My poor baby.

Forest and I walk into her room. She's hooked up to so many damn machines. The IV is in the corner beeping quietly. She has a long stitched up cut on her forearm. She's bruised up. Her hairs a mess. Lying under a sheet in her ugly blue hospital gown. She's so damn pale.

Forest goes to her right side and I stay on the left. Just looking down at her. I rub the back of her hand. I need to touch her. To acknowledge that's she's still here.

Forest moved her hair out of her face and bends to kiss her forehead. She doesn't move. Her breathing is slow and even. I can't take my eyes off of her. My pippy is so broken. It rips into our very souls.

Forest takes a set beside her bed. Pulling his chair closer and grabbing her hand. Rubbing his thumb back and forth, on the top of her hand. He puts his head on her bed. Still holding her hand. His body starts shaking. He's crying, I don't know if it's from relief that she's still alive and with us or the heartbreak of what she's been through.

"I know Forest. I feel the same way." He looks at me with tears in his eyes not yet falling down his cheeks.

"I know you love her, like I do, when we bring her home and she's better. I'm going to marry her. Regardless of what Denny thinks or does." His facial features allow for no argument.

"I do love her Forest, I'd die for her! I've always loved her. I want her to carry our last name. I want her to be with us forever. No matter which of us that does marry her." He nods his head.

We settle into quietness. The sound of machinery and beeping is all that's heard. A cast of light is brought into the room from the door. We both turn to see who is there.

"I'm sorry. I really am. But she can only have one visitor at a time." The nurse looks at us apologetically.

I get up to leave. "Is there anything you might need; before I go?" I ask Forest. He shakes his head. "Just for her to wake up and be ok." I get it. It's the same way I feel.

"Ok I'm headed home. I'll be back around three or so, is that ok?" He just nods. Lays his head back down on the bed.

I leave the hospital headed for home. I had to call a cab, our truck was driven to the firehouse by one of the firemen.

I pay the driver and go inside.

I stop in my tracks.

The house is destroyed. Things are tossed around and everything is knocked over. It looks like someone broke in. I rush through the house looking for Denny.

"Denny! Denny!" I scream. No answer. I go to search the rooms. I find him Lannies room on the bed. He's sitting on the edge with his head on his chest. Breathing rapidly. I walk to him and sit beside him on the bed. I don't say a word. What can I say? We just sit there. After a few minutes he sighs and looks at me. He's broken. He's not crying. But sadness is written all over his face.

"I did this," he's not talking about the house.

"No..... I sigh....you didn't! A drunk a driver did. Not you." I put my arm around his shoulder. I try to comfort him. He jumps up out my grasp and turns to me.

"No I did this. I made her leave, because of my jealousy and hatred! The guy got drunk at, my club! The club I named after her as a damn pay back! I'm selfish and spoiled and I didn't care who I hurt! She's in the hospital because of me! She died!.....because of me! I'm an arrogant asshole jerk! I'm worse than her damn brother. I'm worse......than"
He falls to his knees. Bowing his head in his arms.

I go to him. Walk him back to his bed and sit him down. I crouch down to his level. He looks me in the eyes. Still no damn tears.

"You...I point at him...are not worse than her brother. Nobody is that bad." I sigh "you need to man up and get your shit together. I hate to break this to you, little brother, but Forest and I both agree that we are going to marry her. She will be in our lives and she's not going anywhere. If you want her in your life too, you have to find a way for her to forgive you and start showing her how much you do love her." I stand up. Rubbing the back of my neck.

"Do you really think she's ever going to forgive me."

"I don't know. You're going to have to work really hard for her forgiveness. She's a very loving and kind person Denny; she will forgive you eventually. But maybe you need to start by forgiving yourself first." I go to walk out the door.

"Blue?.....I turn to him.....I really am sorry."

"I know, but like I said, I'm not the one you should apologize too." And with that I walk out the door.

———————

I go relieve Forest the next day. As I'm walking to her room I bump into her dad. He's a stodgy guy. Has a beer gut. All grey hair and balding. He's wearing blue jeans and a white polo shirt. With suspenders. He's aged a lot seen I've seen him last.

He doesn't recognize me. He grunts and keeps walking away. I turn to go to Lannies room. I enter and find Forest pacing back and forth. He's agitated and looks pissed. Lannie is still asleep.

"What's going on?"

"Her dad. Her fucking dad just left."

"I saw him leaving, what happened." He's motioning me to go in the hall. I follow. We walk to the waiting area we're in last night. He sits down and huffs.

"The asshole walks in and sees her lying there. He looks at her, then to me. He ask if I was one of the Salvatore brothers. I told him the oldest one. The fucker then says.

