FALLING FOR MR J

Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Don't take your hand away. He's still breathing but only just." He said, and I'm moving in. I need to get closer to Johnathan.
"Please, please be okay. Baby, please don't leave me. I love you. You can't leave me."
While whispering this into his ear, Trevor called out. Once again, he made me jump.
"The bullets went straight through, so you need to hold tight Lacy. Fuck me! He's lost a shitload of blood. Fuck knows how long he's been here for. Who the hell shot him?"
Almost instantly, my eyes snap to his.
"WHAT! What do you mean shot, he got shot? Holy shit!"
I'm freaking out a little, but spoke again. Yet what he asked only made me panic more.
"Who the hell are you? Why the hell is he in your place with a bullet in his chest? Who the fuck are you hiding from? All I know is my boss. My friend's laying here dying and you've been AWOL! Now suddenly you're back and now he's here. He's in your place in a pool of fucking blood too! Now, who the FUCK shot him..."
I jump just with the intensity of his booming voice. Just feeling it vibrate through me terrified me, but of course, I've got no idea.
"I-I swear Trevor, I've no clue. I didn't know he was here. Not until this morning after I'd listened to his message. He was here, but someone else was here. I've no clue who it was. The reason I came back here was that I worried about him."
I'm looking down at Jonathan, trying to think of who would do this. Yet there's only one person I know who's pissed off with him.
"Wait, wait... No! Oh shit! He wouldn't... Would he?"
I hadn't even realised I said it out loud until I hear him. He's asking who I'm talking about.
"What the hell are you telling me? Who wouldn't do what?"
Oh God, no! Please no!
"Chester... Officer James. He... Well, I think it was him. It couldn't be Albert because he's locked up already. I highly doubt it was Vincent. Nobody's seen or heard of in months..."
I'm about to say more, but I hear the ambulance.
"Trevor, I ran from him. I've no time to explain everything, but as soon as we get him to the hospital, I'll tell you. I swear to you I'll tell you everything, but you need to keep it to yourself just for now. He's a police officer, so no doubt they're not gonna believe. Hell, especially when I tell them this one. No, we need proof. I need to find proof it was him."
As we're heading towards the hospital, I sit by Johnathan's side. Trevor followed behind in his car. He wasn't happy about leaving him, but the paramedics wouldn't allow both of us in. You know, at the same time.
While I sit here, all I can hear... aside from the medics fixing him up to a line. But all that's ringing out is the sound of the siren. It's pretty loud. I guess it needs to be. I wish it wasn't though, only because I can't think straight. I'm up by Johnathan's head, holding him close by pressing my hand to his face. All the while I'm doing this I'm whispering in his ear. I'm praying he'll hear me.
"I'm sorry, Johnathan. I'm so sorry. I had no idea he'd do this. I've messed up. I'm so, so sorry. Please, just get through this. Please, be okay and I'll leave you alone. I don't deserve you, you deserve so much more than this shit. This is on me now. I've caused this. I'm so fucking sorry, baby. I'm so sorry."
That's all I kept on saying to him. I'd been so fixed on him I hadn't even realised we arrived at the hospital either. Not until they opened the doors. I tried to follow them in, but they'd told me I had to wait in the reception area. Naturally, I'd kicked up a stink ready to kick their arses. Yet Trevor grabbed hold of my waist, preventing me from doing so.
"Calm the fuck down, Lacy! You'll only end up getting yourself arrested. Just let them do their jobs. They know what they're doing, so calm the fuck down. Now sit your backside down. I want answers on what the hell is going on and why a police officer should shoot my friend!"
As he's saying this, he's making sure that nobody can hear him. He's whispering in my ear, which eventually made me take a deep breath. I tell him "Okay" after calming myself. Before I start though, he moves towards the coffee machine. Then eventually, after placing the hot beverage in my hands, he tells me to spill it. Obviously, he isn't talking about the coffee.
"Remember the police will be here soon, so you need to fill me in quickly. Just so I know to get my story right."
Shit, I hadn't even thought about that. I start from the beginning but skip the unnecessary parts. He only needs to know the important details. Eventually, as I'm about to tell him about the ladies who helped me, the police arrived.
"Trevor, what should I do here? The only proof I have is in the theatre. I've no idea if he'll even make it."
We hear the two police officers. They're asking a nurse about a man being reportedly shot. That's when Trevor leans in and says we tell them everything.
"What Trev, they won't believe me. I..."
Before I can say anymore, he's shaking his head telling me they'll have the bullet.
"Lacy. Sorry, Kat, if he shot him? He'll have used his gun, which will have a serial number on it. Trust me, I know Mr Beezman will be okay. Just keep the faith, Kat. He'll be okay. I just know it."
Oh God, I truly hope so. Even if he never wants to see me again, I'll deal with it. I will as long as he pulls through. Nothing else matters.
"Miss Honey, Mr Edwards?" A male officer asked while walking towards us.
"Yeah, that's us, although I've no idea why you're here. Shouldn't you be out there finding the bastard who shot him?"
Hearing Trev speak like this should shock me, but it doesn't. No, because he has a good point... Though, it's probably a little hard when they don't know exactly who they're looking for, so I end up nudging his side. I'm quietly telling him this.
"Well, first off Mr Edwards my name is Officer Williams. This here is my partner, Officer Kent. Second, this is why we're here. We need to find out who's responsible for this, so if you know then please do tell. We'd very much like to get out there and catch them. Now, where exactly did you find him? And did you see anyone that may have done this?"
