Family Don't Break

CHAPTER 35

TW: PTSD, flashbacks

ALEX'S POV:

Everything is blurry. I blink a few times to clear my eyes. I'm- where the hell am I? "Davey! Davey, she's awake!" a voice whispers. I turn my head to the right. "Jack?" my eyes widen. I must be hallucinating or something. "Hey, sweetheart. It's me." I try to sit up but pain spikes through my stomach. "Try not to move too much, you might rip your stitches." Davey leans over me, helping me to sit up. "Where am I?" I can't remember what happened the last day or so, and as far as I know, Jack and Davey weren't here before.

"You're back at the lodging house. Race is here too. We got you guys out." As Jack explains, a few memories come back to me. They feel more like dreams, but I can remember some details. Jack picking me up, being in the car, the blinding pain of the stitches. "Is Race okay?" Jack assures me he is and I calm down a little. "I feel like someone burned me with a hot poker." I mumble. Jack smiles a little at my grumbling.

"You hungry?" he asks. "Starving, actually." Davey leaves the room to go grab some food, leaving Jack and I alone. "You had me terrified, you know that?" Jack's voice is soft. He tries to say it as a joke, but I can sense the sadness underneath. "I'm sorry, Jack. I didn't mean for any of this to happen." Jack bites his lip for a moment before speaking. "I think this belongs to you." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out my necklace. My eyes water as he holds it out. I take it and fasten the clasp around my neck. I feel a bit more right with it back on.

"I missed ya, Jack." I grab his hand, holding it tight. I've memorized each callus and scar, and to feel them again is a strange comfort. "Do my parents know that I'm alright?" They must be worried sick. "Yeah. We phoned 'em last night. They brought over some clothes and whatnot. They said to give 'em a call when you wake up." I breathe a sigh of relief. At least they know that I'm alive and safe.

Davey comes back into the room with a steaming bowl of soup. "Fresh outta the can." he hands it to me. The bowl warms my hands as the steam swirls into the air. I take a spoonful and blow on it to cool it. After that first bite, I gobble it down like crazy. I don't know if anything has ever tasted this good. "You want another bowl?" Davey asks. I shake my head no. I already feel so full, just from this one serving.

"Doctor Davey, ya think I can take a shower?" Davey considers for a moment. "I don't see why not. But get Katharine to help you. Don't want you re-opening your cut." I roll my eyes at him, but he just ignores it. "Kath! Get in here, will ya?" Jack shouts. Katharine walks in, a smile on her face. "Hey, Alex." I give her a small wave. "I would get up and hug ya, but I don't want to get blood on your dress."

"Can you help Alex with the shower? Keep her from doing any fast movements." Katharine says yes, helping me up. I feel a sharp pain and almost fall back down, but Jack catches me. The two of them help me to the bathroom. Once inside, Jack closes the door behind him as he leaves.

"The boys are anxious to see you. Soon as Davey came out, they tried to rush in." I smile at that. "Let's get this shirt off, and then I have to take off the bandage." I notice that I'm wearing one of Jack's button downs. It's one of his favorites. "I can unbutton it, I'm not helpless." Katharine insists that I let her do it, saying any strain is too much strain. She starts from the top button. I'm fine for the first few, but once she reaches the fifth button I start to panic.

The memories come flooding back. Hands, don't want these hands, stop, please, stop-