Protecting Her Lost Soul

Chapter 14

When we arrive at the hospital the paramedic gives them my medical history and initial assessment. I'm not classed as urgent so we have to wait a long time until I'm assessed. Flynn is getting really pissed with me. "Riley enough, okay? We are here until they assess you and discharge you."
"Miley needs me," I growl.
"She sounded fine on the phone when she went to bed. Just stop being a pain in my ass." I roll my eyes. A woman Doctor walks into the room.
"Hi, I'm Doctor Bailey. I've looked at your files and conferred them with ours. Nothing showed on our scans that would worry me. You were lucky Miss Blake. You need to rest, I'm going to prescribe stronger painkillers."
"No thanks," I protest.
"Ri, I'm going to literally gag you in a minute." I glare at him, "Do you have a liquid form or something?"
"Sure, I can prescribe a liquid form. I'll get that written up for you and you'll be discharged. You have swelling that you should use an ice pack regularly and rest. The pain is not good for your heart."
"Thank, Doc. I'll make sure she rests." Flynn confirms and I roll my eyes. The Doctor leaves and I glare at Flynn.
"Don't fucking start Riley. I've had it with today. I could have fucking lost you and you're sulking about painkillers."
"Just go then if you're. . . so done with today."
"What and leave you on you're own? I don't think so."
"I'm not forcing you to stay. If I'm . . . that much of a. . . pain, then go."
"Riley, shut up. We will go home together soon. I'm not fucking leaving you. You need to stop pushing me away because I'm not going anywhere. You can tell me to leave, get on my last nerve like you have in the past but I'm not letting you do that this time."
"For how long? Until the next. . . catastrophe? It's only a matter of. . . time before you say you are. . . bad for me."
"Fucking hell Ri, just give it up already. You fucking frustrate me more than anything. You might be in physical pain right now but have you not stopped to think about the pain we were in. That I was in, am in?"
"If I am that. . . much of a bother. . . then maybe James. . . should have succeeded!"
"Don't say that to me. When I saw Miley running towards me on her own my heart stopped. She told me a hooded man was stealing you from us. It didn't take me long to identify you in the crowd. My body is so trained on you. I knew there would be a time when I'd meet him but I never expected anything like that.
"He knew he was in control. The way Tyler described the way he restrains you is nothing for how I felt to see it in person. Rage consumed me, I was scared Ri. It was the last straw when he kissed you like that. Tyler was trying to stop me but nothing could. Why would you stand in front of him like that?"
"I didn't want him. . . to hurt you. If I protected. . . him then he wouldn't. . . hurt you. He's a jealous guy."
"I'm jealous over you, Ri because you are mine. When he pulled you over the railings my whole world came crashing down. If I wasn't so impulsive maybe he wouldn't have done it. I knew in that moment I couldn't live in a world where you didn't exist. My heart broke when you disappeared from view. The sound of his body colliding with the metal ground was deafening. I felt so sick."
"But I'm still here."
"Yeah, still here moaning about fucking painkillers that will help you. You heard her, it's bad for your heart!"
"My heart it fine," I assure him.
"It's never going to be fine, Riley! Do you not see? You have to be careful for the rest of your life or we could lose you. You not taking this seriously will send you into an early grave."
"I am taking this seriously! I stopped the drinking, I stopped the caffiene. I take the damn tablets!"
"It's not enough, Ri. Not for me."
"Then what is? I'm not sure what more I can do here."
"Stop making stupid risks. Stop acting like your life is meaningless. You have so many people that adore you. If you died we would all die along with you."
"I have stopped making stupid risks! For Miley."
"No. You haven't. You made your own way home. You carried heavy bags and Miley. You left me tonight which meant I couldn't protect you. You had my sister with you! He could have hurt her!"
Tears fall from my eyes at the realisation of his words. I turn away from him curling up on my good side. I really thought I was less risky but he's right. I can't protect her, I'm not what she needs. I cover my face with my brace and sob. "Shit, Ri. I'm sorry," he places his hand on my cheek. He must have moved to stand in front of me. "Riley, please. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry."
"I'm no good for her," I whimper. He climbs on the bed in front of me and pulls me to his chest. I bury my face in his neck and continue to cry.
"Shh, you are good for her, baby. You are her Angel, the courts would never have granted you custody if not. She needs you, she would be rotting away in that god awful place right now dreading Christmas."
"No, I put her in danger," I cry.
