New Girl in Town

Thank you all so much for your patience. I truly appreciate all the kind words of encouragement that I have gotten while I worked to wrap up this chapter! Those of you that aren't fans of the California trio will be happy to note they are gone after this chapter.

Huge thanks as always to Devir Ginator for his editing prowess.

Now on to the tale!

****

Ms. Simpson's car had barely stopped at the front of the hospital when Jessica jumped out and ran for the doors.

"Jessica!" Ms. Simpson shouted to no avail.

"I've got her, Ms. Simpson," Staci said as she hopped out and ran after her best friend.

Ms. Simpson shook her head and looked in her rear view mirror at Ray and Shelly.

"You two might as well follow those two," she said. "I'll park and meet you in the waiting area."

"You go ahead, Shelly," Ray said. "I'll ride with Ms. Simpson and walk her in."

Shelly didn't need to be told twice. She had seen the fear in Jessica's face when she received that text and how it mounted when she couldn't get Jenny to answer when she tried to call her back.

"Thank you, Ms. Simpson," Shelly called out as she got out and hurried to catch the others.

"Let's go find us a parking spot then," she said.

As she drove toward the parking garage she looked in the mirror and saw the look of worry on Ray's face.

"Jake's going to be okay, Ray," she tried to assure him. "He's got a lot of fight in him. Don't forget that."

"I won't, ma'am," he answered quietly while he hoped that she was right.

****

Jessica ran down the hallway toward the bank of elevators that would take her up to the ICU. She heard hard footfalls behind her and assumed that it was Staci on her heels but she didn't slow down.

"I have to get to Jake!" her brain shouted at her

When she reached the elevators she jammed the call button but when the doors didn't open immediately she turned for the stairs.

"Jess, wait!" Staci called out as she skidded to a stop at the elevators.

Jessica was already in the stairwell and headed up them two stairs at a time. When Staci started to follow the elevator chimed it's arrival.

"Staci, the elevator," Shelly called out and pointed toward the now opened door.

Staci looked over then jumped inside and held the door for Shelly. Shelly joined her inside it only a moment later.

"What happened to Jess?" Shelly asked as Staci pressed the button to ride up.

"She had already taken the stairs by the time I got here," she answered. "She had better not hurt herself trying to get to Jake."

"He'd be pissed if he... if..." Shelly started to say but her voice cracked. "Staci, what if he's..."

"He's not," Staci said adamantly. "Jessica's mom would have come and got her if that was the case. Wouldn't she?"

"I think so," Shelly answered. "I mean I hope that's the case."

Neither felt as confident as they attempted to sound so they hugged each other just before the elevator deposited them on the ICU floor.

****

Jessica didn't slow down as she passed the check in desk in the waiting room. The volunteer stationed there knew her on sight and called out to her. Jessica gave her a quick wave and was thankful when she heard her press the button to unlock the door. As she stepped inside a sense of dread washed over her and stopped her in her tracks. Now that she was just a few feet from his room she found herself frozen with fear. His door loomed ahead of her and she felt that as long as she didn't go inside Jake would still be okay.

"He needs you, Jessica," she told herself then willed her feet to move.

She took a step and his door opened up. A nurse stepped out, saw her then turned back into the room.

"She's here now," she said to someone in the room then turned back to Jessica. "Jessica, please come in. He's been asking for you."

"He... he's asking for me?" Jessica repeated as she shook her head in disbelief.

"As soon as he woke up," the nurse told her as she stepped aside.

Jessica finally moved from the spot where fear had her rooted. She had to see if what the nurse said could possibly be true. Jessica stepped through the doorway and saw Jake's mom. She stood by his head and stroked his hair as she spoke softly to him.

"She's coming, honey," she assured him. "Don't get all worked up again. Let the medicine work. Jessica is coming."

"I'm here," Jessica announced as she hurried to Jake's side. "Jake, I'm here."

"Jess?" Jake said weakly and tried to move his hand but it was sluggish so she reached down and took hold of it.

"I'm here, Jake," she assured him as she felt tears start to pour down her cheeks. "I'm right here."

Jake gave a weak smile and a nod. He started to close his eyes but then opened them and looked at Jessica.

"Don't show Patrick your bikini," he told her. "That... that's not for him. 'kay?"

Jessica was super confused but she giggled and nodded.

"No, not for him, Jake," she told him. "It's only for you."

"Good," he smiled then closed his eyes.

