The Defender

Chapter 11

Steve sat outside thehospital room in the hallway. He scrolled through the media seeingtons of breaking news on what just happened. He put his phone back inhis pocket as he watched the hallways watching the staff run back andforth helping the patients. He stood up and took a few steps to theother side of the door, and back a few times. He looked into roomthrough the blinds as he watches Mia laying in bed.

Mia laidwide awake in the bed as the TV played softly. Her mind replaying theevents of the night as she could not put the pieces together. Shelooked at the door to see Steve walking back and forth. It has beenwhat felt like hours since Jake was taken by police to get astatement. Mia wanted Mark to be here but had no idea if anyone haseven called him? Tears started to stream down her face as theystinging her cheeks. 'None of this would have happened if Mark washere' She thought.

Dean ran his hands through his dark hair ashe started to dial on his phone. It was now close to midnight and thenight just began. He was not ready to make this phone call but knewthat Roger was not going to make it. He took a deep breath and placedthe phone to his ear.

"Hello" A deep male voiceresponded.

"Hi, Mark?" Dean said and tried to keep hisvoice upbeat.

"Yes, Dean. What is going on?" Mark asked asDean could tell that he woke him up. Mark sat up in the bed and swaghis feet around to the side as he turned on the light. He looked downat the clock seeing it say midnight.

"Mark, I am not surethat you have seen the news or been on the net." Dean stopped andMark was confused about what was happening.

"Dean is Miaokay?"

"Mia is okay, but Mark I need you to pack yourthings and head to the airport."

"What is going on?"Mark raised his voice and Glen woke up and looked at Mark.

"Ihave a ticket for you at the desk to be on the next flight at 12:30am" Dean took a deep breath " Mia was attacked when he came homeafter the interview. She is in the hospital. Jake and Steve are withher, but I am sure she wants you to be there."

"I am onthe next flight. Tell Mia!" Mark said to Dean and hung up as hegrabbed a shirt and pulled it on. He through all his clothing intohis bags and Glen watched a bit.

"Mark, what happened?"Glen asked as he tried to help a bit.

"Mia was attacked. Sheis in the hospital. I" Mark started and Glen just raised hishand

"I will take care of things here. You go home!" Glensaid and Mark walked over to him and hugged him and out the door, hewent. Glen sat down and shook his head. He did not want to be theperson on the other line that Mark was going to find.

Markpicked up the phone and called Roger. Roger didn't answer the phoneit just continued to ring and ring "Hey, Its Mark. Call me and fillme in on what is happening to Mia." Mark hung up and called Jake'scell phone and there was no answer there. Mark left a message to callhim back. He was getting pissed off that no one was answering thephone, but was hoping that there was a good excuse. Mark got into thecar and raced over to the airport and then into the tunnels. He ranto the desk and very dead airport. He finally got his bags allchecked in and was walking onto the plane. He knew in about an hourhe would be landing back on home ground. He pulled out his keys andput them in his front pocket. He was getting more and more upset asthis event started to unfold. Mark sat down in his seat and lookeddown at his phone and remembered what Dean has said. He opened googleand down the rabbit hole, he went.

Jake sat in the room offthe main lobby with Roger and the police. Jake's gun was taken fromhim a testing wipes were wiped all over his hand to make sure that hedid not fire his gun. The one police officer read the statement oncemore and then slide it across the table for Jake and Roger to read.The two read over the statement and verbally agreed to it.

"Pleasesign it and if you have anything else to add to it at any time pleaselet us know," The one police officer said and Jake signed thestatement and slide it back to him.

"Thank you. If we findout anything we will be in touch." The officer said and dismissedJake and Roger. Jake and Roger stood in the lobby and Roger lookeddown at his phone and see that there was a missed call from Mark.Roger hung his head and Jake looked at him.

"I better getback up there and relief Steve," Jake said and Roger put up onfinger wanting him to wait.

"One second Jake," Roger saidas he put his phone to his ear to hear the message. He then took afew steps and called Mark back. Mark looked down at the phone to seeRoger calling and just left it to ring. He was minutes away from thehospital. "Jake, I would wait here. Mark is on his way I believeand we should deal with him then the staff "

"How far outis he?" Jake asked taking a deep breath wondering how he was goingto deal with such a big man.

"I am not sure, but let's getsome coffee it is going to be a long night," Roger said and the twoof them started to walk around to the cafe.

