New Girl in Town Pt. 18

"Daddy? Daddy, what happened? Where am I? Where is Jake?" She asked.

Mr. Golden moved into the light where Jessica could see him. She watched as he lowered some kind of rail on her bed which she couldn't remember ever being there before then he took a seat on the edge of the bed. Behind him she could see that Sarah was with him but she didn't move toward her. She stood stock still and watched them with a scared look on her face. Jessica started to ask her what was wrong but their dad spoke first.

"You're in the hospital, baby," He said softly. "You were in an accident. Do you remember that?"

Jessica shook her head and pain flared up which caused her to wince. Mr. Golden winced along with her then cupped her chin so she wouldn't try it again. When she saw her sister in pain, Sarah rushed to the side of the bed and grabbed their dad's free hand tightly.

"Baby, you hurt your head," He explained then nodded towards her left arm. "And your arm but you're going to be okay. Okay?"

Jessica looked down and saw that her left arm was in a cast. A purple cast that went up to the knuckles of her hand, over her palm then halfway up her arm and felt heavy to her when she tried to move it.

"Don't move anything, baby," He told her as he laid his hand over her cast. "You just need to rest for now."

"Where's mom?" She asked instead.

"She's... she's checking on Jake," He answered quietly as he stroked Sarah's hair.

The grimness that he tried his best to hide in his voice came to Jessica louder than the rain and suddenly she remembered waking up in Jake's car. Jake's smashed up Mustang. She remembered the flames, the heat she felt from them and Jake not waking up. Not moving and tears came to her eyes.

"I moved him, daddy," She sobbed out.

"What, baby?" He asked as Dr. Golden entered the room.

She saw that Jessica was awake and hurried to her side.

"Tim, is she with us?" She asked her husband.

"She's just waking up," He answered.

"I moved him!" Jessica sobbed out louder. "You're not supposed to after an accident but there was a fire and I... I had to get him away from it and..."

Jessica words were cascading out of her mouth like water over lip of a steep drop off. Mr. Golden took her into his arms and hugged her to his chest as Dr. Golden grasped her daughter as well. Jessica wept into her father's chest while her mother smoothed her hair and tried her best to whisper words of assurance into her ear.

"You did what you had to do, baby," Dr. Golden whispered to her as soothingly as possible. "Jake would have gotten burned if you hadn't have helped get him out of the car."

"You saved him," Sarah said too quietly for Jessica to hear her as she stood off to the side.

"But I moved him and now he's gone and..." Jessica sobbed.

"He's not gone, baby," Mr. Golden assured her as he glanced at Sarah so she knew too.

"He's not, Jess," Dr. Golden repeated. "He's in surgery but it's looking good, okay? He's downstairs right now getting operated on and they're trying to make him better."

"Can I see him? I need to see him!" Jessica said as she tried to get out of bed but between her grogginess and her parents she wasn't able to move.

"Not yet, baby," Dr. Golden told her. "He's in surgery but they promised to page me when he's out. They will give me and Jake's parents an update then I will tell you everything they tell me, deal?"

"I need to see him," Jessica reiterated but slumped back onto the bed when the room started to spin on her.

Sarah saw here big sister go limp and hurried to her side with tears in her eyes. Her dad helped her onto the bed with a word of warning to be careful.

"Where can I hug you, sissy?" Sarah pleaded with her. "I don't want to hurt you anymore!"

Jessica swallowed the lump her throat and used her good arm to pull her little sister to her chest. She gave her sobbing Sar-bear a squeeze then rubbed her back.

"You won't hurt me, sweetheart," Jessica whispered and kissed her head then looked at her mom with pleading eyes.

"You will see Jake, baby," Dr. Golden assured her then looked at her husband who gave her a worried look. "Go see if Jake's mom wants to come see Jess right quick. I'm hoping that will help calm both Jess and Sarah down."

He nodded, kissed Jessica and Sarah's foreheads as the pair held each other and went to the door.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," He told her.

Dr. Golden nodded to him as he closed the door then she sat on Jessica's bed and took her good hand in hers then smoothed Sarah's long blonde hair with the other.

"It's going to be all right, babies," She whispered soothingly.

"I moved him, mommy," Jessica whispered back before she closed her eyes and hugged Sarah tight.

****

"It's a bad one, Mr. Fishel," Sheriff Bradford said to the old man as he pulled up in his tow truck. "Scene is a muddy mess thanks to this rain but my boys will see about helping you get her hooked up and pulled out of these here woods."

