Be Quiet, He Can Hear [To Be Edited]

Chapter 10: Tattoos and Tattletales

[a/n: I apologize for the wait, rehearsal is taking up all my time. Sorry this chapters a little eh, writers block is a bitch >.<]

Chapter 10: Tattoos and Tattletales

Charlotte's POV

"A fight? What do you mean you got into a fight? Did he do this to you?" Eddie shot questions at me, raking his eyes over my body, taking in the sight of my bruised and swollen wrist and the way I winced with every breath.

I nodded, ashamed, my eyes filling with tears. Marcus stood by my side and rubbed my back gently, kissing the side of my head.

"Who's this?" Eddie, again, asked abruptly, narrowing his eyes as he took in Marcus's tall, muscular form.

"My friend. Eddie, this is Marcus Samuels. Marcus, this is Eddie, my best friends' husband. Marcus has been helping me a lot the last few days."

"He made me pancakes this morning!" Cara squealed, looking up from her coloring. Eddie smiled at her.

"that's great!" he turned to me and frowned. "I though you weren't allowed to have friends."

I sighed. "Stop it Eddie! Please, don't say things like that. It's been a really difficult situation, okay?"

"That bastard is keeping you from your friends?" Marcus asked, shocked.

"Yea." Eddie nodded. "Well, except for you." he turned and walked out of the room. I burst into tears. Marcus hugged me gently while Cara climbed up into the hospital bed and snuggled against me.

"Dont cry Charlotte," Marcus pleaded, his voice sounding pained. "please you're killing me!" I sniffed, wiping my eyes.

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," I mumbled.

Marcus sighed. "i understand." he stood there for a moment, a heavy silence descending. Eventually, he looked down at me and asked, "So, tell me about that tattoo you have. What does it mean?"

I smiled knowing he would eventually ask about that. "It's supposed to symbolize strength and bravery, everything I hope I can become. Nicky took me to get it a couple of years after I had Cara. He had no idea what it meant though, I just told him I thought it was a beautiful animal. Which it is, but it means something to me. He got one too, a dragon climbing his spinal cord..he thought it was cool." I chuckled at the memory. Marcus shook his head smiling.

"Idiot," he muttered, making me laugh. "I think your tattoo is great, and it is beautiful. I have tattoos too."

"Really?" I asked, excited. I was always the type of girl who was interested in tattoos and I loved looking at them. They were so beautiful to me and each one was symbolic to the person that had it.

Marcus nodded. "Do you wanna see them?" I nodded eagerly.

"mah see too!" Cara said looking at Marcus with a big grin on her face.

"Sure munchkin," Marcus laughed. He turned away from us and pulled the back of his shirt up over his head, revealing the tattoo on his right shoulder. I gasped. It was a large portrait of a woman, in black and white. Her stomach, which was swollen with child, was visible, her arms wrapped lovingly around it, a serene smile on her face. Carefully, I placed my hand on his back, tracing her face with my hand. I felt Marcus shudder slightly at my touch.

"She's beautiful," I whispered. Cara stared at the tattoo, studying it with her head tilted to the side. "Pwetty!" she said.

"Thanks Munchkin,"Marcus said quietly.

I dropped my hand from his back. "Who is she?" I asked, quietly.

"My sister, Brooke."

"What happened to her?" i was afraid of the answer.