"Shh, baby. I'm sorry, okay? You saved her, you've brought her out of her shell so much in such a short amount of time. I can interact with her without you in the room now. It's not your fault James is a threat. In a normal situation she would be safe, you would be safe. I was angry, I'm sorry." He strokes my hair soothing me but the tears still flood. "Hell, you are so emotional these days baby. Shouting at me one minute, crying the next."
"Why the hell is she crying?" Tyler growls.
"Because your sister is a pain in my ass. She took what I said the wrong way, calm down bro." Flynn sighs but continues to stroke my hair.
"Is she being discharged yet? I'm shattered," I hear him yawn.
"Yeah, soon. The Doctor is writing a prescription up and then we can go. Riley please stop crying, I'm sorry okay?" I sniff trying to make the tears stop.
"Are you okay Miss Blake?" The Doctor says and I nod into Flynn's neck. "Okay, here's your prescription, start taking it tomorrow as you were giving painkillers from the paramedic. Take it as prescribed and go see your GP if the pain is still bad after the stated dose."
"Great, thanks Doc." Flynn says and gets out of bed. Flynn lifts me out of bed and I expect pain but it's not that bad. I open my mouth to protest, "Don't. . ." he warns. "I don't want to hear it Ri. I'm fucking tired and I'm not seeing you in pain."
"Fuck mate, have you got a death wish? Nobody tells my sister what to do and gets away with it," Tyler jokes.
"I'm not in the mood, bro. She has to fucking deal with it. I'm done humouring her. I'm too tired for that shit. If she so much as speaks again tonight I'm going to lose my shit." I bury my face in his neck and he starts walking. Hell! I made him so mad.
"Don't be mad. . . I love you." I whisper and he sighs.
"I'm so mad, Ri but I love you." I always tell myself that you can only truly be mad at your loved ones so if he's this mad it means he loves me a lot. He carries me in silence to the car and places me on the back seat. He fastens my seat belt and shuts the door. He climbs in the front and I rest my cheek on the cold glass on the door. I rest my eyes and I fall asleep.
I am woken when Flynn opens the door and my head isn't supported by the door. He pushes me upright and then he reaches over me to undo the belt. I wrap my arms around his neck and he lifts me up holding my backside and I wrap my legs around him but he takes all the strain. I rest my head in his neck and keep my eyes closed.
He starts walking and I feel the heat as we enter the house. "Is she okay?" Mom asks. I feel Flynn carry me up the stairs.
"She's fine, she's tired. I think the pain killers really helped. We stopped off to get her painkillers on the way home." They did? I must have been sparko. "Where's Miley?"
"In her room. She's asleep but it took awhile to get her to sleep." I hear a door open.
"No, not in there." Flynn says. "My room." Flynn carries on walking and then I hear a door open again. I hear the light switch on and I'm lowered on the bed. "Do you have any more pillows Abigail?"
"Sure, I'll go grab some Honey." Flynn sits me up and starts removing my clothes. I groan and he hushes me. He keeps my bra on but slides a top on and it smells like him. He doesn't put any shorts on. "Here you go," Mom says.
I hear the pillows ruffling and then Flynn lowers me onto the pillows so my back is elevated. "No," I mutter and he hushes me again. He pulls the covers over me and he strokes my hair.
"Thank you for watching Miley," Flynn says and his hand disappears.
"Thank you for looking after my daughter again." I hear him smirk and I hear them walk out the room. No, where is he going? The light is still on and I can't sleep without him with me. I'd get up but I think the medication has made me drowsy. A few minutes later the door opens again and he places Miley in the bed by the wall.
She quickly wraps around me and I hold her to me. She was obviously restless without me. The light is swithed off and Flynnn climbs into bed. He wraps around me from the other side. It doesn't take long for sleep to find me.
"Mommy! Mommy! It's Christmas!" I groan. I feel so groggy. I feel Flynn asleep on me and he doesn't move. "Merry Christmas, Angel!"
"Merry Christmas, baby," I mumble and she squeals. I don't open my eyes I'm too tired.
"Mommy?"
"Yes, baby?"
"I've been a bad girl, does that mean I won't get any presents again this year?" Oh my baby. My heart aches for her.
"Honey, you aren't bad. . . just misunderstood. Whilst you live with me, you'll always get presents."
"Yay! Flynn!" She screams and I want to hold my ears. "Flynn wake up! It's Christmas!" Hell, it's too early for this, what time is it?
"Smiley?" he groans. She climbs over me to Flynn and I feel her bouncing up and down on Flynn. "Okay, okay, I'm awake Smiley." He sits up removing his weight from me. "Let's go find Nana and Pop's shall we?"
"No. Angel!" she protests.
