The Halfway Group (book 1)

Chapter 36: Jimmy's Love

Jimmy's POV:

I have the pedal to the floor doing well over 100 to the hospital.

"Jimmy, slow down a bit would you?" Rachel says as she's gripping my hand.  Chloe is in the back seat having the time of her life. 

"Woohoo! Speed racer go!!!"  I pull into the hospital before the ambulance does and I immediately dash to the counter and ask to know where Haley's at.

"Where is she?  I'm her brother I need to know!"  As the receptionist starts talking I see them rush her through and I rush in to see her. 

"Sir you can't be here, it'll be too painful to see." 

"I'M HER FUCKING BROTHER AND OUR DAD JUST ASSAULTED HER AND POSSIBLY RAPED HER. I AM NOT LEAVING HER SIDE!"  I yell as he looks at me and gives in. 

"Just be careful sir."  Rachel and Chloe stay in the lobby and I toss them my keys if they want to leave.  I run into the room as they are hooking her up for Xrays and blood tests.  She's crying and saying my name. I walk over and she sees me and immediately squeezes my hand. 

"Haley, I'm here don't worry.  I won't let anyone near you that you don't like." She squeezes harder unable to actually form words yet.  The shock is still there.  "Haley we got this, I'm not leaving." She looks at me and I see a single tear run down her face and that shatters my heart.

"We need to do tests to make sure everything is normal."  Haley coughs up blood and I start freaking out.  "We need to start now."  They go to grab her and she yells in pain.  "At least one broken rib, Sir please.  We need room."  I take some steps back and watch as they take her to the operating room.  I go out into the waiting room and pace. 

"Jimmy, it'll be okay.  Calm down please." Rachel hugs me and grabs my hands.  "I love you."  She looks me in the eyes, her own eyes full of concern.  "I'm here for you baby, I promise." 

"What did they say?" Chloe asks me as I look down, I mumble something under my breath as she punches my arm harder than usual.

"They said she has at least one cracked rib and they have a lot of tests to do.  Now I'm going outside for a cigarette."  Chloe follows me outside as Rachel stays inside and waits patiently for us to return.  I know she hates me smoking but I'm stressed, and Jimmy needs a cigarette. 

"She really loves you man, Haley loves you more than anything. She tells me all the time about you and all the stuff you guys did as kids, and I gotta say, she really cares about you.  It may not seem like it sometimes but if anything happened to you.  She wouldn't be able to handle it." She hugs me while I'm smoking and I fight tears, I'm almost emotionless right now waiting for my sister to get out of surgery.  This is the final straw with our father. 

Rachel looks out the window and smiles at me and I flash a fake smile back.  This is my hardest trial yet.  I'm not a religious person but if there is a God, please don't let my sister be in pain.  Please heal her. I smoke the last drag from my cigarette as I flick it in the street and head back inside.  

"Jimmy they said Haley is out of surg-" Rachel starts as I dash back to her room, she follows close behind as Chloe walks in, "Hey wait for me!!" 

Haley is laying in bed with a wrap around her midriff, "oh Haley...." Rachel clasps her hands to her face. 

I pull the chair right next to the bed and grab Haley's hand.  "I'm right here Haley, im not leaving." 

"She's still out from the morphine.  Jimmy you need us, so we are going to stay with you."  I look at them with a tear going down my cheek.  I mouth a silent thank you as I turn my head back to Haley.  I will not leave her side again.

"Jimmy, do you need anything?  I'll go get you a monster or a tea or something."  Rachel asks as she grabs my shoulder. 

"No thank you, I'm fine."  I say as I close my eyes and pray.  "Someone should tell mom....."  someone knocks on the door and I snap up and open it. It's Kate Marsh and her parents.  She smiles and hugs me.

"Jimmy im so sorry to hear about Haley, I saw you guys rush off after the show but didn't know what had happened." 

"Thanks Kate, come in.  She's out so she won't be responsive." I close the door behind them and move back to my seat holding her hand.  "She is in such bad shape.."  I get up and walk out of the room with Rachel right behind me.

"Jimmy what's wrong?" 

"I wasn't fucking there for her when she needed me. And now I'm fucking hoping he didn't do anything to her besides hurt her.  I'm a fucking terrible brother, I can't look at myself anymore.  This is almost too much."  I look Rachel in the eye as I pull out my wallet and head into the men's bathroom,  she instantly cuts me off.

"James Craig Carswell, do not fucking do what I think you are about to do.  Talk to me, I'm here for you babe, if you fucking cut so help me god I will end your life myself.  I will get Chloe and we will drag you back to that room ourselves." 

"Rachel..."  I collapse in the hallway crying my eyes out.  This is fucking hard.  Rachel immediately falls down next to me and holds me. 

"It'll be okay, you can do this Jimmy, you have me. You have Chloe, and you have Max. We are all here for you, and Haley.  We fucking love you and care about you more than you know.  You two are literally like my second family, and I want to marry you some day." 

I look at her with tears stinging my eyes closed again.  She kisses me and hugs me tight.  "Thank you babe, I love you so much."  Kate runs down the hall and sees us and stops.  "Is everything okay?"  I jerk my head up and pull myself together as Rachel gets up too.  "Yeah, yeah fine, what's up?"

"Haley is awake and wants you."  I look at Rachel and run to the room and slide before the door. 

"Haley!"  I walk over to the bed as she smiles weakly.

"Hey bubby. How long was I out?"  I look at my phone and notice it's now 5 in the morning.

"About six hours."  She looks shocked and then looks at Chloe, "it seems like it was just a few moments."

"We are gonna go ahead and go, you guys catch up.  It was nice finally meeting you Jimmy and you too Haley, you guys are more than welcome to come to church with us anytime."  Kates dad says,

"Thank you Mr. Marsh. We will think about it."

Psyche

"Jimmy, please tell me he's gone.  Please tell me he's gone for good."

"He's gone for good Hale, I promise he will never lay a finger on you again, if he does it'll be his last moment alive."