Chapter 19: I’m sorry…

POV: Gabby

Word Count: 3147

The shots were super loud and explosive in this small space, vibrating off the walls. But at some point I’d been shoved aside and knocked to the ground. I briefly saw Simon standing there with the gun before he turned and ran, heading toward the dumpster. I laid there a moment, assessing that I’d be moved and I didn’t feel like I’d been shot. But, who had shoved me out of the way?

I looked to where I was and saw Zac standing there, this indescribable expression on his face.

“Zac?” I asked.

“I…”

I watched helplessly as he just collapsed to the ground. “Zac? No, No, No.”

I didn’t think I could move that fast but I was beside him in moments. I tried to figure out why he’d fallen and then I saw the darker stain on his shirt. I lifted it up and there was blood running down his side. That couldn’t be right!

“Are you okay?” he asked.

His voice was low and I barely heard him, he was asking if I was alright?!

“I’m fine Zac, you’re bleeding.”

“I’m…he…”

His eyes began to close and I tried to keep him from passing out, but I couldn’t and I couldn’t get him to wake back up.

“No..You can’t do this now. No, Zac come on wake up.”

I tried but he just wasn’t waking up and I couldn’t get the blood to stop.

“SHAWN!” I called.

He could help him it wasn’t that bad, it couldn’t be that bad. When he didn’t respond I screamed his name, screamed for someone to help me. I couldn’t leave him here alone, what if Simon came back?

“Zac, come on wake up. You can’t do this now. I need you. I can’t do this alone. I can’t do this without you.”

I could feel the hot salty tears running down my face, that pain that just seemed to be taking over my entire chest. I put pressure on the wound but the blood just seemed to be gushing around my fingers. The rain was getting harder and this is not how I wanted this to end. I never wanted anyone to die for me. I just wasn’t worth it.

I just screamed for anyone, I would take a hysterical fan at this point. The spreading pain in my own chest was making it harder to breathe. It seemed like so much blood.

I was only vaguely aware that someone’s hands were on my arms and when I did look Grace was standing there.

“Come on, let Shawn get there. Honey what happen?”

“Simon…I heard..shots.”

I heard Shawn’s voice speaking frantically and since he wasn’t speaking to me then he had to have called for police.

“Grace get her inside.”

“No!” I said.

“Gabby, you need to get your phone. I’ve called the manager of the venue there coming to lock up. Go.”

“I’ll get it, where is it?”

I told her where my phone and wallet were and where his was and she went inside quickly. Police arrived, then paramedics, fire truck, and I was glad that they blocked off the alley, I could vaguely see people out front most likely fans. When the paramedics took over for Shawn he came to me, but even when his hands were on my arms all I saw was the blood.

“Shawn…”

“It’s okay, he’s going to be fine.”

They were putting him on a stretcher.

“I’m riding with you to the hospital, Grace is going to follow. Come on.”

I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on, just kind of followed him. All I could really hear were gun shots and all I could see was the blood covering my hands and clothes, even wet. Zac looked pale laying there, they couldn’t wake him up either. The ride to the hospital wasn’t long and Grace beat us actually. He rather handed me off.

“Take her out front, I’ll make sure they know everything.”

“But I..”

“No Gabriella. You need to be in the waiting room. You need to call his parents and brothers, let them know he’s here. You don’t need to be back here, I will come to you as soon as I know what is going on.”

I just nodded and she guided me to the front. I knew I should call but I just couldn’t right this moment.

“It’s my fault.” I said.

“No it’s not.”

“I just should have gone with him…he wouldn’t have ever pulled the gun out if I had.”

I felt her hand on my back. “Then I’d be sitting here with Zac, crying because you’re in a lot worse shape. It’s not bad from what I saw.”

“I can’t do this alone, he can’t leave me right now. I just..I can’t.”

I didn’t realize that I’d fallen over crying on her shoulder until my phone rang, it was just some un known number. What would I do if he died?! I couldn’t raise this baby alone, I needed him.

“Gabby?”

“Where is Shawn?”

“He’s in the back with Zac, why?”

“I don’t feel so well.”

“I’m a nurse honey, tell me what’s up?”

She didn’t know about the baby. “My sides hurting, my chest. Everything’s beginning to spin.”

She moved and laid me down, my side hurting really worried me.

“Grace…”

“Yes?”

“I’m pregnant, eleven weeks. Is it normal for my side to hurt?”

“Where?”

I pointed. “You don’t feel cramping?”

“No.”

“I think it’s just you’re worried. Why don’t you call his family and get some down here, it’ll help even if you don’t think it will.”

I nodded, called his parents first, thankfully Walker answered the phone and his first sentence was what was wrong.

“Zac’s at the hospital, Simon was at the theatre and he shot him. I don’t know what is going on. Shawn is with him and Grace is with me.”

His next sentence was he’d be here in a moment and then he hung-up. Did he blame me?! Could be blame me?! Dialing Isaac’s number seemed so hard and it took several times to get him to answer and obviously by the sound of his voice I’d definitely interrupted something.

“What’s up?”

