Always with You

302 Pages·2013·1.24 MB·English

by  Sable R J

Always with You
By R. J. Sable
Text copyright © 2013
R. J. Sable All Rights Reserved
To Bôb and Sausage. Thank you for always being there for me and for being
the best family I could ask for. Even when I stole your chocolate mousse.
To Dad, for being proud of me even though you’re not allowed to read
these.
Table of contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Epilogue
Chapter 1
Saturday, June 22nd 2013
On. Off. On. Off. I lay there listening to the buzzing sound, vaguely aware
of the throbbing at the base of my skull. I tried to open my eyes and see its
source but my lids felt heavy. My whole body felt heavy.
The buzzing sounds faded a little and I became aware of several voices and
a low whispering. There are people here. They sounded far away and that suited
me just fine. As long as they’re not close to me. I focused on the buzzing again,
trying to tap my fingers in time to it but I only managed a couple of taps before I
realised how tired I was. The sheer effort of lifting my fingers wore me out so I
stopped and let myself fall back to sleep.
When I heard the buzzing again, it felt louder and the throbbing had
intensified ten fold. Before, it had been bearable but now it felt like my head was
about to split in two. I tried my hardest to keep quiet despite my pain. I didn’t
want to draw attention to myself. I couldn’t stop it though; a pained groan
escaped my lips and my body writhed up away from the soft surface in protest.
I immediately clamped my mouth shut, terrified that they’d heard me. I felt
a hand on my arm and trembled slightly but the touch was gentle.
“It’s okay, dear,” a kind, feminine voice said. “You’re safe.”
Safe. I wasn’t safe, they’d taken me… where was I? I was realising for the
first time that it smelt different. Before, the air had been damp and dusty, like
mouldy leaves and cement. Here, the air was sterile and faintly soapy.
I forced my eyes open and was assaulted by the overhead strip lighting. I
raised my hands to my sore head and realised that they were no longer bound. I
tried to push myself up on my elbows so that I could see where I was more
clearly.
“Stay still, duck. You’re safe,” she repeated.
I nodded my understanding the best I could and blinked a few times, trying
to get used to the light. I’m in a hospital. The realisation allowed my body to
relax, releasing a tension I didn’t know I’d been carrying. I’m safe. I let out a
breath of air and silent tears surged down my cheeks. I’d refused to let them out
before, refused to give them that, but there was no stopping them now.
I heard the woman, who I now realised was a nurse, trying to soothe me and
felt her squeezing my hand gently. I listened to her but the words weren’t
sinking in. I tried to remember how I’d gotten there but my brain felt fuzzy and
concentrating made the throbbing in my head worse.
I rubbed my head gingerly and felt the bandages that were wrapped around
me from my forehead to the base of my skull. I heard the nurse asking me if my
head was hurting and nodded again. She set about fetching me some pain
medication and asking me questions. I nodded, too tired and uncomfortable to
form words.
Closing my eyes again, I tried to ignore the painful throbbing. My efforts
were rendered completely useless when shouting and thundering footsteps drew
closer. My brothers. I’d have recognised those voices and heavy footfalls
anywhere. I suspected they were trampling over anything and anyone in their
path to get to me.
“You can’t be in here right now!” The formerly cheerful nurse protested.
“She needs to rest.”
As I expected, my brothers ignored her and I opened my eyes to see them all
huddling round my hospital bed.
I smiled weakly but it would have been a full on grin if I’d had the energy.
I’d never seen so many emotions on Ian’s face before. He was showing
everything from relief, to horror, to fury. I wanted to hug him and let him know I
was okay but I didn’t think I had the energy to make that much movement.
“Hi,” I croaked groggily.
“Hi?” Rick choked.
“That’s the best you’ve got after pulling that shit?” Danny grinned, relief
washing over his face.
“Sorry,” I smiled sleepily.
“That’s enough. You need to get out of here now,” the nurse bustled. “I’ll
call security if I have to.”
I started to giggle but immediately regretted it because it hurt my head. It
was too funny though. I doubted there was enough security in the whole building
to force my brothers to leave if they didn’t want to.
“She’s our sister,” Karl answered, his voice thick with unspoken emotion.
“I understand that,” the nurse said more gently. “But there’s just too many
of you and she needs to rest.”
“We’re not going anywhere,” Ian shook his head adamantly.
I closed my eyes and tried to shut them out. I loved them all dearly and no
amount of words could express how elated I was to see them, especially because
I’d thought I was never going to see them again, but I just wanted to sleep.
“One of you can stay,” the nurse offered.
“Three,” Ian glowered.
“This isn’t a negotiation, young man,” the nurse frowned but I could tell she
was warming to him and suspected he was trying to win her over with his
winning smile.
“Alright, two it is,” Ian said firmly.
“Then I’m staying,” a voice chimed in. A voice that had my heart pumping
faster and my skin warming with just a few words.
My eyes shot open once more. Jason. I hadn’t seen him before because my
brothers were boxing me in but he was here.
“Not a fucking chance!” Ian growled.
“Language!” The nurse chastised but they ignored her.
“There’s not a chance in hell I’m leaving her, Ian,” Jason said. I recognised
his no-nonsense tone but I wasn’t sure how well Ian would take it.
“Ian,” I croaked, still tired but not too tired to try and prevent a conflict. “I
want Jason here, please.”
I saw Ian narrow his eyes but his expression softened as he turned to look at
me and he conceded to Jason. I closed my eyes again because I wasn’t about to
try and pick favourites amongst my brothers. They could decide amongst
themselves, I was all out of energy. Jason took my hand in his and, despite the
fact I felt like I was coming apart at the seams, his tingles surged through me and
awakened every nerve ending.
My brothers bickered for a few minutes, despite protests from the nurses.
Eventually, Ian let Craig stay because he was practically a doctor. I opened my
eyes, watching them leave, and saw Ian and Karl standing guard at the far end of
the corridor. It made me anxious that they felt the need to do so.
“Relax, little squirrel,” Jason whispered, stroking my hand. “I’m right here.”
I could hear the pain in his voice. I couldn’t imagine how worried he must
have been when I’d disappeared. Well, that wasn’t true. I had a pretty damn
good idea but I didn’t want to think about it.
“I’m scared,” I admitted on a whisper.
“I know, Jamie, but it’s okay. You’re safe now. We won’t let anyone near
you,” he reassured me.
I felt him climbing into bed behind me and instantly relaxed when his body
heat met with my own. I hadn’t realised how cold I’d felt.
“That bed is meant for one person.” The nurse was back and tried to usher
Jason out but he refused to budge.
“Please, I need him here,” I said sleepily.
I heard her tutting but she made no further move to force Jason away from
me. Instead she set about preparing some pain medication.
“I can do that,” Craig intervened, stepping in front of the nurse and her
syringe.
“It’s not like putting a plaster on, young man,” the nurse laughed.
“I’m a foundation doctor,” Craig grinned.