"Angel needs to rest Smiley. Please, let her sleep for a bit."
"Is she poorly?"
"Kind of, she needs to rest or she won't get better."
"Okay, I'll let her sleep." I feel them climb out of bed and I reach for Flynn's hand. He squeezes my hand and then he withdraws his hand and they leave the room. I fall asleep again.
I wake to burning lips on mine and I groan. "Wake up baby," Flynn says softly. His lips graze mine again and I grab the back of his head to deepen the kiss. His tongue piercing slides against my tongue and I groan again. "Hey, enough of that. We will never get out of bed if you do that."
I pout and he kisses my lips briefly and he chuckles. "No, you're being a tease." I grumble and he laughs again.
"Well, makes a change, it's normally the other way around. Come on sleepy head, Miley is excited for presents." I grab his top and pull him to me. He rest his head in the crook of my neck and he gently kisses my sore neck. "Ri, you're being impossible."
He gets out of bed and lifts me out of bed and I cling to his neck. I don't open my eyes and he starts walking. He sets me on my feet and starts undressing me and I open my eyes. He's busy concentrating on removing my clothes. He bites his lip and then looks up at me.
"Beautiful," I blush and he kisses me before lifting me up and placing me in the bath. He must have ran the bath before he woke me up. He's put in bubble bath and it's painful as he makes me lie back. "Can we try and have a better day please?"
I nod and he chuckles, "Where's Riley and what have you done with her?" I giggle but gasp when it hurts. "Shh, don't do that," he says concerned and touches my ribs as he kneels on the floor. "How are you feeling today?"
"Meds make me. . . groggy."
"That explains the sleepiness. Perhaps they are good for you, they are making you rest." Flynn squirts my body wash on a wash cloth and starts cleaning my body. I shut my eyes again. "Merry Christmas Baby. I'm so glad we are together."
"Me too." I admit. He lifts my ring hand and kisses my ring finger and I gasp.
"What will you tell your Nanny and Pop's about me?" he asks curiously. I open my eyes and he's concerntrating on washing the rest of my body.
"What do you want me to say?" I ask confused. To me he's everything but Tyler wouldn't want that.
"I know what I'd like you to say but it's not what you should say," he sighs.
"Do I have to go into specifics? They are overbearing enough."
"But if they ask? What would say?"
"I don't know, Flynn. I'd probably tell them the truth. You aren't my boyfriend but you mean everything to me. My better half." He smiles and grabs the jug and starts pouring water on my hair.
"And the ring?"
"A gesture of our love?" I shrug and he grins. "Flynn, I'm not sure what you. . . want from me. You seem so interested. . . in what my family think. Yet, it could be for real. . . but you won't let it happen."
"I decided yesterday that as long as you stay breathing it's enough for me. It doesn't matter what we are because what we are is real. There doesn't need to be a label. I think it works well enough when we don't have a label, the way we are now."
"Okay," I agree. "Does that mean you won't. . . leave me again?"
"Yes, Riley. I don't think it really worked for any of us. Besides, I think James was a real tester. I didn't kill him and fuck, I wanted to. I was seeing red but I was in control, mostly. I could have taken him out with you in the crossfire but I didn't. Sure, I was impulsive but I wasn't out of control."
"Good," he squirts shampoo on his hand and starts massaging my head and I purr. It's one of my favourite non sexual things he does that I love. Considering I hate touch from others I crave his touch in all forms. When he touches me with his burning hands I don't realise how truly broken I am.
He finishes washing me and he lifts me out the bath. He wraps me in a towel and lifts me up again. He carries me to his bedroom and sets me on my feet. He dries me with the towel and picks up the clothes by the door. He must have picked clothes for me. He dresses me in my underwear first and then holds out some black Adidas tracksuit bottoms and I cringe.
"Ri, comfort not fashion. You look beautiful in anything."
"It's Christmas," I complain.
"And? Who gives a fuck? You'll be slouching on the sofa for most of it anyway," I groan and step into them and he pulls them up my legs. They are a tad big, all my old clothes are. He dresses me in a top and then one of his hoodies. I smile and he kisses my lips. "Anything else?"
"Make up."
"No, no make up baby. You are better without."
"The bruises."
"They are fading, baby. Don't hide with make up. If your family don't understand then they don't deserve you."
"I want to hide it from Miley."
"She's a smart kid, Ri. She knows they are there." I frown. He grabs the stupid pill box and slides my daily does in my mouth. He passes me a glass of water and I swallow them down. He opens a packet of syrup and I roll my eyes. He tips the liquid on the spoon measuring it out and he brings the spoon to my lips and I open my mouth. It tastes foul but I swallow. He kisses my forehead and scoops me up in his arms.
