Davids Journey Pt 07

David's Journey Pt.07

David

Sleeping beside my two wives, I was suddenly awoken by a scream. I was fully alert now as I jumped out of bed just as Caroline and Jessica were slowly waking up.

Running to the bedroom door, I open it quickly to see Jasmine running up the stairs screaming, "DADDY!" Watching her as she ran towards the door, I slid aside just enough for her to get in, and I ran out to find out what was going on. As I head down the stairs, a man comes around the corner quickly. Running into each other, I failed to notice a gun in his hand until it went off.

Ignoring the sharp pain and the heat flaring in my stomach, I jump at the man quickly and wrestle him to the ground. Using my left hand, I grab his left hand with the gun in it as my right hand comes up with my fist balled. Hitting him in his nose, I feel the bone break as blood rushes out. As I raise my fist up again, I just manage to hit him in the side of his jaw as he finally brings his gun hand up and starts pointing it towards me. Fearing he would end my life and have full access to both my wives and kids, feeling that fear pumps up my adrenaline. Grabbing his left hand with both my hands now, he tries to kick me off just as the gun goes off again, blinding me but sensing no more resistance. I drop his hand as my vision starts to clear. Blurry, but I see the right side of his face has a small hole in it and blood.

Looking into his eyes, I can see nothing but blurry features. As I realize he is dead, the pain and heat in my stomach grow. Looking down, I see blood running in a small stream down my abdomen and pooling on his stomach. Retching, I feel myself collapsing.

As the world goes black, I hear a scream just as a body slams into me, crying. Looking up, I can barely make out who it is until I hear her voice again. It was Serenity. Shit!! The last person I needed to see me like this.

Reaching up, I place my hand gently on her face, seeing her looking into my eyes. I smile at her as I say, "Serenity, my beautiful little girl, I love you, my daughter." Nothing but blackness surrounds me as I look where my beautiful daughter is crying above me. The last thing I hear is Caroline's voice, screaming my name until everything goes black.

Caroline

Rushing down the stairs, I see George lying in a pool of blood. Beside him is my husband, my love, my life, with his hand on his stomach. I can see blood there too.

Looking at Serenity's face, I can see a smear of blood on her cheek. She is in shock. Shaking her roughly, she finally wakes up from it. My voice is a mix of anger, hurt, and panic. "Sweetie, do you want to save your dad?" She nods, "Then we have got to hurry, ok?" Again she nods. "I need you to go upstairs, grab my phone, or get your mom to call 911, okay? I need you to hurry, sweetheart, or your daddy will not make it!"

Looking down at David, my eyes full of tears, I scream his name. Fearing the worst, I run into the kitchen and grab a small towel.

I have to stop the bleeding. Isn't that what they do on those hospital shows?

--I think to myself. I try to settle my mind to help our husband survive. Getting back to David, I gently move his hand and see the bullet hole. Forcing back my gag reflex, I quickly put the towel on it, applying a little pressure.

In a panic, I look around. As my eyes fall upon the fireplace mantle, I picture David's parents and T'Keyah. Mentally shouting for help from them and strength to do what I need to do. I feel a sense of peace overwhelm me and look around. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary, I wonder if they truly did help. I picture them again and silently whisper a thank you.

Hearing someone come down the stairs, I quickly look up and see Jasmine coming down. "Mama, Mom is on the phone with 911. They are sending help. Is Daddy going to live?" I can hear her voice breaking up. This has got to be tearing her up. Reaching up with my free hand, I wrap her up in a hug.

"He is gonna be fine, sweetie. He is going to live and be with us for the rest of our lives. I need you to go outside and wait for the people to come and help bring them in, okay? You can do this. I believe in you, baby girl!" Turning towards the front door, she finally runs out and waits.

Looking up the stairs, Jessica is there with her hand covering her mouth. Seeing her now-dead soon-to-be ex-husband lying next to her husband. "Jessica? JESSICA?!" Screaming her name. Seeing her jerk her head towards me, I motion for her to come down. Her walk is stilted, stiff, and mechanical. Her eyes never leave David. I can tell she is about to break.

Shit, I've got to head this off quickly!

I think to myself. Watching her eyes, noticing the pain, and is that guilt? FUCK! "Jess, look at me, baby. Come on, look at me!" Urgency in my voice, her eyes slowly moving to mine. "Jess, baby, I need your help to save David. Please, snap out of it for me, for us, baby!"