———————

"I knew you boys couldn't stay away from her. It's like dogs wanting a bone. Well I see she's fine. So I'll take my leave." He goes to leave.

"Wait! Don't you want to know what happened? Who did this? Why she's here? When is she going to be home? Anything?"

"No. She's alive that's all I wanted to see." He grunts. "She's the reason for all my heartache. She's the reason why here mom left and why her brother did what he did. I've have no sympathy for her. Never will."

"Why are you blaming her? What did her brother do?"

"I blame her cause she's the sole reason our family went to shit!
Her brother did what he did because of you Salvatore brothers! If it wasn't for her and you three I would still have my wife and family!"

"What we did? What did we do?!

But he doesn't answer, just leaves.

————————

"What the hell? What did we do? What did she do?" I'm so damn confused at this moment; I could bite a nail into.

"I don't know. No idea, but he has no love for Lannie. We have to keep him away from her. He's damaged and you know what damaged people can do?" Yes I've seen first hand with Denny.

"Ok then, that we can do. Oh and when you go home. Ignore the damage to the house. I didn't have time to clean it. Make Denny do it."

"What damage? What are you talking about?"

"Apparently Denny wasn't dealing with all of this too well so he went home and took it out on our house. I talked to him. He's come to realize, he fucked up. But he still hasn't cried. I don't think it's hit him full force yet. Maybe we can let him come see her and realize, how bad she really is?" Maybe it will wake him up or least get him to get his emotions out.

"Yea ok I can do that only after he cleans up his mess though."

"I'll call him and let him know. He can take the third night. You need to rest anyway man." He nods his head.

"Go home. Sleep, eat, shower...you stink bro." Have Denny come tomorrow afternoon and stay with her."

"Ok if something comes up call me. She hasn't woken up yet." The he pats me on the back and leaves. I call Denny.

Hello....he answers.

Blue........Forest and I agree you should come tomorrow night and stay with her but only after you clean up the mess.

Denny.........Already on it and thanks man. I owe you one.

Blue......no problem, just don't fuck it up!

Denny.....I won't, promise.

Then he hangs up. Maybe there's hope for him yet.

I go to Lannies room and sit in the chair. I grab her hand and she feels so cold. I grab her blanket and move it up to her chin. She starts to blink.

"Lannie? Baby, can you hear me?" She groans and moves her head flinching. I call for the nurse. She enters a few seconds later. She's an overweight woman about in her fifties. She has greying hair but she smiles widely.

"What can I do for you hun?"

"She's waking up. But she's in pain."

"Oh that's ok. See this button here. When she is pain just press it. But you can only press it once every four hours. Understand?" I nod my head. She leans in and looks at Lannie. "Can you hear me dear? If you can just squeeze my hand." She grabs her hand and Lannie squeezes it. "Good, good," she turns to me "she will be sore so be easy with her; also she has stitches so no moving around too much. If there's anything you need just press the button." She smiles then leaves.

I turn to Lannie "Lannie baby, it's Blue, I'm right here," she blinks "Blue?" "Yea baby girl. I'm right here." She looks at me. "What happened?" I go to explain why she's here. I leave out some information, like her heart stopping and her dads visit. She doesn't need that right now.

"Forest just left. I need to call him and Denny and tell them you're awake. Will you be ok, while I step out?" She just nods. I go and call my brothers. They both tell me their coming to see her. I told them not to mention to her about her heart stopping and her dad. They both agree. I go back into Lannies room. Sit back in the chair.

"You ok? You need some water or something eat?" She looks at me shakes her head causing her to flinch again. I press the button for her.

"Blue?" "Does Denny hate me?" Oh hell. She doesn't need to be worried about him right now.

"No, pippy, he doesn't hate you. He loves you, you know that. Don't worry about it now, just get some rest and heal. They will be by to visit you shortly and I'm not leaving, ok?" She looks at me again.

"I don't want to see Denny!" Shit! Now what do I do?

"Lannie, he's worried to death about you. Please let him come and see you. He really is sorry and he needs to see you, baby." I'm pleading. If she says no. He will rip this hospital apart.

"Fine, but please don't leave me alone with him, he really scared the shit out of me. I didn't think he could hate me so much. He went freaking nuts!" That he did.

"Pippy, stop worrying so much. I'll be here. He won't do anything stupid. You know he loves you and that's why he gets that way. We all love you, baby." She yawns. I stay quiet and let her sleep. She needs the rest to heal.

My brother better be on his best damn behavior.

Or I will rip him apart!

———————

Thank you pretties.
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