Mr. Fishel snorted, opened the door to his truck and stepped out into the now drizzling rain. He pulled on a ratty old New York Yankees cap and looked around at the flashing lights of the sheriff's cars at the scene.

"Must be a helluva mess if it brought you out in this," He said to Sheriff Bradford.

"Not as bad as the Sheldon kid but damn near the same spot so I wanted to come out and get a look at it too," Sheriff Bradford explained. "It was a couple of teenagers and one of my guys knows the family so I thought I should come make sure that we did everything by the book on this one."

"Teenagers again? Damn shame," Mr. Fishel sighed. "How far back in the woods did they make it?"

"Not as far as the Sheldon kids was but it's a ways in. A couple of those big oak trees caught it while it was flipping," he answered as he adjusted his own cap. "This one wasn't going as fast I reckon."

"Did this one try to stop?" Mr. Fishel asked as he looked at the wet roadway then sighed. "Guess it'd be hard to tell if he wrecked while it was raining."

"Crash happened just before the rain," Sheriff Bradford shared. "We had a look but you can't really tell in all this mess. We'll try again in the morning to sort out which ones might be associated with this wreck and which marks aren't. Right now I'm thinking he drove in a little too deep, slipped off the edge, over corrected and that started the flip. You know kids these days."

"That I do," Mr. Fishel nodded.

The two walked to the edge of the curve and Mr. Fishel looked into the woods were he saw some flashlights from the volunteer firemen dancing through the trees.

"Thought you said it wasn't far back," He complained.

"I said it wasn't as far as the Sheldon kid back in the eighties but it's still a ways back," He said.

"Well walk me back there so I can see what I'm dealing with," Mr. Fishel grumbled. "See if I need you to call in some more help or not."

"I'm sure we can handle it," Sheriff Bradford said. "At least the pony landed on her wheels."

"Pony?" Mr. Fishel asked. "Did you just say pony?"

"Yep, she's a Mustang," Sheriff Bradford nodded. "A sixty nine from the looks of what's left of her. Looked like a really nice ride. Now she's all burn up and crunched up like a tin can. Hey, where are you going?"

Mr. Fishel had hurried away from the sheriff into the woods toward the scene of the crash. He saw that the car had been covered in a tarp and started toward it when Sheriff Bradford caught up to him.

"What's going on?" the sheriff asked.

"I know this car. Where's the driver? Where is Jake?" He demanded to know.

"Jake Gibson? You know him?" Sheriff Bradford asked.

"I do," Mr. Fishel answered. "Now where is he? How is he?"

"He was in a bad way when the paramedics got on the scene. They strapped him up and hustled him out of here like a bat out of hell. Sorry, that's all I know about him," He answered. "His passenger was a little better off from what I was told but she's at the hospital now too."

"Jessica was with him too," Mr. Fishel sighed. "A couple of great kids that didn't deserve this."

"He got a little reckless," Sheriff Bradford said. "It happens."

"Not Jake," Mr. Fishel said. "And certainly not with his Jessica in the car with him. He wouldn't speed and he knows enough about this curve to respect it. Something else happened here."

"We'll know more once we get the wreckage out of here and back to your place so we can look it over thoroughly," Sheriff Bradford tells him. "Let's get it hooked up and out of here. What do you say?"

Mr. Fishel checked over the ties of the tarp to make sure they are tight enough for his liking. The stench of burnt metal and leather tainted his nostrils as he did so.

"Let's get Catherine hooked up," He nodded after a moment. "Then I need to get to the hospital and check on those kids."

"Catherine?" Sheriff Bradford asked confused.

"Never you mind," Mr. Fishel said. "Just tell your boys to be careful when they strap her up. I don't want them messing up anything that will point out what happened out here."

****

Mr. Golden opened the door to Jessica's room quietly and received a nod from his wife. He turned and nodded to Jake's mom who followed him into the room. Jessica had heard the door and opened her eyes. She wasn't sure what to say as Mrs. Gibson walked over.

"Jessica, sweetie," Jake's mom whispered. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm scared, Mrs. Gibson," Jessica answered over top of the sleeping Sarah.

"I am too, sweetheart," She said as she sat on the edge of Jessica's bed.

Mrs. Gibson took Jessica's uninjured hand in hers and gave it a squeeze. That opened the floodgates of tears from Jessica and though she tried to control them, she couldn't.

