were outside in just a tweety bra. I blame tweety.”

I smile a little, though I’m still drugged up pretty heavily.

“I need you to tell me what you remember about today so we can decide what we do next.” The doctor says.

“I feel like I was run over by the ambulance rather than a passenger in one. Um, I remember getting to the police officer and yelling that I had first aid experience. I took off my shirt, since it was a white shirt and clean, I had only been dressed a short while. I applied pressure until help came. That’s about it.”

“Your
father was there, did you see him?” Another voice asks. I lift my head and see a man.

“And you are?” I ask.
I feel suspicion from him, I don’t like the judgmental feelings from him at all.

“I am the psych consult on duty. I’m here to make sure you are doing okay after such a traumatic experience. Do you remember seeing your father?”

“Yeah he shot the deputy, and the other one shot him. He died instantly.”

“How do you know he died instantly?”

“Because he hit the porch and bounced. He didn’t move again and his eyes were wide open. It was a forehead shot and I have to say that officer is a damn good shot. Next time I go to the fair and want a teddy bear, I’m taking that guy.”

Ryan snorts and then covers it up with a cough.

“You saw your father killed and you’re thinking about winning a teddy bear at the fair?” The psych guy asks.

“Well, doc, it’s like this. That bullying jackass has beat on us and tortured us for years. He broke my sister’s arm, my mom is upstairs in rough shape because of him and he shot at
the officer first. To be honest, you should probably be glad I was more worried about saving the cop and not doing an Irish jig on top of his dead body in celebration. Am I sad he’s dead? Yes. He was a horrible person and he deserves to sit in prison and rot. Instead he’s probably facing judgment and I really hope God sends him to a prison in hell where his sentence is to pick up the soap every ten minutes. My choice would have been prison, his choice was to try to take another innocent life so he could come and torture us more I’m sure. If Luigi and the small town cops weren’t in his pocket, we wouldn’t be here right now and he would have been arrested the last time I was in the emergency room with my sister.”

“Luigi?”

“Yes he’s a doctor here, the one with the knobby weird mustache that covered up the abuse to cover my sperm donor’s ass. Check Eva’s broken arm records from the summer.”

“The officer that brought you in has already requested them. Right now, as doctors who aren’t in anyone’s pockets, our job is to make sure you are safe to walk out of here on your own. Are you less dizzy now?” The female doctor asks.

I sit up and though I have cotton mouth and feel tired, I am okay. “Yes I feel better, though I would love some chocolate and a big bottle of water.”

Ryan snorts again. He’s probably thinking I eat an awful lot of chocolate. I really should be huge.

“Young man, if you want to go let your friends know she is awake and doing well, and get her chocolate, that would be fine.” The female doctor says.

“I’m not leaving until she does. I gave her a huge snickers bar already and if she wants more I’ll feed her anything she wants when we go upstairs to see her mom.”

“Do you have an eating disorder?” The psych doc asks.

“Does it look like I have an eating disorder? Have you seen my boobs and ass? Let me just stand up for you.”

“You think you’re fat?” He asks.

“No, I think I have big boobs and a bubble butt, though the rest of me is fine.”

Ryan isn’t even bothering to hide his laughing anymore.

“How do you feel about the officer that was shot? You have his blood all over you.”

“I feel like he should take me to the fair and win me a big teddy bear next summer, or that Rasta banana, that thing is hilarious. It’s a banana with dreads and a colorful beanie.” I look at him with a sarcastic toothy smile.

I sigh heavily when he doesn’t even crack a smile.
“Look, I hate that the guy was shot, I hate it so much it only makes me madder that my father is dead instead of rotting away in prison. I would really love a shower and clean clothes, and I would love to hear that you saved him and he’s okay.”

“My understanding is that he is stable and has asked for you, because he is worried about you.”

“Oh. Well that is sweet of him. Please let him know that I am fine and he needs to just get stronger. I am very glad the bullet didn’t hit anything major.”

“He was very lucky, though we can’t find the bullet yet
, it isn’t showing up on scans. I don’t see any reason to keep you. You seem fine to me. I will page Officer O’Neil and have him escort you up to see your mom. I know you’re safe here, but we just feel safer making sure you kids are safe. I can have the nurse come in and remove your IV line. Please drink plenty of fluids and I don’t see any reason why you can’t have some extra chocolate.” The female doctor says and walks out. That just leaves the psych guy.

“I guess I don’t see any reason to keep you at this point either. I do recommend counselling for you, your mom and sister, but I think at this time you are free to go. If you have nightmares or any problems, this is my card. Please call me and let me know if I can be of any help.” I take the card and thank him, then he walks out.

