Stolen From Superman-The Sequel To Waiting for Superman

Chapter 47- Home

They move Mitch into the other spot in my room after a few days, due to frequent protests from both of us. As much as they try, Jordan and Jerome can't be here 24/7, and we're bored. I want to talk to him. He's my friend, and he took a bullet for Jordan. I look at him for a moment once the nurses have left, rolling over slightly so I can see him. He looks almost as bad as I do, except he isn't as thin. His whole torso and shoulder are wrapped in bandages, and I'm fairly sure they have him on some serious pain meds. Right now, though, he's able to talk coherently. "How are you?" I ask, propping myself up slightly on my elbow. He chuckles weakly "I'm alright. You?" I grin. "Gaining weight slowly. Nothing's seriously infected." He nods "That's a start." The room is silent for a moment. I made Jordan go down to the cafeteria a little while ago. If he had it his way, he'd starve to death by my bedside. "Just out of curiosity, why did you take that bullet for Jordan?" I ask, blurting out what I've been wondering for days. He tilts his head and shrugs nonchalantly. I wait for a moment, under the impression that he might be thinking. But as the seconds tick by, it becomes clear he doesn't intend on telling me. I sigh "Well, thank you." He tries to blow it off, but I shake my head. "No, really, thank you. Thank you for him. I don't think I would have survived if he'd died. Nor would I have wanted to." I say intently. "I know." He says knowingly. Maybe that's why he saved him. To make sure that I lived as well. I blink a few times, and he speaks again. "Do you know what he did when he thought you were dying?" I shake my head. "I don't remember that part very well. Only bits and pieces." Mitch smiles a bit. "He did everything he could. He was falling apart, anyone could see that. But he wouldn't stop trying. He sang to you, Ali. He wouldn't give up on you." I swallow, moved by his recounting. I know Jordan never would have told me all of this. "He loves you, Ali. More than anyone I've ever seen." I smile warmly. "I've seen you and Jerome. That's got to be pretty close." He chuckles. "Yeah. Yeah it is." I blink "I do remember what Jerome did when you got shot. It wasn't pretty." Mitch laughs "Jordan's efforts where a lot more heroic, I must say. But that's part of what makes Jerome himself. And I love him that way." He says, almost wistfully, his eyes fixed on some distant point that I'd bet is Jerome.

Emily comes in a bit later to check on us, while Ian happens to be visiting. He's told us everything about the resolution of the case by now. Joey was apprehended a few miles out of town and is awaiting trial. Ian's friends closed the case with the military, and no one ever knew we were there. But he doesn't say anything about what happened to Steven. Did they bury him, perhaps? Or just set the house where he lay on fire? It's curios to think about. I honestly don't care what they do with him, as long as he's dead. Ian stands up as Em walks in, and they lock eyes. There are a few long moments where they seem unable to move, just staring at each other. I raise an eyebrow, glancing at Mitch. He clears his throat loudly, and they jump. Emily turns a bright color of red and starts fussing with my machines again, while Ian looks away awkwardly. I try as hard as I can not to laugh. It seems that, once again, my coma was correct. It was just meant to be, I suppose.

Its 3 weeks before I'm healthy enough to go home. My cuts are bandaged and my burns fading; my muscles loosened and my ribs barely showing. But those are only the physical things. My body feels better, but I still hide away the emotional damage. The way I still jump every time I see a flash of metal, or the lights go out. The way I flinch every time I turn on a stove, or hear a loud noise behind me. This doesn't go unnoticed by Jordan, I'm sure. He's careful around me. He never leaves me alone in the dark, and offers to cook almost everything. I can see it behind his eyes; the concern. And one day, he asks me.

