New Girl in Town Pt. 19

"Ugh, stop," She muttered as she looked at the screen.

"Problem?" Rick asked as he started his car.

"Just someone who doesn't understand that when the credits have rolled, the movie is over," She told him. "There's no extra scene where this girl is involved."

"There isn't huh?" Rick asked with a chuckle.

"Nope," She shook her head. "Ugh, he left a message too. Let me check and see what this jerk wants now then I'll mute my phone for the rest of our time together so there are no more interruptions."

Rick nodded and started his car so he could turn on the heat while Somer keyed her pass code for her voicemail. Her face paled as she listened to the message Patrick left.

"Somer? What's wrong?" Rick asked.

"It was Patrick. He said there was an accident," Somer said. "Jake and Jessica they... He said that it sounded bad, Rick."

"Jake? Jake Gibson?" Rick asked. "I always liked that kid. Did Patrick say what happened?"

"Just to call him back," Somer said. "I'm calling Michelle. No, I can call C.C. She'll know exactly what's going on!"

Somer called C.C. then after a very brief conversation she hung up.

"None of that sounded good," Rick noted.

He had heard C.C.'s choked up voice on the other end of the call but he couldn't make out what she had said.

"All I could understand was that they are in the hospital," Somer shared.

"We should go see them," Rick said as he put his car into gear. "Jake was like the little brother I never had. Up through middle school that is."

"Wait, what?" Somer asked. "You and Jake were close?"

"My house is just a few houses down from his and his mom and mine were friends for a long time," Rick explained. "Jake and I hung out a lot when we were kids but kind of lost touch once I started high school. We should go see what's going on."

"I shouldn't," Somer said. "I wouldn't be welcome there."

"No?" He asked. "I guess that you and Jake didn't run in the same circles huh?"

"Not exactly," Somer stated.

"Well it sounded like your friend C.C. could use some support and I'd like to see Jake and see what's going on," He said. "Don't worry about being welcome. I'm sure that once you get there everyone will be glad to see you."

"I wouldn't bet on it," Somer mumbled to herself as Rick drove toward the hospital.

****

"Jess," Dr. Golden said as she returned to Jake's room. "Dr. Yang wants to run some tests on you and you promised that you'd bring Sarah back to see Jake."

"I don't want to leave him, mom," Jessica answered quietly as she stroked his hand with hers.

"I know that you don't, baby, but there's a whole room full of people that want to see you both and your sister won't be placated for much longer," Dr. Golden said. "Let's go see them, get your test done then you can bring Sarah back after you explain to her how Jake looks."

"He wouldn't want to scare her," Jessica nodded then pushed herself to her feet slowly.

Her mother hurried to her unsteady side, ready to help if needed but Jessica steeled herself then leaned down and kissed Jake's lips.

"I'll be back soon, Jake," She whispered to him then lowered herself back to her wheel chair.

"Your mom and dad will be coming back in a few minutes, Jake," Dr. Golden said. "All your friends are waiting but I'll have Jessica back to you as soon as I can."

As Jessica was being wheeled back to the waiting area of the ICU she looked back at her mom.

"Whatever test they have to run," She started. "Can they run it on me in Jake's room?"

"Baby, you need to rest and so does Jake," Dr. Golden stated.

"Can you just ask them? Please?" Jessica asked. "I can go to my room at night but I need to be with Jake so he knows I didn't abandon him."

Jessica started to cry when she said this so her mother stopped and moved in front of her daughter. She pulled her into her arms and held her as she cried.

"He knows, baby," She said soothingly. "Jake knows that you would never abandon him."

"He looks so bad, mom," Jessica sobbed. "He's hurt so bad. Why did he have to get hurt and not me?"

"I don't know, baby," She soothed. "You can't worry about the why's of it all. You just have to be there for him so he can get well and he will get better, Jessica. He's strong. You know that he is so you have to be strong for him. For him. For your little sister. For your friends and Jake's family. We'll all get through this together, right?"

Jessica nodded. She didn't trust her voice not to crack if she answered aloud. She took a moment to compose herself then indicated that she was ready to rejoin the others. Her mother laid a comforting hand on Jessica's shoulder as she pushed her through the automatic double doors.

"Well when can I see it?" Jake's dad asked Mr. Fishel who had arrived a few minutes before.

"Wes, you have to let the sheriff's guys look her over first," Mr. Fishel told him. "See what evidence they can find."

