HUGH

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He drives quickly down the street. Replaying the scared voice of his little sister over and over again in his mind.
His mind hurt.
The events of the that evening were too much too handle right now.
All he could think about was her.
Where was she?
Where had she gone?
Then Claire had called and for a brief moment everything else was put on the back burner.
He hasn't heard Claire sound like that for years now.
He turns the corner and the headlights illuminate her form, there on the sidewalk. A body beside her.
A head in her lap.
He rushes out of the car coming towards them
Claire looks up immediate relief in her eyes.
"I just found her like this. I don't know what she's taken!"
She shouts to him as he draws closer.
His eyes drift down to the person his sister is cradling in her arms, rocking back and forth.
The blond hair.
The black coat.
He stumbles slightly.
He's next to them instantly.
Drawing her out of Claire's arms into his.
Flipping her over to see her face.
Pale.
Eyes closed.
She has a pulse.
"Tessa!!!" He urges her to respond "baby open your eyes."
He sees the confusion in his sisters eyes.
There's no time for explanation.
"Tessa" he says louder "open your eyes."
She does then.
Barely...
She looks at him.
Her hand lifts up and touches his face.
"Don't be afraid" she says calmly. Her eyes starting to close.
Claire watches quietly, keeping a firm hold on Tessas other hand.
Hugh sighs in relief as she speaks to him.
"Tessa I've got to take you to the hospital"
She shakes her head frantically.
"No. No hospitals!!!"
"Ssshhh." He comforts her "ok no hospital"
She starts to drift away. He can see it in her eyes...
"Can you drive?" He looks at his sister "Claire!" He snaps her out of her trance "can you drive?"
Claire nods taking the keys and running to the car.
Hugh lifts Tessa up into his arms.
"It's going to be ok. I've got you. Just hold on" he promises her and feels her move closer to his chest.
The drive is fast.
Claire drives like a bat out of hell towards their home.
Hugh cradles Tessa in the backseat.
Making her open her eyes a few more times.
"I need you to stay with me ok?"
"Open your eyes baby"
"Tessa look at me!"
She responds sometimes. Sometimes she doesn't. Everything is slow. Her responses. She movements. Her breathing.
The car jerks to a stop and Claire is there opening the back door. She then runs forward to unlock the door.
Tessa goes limp in his arms.
"Turn on the shower. Cold water" he shouts to his sister. He hears the water turn on.
"Go into my room. Bottom drawer of my nightstand. Grab the Narcan"
Claire stops to look at him.
"Don't ask. Just do it." He orders.
He takes Tessa into the bathroom and steps right into the shower and under the stream of water.
Tessa groans in response.
"I know baby. I know but you've got to wake up" he soothes her, pushing her hair off her face. He lowers them so they are sitting under the stream.
She moves unhappily in his arms.
Her eyes open briefly and she looks at him.
"I'm sorry" she whispers to him.
He shakes his head.
"Don't do that." He tells her holding her closer "don't start to say your goodbyes to me."
Her eyes close again.
"Tessa?"
Her hand falls limp to the wet tiles.
"Tessa don't you fucking do this" he warns her. Pleads with her.
"TESSA!"
He yells down into her face and shakes her.
Claire arrives with the syringe and hands it to him.
He jams it into Tessas thigh.
Hugh looks at his sister.
Sees the fear.
He feels it as well.
He wonders how this happened. How both he and his sister had been lucky enough to meet this girl who laid unresponsive in his arms.
It was clear Claire cared for her a lot. Her bottom lip trembled as she looked down at Tessa. Her small hands holding one of Tessas. Squeezing.
"She's going to be ok" he tells her but in truth he doesn't know. He doesn't know what she took. The narcan might help or it won't.
Claire nods at him.
"Her pulse is better" she tells him.
"The narcan will kick in soon. She might need more"
Claire nods. Tears running down her face.
Hugh reaches out touching her face.
"You did good, kid"
"She called me. I was so scared I wouldn't find her in time"
"But you did"
"What if I hadn't?" Claire puts at him "what if someone else had found her first, Hugh? She was just lying there vulnerable in the middle of the sidewalk!"
He leans forward and makes her look at him.
"But they didn't. You found her."
Tessa jerks in Hughs arms, starting to resist the arms that are holding her. She gasps for breath. Eyes opening.
"Tessa" Claire says to her. "It's going to be ok"
The two girls lock eyes.
"I'm going to be sick" Tessa mumbles.
Hugh moves quickly and gets her to the toilet.
She vomits over and over.
Hugh steadies her over it as Claire holds back her hair.
Hugh can feel her starting to shiver against him.
He looks to Claire.
"Can you grab her some clothes"
Claire nods and rushes out.
Tessa seems to be done being sick and he wipes her mouth and then sits back on the floor. Pulling her shivering body into his arms. He grabs a towel.
"You'll be warm soon"
She lifts her head to look at him.
Her lips a light blue.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why are you helping me?"
The question breaks his heart.
She looks away, her head dropping.
"I'm nothing"
He hears her say.
He pulls hers her tighter to him. Kisses the top of her head.
"You're everything."

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