"Jake?" she asked then looked at his mom.

"He's okay, Jess," she assured her. "They had to give him a sedative before you got here."

"A sedative?" Jessica started to ask but Staci and Shelly burst into the room.

"What's going on with Jake?" Staci asked.

"He woke up," Jessica answered her as she rubbed his hair. "He came back to us."

****

"You scared me to death, Jenny," Jessica told her as they all sat together in the waiting room.

Jake's doctor had wanted to check him now that he had woken up once and told them that he would come out and brief them once he was done. Jake's mom had stepped away to call Jake's dad and Shelly had as well, to call her mother. Ms. Simpson went with them to call the school and check in while Ray had volunteered to track down Jessica's mom in the emergency room and let her know what was going on. Jake's mom had tried earlier but she was with a patient then. Staci sat with them while she texted the misfits with an update on Jake's condition.

"Jake scared me to death, Jessica," Jenny told her. "I was sitting there reading to him and all of a sudden his machines start going off! Then Jake starts shouting your name and I about jumped out of my skin!"

"Why was he yelling my name?" she asked.

"I have no idea," Jenny answered. "All I know is that we couldn't get him calmed down at all. That's why they had to sedate him. He was trying to move and just kept calling for you."

"I wonder what he was dreaming about?" Staci queried. "Do people in coma's dream?"

"I'd think so," Jenny said. "It sounded like Jake was dreaming of Jess and in a bikini no less."

Jessica flushed slightly and shook her head.

"I don't know what he was talking about," she said then tried to deflect that part of the conversation. "And to bring up Patrick. That was so weird."

"She thinks that she's going to distract us," Staci smiled, "but it's not happening, Jess."

"Guys, I don't want to discuss any of Jake's dreams," she told them as she looked around. "Especially ones involving me in a bikini when Jake's mom is around."

"You're no fun," Staci complained. "Hey, maybe it was something you were reading that made him dream whatever it was he was dreaming. Were you reading him something... naughty?"

"No," Jenny answered a little too vehemently which caused Staci's grin to widen.

"Ooo, it was!" she exclaimed excitedly. "What was it? Jess, get whatever it was. I wanna read it!"

"Calm down, Lil Miss Horny," Jessica told her. "Jake's mom is headed back."

"Jake's dad is on his way," Mrs. Gibson told them. "Has the doctor been out yet?"

"Not yet, Mrs. Gibson," Jessica answered as she took her hand.

Mrs. Gibson patted it and smiled at Jessica.

"It was nice to hear his voice again," she told her.

"He sounded good," Jessica said even though he sounded a bit out of it. "I just hope that he is all right."

"He wanted to see you in a bikini," Staci commented. "He sounds like Jake to me."

"Staci! That's not what he said!" Jessica declared as embarrassment rushed to her cheeks again.

Dr. Golden and Ray got off the elevator and walked toward them which gave Jessica a momentary reprieve but Jake's mom smiled knowingly at her anyway. Jessica got up and hugged her mom.

"How is he?" Dr. Golden asked.

Jessica and Jake's mom gave her a quick rundown just before the doctor came over to talk to them. He asked if he needed to wait for Jake's dad to arrive but Mrs. Gibson assured him that they could relay the information to him.

"Shall we step over here and chat privately?" the doctor asked.

Mrs. Gibson shook her head and explained that anything he shared could be shared with the assembled group.

"It would spread like wildfire anyway," she smiled. "These kids love him and need to hear that he's going to be okay."

"He will be okay, right?" Jessica asked nervously.

The doctor explained that he checked his vitals and was pleased at their current levels. He expressed a small concern that Jake had to be sedated but stated that wasn't unusual so he only wanted to keep an eye on how he came out of his sedation.

"It should be only an hour or so and we'll know," he told them. "I'm sure that some of you would like to go back and sit with him. Try to keep to three at a time but if you can slip a few more past the nurses then who am I to say anything about that."

He smiled and nodded at Jessica's mother.

"I'm sure that Dr. Golden has some leeway should anyone say anything," he stated.

"Krispy Kreme's are incoming," she answered him then added. "For the doctors and nurses. The rest of you will have to do without this time around."

"Don't let Sarah hear you say that," Jessica smiled. "She'll demand to be a nurse just for one!"

"I'm asking your dad to pick them up on his way here so don't be surprised if at least one is missing when they get here," she told them.

"With dad picking them we'll be lucky if it's just one missing," Jessica laughed.