"You've seen it," Jessica's dad asked.

"I pulled her out of the woods myself," Mr. Fishel stated. "I don't wish either of you to see it and I know that you'll both be insisting that you do but not until the sheriff gives the okay. If something other than an accident occurred here, I won't be the one that messed it up by allowing either of you to go poking around it."

"When are they coming out to look?" Jake's dad asked.

"In a couple of hours," Mr. Fishel answered. "I've got her locked up in one of my garages right now so no one can get to her. I just wanted to stop in and check on the kids. Make sure they were all right."

"We're not," Jessica answered him as she was pushed to a stop just in front of the three men. "At least Jake isn't, Mr. Fishel."

Mr. Fishel bent down and took hold of Jessica's good hand then gave it a squeeze.

"I can see that, sweetheart," He said. "I'm so sorry this happened to you two."

"Catherine did her best to protect us," Jessica said. "It was just too much for her I think."

"She looked like she gave her all," He nodded as he patted Jessica's hand. "I'll know more once I get a better look at her. I'm going to go in and check on Jake but I'll be right back so don't you go anywhere."

Jessica nodded and gave him a faint smile as he departed. Bobby stood up and, along with Marybeth, joined Mr. Fishel in going to back to see Jake.

****

California Early Morning

Jessica Langston parked her Jeep in her garage then unloaded her surfing gear. She looked at her cell phone and frowned as she climbed the stairs to her place. After she had tapped out a message and sent it she went into her kitchen and grabbed some pineapple juice from the refrigerator.

"Well look who's back," her ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Oster pointed out from the couch of the spacious living room.

"Yeah, look who's back," She echoed. "What are you doing here, Nick?"

"I missed you last night," He told her. "Thought we were gonna hang and... stuff but you didn't call me back. What's the deal?"

"The deal is that I didn't feel like hanging out or stuff last night," She answered. "And why are you in my place. It's not like we're dating anymore."

"I still have your key and I thought that we were going to give us another try like sooner rather than later," He said. "What are you making for breakfast anyway? I'm hungry."

"Make it your damn self," Jessica muttered.

"Was that pancakes? I swear I heard pancakes," Nicholas grinned.

"You're making us pancakes? Sounds good, babe," Jessica said. "I'm going to shower the beach off me while you make us breakfast."

"Mmm, I think I like the idea of shower time more now," Nicholas said as he put down his game controller and hopped to his feet.

He started to strip off his clothes as he moved toward Jessica who paid more attention to her phone than to her now naked ex.

"Something's wrong," She said as she checked her messages.

"I'll say," He said. "You're all up in your phone and I'm naked here, Jess."

"Huh?" She said then looked up at him. "Nicholas, put your clothes back on and start breakfast if you want to eat. I'm checking on something then I'm showering. Alone."

"Jeeessss," He whined but she had already moved past him and was headed upstairs.

"The take out menus are in the drawer by the fridge when you realize that you have no idea how to cook," She called out as she climbed the stairs. "You can turn up the heat as well. You look a little cold."

He glanced down at his flaccid dick then hurriedly pulled his boxers back up.

"That wasn't funny, Jessica," He called out. "Not funny at all."

"It was a little funny," She giggled to herself.

She went into her spacious bathroom and, as she started to undress, she made a call but it went to voicemail.

"Hi, Jessica, It's Jess from UCLA," She said. "I wanted to wish you a Happy New Year and see how you were doing. I sent you a couple of texts but not sure that you got them. Talk to you later."

She hung up but something bugged her so she made another call.

"Hey, boss," A cheerful male voice answered. "Catch any good waves to kick off the New Year?"

"Ken, I told you not to call me that," She smiled.

"You love it," He chuckled.

"You know me too well, mister," She said. "Look, I know that it's a holiday and all..."

"What do you need for me to do, Jess?" He asked.

"Make it harder for me to ask you for things when you aren't working for one, Ken," She smiled as she started to get undressed.

"But starting next time you call me up on a holiday for a favor, right?" He laughed. "And if I recall correctly, you told me that it was a part of my duties to be always on call for you whenever you needed me."

"You had pissed me off that day and you know it," She said as she turned on the water for her shower.

"Me? Never," He said. "Now tell me what you need me to research, find or whatever it is that couldn't wait until you got in your shower."

"Okay," She nodded as she checked the temperature of the water and deemed it acceptable. "Only because my water is just right. Can you check and see if we've got another number for Jessica Golden? I've sent her a couple of texts and tried calling but I haven't heard back. That's not like her."

