SCARRED - Part 6 (The SCARRED Series - Book 6) (2 page)

“As far as I’m concerned, she should get a medal,” Detective Brady said.

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C
hloe felt like she was in a heavy black cloud. For a few seconds she couldn’t see or hear anything...it was like being inside of a dark vacuum. Her body was heavy, so heavy that she couldn’t move. She couldn’t remember how to open her eyes and she was on the verge of panic when her ears all at once began to register sound. She could hear the buzzing of machines and clicking or clopping noises like rubber soled shoes on a tile floor. People were talking, but their voices were low...hushed. She strained to hear what they were saying, but it was just like background noise and the words didn’t make any sense.

Where am I?
  She wanted to open her eyes but she couldn’t remember how. She concentrated hard, struggled with her eyelids until finally her will won out and they fluttered open. The light above her was so bright that it hurt. She closed them again.

“Chloe?”

She let them flutter open again. A lady with a ruddy complexion and wearing blue nursing scrubs and a blue hair net was looking down at her, smiling. She had a pleasant face, but it wasn’t one that Chloe recognized.

“Hello there, Chloe. You’re awake. Welcome back.” Chloe opened her mouth, but like her eyelids, her voice didn’t seem to work. She blinked her eyes rapidly and the lady smiled. “I know it’s bright in here, I’m sorry.” That wasn’t what she was trying to say.
Where is here?
She tried to force the words out again but still nothing. She concentrated on her throat this time...hard. Her head was pounding from the effort when she was finally able to clear it. She forced the words out, thinking they would be loud. What she heard was a whisper she hardly recognized.

“Where am I?”

“You’re in the hospital sweetheart, in Rhode Island.”

She tried to move and that was when a searing pain shot through every muscle in her body. It was like her body was a pinball machine and there was a ball of pain bouncing off of every part of it. She looked down at herself and saw that her right arm was wrapped in a clean white bandage from elbow to wrist. The area underneath that was throbbing.

“What happened?” she whispered. In her head she could see Jesse. He was smiling at her...taunting...

“You were hurt honey. You just came out of surgery. Everything went well. Are you in pain?”

“A little...” That was an understatement, but the memories were trickling back...she didn’t want to be all doped up and have to start all over again. She was hurt...she was in a fight...she killed someone...

“I’ll get you something. I’ll be right back.”

“Jesse!”

“Is that your husband, honey?”

My husband...no, thank God. Jesse’s dead...isn’t he? I killed him. Oh my God, I killed him...I killed him...I’m alive and he’s dead...I’m free!

“No,” Chloe finally whispered out loud. “Can I have some water?” Her throat felt like sandpaper.

“I’m sorry dear, no water yet. I have glycerin swabs.” Chloe wrinkled her nose. It hurt. The pleasant nurse laughed. “I know, but it’ll help, trust me.”

She went to get the medicine and the swabs and Chloe tried once again to lift her head up and take inventory of the toll her fight with Jesse had taken on her body. She was able to lift it, but it hurt like hell...everything did. All she could really see was the bandage on her arm and the IV going into the other one.  

Everything was still a little fuzzy...Is it medication, or is my right eye not opening all the way?
Her mind jumped from there back to
Jesse’s dead
.
I killed him.

While she waited for the nurse to come back she thought about Trevor and Samantha and most of all Derek. They must be frantic. She felt bad for putting them through this so soon after they’d gone through Trevor and Derek’s accident...but
Jesse’s dead
...he won’t hurt them anymore.   When the nurse came back with the swabs and a syringe Chloe said, “Is my family here?” It sounded strange to her own ears to say that...still foreign. She has a family who wants her and loves her. For the first time in her life she has someone that cares enough to worry about her. Jesse’s dead.

“There are some nice people waiting for you in the waiting room. We’re going to get you into your room and then they’ll be allowed to visit, okay?”

