The Defender

Chapter 2

Mark paced the waiting roomof the hospital as he waited to hear some news. He walked up to thedesk for the millionth time. The secretary looked up at him and shookher head. He went back to the chairs and continued on his mile-longwalk. 'How could I lose her? What is taking so long? Did she get hurtthat bad?' his mind gave him nothing but question afterquestion.

"For Reyes" A man that looked like a doctor cameout of the big double doors

"Yes, Me" Mark said and walkedover to him. His stomach began to twist what is the answers would hebe giving.

"We think she might have a concussion, but otherthen that it looks like minor scrapes," He said "She is askingfor her bodyguard"

"That is me," He said and the doctornodded his head and motion for him to follow him as he started towalk back. Mark looked at each curtain as they pasted one afteranother. There were so many people filling the rooms. He noticed someof them from the club. The doctor opened the one curtain and Markwalked into the room Mia sitting on the gurney.

"Mark!"She called to him with a smile on her face.

He walked over toher and hugged her tightly. Her head against his chest as he cuddlesher as much as he could 'Never again... never again' He thought asshe felt Mia sink into his body.

"I am sorry," She saidas Mark took a step back and a seat in the only chair in the room.

"For what?"

"I was thinking I was close enoughthat you could reach me, and I wasn't" She paused as she started tohear the ruckus happening outside of the curtains.

"I wantto see my daughter. I want to see here now!" a female voicescreamed

"We need to check with her first if she is okayhaving you back here," A staff member said

"How quick doyou want a lawsuit?!?" A male voice started "I can have a lawyerdown here within the hour"

The staff member finally gave up.She turned around and peaked her head through the curtains and lookedat Mark and then at Mia. "Ma' ma, I tried," She said and hung herhead low. She pulled the curtain aside and the male and female walkedinto the room.

"Oh Mia, what did you get yourself into now?"The female said and she rolled her eyes.

"Mom- Dad. MeetMark he is my Bodyguard" Mia said and Mark nodded his head, but noresults from either parent.

"You should have never been atthe club" her father scolded "You have an image to keep rightnow" Mia rolled her eyes.

"I hope you know you still needto be on set on Monday. They are not going to except your littlestunt." Mia's mother said and Mark started to take note on how thisfamily relationship was really starting to show its head

"Whocalled you guys?" Mia asked her parents who continued on their rantand raves about how she was not doing anything that wouldapprove.

"You must not have much of brain. I swear you gotthat from your father. Your famous and the shooting is all over thenews." Mia rolled her eyes and laid her head on the pillow. "Whywere you even out at that bar?"

"I was out with a bunch ofgirlfriends," Mia said and just like that her mother started to gooff the deep end.

"I told you! I told you! She is intogirls!" Her mother flapped her arms all around in the air at herfather "Now Mia. We need to get you to this church group. They canhelp you get that evil idea out of your head" Mark looked over atMia and then at her parents.

"Mom... Mom" Mia finally gother attention "I am into males... not females, but thanks forworrying." Mia looked over at Mark "Mark, can you see how muchlonger I need to be here?"

"Sure," He said and walkedout of the room. He began to wonder why she would send him and nother parents. Then he started to piece together the pieces. Even thoshe only knew him for about a week. She trusted him more than her ownparents. Mark finally found a nurse who had no answers but wouldsend in the doctor. Mark walked back into the room and took a seatback on the chair. Mia's mother and father continue on their path ofranting. "Excuse me Mr. and Mrs. Reyes, but do you think that youshould really let Mia get some relaxation since, after all, she doeshave a concussion."

"Yes your right" Her father said andpushed her mother's arm to go say goodbye. She walked over to Mia andkissed her forehead and her father came over and hugged her and theyfinally left. Mia stared at the curtain for a little while and thenfinally turned her head to Mark.'

"Thank you," She saidand smiled a little to Mark.

"Are they always like that?"

"That was nothing," She said with a little giggle in hervoice as she laid her head back on the pillow, and smiled atMark.

