“Its okay” The EMT patted my shoulder.
“How bad is the neck wound?” Dad was still in Marine mode and would be for a while
“It’s deep but I think a few stitches and she’ll be okay… a few inches more and it could be a different story Sir”
“Yeah” Dad nodded “Good job I never hesitate or second guess”
“Thank you” I mumbled my eyes wanted to close and my body felt heavy
“Shhh” dad sighed “You’re okay now Aly you’re safe again”
Chapter 87
My Marines
I was arguing with the doctor who thought pulling rank would impress me or scare me. The door to the trauma room opened and Mom and Dad walked in.
“Alyssa” Mom chastised
“Mom I want to go home I’m patched up poked prodded and tested” I groaned “I don’t want to stay in here”
“You need to stay here so we can see what the test results say” The doctor sighed
“Honey we’re not going home” Dad sat on the bed by me “There’s some sort of mess in one of the rooms that the cops need to see” he tucked my hair back behind my ear “So We’ve got a place to stay tonight and Brit and Ana are going to go home so I think for once you listen to the doctor and you stay here”
“But it smells of hospitals” I flopped back immediately regretting it as I felt the pull of the stitches in my neck
“Aly” Mom was trying not to laugh “Please stay here just for tonight and then when the doctor is sure you’re okay then you can go and” she looked at Dad
‘What?”
“We’re moving from that house” Dad rubbed my hand “The last thing I want is to keep seeing the room where I shot a guy” he rubbed his hand over his jaw “I understand you were moving out”
“I was going to” I nodded “Ryne was going to… Oh crap does he know what happened… damn he’s going to be pissed or hate me… or both” the monitor I was still hooked to beeped like it was having a seizure. I groaned and pulled off the sticky sensors from under the hospital gown making it sound like I’d died.
“Aly” Dad was a little short “You just had to deal with some guy attempting to Rape you hold a knife to your throat and me shooting him, By the way don’t look in the mirror till you’ve showered you have bits of cowboy in your hair” Mom shot him a look and swatted him “Sorry” He hung his head for a second before looking at me “You are staying in here for tonight no if’s ands or buts”
“Yes Sir” I felt a lump in my throat he lifted my chin
“We love you honey let them help you get some sleep and no one can touch you now” Dad smiled at me
“Will you wait to leave until I’m asleep before you go?”
“Of course” Mom stroked my hair as the doctor added something to the drip that sent my eyes slipping closed.
I opened my eyes the lights were all dim in the room there was a droning noise that was irritating the hell out of me and my hands felt hot and sweaty I tried to lift them and realized they were held down, panic rose in me had everything with Dad killing Justin of been and dream.
“Ow shit” I froze at the sound of the voice “Aly that’s my eye you just poked” My head turned to the left as Jack sat up rubbing his eye. My breath caught in my throat
“Teach you to sleep on her hand” I turned to the right and Ryder grinned at me his hand holding mine still “Hey you” he cocked his head I looked back at Jack and promptly burst into tears.
“Oh shit” Jack quickly moved and sat next to me with Ryder jumping and sitting on the other side of me the two of them literally smothered me in their arms.
“Dad did what I should have done” Ryder sighed as they slowly let me go a little. “I had the shot and didn’t take it”
“Don’t you beat yourself up” We looked at the door to see Dad standing there “the situation you had him in was different and you couldn’t guarantee your sister wouldn’t get hit if it was through and through” He walked over “You’re an excellent Sniper but you knew not to shoot if it wasn’t clear” Ryder nodded slightly he knew Dad was right. I put my head on Jacks shoulder he had this thing that could make me calm just by sitting with him and no he’s not a freaky vampire it was just the laid back way Jack was.
“Well that’s what I like to see” Brit walked in with a tray with four coffees on “Three men in uniform looking after a damsel in distress”
“And there’s my sister the dork” Jack grinned
“I hope one of those Coffees is for me” Ryder rubbed his hands together
“No I thought I’d drink them all” She rolled her eyes “Aunt B said she’d be in, in a while” she looked at Dad and handed him a coffee
“Thanks honey” he sat on the end of the bed
“Okay I think there may be a weight restriction on that bed” Brit giggled handing Ryder and then Jack a coffee
“Hey she’s calling you fat” Ryder nudged me I looked at them and looked down. “Al”
“I’m sorry I’m just a little…” I trialed off the tears springing to my eyes again
“Hey” Ryder put down his drink and sat facing me “I’m sorry I wasn’t being mean I was trying to make you smile”
“It’s hard Ry” I bit my lip and shot Dad and nervous glance “I’ve… I’ve…”
“Honey it’s okay” Dad stepped up
“Dad can I have two minutes with Aly” Ryder looked at him ‘Please”
Chapter 88
Self loathing
Dad let out a huge sigh and then nodded Jack got off the bed and dropped a kiss on my cheek. Brit lingered for a while.