"Oh, sweetie," Mrs. Gibson said as the leaned in and hugged Jessica lightly to her as best as she could with Sarah sleeping beside her.

Dr. Golden stepped over to try and extracted Sarah from the pair as Mrs. Gibson consoled her daughter. Sarah fidgeted only minimally as she was carried to her father who was seated nearby.

Jessica tried to get her emotions under control but she broke down in muffled sobs as Jake's mom did her best to sooth her. She stroked Jessica's long blonde hair as she cried into her shoulder.

"I shouldn't have moved him," Jessica whispered amid her sobs.

"Jessica, baby, if you hadn't have move him Jake would have burned," Jake's mother told her. "The deputy on the scene told us as much. You saved his life, sweetheart."

Jessica shook her head as the tears flowed freely down her cheeks. Jake's mom wiped them away and looked deep into Jessica's eyes.

"You saved him, Jessica," She told her. "He would be dead right now if you didn't pull him from the car. Okay? Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

Jessica swallowed the lump in her throat and managed a nod before she resumed crying. Mrs. Gibson gently pulled her into her arms and rocked her as she whispered soothing words into her ear.

Dr. Golden swallowed a lump that was in her own throat and stepped out into the hallway for some air. She found all of the original Misfits along with Ray, Staci and Staci's mom waiting there.

"I convinced most everyone to go home for the night," Mrs. Daniels told her. "I told them that we would know more tomorrow but these wanted to see Jessica before they left. I told them that we would have to ask you first."

Dr. Golden looked at all the mournful faces before her then started to hug each of them individually. First Staci, then Ray, Shelly, Jody, Javier, Roxie and C. C. When she moved to Bobby and Marybeth she noted they were both wearing blood covered shirts and Bobby's was torn.

"You don't want to hug us, Dr. Golden," Bobby told her. "We haven't been able to clean up after..."

He let his words drift off because he didn't know what to say. Dr. Golden could see that both of the teens looked haunted by what they had seen tonight and she felt that she had to try and fix it. She waved down a nurse and asked her to get some scrubs for them. The nurse nodded his head and returned a few minutes later with a pair for them both.

"Go change into these and bring me your clothes," She told them. "I'll get them washed and back to you."

"Val, I'll take care of that," Mrs. Daniels told her as Bobby and Marybeth went to the restrooms to change. "Jessica will need you here."

Dr. Golden nodded and told the rest of the teens to give Jake's mom a few more minutes with Jessica. Deputy Mason walked up while they waited and nodded to Dr. Golden.

"Doctor, I'd like a few minutes to talk with your daughter about the accident," He informed her.

"Now isn't a good time," She told him. "Jessica is under mild sedation at the moment. She's not ready to be a competent witness."

"I appreciate that and can assure you that I won't push her but anything she can tell me about what happened while it's still fresh in her mind would be very helpful," He said.

"She doesn't seem to remember much but I'll check with her and see if she's up to speaking with you," Dr. Golden conceded then turned to the others. "Give us a few minutes and I'll come get you all so you can see Jessica before you head home, okay?"

The group nodded and Mrs. Daniels directed them back to the waiting area just down the hallway. As they started to go, Staci turned and ran back to Jessica's mom and hugged her.

"Tell Jessica that we're all here for her," She said then hurried back to the group before she started to cry again.

"That's a dedicated group of friends that your daughter has," Deputy Mason commented.

"Yes they are," Dr. Golden agreed. "She couldn't have found a better group of friends."

****

Jake's mom said good night to Jessica with a kiss on her forehead and a promise to be back to check on her as soon as she heard something about Jake. As she turned to leave she gave a nod to Deputy Mason who told her that he would be down to check on Jake again before he left. She thanked him and hugged Dr. Golden before she departed.

"Jessica, this is Deputy Mason," Dr. Golden introduced. "He's investigating the accident and wants to ask you some questions if you're feeling up to it."

"I'll be brief," Deputy Mason added. "You have some friends that are waiting to see you and I don't want to keep them waiting especially that Daniels girl. She's already given me quite an earful."

"Staci did?" Jessica asked confused.

"She sure did," He smiled.

"She wanted you to know that she and the rest of the misfits are here for you," Dr. Golden told her. "They're waiting to see you before they go home for the night."

"Can Staci come in now?" Jessica asked. "I would feel better if she was here with me."

Dr. Golden looked to Deputy Mason who nodded. Mr. Golden stood while he still held Sarah and told them that he would send Staci in then stay out with the others.

