To Protect Each Other ~ A Haleb Story

Mr. Know-It-All

CALEB'S POV...

2 months later...

"Come on Han, you've got this." I said, pulling her up out of the car. The past two months have been filled to the brim with physiotherapy, medication, tears, screaming and shouting and my, it's been a ride. In total, Hanna's had three operations; two on her stomach and one on her arm. The worst part for me, by far, is seeing Hanna cry when she's in pain or when she's at one of those lows that seem to be becoming more frequent ever since the school incident. Every time I see her upset because of –A, my body gets filled with a new kind of rage. All I want to do is end this for her, we all do. But it's not that simple, it never is. The worst part for her, clearly, is being so vulnerable. Multiple times, over and over she's tried her hardest to push he away, saying 'it's better for everyone if I'm not around her' and she'd 'prefer it if I just left' which I know for a fact isn't true because I can see when her wall's up. When she's hiding her emotions from me because she thinks it's best for me when it really isn't. All I want to do is help her and that's proving more difficult than expected, especially when one minute she's all happy and productive and the next she's having a mental breakdown. "There you go." I said when she was stood properly and closed the car door.

Hanna, Ashley and I all decided it would be most beneficial for Hanna to stay with me in my apartment for the time being as Ashley's recent promotion at work means she won't be home enough to look after Hanna. So with much persuading and even more shouting and screaming, Hanna agreed to stay in my apartment.

"Why isn't my mom here?" She then asked as we entered the elevator, all her bags in my hand.

"She's at another one of her meetings in D.C. She said she'd call you tonight." I replied.

"She could have just told me that. Just like how she asked you to tell me I was staying here." She huffed.

"She didn't force you babe, you did agree to it. And we both know it's for the best." I tried to reason.

"Well I'm sure my dad won't agree with that." She muttered, just loud enough for me to hear as she unlocked the door to my apartment, walked in and over to the kitchen. I set her bags on the couch walked into the kitchen too and straight to the coffee machine.

"If he comes knocking at my door I'll slam it in his face." I smirked and pulled out two coffee cups.

"I won't stop you. But before you do that there's some things I'd like to say." She said and leant against the counter to fix the sling around her arm.

"Like?"

"Like don't come near me again and go fuck yourself." She sarcastically smiled. Letting the water boil, I turned to face her. I put my arms either side of her so she was trapped.

"Hanna, he's your dad. Have a little respect."

"Respect is earned, Caleb. You told me that. And by my account, he hasn't done much for me that deserves respect." She said and tried to push her way past me but I wouldn't let her.

"He's tried Hanna. Like when he vis-" I trailed off after realising what I was about to say. I release my grip around her and looked to the ground.

"Oh my god. He visited me?" She asked, her eyes wide.

"I didn't say that."

"Yeah, but you were going to. When?" I sighed,

"After your second op. You were still unconscious so you didn't know. And your mom was at home."

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Because I knew you'd react like this! Listen Hanna, just call him. All I'm asking is that you hear him out, okay?" She looked me in the eyes and I could see she was having a subconscious battle in her mind, whether or not she should call her father.