Come Home

Chapter 42

"Guys," Sean said as something caught his attention. The group dropped the hay they were working with as Jasper and Jackson walked toward them. Alice was asleep in Jasper's arms. "Is she—"

"Cried herself to sleep," Jasper whispered.

"What the fuck happened?" Gabe asked when he saw the bruise forming on both of the men's faces and her busted knuckles.

"She released her pain onto us," Jackson shrugged.

"Fucking hell," Gabe whispered.

"We deserve it," Jackson whispered. "And it helps her so it's worth it."

"Well, let's get her inside and I'll bandage her up, Doc Roberts had to leave," Sean whispered as he removed his shirt and wiped his face. "How are you two?"

"Fine," Jasper whispered, "She isn't as strong as she used to be but that's to be expected."

"Hopefully this is progress for her healing," Sean whispered as he walked past them and headed for the door. "And her pony?"

"Out running around in the back," Jackson said as he opened the door. "He took off when we found her by the creek. I'll go the first aid kit."

A couple of hours later Alice woke up and realized that she was back in her room. She sat up confused then winced when she lifted her hand to push some hair out of her face. She saw the bandages wrapped around her hands and sighed as she remembered punching Jackson and Jasper over and over. Tears formed in her eyes as another tidal wave of hurt crashed down on her. She fell back on the bed and clutched the pillow to her face.

"I'm so sorry," Jasper whispered as he gently pulled the pillow away from her and wrapped his arm around her. "I really am Alice."

"Numb," she sobbed, "want numb."

"No, you don't," he bit back calling her his name for her, "I know we really hurt you but you don't really want to be numb right now. It's not good to be numb. It may seem better but it's not, it could lead to you slipping into the darkness again."

"Too late," she whispered.

He flinched but then sighed, "I'm so sorry you felt like you had to do that, Alice."

"Alone," she sobbed.

"No, you aren't," he shook his head as he rocked her. "You may not believe me, but we are here for you. We do love you and we know that we must earn that back from you, but you aren't alone. You still have us, all of us. Even if it's just to use us to get the pain out, we'll take it for now. We love you, Alice, now and forever, you have us, I promise, we'll help you through this and earn our way back to your heart again one day. We will get through this, I promise."

"No," she shook her head, "too far gone."

"No, you aren't," he shook his head, "you have us, we'll bring you back."

"Hate me," she sniffled, "hurt you, hate you."

"We don't hate you, Alice," Jasper shook his head, "we could never hate you. We love you and you didn't hurt us. With your words and with your hands, it didn't hurt us, I promise. I know you were trying but we knew you didn't mean it. You were just trying to release your pain and we gladly took it. Alice," he gently gripped her chin and lifted her head, so she was looking at him. His heart shattered even more seeing all the pain screaming at him in her eyes. "We promised to love you through the dark times and the good times. This is just one of the very dark times. We will be strong for you while you go through this grieving and healing process. You aren't alone in this, we are here for you, I promise, we aren't going anywhere. You have us, Meine Liebe, for eternity."

The cry that slipped from her made him blink back tears as she collapsed against him. "Daddy," she wailed as she dug her fingers into his back.

"Oh our sweet girl," he whispered as he held her tightly against him. "I have you, just let it all out. I have you," he heard the floor creak and looked up to see Jackson lean against the door frame. He lifted up his phone and shook it softly. Jasper let a tear slip as he realized that Jackson had activated his phone so everyone could hear their conversation. "We have you," he whispered as he ran his fingers through her hair. "Just cry it all out, it's okay, Daddies love you Meine Liebe, Daddies have you."

She weakly slapped his back then clung to him as her body shook from her sobs. He kept murmuring to her as Jackson walked over and wiped his tears away. He cautiously rubbed her back and internally sighed in relief as she pulled herself away from Jasper and crawled into Jackson's lap. "Daddy," she sobbed as she gripped the back of his shirt.

"Il Mio Cuore," Jackson whispered as he rocked her. "There you go," he murmured as he felt her bite his collarbone. "Good girl not hurting yourself," he praised as she sniffled and bit him harder. "My sweet Sugar," he murmured as he kept rocking her while running his fingers through her hair. Jasper wiped his face and cleared his throat. "Go make the both of you some honey tea," Jackson whispered. "You both need it right now."

Jasper nodded and stood, "Yes Sir."