“Zac’s…he’s...I’m at the hospital.”

“Are you okay? Wait, why isn’t Zac calling me?”

“He’s been shot. I don’t know anything right now.”

“SHOT?! How the hell?”

“Simon.”

“Francis south?”

“Yes. Can you please call Taylor?”

“On it. We’ll see you there.”

“Still dizzy?”

“Not as bad.”

“He’ll be okay Gabriella, I didn’t see much but it looked like it was in an area without vital organs.”

“So much blood…”

“I know honey, it was a lot. But, it was also raining and some shots can bleed. It doesn’t mean he won’t be okay or that he’s going to be very bad.”

“I can’t do this alone Grace.”

“You won’t be alone honey, Zac will be there.”

The police came out about 2, his parents had just arrived but they wanted me alone. I went through what happen, I had no idea where Zac had come from, as far as I knew I was alone outside. I didn’t know the theatre had cameras but they did, so they were going to check that. They didn’t have an update and I was so glad to have his parents there. It felt almost like having parents of my own.

Diana had Isaac run to our apartment to get me clean, dry clothes. Not that I cared but she did. He made it back at 4 and I changed in the bathroom, no spotting so I was glad about that. I then sat with them.

“It’s been hours, what are they doing?” I asked.

“It was an abdominal shot honey, they need to make sure he’s okay.”

Stella and Nicole were here too, keeping Taylor and Isaac calm. Even though both had moments. The sun was rising when Shawn came out of the back with a doctor. His clothes still had blood which now dries looked much worse. I could see Taylor’s face and it didn’t look good.

“Mrs. Hanson?”

“That’s me.”

“Is it okay to speak in front of them?”

“Yes.”

“He’s in recovery right now, the bullet went through so that was a plus there wasn’t extensive damage. It’s mostly muscle and there was a little place on the large intestine that we had to repair. That is why it took so long, there was a lot of blood loss and we weren’t sure where it was from.”

“Will he be okay?” Walker asked.

“Yes. He’s going to be sore for a while though. He got lucky really, it didn’t do much damage just bled. We’ve given him blood too and we’re going to keep him for a bit. I’d like for Mrs. Hanson to come back now and then you can trade out.”

I figured his parents would have more clout here, but I didn’t argue. Shawn walked back with me to the recovery room. He was still pale and covered completely from the neck down by blankets, but he was alive.

“He’s going to be fine right Shawn?”

“Yes. He woke up briefly before the surgery but not long. You can see he’s alright, you need to go home Ella. Rest and then come back.”

“I’m not leaving.”

“Ella.”

“He stayed with me Shawn, day and night the whole time I was there. Except the few times I forced him to go home. I’m not leaving.”

“It’s not good for you.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“At least have Grace take you to get the car and get you some clothes? I’ll stay right here the whole time you’re gone. You need to eat something.”

“Why are you pushing this?”

“Because it’s the one thing he asked me to do, make sure you were okay. I can’t do that if you won’t listen. I won’t bug you about staying home, but at least go home and do that. Shower if you need too, get clean clothes and a bag. Get your vehicle and have a way to go.”

In a logical sense, he was right. I needed to get my charger and get clothes. But, I didn’t need to leave for that.

“I’ll have Abigail come get a key and get things. I don’t need to drive anyway Shawn. I will have Taylor or Isaac bring the car.”

“I don’t care how you do it, just do it.”

I let his parents back while I asked Taylor and Isaac to get his car, Stella agreed to go with Taylor and get clothes once they saw him. They would being the car and things back to me and while they saw him I got a list of what I needed. I then went to recovery to wait. I sat the chair beside the bed and I sat there. Abby called at eight, when I failed to answer she texted me a call me now message, so I called.

“There is chatter all over social media that something happened at the theatre, tell me it wasn’t you.”

“It wasn’t me.”

“Then why do you sound so down?”

“Zac’s at the hospital, Simon showed up last night and he was trying to get me. When I refused to go he pulled a gun. I was shoved aside and then I heard shots, he shot Zac on the right side. I’ve been here all night.”

“Why didn’t you call me?”

“Because there wasn’t anything anyone could do. He’s in recovery right now, probably be a while before he’s in a room.”

“Is he okay?”

I summarized what the doctor told me and she said she’d come up when he was moved but would reserve the time for family. I went ahead and alerted Sierra, Andrew, and Jack as well. They were close friends and didn’t need to know by social media. Likewise, I sent Carrick and Austin a message too. Taylor brought my bag back about nine.

“I told Andrew, Jack, Carrick, Austin and Sierra. Abby called me. I didn’t know what you and Isaac were going to do about the fans or announcing this.”

“We ideally want his opinion on that, we’ll wait until he’s awake.”

I nodded. He sat down in the other chair and I raised an eyebrow at him. “What are you doing?”

“You look tired Gabby, try to rest. I’ll sit here with you both, if he so much as wiggles a toe I’ll wake you up. But, he’s not going to mind if you’re asleep.”

“My fault he got shot, I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t…I don’t know..like me less?”