"Now that Jake is awake I'm sure that we'll be inundated with your friends once school lets out," Dr. Golden said. "I'd better have him get a few dozens so no one gets left out."

****

Sheriff Bradford heard a commotion outside his office. As he got to his feet his door burst open. Buck Greene stomped in full of bluster and arrogance while he spouted demands.

"Where in the hell is my son?" he demanded as the sheriff's secretary told Sheriff Bradford that he had tried to stop him.

"It's all right, Anthony," he assured him. "I've got this."

"Don't make me repeat myself, Bradford!" Buck growled as Sheriff Bradford closed his door.

He spun on his heels and stared down the shorter man with his jaw set with white hot anger in his eyes.

"You bark one more fucking order at me, Mr. Greene, and I will personally toss your ass into the drunk tank," he told him.

Buck opened his mouth, about to remind the sheriff how much he contributed to his campaign, but stopped when he noticed that the sheriff's hand was on his weapon.

"Now calmly tell me what the problem is," he said in a steely voice.

"I got a call from my wife," Buck said. "She told me that she was bringing my son here. I want to see them."

"You can see him as soon as Deputy Mason is done taking his statement," Sheriff Bradford stated.

"He can't make any statements without me being present," Buck stated.

"Your son is eighteen and can make statements without a parent present," he told him. "That said, your wife and lawyer are in with him."

"That's not..." Buck started to argue but Sheriff Bradford shook his head.

"You can wait out front for them," he told him. "We'll bring him out to you when we're finished."

Buck wanted to argue but saw that it was futile so he huffed, stuck out his chest and stomped back out and over to the bench out front. Sheriff Bradford eyed him for a moment to make sure that he would stay there then walked toward the interrogation room.

****

Jake came to and squeezed the hand that was intertwined with his as he opened his eyes.

"Jake?" Jessica said quietly. "Are you awake?"

Jake tried to answer her but his throat was dry so all he managed was a croak then coughed. He felt something cool pressed to his cracked lips and opened his mouth.

"It's an ice chip," Jessica told him. "They said it would help."

Jake managed a weak nod as he sucked on the ice. Once his mouth was wet enough for him to speak he turned his face toward her.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"I am now," she answered. "You scared me, Jake. You scared all of us."

"Didn't mean to," he said. "What happened?"

"We were in a wreck," she answered him as she slipped another piece of ice between his lips. "You broke your leg and some of your ribs."

"Banged my head too," he said. "At least it feels like I did."

"You did," she said. "You've been in a coma, Jake."

"A coma? How long?" he asked in a panicky voice.

"Only four days," she told him as she stroked his face. "You're okay. The wreck happened on Friday and today is Wednesday."

Her voice along with her hand that stroked his face soothed him and he managed a smile. Slowly, he moved his head and tried to look around the room.

"Your mom just stepped out," she explained. "She's gone to see where your dad is."

"Just us then?" he smiled.

Jessica nodded then leaned in and quickly kissed his lips. Jake felt something on her other hand and tried to see it but couldn't. She saw the confusion on his face as she sat back down so she raised her bad arm so he could see it.

"My wrist got broken," she reported. "Bumped my head too but I'm okay. I'm really okay, Jake."

"Not lying?" he asked.

"Not even a little bit," she smiled to assure him. "Now there's nearly a whole waiting room that wants to see you. They gave me some private time with you but I promised that I wouldn't be long."

"Another kiss first?" he grinned.

Jessica shook her head but leaned in to kiss him. When she did, her boob brushed his hand. Jake rotated his hand so that it lay in his palm and gave it a soft squeeze.

"Jake," Jessica moaned at his touch then moved away from him so they didn't get caught. "What was Jenny reading to you?"

****

A parade of well wishers from school started to show up once word got out at school that Jake had woken up. Shelly, with the help of the misfits, Ms. Simpson, Coach Pennington and Coach Morrison kept the crowd that had started to gather as orderly as possible. The three visitor policy was relaxed to accommodate them but Jake's and Jessica's parents both restricted it to four at time which didn't include Sarah, who had hopped onto Jake's bed as soon as she arrived and had a look on her pint sized face that dared anyone to try and ask her to move, and Jessica, who refused to stray far from Jake while he was awake.

Jake's dad had gone to the vending machines to get a drink when he was approached by Deputy Mason.

"Wes," he greeted him. "Lot of kids here today. How is Jake?"

"He woke up today," Jake's dad shared. "I think that most of the school's come out so far."

