Something Like That

Phone Call

Cody laid there confused and admittedly worried.  She had looked pale, almost void of oxygen and like she had seen a ghost and those tears, they were pouring out like a waterfall.  That was definitely not from lack of sleep.  Now he had to struggle with telling Nathan or pushing for more info from Lia.  Almost in a cruel twist of fate, Dani walked in the door. 

“You look rough.”  She smiled. 

“Well, look at you being so complimentary.”  He frowned at her. 

“You scare Lia off already?”  she laughed, sitting her bag down and herself in the recliner. 

“I do not scare anyone.  I’m the nicest guy you’ll ever meet, until I’m not.”  He smiled. 

“Yeah, Yeah.  Is she sleeping?”  she asked being serious now. 

“I’m not sure.  I…I…” 

“What?”  she asked. 

“Between you and me?”  he asked rubbing the back of his neck. 

“Yes, now tell me?!”  Dani fussed. 

“She got a phone call and she was very upset.  I tried to ask her about it but she brushed it off and went to her room.  I didn’t know if I should tell Nathan or you and then you came in, so guess the universe picked you.”  He shrugged. 

“You and the universe.”  She rolled her eyes.  “How upset?” 

“Tears, pale face. .  honestly?  She looked terrified.” 

Nathan wrapped up at the station and was heading home a little early.  He arrived seeing Dani’s car which of course made him happy.  He walked in though to see his rough looking best friend painfully, pacing around the living room, his sister and Dani no where in sight. 

“What’s going on?”  He asked. 

“Oh, I’m just trying to stretch out a little.  I would like to go to my own home at some point.”  He laughed. 

“Take a damn pain pill and get on the couch, geez man.”  Nathan shook his head knowing his friend was playing tough so they’d trust him to go home.  “Where are the girls?” 

“Um, in Lia’s room.”  He stated plainly, sitting back on the couch as Nathan brought over a bottle of water and his meds, shoving them in Cody’s face.  Giving in to the pain, Cody did as instructed. 

“Hmm.”  Nathan hummed sitting down.  “Did you all have a good day?”  He questioned. 

“Sure, pretty boring really.  Dani just got here about an hour ago.” 

“and she’s been in there the whole time?”  He nodded toward Lia’s room. 

“Pretty much.”  Cody shrugged. 

“Women.”  Nathan smirked. 

“Yes.  Women.”  Cody agreed causing Nathan to raise a brow in question. 

Before anything could be said, Dani emerged from the hallway.  Obvious she had been crying but trying unsuccessfully to hide it. 

“Hey Babe.”  She smiled at Nathan. 

“Hey, What’s going on?”  He went to her, pulling her in for a hug. 

“It’s not my place to shared and as much as she begged me not to, I’m going to tell you to talk to your sister.”  She croaked out, a few stray tears falling. 

“What the hell?”  Nathan snapped.  Looking from her to Cody and back again. 

“He has no idea either.  Just go talk to her now before I have to leave, please.”  She nudged him toward Lia’s room. 

“Fine.”  He huffed. 

Knocking on her door as he entered.   

“Lia?”  He spoked quietly, unsure of what he was walking in to. 

“Your fiancée’ is a traitor” she half smiled, her eyes puffy from the tears, her lips swelled from crying and talking. 

“she’s worried and now I am too.”  He sat next to her on the bed.  “please tell me what’s going on?”  

“I will, on a few conditions.”  She looked at her brother with pride as he sat in his police uniform. 

“Okay?” 

“You have to stay calm, no telling Dad or anyone else for that matter and you have to let me handle it.”  She looked at him firmly. 

“umm okay?  I guess.” 

“Nathan please?”  she begged. 

“Okay, fine!  What is it?  You’re freaking me out.”  He shifted nervously on her bed. 

“Do you remember about a year and a half ago when I was MIA for a month?” 

Nathan nodded. 

“I was in the hospital, not as an employee, as a patient.” 

“But you’re okay now?”  He questioned.  “I’m so confused.”  He ran his hand through his hair, tension building in his shoulder already. 