Trev runs his hand over his face, and then he looks down at me. I guess that's my cue, huh?
Okay, Kat, let's get this over with. The sooner he's found the better for everyone. I don't want anyone else to get hurt because of me.
"I-I have an idea who it was, but I doubt you'll believe me. Not until he wakes and you retrieve the bullet too, but I'm positive that it was one of you."
Almost instantly the officer's eyes go wide. Obviously, I tell him not them personally.
"I mean, an officer, Officer James, to be precise. He was kinda my bodyguard, so to speak. I was in witness protection and well they'd caught the killer. Only Officer James told me our positions compromised. I hadn't found out until later they'd already arrested him. You know the one who killed Stefan Charlton. I hadn't found this out until we were on our way further up north. He wouldn't tell me exactly where we were going, but when we'd stopped for petrol. Well, I heard two elderly women talking about it. Once I heard they had arrested him hours before Chester told me we had to move. That's when he became quiet, nervous even. It was like he was really jumpy and constantly looking in his wing mirrors. Yet, when he told me not to read anything, that's when I became suspicious of his motives."
I tell them everything I had told Trevor, but again, missing the "Dom/Sub" information out. They only need to know that if it's completely necessary.
"Okay, well, we've already got the forensic team at the scene. So, we'll keep you informed of what's happening, but until then don't go far. We still need to take your statement from both of you. That's including Mr Beezman when he finally wakes." He ends that by handing over his card.
"If you can think of anything else, please don't hesitate to call me, anytime. Should you need our help, we're here to help."
As he said that last part, my phone pops into my head. He has my phone. I couldn't call him even if I tried, so I hand the card to Trevor. Seeing this made officer Williams tilt his head.
"I don't have a phone. As I've told you, I had to get away. The only way to do that was to leave everything behind. Though, I wish I had it. You'd get to hear Mr Beezman's voicemail."
He nods his head telling me, they'll do their best to retrieve it when they find Chester.
"Naturally, we will need to question him. We'll find out where he was last night and this morning."
He holds out his hand and when I take hold of it, he tells me they'll be in touch.
"Wait, if you find him. Please get my bag. It not only has my clothes in it, but the only pictures I have left of my mum and sister. Please, they're all I have."
Tears fill my eyes when I tell him this and while I'm trying to hold myself together, Trev wraps his big arms around me. It kinda makes me feel worse, but it's comforting at the same time.
"We'll do our best, Miss Honey, sorry, Miss Deana-Ray."
With that, he and his partner walked out. All I can do now is cry into Trevor's vast chest.
"You left your pictures behind so you could get to Mr Beezman? Kat, they mean the world to you. Hell, you kicked Albert's arse for breaking your angel."
After nodding, I tell him I needed to know he was okay.
"I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to him. The second I received his message this morning, I had a bad feeling. Then while I left him a message myself asking him to call me, Ches barged in. Oh god, he must've been lying there for a while. I'm only guessing here, but he must've come straight for me. You know, after he shot him. How the hell is he still alive?"
He pulled back... the action making my hands move to his waist.
"I've no idea, but you need to be strong for him now. He'll need us to help him not only with his recovery but the gallery."
My brows nip together. I'm wondering why he'd say "us" need to help him. Of course, I want to be here for him. Only he won't want me anywhere near him. If Chester's told him, he'll only hate me. Naturally, I tell him this. To which he just shook his head after telling me he'll be fine.
"Trust me, Kat, that man adores the ground you walk on. I can tell you now he'd be happy you came back. Hell, he was beside himself the other day. You know when you ran off and last night. I've never seen him look so worried. Shit, even when his warehouse had gone up in flames. Seriously, he wasn't half as worried about that as he was about you. I'm not sure what happened between you and Officer James but I'm sure whatever it was, is over now, right?"
My body jumps. Shit! I think he knows?
"Trevor, nothing really happened. Nothing I don't want to discuss anyway, but Ches and I kinda had a 'moment.' You know, the first time around when I was in witness protection. Well, I guess he had a few unresolved feelings for me. But then I told him, I love Johnathan. I was kinda all over the place and drunk too much. I just needed to get my head straight. Only he got in my head and messed it up again. Then I told him some other things, and he kinda lost it. Trust me, if this was him? He'll have taken pleasure in telling Johnathan everything. If he has, then there's no chance of him ever forgiving me, not after this."
We both take a deep breath. He's about to say something too but that's when a nurse calls out to me. As soon as I hear her, I pull away from Trevor's hold. I'm telling her I'm here.
"Is he okay? Can we see him?" I frantically ask before I feel Trevor.
He's taking hold of my hand. I guess he's helping me hold it together. That or he's making sure they don't stop him from coming with me. Hell, especially if we're allowed to see Johnathan.
"Yes, Mr Beezman is stable and you can see him. However, only for a few minutes... he's in recovery, but he's lost a lot of blood. I'm really surprised he'd made it this far, but that aside, it'll be a while before he comes around, so he'll need complete rest until he's well enough." She ends that with a smile and a little nudge of her head, silently telling us to follow her.
After she opened his private room door, she swooped her arm out telling us she'll be back soon.
"I must see to a few other patients, so it'll give you a few minutes with him."

