Trial By Fire - Bouncing Back, Book 1

One

He stared at the large building, wishing he was visiting for any reason other than seeing Kennedy, who was still in a coma, still healing from the damage Anderson had done to her. He wished she hadn't gotten hurt, wished that the older man who had kidnapped the girls had just left them alone so that Kennedy wouldn’t have had to take the beatings she took.

Taking a deep breath, he parked his bike and walked inside. His helmet tucked under his arm, he made his way to the reception desk and rapped his knuckles quietly against the well-worn countertop.

Swallowing the lump of fear that suddenly wanted to make his throat its home, he looked at the nurse. "Hi, there. Um, could you help me find someone?”

She glanced up at him, rolling her eyes with a frown as she took in his appearance, "We haven't had any of your kind admitted in the last little while. Sorry."

“My Kind?”

She raked him with a sneer, “Listen, sweetie, there were no gangsters admitted recently, okay?”

Her sickly-sweet voice was overkill, and he knew he had to hold his ground. The only issue was not being able to hold his temper. He c****d a brow, "I'm looking for my friend, not your racist attitude. The name is Kennedy Rubin, and she's under the care of Doctor Ambrosia Hansson, CMO.”

Another woman came out to see what the problem was from the room behind the desk. As the young nurse complained to her, the older woman looked him over. "Young man, it's not nice to accuse someone of being racist. It’s not polite to pretend to know someone, either."

Beneath the surface, he was ready to burst with rage. Keeping his voice level, he continued, "What I want is to find my friend. For another thing, I don’t have to pretend to know anyone. I grew up with Doctor Hansson."

Suddenly, Memphis could hear a familiar slow clap. It was one that chilled him to the bone, cooling his temper more effectively than Kennedy ever could. He didn't need to look to know who it was, either. "Good morning, Doctor Hansson."

She scowled, but it was at the younger woman, "I don't know what your parents or anyone else taught you, but you do not treat people that way around here. We don't have time to discriminate when we're saving lives."

"He didn't have to be so rude. Besides, he claims to know you personally," Shana stated.

Scoffing, Ambrosia said, "He does."

Memphis nervously scratched at his arm. He didn't really believe his father when the man said she was a scary woman when angry. At the moment, the Doctor was more frightening than her twin brother.

Turning on her heel, Ambrosia walked toward the elevator and pushed the up button, "Come along, Memphis, I'm headed up to see Kennedy right now. Oh, and Shana, the Director wants to see you."

Ambrosia silently guided Memphis into the elevator. As soon as the doors slid shut and they started upward, she turned her dark green gaze to him and sighed. “Nice to see that you can keep your cool.”

Opening his mouth, he failed to think of a single thing to say to the woman beside him. He bit down on his lip, taking another breath for courage, "I'm sorry if I’ve caused any problems for you, Donna Amber."

"You didn't," she snorted. "We've had several complaints about her already. Memphis, listen, Nix called ahead to warn me, but I don’t like you playing hooky like this. Next time, come after school so you don’t get in trouble with your father, okay?" She told him sternly.

He closed his eyes, "I've always sort of seen her as this limitless force of nature, and it hurt to see her that badly wounded. I’ve always admired her ability to keep pushing when everyone else wants to give up. She’s one of the strongest, smartest girls I know."

"Does she know you care that much?" Ambrosia chuckled.

Snorting a laugh, Memphis looked over at her, "Dad’s convinced a girlfriend would ruin me. Mon Dieu!"

Ambrosia laughed. "Have you figured out what you want to do with your life?"

He smirked, "I want to be a professional fitness trainer."

The doors opened and they stepped out into the busy hallway. "She's down the hall in room five-oh-three. If you run into any more problems, call me on my cell, understood?"

Memphis nodded, "Yes, Ma'am. I understand."

Squaring his shoulders, he started down the corridor to Kennedy's room. Slipping inside, he closed the door and let the silence fall around him. Taking one look at the bed, he felt instantly sick.

Hooked to wires and tubes, Kennedy lay in a hospital gown beneath a thin cotton blanket. She'd regained some of her lost colour, and her hair had recently been washed. The red strands were lying loose around her, framing a heart-shaped face that housed her bright, sky-blue eyes.

