Love | R.L. (R5)

Chapter 12 -The Last Battle-

I sat there quietly waiting for the others to return. Finally I heard the door open and Riker can over and handed me a sandwitch. I grabbed it, realized how hungry I was, and it was quickly gone. I then leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes, then fell asleep.

“Alex? Alex?” I blinked open my eyes and noticed Rydel standing in front of me calling my name.

“What?” I asked.

“We’re going to go home. Do you want to come with us?” I looked behind her to see the others getting ready to leave. Slowly, I shook my head. “Are you sure?” Rydel asked.

“We’ll be back first thing tomorrow, I just thought it would be a good idea to get a good nights sleep” Stormie added.

“No thanks. I want to stay here with Ross” I responded.

“Alright” Rydel responded then she stood up and left the room behind the others. I sighed then sat there looking at the wall in front of me, thinking. My thoughts were interrupted by my name being faintly called. I looked down to see Ross looking at me.

“You’re awake!” I said “How are you feeling?”

“It... hurts” he weakly said. I could hear the cracking in his voice and I noticed him close his eyes.  I looked at him for a moment then leaned over and pushed the nurses button. It didn't take long for her to come.

"Is something wrong?" she asked once she was standing beside his bed.

"He said something hurts" I explained to her. She looked at me then up at the clock. She stared at it for a moment as if she was counting then walked over to the cabinets on the other side of the room. I heard a cabinet open and a few other noises. After a short time they stopped and the nurse was standing beside me, holding a syringe. She put it into Ross’ IV then slowly pushed the liquids into it.

“That should help” she said when she had finished. Then she left the room. I looked down and waited until Ross opened his eyes again. I smiled but it slowly faded away when I realized I was the reason he is in the hospital.

“I’m so sorry” I whispered “This shouldn’t have happened.” I put my head in my hands and sat there until I felt something touch the back of my head. I looked up and noticed Ross had lifted up his hand and was slowly stroking the back of my head. I reached back and grabbed his hand then held it in mine.

“It’s... not... your fault...” he weakly responded. I sighed and put his hand back down beside him then leaned back in my chair.

“I know but I can’t but think it is” I said. All went quiet in the room until I heard my stomach growl and I realized how hungry I was. “I’ll be right back.”I said then I stood up and grabbed my purse before leaving the room. I slowly walked down the long hallway and turned the corner to find a vending machine in the lobby. I walked over to it and pulled some money out of my wallet then put into the machine. I press the buttons to get what I wanted then grabbed my item and shoved it into my purse. I turned around to find a nurse talking to another nurse.

“I don’t know where she could have gone.” I heard one of them say. I looked at them for a moment then turned and started back toward Ross’ room. As I got closer I realized the door was open a crack. I thought nothing of it until I heard a crash come from inside. I started walking faster and bursted into the room. I gasped when I saw my mom bending over Ross’ bed whispering something into his ear. She was holding his good arm to the bed with one hand and had her other over his mouth. I could tell he was trying to get out her off of him but he was much too weak.

I felt my hands turn into fists and I ran over and pulled her off him. I turned back to Ross but suddenly felt something grab me from behind and before I realized it I was pinned up against the wall looking into the eyes of my mom.

“I found you” she whispered into my ear. I looked at her with disgust.

“What did you do with him” I screamed at her.

“Nothing too serious” she answered with a gin. I felt anger boil up inside of me. “Why do you care about him so much anyway?” she asked.

“Because I love him!” I screamed at her letting my rage out. I kicked my leg into her’s and she immediately fell to the ground with a loud thud. I rushed past her and over to Ross’ side. He had had his eyes close but opened then when I got there. I suddenly felt embarrassed. Had he heard me when I said I loved him I thought. I notice his eyes drift off me and onto something behind me instead. I turned around expecting to see my mom towering over me but instead she was sitting on the floor staring at it.

“What have I done” I heard her mumble under her breath. She then looked up at me. I was expecting to see anger and rage in her eyes but all I found there was pain. “I’m so sorry, dear” she whispered “I can’t believe that I’ve done all this.” I noticed a tear roll down her cheek and land on the floor beside her. “I should have listened to the doctor about my depression.” I stared at her for a moment. I remembered her going to the doctor after dad had died. He had suggested taking pills to help her with her depression but she denied them. Instead she started drinking thinking that would help but it had only made things worse. I realized I had my old mother back. The one who loved me and cared for me.

“Oh mom I’ve missed you so much!” I exclaimed as I ran up to her and gave her a big hug. I felt her hug me back “You know mom you could still take the doctor’s advice” I said pulling away from her. “We could go home and get you some help then everything could go back to normal.” She just started at me for a bit.

“I would love to do that but I can’t” she finally answered.

“What? Why not?”

“Because you are no longer my daughter. I’ve lost custody over you.” I stared at her in horror. How can’t I be your daughter I thought. I suddenly noticed a nurse standing over us. She leaned down and helped my mom up. “I’m sorry” my mom said as the nurse led her out of the room. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t even speak. I just sat there staring at the wall. My mom’s words rang in my ears. I gulped as I realized I had no other family. I couldn't believe it. Am I now an orphan?