This is another chapter in Part 2 of a series that began with Life in the Elysium, which you can find
here.
I strongly suggest you read the first series before starting this one. For those who just skip to the sex scenes, there will be no issue if you pick up here, but if you want to understand and enjoy the plot more fully, please take some time to read the series, as it will make more sense.
Be aware, this series includes a variety of adult situations, including male bisexuality, interracial sex, light incest, group sex and other taboo subjects that not everybody may be into. I do my best to accurately tag the story, so check those tags in advance to see what you can expect from each specific chapter. If anything in the tags bothers you, there's an entire site here filled with things you may prefer more. In any event, thanks for reading!
Author's Note
: To reiterate what I wrote last story - for those asking about timing of new chapters and how long the story will be, here's what you need to know. Part 1, Life in the Elysium, was 20 chapters. Part 2, Life Outside the Elysium, is on pace to be 20 chapters as well, and I am hoping to have this part of the story arc wrapped up by the end of February. That's five more chapters this month. After that, I'm planning on taking March off for spring break, and then we'll start the final part of the three-book arc, Part 3, in early March. It will be called "Life in the Oasis" as I think we've been teasing here for a while now, as Jack takes over the new hotel and we conclude the story. Thanks for all the likes and follows, and I hope you're still enjoying reading this as much as I'm enjoying writing it!
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Gabby was the first to reach Jack after his head hit the table. Avery was stunned. One minute Jack was standing tall, giving speeches, making jokes, and the next, he had face-planted into a pile of crabs.
The table was covered with blood, Old Bay and bits of shell and crab guts. Jack had a nasty gash on his forehead, having come down on the business end of a blue crab shell that was lying in one of the discard piles on the table. Blood was pouring down his face, pulsing out onto the butcher block paper, and she thought she heard Professor Harker scream.
"Somebody call an ambulance!" Gabby yelled, seeing Diego immediately jump up and survey the room. She was kicking herself for letting her guard down, and she knew Diego would be, too. The entire point of them being in DC was to watch out for Jack. Hopefully he was just drunk and this wasn't another attack. Something was nagging at the back of Gabby's brain, though, something that made her think this wasn't a drunken stupor. Jack hadn't had that much to drink, honestly, and he was a big guy. A few beers shouldn't have done this to him.
The immediate need, before the paramedics got there, was to get this head wound under control. Gabby grabbed a handful of paper towels from the table and pressed them against Jack's forehead, trying to staunch the bleeding. She sat down next to him, and then reached over, plucking at Avery.
"Avery, which cup was Jack's cup?" Gabby shouted at her. Avery was just staring at Jack, her eyes wide, and Gabby had to shout at her again to get her to snap out of it and start doing what she was told. "Grab a paper towel and hold onto that cup, okay? Don't touch it with your fingers!"
Avery finally responded, finding Jack's cup, which still had half a beer in it, and wrapping it in a paper towel.
People in the restaurant had noticed what was happening, and some of them were standing up to get a better look. A few cameras had come out, filming what was going on. Diego looked around, and then realized he had better do the same thing, so he whipped his phone out and began recording a video of the crowd. Some people started making for the exits, taking advantage of the commotion to dine and dash, others just needing to get a breath of fresh air after seeing all the blood.
"Diego! Call Jeong!"
Diego looked back at Gabby, with a questioning look on his face, but didn't contradict her. He finished recording the room, trying to get as many people in the crowd as possible, and then he dialed the number Special Agent Jeong had given their security team last week.
Gabby knew Jack was probably okay -- the wound on his forehead was bloody, but head wounds always bled a lot. He was going to need stitches, likely, and unless the ER doc was really good, he was going to have a scar to remember the evening by. The bigger question was why he passed out -- was he sick? Was he drugged? Was this an accident, or was this another attack?
The flow of blood had slowed, but Jack looked really pale now, and his breathing was coming in short gasps. Gabby was starting to get concerned, but a few moments later paramedics burst through the door. She stood up, letting the professionals get involved. Soon they had him off the picnic table bench, strapped to a stretcher, and began hauling him into the back of the ambo.
Gabby told Diego to head to the hospital with Jack and Avery, who climbed into the back of the ambulance, while Gabby stayed at the scene.
The rest of their crew -- Maggie, Molly, Sarah Harker, Ben, and Claire -- had been standing back, watching the scene unfold with slowly mounting horror. Gabby calmed them down, had them clean up in the bathroom, and they all waited for Special Agents Jeong and Worden to arrive.
The red flashing lights faded, as the ambulance peeled out, heading to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, a few miles down Wisconsin Avenue. Gabby stared, watching as it faded into the darkness of the night.
How could this have happened?
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