"You don't need to keep carrying me," I grumble.
"Let me look after you, Ri, please." I sigh and rest my head in his neck and he carries me down the stairs. He sets me down on the sofa and covers me with a blanket. He's going over board with this.
"Merry Christmas, Honey," Mom says as she enters the living room. She comes to me and kisses my cheek.
"Merry Christmas, Mommy," she smiles and leaves the room again. Miley comes running into the living room and climbs on the sofa to hug me. "Hey, Baby." She doesn't let me go straight away.
"Are you better yet? I don't like you keep leaving me."
"Honey, I'm always here, okay? It's going to take time for me to heal but I'm always here with you." I promise her and she nods on my chest. I kiss her head.
"Is that bad man gone?"
"Yes, baby. He's gone." She nods again. Mom enters the room with a plate of food and passes it to me.
"We've all eaten, Honey. Eat what you can," I take the food and thank her. Miley stays hugging me and I pick up a Pain au chocolat and take a bite. I start chewing and I swallow hard. I start coughing and Miley looks at me with panic. I hold my ribs and cough.
"Mommy?" she says scared.
"I'm good, baby."
Flynn re-enters the room. I hadn't even realised he left. He sits next to me confused. Fuck, that hurt. "You okay?" I nod. Miley hugs me again and I stroke her hair. "They said coughing is normal, Smiley."
"You aren't just saying that?" She demands.
"No, of course not. Doctors said that coughing is normal with this injury," he reassures her and she nods. I take another mouthful and I lean over and place the plate on the coffee table. Flynn grabs the plate from the table and places it back in front of me. "That is not all you're eating," he curses.
"Flynn," I whine.
"I thought we were having a better day today?" he counters and I sigh. I pick up a pancake and shove it in my mouth like I would before the sore throat and he chuckles. I chew loudly and he shakes his head. He gets up and leaves the room. I finish my mouthful and I rest my eyes.
"Lee?" mom says softly and she shakes my shoulders. "They are here," I blink and groan. These meds are fucking with my body. How did I fall asleep? Miley is still laying on me and I stroke her hair.
"Riley?" Nanny says and I look at her. She hasn't changed one bit. Her strawberry blonde hair, her skin has sagged and wrinkled but she still doesn't look a day over 50 even though she's 62. She gives me her warming Nanny smile. Her hair is curled and hangs around her chin. She's absolutely glamourous. I wish I will look like that at her age. She hugs me briefly as Miley is lying on me. "My god dear, what happened to you? Abigail, what happened to my granddaughter?"
"Nanny," I croak. She gasps and touches my forehead like I'm poorly. "I'm fine," I try to assure her but she doesn't stop fussing.
"You have a temperature. Are you sick? Do you have the flu? Abigail?" She barks again. "She needs plenty of fluids."
"Nanny, sit down. Stop. . .fussing. I'm not poorly," I say sleepily and she frowns. She sits next to me and Miley clings tighter to me.
"Then what's wrong with you?"
I cover Miley's ears, "I was attacked," I whisper and she gasps.
"Theodore, get in here!" She yells and I roll my eyes. "Attacked by who?" Pop's walks in and he's greyer than I remember. His dark hair has turned more white.
"James, Nanny," I mutter.
"James is dead," Pop's growls. "You look awful doll," I feel awful.
"Where's my brother?" I croak. Pop's sits on the sofa opposite and he keeps staring at me. Tyler must have heard me ask for him and he sits on the arm rest behind me and strokes my hair.
"He's still alive, he faked his death. James used to abuse her and well, we all thought he was out the picture but he wasn't. He strangled her and punched her in the ribs. She fell on the ice rink after, she's fractured some ribs. She can't talk very well and should rest her voice."
"Oh my gosh, Riley. Abigail! Why didn't you tell me?" Nanny shouts. She drives my Mom bonkers sometimes. "I feel like I haven't seen you in so long. You kept refusing family events."
"I went through a difficult time. I drowned myself in. . . booze to help my problems. I wasn't myself, I pushed everyone away. I couldn't handle family around me."
"You could have come to me," she scolds.
"I didn't listen to anyone, I nearly died many times and I didn't care. I felt nothing, well I felt anger sometimes. That was it," I shrug.
"You nearly died? Abigail! You have a lot of explaining to do," Mom's keeping her distance for a reason.
"Yeah, I was too far gone Nanny. Nothing could have saved me back then," I shiver.
"Then what did save you?"