Eyes he wished were open.

Memphis breathed deeply, sitting down in the chair by her bed. His knee bounced while he bit his nails.

"God, I don't even know what to say, let alone how to say it. I came here with a clear idea, a clear objective, and it's out the window the second I lay eyes on you. I miss you, Kenni. I miss our fights, our bets, and I miss your nagging. I’d give anything to see you open your eyes. Anything," he whispered.

Burying his face in his hands, he tried not to give over to the tears that threatened to fall. "Why are you so good at being the strong one? Why do you always have to be a martyr? Why can’t you just let someone else play the hero for once, Kenni?"

Getting to his feet, he walked over to the window. Despite knowing that it wasn't his fault, he still hated himself for not being there for her when she needed him the most. He sat back down in the chair and laughed. "You know, I remember the day we met. You were so tiny, but so freaking ferocious. Mark thought you were annoying, but I thought it was hilarious how you didn’t give up. No matter what, Ken, you powered through everything.”

There was no response. Not that he expected one.

"It was awesome to see the way you stood up to people the rest of us feared. You even stood up to my father. I gotta admit he can be pretty scary sometimes." He said, running a hand over his braids.

Rising to his feet, Memphis braced himself using the rail of the bed. He felt better now that he'd finally gotten the words out of his system. However, as he leaned over, he never thought saying bye to her for the day would hurt as much as it did.

Staring down at her pale face, he noticed the freckles that dusted her nose and cheekbones. They made her look innocent. Cute.

Cute? Had he lost his mind?

No, not his mind, he realized. He had lost his heart. Even when she was all fired up and ready to beat his head in, she was the most beautiful girl he knew. "Please, Kennedy, please wake up soon. I'm losing my mind without my driving force to keep me motivated. I miss you, Kenni."

Moving in closer, he pressed his lips to her forehead. Lingering longer than necessary, he struggled to rein in his emotions. Leaving the room, he closed the door before sliding down the wall and taking several deep breaths. That was when he heard the familiar, angry thud of his father's boots.

Glancing up at the fuming man, he said, "Go ahead. Ground me. I don't care anymore. I know my education’s important, Dad. That's why I do my homework, and I get good grades."

"Why can’t you ever listen to me? I told you no, and in your infinite teenage stupidity, you came here anyway. You have to let go of whatever guilt is making you think this way, and get over it," Thomas snapped.

"Are you serious, Dad? Am I ever going to get a say in my life?" Memphis argued as he stood.

Thomas snarled, "You're my son. I know what's best for you, Memphis. You have to focus on the more important things in life, not doing stupid s**t like skipping school to come see a girl."

Memphis got to his feet, his temper flaring hotly. "My entire life has been you telling me what's best for me without ever asking what I want. Stop trying to box me in. I'm not going to run off like mom did."

"Don't you say s**t like that," Thomas growled.

Memphis threw his hands into the air. "Did you think I wouldn't find out? Or that I wouldn't eventually start questioning what really happened? I found out she left us for her rich lover because I ran into her a few years ago. I'm not mom, I'm not going to up and run away when things get a little tough, Dad. You and the others raised me better than that."

His anger running out of steam, Thomas tried not to snap at his teenaged child. He wanted to tell the boy he was wrong, but he no longer had the heart to lie to him. "You’re right.”

Memphis blinked, "What?"

"She walked out on us for another man, and it pisses me off. I had to raise you on my own for almost eight years, so excuse me if I don’t want my son to end up like me," Thomas replied.

Torn between wanting to glare at his father and wanting to show sympathy, Memphis had no words. Then, he said, "Kennedy’s not mom. She can be difficult, but that’s one of her good qualities. She keeps me on my toes, makes sure I study, and gives me the help I need when I need it. I can't learn if I don't make mistakes, Dad, but Kenni’s not a mistake. I get that you’re scared, but it’s my life."

Wincing, Thomas watched his son walk out the nearest exit. “I’m screwed, aren’t I?”

“Have some faith in him, Thomas. He’s right about Kenni, though. She’s not Holly,” Ambrosia answered as she stepped up beside him.