by B. Betzold
“Honey, he was shot, and he didn’t survive.”
“Oh,” I responded numbly not really understanding what he was telling me. I stared up at the white tiled ceiling letting what he said sink in. After a few minutes, the tears began and Drake took Quinn resting her in the crook of his bad arm and pulled me closer. He held me while I cried whispering nonsense to me.
I was finally able to draw in a deep breath and wiped my eyes, Drake continued to watch me warily.
“So that’s what that other pop was?” I finally said.
He nodded not taking his eyes off me. “Yea.”
“Okay, I’m not sure how I am supposed to feel about that, or what to say.”
“Honey, no one expects you to.”
“Okay, I think I need to go home now, back to Devi’s, and uhm, get some sleep. I will come back tomorrow.”
“Okay baby,” he replied kissing me on my head and handing me back a still sleeping Quinn.
I was sitting on the couch back at Devi’s house snuggling with Quinn when Seth plopped down beside me, holding Cait who was fighting sleep.
“Scary, huh?” he asked.
“What?”
“Being a parent.”
I looked towards him and he was looking down at Cait as if she hung the moon, making me smile. “Yea it’s scary, but it’s also the best feeling in the world.”
He agreed, “Yea it is, I don’t know what I would do if something was to ever to happen to either of them.”
I looked down at Quinn sleeping in my arms. “Yea, I know the feeling.”
“She’ll be fine, just a few bruises that’ll heal quickly, but we won’t ever be the same.”
“No, I don’t think we will.”
“You’ll have to put her down sometime.”
“I know, but not yet.”
“Yea, I can’t keep myself from touching mine either.”
I smiled. “Seth, you’re a great dad.”
He smiled down at a now sleeping Cait. “I try. You’re not too bad of a mom.”
“Thanks.”
“And Drake will be a great dad.”
“He already is.”
He smiled over at me sadly and took a deep breath, “If you need anything, Mags, just ask.”
I nodded knowing what he was talking about. “I don’t know what to do or how to feel.”
“That’s sounds about right.”
“Uhm, do you know what happened?”
He visibly swallowed and nodded his head.
“Will you tell me?”
“You sure.”
“Yea, I think I need to know.”
“Well, after he shot you, a police officer shot him with a shot gun in the leg. Apparently, they hit the femoral artery and he bled out quickly.”
“I think I am going to be sick,” I mumbled and Seth quickly took Quinn from me so I could run to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, Devi walked into the bathroom while I was still crouched beside the toilet, not sure if I was okay to get up yet or not.
“Yea, it’s a pretty fucked situation, isn’t it?”
“Yep.”
“Let’s get you off this floor and cleaned up, huh?”
I let her help me up, and went to the sink and ran cold water washing out my mouth then splashing my face. I looked at myself in the mirror, I looked like hell my eyes were bloodshot and I was pale. I shook myself and looked back at my best friend, she looked worried. I didn’t want to cause her more stress than she was already under, so I attempted a smile but by the look on her face I don’t think I succeeded.
“I’m okay.”
“No, you’re not, and no one expects you to be.”
“It’s just got to take some time for it all to sink in.”
She hugged me. “I’m so glad you and Quinn are okay.”
I hugged her back hard. “Me too.”
She sighed. “Now, we just have to get Drake home.”
“That would be nice.”
“Yea, I bet you could use him right about now.”
“Yea I could.”
“So when are you going to put him out of his misery and marry him?”
“What?” I laughed out.
“You heard me, I know my brother, and I know he’s already asked you at least once, so when are you going to say yes?”
I shook my head. “I’m not marrying him.”
“Why not?”
“Because he doesn’t really want to marry me.”
She looked at me like I was crazy, and maybe I was, hell if I knew anymore.
“Sure he does, or he wouldn’t have asked.”
“Devi, he said we should get married so he could adopt Quinn.”
“Sounds like something the jackass would say.”
“So you see he doesn’t want to marry me.”
“Yea he does. He’s just trying to give you reasons to justify it, because we both know you won’t say yes until you’ve got reasons why it makes sense.”
I shook my head. “No, I want someone to ask me to marry them, to spend the rest of my life with them because they love me.”
“He does love you.”
“I know he says he does, but come on, if Seth would have looked at you and said let’s get married so I can be a part of Jaks life, what would you of said?”
“Hmmm, okay I see what you mean, but I probably would have said yes, because I knew Seth loved me. It would have been better if Drake would have started with that, but knowing him he just told you what was going to happen instead of asking.”
I laughed because, damn, was she spot on. “Pretty much.”
She shrugged. “I know my brother, just will you do me a favor?”
“Anything.”
“Just think about it okay, when he asks again, think about it?”
“All right.”
“Okay, let’s go get our girls and put them to bed.”