Jessica moves close to me, still slow and mechanical. "Forgive me, my love."

SLAP

I slapped my hand across her face as hard as I could, which seemed to wake her up. She glares at me, then looks down at David. "I'm sorry, Caroline, I'm so, so sorry! This is my fault! I shouldn't have gotten him mixed up in my life! I'm so sorry!" she blubbered. Hearing the pain and guilt in her voice, I knew Jessica was going to be useless right now.

"Jessica, he chose this. He wanted both of us and still wants us. I want you to do me a favor, a major favor, okay?" Seeing her nod, I continue, "I want you to close your eyes and picture David's parents, T'Keyah, and lastly, I want you to picture your parents, all together, and ask them for strength, guidance, and help. You hear me? DO IT, NOW!"

Keeping pressure on the bullet wound while watching Jessica, I fail to notice or hear Serenity come down until she is standing beside her mom. She is watching her mother and doing the same as I asked Jess.

"I can't, Caroline. I'm too scared right now. I'm sorry!" Jessica is having a full-blown meltdown. Just what I need right now. My next surprise came from Serenity herself.

"Mom, please do it! PLEASE!?" Serenity pleads with her mother. Watching Jessica shake her head, I watch almost as if it was done in slow motion as Serenity's hand comes up and slaps her mother across her cheek. "MOM! Do it for me, for Jas, for Caroline, and above all, do it for Daddy!"

I couldn't help it. My jaw dropped watching our daughter slap her mother and get authoritative towards her. Never once did I think she had it in her! Collecting myself, I smile.

About ten minutes later, I hear the sirens and breathe a sigh of relief. Help is finally here.

Hearing a gasp from Jessica, I turn to her and see a giant smile on her face, and her eyes are shining with a new light. The tears in her eyes seem to have dried up as well.

Hearing a groan from beside me, I look down.

David hadn't moved, but did he just groan? Or was that my hopeful wish?

A minute later, paramedics come rushing in along with two police officers. The paramedic sits across from me, and while the other looks over George, looking up, he shakes his head at the police. Neither of them is familiar to us. The officer writes something down on his pad while looking at Jessica, Serenity, and me.

The paramedic close to me slowly lifts the towel I had on David and looks at me. "I'm sorry, I didn't know what to do. I only had TV shows to go by. Did I make it worse?" My fear is coming back, thinking I put David's life at risk even more with bad treatment.

She smiles at me, "No, you did well. Applying pressure like that was good thinking. At least those shows got one thing right!" she grumbles with a smile for me.

Smiling with relief, I jump in fright when her partner yells for a gurney. "We are going to take him to a hospital. He needs surgery to repair the damage and get the bullet out. I don't think he has permanent damage, but we won't know for sure until the doctors get inside and look. Don't despair. He's young and healthy. I'm sure he will make it through." Her smile lightens my fears slightly.

As the gurney comes in, I watch them pick David up carefully and place him on it. I hear a groan coming from him, and a gasp escapes my lips before I can catch it. Rushing to him as they wheel him out, I'm conflicted, so I stop at the door and look back at Jessica. She doesn't trust the cops, and Miranda isn't here. Jessica looks up and right at me, still smiling. She stands there looking lost and confused. Guessing her peace has left her, I walk up to her and start to tell her I will stay with her when I hear a familiar voice.

"Officers, if you would, please give me what you have so far, and I'll take over from here." Sensing some hesitation from the two officers, she prods them, "This is part of an ongoing investigation, you two, MY investigation. Catch me up and follow me." Her voice, firm and authoritative, makes me wonder what is going on. She has always been warm towards us. I wonder if these other two are part of George's family clique or corrupt. I have to trust her.

Miranda looks over at us, and without any hint of recognition, she looks at George and back to her officers. All business right now.

Dismissing her officers to the outside, Miranda walks over to Jessica and me, just after sending Serenity and Jasmine back upstairs to our bedroom. "Jessica, Caroline, good to see you. Wish it was under better circumstances. I see George bit off more than he could chew. If you ask me, he deserved what he got. The lowlife piece of shit human!" Looking at Jessica, she amends her statement, "I'm sorry, I know he was your husband, but he was a piece of shit human for what he did to you and the girls."

