The Feeling of Love and Terror

Chapter 12

Gerard's POV

Linda taught us the proper way of re-bandaging her wounds, icing her knees, etc. She was planning on staying here all day to help us out about taking good, special care of her. Then the topic came up about the rooming arrangements. Linda believes that for Claire's best recovery, we give her a room to stay in, with an actual bed. Frank volunteered his room to Claire and he can sleep on the couch, or in my room. I don't necessarily agree with this.

If you were to find a lost younger teenager in need of help and care, wouldn't you not only make an effort to help her, but maybe, I don't know, take them to an actual hospital? Where they can notify the police and put out a report for a found child? Look, I support Frank 110% in all of his decisions, but this one, I'm not so sure about. I really want to talk to him about it, but the last time I did that, you know that didn't work out at all. I have come to think that if I have to say anything to Frank, I should think it through again and tell Linda first.

All three of us helped Claire up the stairs and gave her a tour of where everything was: The bathroom, my room, and Frank's room. You can tell she was struggling to keep herself up and balanced, so we all were walking slowly with her. Once we got into Frank's room, Linda put her bag on the bed while Claire walked around the room, looking at everything.

There wasn't really much stuff to look at. The walls were light grey and had random pieces of artwork framed and hanging. There was one where it was a panoramic view of rocks next to a calm ocean when it's dusk, and a few littler ones of plants and such. Also, there was a window where underneath it was a trunk that you can sit on it and look out the window. I don't really understand why he has it, there is nothing in it. When Frank is in stress, he usually opens the window, sits on it and has a smoke. It says it calms and relaxes him, so I just go with it. Although I find his room calming enough, well, more then my room at least. I do make sure that he only has couple and not a whole pack, because when Frank is alone and deep in thought, not knowing, he smokes a whole pack, which we all know isn't good for anyone. Beside his bed was a black wooden night stand with a lamp and a framed picture of a dog that Frank had when he was a child. It was a black lab named Rusty. Frank loves dogs, especially little ones. One of his dreams in life is to buy a small house where we had a couple acres of land, where he can raise animals, especially dogs. He could let them run around and play all afternoon and then lay in the yard with them and watch the sunset as it grew dark. 

Claire limped around the room, jaw open and eyes in wonderment, looking at the paintings, feeling the sheets on Frank's bed. She then saw the picture of Rusty. She pointed to it and looked up at us, allured.

"Yup, that's a dog Claire, a black lab. It was Frank's childhood pet for a very long time." Linda went on saying how nice of a dog he was and attempted to sign along. The really adorible thing was, she started stroking the picture, like she was petting the dog. Frank couldn't help but giggle. 

A little while later, Linda helped Claire get situated while Frank and I went downstairs. It's been a long morning, so I decided to make lunch for everyone. As I get out all of the supplies, I hear the water turn on upstairs. The shower. 'What the...' I thought. 

"Hey Mom!" Frank shouts.

"Yes?" she responds.

"What are you doing?"

"Cleasing Claire. I found a swim suit in her bag so that will be used for her to wear whenever we need to bathe her."

"Wait, we need to?" I interupted. 

"I don't expect you to trust her in doing things alone after everything that has happened, correct?" 

Well, I admit, she does have a point. 

"Do you... need help?" Frank acts hesitantly, hoping she would say no.

"You took the words right out of my mouth!"

I try to hold back laughter, but some slipped and Frank heard me, and turned to me. 

"I'm doing you a favor," Frank states at me, "I'm doing this for Claire and for myself."

"How is it doing me a favor then?" I questioned.

"You're more femanine then I am."

"I AM NOT!"

"You are so too!" I hear Linda shoutfrom upstairs. 

"Wow Linda! Just wow!" I exclaim

Linda laughed. "You know it's true Gee Bear, don't deny it." 

As Frank laughed and went upstairs, I rolled my eyes contiued making lunch for everyone. 

When I finished, I called up to them three saying it was ready. First came down Linda, then Frank, carrying Claire in his arms. Her hair was wet, all of her makeup cleaned off of her face. She had on blue sweats and a baggy white t-shirt. Her wound on her forehead looking much better, and both of her foreams re-wrapped. He sat her down in the chair at the table as I put food on the table. I decided to be easy and put out grapes for Claire and sandwitches for the rest of us. Linda informed me to start her eating small, and then grow within a couple of weeks due to her immunity being weak. The things she finds out without being at an actual doctors office. 

We all started eating, except for Claire. She just sat there, looking down at her arms. "Claire?" I asked. No responce. "Hey... it's okay." Frank whispered quietly as he started rubbing her shoulder. She sat there, playing with her hands, quietly. "You have to eat baby girl, it'll help you recover better." Linda told her. She just sat there, playing with her hands. 

"When was the last time you ate?" I spoke and signed to Claire. 

"I don't remember." she signed.

"Excatly. Please." I told/signed to her. 

She nodded and hesitantly reached for a grape. She couldn't quite get it off of the bundle because her fingers kept on slipping off of the grape. Claire's fingers were abnormally skinny and so was her hands, her arms, and now after I take a good look at her, she looks weak. Ok, maybe that's how Linda figured out her immunity.

Frank helped her by picking the grapes off of the bundle and placed them in front of her. She turned red in embrassement.

"You've been on the move for a while, haven't you?" Frank asked.

"Yes. It's been a long time." she signed back. 

"Number 1 on to do list: Learn sign language" he said while pretending to write on his hand. I laughed and told him what she said. I got up, grabbed her mini white board, marker, and brought it to her. 

"Better Frank?" I laughed and we all caught Claire chuckling too. 

"Wait a minute," I exclaimed, "You said you only knew a little sign language. You're little lier!" I started laughing and the great thing was, she was a great sport about it. 

"Ok, I had a reason to," she signed, "I panicked!"

I went over and messed with her hair and sat back down. I am afraid to think that I might be getting attached to Claire. I don't want to because when we turn her in, I dont want to be heartbroken. 

We all discussed about her recovery plan and how Linda would stay here also for the night and then leave early morning due to a flight she had to catch. That would give me some time to discuss my plan with her. 

I don't want to hurt Frank, but this has to be done. After I talk to Linda, and she leaves tomorrow, I'm going straight to the police station, to set matters straight.