Stolen Innocence

by S. M. Stryker

  "Can I please go with you?" I ask my voice shaky, my hands and knees are covered in blood from kneeling on the floor and trying to stop his bleeding.

  "Yes, hop in." under the lights of the ambulance I see just how pale Ian is, I rub his hand trying to warm it up as I talk to him.

  The paramedic is putting in an IV and has placed an oxygen mask over his face. I take the phone out of his pocket. My hand is sticky with his blood. I call his parents, telling them he has been shot and they are taking him to OHSU. Ending the call, I continue to talk to, "Ian, baby, talk to me." I take his hand in mine. I look at the paramedic. "Is he going to be okay?"

  "He's lost a lot of blood." Tears are flowing non-stop now. "Ian, baby, squeeze my hand if you hear me. Please, baby, come back to me. God, please bring him back to me! Please! Ian, I love you, please come back to me."

  At the hospital, I follow them into the emergency room. I stay back in the corner of the room while they are working on him, trying to focus on what they are saying. They have monitors hooked up to him and I hear their different beeps and blips, The oxygen that is attached to him hisses. My hands are over my face in a state of shock and terror. A nurse with a sympathetic smile comes over to me.

  "Honey, do you want to sit down?" she asks

  "I don't want to leave him. I'm staying here." I must look a mess with all the blood on me, but right now I don't give a fuck.

  "Do you know if he is allergic to anything?"

  "No, not that I know of."

  "They are going to have to take him to get a CAT scan in a few minutes and you will have to stay here. Is there anyone I can contact for you?"

  "No, I called his parents on the way here; they should be here soon. Can you tell me how he is doing? How long will he be gone for the CAT scan?"

  "Once the CAT scan is analyzed we will know more. We will be gone for a least a half an hour."

  They begin setting the monitors and IV, along with a tank of oxygen, on his bed to prepare him for the CAT scan. Unlocking the wheels and pulling the sides of the bed up, they roll him out of the room. He is so pale and my heart aches horribly. I collapse on the floor, sobbing into my hands.

  Shortly after taking him to get the CAT scan, his parents enter in the room and rush over to me. "Parker, where's Ian?"

  "They took him to get a CAT scan. I'm so sorry. So sorry! I'm sorry..."

  Chapter 16

  Bloody Hell

  Ian

  Shit, what the hell just happened? This is what she kept talking about. She thought I wouldn't want to be with her because of her fucker of a father abused her. I have to stop her. She can't be walking out in Portland after midnight. I walk to the intercom and push the button for the concierge. "How can I help you, Mr. Blake?"

  I remember her talking about everything ending once I knew. That's why she didn't want to tell me; she knew when she did she would leave. Shit!

  "Smith, there is going to be a young blonde woman that will be coming down on the elevator and, I need you to try and stop her. I will be down there in five minutes."

  "Okay, I will try to stop her when she comes through, Mr. Blake."

  Pulling on my jeans and a shirt, I slip my feet into my mandals, grab my keys and phone, and walk to the elevator. While I wait for the elevator, I try to call Parker. Shit, straight to voicemail. She probably hasn't turned it back on from earlier.

  I get to the lobby of the building. "Smith, where is she?

  "I'm sorry, Mr. Blake. She wouldn't stop and I can't leave my post. I'm sorry."

  I turn and take the stairs to the garage. I can jump the stairs to get there faster than the elevator. I pound through the door, running to the Jeep.

  I look for her walking the streets back to her apartment, but I don't see any sign of her. Shit, I'm wasting time. I drive to her apartment. I see her lights are on. I jump the stairs to get to her door. I knock. "Parker, it's Ian, let me in."

  I hear someone yell at her.

  Shit! Parker's adoptive-father found her. I have to do something; I won't let him hurt her again. I pull my phone out call 911 and, step back into a doorway to wait.