“Brit” Ryder cocked his head.
“Oh come on” she groaned “none of us keep secrets”
“Brit I need Ryder right now” I looked at her fresh tears streaking my face.
“Okay” she gave me a half smile and reached and squeezed my hand and turned and walked back out closing the door after her. Ryder looked at me and held both of my hands
“Right this can’t be good” He shook his head his eye brows knitting tightly together “Aly what the hell’s going on”
“Everything’s going to change and I’m so scared”
“Aly you’re not making sense… what’s going to change…? You have nothing to be scared of now Justin’s gone” he sighed “Alyssa you’re scaring me” he moved to wrap his arms round me as I broke down again.
“I’ve let everyone down” I sobbed
“I’m going to slap you in about 10 seconds if you don’t tell me what” He pulled back and held my arms “Ive never known you let anyone down”
“I’m pregnant” I blurted out it was as if the air was sucked out of the room. Ryder’s eyes got wider “I’m pregnant and I don’t know whose it is” my voice had dropped to almost a whisper.
“Are you sure?” was all he could manage
“The doctor came and told me this morning” I nodded dropping my eyes so I wasn’t looking at him in case he was ashamed of me that it could be Justin’s or Ryne’s “they ran a boat load of tests and…” I got choked up again He hugged me to him I balled my fists in his shirt “I’m sorry… I didn’t’ mean for it to happen”
“Shhh” he stroked my hair “You need to talk to Mom and Dad… hell you need to talk to Ryne… Damn how the hell are we going…”I put my hand over his mouth as he gabbled away.
“Mom and Dad are going to go mad at me for being irresponsible” I swallowed hard “I don’t’ know whose baby it is Ryder I seriously don’t know”
“Shit” Ryder hugged me tighter. “Al you need to talk to Mom and Dad” he held my face in his hands “We all love you and we’ll all stand by you even if it’s …” he couldn’t bring himself to say Justin’s name now “Oh god” he rested his head against mine “You’re not alone Sis I promise you that” he wiped my tears with his thumbs “Let me get Mom and Dad” he went to get off the bed. I grabbed his hand
“Ryder I can’t”
“Yes you can. I�
��ll stay while you tell them” he smiled at me I held on to him “Aly come on Mom was pregnant at 19 with us all the kids have been born to young parents”
“Yeah but they were married to their Marines” I groaned “Hell I’m not even sure if this is my Marines Baby for that if Ryne will even want me if it’s not his…” my thoughts went right to Ryne’s past with having his chance of being a husband and father taken away so harshly.
“Ryne loves you”
“And if this baby is Justin’s do you think he could still love me and a baby that’s’ come from what Justin did” I was getting stressed and the monitors beeped like crazy. Ryder sat back down and laid me back
“You need to calm down Sis” he soothed “Aly please you’re going to make yourself sick” the door opened and the doctor walked in.
“Alyssa remember what we said about getting stressed out” he sighed shaking his head
“I know” I closed my eyes and tried to control my breathing which was hard between the sobs
“Al I’m going to get them” I opened my eyes and looked at him “You can’t put it off this won’t go away” he dropped a kiss on my forehead “But then neither will your Family”. He walked away before I could say anything the doctor added something to my I.V.
“That’s not going to send me to sleep is it?”
“No not yet it’ll help relax you” he patted the back of my hand “You need anything?”
“An escape route” I sniffed as he handed me a Kleenex
“Sorry you’re in a Naval hospital no way out girl” he smiled “I’ll check on you in a while” he turned away as the door opened and Mom and Dad walked in followed by Ryder. “Guys I have to ask you not to stress her out too much” the Doctor said stopping Mom and Dad as Ryder walked over to me “With everything she’s been through we’re looking for signs of PTSD”
“We understand” Mom nodded somberly “We just want her to be okay”
“And with the support she seems to have I think she will be okay but let’s air on the side of caution for a little while longer” Mom and Dad nodded and walked over to my bed Ryder was sitting next to me his one arm round my shoulder his other hand holding mine to stop them from shaking.
Chapter 89
What to do?
Mom and Dad sat down looking at me
“Ryder said you wanted to talk to us” Mom tried to sound confident and strong but her voice gave out on her. Dad slipped his arm round her waist and pulled her to him
“I need to say sorry” I couldn’t look at either of them “you guys always knew I was the wilder one”
“No you were the mix of all the crazy Marine wives in this family “Dad laughed running my leg
“Aly stop saying sorry” Ryder groaned “Tell them like you told me” I looked at my Brother “If you won't, I damn well will” I closed my eyes and leant into Ryder more he tightened his arm round me as if trying to hold me together.
