For Better or Worse

~~~~~Chapter 19~~~~


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Kevin stayed at the hospital until visiting hours were over and the nurses kicked him out. Before leaving the room he whispered in Jessica's ear that he would be back as soon as possible first thing in the morning. Jessica smiled sleepily and grasped his hand. Kevin squeezed her hand in return and gave her a gentle kiss on the cheek.

"If you two are so much in love, why was she with the jerk that did this to her?"

Kevin jumped, startled by the voice, after the quiet of Jessica's room.

"We aren't, I mean, she's not....I mean...." Kevin stammered.

"Any fool can tell you love her to pieces," the matronly nurse observed.

"She loves...loved...him. I'm hoping I can change her mind," he admitted.

"If it was me in her position, it wouldn't take much changing." The nurse grinned at Kevin and went on her way with a laugh.

Kevin stared after her for a moment and then chuckled to himself. "I hope Jessica is as easy to please as you."

After making sure the hospital security was guarding Jessica's room, and reminding them about who could and couldn't visit, Kevin returned home.

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As he pulled up to the house, Kevin recognized Nick's blue Mercedes parked crookedly in the lane. Kevin tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Nick was the last person he wanted to see right now, but he wasn't surprised that he would be here. He'd want to know where Jessica was. Why Kevin had taken her. Well, Kevin had answers for him. And a whole lot of questions.

"Good evening Nick." Kevin slammed the car door and folded his arms across his chest. Nick was sitting on the steps, a hat pulled low over his eyes. Kevin could still tell he looked like hell. "Funny seeing you here." He moved past Nick to unlock the door.

"Where is she? Why did you take her?" Nick glared up at Kevin accusingly.

"Get in the house. I'm not discussing this outside."

Nick nervously sidled past Kevin and into the house. Kevin locked the door securely and turned to face his bandmate.

"You broke into my house!" Nick accused.

Kevin roughly pushed Nick into a chair. He saw a spark of fear in those blue eyes.

"Sit your ass down and shut up," he ordered.

"You have no right to..." Nick began.

"I said shut up! You will listen to me." Kevin stood in front of Nick and stared at him.

"Jessica is in the hospital. Again. You almost killed her this time. She's burned, bruised, cut, broken...raped!" Kevin spat out the last word angrily.

Nick hung his head.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Kevin yelled suddenly.

Nick just shook his head.

"Look at me, damn you!" Kevin grabbed Nick's hair and pulled his head up so they were looking at each other. "What the hell is wrong with you? Jessica loves you and you've tried to kill her twice now! You've killed your own child! What is going on in there?" He gave Nick's head a shake and released it.

"I don't know. I don't know. I don't know," Nick whispered

"What?"

"I don't know!" Nick shrieked. "I don't know why I hurt her. I don't mean to. I get angry."

"You get drunk," Kevin accused.

"No. Just yesterday. I wasn't drunk before."

"Drugs?"

"No. Maybe some yesterday. I don't remember," Nick admitted.

"You're telling me, except for yesterday, you've abused Jessica with a clear head on your shoulders? You fucking asshole!" Kevin slapped Nick's cheek with a loud smack.

Tears started to roll down Nick's cheeks and Kevin started to pace, clenching his hands and trying to resist the urge to beat Nick into the ground.

"You want me to feel sorry for you?" he asked.

Nick shook his head 'no'.

"Then tell me why you are doing this? What happened?"

"I don't know."

"Nick," Kevin warned.

"I mean it. I don't want to lose her."

"You have a funny way of showing your affection."

"I'll be better." Nick swiped his hands over his eyes and nose. "I promise."

"Nick, I'm afraid..."

"I want to tell her I'm sorry."

"No fucking way."

"You can't stop me from seeing her."

Kevin sighed in frustration. "Yes I can."

"How?" Nick challenged.

"You will be arrested if you enter that hospital. Jessica agreed to press charges." Kevin handed Nick a copy of the warrant.

"You can't be serious?"

"You have no idea what you did to her, do you?" Kevin asked sadly.

"I roughed her up a bit. I said I'll be better!"

Kevin handed him a photo of Jessica's naked body. It had been taken at the hospital to chronicle the abuse she had received. Nick gasped in shock. Jessica was barely recognizable to him. He couldn't have done this to her.

"Nick. You did this to her. You had some help this time, but you were the instigator. You caused this."

"No." Tears were falling from Nick's eyes again. "I love her."

Kevin raised his eyebrow at Nick's last statement. He had never admitted love for her before. Was it possible he was willing to change?

"You need help Nick. Counseling, therapy, something."

"I will." Nick nodded, tearfully.

"Do you mean that?"

"I promise."

"I can call someone right now." Kevin reached in his back pocket for the card the doctor had given him.

"Please. I don't want to do this anymore." Nick begged. "You'll help me won't you?"

Kevin looked down at Nick huddled in the chair. Somewhere in there was the Nick he loved as a brother. How could he refuse to help him in his time of need?

"I'll help you. Every step of the way."

Nick smiled gratefully as Kevin left to retrieve the phone. He missed the grateful smile turn into a smirk of disgust just before Nick spit on Jessica's photograph.


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