“Yes, just let me finish, please, this is really hard.” 

“Okay, go on.”  He took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze, she smiled halfheartedly. 

“I was dating that Doctor, remember?  It was only a few months but even though it started great, it wasn’t going so well at the end.” 

“Lia!”  Nathan could already feel the anger building up. 

“I said stay calm.”  She snapped. 

“Continue” he said through gritted teeth. 

She gave him a warning look. 

“I thought I was smart enough to get out of the situation but every time I broke it off he’d come back again.  I even transferred hospitals, moved in with Meg, all to distance myself from him.  I was not going to be the woman to stay in an abusive relationship.”  She started to cry at this point, making it more difficult for Nathan to remain calm as promised.  He briefly knew about this boyfriend but of course she hid all of this information and the thoughts he was having about Dr. Brosen were not very nice to say the least. 

“I found out I was pregnant. . . “ 

Nathans eyes grew wide. 

“So, being me, I had to tell him and stupidly I let him talk me into staying one last evening with him.  While I was there, Meg called but from Todd’s phone.  When he saw Todd’s number come across my phone…”  she started sobbing at this point, Nathan clinched his fists, breathing hard. 

“Go on.”  He grumbled coldly. 

Sniffling as she began again. 

“He lost it.  He accused me of cheating.  Of the baby being Todd’s even though he knew he was with Meg.” 

“Lia?  The baby?!”  Nathan stuttered, growing impatient.  She gave him a look and shook his head. 

“He punched me several times, straight to the face.  I begged him to stop not for me but the baby and he snapped and started kicking me in the stomach, calling me a w***e and telling me the baby needed to die.”  Lia stopped, trying to compose herself. 

“Lia. . .  I don’t know if I can hear more.”  Nathan stood, pacing. 

“Please, I want to tell you now and never again.”  She pleaded with her eyes. 

“Fine!”  He looked out the window, trying to figure out how he missed all of this, when his sister needed him the most, he had no idea. 

“I’m told at some point I blacked out and he continued to beat me.  A neighbor overheard the commotion and called for help.  I woke up two days later in the hospital.  Three broken ribs, my eye socket busted and a broken wrist.  More bruises than I’ve ever seen, and more than these ICU nurses said they’d ever seen.”  She paused.  “and I was no longer pregnant.” 

Nathan flinched trying to swallow his rage. 

“The month you didn’t hear from me was when I was trying to recover.  Meg and Todd both begged me to call you but I just couldn’t.” 

“She should have called me.”  He stated hatefully. 

“Nathan.”  She said calmly.  “He was arrested once I was able to give my statement, there was a brief trial then he changed his plea and took a deal.  By the time he was locked up, I was physically recovered and just felt no need to bring this all to you.” 

“Lia!!  That’s insane!  I’m your brother!  I would have been there, Dani would have been there, hell even Dad would have!”  He cried, looking into her tired eyes. 

“I know, I know!  I just couldn’t then.  I felt so embarrassed, so ashamed and so, so stupid.” 

“Lia!” 

“I know Nathan.  I know.  I wish I would have done it differently.  A lot of things differently.” 

“and now?” 

“Now?  I got a call that he’s being released on Monday.  I mean, I doubt he’d have any idea where I am or if he’d even come after me but what if?”  she looked up at her brother with tears and fear in her eyes. 

“Released?!  Are you f*****g kidding me?”  Nathan paced back and forth in front of Lia then he paused, feeling guilt and kneeled down in front of her. 

“I’m so sorry Lia.  He will NEVER, EVER hurt you again.  I promise you.”  He held her close, wishing to God he could have been there for her. 

“I’m sorry to interrupt”  Dani pecked on the door. 

“I hate this, but I’ve got to head out to work.”  She frowned at the two of them. 

“It’s okay, I’m fine.”  Lia smiled up at her. 

“Of course you are, you’re amazing.  I love you and I’m so glad you’re here.”  Dani hugged Lia tight meaning every word said. 

“Cody’s passed out and I’ll be back here when I get off.”  She told Nathan, holding him close.  “stay calm”  she whispered in his ear.  “I love you.”  She gave him a quick peck before leaving. 