Jessica stands there, absorbed in what's going on; she nods her head but barely reacts. Miranda continues. "I hate to do this, but I would have been here sooner if I hadn't been called to another location. Jessica, I was called to your previous home. Do you know a woman by the name of Alma? I believe she was your neighbor." Miranda is looking directly at Jessica. My thoughts are all over the place as a paramedic comes back in. She is asking if anyone wants to go to the hospital to help with information and to be there. Miranda nods her head at me and lets me know she will be staying here for a while longer and she will protect the girls and Jess.

I lean over, kiss Jess, and force her to look into my eyes. "Jess, you have got to be strong again. For your girls and your future husband. And for your wife. Please? Remember, you have more strength all around you if you just ask for it. From those past and present, we will all give you the strength to weather this together. Ok?"

Jess nods, and I run upstairs to get David's wallet and phone quickly before getting into the back of the ambulance. Oh, how I wish I could just break down right now and scream my pain out. Closing my eyes, I ask for help from my future in-laws and my own deceased family this time. Receiving the help, I send a silent thank you to the spirits of these wonderful people.

I look down at David, hooked up to tubes, and realize how close I came to losing the only man who has ever meant the world to me. My baby's father. Holding my stomach, willing my baby to be calm, even knowing it is too young to even comprehend what is happening, I still want that connection with our baby.

Jessica

I can't believe my husband is dead! I saw him right there. Just an hour ago we were laughing and being a family, and now our world is upside down again, and it's all my fault! I almost lost my babies as well as David to my stupidity. I should never have called him and brought him into my life! My girls are scared, I'm terrified, and Caroline has to be the strong one. I even failed her! I'm worthless, and I'm a liability to my family! How could I be so stupid as to think I could finally be happy!

All that and more are going through my head, and I can't take it anymore and start screaming with my eyes closed. I hear feet running towards me, but I don't care. I've lost everything that mattered to me except my girls. My David, my hero, my heart and soul, my... My everything! Gone! Because of me!

Feeling arms around me, I try to open my eyes, but I can't. I can't see. Did I go blind? Did I finally lose it? Is this my punishment for thinking I could be happy?

I hear this soft chime going off. Have I finally lost it? I know there were no wind chimes around David's house. A soft hand touches my face, and flinching away, I realize I can't even move. A soft breeze blows, and I can feel the storm inside me subside. "He loves you. Go to him." Where did that come from? Who said it? I don't dwell on it for too long as my mind starts to unwind, and I can finally calm my emotions. I start breathing. As the blackness fades, I hear a whisper in the wind. "My child, we will always be with you. Be at peace." Hearing that, the rest of my pain recedes.

Opening my eyes, I see the roof of our bedroom. How did I get here? Listening, hearing movement outside the door. I slowly get up, sluggish, with my arms and legs feeling like a ton of bricks. I just manage to get my feet off the bed when the door opens slowly and a very familiar face peers around. "MAMA!!!" Comes the excited voice of Jasmine. She comes rushing in and jumps on me. Holding me tight, I can barely move my arms. Wrapping my arms around her as best I can, I whisper sweet words to calm her down.

Serenity and Miranda come in a few minutes later. Serenity rushes to me for her hug and kiss. My babies are so strong, yet so much pain is already in their lives. Miranda looks at me. "Are you ok, Jess? I really need to talk to you, but I don't want to hurt you anymore, and what I have to say is going to be painful," she tells me tentatively.

Nodding my head, I ask the girls to give us some privacy. Giving them a hug and a kiss again, Jasmine lets me know they'll be close by. Looking at Miranda, Jasmine states, she can see that the strength in that girl shocks even Miranda.

Miranda begins, "Jessica, do you remember Alma? Your neighbor?"

Nodding my head, I fear what is coming. Thinking back to the voice in my head, I close my eyes and allow the peace to settle over me again.

Miranda watches me. I'm sure she is trying to understand. She continues in a soft voice. "I'm sorry, Jess, but we got a call earlier today from a concerned friend of Alma's that she had missed an appointment, one she never misses, and asked us to do a wellness check on her. When we arrived, her door was open, and looking in, we could see her on the floor of her living room. Jess, she was dead. The preliminary search showed blood on the floor by her head. It looks like she had been hit from behind with a blunt instrument. When we searched the house, we found her gun was missing, the same gun that was used to shoot David. I'm so sorry, Jessica. I wish I had better news for you. I know you and the girls were close by the pictures around her place. She loved you and the kids as her own." Miranda stops, and I can see and feel the compassion and pain it took to tell me all that.

