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Chapter 3

When I get home that evening the house is quiet. A little too quiet for my standards. usually there's a groaning father on the floor of the living room due to his fall off the couch, or he's grabbing another beer out of the fridge making as much noise as possible while doing so. but today's different, there's an eery silence in the air that has my mind on edge. I walk to the kitchen and see him passed out on the floor as usual, but my mind goes blank when I see the blood surrounding him on the floor.

Theres a wound in his back, and all that I can think is that it looks like one of those bullet wounds from TV shows.

I run to the phone and quickly dial 911, and they are here in a matter of minutes, rushing around, and assuring me that they'll take as best care of my father as they can.

I run out behind them and as they get into the ambulance I turn around to rush back inside to get my fathers car keys, but a hand on my wrist holds me back.

"Jane!" I turn and see Andrew and his friend group behind him. "Whats going on?" He says, and seeing my face with all of the tear stains, he brings me into a hug.

"I-I..." I choke slightly and I start crying heavily again. "Help?" I ask when I get myself somewhat put together.

"Of course."

I rush inside with everyone following me, and grab the car keys off the kitchen table. I turn around to see Andrew staring at the blood in shock.

"I need you to drive me to the hospital, I cant." I say, pushing Andrew towards the door but he doesnt budge, he just is still looking at the blood- my fathers blood... "Andrew!" I shout, and he jumps into action, grabbing my hand and we both rush out of the house.

"We'll all meet you there" Alex says from behind me as him and the rest of the group gets into a different car.

The car ride's a short one, and soon enough I'm asking the man at the front desk where my father is.

"He's in surgery right now miss, if you could just take a seat and wait?" He asks, his tone very formal and yet sincere. I nod, knowing theres nothing else I can do, and the crew and I all sit down in the very uncomfortable chairs.

I kind of just sit there as the group tries to assure me that everything will be okay, I still havent told them whats going on.

~

"Guys" I say after a few hours of sitting there. They've stayed this whole time... "Its okay, yall should go home to your families."

"No," Alex and Andrew say at the same time. They exchange a glance before Andrew looks back to me. "We're all staying until you're alright."

"But... yall have only known me for a few hours... why are you going through this much trouble?" I say, looking down at my hands in my lap.

"Because you're one of us now." Jackie chimes in, smiling as brightly as she can. "We don't leave until we know you're okay."

A tear drops onto my hand and I soon realize its my own. "Thank you" I whisper right as the doctor comes in, and we all stand up.

"There was a... complication durring surgery..."

Chills arrise on my arm as he says this, my mind automatically going for the worse.

"He's presently in a coma, and we're not sure when... or if he'll wake up."

Theres an automatic sense of relief when I realize he's not dead... but is that really better then the possibility of him never waking up?

"There was a lot of alcohol on him, is that usual?" He asks. "I'm asking for medical reasons only."

"Yes."

The group looks at me in surprise, clearly not expecting my answer.

"He's an alcoholic."

"You understand we'll be calling child protection services, correct?"

"I understand. But if you guys needed to know, you needed to know. It doesnt matter what happens as long as my father makes it out of this alive."

~

The next few days are ones I spend in the hospital, Andrew and the crew come along once and a while, Andrew the most. But I dont leave, how could I when my fathers laying there so helpless? What am I supposed to do?

"Jane?" The nurse asks when she walks in to change my fathers bandages. "You should really go home, get some rest in a bed." I shake my head slightly, and look up at her. "I cant. I cant take care of the blood on the floor I cant try to figure out what happened. I cant think about anything." Just as I say this Andrew walks in, and he looks towards me with a look of sadness. Not quite one of pity, but just sadness. Sincerity in a way I suppose.

"You're coming to my house, youre getting a shower, and youre going to get some rest. Jackie and Xavier are going to pick up some clothes from your house, and I'll go over later to take care of the blood. You need to get some sleep, and clean yourself up."

Before I can say anything about it he says

"This is not a debate Jane. Let us help."

And that's that I suppose.