Spark in the Dark

Chapter 129

Juice nodded and drove into the lot to find a spot. No matter what Tara said, he didn't feel like he had done a great job at all.

* * *

Shawn woke slowly, unsure if the beeping she kept hearing was real or apart of her dream. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times as she looked around. It was a room she had never been in before, but it looked familiar enough to know it was a hospital room. At first, Shawn thought no one was in the room with her, but then she noticed Gemma sitting in a chair not too far away.

"Gem?"

Gemma's head snapped to the side to look at Shawn. "Hey, baby. How you feeling?"

"My head is freaking killing me," Shawn complained. "What time is it?"

"A little after 2 A.M. I'll let Tara know you need more meds," Gemma said and stood. "Does anything else hurt, sweetheart?"

Shawn was suddenly aware of the rest of her body, not just the throbbing in her head. She tried to sit up and shift her wait around, but there was stiffness and an ache between her legs and lower abdomen she was unfamiliar with.

"Gemma?" Shawn said, her voice cracking as she started to piece together what that must have meant. "What the hell happened to me?"

"What do you think happened?" Gemma asked cautiously.

Shawn couldn't bring herself to say the word. "Something bad?"

"Yeah, sweetheart. Something real bad," Gemma confirmed her worst fear. Shawn broke down and Gemma sat on the bed to hold her. "Do you want me to get your dad or Juice?"

"No, I can't see them yet," Shawn told her and Gemma nodded her head in understanding.

"It'll take some time, baby, but no matter what, you got to remember that they still love you."

"Oh, God. Juice found me like that, didn't he?" Shawn asked, sitting up to see Gemma's face. She nodded sadly. "Is he okay?"

"He's shook up. They all are," Gemma explained.

"Everyone knows?" Shawn sobbed.

"I'm so sorry, baby," Gemma said and Shawn leaned against her again as she cried harder. Gemma ran her hand over Shawn's hair. "I know, sweetheart, I know."

Gemma continued to hold and rock Shawn until her cries began to quiet down.

"I'm sorry, Gem," Shawn said quietly.

"For what?"

"When this happened to you, I didn't know. I couldn't comfort you."

"Don't be sorry for that. That's what I wanted."

The door opened, causing Shawn to jump, as Tara walked in. She hesitated at the door.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were awake," Tara apologized as she closed the door, again.

"Is everyone here?" Shawn asked Gemma, but Tara answered for her.

"The waiting room is pretty full," Tara said. "Do you need anything?"

"Can I get something for my head?"

"Of course," Tara said and hit the button to call the nurse. "I have some tests we need to run. Would you like to do that now or in the morning?"

"Can I shower now and do tests in the morning?"

"I'm afraid I have to get the samples for testing before you shower. Why don't we do that now? Maybe Gemma can get some of your things so you can get dressed in your own clothing after your shower?"