The Infirmary

I woke slowly, groggy as hell, pain roaring through me. "Oh... fuck... what the... hell?" I mumbled. "Angel? Where's Rora?"

"Oh, I see."


"I love you too." I smiled "And I love our kids, I'll wake you up when she needs fed again."


Selma and I went over to Quin when we heard his voice, Aurora too. "She's right here, champ." I said, smiling. I was so relieved he was going to be okay.


I reached and took his hand "I'm right here, baby."

"I'll tell you if you want to. Just didn't know if you wanted to hear all my family drama."



"Okay baby," I said and kissed him again. I fed Aria then handed her to Preston when she was finished. "You'll stay here right?" I asked, letting her hold my finger while he held her.



"Oh I'm so glad you're gonna be okay," I said, smoothing his hair down, tears in my eyes.



I squeezed her hand as much as I could. "You... okay? Wha... wha happened?"

"What else is there to talk about, right?"


"Of course, I will. I'm not going anywhere, get some sleep. I won't leave the infirmary."


"Diego and some of his guys took you...you don't remember?" I asked him.


I nodded, smiling at him "Yeah...I'm okay."

I smiled just a little. "Yeah I guess you're right. I uh... I told you my dad used to drink a lot. Well... when he got drunk... he got mean."



"Okay baby. I love you," I said and kissed him then closed my eyes, falling quickly to sleep.



"N... no... I... I was fi... fishing..." I mumbled, trying to remember.



"They did um... hit you in the head a... a few times," I said quietly, even more scared and worried about him now. "You don't remember anything?" I asked and he shook his head just a little.

"Did he hurt you?" I asked, looking over at him.


I put Aria in the cradle that Pepper brought into the room and set down taking a deep breath while the two of them slept.


Selma and I looked at each other and then I turned back to him "It's alright, don't force yourself to remember anything. You're going to be okay and that's what matters. They can't hurt you again."

"Just once. He was... incredibly drunk one night. And he hit me. I left. And that night... he beat up my mom. Really bad too. I've always... blamed myself. I should've stayed there. If I'd stayed, she wouldn't have gotten hurt."



I came back with Aiden in my arms and laid him down on one of the cots by Preston. "He started dozing off at the table, poor thing," I said quietly, not wanting to wake Katy or the baby.



"Who... who's they... again?" I mumbled. "Wha... what happened? Where am I?"

"That isn't your fault, I'm sure she wouldn't have wanted you there to see that. I don't know much about mother's but if I was one...I'd rather put myself in danger than for something to happen to my child. I'm sure any decent Mom feels that way."


"I guess when he got his belly full he was ready for some rest, huh?" I smiled and got up, walking out of the room with Ezra behind me "Thank you."


"Diego and his friends jumped you." I whispered "Quin, are you okay?" I asked, looking into his eyes and he looked momentarily lost "Nevermind. You need rest."

"Not the point. I should've been there. I should've protected her." I shook my head. "They worked things out though. He doesn't drink anymore. It... it took me a long time to forgive him though. Even though she did."



"Of course. I didn't mind a bit," I said and smiled a little. "Congratulations. She's... she's beautiful."



"Yeah I... I am... I'm tired," I mumbled. "I'm gonna... I'm gonna sleep."

"I can't imagine, forgiving him must have been hard."


"Thanks. I really don't know what to do with two kids but I'll figure it out I guess." I smiled "How have you been? Where's your man at?"


"We'll be right here when you wake up." I said as he drifted off to sleep, so worried about him I felt sick.

"It was. It was... probably the hardest thing I've ever done."



"You're lucky to have them," I said quietly then cleared my throat a little. "He's at Cameron and Abi's, with Carter. He's having a rough time."



"Does... does Pepper know about this?" I whispered, barely holding back tears. "She didn't... she didn't mention memory loss."

"I'm sorry." I muttered, not knowing what else to say "I've never been in any type of situation...not until tonight that is."
-Cody

"Maybe I'll run into him later then. Seems like you guys have a lot going on right now."
-Preston

"She probably couldn't have known until he woke up. She's been so busy with everything, we'll tell her as soon as she gets back."
-Brett

I nodded. "When you get... betrayed... by people you trust... people that are supposed to care about you... it's rough. It's hard to deal with."



I nodded a little. "Yeah. Always do. You need anything else?"



I nodded a little. "You... you think he's gonna be okay?"

"I feel like Diego betrayed us...does that make sense? He knew the trouble his actions would cause...he had to of. Now, look. He's dead and people are hurting emotionally and physically."


"Nah, I'm good. If you guys need me for anything let me know."


"He needs time to heal and rest, I'm sure he'll pull through."

"I know what you mean. He wasn't thinking about anyone but himself though. He didn't care who he hurt. I think... he felt like he deserved revenge or something. Which doesn't make any sense. But I guess to him it did."



I nodded. "I doubt we will, but if we do we'll let you know. Thanks Preston," I said then headed out.



"I hope so," I whispered. "He has to. He has to be okay."

"I don't understand any of it."


"We need to hire him body guards, apparently. Trouble just keeps finding him."

"Me either. Maybe we're not supposed to."



"Oh he's not going anywhere alone again. I don't care if he gets mad or thinks I'm babying him, I'm putting my foot down. I can't lose him, I can't lose my son."

"Maybe." I sighed "I think I'm okay...you don't have to stick around if you don't want."


"You aren't going to, Selma. I promise you."

"I don't mind. Not like I have anything else to do."



I nodded. "Okay. Okay," I whispered and laid my head on his shoulder.

"Alright then."


"Do you want to go check in with Raine and Zoey for a bit? Or one of us can go while the other stays. It's up to you, I'm a little nervous leaving them alone right now."

"Better than being in a practically empty house with another guy that's just as depressed as I am. Owen's cool, and I'd rather be there than with living with my family, but it can get kinda... I don't know... old after awhile I guess."



"Yeah it is getting kind of late. I'll go see if they can stay with Erica. I want to be here tonight."

"Maybe you both should start getting out more...you can't be depressed forever."


"Alright, I'll stay here then."

I shrugged. "I feel like they blame me. I feel like everyone blames me for what happened. Even though they say they don't. I still feel that way."



"Okay. I'll be back soon." I kissed him then headed out.

"Maybe you should start listening to them though, Chad. If they blamed you they would be acting completely. I'm sure they love and care about you."


"Do you think they'll come after me for what I did?" I asked Brett after Selma left, not even looking at him. I just kept watching Quin sleep.


"I really hope they aren't that stupid." I said "But if so, I'll finish them off so they'll no longer be a problem. After hurting Quin and my sister they're lucky to still be breathing at the moment."

I shrugged a little. "You're probably right. I just... I can't help how I feel. Ever since... what happened... it's like there's this hole in me. Nothing will fill it. Or even makes it smaller. It's just... always there. Most of the time I... I feel like I'm suffocating."