I know she's talking to me, but all I'm hearing is the sound of beeping. All I'm seeing is Johnathan lying in his hospital bed. Oh God, he looks so small. He's a big guy, but seeing him in that huge bed with wires attached to him, he looked so small in comparison. I don't even respond to her I just walk towards him and stand by his side. Then more tears filled my eyes when I see his naked chest bandaged up. Only a thin blanket covers his legs and waist. I bet he's cold? I know I am, but that could be the shock setting in. They say you shiver so much, you feel you'll die with it. You don't of course, but right now that's what it feels like. I end up placing the palm of my hand to his chest just needing to feel if he's cold. Shockingly, he is. I guess losing so much blood it's bound to make you feel cold. That's not the only thing I feel, though. No, I also feel his heartbeat. It makes me lean in and place a gentle kiss there. I place a few against his lips, just needing to once again feel him. As expected, they're cold.

"Oh, Johnathan, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I love you so much. Everything's a total mess. It wasn't meant to be like this. I should've just kept my mouth shut about everything. In fact, I shouldn't have allowed us to start anything. I should've just walked away and left you to be with somebody more trusting. You helped me and I'll forever be grateful for that. So because of that, I'll make it my mission to make him pay for what he's done to you. Hell for what I've done to you."
While my heart breaks, I feel Trevor place his hand on my shoulder. He's giving it a brief squeeze, telling me we'll both do it.
"We'll get this sorted once and for all. I swear to you, Chester will pay for this."

***

He lay in that hospital bed for a few days. Sadly, he's still to wake up. Naturally, I've been there by his side waiting for any signs of him doing so. I've been at work too, helping with certain deals he had booked in. I had to cover all his meetings while also seeing to the needs of all his employees. I'd made sure I set them with their work schedules. I've been so busy I don't even think I've slept. I know for a fact I'm not eating properly... how can I? I can't function at all with knowing he's in that hospital bed. Just knowing he's still unconscious is killing me. When it came to leaving his side that first day, I found myself in a bit of a predicament. I had nowhere to stay. Chester had taken my place away from me, and it didn't feel right when Trevor told me to use Johnathan's place. I couldn't possibly do it, especially after what I had done. I was half tempted to call Ryan, but Rachel's moved in with him. So again, I couldn't possibly intrude on them. Gosh, wish my mum was around right now. I've never felt this lost not in a long time anyway. Luckily Trevor had taken pity on me and offered his spare room. I could tell he was pretty reluctant, but as he was about to leave me standing in the hospital car park, he sighed and said, get in.

"Seriously, are you sure? I-I don't want to intrude on anything. I'm sure I'll find something. I'll just see if they've found my things yet. Once I have my purse, I'll get a room somewhere. I-"
Before I can carry on with making him feel guilty about not helping me, he cuts in and tells me to "Calm down Kat," when he sees I'm struggling to hold my tears.
"Yes, of course, I'm sure. Shit, what kind of friend would I be if I left you? Come on. I'll buy us some food and tomorrow we'll sort out the gallery. Once that's done, we'll head back here."
While opening the passenger side door, I'm shaking my head. I'm telling him we need to come here first.
"Please, Trevor. I cannot go without seeing him first. I need to be here for when he wakes. I need to tell him I'm sorry."
He sighed and just as he places his car key into the ignition he says, "Okay" making me smile in thanks.
"I'll have Mrs Franks send over his planner. We'll have a quick run through and then we'll go from there. I want nothing messed up. You know, for when he eventually, wakes. I want to make sure he has a gallery to go back to when he does."