“So, now what?”  Nathan asked Lia shrugging. 

“Nothing.  I keep going like I have been.  I can’t hide in fear.  I stayed in NYC and handled everything on my own.  I can handle this here with you, Dani and my new friends.”  She smiled at him. 

“I’m gonna make some calls tomorrow.  But I promise you, you are not alone with this and he will never lay hand on you again.”  Nathan stated looking up as Cody walked in. 

“Sorry guys but umm, I need assistance.”  He held his hand up with blood on it. 

“Oh God!”  Lia cried, rushing to him. 

“I mean, I’m fine.  I just don’t wanna bleed all over the couch.”  He laughed nervously, feeling bad for interrupting.  He could tell by Nathan’s face that it was something serious. 

“You just need fresh dressings, I’m sorry.  I should have helped you earlier.”  Lia apologized leading him to the kitchen. 

“Please don’t apologize, you did nothing wrong.  If you people would let me go home, I could take care of it myself.”  He laughed again. 

“You’re staying.”  Nathan huffed. “I’m gonna go change.” 

“What’s his deal?”  Cody asked Lia as she rebandaged his wound. 

“He’s a grumpy, old man.”  She teased. 

“That’s true.”  He winked.  “You okay?” 

“Yes, I’m fine.  It’s been a weird afternoon, huh?”  she smiled at him. 

“A weird 24 hours.” 

“Indeed.” 

“Anyone else need a beer?”  Nathan asked coming through in his sweats, grabbing one out of the fridge. 

Cody looked back at Lia, wishing she would share whatever was going on, sensing his plea Lia took a deep breath. 

“Cody, I can’t give details but. . .” 

“She was attacked, nearly killed and the bastard gets out on Monday.”  Nathan spat without thinking. 

Cody looked at them both with surprise, rubbing the back of his neck. 

“Lia. .  “  he started. 

“You’re all good now.”  She turned on her heels and stormed into her room. 

“Dude?!”  Cody moaned. 

“What?!  That’s what happened.  Almost two years ago and she thinks telling me now is fine.”  He flopped on the couch, Cody following, looking toward Lia’s room. 

“Whatever happened, I mean it’s her choice to tell you and your reaction now is kind of a d**k move.”  He said not afraid to call out his friend’s behavior. 

“I know.  s**t, I know!”  He took a sip of his beer.  “You don’t know the details, hell I barely know them all but I heard enough for my heart to break and to wanna kill someone with my bare hands.” 

“I’m sorry man, I can only imagine, especially seeing the terror on her face when she got the phone call today.” 

“Did she tell you?” 

“No.” 

“Cody. .  you know what it’s like to lose a sister.  I almost lost mine and a niece or nephew and had no idea until an hour ago.”  Nathan shook his head sitting his beer down. 

Before Cody could respond, Nathan suggested they go downstairs to the mancave.  He knew it wasn’t his story to tell but he had to talk about it and since Dani was at work, Cody would have to do. 

Cody listened to the whole thing, not saying a word.  The rage he felt was strong, even for someone he just really met.  After hearing Nathan finally refer to the bastard as Doctor he felt sick in his stomach remembering the jerk face in the ER the night before.  Nathan could tell Cody was lost in thought. 

“Well, what?”   

“The ER Doc here, he was being an ass to her.”  He spoke, shaking his head. 

“What the f**k?” 

“Yeah, trying to get her to go out with him.” 

“f**k that and f**k him.”  Nathan spat, standing up. 

“Where you think you’re going?”  Cody stood slowly. 

“To kick his Doctor ass.” 

“Funny.  You’ve had like three beers and you can’t just beat a dude for being an ass.” 

Nathan punched the wall then turned to Cody. 

“My sister man.”  A lone tear fell down his cheek.  Cody gave him a hug. 

“Trust me man, I know.  But she’s still here and you need to be here for her.” 

Nathan wiped his face and nodded. 

“Let’s get some food.”  He headed up, going toward the kitchen.