"What happened to you, Ali?" he says, pulling me down next to him on the couch, putting his arms around me. I rest my head on his chest, just like old times, and am silent for a moment. I know I can't ignore it forever. I know I have to talk about it, or I won't ever heal fully. But I wish I could just make it go away. Pretend it isn't there until it finally disappears. But I can't. There's something I haven't told anyone; something that I'm not even sure that Steven knew about. Not that he would have cared anyways. I take a deep breath, and burst into tears. I can't help it, I really can't. It hurts so much. The constant fear, the memories of what happened to me. Jordan pulls me in closer to him almost immediately, murmuring "I'm sorry Ali. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to." But I shake my head, trying to regain control of myself. "No. I have to tell you." I get out, voice shaking. His forehead wrinkles in concern, but he nods. "Ok. If you want to." He wraps a hand around mine, squeezing slightly. It manages to calm me somewhat, and I take a moment to wipe away some of my tears. I'm already feeling better, though. It feels good to release it all. To let go of the pain and the awful memories. "He hurt me, Jordan. I'm sure you know what he did just by the injuries. He starved me. I didn't get food or water for 3 days at a time. And then he would cut me. Or burn me. Or just punch me." I choke out, my voice still unsteady. Jordan's eyes seem so painful. Full of sorrow and sympathy, and the regret that he couldn't have saved me from all of that. "But that isn't what bothers me, Jordan. There was something else. I'm don't think they ever knew. I'm not even sure myself." He looks at me intently, something like fear in his eyes. I close my eyes for a moment, and the memories flash before them. Blood, everywhere. Horrible cramps in my stomach. I have no way of knowing for sure. But I have a feeling. "Do you remember the night before they took me? When we..." I say quietly, and he nods, seeming almost petrified now. I swallow. "I think there was a baby, Jordan." I say, a fresh wave of tears spilling over my cheeks. He clutches my hand tightly, different emotions flashing over his face. Happiness and horror. He looks at me for a moment, unable to speak. Then he says. "Was?" I nod, sobbing now. He pulls me into a desperate embrace, and I can feel him shaking as well. "Are you sure?" he says, sounding as if he is now crying too. "Yes. I was 3 weeks late, you know, about 4 days before you came. I was scared, Jordan. I knew that I couldn't hang on to it on such low body weight. But I kept hoping, praying, that it might make it until someone rescued me." He pulls back to look at me. "Oh my god, Ali." He whispers, voice full of unbearable sadness. "But then there was blood. So much blood. I think Steven thought it was just normal, but I knew it wasn't. My stomach hurt so badly and I couldn't stop shaking and I just knew, Jordan. It was gone. I wasn't healthy enough to keep it. I lost the baby, Jordan." I ramble, tears pouring down my face as I finally tell him what has been haunting me for so long. He lets out a low groan of pain and clutches me to him, body shaking with sobs. I cling to him as well, my tears staining his shirt. We could have had a baby. A part of both of us. But not anymore. Steven killed it. Without even knowing it, he murdered my unborn child. Being pregnant would have been wonderful, now. I have a stable home and I could have married Jordan and raised it with him. I can still do that, sure, but not with that baby. Not with my first child. Because it's gone. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." I whisper, feeling somewhat guilty. Maybe if I'd told Steven, he would have had more mercy. Maybe I could have saved it.

He pulls back again, hands on my shoulders. "Do not blame yourself. Do you hear me? This isn't your fault. Do not blame this on yourself. Steven killed that baby, not you." He says firmly, cheeks stained with tears. I nod reluctantly, taking a deep breath. He just looks at me for a second. "We can have another baby, Ali. I love you. I love you more than anything else in the world, and this isn't your fault. It would have been wonderful, I'm sure, but just know that this isn't the end. We can still have kids. We just won't have that first one." He says softly, emotion pouring through his voice. I nod slowly, and he smiles slightly. "I sorry that this happened to you." He says simply, and I press my lips together. "It's over now, Jordan. I can move on. I have you." I whisper, and he kisses me, making everything seem not so bad.

A/N: GAH ITS SO TRAGIC AND SADNESS AND PLOT TWISTY!!! Anyways, one more chapter, dudes! An epilogue, sure, but we're almost done! Seems crazy, huh? Slap dat vote button if you've enjoyed, and drop a comment with your shock and sadness!

-Argo