Faith (My Misery Muse)

by B. Betzold

  I glared at him and he just shrugged.

  “He won’t yell at you as much,” he added.

  “He won’t throw anything at you,” added Devi.

  “He might actually listen to you,” said Seth from the doorway.

  I glared at all of them, but I knew I wasn’t going to get out of it, I finally sighed. “Fine,” I grumbled then attacked my breakfast.

  Drake

  I just stared at the speech therapist like she was an alien. I finally sputtered out, “You want me to do what?”

  She smiled at me. “Sing, things like nursery rhymes, also some tongue twisters, read out loud, you could even sing your favorite songs.”

  I continued to stare at her. “I can’t sing.”

  She giggled. “You’re not doing it to sound great, you’re doing it to stretch a muscle in essence. It will help the language center of your brain and body work together and help with the aphasia.”

  I nodded. “Okay, I guess I can give it a shot.”

  “Good, this is something you can do by yourself, and we will work on more extensive therapies during our sessions. We will also try and figure out what triggers the episodes.”

  “Okay.”

  She smiled kindly at me. “You have a very mild case, Drake. You will be back to normal with only a few lapses a week soon, as long as you work with me.”

  “I can do that.”

  “Good,” she said. “I will get you on the calendar, and then when you’re about to be released we can get a schedule made for out therapy.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Okay, then I will talk to you soon.” She waved and then left.

  I ran a hand through my hair and sighed, this was just the icing on the fucking cake today. I had already spoken with the physical therapist. He said we could get to work as soon at the casts came off and the doctor gave his okay. Not sure how long that was going to be at this point, but they all had high hopes that I would be able to walk eventually, but with the amount of damage to bone and muscle they weren’t sure to what extent my range of motion would be. Also the rod, pins, and plates would be there indefinitely, there were concerns with the bone not being strong enough without them. I would be use some sort of crutch for a while, but they were pretty positive that I would eventually be able to walk on my own with the possible occasional use of a cane. The pain meds were making it difficult to remember all they’d said, all I had been told, but I’m sure Mags and Devi were keeping track of all this for me. I fucking hated the pain meds, half the time it felt like I was living in a fog, the other half I hurt. But, from the little pain I had while the meds were beginning to wear off I appreciated them, just wish they didn’t make me feel like a zombie.

  Every time I moved, my ribs screamed at me, my wrist and leg throbbed, and my chest ached when I took a deep breath. The doctors said that I was healing quickly but it sure as hell didn’t feel like it. I was just so ready to get out of the hospital and stop being a burden on everyone. I sighed and ran my good hand through my hair, maybe I shouldn’t get involved with Mags right now. She didn’t need all my added shit to her already growing list. She had so much going on with trying to run her business, taking care of Quinn, the douche, adding to it all just didn’t seem like the right thing to do. On top of that, I was broken now. I won’t be able to help her like I should, I won’t be able to protect her and Quinn. What was I doing thinking that we could be something more when I have nothing to give her now? I should just end it now before anyone gets hurt, before she can realize that I’m not the same person I was before this happened.

  “Stop.”

  I looked towards the door and found Mags standing there with her hands on her hips glaring at me.

  “Stop what?”

  “Stop looking for ways to get out of this,” she demanded.

  “I’m not doing anything.”

  “Yes you are. You’re sitting there wondering if we should be doing this, but Drake you are not broken. Yes, your body may be a bit more battered than normal, but you are still the caring, overprotective, sarcastic asshole I fell for to begin with, nothing’s changed that.”

  “A bit more battered?” I asked raising my eyebrow.

  “All right a lot more battered, happy?” she asked and stuck her tongue out at me.

  “Honey, are you sure about this? It’s not going to be easy.”

  “I know, nothing with you is ever easy.”

  I shook my head. “I really don’t think you know what you’re getting yourself into, all the therapies, doctors’ appointments—”

  “Ah yes, because I wouldn’t of thought of any of that,” she said interrupting me.