  The door opens and I see Parker being pushed out the door. The guy has a gun. Shit. They start to walk to the stairs. I was hoping the police would be here by now. There is no way I will let him hurt her again. I quietly sneak up on him, swinging him around by the shoulder and hit him in the face. But he catches his balance and takes a swing and I duck. I swing for his body and connect but he raises the gun. This fuck is stronger than I thought he would be. I put both my hands on the gun, trying to turn it away from me. I hear the shot before I feel a searing pain burning in my shoulder. The only thing going through my head is saving Parker. I won't let her be a victim again. The adrenaline kicks in and I am able to twist the gun when I hear the gun go off again. I look into Hank's eyes as they blink and roll back. He falls to the ground. I fall back against the wall. I can feel the blood trickling down my chest and back. My vision is starting to blur. I'm getting cold as I slide down the wall.

  I hear Parker; she talking to me. My Parker, I finally see Parker and she looks so scared. She's crying as she runs over to me. I'm sitting, leaning against the wall. She rips open my shirt, then rips my shirt into pieces, placing a wadded piece to the bullet hole in the front. She leans me over to look at my back and places the other piece of shirt to the exit hole. I can't feel the pressure, just the heat of her hands. I try to open my eyes, but I'm so cold and tired. So I just stay, standing behind her. I watch her tend to me, talk to me, and pray for me.

  Someone is pulling Parker away from me and she is screaming at them. No! Stay with me Parker. She takes my hand in hers. I feel her hand in mine; she's so warm. I try to squeeze, but I can't move. They pull her away from me. I'm so cold. I need to touch her; she looks and sounds so scared. I walk over to her and stand behind her again.

  Parker slides down onto the floor. I need to be with her.

  Chapter 17

  The Waiting Game

  Parker

  "Parker, what happened? Parker, honey?" Mrs. Blake interrupted.

  I try to calm myself and to control my tears. I take a big breath as my body shudders from the crying. Mr. Blake hands me a handkerchief; I use it to wipe my nose and eyes. I look down, the handkerchief is now smeared with the blood from my hands and face. "It's a long complicated story that I would prefer not talking about out here in the open, if that's possible."

  "We passed the chapel down the hall. If no one is in there, would you like to talk in there?" Mr. Blake asks.

  "Yes, that would be fine."

  Mr. Blake holds out his hand to help me off the floor; my knees start to give out but he grabs me. I regain my balance and start following them. I stop at the desk first to let them know where we will be and tell them to let us know as soon as Ian gets back.

  We walk to the chapel. Mr. Blake opens the door to let Mrs. Blake and me enter. It's quiet and peaceful in there. We find a pew and they wait for my story of how I got their son shot. I try not going into the whole story, but there is no way around it. I tell them about my mother's death and how after she had died, Hank started making me have sex with him. I share that he continually forced me to have sex with him until I left several weeks ago. The look on both of their faces was one of shock and disbelief. Then I tell them about the stupid misunderstanding at the party; how Ian came after me, and how we had talked it out after going back to his place. And how I knew I needed to tell Ian about Hank and what he had done to me before things got any more serious than what they were. And that I left him at his place because he deserved a woman that wasn't damaged; one that didn't have nightmares or flashbacks of her adoptive-father raping her.

  I watched his parent reaction as I told them everything that happened."

  "I am so sorry..." Mrs. Blake starts to say, but I cut her off.

  I holdup my hands in a surrender position. "I appreciate your sympathy, but this isn't about me right now. I know my story is a s
ick one, but I have lived with it for a long time, and it's my fault that Ian got shot. If it hadn't been for Hank, Ian would be at his place in bed right now.

  "May I ask about your dad?"

  "He's not my dad!" I snap, my voice stern and fierce. "Dads don't do the things that he did to me. He was Hank to me, and he's dead. Ian got his wish to kill him, so I don't have to carry that demon in me anymore."

  Just then, the doctor walks through the door. "Are you Ian's parents?" We all stand.

  "Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Blake. Can you tell us how Ian is doing?"

  "Of course. I'm Dr. Harris and I have been attending to your son. Ian was shot in the left shoulder just above his heart. An inch further down and we wouldn't be talking at all. The bullet went all the way through and although he did lose a lot of blood, there was nothing significant that was hit. He should be fine."

