Listen To Your Heart ~ Book One.

Billie's Dying

========== Six hours later ==========

(The doctor comes out to speak with Billie's family. The news isn't good. They had to put Billie in a coma. She had suffered severe head and body trauma. The doctors had repaired the internal bleeding, but her vital signs were slowly declining. Unless her vital signs stabilized and improved, the doctor informed them to prepare for the worst. The doctor leaves, to get some much-needed rest. Billie's parents are talking amongst themselves. Finneas is pacing back and forth in the private waiting room, wringing his hands.)

"She can't die, Claudia. She just can't!"

"I agree, but it's not in our hands now Finneas."

"God damn it! We can't just stand around and hope for the best! The fuckers who did this need to be caught!"

"You're right, but that's police business... not ours. Billie needs to come first. I'm calling David."

"What!? No! We do not need that son of a bitch here!"

"Damn it, Finneas! This might be Billie's last moments on earth. At least let him come and say goodbye."

"NO! No fucking way! He might upset Billie and make things worse!"

"Call him." (A voice behind them says.)

(They both turn to face Billie's mother.)

"Call him.... or else I'm going to."

"But Mom...he..."

"Call him." (She says sternly, cutting Finneas off.)"I've seen the way the two of them are together. Tell him if he has any feelings left for my daughter, he'll get here as soon as possible."

(Claudia begins dialing.)

"Maggie....just what are you thinking?"(Her husband asks.)

"I'm counting on a hero." (She replies.)

(In Philadelphia, David's phone rings. He looks at it in surprise. He had not expected to hear from Claudia again, after their last conversation at the beach house.)

"Hello?"

"David? It's Claudia. You need to come to Los Angeles now. Billie's dying."

"What?"

"Please hurry. We're at Zuckerburg General Hospital."

"I'll be there as soon as I can."

(The calls ends. I stand there staring at my cellphone, wondering what the fuck had happened? I figured that wasn't important. I figured if Billie was dying, I had to get there as quickly as possible. I punch in a code on my phone, after a few rings, a gruff voice answers.)

"This better be important!"

"I need a ride to Los Angeles! Girlfriend is dying."

"What airport are you closet too?"

"Philadelphia International."

"Get there as soon as you can. I'll call Casey."

(The call ends before I have a chance to say 'thank you.' I rush into my bedroom and start throwing clothes and other stuff into a duffel bag. I call a Uber, and I'm at the airport 40 minutes later, waiting on Casey to arrive. Thirty minutes later, I see a Harrier jet approach. I haul ass towards the jet, as it horizontally lands, and rolls slowly down a runway. Security wasn't far behind me.)

"Hurry it up, will you? This isn't exactly an authorized landing!" (Casey yells.)

"Stole another plane...did you?"

"I prefer the term...temporarily borrowed."

(I climb into the back seat, as the cockpit closes. Seconds later, we were in the air, on our way to Los Angeles. I said a silent prayer that I'd make it on time.)