Smoke

CHAPTER 13

"Austyn! Are you okay? Austyn, please talk to me," a voice rings through my ears as I feel someone shaking me, bringing me back from the darkness I was consumed under, blissfully ignorant to the event that had previously transpired.

I can feel that I'm now sitting down, propped up against the wall behind me. Opening my eyes, I attempt to blink away my blurry vision and instantly wince at the pulsing pain on the back of my head. I reach up to touch it only to yank my hand right back down as I feel the warm blood cover my fingertips.

I cringe at the sharp pain in my hand from the jerking movement, redirecting my attention to my bruised and bloody knuckles.

Oh fuck...what did I do?

As I'm looking down, I see hordes of feet surrounding me. I raise my head up, only to be met with multiple concerned faces staring back, but then my eyes fall on Luca who is knelt down onto his knees directly in front of me. He must be the one who was shaking me back into reality just moments prior.

"What happened?" My voice cracks as I whisper, clearly strained by how hard my throat had been squeezed.

"You don't remember?" Luca's gaze is boring into me, as concern litters his face. His anger still radiating off of his body, as I see him take multiple rapid and ragged breathes as his eyes give my body a brief once over.

Luca shrugs off his leather jacket and drapes it over me like a blanket. I briefly pull it back and look down to see my cami had been ripped open down the middle, exposing old scars and a new, massive bruise forming on my side. I hastily pull the jacket back over myself as I feel my cheeks heat up. As if I wasn't already embarrassed enough...

"I remember being grabbed by someone and then slammed against something really f*****g hard," my voice squeaks out. I try and swallow the pain but that only causes me to feel the bruising on my vocal chords more so. "I couldn't breathe."

This time Graham leans down before asking, "You don't remember anything else?"

All I can do is shake my head in response. I know Rachel switched out as I was being attacked, but I remember nothing afterwards.

Graham runs his hands over his face, seemingly frustrated with himself. "I'm so sorry Austyn. I shouldn't have let you go alone after the s**t that happened earlier." Due to the fact that it hurts like hell to talk, I grab his face gently and shake my head, silently telling him that it wasn't his fault.

My attention is torn away from him as I hear Luca clear his throat. He hesitates before speaking, "I heard you scream as I was walking out of the restroom. I came around the corner and saw you fighting him off...quite viciously might I add. You f****d up his face pretty good." He lets out a long sigh, signaling that wasn't all that had happened. Running both hands aggressively through his hair, he continues, "He was on top of you...and he...he was trying to-"

I put my hand up to stop him and close my eyes. I don't want to hear the words that I know he was about to say. That makes it real - and for right now I just want to pretend that it was all a bad dream.

I take a few deep breaths to gather myself, but as I feel a stabbing pain shoot through my side, I instantly freeze. I open my eyes again and look to him; my face asking the question that I was most afraid of say out loud.

Honestly, I'm not sure if I even want to know the answer.

"He didn't." He knew exactly what I was inquiring about and I let out a breath of relief that I wasn't even aware I was holding. He continued, "I got to him just before he was about to and pulled him off. Graham called the cops and the guy was arrested. The police are waiting for your statement after you get checked out by an EMT. You hit your head pretty hard and your ribs look really banged up."

As he says that, I see one of the girls from Graham's group of friends turn the corner with an EMT that she is pulling in tow behind her.

***

They bring me outside to be evaluated before I give my statement to the police. Due to the severity of the hit I took to the head, and the bruising on my face and ribs, they want me to go the hospital for a few tests.

Reluctantly I agree, Graham agreeing to ride with me to keep me company. He somehow feels responsible for the actions of that lunatic, but I'm thankful for his support and I don't turn down his offer.

Luca walks up to me before I have to leave, worry coating his face. "You know I have to tell him right?"

I nod. He doesn't even need to clarify who 'he' is. I know Dawson would have his ass if he found out Luca knew and didn't tell him.

"I'll also let Charlie know you won't be in for a few days. Just take care of yourself first."

"Thank you Luca. For everything. If...if you hadn't-" I'm cut off by his large arms wrapping around me, bringing me into a soothing hug as he rubs my back. Unable to control the tears at this point, I bury my head into his shoulder and let myself cry for the first time since the attack.

"Shhh. You don't need to thank me," he coos as his lips are pressed into my hair which eventually calms me down enough so that I can finally leave to get checked out.

He pulls away and grabs my phone, punching his name and number into it, telling me to call him if and when ever I need, before he walks away and I'm taken to the hospital.

***

Once I arrive, I am sent for a CT, MRI and X-RAY to assess the damages. I have yet to see my reflection but based on all of the s**t being done to me, and the fury on Graham's face, I'm guessing I look pretty f*****g bad.

He was being a good sport though, holding my hand while they start me on an I.V. to administer some pain killers before sticking an intimidatingly large needle into my face. They needed to numb the area to stitch up a laceration above my left eyebrow. My hands are also cleaned and bandaged, covering up the evidence of my retaliation.

The pain killers slowly work their magic, concealing the pain that was radiating through my entire body. I'm sitting here doped up and completely exhausted. Whatever conversation I am having with Graham must be entertaining since he decided to pull out his phone to start recording. If I weren't so out of my mind, I'd snatch his phone away to burn the evidence of my loopy babble fest. However, my limbs decide they are done working for the night and my plan goes out the window.