  The Doctor looked at me. "I heard you fought with the police and paramedics to stay with him applying pressure on his wounds to stop the bleeding," the doctor says, looking to me.

  "There was so much blood. I had to stop it," I say nonchalantly, looking from the doctor to Ian.

  "Well, you saved his life. Even if the paramedics were there within a minute, that's a lot of time for blood to pour out of not one, but two wounds." He says, "I just wanted to let you know that what you did saved his life; In fact, he's asking for you, Parker."

  "He is? Can I see him?" My heart is racing; I have been so scared. I couldn't imagine my life without him.

  "Yes, I'll take you all back there."

  We follow the doctor out of the chapel and down the corridor to Ian's room.

  Chapter 18

  Love Conquers All

  Parker

  We enter his room; Ian's eyes are closed. I walk over to him, picking up his hand and giving it a little squeeze. Raising it to my mouth, I kiss it. Ian's eyes begin to flicker open. When he notices me, his face shows a sad smile and my stomach sinks. I put his hand back down. He glances around, spotting his parents as they crowded around the bed.

  "Mom, Dad, can you give me a moment with Parker, please?" His voice is a saddened whisper.

  "Of course, son," Mr. Blake says, as he puts a hand on my shoulder, giving me a small encouraging smile, then turning to leave the room.

  "Parker, I'm sorry about tonight..."

  "Ian, there is no reason to apologize," I interrupt. "Like I told you earlier, I knew this would happen. I knew that as soon as I told you about my childhood... it was best just to walk away. Then you were nearly killed by the same man that has abused me for years, I am the one that needs to apologize to you. If it wasn't..."

  "Stop! Goddamn it!" he shouts. I startle and then look at him. He winces, placing his hand on his wound. "I am going to say this one last time and I want you to listen good," he says sternly. "You are all I have ever wanted, Parker; only you. From the second you tripped on the sidewalk wearing the red top and sexy black skirt, I've wanted nothing more than to have you in my arms. Forever." His eyes search mine pleadingly.

  "Parker, tell me how you feel about us? What do you want?" he asks.

  "At this point it isn't up to me. I have lived with my secrets for years. It is up to you; can you live with what I have told you? "

  "Parker, I don't want to hear anything except what is in your heart, what are you feeling?"

  I whisper, "I love you, Ian, but this is something that I wouldn't expect anyone to bear. That is the rationale I have used to not have a relationship. The way you make me feel... I haven't ever felt this way about anyone. I find myself thinking about you constantly. I can't stop. Even after you caught me on the sidewalk, I felt a special connection with you. I know that sounds trite, but if I didn't know better, I would say we were soul mates. I know we haven't known each other long, but that doesn't change the way I feel. I know I am young, and people would say I don't know what real love is. But I have lived this life for over five fucking years, and I know what is true and what isn't. That will never change." Hesitantly I ask, "Have I thoroughly scared you away?" .

  "As a matter of fact," he states. My body slumps at the tone he uses to tell me how he feels. I'm deflating as I get myself ready for rejection. "I feel the exact same way as you! I told you at the bookstore there was something about you. You mesmerized me, Parker. Shit, Parker, I have no control around you. I've wanted to rip your clothes off ever since I caught you on the sidewalk. But I also want to love you, care for you, and protect you. I constantly think about you every night before I go to sleep. You're my favorite reason for losing sleep, Parker. I would imagine you in my arms as I am lying in bed; our legs tangled together, with me breathing in your scent as it lulls me to sleep. And that was all before we started to sleep together. I can talk to you so easily; you are special. I don't want to, and won't, lose that just because you have a pervert for a father.”

  "Really? You’re not going to walk away?"

  "Hell no! I've never been happier; you haven't left my mind since we met. You're not getting rid of me that easily. If I hadn't been so blindsided by you running away from me again, I would have stopped you, but for some reason I didn't have clothes on. That's why I had the concierge try to prevent from leaving. My feelings for you haven't changed in the least. If anything, it has made my feelings for you stronger. I love you, and I intend on making you mine forever."

