Page 8 of Deep Connection

I got to the hospital ten minutes later and even though I had to park in the garage, I was able to get in there and find him quickly after that. I was all worked up, thinking about what was going to happen next. As much as I liked to believe it all, I knew that I didn’t belong here. Jason wasn’t mine; he was just a guy that I was trying to help. I hoped it wasn’t too strange that I was out here. He heard me at the door and turned. I hadn’t said anything, but he knew it was me. I wanted to ask him why he knew it was me, but he was gentlemanly enough to not mention it.

“You really did come.”

I assured him that I was just there to make sure he was okay. He didn’t look okay. He looked like he had been beaten up. I had to go to the ceremony that evening, and I was looking forward to it, however now I wanted to stay behind and make sure that Jason was okay.

“Of course, I did. How are you feeling?” I walked toward the bed and stopped when I got close enough to see that his chest was bare. His very well-made chest.

“I’m fine. I just am dizzy, and my sight is worse, so they are making sure I didn’t shake anything loose.”

He said it with humor, but silly me, I didn’t find it funny at all. I didn’t know what was going on with him, but thinking about him being hurt was hard. It was no joking matter to me. “How did your year thing go?”

I was surprised he remembered. “It’s tonight, but I don’t know if I am going to go. It will be hard to go alone,” I admitted. I didn’t know why I said it, but when he offered to go with me, I considered that was what I was going for the whole time.

“You’re in a hospital bed.”

He sighed. “You’re right. And I likely wouldn’t be that great of a date. I didn’t mean to say such a thing. I got ahead of myself.”

I told him that he didn’t have to worry about it and that I would love for him to come with me. I didn’t know how he felt about it all, but I wasn’t the only one that was ready for him to get out of the bed. I really didn’t like to see him in it.

“If my doctor clears me, Abigail, I would love to go with you.”

I agreed that it would be fun and the next thing I knew, he’d already paid and was ready to leave right then. I had to slow him down, but it wouldn’t be long at all before he met me at the office after it closed and went to the ceremony with me. I didn’t know what I was thinking bringing him, but man it felt good to have someone there for some support. Tonight was going to be a big night.

8

Jason

Abigail insisted that she pick me up, since I was going out with her. I think it was more she didn’t want to take an Uber, but I was going to go with it. I wasn’t able to drive, so anyway that I had to go to be near her was good enough for me. I could tell that she was nervous, and I assured her that everything was going to be okay. I was sure of it.

Abigail asked me halfway there what I liked about my college friends, and I shrugged. “I lost track of most of them when I went into the military. Now that I am back and all jacked up, I don’t seek them out.”

She awed me and I didn’t know why I had said any of it. With Abigail I wanted to share more than I should. I didn’t want her to feel sorry for me. I hated the idea of it. I wanted the desire and attention that we had for each other before. Nothing else was going to be done.

There were a lot of speeches and a lot of talking going on all around me. Since Abigail was the only survivor, she was very popular. For many parents, she was the last and maybe closest connection that they had to their kids. Abigail was overwhelmed, I could hear it in her voice, but there was something else about her and how she handled it all. Even as she dealt with all of it, I could hear strength in her words. Abigail helped many.

Then, she was asked to give a speech and like everyone else, I was hanging on to her every word. She didn’t recite what happened, though I already knew that. Instead, she gave a new story to each of the parents for their child, and I doubt there was a dry eye in the room. It certainly didn’t sound like anyone was able to lose themselves in that moment.

There were several times that Abigail’s voice hitched, and I wished that I was able to go to her, stand beside her for comfort. I couldn’t though, it’s not like it would be looked at well. I had to stand there and listen like everyone else, even though Abigail was obviously having a hard time of it.

When the speaking part of it was over, I made my way to her, and I used her sweet voice to lead me. There was something about the throaty sound of her laugh that made finding her extra easy. How badly I wanted Abigail!

There was a time when I would have done anything to be with her, anything at all, and this was one of those times. I was sure that Abigail was going to be upset that I was taking her attention away, but she was relieved instead. She clung to me as we walked away.

“Thanks, they are a bit much.”

I told her that I couldn’t imagine doing what she was doing, and I really did mean it. She was doing something that was good for all of them, obvious by how happy they were to have answers, but it was also pretty clear that it was really hard on her as well. Abigail was sacrificing herself.

“It had to be done. I knew that it was going to be bad, but it was worse than I thought it would be.” Her voice wasn’t even. Someone was coming up and I heard them say her name, so instead of letting another grieving parent get their hooks into her, I did the first thing that came to mind and that was to give her a kiss.

The person coming stopped and Abigail stopped breathing for a moment. It was clear that I had made the scene I was going for. Abigail was shocked, but after a moment of indecision, she started to kiss me back and I have to say, it surprised me. Her tongue was so talented, and I could feel it wiggle in my mouth. Why was that so damn hot? I couldn’t stop how it made me feel and I pulled her in tighter. All of my senses were bothering with her and how I was feeling, so I really didn’t have a memory of where we were. I forgot and I was about to start fondling her if I wasn’t pushed back. Abigail was breathing hard, and she whispered that it was a bad time. I knew that it wasn’t the greatest time, but the room seemed quieter.

“Sorry, I just…” I had no explanation, so I left it open. Abigail was silent next to me. No one came up to us for a while, and I think it gave us both the reprieve that we were looking for.

There was some music that played later, and we danced together. Abigail was surprised that I would ask, even more shocked when I was pretty good at it. I loved the way it felt to have her in my arms. I felt capable, which was nice after feeling so out of control with the attack. When Abigail was in my arms, I felt amazing, like anything was possible.

By the end of it when we were walking to the car, Abigail told me that she had a great time. I’d had the same, but she said that it was such a shock that she would have a good day, considering what kind of a day it had been. I knew what she was talking about, and I once again was glad that I could be there for her. I was very uncomfortable most of the day, but that was okay. I was fine with it now, knowing that I’d truly helped her. That was all I wanted to do.

When we got into her car, she turned to me. “About that kiss…” Her voice stalled and I waited for what she was going to say next. I had a feeling that it wasn’t going to be how she didn’t like the kiss. She had, so had I, and that was just the end of it. There was a part of me that wanted to kiss her again, and I asked her coyly if she wanted another.

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