Deputy Mason chuckled then smiled.

"That's great news, Wes," he said. "I'm sure that your family and Jessica's are thrilled."

"We haven't been able to coax Jessica from his side since she got here at lunch or so I'm told," Jake's dad shared. "What brings you by?"

Deputy Mason frowned and started to fidget nervously.

"I got some news," he stated. "Is Jessica's dad around? He'll want to hear this too I imagine."

Jake's dad wanted to ask what this was about but he stopped himself and waved Ray over.

"What's going on, Mr. Gibson?" Ray asked.

"Do you know where Jessica's dad is?" he asked.

"I think he went to see if Jake needed a break from Sarah," Ray told him.

"Can you or Staci head back there and tell him that I need to see him," Jake's dad told him.

Ray glanced at Deputy Mason then back at Jake's dad.

"Um, sure thing, sir," he told him then headed for the door of the ICU.

Mr. Golden returned a few moments later and walked over to Jake's dad and Deputy Mason.

"What's going on?" he asked them. "Is everything all right?"

"In a way, yes and in a way, no," Deputy Mason answered. "Think we can head down to the cafeteria and get some coffee?"

Jake's dad turned to Ray.

"Let the other's know that we're headed down to the cafeteria if they need us," he said. "We'll be back in a little while."

In the cafeteria the three men got coffee, found a booth away from people and sat down. Mr. Gibson and Mr. Golden waited for Deputy Mason to speak. He took a sip of coffee then leaned forward.

"There's been a development," he started.

"About Jake's test?" Mr. Gibson asked.

"No," he shook his head. "Jake's test came back clean. His second test came back clean when Sheriff Bradford wanted it redone to be sure there wasn't a mistake. Jake is in the clear. Even more so now."

"That's good to know," Mr. Golden said. "We all knew that Jake wasn't on anything but it's good that has been confirmed."

"What did you mean when you said that he is even more in the clear now?" Mr. Gibson asked.

"There's been a confession," Deputy Mason answered.

"A confession?" Mr. Golden asked. "As in it was done deliberately?"

"There's some... debate on that part," he answered.

"Debate?" Mr. Gibson asked angrily.

"Deputy Mason, how about you tell us about this confession and..." Mr. Golden started but was interrupted by Mr. Gibson.

"Who confessed?" he demanded.

Deputy Mason sighed and took another sip from his cup before he answered.

"Hell, you'll find out soon enough anyway," he said. "Patrick Greene came in with his mother and a lawyer this afternoon. He confessed that he was out driving while he was drunk. Says that he thought he hit something, maybe a car but he wasn't sure until he saw news about the accident. He checked his car, saw the damage and that's how he knew."

"And you're buying that?" Mr. Gibson asked. "Patrick has had it out for Jake for a long time and his story is that he just happens to be out and hits my son's car? That's bullshit."

"Is there any proof of that?" Deputy Mason asked.

"I think most of the kids that are here now could vouch for it," he answered.

"A judge would probably throw that out as hearsay," he told him. "Not that I don't believe you because a lot about his confession smells to high heaven but that lawyer of theirs is one of the best money can buy. We've sent some techs over to gather evidence from his car and I'm waiting to hear back from them."

"Is he in jail while you check all of this out?" Mr. Gibson asked.

"He goes before a judge tomorrow morning," he answered. "Until then he's in the custody of his parents."

Mr. Gibson snorted angrily.

"Buck Greene will have him on a plane out of the country by midnight," he stated. "He tried to kill our kids and he's getting away with it thanks to his daddy's money!"

"Wes, we aren't going to let that happen," Deputy Mason tried to assure him. "We've got someone watching the house to make sure that nothing happens. He'll meet with the judge first thing in the morning. We won't let him miss that meeting."

"He had better not," Jake's dad warned. "Now if you'll excuse us, we need to go and break this news to our kids that all this was caused by someone they know."

"Wes, we might not want to spring this on them now," Mr. Golden said as they walked to the elevator. "Let them enjoy Jake being back with us for today and we can tell them about the rest tomorrow."

****

"Jessica, you've got to eat something," Staci said as she sat perched on Jake's bed. "Jake, tell her."

"Staci, he's sleeping," Jessica told her. "So shush."

"I'll shush if you go with us down to the cafeteria and get some real food that doesn't come out of a vending machine," she offered. "I love junk food as much as anybody but you need more than chips and M & M's."