"I don't want to wake Sarah and run the risk of having her hear about the accident before we're ready to explain it to her," Mr. Golden told them.

He leaned in and kissed Jessica's forehead then promised that he would be right back. She thanked him as he left. A few minutes later Staci gave a gentle knock on the door then half opened it and poked her head in.

"Jess?" She asked quietly.

"Come in, sweetie," Dr. Golden assured Staci.

Staci walked in hesitantly until she saw Jessica then she hurried over to her. She went to hug her but stopped herself.

"I don't know where all you're hurt, Jess. I don't want to hurt you even more!" She sobbed out.

Jessica reached out with her good arm and pulled Staci into a hug. The pair held each other for several moments before Jessica pulled back. She told Staci to sit with her on the bed and they clasped hands as Deputy Mason moved to the end of the bed. Dr. Golden went and stood on the other side of her daughter and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"I won't take up much time," He said as he pulled out his pocket notepad. "Jessica, I'm going to start really easy. Do you know what day it is?"

"It's New Year's Eve," Jessica answered.

"And where were you going tonight?" He asked.

"Staci's," She answered. "There was going to be a party with all of our friends."

"And no alcohol," Staci stated with narrowed eyes.

"I've got that, Miss," He said. "Where were you and Jake coming from?"

Jessica glanced at her mom then squeezed Staci's hand before she answered.

"The old drive in," She answered.

Deputy Mason raised his eyebrows at that as he marked it down.

"You know that a lot of kids go up there to drink," He remarked.

"We weren't there for that," She answered adamantly.

"Then what were you there for?" He asked.

"That has nothing to do with the wreck," Staci jumped in as Jessica blushed.

"They go up there to look out over the lake and at the stars sometimes," Dr. Golden stated then patted Jessica's shoulder. "Among other things that have nothing to do with the wreck."

"Understood," He nodded. "No drugs or drinking up there then?"

"None, sir," Jessica answered.

"What happened once you left the drive in?" He asked.

"We started towards Staci's house," Jessica answered.

"And Jake was driving, correct?"

"Yes," She nodded.

"Please continue," He said as he made a note.

Jessica started to talk but then stopped.

"I don't remember," She said. "I remember us leaving the drive in then I woke up in Jake's wrecked car."

"You can't remember how the crash happened?" Deputy Mason asked.

"No, sir, I can't," She answered then looked worriedly at her mom. "That's not normal is it, mom?"

"It's perfectly normal, baby," She assured her. "You hit your head in the crash and have a concussion. What happened might come back to you in a few days."

"Or it might not," Jessica added. "Like how Jake can't remember the end of his scrimmage game."

"That's possible too," Dr. Golden nodded then looked at Deputy Mason. "If that's all you need, I would like my daughter to try and get some rest now."

"I can't rest until I know that Jake is okay," Jessica told her then she squeezed Staci's hand. "He was so still, Staci. His blood was everywhere and he was so still."

Staci held her hand and tried to calm her down as Deputy Mason put away his notepad.

"Thank you for talking to me, Miss," He said to Jessica. "I'll say a prayer for your Jake and I'm going to check on him before I leave the hospital."

Dr. Golden stood and walked him to the door where he thanked her for giving him time with Jessica.

"I know things like this are never easy," He said. "Thank you for giving me a moment with her."

"When will you know more about how the accident occurred?" Dr. Golden asked.

"They're pulling Jake's car out of the woods now. We'll look it over and see if we can figure out anything from that. Once he's awake we'll interview him and see what he can tell us about what happened."

"Are you going down to see the Gibson's now?" She asked him and he nodded. "Please tell them that once I get Jessica settled, I'll be down to check in with them."

"I'll let them know," He said then turned and made his way toward the nearby stairwell.

****

The Gibson's sat in the waiting area with Shelly at their side.

"What did your mom say, sweetie?" Mrs. Gibson asked Shelly.

"She's on her way over now," Shelly answered as she put her cell phone away. "I told her that we were waiting to hear more about Jake."

Mrs. Gibson nodded and patted her husband's knee as it bounced nervously. He leaned back then back forward before he anxiously got to his feet.

"When are they going to tell us something?" He asked angrily. "This is taking too long. Something is wrong."

"Wes, take a breath," Mrs. Gibson told him. "They will let us know something when they can."

"I need to see him," Mr. Gibson stated.

"We'll see him soon," She assured him soothingly as she got to her feet and hugged him.