Robbery in Progress

Twenty-Four

When I came to, I was in a hospital room inside Zuckerman San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.

"Jen?" I slowly opened my eyes.

"Christina?"

"Yes, Aunt Jen, it's me." I smiled, placing my hand on my head. The pounding was killing me.

"Where's your dad?"

"He's in another room getting checked out. Mom's pretty mad at him. She was yelling at him when I came in here."

"Well, when she's finished with him, I'm next." I sat up a little in the bed. Christina grabbed the pillow from the bed and placed it where it could help prop me up.

"Thanks." The door opened and Paul and Julie came in.

"Come on honey. Let's give them some time to talk."

"I'm sorry about this, Julie."

"It's not your fault." She closed the door behind them, and Paul pulled up a chair by my bed.

"Paul..."

"Look, don't lecture me, okay? I know I reacted poorly."

"That's putting it lightly." We didn't say anything for a minute. "Why did you do that, Paul?" Paul got up and walked to the window, gripping the back of his neck with his hand.

"I don't..." He shook his head. "It's just...You're family to me, Jen. You know how much I care about you. I can't stand the thought of someone doing anything to hurt you." He paused for a minute and I could tell he was trying to find the right words to say. "I hate what he said to you. I know I didn't handle it in the best way, but you've told me before that I'm like a father figure to you."

"You are."

"It bothers me so much, Jen. How he thinks he can just talk to you like that and get away with it. I can't stand that guy and I don't want you to be anywhere near him again."

"Paul, I appreciate you being so protective of me. I just wish you would have handled it a lot better than you did. But could you tell me something?"

"What's that?"

"How'd I end up here? My head is pounding."

"Oh. I guess that's probably something you should have been told." Paul laughed. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"I was walking up to you two fighting."

"Derek swung to hit me and missed. He ended up hitting you instead and you fell unconscious to the ground."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I wish I were. I pushed him away and got down to help you. He ran off. I don't know where he went to, but he should be the one here." By this point, Paul was standing beside my bed. I placed a hand on his arm.

"Calm down, Paul. It's alright."

"How can everything be alright when you're here? He gave you a concussion." I changed the subject, hoping to calm Paul down a bit.

"Do you know what the doctor said about me?"

"Honestly, you're not going to like it." I sighed.

"Just tell me."

"He said you can still work, but only if you are on desk duty. I already called Creighton and he has arranged that for you."

"How long is this going to be for?" I was furious. Desk duty was the absolute worse and so boring. I would never get to roam the streets or see any action.