Chloe started to nod and realized what a mistake that was immediately. Her head felt like a bowling ball and when she moved it, it felt like it would roll off. She watched as the nurse put the contents of the syringe into her IV and then she opened her mouth and let her wipe down the dry membranes with the swabs. The nurse was right, it helped. A warm feeling was trickling through her veins now. Whatever the nurse had given her was flowing through her blood and quickly shrouding the pain...at first it dulled it and then the pain went completely away and left her feeling like the black cloud had been replaced by a big, fluffy white one. She was floating on it, and she felt light again...but she was tired. She wanted to lie down on it and take a nap. She was so sleepy and her eyelids were so heavy...but she couldn’t go back to sleep again. She wanted to see Derek. She needed to see his cool blue eyes and she needed to tell him that she was sorry for worrying him. She wanted to see her parents and tell them the same thing. And Jake...Jake was there...Jesse’s dead. Chloe closed her eyes again and felt herself being pulled away on a cloud. 

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C
hloe felt herself floating back towards the surface. She wasn’t sure how long she’d been out. She could hear voices again...this time they were familiar voices...Was it Jake? Kevin? Why isn’t Derek here? She needs to see Derek. There’s another voice too...a female voice, maybe a nurse? No, it’s Roxi. Roxi’s here...did I call her? These people are my family. I’m not alone any longer....Jesse’s dead. The monster lives no further to torment her. He can’t hurt anyone ever again. Oh God! I killed a person...a human being...No! Jesse was a monster. It was kill or be killed. This time, he didn’t win.

She had to concentrate hard again, but finally she felt her eyelids lifting and this time a more subdued light shone into her eyes. She opened her mouth but before she could say anything there was another nurse right above her.

“Hey there! You’re awake.”

She cleared her throat again. The room had gone silent. “Yes,” she said in a whispered croak.

“How are you feeling?”

“A little sore,” she said. The medication still weighed heavily on her muscles, but the pain was beginning to seep back in. She blinked a few times and then she said, “Is Derek here?”

Jake stepped into her line of vision. He smiled at her, but his eyes looked worried. “Not yet, but he’s on his way. Trevor and Samantha too.”

She tried to smile back at him, but it hurt too much. Roxi stepped up next to Jake and Kevin was on the other side of the bed. Her family. “Hi,” she said.

They all smiled. “Hi, you scared us,” Kevin said.

Chloe licked her sore, dry lips. “I’m sorry.”

Roxi reached down and took hold of her hand. “You don’t have to be sorry, kid. Just get better so I can kick your ass.” Chloe started to laugh and she felt like someone had stuck a knife in her ribs.
Damn!
When she recovered she said,

“I’m fine. Tough.” she looked at the nurse who was fussing with her IV line and said, “Right?”

“That’s right. You’re like Muhammed Ali...you and the baby.”

The room went silent once more. Chloe was staring at the nurse and the other three were staring at her. “The what?” Chloe squeaked.

Chloe could tell by her face that the nurse suddenly realized that none of them knew.

“Um...I’m sorry, but could I ask you folks to step out for a few minutes?” she looked like she was going to be sick. Chloe actually felt bad for her. None of them looked like they wanted to leave...but they mumbled their assent. Roxi winked and squeezed her hand and said,

“We’ll be back.”

Chloe tried another smile. It still hurt her face, but it was getting a little easier. Once they were gone she looked back at the nurse and said, “The baby? I’m pregnant?”

The nurse looked embarrassed as she said, “I’m sorry. I just assumed that you knew. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“I’m pregnant?” That was said as much to herself as it was the nurse.

“Yes. They did STAT labs when you came through ER last night. The pregnancy test was positive, so the doctor ordered a sonogram then before they took you to surgery. You’re about six weeks along.”

“Wow...I’m pregnant...Last night? How long have I been here?”

“Just about five hours,” the nurse told her.

“It’s still dark...”

“It’s about three a.m.” Chloe closed her eyes again. Her foggy mind suddenly remembered...she wasn’t supposed to be able to get pregnant. She opened her eyes again and said, “Are you sure?”

The nurse nodded. “They did the sonogram, it was confirmation. There’s a little one in there.”

“Wow...what about all of the medications...?”

“It’s okay. That’s why the doctor did the pregnancy test before they gave you anything that would be harmful to the fetus. The baby is fine. The heartbeat is strong according to the chart and he or she is right on track as far as weight and development go.”

Chloe smiled and closed her eyes again. “I’m pregnant,” she said out loud. Then to herself she said,
Jesse’s dead. I’m free.

