Unexpected

Chapter 16

    I walk into the apartment complex after a long day of work. "Honey I'm home!" I called out, slipping off my white tennis shoes. I felt arms wrap around my waist, I felt warmth on my back. "You know hugging me with my scrubs on is a risk right?" I asked, a smile on my face.
    "Yeah yeah, but nothing can stop me from welcoming you home."  I looked next to me to see green eyes staring into my red ones, love in them.
    I giggle, "Alright, get off lover boy so I can change." Ryder complied, unwrapping his arms. I walk into my room and changed into some comfortable clothes, leaving my phone on the counter.
    I walked out of my room, towards the kitchen to start dinner for the both of us. "Hey babe." I turn around seeing Ryder with my phone, an angered expression on his face.
    I simply thought my mother sent something about how I'm not choosing the right path or something like that. "Yeah?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
    "Who is Benjamin?" He asks, placing the phone face down on the counter.
    "Just one of my brother's friends. Y-"
    "Why are you two going out to dinner tomorrow?" He questioned, his voice coming out as a growl.
    I returned his anger, does he really not trust me? "Because we are going to discuss my brother's surprise party ok?" I snapped, hurt that he didn't trust me enough to just assume things like this.
    He grabbed the collar of my shirt, pulling me close to him, "Don't get snappy with me." I was shocked at his tone, he never talked to me like this. He then let me go and walked away.
    I remember this... this is when it began. When he began to change for the worse. It started with simply threats, till the day he slapped me because I forgot something at the store. Then a punch when I started smiling and giggling to this guy when I was talking to him. Then it was the day... the day my brother and Benjamin found out what was going on.
    Ryder was drunk that night, I came home from work just to be slammed up against the wall. "You know love? I've always wanted to have a family? Do you like the sound of that?" He smelled of bear and even his words were slurred.
    That was the day I discovered the true emotion of fear, sure I felt scared before, but it was nothing like this. I could feel myself chasing in his hands, my breathing quickened.
    I fought back, hitting, kicking, even biting. But it wasn't enough, whatever I did to him he did in return. Until I couldn't fight anymore and he gave up his little quest.
    That night I called my brother, he came to pick me up calling my cousin as well. They healed me up and came up with a plan to take him down.
    Which worked perfectly as he was thrown in jail. The last thing I saw were police lights and Ryder getting in the back of the police car. Before everything faded into darkness.
                                    *******
    I blinked open my eyes, feeling no pain. 'What happened?' I asked myself, blinking away the blurriness in my eyes.
    I began to sit up, only to be stopped by someone putting their hand on my forehead. "Don't move, you risk hurting yourself." A deep, German accented voice said.
'I know that voice!' I look up, bending my head back a little bit seeing Third Reich having his elbow propped up on the couch, his hand balled into a fist as he leaned his head on it. For the first time I saw him without his hat, his red hair was all over the place and the bags under his eyes stared he hadn't slept.
    I was confused at first, wondering how I ended up down here until I started getting a pounding headache, causing me to physically wince. "Headache?" Reich asked, running his fingers through my hair.
    My headache begin to fade away as he does this, "Mmm, Yeah. But it might go away thanks to you."
    Silence stretched between us, it was comfortable as he continued to run his fingers through my hair. "What happened?" I asked tiredly, feeling drained all of a sudden.
    "You gotten beat up." I look over to see my cousin, my eyes widening in surprise. "The question is... was it him?"
    "Grey? What are you doing here?" I asked, ignoring his question.
    "You has broken ribs, internal bleeding, and one of your organs were damaged but it was easily fixable." My cousin informed me. "Now was it him?" He questioned, his monotone voice turning into one of rage and worry.
    I look up past him to see Benjamin, his arms crossed and his eyes fully of worry and fear. Then the flashes of what happened that night flashed in my mind, a sight tremble running through me. "Yes." I whimpered our, tears forming at the corners of my eyes.
    Grey was immediately by my side, wrapping his arms around my neck. "Don't worry... I will always be there for you cousin." He then glance up at Benjamin, his calm stare turning into a glare, "He won't hurt you ever again."
    Grey pulled away, giving me a small smile, wiping my tears away. "Now who is he?" I look behind Grey to see America sitting on the couch. That's when I noticed everyone was there, including Soviet who looked almost just as angry as everyone else.
    I look up at Benjamin giving him a confused look. "I figured you should tell them." Benjamin said, knowing what I was going to ask.
    "When she's ready! But for now she needs rest." Grey ordered, glaring at everyone in the room.
"It's fine Grey, I can tell them now." I said, using most of my strength to sit up. Pain shot through my chest, I bit my lip, preventing myself from screaming out.
Reich immediately wrapped his arms around my waist gently, pulling me up to lean on his chest. "I told you not to move." He growled slightly, continuing on running his fingers through me hair.
I felt the pain ebb away, my body relaxing. I didn't mind leaning up against Reich surprisingly, despite how many innocent people he tortured and worked to death or really killed for no reason! But ... I couldn't help but blush as my back was slightly on his chest. I could slightly feel his muscles from underneath his sweater.