  I glared at her and she glared right back.

  She finally sighed. “I love you Drake, and we will make it work.”

  I nodded but I wasn’t as sure as she sounded.

  She bent down and that’s when I noticed Quinn sitting in her car seat, she unclipped her and pulled her out. “Let’s go make Daddy feel better, huh Quinny,” she murmured and rubbed her face against her head. I just stared; she just called me Daddy. Mags glanced back up at me. “What’s wrong, Drake?” I just continued to stare; I don’t think she even realized what she said.

  “You just referred to me as Daddy,” I finally mumbled.

  She looked shocked and then started chewing on her bottom lip. “I’m sorry, Drake. I didn’t…I didn’t even realize I said that, I—”

  “Mags, shut up.”

  She continued to just stare at me.

  “Bring me my princess.”

  She nodded and I reached my good arm out, pulled her down and kissed her. “That is one of the best things I have ever heard in my life,” I murmured against her lips, “a close second to when you told me you loved me.”

  She smiled against my mouth. “Now give me my daughter,” I ordered breaking away from the kiss smiling.

  Chapter 34

  Mags

  We’ve gotten into a routine the past few days. Quinn and I would come up to the hospital and I would work while Drake and Quinn would nap and play. It was relaxed and easy and Drake was doing better, they had been lowering his pain meds, and we were all hoping that he would be released soon.

  I still hadn’t talked to him about staying with Devi once he was released. I knew we could go back to his place, and it would be easier on him since there were no stairs, but I was told not in under any circumstances was that going to happen. They were still worried about my and Quinn’s safety, since no one had heard anything about Brent in a while. And the cops never figured out who had broken into my house even though we all knew, there was no proof. Though I had been getting a lot of hang ups on my cell lately, we were never able to trace the phone number back to anyone, but the guys had hired someone to look into it. Drake and I had been putting off a lot of serious conversations, neither of us wanting to change the mood that’s taken over lately. It was kinda nice spending time with him without fighting, but I knew it wouldn’t last, especially with my latest news and that we were keeping the hang ups from him.

  I walked into his hospital room and saw his speech therapist was still there, so I quietly made my way to the small couch and plopped a sleeping Quinn down then sat down beside her. I wasn’t too fond of his speech therapist; she kept batting her eyes at him, which just pissed me off. Then I would get even more pissed that I was pissed to begin with, it was turning into a confusing circle. I sat there and watched as she batted her eyes and touched his arm whenever she could get away with it, while I was glaring daggers at this girl, and yes, she was a girl in my opinion. Drake looked over at me and winked, the asshole knew she pissed me off and thought it was hilarious. All I wanted to do is punch both of them in the throat.

  She finally finished and gave him a little wave and wiggled her ass out of the room, but not before touching his arm and reminding him about tomorrow. I really wanted to slap that smirk off her face when she glanced my direction. I took a few deep breaths before looking over
at Drake, who was now silently laughing at me—nice.

  “We are finding you a new therapist when you get out,” I muttered.

  He laughed outright at that, and I glared at him.

  “Drake, I am not kidding,” I growled.

  “I know you’re not, which is why it’s so funny,” he choked out between laughs.

  I threw my hands up. “Do you not see how she looks at you, and what the hell is up with always touching you?”

  He finally stopped laughing and looked at me with a smile on his face. “You have nothing to be jealous over, Mags.”

  “I’m not jealous,” I mumbled, although we both knew it was a lie. He quirked an eyebrow at me. “Fine, but she still shouldn’t be touching you; I mean, that just so unethical.”

  “Already talked to my doctor about a closer therapist to home.”

  Ah shit, now I would have to tell him about not going home, this day was sucking big time.

  I stared at him. I really, really didn’t want to be the one to tell him, and definitely not when I already had to tell him about the call from the lawyer.

  “Something you need to tell me, Mags?”