‘I’m pregnant” I muttered “and I don’t know if it’s Justin’s or Ryne’s”
“Say what?’ Dad struggled with his words
“J.J.” Mom stopped him “Aly look at me” I looked up “It’s okay”
‘Mom it’s not” I shook my head “How can it be okay if I’m having Justin’s baby…? Why the hell would Ryne want me? What did I do that was so bad to make this happen?”
‘Well you take a Bird and A Bee” Ryder laughed nervously trying to lighten the mood
“Ryder” Dad shook his head and got up from the chair “Aly”
“Dad I’m sorry… I’m sorry I let you down” I sniffed
“Hey who said you’d met us down” he stroked my face “These things happen and we’ll handle it”
“Your Dad’s right sweetheart” Mom’s voice wasn’t shaky anymore “Whatever happens we’re here for you and we’ll help you”
“Why the hell aren’t you yelling at me and telling me I’m stupid for not being careful?” I sobbed
“What’s the use in yelling we can’t change what’s happened and” Mom took a deep breath “everything has to happen for a reason good and bad and with the girls in this family we take the bad to the extreme” I looked at her
“I’m tired guys” I sniffed the drugs were working more now and making me sleepy with it.
“We’ll let you sleep” Mom kissed my forehead “Alyssa please don’t worry”
“Yes Mom” I felt my eyes slide closed as my head slumped on to Ryder’s shoulder Dad put his head in his hands and rubbed the back of his neck.
“We need to talk” Ryder said carefully moving me onto the pillow Mom pulled the covers over me Ryder walked out to where Jack was sitting with Brit. “Ana’s not here is she?” Ryder asked
“No she had to go to work” Brit shook her head “Please guys what’s going on?” She begged
“Yeah this is rough Aunt B you know how close we are” Jack pleaded “I don’t like seeing her like this”
“She pregnant” Dad blurted out
“Damn” Jack whistled
“I’m not surprised the way Ryne and her used to…” Brit trailed off “Sorry”
“She doesn’t know if it’s Ryne’s or if it happened when Justin raped her” Mom said trying to ignore the comment from Brit.
“No… hell no it can’t be that damn cowboy’s baby” Brit shook her head in disbelief “Aunt B it can’t be”
“I know honey” Mom hugged her.
“What are we going to do about Ryne?” Ryder asked looking round “Dad can’t you get him home? She really needs him right now”
“And if he comes home and the baby’s not his then what we have to pick up the piece after he walks out on her” Dad held out his hands.
“He needs to know he needs to know what’s happened here with Justin” Mom poked Dad in the chest “Ryne’s a good man and a good Marine J.J. remember the shit you had to deal with from my Dad you will not and I repeat will not make it hard for Ryne to love our daughter… do I make myself clear Marine?”
“Yes Ma’am” Dad smiled pulling her to him “I wasn’t going to give him a hard time but if the baby isn’t his and he splits that’s’ what I was meaning” He kissed her head “Hell to deal with Aly he needs a damn medal”
“Uncle J… Ryne loves Aly and he’s… well he’s kicked the crap out of Justin and he’s held a gun to his head, he’d have done anything to make sure Aly was okay” Brit Looked at him
“Okay I get it… but I used all my strings to get my own ass here and to get away with shooting the fuckers brains out”
“I’ll ask Grandpa” Mom pulled her phone from her purse “Hell working in damn Washington he must be able to pull one Marine home”
“Do we tell Ana?” Jack looked at Ryder “I mean she’s your girlfriend and his sister could be damn awkward if we don’t”
“Fuck” Ryder shook his head “this is insane”
“It’s not” Brit put her arms round Ryder and Jacks waists “It’s the family curse biting us in the ass”
Chapter 90
Out and about
I sat on the window ledge hugging my knees to my chest looking across the parking lot of the hospital the rain drops splashing lightly in the puddles. Mother Nature seemed to be feeling the same way I was, my heart hurt every time I thought of talking to Ryne. I moved my legs and got off the ledge and lifted my shirt and put my hand on my stomach there was still nothing much other than what I’d normally get when it was my time of the month.
“You know you don’t look any different” I jumped as Brit walked in with Jack
“Hi” I sighed putting my shirt back down Jack walked over to me and hugged me. “I take it you guys know?”
“Yes we know and you know we’re here for you” Brit sat in my bed “and at least it explains why you were a bitch for the past few days” she giggled.
“I’m sorry… and I’ll say it again for if I go off on you again”
“I’m used to you I’ve grown up with you” She laughed “Y
ou could have told me”
“I didn’t think about it till I spoke to Ryne and I said something about P.M.S.ing and needing chocolate” I sat back on the window ledge “and I realized I hadn’t had my period which was actually due two weeks after he deployed”
“Yeah but that was almost 8 weeks ago” She frowned
“I know but you know how busy I’ve been days and nights have blended together and I’m stupid” I hung my head
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