The Girl from the Ouachita, Ch. 6
No one under eighteen involved in any sexual stuff. It's always better to read previous chapters first. This chapter is about building characters and detail, and setting the stage. I like to "paint a picture with words", so if TMI isn't your thing, shy away.
From Chapter 5: The hospital security guards are speaking to the Alexanders and Becks; the lives of the girls are in question.
Our son, Chris, is very protective of Jo, his... wife. He's all she's got, and he takes protecting her very seriously. But we've never seen him this angry before, so..."
Trey Beck spoke up. "Chris works for me, and he's probably the most loved man in our employ. Even his workers love him. He's an engineer, and he's usually cool and calculating. I'm in shock."
"He may be a cool, calculating engineer, but I wouldn't fuck with him -- or maybe I should say I wouldn't mess with his wife, or whatever she is! The police officers who came with the girls told us he badly messed up the three who were raping his wife, and I heard the doctor say it will be touch and go with all three. One had a broken jaw and eye socket, one is in surgery to remove nose cartilage from his brain, and the third has a broken neck."
They started to walk away, but one turned and said, "We're gonna pretend this never happened. We have daughters and wives, and we get it. In fact, I'm not saying I wouldn't have done the same thing in the same circumstances. That said, you might need to check into an anger management program for him. He runs awful hot."
****
It was the longest night of Chris' life, and the Ellisons, as they sat across the room from one another. The Ellison's knew Chris blamed them, and, no matter how many excuses they tried to make in their minds, they blamed themselves. A mother's job is to take care of her family; she failed. A father's job is to keep his family safe; he failed.
The other parents in the room were more understanding, but it was easy to see they also placed at least some of the blame on the Ellisons. She cried, he comforted her, and across the room, everyone eyed a frighteningly stoic Chris. The rage seemed to be gone, but the cold eyes and silence were almost as scary. Everyone prayed for Jo and Kate, and for Chris if the worst happened.
At midnight, a doctor came out and explained the situation. Both girls had ingested dangerous amounts of Rohypnol, in conjunction with MDMA, street name Ecstasy, and alcohol. The combination of Rohypnol and alcohol is known to cause heavy sedation and loss of consciousness, and have deadly effects on heart rate and breathing. The addition of MDMA exacerbates problems with heart rate and breathing, and may cause heart arrhythmia.
When asked directly by Debora, he admitted that combination in such high quantities often causes death. Chris bluntly asked if the girls were going to die; he answered they were doing all they could to stabilize their heart rates and blood pressure, and prevent arrhythmia.
"Is there a point at which we'll know?" Chris asked. The doctor said this is a minute-by-minute situation, so he couldn't begin to guess when they would start to come out of it.
Chris turned and walked back outside. This time no one followed; he clearly needed time to process.
Mrs. Ellison again dissolved in tears, and Mr. Ellison comforted her. When Sandy Beck asked who the medical contact for her nephew is, she said her brother, who was flying out from LA and would be here later.
When Chris came back into the waiting room, he told the Becks, Alexanders, Sal, and Joey they could go home, and he'd call them when they knew more. That got an unanimous no vote, and a scolding from Donna for even thinking such a thing!
And so they waited through the night and into the early morning hours. Naps had been inadvertently taken, but all were exhausted and looked it -- except Chris, who looked ready to do battle.
A little after four am, Mrs. Ellison's brother arrived. He looked like hell; worried, almost panicked, and distraught. "How is my son?" he asked his sister.
"We don't know; they won't tell us because we aren't his parents! The nurse's station is down that hall; go ask them for information."
"Did they catch the bastard who did it?" he demanded angrily.
Mr. Ellison quickly answered, "Don, that's another story. We can talk about that after you find out Donnie's condition." He glanced at Chris, and immediately understood the meaning of "If looks could kill!"
Chris started to get up out of his chair, but his dad and Trey were sitting on either side of him for a reason. They grabbed his arms on either side, and Dad said quietly but firmly. "Just relax, son; he's a worried parent who doesn't know the full story. Let the police tell him,"
Four deep, slow breaths later, Chris settled back in his chair, and the Ellisons collapsed in theirs.
The smiling nurse who entered the waiting room at 6:25 was the first sign of hope since they arrived. "Mr. Beck, Mrs. And Mr. Ellison, Doctor Sykes asked me to inform the families that the girls have stabilized enough to be assigned rooms. They aren't completely out of the woods, but we are hopeful -- and believe -- they have turned the corner."
The Ellisons both began sobbing; Sandy, Donna, and Debora began hugging each other, Sal and Joey high fived, and Trey and Dan clasped Chris on the shoulders and whooped. Chris remained stoic. When Donna ran to hug him and saw the same look he'd had since the rage, she asked why he wasn't happy.
"They aren't completely out of the woods. When they are, I'll celebrate -- not before."
A dejected Don returned to the waiting room with a police officer. He looked around, spotted Chris, and started to him. Chris stood up, coiled and ready.
"Young man, I'm here to sincerely apologize for my earlier mistake. The officer showed me the police report, and it's clear Donnie was at fault. He's always been a bit of a rebel, but recently -- well, for the past year, since he dropped out of college -- he's been in trouble with the law more than once, and has been defiant to me whenever I try to discipline him, or even offer help.
"As I told my sister when he said he was coming up to stay with them, I hoped being with a high-achiever like Kate, and being away from the hoodlums he has been hanging out with, would snap him out of it. When his brothers refused to come with him, they told me they didn't believe a word he was saying about getting away from his troublemaking friends, and they weren't going to take the chance.