"Now go ahead." He said, putting his arm on the couch cushions behind me, his other hand still running through my hair.
I took a deep breath in, letting it out slowly trying my best to calm myself. "His name is Ryder. A long time ago-"
"Two years ago." Benjamin corrected.
I rolled my eyes, "Two years ago, he was my boyfriend... but with time he became abusive. Then one night he did almost the same thing he did that night. Wait how long was I out?"
"It's been a week now." Reich answered. "A couple of days in your room then I was the one to burst into your room and found you like this. The rest of the days you were slowly recovering."
I nodded, "Ok... that's about the same length of time as before."
"How did you get away from him before?" France asked, looking serious.
"Me and Hunter found out when she called us one night. We took her away and formulated a plan to get him arrested. It worked." Benjamin explained.
"After that, my brother made me move in here to get away from that place and it's memories entirely." I finished.
"But How is he out? I thought he had seven years of prison, he really didn't even have anyone close to him to buy him out?" Grey questioned, looking over at Benjamin.
"That's what I don't understand either. I'll do some research at the police department. See if I can't gather anything." Benjamin said, picking up his phone and his coat.
"Wait!" I called out, making him stop in his tracks. "You should rest first. You've look like you haven't got any sleep." I said gently.
"I haven't. You know the promise I made to your brother... and this can't wait." Before I could stop him he left.
"He'll be fine (Y/N). He slept here and there." Grey said, sitting down next to me.
"Why didn't you tell us before?" America asked, he looked as if he was containing his anger, his hands were clenched into fists. "We could've helped." He said through clenched teeth.
    "I'm sorry... I thought that once he sees that I'm not interested he would leave me alone. I've only encountered him once before this." I told him truthfully, gesturing to my bandaged body.
    "Ok... but next time. Tell us, understand!" Phil said firmly, he was sitting next to America on the ground.
    "Ok, I promise." I said with a smile.
    "How about you guys make yourselves useful?" Grey said standing up and crossing his arms.
    "You can't just order me around? Your a child." Soviet rolled his eyes, crossing his arms.
    "I'm sorry Soviet but do you have a degree in anything but war or politics?" Grey questioned in his usual monotone voice.
    I noticed some of the countries, including me, struggled to suppress their laughs. Soviet glared at my cousin in response but didn't say anything.
    "Didn't think so. Now I need you, North, and Russia to go out and fetch me some medical supplies on this list that I will need for (Y/N) so she can heal properly." Grey instructed, handing Soviet a slip of paper. Soviet snatches it out of his hands, then gestures for North and Russia to follow him. Grey look over at Britain, "I need you, America, and France to fix everyone a meal. For (Y/N) it should be something simple and easy to swallow."
    Britain nodded, walking into the kitchen with America and France. "Everyone else fallow me, I may need you help in making the medication." Grey order.
    "Don't you need to be in the hospital to do that?" South asked.
    "No, I brought all the supplies and equipment. Benjamin helped me transport it." Grey answered. "Oh and Reich."
    Reich looked at Grey once he heard his name. "Stay with my cousin and keep an eye on her." Reich nodded in reply.
    Grey disappeared upstairs, walking past Soviet and the other two wearing hoodies as he went. Once everyone was out of the room, I looked up at Reich.
    "You should get some rest to. You look horrible." I said.
    "I'll be fine, besides." He looked down at me. "I need to keep an eye on you. You still look pale."
    "But-"
    "No but's. Now sleep." Reich mumbled.
    I sighed, thinking that would be impossible since I practically slept the whole week. But as time went on, I began to feel drowsy, then slowly my eyes shut. Letting myself envelop the darkness, letting sleep take over.
Reich's POV
    I watched as her breathing became steady, her weight fully on my now. I sighed, "Finally... you need it."
    I've been up ever since I found her like this, getting lectures from Soviet as I did so. Not to mention that little brat kept telling me to get some sleep and eat as well. But at the moment I didn't care, I don't know what came over me but for some reason... I wanted to keep her safe.
    I felt anger towards Ryder. If I ever see him... he's going to have a bullet in his skull.
Benjamin's POV
    I should've known! I should've known this was going to happen! How could I be so stupid!
    I slam my hands down on the steering wheel, cursing. "If I ever see him I swear I'll do what Hunter was too afraid to do."
Grey's POV
     I couldn't help but feel angered at my cousins state. I have always cared for her, our similarity being the cause of our bond. She helps me understand emotion just like her brother did for her.
    Unlike her, I found it in helping people and studied hard ever since I was four. Just for her, not for my parents, for her. So I could be happy around her, not having to fake it.
    Who knew it would lead to me actually healing her and performing surgery on her because of some... lowlife.
    He is one human being I will never help... but something about this doesn't seem right. Who would in there right mind... wait... no it can't be! Why would... no I must be wrong but it all adds up!
    Don't worry cousin I'll get behind this, just for you.