Fate (Boyxboy)

Holding On To You

August 19, 2022

After a disastrous and nearly dangerous drive across the city, Jace finally pulls up out front of Leah's place. My question is why the hell Seth hasn't brought her to a hospital if she's in such a seemingly frightening condition. My heart feels ready to give out from how long it's been gunning in my chest.

I jump out of the passenger side and run to the front door, shoving it open before Jace even has a chance to catch up. I don't even think, my first instinct is to run upstairs to her bedroom and sure enough Leah is laying on her bed with an extremely distressed Seth holding her barely conscious self in his arms.

"What the fu--Who did this!?" I scream through a sob at the sight of her.

She's wearing a simple summer dress, but because of it I can see the dark bruises that litter her body and make their way up to her face where there's even a cut across her cheek. Jace rushes in at that moment and I can hear his quick intake of breath, but I don't pay him any attention as I hurry over and pull her into my arms, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"Leah? Hunny, who did this to you?" I manage to growl out.

Her eyes flicker open at the sound of my voice and I can see tears well in her bright eyes as she sobs, "I'm sorry, K-Kai. I didn't mean to, I-I swear I didn't."

It's then that she turns over her arms and I see the gashes crossing through her old scars. Unable to respond, I just close my eyes and pull her near to me so I can kiss her forehead, shushing her as she breaks down in my arms.

"We need to get you to a hospital, and you need to tell us what happened," I huff eventually when I get my shit under control.

Leah seems to shake her head, but is slowly slipping out of consciousness again. Seth slides closer to us and wipes at his eyes in frustration, "I tried texting her to hang out and she wasn't replying so I dropped by and found her door unlocked--which was weird. So I went upstairs and I found her all bloody in her bathroom. All I could get her to tell me was that she had been attacked on her way home from work. After that, the most I could think to do was get her comfortable and call you, I panicked."

That alone makes my mind go haywire, wondering what on earth could have happened to her between the time she got off and the time Seth found her.

"We need to get her to a hospital," I insist again.

Seth shakes his head and sighs, "We can't. She threw a fit, or atleast tried to when I tried calling an ambulance. I think she's scared they'll admit her again if they see her arms, thinking she's suicidal."

I feel like I'm going to be sick as I pull her even closer, "I don't blame her, and with her medical history, I wouldn't doubt that's exactly what would happen."

I quickly lay her down gently and rush into her bathroom across the hall.

"What are you doing?" Jace questions.

"I'm going to clean and dress her wounds," I mutter half-mindedly as I look for what I need. "Can you go downstairs and grab a bowl of warm water?"

He nods and hurries downstairs as I grab the peroxide, disinfectant cream, a cloth, and some medical bandages I find in her emergency kit.

As soon as Jace brings back the water I dip the cloth in and start dabbing at the wounds, washing away any dirt and excess blood. I run the warm cloth gently over her bruises as well to sooth them, hoping it might at least help if anything.

"Is this okay to do?" Seth asks worriedly.

I turn to him after pouring some peroxide in the water this time, "It's going to have to, Seth. I know how to handle wounds of this magnitude and I don't want to send her into a panic if she wakes up again in an ambulence or a hospital room."