I can't believe it, Alma, dead? George must have killed her to get her gun. More blood on my hands, more bloodshed because of me! I broke down again. Why can't I stop crying!? I need to stop! I have to be strong for my husband and my girls!

Feeling arms surround me, I look up and see Miranda cradling me in her arms. The girls are in the doorway crying as well. Seeking that peace and calm again is harder to find this time. "Miranda? Has George's body been moved yet?" My voice is strong--a strength I didn't know I had. Seeing her head shake, I walk out the door and down the stairs.

Walking up to George's body, I look down, and my mind goes back to all the hurt, the pain, the late hours cleaning after him, and the degrading things I had to do to please him.

Anger, so much anger, hatred, and a passion that scares me yet drives me at the same time. I look around and see both male cops standing by the front door. Looking back at my girls, I see my twins standing beside me with Miranda a few feet to the side.

Looking back down at George, My voice starts out low and climbs as I open up, "George. I hate you. I hate you with every fiber of my being. I'm glad you're dead. I'm glad my husband, a man a thousand times better than you, killed you. I only wish I could have pulled the trigger and watched as you died. Slow and painful, like you treated me all these years! The pain you caused MY twins, MY GIRLS! All that pain can never add up to the pain I would wish upon you. But you're dead now, and you can't hurt us anymore. I will never feel your slimy hands on my body, raping me every chance you get. Above all, you can NEVER hurt my precious girls again! The man I'm going to be with, the man I call husband, the man the girls now call Dad, is taking your place, and he is a better man than you have ever been!" Taking a step back from his body. Pulling my foot back a bit, I yell, "May"

KICK "

you"

KICK "

ROT"

KICK "

in"

KICK

"HELL!"

KICK.

Breathing heavily, I look up and see the two male cops looking at me with respect and awe. Turning my head, I look straight at Miranda. Seeing her smile and nod lightens my heart and mood. Turning to my girls, they look up at me with smiles and a bit of fear.

Reaching down for my girls, "Never will we have to live in fear again. Never will we have to live with a brute that laughs at our pain and misery. We are free, my precious girls. David is ours, and David is the man I want in our lives. Are you with me?"

Where did this strength come from?

It has shocked me more than anyone else. It can only be Caroline's and David's influence.

Miranda steps up to us as she waves the officers away. Watching them go, I turn my attention back to Miranda, expecting to be arrested. Instead, she gives me a tight hug and asks with a gentle, loving voice. "Feel better? It looked like you needed that." Not trusting my words, I nod while looking down. Unfortunately, that also put me at eye level with her filled-out top with those breasts of hers. Feeling my mouth water, I jerk a little in realization.

Where the hell did that come from!?

Quickly turning my head away, I couldn't help but look up at her eyes for just a split second. No recriminations, nothing but a smile and warmth in her eyes and lips. Those light brown, full lips of hers are so kissable. FUCK! I've gotta stop! This isn't the time or place!

Thinking of David helped cool the fire building in my crotch, only to be replaced by fear and dread. "Miranda, what's going to happen now? What is going to happen to us?" I can't help but think the law is going to be after all of us, and now his family will come after us over his death.

"Jess, right now, you need to stop. I know you're worried about David, about your kids, and the rest. Letting yourself break down in a time like this won't help anyone. You still have time to recover and rebuild your life. Don't let something like this set you back. You will regret it later in life, believe me. I know. Right now, George broke into your home, the home of a recovering abuse survivor, the home of a man who is sheltering you, loving you, and helping you heal. The law is on your side this time, and George or his family won't be able to save him from this, nor can they come after you." Looking into my eyes, I can see a pain in there, but strength, strength I wish I had.

"Jess, again, I will tell you this. You. Are. Safe. Now it's time for you to think about yourself, your twins, David, and your family. Live your life." Miranda, grabbing my shoulders, draws me closer to her. "You're free! No more pain for you, no more having to live like a slave. If what I found from my investigations is true, I highly doubt you will need to worry about his family messing with you, David, or your girls. Ok?"