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T
he next time that Chloe woke up it was easier to shake off the sleep and open her eyes. The sun was peeking through the slats in the blinds now and when she blinked it out of her sore eyes she saw the most beautiful thing in the world. Derek was asleep in the chair next to the bed. His face was covered with a day’s growth of stubble and he was dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a t-shirt. He looked so sweet and sexy that she could hardly stand not being able to touch him. He’s the most beautiful man in the world...and he’s hers...and now they’re both free. She just watched him for the longest time, imagining his full lips pressed against hers and his hands wrapped up in her hair...his tongue pressing against hers with the kind of passion she’d never felt with anyone but him. She loved him so much that it hurt...and now they were going to have a baby. She wondered what he was going to think of that. She was still watching him when he suddenly pulled open his eyes. Those crystal blue orbs took her breath away no matter how many times she saw them.

“Hi,” she said. Her voice was getting louder and less raspy.

He sat straight up and smiled. “Hi baby. God, it’s so good to see you. Are you okay?”

“I’m okay, how are you?”

He laughed. “I’m fine, but what a pair we are, huh?”

“Yeah, nothing like spending the bulk of your time together in an ICU, huh?”

“As long as it’s with you, I don’t care where it’s at. I would prefer that we were both conscious.”

Chloe giggled. “I missed you.”

He rolled his pretty eyes. “I missed you too. I can’t believe you did this...”

“I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean to worry anyone. I just needed for this to end. We could never have a real life together as long as Jesse was out there on the fringes.”

“I have no idea what I would do without you, Chloe.”

“I feel the same way about you. That’s why I had to do this...I hope you understand.”

“I understand, but I feel badly that I wasn’t able to help you. You shouldn’t have had to go through that baby. You shouldn’t have had to face that monster alone.”

“I know that I didn’t have to. I have so many wonderful people in my life now, thanks to you. But he wasn’t going to rear his ugly head when anyone else was around. He was such a coward and he thought that I would be the weakest one. I needed to do it myself, or I was never going to heal.” 

“He was wrong. He’s always been wrong. You were strong before Max taught you how to kick ass. You had to be...you never would have survived otherwise.”

“I know that, rationally,” she said with a smile. “But I had to stand up to him. I had to prove to myself that there was no reason for me to be afraid of him...or anyone. I simply needed to heal myself. I want to travel this path with you, but I had to be the one to find my own way. I hope you understand that. I’m not sure that the police are going to understand all of this. Are they waiting for me in the wings?”

“No, they left. It is advantageous having attorney’s in the family,” he said with a grin. “Dad and Jake told them what happened. They said they’ll still need to talk to you, but Dad doesn’t think they’ll file any charges.”

Chloe breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m glad, but even if I knew I’d have to face jail time...I wouldn’t have done anything differently. I have a family to look out for now too.”

He smiled at that. “Yes you do.”

“Speaking of family, where did Jake, Roxi and your dad go?”

“I sent them to get some sleep on the yacht. Trevor and Samantha were here too. I told them to all get out so I could have some time with my girl.”

Chloe smiled. “My girl, I like that...no, I love it. Derek?”

“Yeah baby?”

“Kiss me.”

“Your lips don’t hurt?”

“Yes, but I don’t care. I need to feel your lips on mine.” Derek stood up and leaned down over the bed. He let his soft, full lips brush softly against hers. Chloe felt her breath catch in her throat. The pain was a non-issue. “Mm, I like that,” she said. He let his tongue come out and he traced her lips with it.

“I love you, Chloe.”

“I love you too, so much. I have something I need to tell you.”

Derek’s eyes looked worried. He pulled the chair as close to the bed as it would go and sat down. “What is it, baby?”

Chloe smiled. “It’s good news...at least I think it is. I hope you will too...”

Derek’s lips twitched upwards. “Are you going to share?”

“I’m sorry. I’m so excited, this is huge...”

He cocked an eyebrow.

God, he’s beautiful. I hope our baby looks just like him.
“I’m pregnant Derek. We’re going to have a baby.”

Derek’s face went through a myriad of emotional responses in seconds. First he looked shocked and then confused and then happy. “Are you sure?”