The Sweetest Drug (On Hold..... maybe)

Page 38

Jared is quiet the whole way home, too quiet. His expression is unreadable, he just stares out the window absentmindedly. He holds Nina close but it's almost as if she's not there. Shannon has never seen Jared this upset and frankly it scares him S:"Hey Jared you ok?" He doesn't respond at first S:"Jared!!!! Are you ok?" Jared:"Yeah, I'm fine" He pulls Nina close but it feels different somehow, she tries to hold back tears as the butterfly inside her belly begins to flutter it's tiny wings. They reach the house in silence once inside the tension becomes so thick you could cut it with a knife S:"Ok can someone please tell me what hell is going on?" Nina and Julia just look at each other J:"Hemsworth says the baby is his" Shannon looks at him and Nina in shock N:"It's not true, I can't remember any of it but I know its not true." The pain in Jared eyes is more apparent, his eyes fill with tears but he refuses to set them free S:"You slept with Hemsworth?" Shannon's voice is cold and accusing Julia:"Darling please just give her a chance, let her explain..... Jared, look at me she loves you so much she would never willingly cheat on you. I don't know how to explain it but I'm willing to bet my career that he never touched her ......" she went on to explain everything that happened from the point she got Nina's call, Jared looks a both women confused, he pauses a bit before turning his attention to Nina, Jared:"Wait so.........you don't remember anything that happened after you got home?" N:"No baby, I don't. I just remember feeling sick and lightheaded at the restaurant....... he offered to take me home, I remember arriving at my condo ....... I could barely walk, I remember him helping me to my bedroom then.... nothing. When I woke up I was in bed......" she can't will herself to tell Jared she was naked when she woke up, she begins to sob "....... I love you Jared only you and I always will, if he did touched me I wasn't conscious otherwise I'd remember it." Jared:"If he touched you ....... the baby might be his and ...... I don't know how to digest that" N:"What are you saying?" S:"Julia darling can you make Nina some tea while I talk to my brother" Julia:"Yes of course" N:"Jared answer me" S:"It's ok sweetheart he just needs time. Just go with Julia please, I promise everything will be ok" her heart is filled with pain and it shows, she looks at Jared one last time and tears roll down her cheeks Julia pulls Nina into her arms "It'll be ok baby doll let's give the boys some privacy" she looks at Jared then gives Shannon a silent plea for help and he gives her a reassuring nod. She smiles weakly at him then lets Julia lead her into the kitchen.

Shannon looks at his little brother and he can only imagine what is going through his mind "Talk to me Jared" J:"He touched my Nina, the baby might be his" S:"You don't know that Jared, you heard what the girls said Nina doesn't remember much of that evening" J:"I know but ........ what if he did ...." S:"If he did she wasn't conscious which explains why she doesn't remember.....he raped her Jay"  his heart fills with pain and rage, all he wants is to let out his anger on Chris, if only he could. J:"I need some air" S:"Where are you going" J:"Just leave me be, I'll be fine" S:"Jared I know you're hurting but please think rationally Nina is scared out of her mind she needs you. If you need some air, some time to cool off I understand but don't do anything stupid" Jared takes the car keys and places them in Shannon's hand J:"I'll be back I promise I just need some air, I feel like I'm suffocating right now. I'll be back I promise." Shannon doesn't want to let him go but what choice does he have? If the tables were turned he probably would've taken the keys and headed back to Chris' to finish what he started but it won't fix anything and besides they do have a reputation to maintain. reluctantly he lets him go S:"I love you Jay" J:"I love you too"

Nina sits quietly at the dining table sipping her tea, the stress of the day is beginning to weigh on her. She's been feeling tinges here and there but she hides it well, she's scared for her baby and for Jared, life without him isn't living. Shannon walks into the dinning room and the girls look at him with worried eyes N:" Where's Jared?" S:"He went out for some fresh air he said he'd be back" Nina gets up and heads for the door way N:"JARED!!!!......" S:"Nina wait!He'll be back I promise" N:"He doesn't believe me does he?" S:"It's a lot to take in sweetie just give him time" she begins to respond but doubles over in pain N:"I can't...... uughh ...." J:"NINA!!!!" S:"Nina what's wrong???" N:"Mmmm ..... my baby" Shannon carries her into her bedroom, she's lies down for a bit and manages to sleep but it's no use the pain is only getting worse she starts whimpering in her sleep  J:"Shannon what are we gonna do she's getting worse" S:"I don't know darling just wish Jared would get home already. Where the fuck is he anyway" Nina screams out in pain, they rush into the bedroom and find her in the fetal position calling out for Jared. N:"Jared....... Jared"  S:"It's ok Nina he'll be home soon, Julia Darling call an ambulance I don't think she can take much more" N:"I want Jared...... I'm scared Shannon what if I loose my baby" S:"Shhhh..... it's ok Sweetie you're not going to loose the baby" he pulls her in to a tight hug and holds her close till the paramedics  arrive.

Minutes later Jared comes home just in time to see Nina being loaded into the ambulance. He runs to the house calling out her name "NINA....... NINA!!!!.......... Shannon what happened what's wrong with my Nina?" S:"She started having contractions, she got worse so we called an ambulance, come on we'll follow in the car" Jared is beside himself with grief Jared:"It's my fault I never should've left" Julia:"Darling no, it's not your fault! It's that cad Hemsworth he's the reason for all of this" Jared:"If anything happens to Nina or my baby I'll break his neck" S:"If anything happens to either of them I'll do it myself." The drive to the hospital feels like an eternity, Jared's head is spinning with various thoughts some almost bringing him to tears. He shakes free of them and concentrates on the road ahead, he no longer cares who the baby's father is only that it's his as is Nina. Shannon looks back at his brother and gives him a reassuring smile "They'll be fine Jay, you'll see" Jared smiles weakly and rests his eyes.