A Masterpiece Unraveled (The Masterpiece Trilogy Book 2) (21 page)

He knew she couldn't answer him, but Hunter had to ask anyway. He kept talking to her as if she'd respond. He knew he should go back to his own room before he got in trouble, but he didn't care. He didn't feel so bad any more now that he was next to Becca again. He didn't want to be alone, and he didn't want this little girl to go through this alone, either.

"I heard you have family. I'm glad to hear it. Maybe when you're better I can visit you one day. You know, you're pretty darn brave for a girl. All the girls I knew at school aren't half as tough as you are. I'm impressed." He squeezed her hand. "Don't worry so much about your hair. I bet it'll grow longer and prettier."

Voices from outside startled Hunter. He sat up, but then again, if they caught him in here, who cares? All he wanted was to talk to Becca. They wouldn't understand. They didn't spend five scary days alone with her on an island. Let them find him.

But what he heard them say scared him.

"Her family will probably come here just in time to make a decision. I don't think this one's going to make it. Such a sad situation. So young."

"There's another survivor too. An older boy. I think he's eleven or twelve. He's very attached to her."

"After what they went through, I can imagine. He's very protective over her."

Becca not make it? What decision? What were they going to do? Now he really didn't want to leave her side. He held her hand close to his heart. "I won't let them do anything to you Becca. I promise." He cried like a baby again, scared for what would happen if he wasn't near her and they tried to make a decision he wouldn't like. "Come back to me. You have so much ahead of you. Don't leave! Tell me you're still here with me!"

He wondered if he imagined it, but he swore he felt Becca's fingers move. Just a slight movement. Maybe it was him since he shook from being so upset.

"Do that again, Becca. Do it again so I can tell them you're still here," he pleaded, sitting up. He stared down at her with a new hope building inside.

Nothing.

He spent the next few minutes begging her to squeeze his hand again when her door opened. Light poured in and someone ran inside.

"Don't take her from me!" he cried. "She's going to make it back! She moved her fingers!"

"What are you doing in here? She can't move her fingers. She's gone. There's nothing left of her."

"That's not true! Becca's here! She moved her fingers! Just talk to her. Hold her hand. Make her feel safe!"

"Hunter! Hunter! Come on!"

*****

Becca ignored the pain shooting up from her hand as Hunter gripped it tightly. He'd broken out in a sweat and just stared forward, not hearing a thing she was saying, or the doctor for that matter. She tried to pull him out of the room as to not startle any of the patients there, but it was difficult. Finally, she was able to lead him away. Dr. Velez closed the door behind her.

"Hunter!" Becca said a little louder, using her other hand to rub his shoulder. Another flashback maybe?

He snapped out of it, his face gaining color again. "Bec?" He stared down at his hand over hers, gasped and quickly let go. "Not again..."

She pulled her hand away and flexed her wrist. "Yeah sweetie. Again," she practically whispered.

Regret flashed in his eyes. Then he spoke to Dr. Velez. "I'm sorry. I hope I didn't startle anyone. I think we should probably go."

"Are you all right, Hunter?" The doctor must not know what was going on with him. "You didn't startle anyone, other than Becca and I."

"I'm okay."

Becca knew he wasn't, but Hunter probably didn't want to talk about this right here and now.

They said their goodbyes and he apologized a handful of times again before they left.

Once outside and near the car, Hunter wrapped Becca in his arms. "Did I hurt you? I didn't mean to, Bec. I thought- I don't know. I-"

Part of her wanted to lie, to say he didn't hurt her hand, but the truth was going to be better. "Yes, you hurt my hand. You squeezed it so much and I couldn't pull away."

"Damn it!" he swore.

"No more apologizing, you hear? Just don't. Let's go home, get you comfortable and then you can tell me what that was about. Want me to drive or are you okay?"

"I'm obviously not okay," he muttered. The haunted look in his eyes brought her to tears. He handed her the keys.

On the way home, Hunter stared out the window. Becca longed to reach out to him. She was glad the ride only lasted ten minutes.

"What happened? What was it?" Becca asked, reaching for him. Would he talk? Would he let her in and not push away?

"I saw the girl in the wheelchair with the head wrap and it triggered a memory. I was back twenty years ago with you. It was right after your first surgery. I couldn't stay away. I was by your bed holding your hand and then when the social worker took me back to my room, I went back to you late that night. I was upset and in tears because I begged you not to leave me, asked if there was anything I could have done. I laid next to you and held your hand, hoping you'd come out of it. Then I heard the doctors talking, saying something about how your family was going to arrive in time just to have to make a decision. They didn't think you were going to make it. Right before they opened the door and noticed me with you, I felt your fingers move, but you wouldn't do it again. They told me it was just a reflex and that it happens sometimes, but it didn't mean anything. It was so real, like I was there all over again."

To have to live through something like that once was shattering enough. To have to relive variations of it over and over again was unimaginable and heartbreaking.

Hunter moved his hand fast and reached for her.

She flinched. Dang it, she flinched and he noticed!

The hurt in his eyes was like a knife twisted in her gut.

"Hunter, I'm sorry."

"I'm going backwards," he muttered, pulling his hand away. "You were just starting to not be afraid of me and then this!"

"I'm not afraid of you! I didn't mean to. I-" She couldn't get the words out.

It seemed this situation happened a lot. One of them being upset and getting out of the car, heading to the house. Becca followed him and once they were inside she dropped her purse on the table. "Hunter, stop!" she shouted.