Drake
I was working with my physical therapist, he was helping me get used to crutches and how to maneuver with them but the cast on my arm was making it really difficult. I knew I wouldn’t be able to use them much until it came off, but I couldn’t handle being in a fucking wheelchair all the time either. I knew it was going to hurt with my ribs and all, but I still needed a way to be able to do for myself, even though my doctor and therapist didn’t agree. They decided it would be better to help me now instead of me hurting myself more later. My doctor said I could go home, or well, Devi’s, tomorrow morning, I was so happy to be getting out of this place.
“All right Drake, I’m going to tell you to try and stay off the crutches as much as possible, and when you do use them no more than a few minutes, but I know you won’t listen to me, so I guess I’ll tell your sister.”
“Ah man, come on.”
He chuckled. “Yea, she kinda scares me too.”
“She doesn’t scare me, but she has this look like I kicked her damn puppy or something, I can’t say no.”
This caused him to laugh out right. “Oh this will be easier than I thought.”
“What happened to patient confidentiality?”
“Well, you gave that up when you signed that we could discuss all medical care with her.”
“Damn, I should have read that better.”
“Well, now you’ll know next time, but I really do hope there isn’t a next time.”
“Yea me, too,” I muttered.
“All right, I’ll see you soon, man.”
“Yea, here in a few weeks, I hope.”
“Yea, we can start on your wrist then.”
“All right, see you later.”
I was lying back in bed when Mags came in carrying Quinn in her new car seat as well as Cait in hers.
“Where’s Devi?”
She laughed. “Craig stopped her and wanted to talk to her.”
I groaned. “He’s an ass.”
“He’s a smart ass if he’s doing what I think he’s doing.”
“Yea, he’s telli
ng her what I can and can’t do.”
“Good, then you’ll do it.”
“Between you and her I won’t have much of a choice,” I said and then looked her over, there were dark circles under her eyes and she was looking pale. “How you doing, baby?”
She put the car seats down and fiddled with something not looking at me. “Okay”
“Mags, don’t lie to me, how you doing?”
“I’ll be okay, I just need some time.”
I nodded. “Yea, I am sure you do.” I reached out towards her, “Come curl up with me.”
She stood up and walked over to the bed, lying down with me and laying her head on my chest. I ran my fingers through her hair holding her close. I needed this to just hold her.
“It’ll be okay, honey, and I’ll be home tomorrow,” I murmured.
Her head jerked up. “You will?”
I smiled and nodded. “Yea, found out this morning they are going to release me tomorrow.”
She buried her face in my chest. “Finally.”
We laid there listening to the girls coo and play with their toys, just enjoying being able to hold each other after all that had happened was a miracle.
“How's your arm feeling?”
“It’s a little tender, but not too bad.”
“That’s good,” I said staring up at the ceiling while running my fingers through her hair. “Mags, marry me.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“You want the real answer?”
“Of course.”
“Because you’ve never asked.”
“I’ve asked you twice.”
“No, you’ve ordered twice, the first was so you can adopt Quinn. I want you to ask me, because you want me, because you love me.”
“Ah honey, I do love you.”
“I love you too, Drake, but it would be nice to be asked.”
“Fine,” I grumbled and then Devi stormed in and I sighed, what was I supposed to do now?
Chapter 38
Mags
“So why is Drake still coming back here?” I asked Devi later that night while we worked to get the guest room on the first floor set up for Drake.
“Because he’s going need help.”
“Yea,” I said slowly.
“All right Mags, let’s say you’re staying with him, how are you going to hold him up to shower, and basically shower him at the same time?”
“I have no idea.”
“Exactly, this way Seth, X, Eli or Sam will be here to help hold him up; you can’t do it all.”
“Fine, I see your point.”
“Good, glad someone does,” she muttered.
I knew she was still angry with Drake about pushing himself too far too fast, also they had a big blow out about him having to come to her place instead of going home. I understood him wanting to go home, I was missing my little house too, but I didn’t know if I would ever be able to sleep there again.
“So have you found out what’s been going on with Jules?”
“Nope, and she hasn’t been to work in a week.”
“Really?”
“Yea, I’m starting to get really worried.”
“What does Cris say?”
“He told her that he was there if she needed to talk and then gave her her vacation time.”
“Sounds like Cris.”
“Yea,” she growled.
“What’s going on?”
She sighed. “The shop isn’t doing well.”
“Why?”
“People aren’t getting tattoos right now, so it’s difficult.”
“What’s Cris going to do?”
She looked down at the floor. “Uhm, get a partner to help.”
“Sounds like a good plan, who?”
“Me.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yea, I’ve been talking to him for a few months about it now.”
“Is this something you want to do?”
“Yea it is, I’m going to me a mostly silent partner.”
“Mostly?” I laughed.
“He can run the shop like he always does, I just want to be able to have input on hiring.”
“You did that anyway.”
“Yep, so not much will change, only he will have the money he needs.”
“Should I even ask what Seth thinks about this?”
“He doesn’t care as long as it’s something I want to do.”