"She's in high school, Jess," Nick said from the door of the bathroom after he let himself in. "She's probably sleeping off a hang over after partying all night."

"Not this girl," Jessica said as she pulled a towel around herself. "She is at the top of her class academically and a top flight athlete to boot. She isn't the party all night type of girl."

"Those are the girls that party the hardest, Jess," He said. "They need to blow off all that pent up steam from being all straight laced most of the time and you know that from experience."

She frowned at the smirk he had when he said that.

"Uh huh," She said.

"That Mister Wonderful on the phone?" Nick asked with the same smirk.

"He knows I can hear him, right?" Ken asked.

"Of course it is and of course he does," Jessica answered them both.

"Aw, does he still have a crush on his boss lady?" Nick teased louder to make sure that he was heard over the phone.

"Let's see," Ken answered to Jessica. "She's smart, creative, talented and gorgeous so... like, duh ."

"You need to find me that info, Ken," Jessica said as she tried not to blush. "And you need to leave, Nick. Go get your breakfast or whatever. I've got work to do today. Now. That goes for both of you."

"I'll text you what I find asap," Ken answered. "Later, Jess."

"Whatever," Nick replied as he stormed out.

"And leave my key on the counter!" She shouted after him as she moved to close and lock her bathroom door.

She didn't hear him reply but she didn't expect one either but she hoped the key would be there when she got done with her shower. She rehung her towel and slipped into the warm stream of water in her shower and smiled as it sluiced over her toned and tan body.

"A crush on your boss lady," She repeated as she ran her hand through her long blonde hair. "I may have to text you to bring over what you find along with some lunch so we can discuss this crush of yours."

****

North Carolina

Dr. Yang had agreed to do Jessica's test at Jake's bedside.

"It shouldn't be a problem," He told Dr. Golden. "It will be quick and I have to check on him anyway. It will save me some wear and tear on my shoes, right?"

"As long as you're sure," She told him as they walked toward Jake's room. My youngest is in with him now too but I'll have one of their friends take her out so she isn't in the way."

"I'm sure it will be fine if she stays," He said. "It's just a simple test. Takes only a couple of minutes tops."

She nodded as she opened the door to Jake's room. Sarah was seated on the edge of Jake's bed. She held Jake's hand in both of hers while she talked to him in low tones. Jessica sat in her wheelchair on one side while Jake's mother sat in a chair on the other side of the bed.

"Jessica, how are you feeling?" Dr. Yang asked.

"I'm okay," she answered.

"That's good to hear," He said as she was turned to face him. "I just want to run a quick test on you if that's all right."

"Yes," She nodded. "And thank you for doing this in Jake's room. I... I just don't want to leave his side until I have to."

"Understandable," He nodded.

"Would you like me to take Sarah back out to the waiting area, Val?" Jake's mom asked.

"I want to stay," Sarah said as she turned to see what they were going to do to her sister.

"You can if you can be quiet for a minute while Dr. Yang helps your sister," Dr. Golden told her. "Pam, you can stay as well if you'd like."

Jake's mom nodded and remained in her seat as Dr. Yang pulled out his penlight and clicked it on.

"Okay, Jessica, I just want you to follow this light with your eyes," He said as he lined it up with her eyes.

Jessica nodded as he moved the light closer and watched intently as her pupils contracted at the bright light. He moved it to the left and her eyes followed it. She followed right, up then down as he moved the light.

"Okay, very good," Dr. Yang commented as he lowered his light. "Any problem following the light? Any pain?"

"No problem with following it but I do have a slight headache," Jessica answered.

"Before we started or just now?" He asked.

"Since I woke up," Jessica answered. "It's kind of a dull ache but not too bad."

"I see," Dr. Yang nodded. "If it gets bad let us know. Now stare straight ahead for me. We're almost done."

Jessica did as he asked as he pointed the light down. After a moment he flicked the light up to her eyes. When the brightness hit Jessica's eyes, she gasped. Her hand gripped the arm of the wheelchair tightly and her breathing increased rapidly.

"Jessica?" He asked as he lowered the light.

"Baby?" Dr. Golden asked as Jessica's forehead broke out with sweat as she started to shake.

"Epilepsy?" Dr. Yang asked Dr. Golden who shook her head.

