Brain rubbed the back of his neck as he sat in one of the Emergancy Room's uncomfortable plastic chairs. He, Emmett, Daphne, Justin, and Molly had been sitting and waiting on word about Jennifer for what seemed liked forever. Justin had been checked out, and had received two stitches to the cut over his eye.
Debbie had been called, by Brian, to be informed about Michael's role in everything. She had been disappointed and angry, but she loved her son. So, she had shown up at the hospital, to be with him.
Michael had been checked over, but nothing serious had been wrong with him. So, he had been taken to the police station to be questioned about Craig, with Debbie in tow.
Brian allowed a small smile to grace his face when he felt fingers start massaging his neck. He'd know those fingers anywhere. Turning his head to look at Justin, he smiled. Justin gave him a smile back, just as a woman in a doctor's coat walked upto them.
"Are you all here for Jennifer Taylor?"
Daphne, Emmett, Molly, Brian, and Justin all stood up and nodded as one.
Justin carefully watched the woman's lips as she continued. "I'm Doctor Walden. Misses Taylor will be fine. I would, however, like to keep her overnight. Just as a precaution. Her arm was broken and has been set and is in a cast now. The cast can be removed in six weeks. Her throat is swollen and she is having difficulty speaking. That's normal. As the swelling and bruising goes away, her voice will get stronger."
"Can we see her?" asked Emmett.
Doctor Warden nodded. "Follow me."
A few minutes later, they were led into a room. Jennifer was laying on the bed, her arm in a white cast and an IV in her left arm. When they walked in, she opened her eyes and gave them all a sleepy smile.
The doctor had informed them that Jennifer had been given some pain medicine, so she might seem a little 'loopy'. Justin and Molly careully hugged her.
In a raspy voice, she asked, "Have... they... f-found him... yet?"
"Not, yet, Aunt Jen," answered Emmett.
Jennifer closed her eyes, her smile slowly vanishing, as a tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
"Don't worry, Jennifer," said Brian. Brian was determined that Craig was going to pay. One way or another.
Two hours later, they all five left the hospital. Jennifer would be getting out the next day, and Brian had promised that he and Justin would be back to pick her up. Daphne and Emmett were dropped of, and Molly went back to the loft with Brian and Justin.
It was nine, that night, when Brian received a call. Molly had been put to bed, and Justin and Brian were just sitting on the couch, softly kissing.
Brian groaned as he picked up the receiver. "Hello?"
"Brian, its Debbie. How's Jennifer?"
"Fine. She had to stay in the hospital for tonight. But, she should be released tomorrow."
"That's good," said a relieved Debbie. After a pause, she continued. "Michael was released from the police station. They said that they didn't have any evidence that he knew what Craig was going to do when he went upto the loft. When he was let out of the interrogation room, he left. I didn't even see him go out the door. I can't ind him anywhere!
"I don't know how I went so wrong. I don't know what happened to him, but he's not the same boy that I raised. Im so worried that he'll do something..."
Brian sighed, closing his eyes. After a couple of seconds, he opened them to see a worried Justin looking at him. Even though, Brian didn't want anything else to do with Michael, Debbie was like a mother to him. He had to help her. "Don't worry, Deb. I'll look for him. I'll let you know when I know something."
"Thanks, Kiddo," Debbie said softly before hanging up.
Before Brian could tell Justin anything, there was a loud pounding on the loft door. Brian had a suddenly very bad feeling as he walked to the door. Slowly sliding it open, he saw Michael standing there.
"Michael!"
"Brian," he said. When he raised his right hand, Brian's eyes widened. The bastard had a gun!