Baby Come Back

Chapter 13

I couldn't get a taxi, so I ran. I ran three miles to the hospital. I ran until my lungs screamed at me to stop and my feet started to bleed. All I could see was her face, terrified and confused and worst of all; alone. I knew about night terrors since I read book after book on brain activity. Although this is her first time experiencing them, this won't be the last. Depending on multiple things, they could last just a week or until she's in her late 80's, and they'll most likely be about what she went through with Jake.
I finally came to the doors of the hospital, I ran through the reception and up to her floor. I could hear her screams from all the way down the corridor which spurred me to sprint to her room. I flung open the door to see Demi and a few other nurses trying to calm her down while she thrashes in her bed. My heart breaks at the sight and I almost break down, but I know that's not even an option right now, I can cry later.
I run over to the side of the bed and take her head in my hands.
"Lauren, baby please you need to stop moving, you're going to hurt yourself" I say in a stern tone of voice which visibly clams her down. She slowly calms her movements until she's just simply rocking back and forth.
"It's okay Lauren it was just a dream, you're safe" I pull her close to me and hug her tight. I feel tears wetting my shirt and she started to shake. The hug was awkward since she had a cast on her left hand and multiple tubs and wires wrapping her body, confining her to the bed. She had a cold coat of sweat all over her body and sobs shook her as she clung to me. I felt at such a loss over what I can do, I want to wipe away every inch of pain she's suffering. I want to be the person going through this because someone like her doesn't ever deserve this. People like her deserve endless pockets of money and houses of huge proportions and happiness and safety. It physically pained me to sit here and watch her suffer.
She finally calmed down enough to fall back into a fitful sleep and I was just relived she was at peace, at least for the small amount of time she's asleep.
The facial features that were contorted into an expression of pain only 2 minutes ago were now somber, and undeniably flawless.
The slope of her nose, the curve of her eyebrows, the outline of her cheekbones and jawline, the way her lips formed a slight pout as she relaxed. I was completely and wholeheartedly in love with her, everything about her, and I couldn't deny that the idea of a life in love without her was a life I found to sound unbearable.
The nurses left us alone after they checked over everything, and I climbed into the bed with her, resuming my position I had taken earlier that day as I cradled her head and ran my hands through her hair.
"Hello" I whispered into her ear.
"I know you must be so tired right now, everything you've been through.." I started as I could already feel tears start to form in my eyes.
"But I want you to know I've never been prouder than anything else before in my life. No car, no materialistic thing of huge value could ever even come close to you. I know I haven't proved that in the past, you know keeping you a secret and all, but I promise once this is all over, once we get back to our little house by the lake you're going to never forget it. I'm going to hold your hand everywhere we go. I'm going to bring you dancing and we'll laugh until our sides hurt and ill kiss you when I feel like it, not caring who's watching. Ill walk by your side into school, ill sit with you at lunch and ill unconditionally love you until my last breath. I promise you." I said softly into her ear and finish with a sad smile and a small sniffle.
"I love you Lauren Jauregui" I whisper before snuggling into her, and falling asleep.
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3.23p.m
My hands are sweating. My mouth is dry. I'm unfamiliar with this room, this large over crowded room. I miss her.
3.25p.m
They file out of the back room which they discussed my the outcome of my future in. My sweethearts future. They all sit in their assigned seats and one remands standing.
3.27p.m
My hearts racing. My lungs are telling me they need more air but it's the last thing on my mind. The man seated high up speaks; "has the jury come to a decision?" He barked out.
3.29p.m
All I hear is the shuffle of papers. The silence is eating me alive and I wondered is this what drowning feels like.
3.30p.m
"Yes we have your honour" the thin one says, he's wirey almost. More silence.
3.31p.m
"By majority vote, Mr.Jake T. Hanson is found not guilty of second degree assault, but will serve charges of 120 hours of community work.
"Mr. Daniel Hanson, father of Miss Lauren Jauregui who could not be in attendance today will be given full custody of her until she turns 18 in 14 months on accounts that Miss Jauregui is of threat to the local community, evidence displayed in her government file shows..."
He continued on with a speech of certain laws and dates and terms that applied to his statement, but I couldn't hear it. I couldn't feel the pain. I couldn't snap out of it when I heard the wails coming from Claire and the objections being shouted by Shane. I couldn't move when everyone had left and Claire tugged on my sleeve to get me to stand up. All I saw, all I felt, all I heard was white, white noise, white vision.
I stumbled out of the courthouse clinging to myself. I saw him. In his fitted suit, his brushed back hair and his green eyes that were nothing compared to Lauren's; his were long dead by now.
"why did you do this to me?" I spill out in disbelief when I got close enough to him.
"Look kid, everyone knows about me being her dad now." He started as he took out his phone and typed a message.
I'm not having her running around being the town dyke with a slut like you and ruining my name. Ill fix her, she turns 18 and she's non of my business anymore. Grow up and get over it, what you do with her is sick anyway, I'm doing you a favour" he says with boredom laced in every word.
"Do you not know what you've just done?" I say just above a whisper.
"You've just torn away half my heart!" I yell as he turns to walk away.
"You've taken the only thing I breath for on this god damn earth. You're sick you know, you're full of so much hate you have to rip other people's life's apart to rebuild your own. You left her! She owes you nothing yet you still tear her life apart, people like you deserve to be locked up, you and you're sick son!" I yell and I have everyone's attention.
"Well she's mine now princess, suck it up and move on" he says before getting into his car wit Jake in tow and driving off. I don't think I've ever had so much hate inside me all at once. I ran to the wall of the building in front of me and brought my hand back and smashed it into the concrete wall, over and over again until blood stained my skin. I then let myself cry.