  “I…I…” Then I really looked at him. “You already know,” I accused.

  He smirked at me. “How?”

  “You mean about me not going home? How you all decided for me that I should go to Devi’s instead of my own home, which I pay for? Oh I don’t know, just kind of figured it out.”

  “You suck.”

  He chuckled. “I was wondering who got the job of telling me.”

  I raised my hand. “That would be me, you know since I am the one fucking you, as X put it.”

  “They chose well.”

  “All right, so let’s hear it.”

  “Hear what, Mags?” He tried to give me an innocent face.

  “Why you should be able to go home instead of Devi’s.”

  He shrugged. “I actually agree with it, more people to help me, and you and Quinn are safer.”

  I nodded, “But?”

  “No, buts, baby.”

  “Huh?”

  “You expected me to fight you on this?”

  I nodded.

  “Why? It makes the most sense; I can be rational.”

  I just looked at him. “All right, I can be rational sometimes.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “Oh, shut up like you’re one to talk.”

  I shrugged.

  “So what else is going on?”

  I started chewing on my bottom lip, I didn’t know how this was going to go over with the new rational Drake.

  “What is it, Mags?” he growled.

  Okay, now this Drake I knew. “Got a call from the lawyer’s office today.”

  “Which one?”

  I giggled. “That’s sad.”

  “Kinda is.”

  “The guy’s lawyer is handling all of that other stuff, other than our depositions if it comes to that point we don’t have anything to do.”

  “So that leaves…” and he trailed off.

  “That leaves the family law attorney,” I muttered.

  “Okay, what did he want?”

  “I have to take Quinn in for a DNA test today.”

  “Good.”

  “Good?”

  “Yea, the sooner this is all over with, the sooner I can marry you and adopt Quinn.”

  I laughed, “Yea, I don’t think so.”

  He raised that damn eyebrow at me again. “Why not?”

  “Cause I am not getting married.”

  “Sure you are, it will make the adoption easier and you love me.”

  “Uhm, who said anything about adoption, and just because I love you doesn’t mean we need to get married.”

  He sighed. “It would be easier on you if you just agreed.”

  “Uhm no.”

  “Fine, we’ll do it the hard way.”

  “I have no idea what the hell that means, and I’m not sure if I like the idea behind it or not.”

  He laughed, the asshole just laughed.

  A few hours later, it was time to get Quinn to her pediatrician for the test. I looked over at Drake and Quinn, she was snuggled into the crook of his good arm and they were both napping; I really didn’t want to wake them up. I closed my laptop and stuck it into the bag and got all of Quinn’s stuff packed back up, giving them a few more minutes. When I finally couldn’t delay anymore I walked over and ran a finger down Drake's face, his eyes fluttered open and he smiled. I couldn’t resist and leant down and brushed a kiss against his lips.

  “We gotta go,” I whispered.

  He nodded and looked down at Quinn. “Is it going to hurt her?”

  I shook my head. “No, they are just going to take a swab from inside her mouth.”

  “All right, call me when it’s done.”

  “I will, and Sam should be here soon,” I said then carefully picked up Quinn trying not to wake her.

  “All right.”

  I somehow got her in her car seat and latched in without waking her, but I knew when I lifted the seat that would probably change.

  “What’s going on with you and Sam?”

  I closed my eyes, I was pretty sure he was still pissed at me for Drake’s accident but I wasn’t going to be the one to tell Drake that, it would be better if Sam could explain himself.

  “Not sure what you’re talking about,” I hedged.

  He snorted. “Yea, you do.”

  “Ask him, Drake.”

  “Okay, I will do that.”

  I went back over and kissed Drake, “I’ll call you soon.”

  “K bye, baby.”

  I picked up the car seat and of course Quinn immediately started fussing. “Bye,” I said then walked out of his room, finding Sam standing there glaring at me.

  “Why didn’t you tell him?”

