Dedicated to MitchG_in_a_TARDIS You were my first ever internet friend. The first ever to read my story and the first ever to comment and vote on it. I am so grateful to call you a friend. Love you so much.
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Scott

"That's enough Mitch." I said. My
voice was stern and serious.

I've never seen him talk to someone like that. Mitch rarely took people down like that and if he did he would apologize after.

Mitch turned to me. He looked almost surprised at the tone in my voice

He turned away from me and faced Anthony once more. He just stared at him and waited.

He's waiting for an apology. I don't know why Anthony can't say those two simple words that are said everyday. I'm sorry. It was all it took. But at the same time, those two words are so difficult to get out.

"Unbelievable." Mitch said. He stormed out of the waiting room.

I stood up and pondered if I should go after him.

Let him be Scott. He needs some space and some alone time.

I stared at the direction where my lover left. Then I looked over at Anthony. He did not make eye contact with me. He stared at the floor. Too ashamed to look at me.

"I'm sorry about that. He's not taking this stuff well." I said to the police officer who was clearly uncomfortable at what he just witnessed.

"I understand. I think I have everything I need." He glanced back at Anthony and took three steps towards me. "I'll updated you about the woman. Can you write your phone number down please."

I wrote down my phone number on his little pad and gave him back his pen.

"Can you do me a favor?"

"Of course. That's my job, to help fellow citizens in anyway I can."

I internally roll my eyes.

"Can you get him home." I briefly pointed to Anthony who was still frozen. "And make sure he doesn't come back." I said in a quieter voice.

"I can do the first part but I'm not so sure about the second part. I'll try my hardest but I can't prevent someone from going to a place that they're allowed to go. Unless you issue a restraining order."

I wouldn't do that. I couldn't do that to a 16 years old. Yet again, he's caused to much pain and chaos.

"Thank you for everything Officer Padilla."

I shook his hand again and he walked towards Anthony.

"Come on son, I'll give ya a ride home."

Anthony looked at me and we both made eye contact for a quick second. His eyes were full of sorrow. I looked away and slumped back down in my chair.

I ran my fingers through my hair and tried to think. But it was impossible. How could I think when so many things were going on all at the same time.

I lied to Mitch about going to the bathroom. What I was really doing is getting the paper work in. Rachel is in surgery and might be okay. I might have to get a restraining order against a 16 year old. That crazy bitch who shot Rachel is out there running wild. Mitch is nowhere to be seen. What do I do now?

I look at the time on my phone. 30 minutes had past and still no sign of Mitch. I got up and walked to where had Mitch stormed off. I find myself down a long hallway. The fluorescent lights light up the plain white walls and floor. 

Down the long hallway was a window with a wooden bench in front of it. Sat on top was the love of my life. He had his knees close to his chest and his arms wrapped around them. He didn't move when I reached him. His focus was kept on the stars that were brightly shining outside. I could see silent tears fall down his cheeks in the reflection of the window.

"Mitchie?" I softly called.

"I'm a monster."

"No baby. You aren't a monster at all." My heart felt a pang when he said this.

"Yes I am. Those things I said to him were horrible. I don't know what came over me."

I sat down next to him.

"You're just not yourself right now. A lot of things are going on and you don't have any control. Now you know why I almost punched that nurse."

He looked at me and I brushed away his tears with my thumbs.

"Let's go back to the waiting room. That way they know where we are when Rachel is done with surgery."

I reached my hand out to him and he hesitated for a second before accepting the gesture. We walked back into the waiting room and sat down once again. I only realized now that we were the only ones who had been in the waiting room all day.

(Little cheeky time lapse)

Another hour has passed and we were beginning to worry a little. They should've been done by now.

Just then, a middle aged man appeared in a white coat. He walked towards the front desk.

"Where are Mr. and Mrs. Grassi-Hoying?" He asked.

The nurse pointed in our direction. Mitch and I stood up rather quickly. The doctor eyed us in a somewhat confused way.

"Are you Mr. and um Mr. Grassi-Hoying? He asked.

"Yes." I answered for the both of us.

"I'm Dr. Brenner. I'm the one who operated on Rachel."

"How is she?" I asked.

"You may want to sit down." He said.

My heart immediately dropped to my stomach. This can only mean one thing. Bad news was coming our way. Mitch's hand was shaking uncontrollably in mine.

The doctor sat himself down on a chair across from us.

"The surgery went fine. The bullet that hit her abdomen missed important organs and the one that hit her kneecap shattered the bones but we were able to screw everything back together."

Thats the bad news? That's not that bad. It can't be just that. It's never just that there's always more.

"Well when Rachel was shot she obviously fell and we suspect that she hit her head pretty hard when she hit the floor. Not hard enough to cause too much brain damage but to um well put her in a coma."

I small gasp escapes Mitch's mouth. My whole body goes numb.

How could this happen? How could any of this happen?

"How long will she be in a coma?" I asked.

"It could be a day, a week, a month, maybe even a year. We can never conclude how long it will take."

"Can we see her?" Mitch's small voice asked.

"Yes of course. Right this way."

We followed him down a different hallway and took some lefts and some rights before we got to a door that had 136 on it.

He opened it and stepped aside for Mitch and I to enter.

Laying in a bed, hooked up to so many things, was my baby girl. She was a sickly pale and was like a sheet of paper under the white blankets. She looked lifeless even though the steady beeping from the machine was going.

Mitch's hand let go of mine and covered his mouth. We sat at either side of the bed as if she was about to jump out and hug us. I waited but it didn't happen. She just laid there. A big tune was in her mouth and taped down to her face.

"Can she hear us?" Mitch asked through tears.

"We think so yes. I'll leave you two alone for a while. Some nurses will be here every hour on the hour to check on things." He said before he left and closed the door behind him.

Mitch reached out and touched her cheek gently, as if she was made of porcelain and would break at his touch.

I wrapped my hand around her's. Her smooth skin was cold to the touch. I rubbed my thumb in the spot where I would always rub it.

"Hey Rach. It's Mitch. Scott is here too." Mitch quickly glanced my way. I watch him talk to her and smooth her hair down.

"We love you so much. We will always be right here with you. We'll never leave your side." Mitch continued.

His eyes were glassy and red from crying. For some reason I couldn't cry. I wanted to but I couldn't.

I moved over to the other side where Mitch was. I stood behind him and placed my hands on his shoulders and rubbed them.

He had his hand around hers in a death grip. He was shaking with tears.

He brought her hand to his lips and kept it there. Oh what I would do to see those eyes again. To hear her voice again. To see her dance again. To feel her arms around me. Even to see her cry again.

"Rachel please wake up. Please baby. Just wake up." Mitch whispered.

I leaned down and kissed his head.

"She's okay Mitchie. She'll wake up." I said.

Although I didn't believe any of the words that just came out of my mouth.