Heaven's Not A Place The You Go When You Die

Beep, beep, beep...

Before I even opened my eyes I knew I was in a hospital. It was the sterile smell, something too clean to be from the real world.

I heard murmured voices surrounding me, and I strained to make out their words. I was still in a haze, and my eyes felt as though lead were holding them down

I could barely manage to remember what had happened. The memories were difficult to remember and I didn't want to. My neck hurt, and I was sure that I had distnctive hand prints wrapped around the tender skin. Bruised, and I had no doubt it would be difficult to move it for the next month, at least.

God, how did my life come to this?

Slowly, I managed to understand the words, and was a little shocked to hear the beginnings of a fight starting.

“...okay, though, right?” That was definately Leon's voice, gruff with worry and anger. Panic was touching the edge of his voice. “Right?”

Oh, desperation now.

“Mr. Stewert, I'm going to have to calm down -”

“Calm down?”

“ - because this is a hospital -”

“I'll bloody well not 'calm down'!”

“ - and because of Ms. Greene's state, sir!” my doctor, a woman, no less, commanded. Her voice sounded firm, as if she directed something, it would be done –- and immediately.

“Ms. Greene?” Leon repeated, his anger and frustration forgotten and replaced with confusion.

“Kelly, you dumbass.” That was Adam, who, no doubt, had his arm wrapped around Kell's waist, glaring at Leon. “She's fucking pregnant, you asshole. Stress on her right now could hurt our baby.” He said the words 'our baby' with such fierce protectiveness, and a hint of smugness.

“Adam, I don't think -”

“Yeah,” Leon said sarcastically, managing to cut her off. “Don't think.”

“You son of a bitch, if Chloe weren't lying right there, I'd kick your ass right now,” Adam growled.

“Hey, jackasses, let's stop this stupid shit so when Chloe does wake up, she's not totally freaked out 'cause one of you is in the bed next to her's,” Greg suggested crudely.

“Greg! Don't talk like that!” Jessie was not sounding happy.

“Jessie, I really don't think that this is any of your buisn-” Leif.

“Fuck, shut up! You cocksucking, girlfriend stealing, son of a motherfucking bitch!” Daniel.

Uh-oh. That wasn't good. And I bet you can guess what happened next.

All hell broke loose.

“Daniel, don't -” Emily.

“Would you stop defending him?” Leif.

“Get your wife to shove it!” Daniel.

“Hey! Don't talk about her like that, you fucker!” Greg.

“Why not?” Daniel.

“Obviously because she's a woman and doesn't deserve this shit!” Jessie.

“I don't really fucking care what she deserves!”

“Oh, you little motherfucker! I'm going to kick your ass!” Leif.

“Leif, calm down -” Adam.

“Don't tell me to calm the fu-”

“WOULD YOU ALL JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP AND LEAVE THE GODDAMN ROOM IN FUCKING PEACE?!”

And that would be Kenny, being, well...Kenny.

Silence ensured, and nobody spoke for a long stretch of time. I thought perhaps I'd fallen back into the deep sleep and I wouldn't be able to get back out.

Again, I wondered how my life had gotten to be this way. Just a month ago, I wouldn't have had nine amazing people fighting in my hospital room.

Well, that wasn't really how to put it, exactly. I would have had them there because they didn't care for me.

“Seriously, get the hell out of the Goddamn room or I'm going to call security because Chloe's awake – and she has been for the past few minutes – and Leon probably wants to talk to her and with all of you yelling, it's impossible. There is too much tetosterone in the air and right now it looks like Kelly's having a fucking heart attack – or an early labour.” She went silent for a second. “Dr. McLean, can you please get another doctor or nurse or someone to check Kelly? I'm a little worried about her at the moment.” Again, she paused. “And you can open your eyes now, Chlo.”

Slowly, I cracked my eyes open in time to watch Leif, Emily, Greg, Jessie and Daniel (I wasn't exactly sure because my vision was blurry from being asleep) be ushered out of the room by a frustrated looking Kenny. I blinked a few times and shook my head, only to be greeted by a dull throb in my left temple.

Dr. McLean was a medium height, Middle Eastern woman who looked gently aged. Her large, brown eyes were wide with worry as she helped Kelly sit down gently onto the bed next to mine, a line of concern on her brow.

“Ms. Greene, I'm going to go get you a wheelchair – I don't want to take any chances,” she murmured hurriedly, waiting until Kelly was seated comfortably before rushing out of the room to locate a wheelchair.

In a few moments, she was back, pushing a wheelchair towards Kelly.

“Here, let me -” she started, gesturing with her hands to help her. Adam kept a firm grip on Kelly's hand, even when she was set in the chair. Soon enough, Kelly was being wheeled away by Dr. McLean and Adam, who was still holding onto Kell's hand.