I look up and Tyler and he sighs but nods, "Flynn saved me."
"Who's Flynn? A boyfriend?" her eyes shine as she hopes.
"No, but he's my better half. He saved me from myself. He heals me Nanny. Without him I'd be dead."
"I want to meet this boy some day," she smiles.
"Some day?" Tyler scoffs. "She went and fell in love with my best friend. He's here," Tyler groans.
"Your best friend? You don't sound happy with that, you should be relieved. If she does indeed love your best friend then he must be special enough to be your best friend. You should be happy your two favourite people have connected. Where is he?"
"It's complicated Nan. Bro!" he yells. I shut my eyes again.
"Flynn I assume? My god, Riley, he's so handsome." I feel her get off the sofa and I hear her kiss him. "Young man, I want to thank you for saving my granddaughter."
"No problem Mrs Hughes," he says softly.
"Don't be daft dear, call my Nanny Elsie," if my eyes were open I'd roll my eyes. "Riley you chose a fine young man."
"I didn't choose him, Nanny. I had no choice."
"How sweet," I feel the sofa dip again and I open my eyes and she's sat next to me again. "Now, who is this little one? Hey sweetie, I'm Nanny Elsie. What's your name?"
Miley doesn't respond but as always her curiousity gets the better of her and she peaks at Nanny. "It's okay, baby. You're going to love her." I reassure Miley and she looks at me. I nod and she turns in my arms to look at Nanny.
"I'm Miley, Angel is my Mommy," Nanny frowns and looks at me.
I stroke Miley's hair and start to explain, "Miley is Flynn's sister. Their parents died and Miley has been in a home. She's eight years old. . . but looks like a five year old. She has some issues that. . . we are working on. From the first day she accepted me. . . as she hasn't others. She needs me and I need her. I've been granted custody. . . of her until the adoption is complete."
"My. . . I'm too young to be a great Nanny." She gushes. "Let me look at you, dear." Miley gets off the sofa and stands in front of Nanny. She looks at me and I smile at her reassuring her. "Aren't you a treasure," Nanny gently pinches Miley's cheeks and Miley giggles. "Can Nanny Elsie have a cuddle?" Miley looks at me and then launches into Nanny's open arms. "Did they not feed you?" I frown. "Abigail! You need to be feeding these kids more."
"Mother, can you stop shouting at me? If you want to talk to me come and find me. I'm getting the lunch ready." Mom says popping her head around the door.
Nanny rolls her eyes, "Flynn be a dear and get me some Sherry."
"Sure, be right back." he says and I frown.
"He's a good one, I'm going to whoop your ass boy if you don't see sense."
"Nan!" Tyler groans.
"You're never to old for an ass whooping." I smile and I sit up and groan holding my ribs.
"If that is your bloody sister getting up I'm going to kill her, bro!" Flynn calls from the kitchen. I roll my eyes and push myself up off the couch. Flynn returns into the room with a glass in his hand and he groans loudly. "What are you doing now?"
"I need a wee," I protest.
Flynn passes Nanny her drink and he scoops me up in his arms, "You're actually going to be the death of me." I roll my eyes and bury my face in his neck. He carries me to the downstairs bathroom and sets me on my feet. He pulls the door to but doesn't shut it and I roll my eyes.
I go for a wee as quick as I can and wash my hands. I look in the mirror and I groan. I really do look like shit. Flynn pushes the door open without my command. He looks me up and down assessing me. "What's wrong?" he demands.
"Why didn't you tell me I look like shit?" he smirks at me and picks me up again.
"You could never look like shit, baby. You are the most beautiful thing on this planet despite the bruises." I roll my eyes and he peppers kisses all over my face as he starts walking. I laugh and gasp. "None of that, I told you earlier." I look into his burning eyes and I'm lost. He smiles and lowers me on the couch and I grit my teeth. He covers me with the blanket again and I shut my eyes.
"Mommy," Miley cries and she climbs on me and I pull her to me. I hush her gently and she stays lying on me.
"What's wrong baby?"
"You keep leaving me." I stroke her hair and she stops crying.
"Sorry baby, I think it's present time." I say into her ear and she sits up.
"Presents?" she squeals.
"Yes baby, why don't you hand them around? Read the label and pass around the correct presents." She climbs off me and does just that. Flynn sits me up so he can sit behind me. He's more comfortable anyway. I face the sofa on my good side. Miley places a present on my lap and I thank her. As each moment passes more weight is added to my lap.
I am so thankful to be here despite my drowsiness. I couldn't be happier and I'm treasuring every moment. I wish I could be more awake but I'm not going to complain.