Wanting Mr. Barkley (Book 2)

Chapter Eight . . . Start Again

Chapter Eight . . . Start Again

Derek's POV

I sat in the waiting room with my head in my hands just waiting for some sort of sign that Karen was going to be okay, but so far my sign was failing.

"Derek." Dylan sighed my name as he sat next to me in the seat. "How are you holding up?" He asked and slapped a hand on my shoulder.

"How did you do this?" I asked and felt him freeze.

"It's hard, but you have to have faith that everything is going to be okay. You might have to pray, scream, and possibly beg, but most importantly you have to have faith." He said and I shook my head.

"I was almost to late. That bastard almost raped her."

"But he didn't, and right now he's sitting in a cell with attempted murder and attempted rape. He's going to go away for a really long time."

"What does Karen get out of it though? More memories that are going to haunt her? I should've killed him when I had the chance."

"Then Karen would wake up alone and scared, and wanting you while you are off in some prison, and what about Garrett, huh? You are like the biggest role model he has. He can't see you hauled off to prison."

"He would understand."

"Would he, Derek? I know you're upset right now, believe me I know, but you need to take a breath and think about what you're saying."

At that point a doctor came over to us with a clipboard. "Are you with Karen?" He asked us and I jumped up quickly.

"Yes, how is she?" He gave me a small smile.

"She's okay. She has some injuries to her throat, head, and also ribs. She is in a lot of pain, but we have her on medicines to keep it under control. Would any of you gentlemen happen to be Garrett?" He asked and I shook my head.

"No, that's her son. He's with my brother right now."

"And you are?" He asked.

"Derek Barkley." He nodded and wrote some words down on his clipboard.
"Would you come with me, please?" I looked at Dylan who only motioned me to follow the doctor. Once I did the doctor began speaking to me.

"Are you her husband?" I shook my head but couldn't help but smile.

"I wish."

"Well, from the sounds of it you're dreams are going to come true. She keeps mumbling your name and asking about you." Was it wrong to feel a bubble of excitement? "She has requested you, but she has a hard time talking so try to give her yes or no questions." I nodded understanding.

"Anything else?" I asked.

"Well, she's pretty upset after we gave her a rape kit." I stopped in my tracks.

"Rape kit?"

"When a female is forcefully beat and found with her pants open, we offer a rape kit and she agreed." I felt my blood go cold as we entered her room and found her laying on the mattress with an oxygen tank hooked up to her.

"I'll leave you two alone." The doctor said and left the room, shutting the door behind him.

"Hey Karen." I whispered and she patted her bed. I sat down next to her and grabbed her cold hand. "Are you okay?" I asked and she shrugged her shoulders, and pointed to her throat indicating that it was hard to talk.

"Are you-are you mad at me?" I asked and she tilted her head to the side like she was confused. "If I wasn't so stupid and late for apologizing you wouldn't be here." She smacked my shoulder hard and I flinched.

"You are an idiot."She managed to whisper/screech out.

"Don't talk." I ordered but she rolled her eyes and ignored me.

"This isn't your fault." She paused and coughed a little, "Don't make this about you, Derek." She started coughing again and I reached for a glass of water that was on her bedside table. I handed it to her and let her drink before starting again.

"I'm not making this about me. I'm just stating facts, if I wasn't stupid I would have been able to stop this from happening." She sighed and played with the edge of her cup before looking up at me.

"I don't want to argue right now, especially when I can't yell back." She coughed again. "I want to start over and forget that this day happened between us."

"Okay, I'm happy to do that." I said with relief.

"I also want to . . . give us a try?" She said and bit that beautiful lip of hers.

"W-what?" I stumbled over my words totally not expecting that from her.

"I want to give us a try. I was actually thinking about that before Gus came." I flinched at his name, it was like a knife to my heart. "I think I made a mistake." She paused to take a drink. "I know I made a mistake, and I want to take this slow. For Garrett's sake and mine." She looked at me waiting for an answer, but words could not explain the happiness in my heart. How was she able to do this to me when she was laying in a hospital bed barely talking?

I kissed her cheek gently. "I promise to go slow." I said, and her eyes twinkled.

At that moment a nurse came in with a knock on the door. "Hello Karen, I'm here to take you for another test."

Karen looked at me then to the nurse and nodded.

"How long am I going to be here?"

She asked and started coughing which made the nurse slightly flinch.

"Well, the doctor wants you at least through the night and we'll see how it goes from there." The nurse answered politely, Karen turned to me with a worried expression.

"I'm not leaving your side." I promised her and she shook her head.

"Garrett?" She asked.

"I got him covered, he's with Dean right now and he'll spend the night at mom's with Dean close. Nothing will happen to him."

The nurse rolled over a wheelchair to Karen and tried to help her in but Karen stopped her and kissed my cheek.

"Thank you." She whispered which left me stunned as she was rolled out of the room.