  "Even after he shot you? I wouldn't blame you if you did go because sometimes it’s just easier to walk away rather than get buried in the shit."

  "Never," he says. "Parker, I knew you had a dark secret, I just didn't know what it was. That doesn't change how I feel about you. I know you feel the same. I heard you pleading for me. I heard your cries of love for me and your prayers."

  I take his face in my hands, looking deep into his eyes, "I love you, Ian Blake." Leaning over to give him a gentle kiss on the lips, I say. "Your parents need to see you. I will get them so you can have time with them."

  "No, Parker, I don't want you to leave my side."

  Turning, I walk to the door, inviting Ian's parents into the room.

  Chapter 19

  Welcome to the Family

  Parker

  Ian's parents enter the room as I step back out of their way to give them time with Ian. "Parker, where are you?" Ian calls.

  "I'm right here," I answer.

  "Come over here, Parker," he says.

  "Ian, I'm fine. Spend time with your parents. This is their time with you."

  "Parker, I want you here by my side, please." His parents turn to look at me as his mother holds out her hand, beckoning me closer. I walk over to be by Ian's head, bending to kiss him on the forehead.

  "Mom, Dad," Ian addresses his parents. "I want you to know that Parker will be joining our family." I gasp, whipping my head to look at him. "Parker, we have talked about our feelings. They're not changing, and it's time to think about the future, especially after tonight. Life is too short. I am not going to waste any more time and then regret it for not taking what I want. Our lives had crossed four times before I finally got you to go out with me, and this is my second chance. I will not let you run away again. I love you, right?" I nodded my head yes. "And you love me, right?" I nodded my head yes. "Then... let's do something about it."

  "But, Ian..."

  "No buts," he says.

  Ian's mom comes over to me, giving me a big hug. "Welcome to the family, honey."

  "Thank you, Mrs. Blake."

  "For heaven sakes, you can call me Alexis. Or better yet, call me mom." I quickly glance up at her as tears fill my eyes. She quietly says, "I don't want to replace her, honey, because I would never do that to her, but I am a good stand in for her. A girl always needs a mom." Tears stream down my face as she pulls me into another hug.

  "Thank you, Mrs... I mean, mom."

  Mr. Blake comes over to me. "I know you haven't had a father for a long time, but if you would do me the honor, I would love it if you would let me be your adoptive father, Parker." I give him
a big hug.

  "I am tremendously honored and touched that you have welcomed me into your family and would want me to call you both mom and dad. I don't know what to say except thank you both for accepting me into your family. I love your son very much."

  Chapter 20

  I Would Die For You

  Parker

  Ian's parents leave the hospital to get some rest now that they know Ian will be fine. It had been a long day for everyone. I finally cleaned myself up; a nurse gave me a pair of scrubs to wear since I had so much blood on my clothes. I sit in a chair, holding his hand and resting my head on my arm as Ian sleeps. If everything looks good in the morning, Ian will be discharged.

  "Baby girl." I look up at Ian. "Climb into the bed with me."

  "I can't do that. I don't want to hurt you by bumping you."

  "Parker, you know I sleep better with you lying next to me. Please?"

  I slip my flip-flops off, cautiously climbing onto the bed and slipping under the covers with Ian. He still look pale but at least he is warm, he was so cold when they brought him in. He tucks me under his chin, planting kisses over my face before quickly falling asleep. The nurse comes in several times during the night to take Ian's vitals and to check his IV, but she is quiet as not to disturb Ian too much.

  When I wake in the morning, I slowly crawl out from under Ian's hold, needing to use the restroom. While I'm in there I try to straighten my hair and splash water on my face. As I exit the restroom, I hear a knock at the door. It is a detective and he is here to take our statement about last night. He introduces himself as Detective James, and I invite him in to take a seat. Ian is starting to thrash around. I go to his side, placing the palm of my hand to his face and slowly caress his face in an effort to comfort him. He opens his eyes slowly. He has a slightly confused look on his face as if trying to remember where he is. "Ian, baby, it's Parker. Look at me, baby." His eyes shift to mine as his lips start to curve up. "Hi, baby girl," he says.