I hear a man shouting angrily from the hallway, demanding a nurse to let him through and to give him the room number of a patient.

"Someone needs a Xanax...and then chase it down with a strong cocktail," I giggle, wincing at the sharp pain in my ribs. I grab my side, instantly regretting my joke. "f**k me!"

Graham chuckles at my comment, "I feel sorry for whoever he belongs to."

Just then, the door to my room slams open and the curtain guarding me from curious onlookers in yanked back with so much force, I thought they were going to be ripped from the railing. My head jerks up at the unexpected commotion and see a very pissed off Dawson staring back at me.

"What the f**k happened?" His screams cause me to flinch and close my eyes tightly, as my head screams in protest at the sudden outburst.

Graham looks startled at the furious and demanding presence standing before him. He quickly rises to his feet and moves to my side in a protective manner. "Please lower your voice. She was attacked tonight and this scene you're making isn't helping the matter." I look up to Graham, surprised at how calm his demeanor is right now.

Dawson's eyes harden as he sees Graham standing next to me. It's a stare I am all too familiar with and it immediately makes me feel uneasy. His jaw clenches, causing the muscles to protrude more than usual, as his face starts to redden. "Who the f**k are you?"

"Dawson enough. Please. My head is throbbing. I'll tell you what I know...just please...sit down." I rub my temples, as I feel the veins pulsating ferociously on the side of my head.

Graham looks back and forth between Dawson and me nervously, "Uhhh...I'll just...give you two a minute to talk. I'll be in the waiting room if you need anything." I give a grateful nod and thank him before he disappears through the doorway.

Dawson releases a long drawn out sigh as he drags a chair to my bed side, and plops down. His voice calmer now, "Who is he?"

Is he jealous?

"He's a co-worker. He invited me out to meet some of his friends tonight. He helped me," my response comes out as a raspy whisper, when flashes of tonight's events course through my mind. I hastily shake them away, trying to focus on the worried man in front of me.

A pained look takes over his face as his eyes rake over my injuries. He reaches out, grabbing my least injured hand and squeezes it lightly, as the other comes up to gently cup the side of my face. I involuntarily lean into his touch, and close my eyes. I feel his thumb slowly stroke my cheek, wiping away a runaway tear.

"Tell me what happened."

I take a deep breath, bringing up my free, bandaged hand to pinch the bridge of my nose while I attempt to force back the tears that are threatening to expose how I truly feel on the inside. I'm not ready to cry in front of him just yet. I try to steady my uneven breathing before I begin.

I explain everything to him...well everything that I can remember anyway. I tell him about Graham coming to my rescue on the dancefloor, decking the guy in the face; which thankfully earns a small laugh from Dawson. I then describe as best as I can, what I remember in the hallway, which of course he was not satisfied with. I didn't tell him the reason behind my blackout though. For all he knows, it was from the head trauma. That's all he needs to know.

He knows Luca was there because he's the one who called him. However, I can tell by the way his eyes are searching my face for more, that he doesn't know what Luca witnessed.

"The rest you need to ask Luca about. He's the one who saved me." He nods at my admission but stays quiet while he brings my hand up to his lips, placing a soft kiss on my bruised knuckles.

***

After what seems like an eternity of silence between us, a doctor with a friendly, sympathetic smile on her face comes in to deliver my results. It is confirmed that I definitely have a concussion from the impact on the metal door. I also have three broken ribs, which also wasn't much of a shock.

"She is good to be released here shortly as long as she has someone who can take her home. She can sleep, but will need to be woken up every two hours and monitored for worsening symptoms. I suggest bed rest for the next few days. I will send you home with some pain medication to help relieve the brunt of it." She glances at us to make sure we are taking in all of the information before her gaze settles back to me. "Listen to your body. No heavy lifting or crazy workouts. Ribs generally heal themselves within a month or two. Just be patient with yourself. You will receive a call Monday to schedule a Physical Therapy appointment and another to have your stitches removed."

I nod my head, letting her know that I understand before she turns on her heels to leave so she can send in the discharge nurse.

Dawson graciously helps me get re-dressed into a pair of scrubs given to me by my nurse, since my clothes were bloody and torn. As he pulls my shirt down over my head and my pants up around my waist, his eyes never leave mine. Not once. Even being highly medicated, I was beyond impressed by his self-control.

He wheels me out to the front lobby where Graham is waiting patiently, his head cradled in both of his hands. As much as I hate that this happened to me, I hate how it is affecting him more. I tap him on the top of his head, making him look up as he lets out a breath of relief.

"Dawson is going to take me home so I can get some rest. I am going to be on bed rest so I won't be in to work the next few days."

"I'm just glad you're okay. All things considered, I mean. I'll come visit you when I'm off to check on you." As he says that, I sense Dawson's body tense behind me, but thankfully he stays quiet.

"Thank you so much for everything tonight. Without you or Luca, who knows what could've happened. Please don't blame yourself for that asshole's actions," I look up to him with pleading eyes and he forces a small smile onto his lips.

He leans down to give me a tender hug and lets out a breathy, "I'll do my best."

With that, we all make our way to the exit. The slightly cool breeze of the night tickles over my body, causing my skin to become peppered with goosebumps. I pull on the jacket Luca left me with, which Dawson eyes carefully. I notice but am too tired to care at this point. He soon after flags down a nearby cab, carefully easing me in, and finally takes me home.