“Even you know he’ll never hate you. He won’t like you any less, believe me Gabby, you said he pushed you out of the way. He would much rather that bullet hit him than you or the baby.”

I blinked. It had never occurred to me that he’d done it for that reason, I hadn’t even considered the why’s. I was so worried he would die and leave me alone that the implication that he’d die for me hadn’t occurred.

“Why are you crying? No No No..I don’t handle emotions well.”

“He’d die for me?” I asked.

“Yes, he would. Clearly, he’d much rather be the one laying in the bed Gabriella. He’d rather not tell you that you’ve lost another baby or that this time because of the bullet you can’t have more. You and the baby are more important than anything else.”

Yeah, I couldn’t stop those tears and while he wasn’t great with emotions, he was good at comfort, always a plus.

“Okay, get some rest.”

I put my phone on charge and tried to get comfortable. I wasn’t sure that I would fall asleep but I did for a few hours. Taylor was still there when I woke up at noon.

“Isaac is on his way with lunch, he basically just doubled you’re order.”

“He’s starving and so am I.”

“He?” Taylor asked.

“The baby..the fetus..the embryo…whatever you wish to call him. I just don’t like the use of ‘it’”.”

“Ahh, baby is fine. I think that’s the first time you’ve acknowledged that with us around.”

“I’ve rather closed myself off a bit because so afraid I’ll miscarriage.”

“I think you’ll be fine.”

Lunch was amazing but I did ask the doctor why he wasn’t awake.

“We’ve kept a light sedation, just so he doesn’t move much. We’re weaning that off now actually.”

He smiled and left and we waited, Taylor left at 3 and I was awake and watching when he moved some.

“Gabby?”

I got up and got closer. “I’m right here buttercup.”

“Okay?”

I leaned down and kissed his forehead. “I’m fine thanks to you.”

He spoke to the doctor’s for a few minutes, answered with mostly okay and maybe, but they did move him to a room after that and I was much happier about that. Even if he did go back to sleep. Abigail brought me dinner because she wanted to come up. She also brought me a bag of just snack items.

“I know you aren’t leaving.”

“Not a chance.”

“Has he been awake at all?”

“Yes. It’s why they moved him actually. He was able to mumble maybe and home to them.”

She smiled. “How are you? You look tired.”

“I am tired. But, just here.”

“So what happen?”

I explained to her and she smiled. “Keep him.”

“I plan too.”

“Okay girl, I’m going home and you need to bring in the cot or make the bed or whatever and get some rest. He’ll understand if he wakes up and you’re asleep. Remember, he stayed with you for two weeks and he’ll understand.”

“Yeah, I think the nurse said they had a cot, I’d rather be there with him.”

“Couple days.”

She gave me a hug and then headed out. I called for the cot and made the little bed up. I then laid down where I could still see him.

He’d taken a bullet for me, not many could really say they ever would. He didn’t even ask, didn’t question it, just pushed me aside and took it. There was so much that he’d done to help me feel better about myself, my art work, my abilities to do anything really. Yet, he’s throw away everything he worked hard for to make sure I was safe. To make sure our baby was safe.

Baby. Taylor was right, I usually didn’t mention the baby in that terms. I was so afraid that I’d miscarry and then I’d have to try to put those images in the dark recesses of my brain, try to forget what they heart beat sounded like. Even though the sound echoes through my head a lot. Diana was right, I needed to stop thinking in terms of I will lose this one and think about what happens when I don’t. Seven days and we’d reach 12 weeks. The chances of a miscarriage past that drop considerably.

“Gabby?”

I got up and moved back where he could see me. “I’m here.”

“Are you okay?”

I sat down on the side of the bed. “I’m fine Zac. No scraps, no bruises, nothing is wrong.”

“Baby okay?”

“Babies fine too. Little cramping long time ago but Grace said it was probably just being upset. Once your parents were here and brothers, I was fine.”

“They’ve been here?”

“Yes. Several times actually, but you’ve been asleep most of the day.”

“IV is bugging me.”

“Want me to get the nurse to check it?”

“Please?”

I called for the nurse and she checked the line and ended up redoing it, not that he was any happier with that. She went ahead and checked vitals and the bags before leaving.

“Tired.” Zac said.

I leaned over and kissed his forehead. “Then rest, you need it. I’m going to lay down as well.”

“Wish you could lay here.”

“Not until they clear me. The doctor doesn’t feel like you’ll be here as long as I was when they stabbed me. It wasn’t as bad unless you get an infection. You best not.”

“No plans to. I love you.”

“I love you. I’m sorry you got shot.”

He smiled a bit. “Anytime, I couldn’t lose you.”

“Next time don’t scare the hell out of me, I thought you were going to die and I couldn’t do this without you.”

He smiled a little more. “You aren’t getting rid of me that easy.”

I leaned down and kissed him again. “I don’t want too. Now get some rest so you can get home.”

“You too.”

I adjusted the blankets for him and then got myself comfortable. It wasn’t our bed, it wasn’t beside him, and with the infernal nurses it was a pain to sleep well. But, I’d stay here as long as he was.