What About Us?

Chapter 27

Charlie

Teddy and I were sitting in the infirmary waiting for word from one of our friends.

"UNO!" Teddy shouted waving his last card in front of my face.

"Oh yeah? Take that sucker!" I put down a draw 4 wild.

"Screw you." He said picking up the cards.

I was just about to hit Teddy with another drawing card when my phone rang.

"Hello?" I answered

"We got him." I heard Angela say

"Is he ok? Where are you guys?"

"I'm at the hospital. Jackson is in surgery right now." I could hear her pacing through the phone. "We found Maria."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Jackson. He was saying something when we got there. Something about Mari having a twin sister, Agatha I think. I don't know. Something about Maria's death being staged."

"Ok. Are you ok? Where's Jacob?"

"With Maria. They should be on their way here and Melisa should be with them. I'm freaking out Charlie. What if something goes wrong."

"Everything's going to be fine. We'll come by there ok? I'll bring over a change of clothes."

"Ok."

I hung up and looked over at Teddy who was giving me a confused look.

"Angela is at the hospital with Jackson who is in surgery. Jacob and Melisa are on their way in another ambulance."

"Why another ambulance?" He asked

"Don't freak out!" I ordered

"Why? What is it?"

"Jackson's dad had another hostage and he said Maria's death was staged using the body of Maria's twin sister Agatha. Jackson's dad still had Maria until today. She's on her way to the hospital with Jacob and Melisa."

"Is she ok?"

"We don't know but you and I are going to head there now because Angela is freaking out."

"Ok."

<*>

The two of us grabbed some clothes for Angela and headed to the hospital. Teddy had to drive.

The whole way there he was unnecessarily quiet.

<*>

When we arrived, we were greeted by Angela.

"Thank god you're here! So, I was told that Jackson was shot through the appendix, so they had to remove it. They're working on him right now. He also has broken ribs and a broken arm." She said

I took in her appearance. Her face displayed all the worry and sadness I could tell she was feeling. Her hair was falling out of it's braid and into her eyes. Her clothes and hands were stained red.

"Angela, what happened?" I asked

"Jacob and I went inside to find him. He was upstairs on the floor in an empty room a-and he was shot. I tried to-to stop the bleeding and it got e-everywhere." She was crying by the end of her story.

I pulled her into a hug.

The two of us have been like brother and sister. I met her on her first day at camp and she took an instant liking to me. I'm only two years older than her and we've only know each other for a few years, but she treats me like my little sister used to.

"It's going to be ok. They just have to get out the bullet and bandage his arm. Ok? Everything will be fine." I soothed.

<*>

After Angela had washed off the blood and changed we sat together in the waiting room.

"Angela can I braid your hair?" Teddy asked. We both gave him a funny look

"Sure." Angela replied

She climbed out of her chair and sat down in front of Teddy.

When Teddy asked if her could braid her hair I was expecting a simple braid. Instead he surprised me with a French fishtail braid of some sort. I spent an hour watching his hands delicately weave Angela's hair in intricate patterns.

"What's this about Maria?" He asked finishing up

"I don't know. But they brought her in a bit before you guys arrived. Jacob went back with Melisa to talk to the police. She should be just down the hall. Ask one of the nurses."

Teddy got up and after a brief conversation with a nurse followed her down the hall.

<*>

Teddy finally returned a little while later.

"She's knocked out. Something about pain meds. I hope that's her. For real this time." He said

<*>

It wasn't until around midnight we got word on Jackson.

A very tired looking nurse came down the hall at 12:13.

"Jackson Crawford?" She called

Angela jumped out of her chair and after a brief chat returned to us.

"He fine." She sighed. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. "He's upstairs right now resting. I'm going to head up. Jacob texted and said they should be here soon."

She hugged me again and left for the elevator.