Once in a Lifetime

The Aftermath -Part 2

Jimmy's POV

When I saw those nasty things the so-called "fans" we're saying about my Karen, well, let's just say I was livid. The true FalPals were being so sweet and kind to Karen and I could tell they were so excited for us to be dating. But when I saw the majority of the comments and how nasty they were, I couldn't help when I said assholes out loud.

I pulled Karen into a hug; I wanted to hold her close so bad. The Irish Mush in me came out as tears spilled from my eyes while I held my sobbing girlfriend. My heart ached for the young woman who had dealt with so much crap in her life and just when I had started to break some of her insecurities up, jerks on social media had to start in on her.

I knew she had to be building the walls back up around her heart to keep everyone, including me, out.

"It'll be okay baby, you wait and see. You are my girl and no one will ever change my mind," I said quietly, hoping to get through to her. What she said next confirmed the fears that it was too late.

"I don't know about that. I don't know that I should stay. People obviously hate me and will only make you miserable. And I don't want that. I don't want you hurt or attacked because of me."

My heart clenched from the raw pain in Karen's voice. I was disappointed in the fans who were attacking her and I was hurting so much for her. she looked up into my eyes and I saw the pain I had only seen one other time; the first day we met and fans called her names.

She looked down before sliding out of my grasp and getting off the bed. I watched her go to the closet and retrieve her suitcase.

"What are you doing?" I asked quietly, too scared to move.

Karen began pulling her shirts out of her dresser and packing them.
"I think I'd better be leaving. I can't bear to hurt you and I know I am and will continue to do so. I told you the first day I met you, I'm damaged and have baggage and now apparently I'm some sort of freak who's not good enough to be seen with you, let alone be loved by you. I'm sorry Jimmy. I'm sorry you have to go through this. But I can't bear to see the disappointment, the heartache, the hurt in your eyes. I don't want your fans to attack you because of who you're dating. You don't deserve that. You deserve so much better than me."

A lump formed in my throat, constructing my airway. She was stopped packing and held a shirt closer to her heart as she sunk to her knees in the floor. I realized that it was the shirt she wore on our first date, the day she was shot.

I slid off the bed, making my way to her side. She was doubled over, her head resting on the floor. I could hear her sobs, which broke my heart even more. I kneeled next to her, took her shoulders and carefully sat her up. Karen wouldn't look up so I did the only thing I knew to do; I started rubbing her shoulders.

She looked up through her hair at me. I took her chin in my hand and made her keep looking at me as I told her, "Please Karen. Please stop coming down so hard on yourself. I love you so much and it kills me to see you like this. I don't care what those so-called fans are saying. I don't care about any of that. I just care about you."

Instead of giving me her smile that I lived for, she pulled back from me, which startled me. She scooted as far away from me as possible and slammed into the nightstand, rocking it. I looked up in time to see the glass lamp fall off and shatter into a million little pieces. A couple of pieces flew my way and embedded in my arm.

I was getting ready to pick them out and go get a broom to clean up the shards when I noticed Karen hadn't moved. That's when I saw a larger piece of the lamp was in deep in her thigh. "Karen!" I exclaimed moving closer to her, putting a hand on her knee.

She looked up at me before she fell forward, unconscious. I caught her, laying her on her back. I ran my hands over her hair and head to make sure she didn't have any glass in her hair or scalp. I grabbed a pillow off the bed and placed it under her head.

I made sure she was breathing well, since I knew her asthma could flare up and I really didn't want that. I decided to wait a few minutes and see if she woke up on her own. If she did I would take us both to the emergency room; if not I'd be calling an ambulance.

I went to the closet and grabbed a broom and the kit the hospital sent home with Karen when she was released to clean her wound.

I went back into the room, sweeping the glass up and setting the broom & dustpan aside. I then kneeled next to my unconscious girlfriend, making sure not to disturb the glass piece embedded in her leg. I put gauze around it and wrapped up so that it wouldn't fall out or move.

Once I was done, I did the best I could to my arm. I was putting the last piece of tape on when Karen started to come around.

Her beautiful caramel eyes fluttered open, looking around the room as she licked her lips. "Jimmy?"

"I'm right here. Just relax for a little bit, okay?"

She nodded before looking away from me. I knew her feelings of self-doubt and shame were still flooding through her. It just killed me that people could be so cruel and attack someone based just on their looks.

I let her rest as I put on my shoes and found a pair for her. I went back into the room to find her sitting up against the bed.

"Do you think you can stand and walk to the truck? We need to get checked out at the hospital," I said, leaning over her feet and beginning to put her shoes on.

"Yeah, but I'll need help, my leg really hurts," she replied, keeping her head bowed.

I took her outstretched hand and carefully helped her into a standing position. I got an arm under hers and gingerly helped her to the front door, making sure to pick her purse up as we headed out the door. An elevator ride later and we were at my truck. I unlocked it and opened the door, helping her to maneuver into the cab.

I shut her door before walking around to my side of the cab, getting in and setting her purse in the floor behind her.

"Doing okay?" I asked, noting that her face was pale and had a sheen of sweat on it.

"Not really. I feel really nauseated," she replied, laying her head back against the headrest.

I started the engine and backed out, careful not to hit anything before heading out of the garage and onto the busy streets of New York.

As I drove, I kept glancing at her to make sure she was still with me. Then I took her hand into mine and squeezed it, giving her all the reassurance I could with out hurting her.

I felt her squeeze my hand back, causing me to smile.

"I love you, Karen from Michigan," I said, glancing at her for a moment at a red light.

"I love you too James Fallon."

My heart soared, knowing that this was just another hurdle we had to get over, but was confident that we would make it.

As I turned into the emergency entrance of the hospital, I felt her hand relax. I glanced over to see her slumped forward, her head almost on the dash, unconscious.

A/N Okay, so I know this has been a long time coming, but real life would not give me a moments peace to write. So I apologize to all who have been waiting for me to continue. There is only a few more chapters in this story, dear reader, but I hope you have enjoyed reading. Love you all!!