Stand In The Rain

Thirty Nine

JJ happily looked after Polly when they got to the hospital, and she even gave her a bath and washed her hair, too. They were also supplied with clean clothes and shoes for Polly to wear, and feeling very worn out, Polly didn't try to fight against JJ when she helped her get dressed. JJ even held Polly and gave her kisses to calm her down when it came time for her to get the stitches for the wound in her arm. Sore from that and having somewhat of an adrenaline crash, Polly fell asleep after eating her first full meal in what had been far too long.

It was during that time that the families of all of the girls were contacted and asked them to come to the hospital. Wanting to feel useful, Penelope spearheaded that operation and even roped Spencer in when the girls found him awkward and funny. Smitten with JJ because she had pale skin and freckles, blond hair and blue eyes just like she did, Polly imprinted on her and wouldn't tolerate being separated from her until her family arrived. JJ didn't mind, though, because it reminded her of the special time that she'd spent with Zooey in Oregon and Hope and Vivian Greenway in that same hospital a short time ago.

All JJ wanted, though, was to see Emily.

Emily also wanted that, but unfortunately, by the time the paramedics caught up with her and assessed her injuries, she was pretty banged up. The medical professionals that she spoke to after getting admitted to the hospital all told her that there was no way that she would be leaving New York before the day was out.

On the bright side, though, the baby was perfectly healthy, and Emily was even able to learn her child's gender.

"Emelia?"

She looked up at the sound of her name, her heart absolutely jumping for joy at the sight of the person in front of her.

"Jennifer! You're here, you're here!"

As Emily and JJ almost never called each other by their actual names, hearing her full name from the love of her life at a moment like this reduced her to mush immediately.

JJ had Polly in tow in a wagon, and since she had nodded off after getting the stitches, JJ parked the wagon in the corner of the room before approaching the bed.

Emily was hooked up to a number of wires and other such things, as well as an oxygen supply and IV line because she'd left that basement dehydrated. At some point along the way during her admittance, she'd also been dressed in a hospital gown and was also issued a hospital bracelet, too.

JJ's gaze then fell to Emily's injuries, namely her left ankle. It was bare and propped up on a pillow because it was bright red and swollen, to boot.

"Baby," JJ said in a tone that made it sound as though she was about to cry. "What did they do to you?"

"Those bastards beat me because they first got paranoid and then very upset when they realized that Jacoby sold them ou—"

JJ had come a little closer to Emily and made to brush some stray hair out of her face... but Emily's fear kicked in and she flinched.

"I'm sorry." JJ withdrew immediately, feeling her heart sink a little bit. "Did I do something wrong?"

Emily shook her head as tears of shame fell down her face. "No, you didn't. They hurt me so badly and for so long that not only do I have a twisted ankle amongst everything else, but now I flinch whenever anyone comes near me."

Memories of the ordeal with Baylor and its repercussions came rushing back to JJ, so she asked, "They broke your spirit?"

"Almost, but not entirely."