Then I was left alone with Leon.

“Leon -”

“Chloe, don't. Don't say one damn word,” he growled, closing his eyes and rubbing the bridge of his nose with his fingers. “How could I be so fucking stupid?”

“You? You?” I repeated in disbelief, struggling to sit up. I used my elbows to level me, tossing my unruly hair out of my eyes. The dull throb started to increase into a roaring pain.

“Jesus Christ, Chloe! Don't try to fucking sit up!” Leon hurried forward and wrapped his hand around my upper arms, steadying me. I looked away from his violet gaze, afraid of what he'd think, or what he'd say.

Would he be humilitaed by what had happened to me? Would he drop me because of the plublicity and the damage this could be done to his image?

“Why do you even care?” I asked, not looking up. “I'm just a charity case to everyone now.”

“Charity ca- ?” Leon stopped speaking. His hand came to cup my cheek, and I felt the smoothness of black nial polish against the underside of my chin. He tipped my head up and made a point of directing his gaze straight into mine.

I felt so vulernable and I tried to look away, but his hand was holding my chin.

“How could you even think something like that? I don't care what anyone thinks about you, or me or about what's going on with our lives, okay? I just need to know you're okay. Are you okay?” he asked quietly, still staring intently into my eyes. His thumb stroked arcoss my jawline.

“No,” I whispered softly, my throat burning. “I'm...not.”

Leon sighed and his hand dropped from my jaw. I didn't like the loss of physical touch.

“Where...is he?” I coughed, my fingers curling into the hospital blanket. It felt itchy and uncomfortable against my palms.

Leon closed his eyes before opening his mouth.

“He was at the hospital a bit ago. His wrist is broken and he's pretty banged up – Adam did a number on him,” he said quietly, his fingers trailing on the back of my hand, tracing the bones gently. “He's being charged with attempted murder in the second degree and domestic abuse.”

I looked away from him again, blinking.

“How's it look?”

“The evidence is against him, Chloe. Emily and TJ are testifying in court in two months.”

“Two months?” I asked, stunned as I tipped my head up to meet his purple eyes.

“Greg called a favour from his uncle. He bumped up the case to a top priority. And no one has offered to defend Marcus, and he doesn't have enough money to get himself his own lawyer. Chloe, he's going to jail. There's no doubt about it.”

I barely smuthered a sigh, feeling some sort of relief wash over me.

“Does that me-mean it's over?” I managed to spit out, my throat tightening with each word that was spoken. I grimaced at the feeling.

Leon looked down at my hand, which was bruised and red from clawing to be freed from Marcus' grip. His violet eyes turned up from beneath his thick, black lashes.

“Yeah, Chloe. This part is over, yes. Marcus' is going to jail – we're all but promised that – and I have you, and you're safe now. But, God.” He let go of my hand and got up from the bed, turning to face the window instead of me. “Can you ever forgive me?”

“F-forgive you? For...what?”

I watched his knuckles turn white as he gripped the window frame, and for a moment I was scared that he might break it.

“Chloe, I left you unprotected...for him to get at you. I left you vulnerable, and it was my mistake. I thought that he couldn't get to you at school, that it was a safe place. I was so fucking wrong.” He paused and his hands relaxed on the wood of the frame. “How could you even come close to forgiving me? I almost got you killed.”

A gentle, noise escaped my thraot when I opened to answer him. “You...saved me.”

“Fuck, Chloe, I almost killed you! I let my guard down for just a moment, and it was enough for him! You could have died because of my own stupidity!” He spun around and stalked to the bed. Dropping to his knees, he wrapped his hands around my upper arms, like steel bands. “Can't you see that?”

“I...” I cleared my throat, feeling a burn as I did so. “You saved me, Leon. I wouldn't have gotten away from him at all if it hadn't been for you.”

“But, Chlo, I...” he trailed off, his hands dropping from my arms. He traced the bruises that encircled my neck. “I'll never, ever let anything like this happen to you, Chloe. I can't lose you; I don't know what I'd do without you. I love you so much, and just seeing you lying on this stupid bed made me go insane.”

I blinked, surprised by the scene in front of me. He looked on the verge of a break down, with his eyes snapped shut and his hands curled into the blanket.

“I'm not...leaving you. Ever. I love...you.”

With that, I laid back down, and let myself slip peacefully into the sweet darkness of sleep.

A/N It's short as hell, but be thankful. I lost all will to write, after discovering I've been plagarized – again. Honestly, why can't you make up your own stories?

It's time to slap a hoe, Alexa. Hahaha.

Anyways, I've finally got a computer in my room. So excited, now that I can type without interuptions! Yippy!

Next chapter will come soon.

Luv's and house-for-the-first-time,

Jilli