chapter 4
Screaming, crying, and begging the hospital staff to let her see Jackie or Jude was getting Shauna nowhere. Frustration was starting to turn into blinding rage, and she kept trying to remember and do the breathing techniques Jackie had taught her to control her anger issues, but nothing was working.
They had been there for 2 days now, and she heard a nurse talking about all their families arriving, and as much as she loved her mom, there was only one family she was interested in getting back to. So she devised a plan and set it into motion once the nurse had just finished her rounds checking on them all.
She unhooked herself from the machines and ran out of the room with a sharpened plastic knife she had stolen during a meager meal. The doctors had said some bullshit about slowly introducing food back to them as if they hadn't been starving for months and although she knew it made sense as they didn't want to upset their stomachs, it still infuriated Shauna regardless.
Shauna barged through the door and attacked the guards on the other side, sending one of them flying into a lone hospital trolley with a loud crash. The other guard grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her into the air, pulling her back, and snatched the makeshift weapon out of her hands.
She struggled and thrashed within his grasp and flew her leg back until it collided with his, sending them both tumbling to the ground with yet another loud thud. The commotion around the girl attracted more guards and hospital staff to the area. Dr. Robbins came over and held her arms up in surrender as if approaching a rabid animal.
“Shauna, you have to calm down. You are going to injure someone or yourself further,” she said calmly.
“I want to see Jackie and our son,” Shauna exclaimed loudly. A flash of surprise shot across the doctor's face as she noticed Shauna’s choice of words but it was quickly replaced by the calm professional persona of before.
Dr. Robbins was trying to avoid having to put the girl on psychiatric hold as she didn’t want to be the one to have to tell the girl's mother she could see her for another 72 hours because she was seen as dangerous.
She led the girl back into her room after telling her as much and Shauna seemed to be slightly subdued but still had a level of anger about her which coupled with the impulsive and erratic behavior, worried Dr. Robbins as it is something often seen in people who have some form of mood or personality disorders but alas she wasn't a psychiatrist and these girls had been through hell and back but she made a mental note to organize a psych evaluation regardless.
Dr. Robbins had been talking to Dr. Torres earlier and thought that it would be best if they allowed Jackie and Shauna to see each other as Jackie had been refusing to eat and Shauna hadn't slept, and all they did was scream and cry and ask for each other and the baby.
Dr. Torres walked into Jackie’s room to see her struggling with the nurse trying to make her eat some food. Dr. Torres dismissed the nurse from the task and walked up to Jackie, who shoved the bowl of food away from her.
With a resigned sigh, the doctor moved the tray from her bed and placed it down to the side.
“I’ve been talking to your friend, Shauna’s doctor, and we both believe that it's beneficial for both of your well-being for the two of you to be allowed to see each other.” Jackie perked up at that news, already starting to try and get out of bed.
“Hold on, hotshot, not so fast. There is also the matter of the incident your friend was involved in earlier.”
“What incident?” Jackie inquired, her voice etched with worry.
“Shauna attacked a few guards in an attempt to break out and get to you.”
“Well, all the more reason to let us see each other. She wouldn't do that if I was with her,” Jackie countered, her tone dripping with snark.
Dr. Torres didn't respond to that, but she began to unhook the machines that were monitoring Jackie's vitals, and Jackie took that as her sign to begin to leave the room, to which Dr. Torres was hot on her heels. After letting the guards know she was allowed to leave, the doctor showed Jackie to Shauna's room, who was balled up in the fetal position on the bed up against the wall.
Jackie flew the door open and walked into the room. Shauna's head whipped up at the noise, and she lept up and threw herself into Jackie, embracing her tightly. The hug lasted a few minutes before the couple broke apart, but their hands remained joined between them.
Shauna looked at Jackie, even in her hospital-issued sweats and messy long hair falling chaotically over her shoulders. Shauna thought she looked beautiful and had to restrain herself from kissing her only because of the doctor who was still standing in the doorway. Shauna didn't care what anyone thought about her, but she didn't think Jackie would appreciate her doing that.
Shauna looked at the doctor, who she presumed was Jackie’s doctor, and nodded in gratitude, receiving a smile in return before the doctor stepped out of the room. Shauna led Jackie over to the bed, where she laid down, pulling her girlfriend on top of her. Aside from the obvious anxiety of still being separated from her son, this might be the most calm and relaxed Shauna had been since the rescue. Clearly, Jackie felt the same as she burrowed her head into the crook of Shauna’s neck and let out a loud audible sigh.
Shauna placed a chaste kiss on the top of Jackie's head and mumbled “missed you” to her. Jackie lifted her head in response and kissed Shauana's cheek. “Missed you too, shipman.” Shauna pulled her tighter, and Jackie felt like she had gone to heaven right then and there.
“Have they let you see Jude yet?” Jackie asked cautiously, reluctantly lifting her head to wait for shaunas response.
“No, not yet, you?” Jackie shook her head, an adorable pout on her lips that Shauna couldn't help but kiss away. All thoughts in Jackie's head melted away as Shauna pressed her lips to hers. The kiss was slow and loving and both girls were savoring every moment until they had to break away for air. “They will let us see him soon, I'll make sure of it,” Shauna reassured, although she was unsure if Shauna was saying it to her or herself.
Jackie laid her head down again and felt a wave of exhaustion falling over her. Shauna seemed to notice as she placed another kiss on Jackie's forehead and whispered, “Go to slee,p beautiful,” into Jackie's good ear. Shauna hadn't slept in days, not since they were rescued, but she found herself dozing off as well, safe in the knowledge that at least one of her loves was back in her arms.