Don't Worry Mama • #Wattys2016

In Which I Cry

* Riley's POV *

I wake up, and look around.

"Cody? Carter? Drake? Mom?" I cry. I feel the hot tears start to slide down my face.

"Mrs. Maze, calm down." A doctor comes in, shocking me.

That probably is the first time I've heard my actual last name being said. And it scares me a little.

"My brother? My mom?" I ask him.

"At home. We have contacted them." He says, and I calm down a little.

"Cody?! Where's Cody!" I cry.

"Uh... He, uh.. Is in a holding cell. I'm sorry." My tears fall harder.

"Why?" I ask, trembling.

"He nearly killed a boy." The doctor says sadly.

"That boy nearly killed me." I tell him.

"What?" He asks.

"Cody was defending me. The boy had came up to me drunk, and I tried to walk away, and he slammed me against lockers, and we hit each other, I was defending myself, and then the boy tossed me across the hall. I remember landing on my back, and I saw him beating the boy. That boy nearly killed me. Cody went on the defensive. For me." I shake, and the doctor runs out. He comes back in with a police officer, and I tell him the story, shaking and crying.

"Ma'am, I promise, we will find that boy. But I need a name." The officer tells me.

"Jake Greeno." I sob, and hold my head in my hands. I hear someone run in.

"Officer." Drake's voice comforts me sort of.

"Maze. What's your relation to this girl?" The officer.

"Brother-in-law. Long story." Drake's arm wraps around my shoulders, and I sob into his shoulder.

After a few minutes, and what feels like a thousand tests, I'm allowed to rest. My brother comes in, and holds my hand.

"Hey, sis." I smile.

"Hey, bub." His smile looks faint, and I play with his face.

"Ow, hey, watch it." He says as I accidentally hit him in the eye.

"Sorry." I apologize, and I look at the door. My eyes fill with tears as my gangly looking husband stands at the door frame, leaning against it.

"Mom bailed him out. She said that Drake saw your distress, and told her. I brought him." I can't form words, I'm so happy. He walks over to me, and I grab his hand.

"Hey pretty lady." Cody smiles.

"I'm going to give you two a moment. No kinky things, Maze!" He points to Cody, and he mock salutes Carter. Once Carter is gone, Cody kisses me with all his might.

"I thought I lost you." He whispers, his forehead leaning against mine.

"I thought I was leaving you here." I whisper back. He climbs next to me in the bed, and I lay my head on his chest.

"Jake is in jail." Cody tells me, a smile on his face.

"Seriously?" He nods.

"Attempted murder on the frist degree and intoxication assault on the third." I start grinning.

"Good. Good.." I close my eyes, and fall asleep to the beat of his breathing.

* Cody's POV *

I brush hair off of her face, and smile.

She fell asleep a long time ago, but I didn't want to disturb her for the simple sake that she needs the sleep.

"Mr. Maze?" I look at the doctor.

"Sir?" He pushes a paper in front of my face.

"This is what she had when she came in. She's slept through most of the healing process, but other than that, she has some minor healing to do." I grab the paper with shaky hands, and nearly go on another rampage.

Two broken vertebrae, and a fractured skull.

Jake nearly killed my girl.

And whoever else does, will be in the same place.

"Sir, she could be released in the next hour or so, but we need her to be awake, so she can sign the papers." I shake my head.

"Can I sign them for her? She's been through so much, I would appreciate it if I could. She needs the sleep." I beg. He nods.

"Very well. My nurses will come in here shortly." I nod, and he walks out.

Two hours later, I'm carrying her out, and into the car. I climb in next to her, and Drake drives home.

I set her on my bed, and watch her peacefully sleep. I close my door, and run into my father. Literally.

"Fuck, Dad, what the hell, did you eat a wall for lunch?" I ask him, holding my head.

"No. I just worked out. How's Riley?" He asks, pointing to my bedroom.

"Good. She's, uh.... Sleeping right now. Dad, why do I feel like this isn't over?" He shakes his head.

"Because in most cases, it isn't. The Greeno clan is going to want revenge. And it starts with her. I would watch what happens around her. Be protective. But not overbearing. You do... Know the difference right?" I nod.

"Yeah. Be a silent watcher." I reply, and he claps my shoulder.

"Good. Now, when she wakes up, give her a moment to adjust, and then you and Mrs. Maze in there can come join me for a protection plan." He winks, and walks off, leaving me to wonder exactly what the man ate this morning.

I get a plate full of grilled cheese sandwiches and chocolate chip cookies and take them up to ger. She smiles, and I sit next to her. She tries to take the whole plate, but I slap her hand.

"Hey, turd, my food is on there too." She smiles.

"Sorry, butthead, I'm kind of dying here." We laugh, and eat, talking about everything but the incident. I take her to my dad's office afterwards and he tries to tell her what he thinks.

"I'm sorry. I just woke up from a very bad fight, and I just want to go home. As much as I love your home, I want to go to mine." She groans, holding her head.

"Of course. Forgive me, Riley. Cody, take her home, will you? We'll talk about this when you're ready." She nods, and we go to the car. She sits in the passengers seat, and barely stays awake during the ride, in which she passes out on her bed, after saying hello to her family.