Just Breathe

When we got up to the house Jack’s mom was being carried out on a stretcher, Jack squeezed my hand.
“Do you know what happened?” Jack asked an officer
“No, your neighbor Mr. Hekles called us for a screaming noise he heard. Do you have an idea whom it could have been?” He asked Jack
Jack nodded.
“Then who?” He asked
I squeezed his hand
“It’ll be okay Jack, tell him.” I said
“It was my dad.” Jack said
“Does you dad have a long history of domestic violence towards your mother?” The officer asked
“Yes.” Jack said
“What about towards you son?” He asked
Jack looked over at me and I nodded silently telling him that it would be okay.
“Yes.” Jack said in a low whisper
“Has he ever hit you?” The office said looking up at me
“Yes.” I said
“What are your names?” He asked
“I’m Jack, the woman’s son and this is Alex.” Jack said
“Jack can you get a ride to the hospital? There won’t be any room in the ambulance.” He asked
“My mom will take us.” I said
“Only Jack.” He said
“Alex has to come with me.” Jack snapped
“Okay, okay.” The officer said holding up his hands
“We’ll go talk to my mom. The hospital about twenty minutes away?” I asked
“Yes, I’ll be outside waiting on you three to arrive so I can take you up to her.” He said
“Okay, thank you Officer.” I said
He nodded and Jack and I jogged back to my house, when we walked in my mom was standing in the living room with the look of worry spread on her face.
“What are you two doing?” She asked
“Mom get dressed we have to go to the hospital.” I said
“Why? Are you guys okay?” She asked
I looked over at Jack and he was holding in tears.
“It’s Mel, she’s in the ambulance headed to the hospital. Rick got a hold of her, bad mom.” I said
“Go get your shoes, I’ll be down in three.’ She said
I nodded and she ran upstairs and I grabbed my shoes from the corner by the front door and grabbed Jacks, I handed him his and shoved my feet into mine. He put his on and looked down at the floor.
“Jackie.” I said
He looked up at me and a tear was running down his cheek, I wiped it off with the pad of my thumb and pulled him to a tight hug.
“I don’t want to tell you that everything is going to be okay because I don’t know what condition she’s in but whatever it is she’s so strong. Your mom is so strong and I believe that she’ll make it.” I said
He nodded into my neck and my mom came down and we walked out to the car, she sped off towards the hospital and we met up with the officer.
“Alex, Jack, Alex’s mom.” He said
We all nodded and he led us in and upstairs to Mel’s room.
“Do you need me in there?” He asked
“No, we’ll be fine. Thank you officer.” I said
“Do you need me?” My mom asked
I shook my head and she went with the officer.
Jack took my hand in his and I opened the door, we walked in and Mel was hooked up to every tube they had and she wasn’t awake. Jack walked over to her after letting me go and he knelt next to the bed grabbing her hand. I walked over and her face was cut up and bruised.
“Mom why didn’t you text me or something when he got home, I could have prevented this from happening.” Jack said
“I didn’t want him to find you.” His mom whispered
It scared me, I didn’t even know she was awake.
“Let him find me, you’re in the hospital mom.” Jack said
“I’ll be fine.” She said
“No, do you see how many tubes and wires you’re hooked too?” He asked
She didn’t say anything, the doctor walked in before Jack could open his mouth again.
“Mel it’s not good.” He said shaking his head
“What’s happening?” Jack asked
“The stab wound punctured her lung so she’ll be hooked up to the breathing machine for a while, and I mean a while. She’s able to eat on her own but until that lung has repaired itself if it does she’ll have to stay in the hospital.” The doctor said
Jack nodded and tears slipped down his cheeks,
“Mel, Jack, Alex we’ve caught Rick and he is going to prison for domestic violence and child abuse.” The cop that was with my mom said
I looked over at the Barakat’s and they both had somewhat of a smile on their face.
“Jack.” Mel said
“Yeah mom?” He asked taking her hand
“I want you to go home with Alex tonight, I don’t want you staying nights here with me. Do you understand?” She asked
“Mom!” Jack practically yelled
“Do you understand?” She asked putting her mother voice on.
“Yes ma’am.” He said
She nodded and gave me a look, I half smiled at her. My mom walked over and Mel took her hand
“Take care of him.” She said to my mom
“Always.” My mom said
We all sat in the hospital until Mel ordered us to go home and rest, Jack was almost asleep with his head on his mom’s leg. I walked over and picked up him, his head leaned on my shoulder and I carried him out of the hospital. When we got to the car I sat in the back with him and he used my lap as a pillow, I gently ran my fingers through his messy hair as he pushed his face into where my leg connects to my hip. His heavy breathing and huffing gave away that he was crying again, I rubbed his back with one hand and continues to run my fingers through his hair with the other.
“Shh. Hush my love, please don’t cry. It’ll all be okay just give it some time, she’ll make it through all her tough times… Oh my love please don’t worry, he’ll be sentenced to life by the jury.” I sang quietly to him
I looked up at my mom and she smiled at me, I smiled and hummed the tune to the little song. When we pulled into our driveway I was pretty sure Jack was asleep. I inched my lap out from under his head and pulled him out of the back seat, I wrapped my arms tightly around him and carried him in. As I walked into the house his arms wrapped around my neck and his face nuzzled into the crook of it.
“I’ll see you two in the morning.” My mom said
I kissed her cheek and she locked up the house and trudged tiredly to her room. I walked down to the basement holding tightly onto my sad boyfriend. I laid him down on my bed and crawled in behind him, I pulled the blankets over us and pulled him close and tight.
“What was that song you sang?” He asked
“I changed it up a bit but it’s a song my mom sings to me when I get upset about Tom. I thought it might help.” I said
“It did.” He said
I kissed the back of his head,
“Lex.” He said
“Yeah?” I asked
“Can you sing it again?” He asked
“Always.” I said
He snugged under the blanket and we laid there as close as possible.
“Shh. Hush my love, please don’t cry. It’ll all be okay just give it some time, she’ll make it through all her tough times… Oh my love please don’t worry, he’ll be sentenced to death by the jury.” I sang changing it up a little.
I heard Jack’s light snores and I nuzzled my face into his hair.
“It’s going to be okay.” I whispered before falling asleep.

Notes

An update at last! I'm sorry it's taking me a while, I've got fics started on other sites and I have the other one on this site, I'm in school, and my sister wedding is on Saturday and she's a fucking Bridezilla. I hope you guys like this update, please comment your thoughts