“Good,” I replied, worried because Cris and Seth still had a slightly strained relationship.
“Yea, now let’s get this finished, so we can move on to the bathroom, ordered Devi.
The next morning, bright and early, we walked into Drake's hospital room and found him fighting with a pair of jeans, there was no way in hell he was going to wear jeans. Devi and I just stood there and watched, trying not to laugh, but neither of us could hold it in for long.
“I’m so fucking glad I… I…” he stopped and took a deep breath. “This fucking sucks.”
I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around him. “I know. honey.”
“All right, so obviously I will not be wearing jeans, what’s your idea?”
Devi reached into a bag and pulled out a pair of sweats that had the left leg cut off and tossed them to him.
“Meet your new best friend,” she said.
He sighed. “No other choice, huh?”
“Not that we could come up with; it’s either this or athletic shorts. Oh and I did get you some of those too.”
“All right, boxers?”
She smirked. “Will they fit over the cast?”
He groaned, “Probably not.”
“Didn’t think so.”
“Okay, so leave, little sister so I can get dressed then.”
She giggled. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”
“DEVLIN SHAYE!” he yelled.
She giggled again. “Okay okay, there’s a shirt in there too, and a sock and a shoe,” she said with a smirk.
“You’re a real bitch sometimes.”
“Yep,” she said then looked over at me. “You going to need help?”
“No, I should we should be okay.”
“Okay, but if you do, ask.”
“I know, Devi.”
“Have fun, you two,” she said with a wink then finally left.
I just shook my head, there was something wrong with the Porter children.
“All right, big guy, let’s get your dressed.” He flipped me off, but didn’t stop me from helping him get his clothes on.
Drake
“You are going to get me castrated,” X grumbled. We sent the girls off to get a coffee while waiting for the doctor to discharge me. What they didn’t know was that I had already taken care of all that before they had showed up.
“Am not.”
“When Devi finds out that I knew anything about this, she is going to cut my balls off.”
I laughed. “Okay, she might.”
“Oh laugh it up because yours will be next.”
I sighed. “Yea, they probably will, but it will be worth it.”
“Yea, for you.”
“By the way, thanks.”
“You’re welcome, but she had better say yes after all this.”
“Let’s hope,” I murmured. “Okay, let’s get out of here.”
He sighed. “If I get my dick cut off for this and she says no, I am going to break your other leg,” he said while wheeling me out of my room, a room I was all too happy to get away from.
“Freedom.”
X laughed. “I am so happy to not have to come back here to visit your dumb ass anymore.”
“Yeah, three weeks is way too long to have to stay in this place.”
“Yep.”
We finally made it outside and I inhaled deeply, ah, fresh air I missed it. “So where’s the car?”
“Over there,” he pointed towards the car I had, had X rent for this.
“Really?”
> “Yeah, figured might as well go all out.”
“Thanks, man.”
“Eh, it will be worth it to see you both happy.”
I looked over my shoulder at him. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s good; now let’s get this show on the road.”
“All right, make the call.”
He pulled his cell from his pocket and texted Seth, while I pulled mine out and texted Mags.
A few minutes later, we watched Mags walk out of the hospital looking for us. X waved her down and she headed in our direction. He looked down at me. “Need help getting in?”
“Probably.”
“All right, let’s get you in the car then.”
Chapter 39
Mags
I got a text message from Drake saying he was outside right after Seth came in and said that Drake's physical therapist wanted to talk to him about something. I shrugged and headed outside. When I walked out the door I looked around but didn’t see him where I thought he would be, but then I noticed X waving his arms around in the air looking like an idiot and Drake sitting in a wheel chair beside him. They were in front of a stretched hummer limo. What the hell was going on? I walked in their direction not knowing what to expect for these two.
I walked up to them watching X get Drake out of the wheel chair then basically shove him into the limo. “Hey, careful, we just sprung him,” I said and giggled.
X looked over his shoulder at me and grinned. “He’s huge, had to get him in there somehow.”
“Yeah, so what’s all this?” I asked gesturing at the limo.
“Thought it would be easier than anything we own.”
I shrugged. “Makes sense.”
“All right, in you go, darlin'.”
I climbed in part way and found Drake spread across one of the seats and looked back at X. “You coming?”
“Nah, thought you two could use some time.”
“Thanks,” I leaned out of the car and kissed his cheek.
“You’re welcome, now be nice to the boy, got it?”
“Got it,” I replied and finished climbing in and X closed the door.
When I looked around I had no idea what to say, the entire thing was filled with stargazer lilies and different types of orchids—my favorite flowers, it was beautiful. I looked over and Drake and saw his eyes were on me, he looked nervous and excited.
“Drake, what is this?”
“A surprise.”
“A surprise?”
“Yeah.” He reached up and knocked on the partition to the front of the vehicle and we started moving. He moved so he was sitting up with his leg stretched across to another seat and patted the seat beside him, so I moved over and straddled his lap.