  “Figured it was your place, if I tell him he will just get pissed at you,” I shrugged, “at least this way you can give him your reasoning.”

  “Bye, Mags.”

  “Bye, Sam.”

  He may still be angry at me, but I was even more pissed off at myself, because I knew he was right and it was my fault that Drake was here.

  Drake

  I watched Mags' ass as she sashayed her way out the door, wondering how difficult she was going to be about the marriage thing. I had already called my lawyer about adopting Quinn and was told it would be easier if we were married first. Not that, that was the only reason I wanted to marry her, but it did help make the decision to do it sooner instead of later. Now, I just had to convince her it was a good idea.

  I glanced up when I heard the door open and watched Sam walk in. That was another nagging question, what the hell was going on with my friend? He looked like he hadn’t slept in days.

  “Hey, how you feeling?”

  “Uhm, like I was run over by a truck.”

  He chuckled, “You look like it.”

  “Yea, well you don’t look much better.”

  He shrugged. “A lot going on.”

  “Anything you want to talk about?”

  “Nah, I am good.”

  I didn’t believe that for a second but I didn’t push on it, he would talk when he was ready.

  “I saw Mags when I came in.”

  “Yea she was just leaving, she had to take Quinn to the doctor.”

  “Anything wrong?”

  “Nah.”

  “That’s good, she’s a cute kid.”

  “That she is.”

  “So…”

  “So, what’s going on between you and Mags?”

  He looked down at his feet. “Nothing, just…I don’t get how you still have anything to do with her.”

  That confused me. “Why wouldn’t I?”

  “Drake, come on man, she’s the reason you’re here, if she wasn’t such a bitch that day, you wouldn’t have been in the accident.”

  I cocked my head at him. “Huh?” I was even more confused. I mean, yea we had a f
ight and I left, but what does that have to do with the accident. “I think you need to explain.”

  “Drake, the only reason you were out was because of the fight. If you guys hadn’t had the fight you would have never been out driving.”

  “That is the most fucked up logic I have heard in a while.”

  He shook his head. “She’s got you so wrapped up you can’t see it.”

  “No, it’s not that, trust me. Yes, we got into a fight. Mags and I fight a lot, always have, it’s not her fault that some stupid prick got in his truck after getting drunk at a frat party and decided to drive. “

  “No, but if you two wouldn’t have gotten into the fight, you wouldn’t have been out driving.”

  “Maybe, but it wasn’t her fault, I chose to leave. I chose to go X’s house, I chose to drive home late, even though X offered for me to stay at his place. Those were all my choices, Sam. I’m going to marry her Sam so you need to get the fuck over this.”

  He muttered something I couldn’t hear and looked away. “Fine, I get it, okay?” he said when he finally looked at me.

  “Sam, what’s really going on?”

  “Nothing, I gotta go, glad to see you’re doing better.” Then he was gone.

  What the fuck?

  Chapter 35

  Mags

  “So that’s it?” I asked the doctor.

  “That’s it, now we just send it to the lab.”

  “Any idea on how long we have to wait for the results?”

  “Not sure, sometimes it takes six weeks, sometimes less. Your lawyer will get the results in the mail and then I’m sure he’ll call you.”

  “Okay, thank you.”

  “Not a problem, see you soon for her six month check-up, bye, Mags.”

  “Bye,” I replied, waving at Quinn’s pediatrician. “All right princess, let’s get going.” I stopped when I realized I was now using Drake’s nickname and rolled my eyes at myself. “Great you’re going to end up with a complex.” Then I buckled her into her car seat and headed back to Devi’s house.

  I walked out of the doctor’s office and headed for my car. I knew I would get a lecture from Devi later about not taking someone with me, but nobody had heard anything from asshat in a while now so I wasn’t too concerned—I was stupid. I was pulling my keys out of my pocket when I saw him standing beside my car, he was standing there attempting to look menacing and it took everything in me not to roll my eyes at him.