Mark pulled up to the house Mia fast asleep in the car.He got out of the car and then walked over to Mia's door and openedit as he reached down and across her to take off her seat belt. Hegenitally placed the belt back in the holder. He brushed against herhair hoping to wake her up a bit, but she didn't stir much. He lookedat her so peaceful sleeping. He walked up to the house opening thedoor and turning off the alarm. He then walked back to the car andreached down to Mia as he figured he could easily pick her up. Hepicked her up and she woke up a bit making some noise "M-Mark"She said softly so soft that he almost didn't hear her. She wassnuggling her head against his chest.

"Your okay, I am righthere," He said to her as they walked into the house. Mark walkedinto his room and placed her down on his bed. She snuggled againstthe pillow. Mark pulled the covers out from under her and gently tookoff her heels and placed them on the side of the bed. He covered herup with the blanket and stood up and watched her sleeping for a fewminutes, before going back to close up the car and house. Mark walkedback into the bedroom to see Mia fast asleep making little heavybreathing noise. Mark grabbed himself a pair of sweatpants and wentinto the bathroom and changed. He moved into the bed and got himselfcomfortable leaving some space between him and Mia.

Mia beganto wake up and placed her arm on a chest. She could feel the heatcoming off of the body next to her. She took in a deep breath andcould smell the leathery scent coming off of Mark. She smiled as shesnuggled and stretched against him. She took a deep breath of hisleathery scent her body starting to stir. Then her mind started tokick in "Oh no what time is it?" Mia sat up quickly wanting tolook for the clock. "Oh, my head," She said and placed her headinto her hands.

"You okay?' Mark sat up in bed and reachedover to Mia.

"I think I moved my head to fast." She saidand Mark rubbed her back. Mia began to get back to reality. Shecould feel that she was still in her dress from the other night. Shelooked over at Mark noticed how bright his eyes were. "What time isit?' she asked

"It is 6:30," He said and did not move hishand from her back "I don't think you should work out today..missing one day shouldn't change that much." He paused and ran hishand down her back and laid it on the mattress. "How about I gomake you some breakfast and you get yourself ready?"

"Um,yeah that sounds like a good idea." She said and slowly took offthe covers and put her feet on the floor. Mia's mind started to driftaway from her as she wondered what it would be like to be with Mark.Mark watched her slowly move as he enjoyed every curve that his eyeswere watching. Mia grabbed her shoes and made her way out of the roomas Mark continued to watch her until she was out of the room.

Markroamed around the kitchen making some scrambled eggs and toast withcoffee. He wasn't sure what has gotten into him. He opened and closedseveral of the cabinet doors as he looked for one item after another.Mia walked slowly into the kitchen not use to seeing another personbehind the counter making breakfast.

"Breakfast is almostready," Mark said with a smile and Mia could not help but smileback at him as the heat rushed to her cheeks. Mia watched Mark frombehind and her mind started to race again on how it could feel beingin his arms. "Make sure you eat well...It will help your head" Hesaid to her as he put the plate of food in front of her.

"Thankyou," She said with a smile as she looked at Mark who caught thetwinkle in her eyes. The two sat down together and ate breakfasttogether chatting about things that are going to happen today. "Iam sort of glad that the movie is almost over. Then it is just abunch of interviews and showings."

"Yeah, Was this movieharder to deal with than others?"

"Yes," She paused "Iam not one to be in a spotlight all the time. This movie really doesput me in the spotlight."

"If you don't like the spotlightthen why did you go into acting?"

"Accurately, I have adegree in marketing... the acting was a second choice." She giggledat her self as she pushed the eggs around. Mark watched everymovement that Mia made as she began to talk about how acting becamepart of her life. He smiled and knew that she was a special womanwith some strengths even she was not sure about.

Mark startedto clean up the dishes and Mia sat at the stool a bit longer. "So,tell me about your family" Mark paused and looked at her as hecould tell the by the look on her face it wasn't a happy paintingthat her parents were painting.

"Well, I moved out as soonas I turned 18. I put my self through college and now here. I believeyou could call me the black sheep of the family until I got somemoney to my name and then it became a 'come out of the woodwork.' Iam not close to anyone in my family and as you can tell from myparents... they just love to use my name." She took a deep breath"Come on we should get going."

The two of them continuedto talk on their way to the set. Mark pulled in to the locked lot andparked the car. The two of them got out of the car and started towalk to towards the set. Mia wanted to reach