Mark pulled intothe hospital and parked his car. He grabbed his wallet and rantowards the hospital as he locked his car from the remote. He walksinto the security and points him to a counter to get the room and apass.

"The patient's name"

"Damia Reyes or MiaReyes," He tells the lady behind the desk. She types it into thecomputer with no results.

"I am sorry Sir there is no onehere with that name," She says to him and Mark began to blow hislid.

"Look it up again! She is in this hospital!" Markstarted to scream which got security to move in closer to him.

Jakeheard Mark's voice screaming down the hallways. He turned to Rogerand handed him the coffees."Oh no. Mark's here!" Jake said toRoger and took off running down the hall. "Woah Mark. It is okay wewill get you signed in"

"Jake get me to Mia," He saidand Jake walked over to the desk

"Ma'am can you look upForest Child," Jake said

"Yes Sir," She said her voiceshaking "We have one in the hospital. Can I have your ID?" Rogerwalked around the corner and Mark took a step towards him andsecurity stopped him. Roger continued to walk over to thegroup.

"Mark, your ID" Jake asked and he hands it over tohim and him to her. The lady scans in the ID and makes a pass andhands all of it back to Jake.

"I am so sorry Mr. Undertaker.I am sure you understand" She said and looks down.

"I amsorry. I should have been here to receive him" Jake apologize tothe woman. He turned to Mark and handed it to him. " Put it on,"He said to him and Mark did as he put the ID away.

"How isMia?" Mark asked

"She is fine," Roger said, "Steve hasnot left her." Jake took the coffee from Roger's hands and thethree of them walked towards the room. Mark's mind went to a milliondirections to what they were going to find when they walked into theroom.

"We just finished with the police" Jake said andMark looked over at him. "They have the man in custody."

"Excuseme, while I don't speak about this as a case. My girlfriend wasattacked and I was the last person notified." Mark said a bit madat Roger as he glared at him.

"Its nothing personal. I wasat the house when the police pulled up dealing with what washappening." Roger tried to just talk out the situation.

"Thereare reports that Mia was harmed," Mark said as the three of themgot into an elevator.

"Mia has rope burns on her wrist andankles. She also has a few scratches on her legs and one on hercheek..." Jake took a deep breath and Mark waited as he turnedtowards him "where he held the knife to her." Jake could see hisface turn to pure rage. "She is okay otherwise. They are onlyholding her for observation."

"Take me to Mia," Marksaid and Roger held the door open. Jake walked out first and thenMark. Roger followed and the three men who looked very out of placeas they walked down the hallway. Steve looked down the hallway andstood up as he has seen the three of them. Jake nodded Mark stoppedin front of Steve.

"She just fall asleep," Steve said andMark nodded and then tapped on the door and Mia sat up and started torub her eyes as he walked in. Roger stood outside with the other menand handed out the coffee.

"Mark?" She said so softly andraspy. Mark closed the blinds and walked over to Mia and hugged herclosed to him. She started to cry into his shirt. Mark pulled heraway and kissed her forehead. Mark looked her cheek where he couldtell that there was a knife cut. He looked down at her red wrist andsome spots raw. "I am okay. I am okay" She tried to keep sayingas he looked over her body.

"This is not okay, Mia" Hepaused and sat down next to her pulling the chair close to him.

"Whocalled you?"

"Dean" He paused "What happened?"

"Noone told you?"

"It has been a ruff night" was all Marksaid and he took Mia's name and gently started to rub her fingers ashe sat there and listened to Mia explained what happened. Mark satthere through all her tears and all crying as he got every bit ofwhat happened. He compared it to several of the reports he readonline on his way here. Mia laid her head on Mark's hands. Markreached up and gently rubbed her head. Mia pulled the blankets andmoved over to sit on Mark's lap. She cuddled into his lap as tearscame and go as she took in the scent of Mark. Mark took the blanketand cover her legs up. He noticed the marks on it and just shook hishead.

A few hours went by and Jake slowly opened the door.Mark looked up at him as Mia was sleeping on his lap. "Sorry, Ijust wanted to check in make sure everything is okay. Roger left andSteve needs sleep." He whispered trying hard not to wake Mia.

"Youcan both go. I will look after her." Mark said and nodded

"Areyou sure?"

" Yeah, it is not a problem." Mark whispered,"Can you bring her some clothing tomorrow?"

"Sure not aproblem.