"No," She answered as she hurriedly knelt down to look in her daughter's eyes. "Baby? Baby, try and slow your breathing."

She put her hand to Jessica's chest and felt her heart racing so she placed her hands on the sides of Jessica's face.

"Sissy?" Sarah asked worriedly as she moved to her side.

"Val, what's wrong?" Jake's mom asked as she pulled a concerned Sarah into her arms.

"I think it's a panic attack," Dr. Golden answered. "Jess, look at me and take deep breaths like this."

Dr. Golden took several slow, deep breaths but Jessica didn't seem to have heard her. She stared off as if she was no longer in the room with them while her breathing continued to accelerate. Dr. Yang stepped over to the medical cabinet in Jake's room, opened it with his key and extracted a needle. He went to Jessica's IV drip and squeezed the contents into it. After a few moments Jessica's breathing started to slow and her eyes started to close.

"The sedative is working," He said to Dr. Golden who nodded. "We should get her down to CT so we can have a look. See if we missed something."

"Mom?" Sarah asked worriedly from Mrs. Gibson's arms.

"Baby, stay with Jake and his mom," She said. "I need to take Jessica downstairs right quick but we'll be back to get you shortly. Pam, is that all right with you."

"Of course, Val," Mrs. Gibson answered.

"I want to stay with Sissy," Sarah argued. "She needs me."

"She's sleeping, sweetheart," Dr. Golden said. "We need to take her down for another test then I'll come get you, okay?"

"And Jake needs you too, honey," Jake's mom chimed in. "Will you stay with him for a little longer. I know that he would like that."

Sarah looked torn and both mother's hearts ached for her as Sarah nodded and took hold of Jake's hand.

"We've got her, Val," Jake's mom said. "Let us know what you find out as soon as you can."

She had wanted to inquire about Jessica's health but the way that Dr. Yang had hurried toward the door she thought better of it, especially with Sarah in the room. She didn't need another scare like the one she just had so Mrs. Gibson stroked Sarah's back and smoothed her hair as Jessica was wheeled from the room and toward the elevators.

****

Rick and Somer walked into the waiting area and were surprised at the amount of students that were there. Most gave Somer a look but no one said anything as they sat mostly in silence while they waited for more news on their friends or to take their turn to go back and see either Jake or Jessica. Staci's mom along with Shelly seemed to be in charge of some sort of impromptu schedule they made up themselves.

"We should probably come back later, Rick," Somer said as she held his arm.

The looks that she had gotten from most of the students that were there were not welcome ones.

"It's okay, Somer," Rick assured her. "Let me check with Jake's parents and see what's what. It'll only take us a few minutes to get to see him, I'm sure."

"I'm not," Somer said mostly to herself but she went along with Rick as he made his way through the room.

"Ricky, is that you?" Jake's mom asked as the two reached them.

Rick chuckled and nodded.

"No one calls me Ricky much anymore, Mrs. Gibson," He said then leaned in and gave her a hug," but you have a lifetime pass to do so for all the PB&J's you made for me over the years."

"You and your sandwiches, Ricky," She smiled.

"How is college treating you, Rick?" Mr. Gibson asked.

"Pretty good, sir," He answered. "Getting used to college life and all that. You know how it is. Do you two know Somer?"

"I believe that we've heard the name," Mrs. Gibson said. "You are a cheerleader right?"

"Yes... uh yes, ma'am," Somer answered. "I'm so sorry about what happened to Jake and Jessica."

"Thank you, sweetheart," She said. "Have you been up to see Jessica already?"

"No, ma'am," Somer answered. "We may not have time to..."

"Of course we will," Rick said. "Right after we get a few minutes with Jake we'll head up and see your friend."

"Thank you so much for coming to see Jake," Mrs. Gibson said. "I'm sure that he would appreciate everyone stopping by and I know that Jessica would."

"How is Jake doing?" Rick asked.

Mr. Gibson related the latest on Jake to them.

"And they aren't saying what caused the accident?" Rick asked.

"Just that they can't tell us anything yet," Mr. Gibson answered.

"I know that it's frustrating but it's probably for the best," Rick told them. "This way you can both keep your focus on helping Jake get better."

Mr. Gibson nodded and gave Rick a smile.

"Think we can head back and see Jake?" He asked them. "We won't take too much time."

"Take all the time you need, dear," Mrs. Gibson told him. "Just come see us before you head up to see Jessica so we can hear a little more about how you've been. It's been too long, Ricky."