Ryan sits down next to me. “You really drained yourself helping him. I’m scared for you. You were drained and you looked like you were dying. You need to talk to Mrs. White and let her tell you what she knows about this. We need to make sure you’re safe. I just got you, I’m not going to lose you.”

“You won’t lose me. The sperm donor is dead. There shouldn’t be any other problems, really. I had to help him, he was shot because of me. I didn’t completely heal him, I don’t even know if I can completely heal anyone, I can help them be stronger and I was able to guide the bullet back out somehow. I don’t really get
it myself, not completely. I can just sometimes do things to help people. We can ask your dad more next time I see him.”

Ryan puts his hands on either side of my face so I look in his eyes. “You scared the hell out of me. When the nurse pulls your IV I’m going to get you something to eat before we go upstairs. Everyone is already up with your mom.” He kisses me and of course in walks the stupid nurse. They take their sweet time any other time, nothing like cutting a great kiss short.

She has me sign papers, Kevin shows up, she pulls the IV, puts a Band-Aid on and we walk out.

“You’re good to walk, Emma?” Kevin asks me.

“Oh yeah. The drugs wore off mostly. I’m very calm still but I won’t pass out right now. Though I am looking forward to a night in my new waterbed.” I say with a big toothy grin.

“I just lost my bed to a girl who wears cartoon characters on her underwear. Yeah, you know I think that saying really is accurate.” Ryan says.

“What saying?” Kevin asks.

“On the eighth day God created redheads, and man was fucked.”
Ryan says, and wraps his arm around me.

“Well let’s not take that too literal at the moment, okay? I think we can change that to and man was lost
for now, and son, it is not just redheads.” Kevin says with a chuckle.

“How far do I have to walk before I can have chocolate?” I ask. They both laugh.

“How hungry are you? It’s certainly lunch time, so you may as well go to the bistro or cafeteria and have a real lunch. I’ll call upstairs and see if they need to eat as well. Hold on.” Kevin stops walking so he can get out his phone. “Hey, Marie, did you all eat yet?” He pauses. “Yeah we’re going to eat at the Bistro, Emma is really hungry. Okay. Bye.” He hangs up and starts walking again. “They are on their way down, they will meet us at the Bistro. Your mom is glad you’re done in the ER and wants to see you after you eat.”

“Good, eat first. I hope they have chocolate.” We get to the Bistro and luckily they have a chocolate chip muffin left over from breakfast and hot cocoa. Score. I get a Cobb salad too, but I’m absolutely eating the muffin first. Ma, Eva and Grant walk up and I’m already drinking my hot cocoa.

“You still look rough and you really need a shower. They let you out of the ER covered in blood!” Eva says.

I look at myself and realize she’s right. Luckily I have a shirt on now at least. You can still see some blood on my arms and hands. “I’ll shower as soon as we get back home. I’ll go wash my hands now though. That
just means I have to get up and stop eating.” I groan and walk to the bathroom that isn’t far. Eva walks with me.

“So how are you? Was it really awful?”

“Um, yes and no. I’m honestly glad he’s dead. It’s less we have to deal with. Now we don’t have to move. You and mom can stay at the house, as long as we can afford it.”

“You’re staying with Ryan? Like moving in permanently?”

“I think so. We both want me to, his mom is okay with it and honestly, it just feels right. I feel like I belong there, with him. I can’t explain it without sounding stupid and cheesy movie-ish. I’ll talk to mom and we’ll see. I’ll just be next door.”

“You two look so happy and in love already. Like it just fit
s. As soon as Danny was out of the picture, you two were just complete.”

“Yeah we had a talk about being each other’s missing puzzle piece. It really does feel like that. I knew Danny wasn’t the guy for me, I was just scared of change, of hurting him, and of how strong my pull was towards Ryan. I’m not scared anymore.”

“Well we’re safe now, so you worry about you for once. Be happy, be loved. I can’t believe it is finally over. I wish I had a nail brush, your poor nails have caked blood. You’re going to need a long bath and a good scrubber to get it all.”

“Yeah, I will. I’m as clean as I can get right now. Let’s eat and get upstairs. Mom is good?”

“Yeah. She’s sore but she’s healing. They said she can go home now so they were working on discharge. The domestic violence lady was up there helping mom with life insurance and stuff. It looks like even though he got himself shot by trying to kill someone, it is still covered, so the house will be paid off and mom will be more than okay money-wise. She wants to go back to work as soon as she heals. She is happy about that.”

“Awesome. Eva, I’m sorry I just took off running like that. I knew he was dead and I had to get up there because I felt the officer was going to die.”