He whirled around, startled.

Becca made her move and ran to him. "Look at me. I'm not afraid of you. It was a impulsive reaction. Don't shut me out. I want to help you through this. You already lived it once. I just want to be here for you."

He picked up her arm, studying her hand.

"It's just red and a little sore. I'm going to be fine," she tried to assure him.

His eyes were hollow and scared when he looked back up at her. "I wish this would stop. I don't want to live the past over and over again."

Becca pulled Hunter close and held him. "I know, baby. Me too."

Chapter Seventeen

"Do you really think this is a good idea?" Hunter stood outside the building with Becca, unsure he should be going in there.

"I think so. You'll meet people going through the very same thing as you and it might help you to know you aren't alone in this." Her touch soothed him as she brushed her hand through his hair. "I'm not going through some of the things you are, so I can listen and try to understand, but the fact is I don't know everything you're dealing with."

"She's right, Hunter," Shara said from beside them. She'd come over to check on things earlier to find out about his episode at the facility and had stayed all day helping Becca calm him down. Well, attempting to anyway. "I went to a support group once after what I went through and while at first I had a hell of a time talking and connecting, it was nice to know there were others who felt what I did and could relate. Just go in there, listen a bit, and introduce yourself."

He closed his eyes and blew out a breath. When he opened them, Hunter focused on Becca again. "You don't want to go with me?"

"The first time might not be a good idea. I'm just a phone call away though. You might be surprised at how you feel once you go in there."

"And you're going to be okay?"

Becca stood on her tip toes to kiss him. "I promise you, I'll be fine. I'm not as paranoid as I was. I'm not going to lose it. You can't hide behind me any more." She flicked her wrists. "Doubting thoughts, be gone! See, I'm reminding you."

He drew her close, not wanting to let her go or walk inside that building. "I've never met someone with a brave face quite as strong or as beautiful as yours."

"You have a lot of strength, too. You just can't feel it right now, but I know it's there."

"No giving up?" he asked quietly.

Becca held out her thumb. Their eyes met. Hunter couldn't help but smile. "No giving up. You and I forever. I love you. Now seal this promise and get in there, okay?"

Their thumbs connected, then he pressed his lips to hers. "I'm going, I'm going. I hope you're right about this. I don't do the talking to people thing well. You know this."

"Then just listen. Let the stories others tell bring you a little comfort that you aren't alone and that you aren't crazy." Becca slid her thumb across his jaw.

He took a step back, trying to force himself to walk away from Becca and Shara. He gripped the banister and moved up the stairs backwards. A shadowed figure darted around the girls, headed up the stairs and brushed past Hunter without another word. Well, someone was in a hurry.

Becca waved. "See you in two hours."

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Hunter waved back and finally walked inside. He counted to ten silently, then looked for the room designated for the PTSD support group.

"You look a little lost," a male voice said from behind him.

Hunter whirled around, startled. "I guess you could say that." Lost in many ways.

"Let me guess. This is your first time at the group."

"Am I that transparent?"

"You look as I feel, and it's my first night here, too."

"Glad I'm not going to be the only new one." Hunter felt immediately better. "I wonder how well I'll fit in here. Every time I think of PTSD, I think of soldiers and war. That's not me."

"You and I have a lot it common then, because it's not me either." The man held out his hand. He had dark hair, troubled eyes and he looked a little older than Hunter. "I'm Jesse."

"Hunter." He shook the man's hand.

"Well it's about that time. Why don't we stick together? I'm not good at talking to other people, at least, not about stuff like this."

He thought back to what Becca said about meeting up with people going through the same thing. Already he found one who was just like him in so many ways. He'd have to give credit where it was due. Making a mental note to thank her later, Hunter forced a smile. "Are you my long lost twin or something?" he joked, realizing how lame it sounded. "I was just telling my girlfriend the same thing, wondering how this was going to work because I don't do the whole talking about my feelings well. She even has a hard time getting it out of me and I've known her twenty years."

A dark shadow crossed the man's face, but it disappeared as quick as it came. "Glad you have someone sticking by you through this. I saw you out there with her earlier. I was the idiot running late and darting past you. Twenty years, huh? What are you, childhood sweethearts?"

"Not quite. The two of us went through something two kids never should have, and we stuck together after that. It was only recently we both gave in to other feelings." He was glad they did. Whatever possessed him to tell this guy things, he didn't know. Somehow, he already connected with Jesse.

They walked into the room. Chairs were formed in a circle. A long table at the far side of the room had drinks and refreshments. Hunter actually found the environment warm and inviting. He wasn't sure what he thought the room would look like, but he definitely didn't picture this.

"Hi there! Welcome," a tall, skinny man said from his spot in the middle. "Looks like we have some new members today."

Hunter and Jesse exchanged a glance before finding seats. Here went nothing.

After a few minutes of settling in and people coming in and out, it was time to start. The man who had said hello earlier stood and introduced himself. "For those of you who are new, I'm Rick. I want to welcome you. I know talking about what we're dealing with isn't easy. I know for me it isn't, but I've found a safe place in this group with others who are dealing with what I am. The first few times are difficult because you may feel you're not ready, or maybe you don't trust anyone else to talk to them yet. That's okay. You can just listen and hopefully you'll realize soon that you aren't alone."

Almost word for word what Becca said earlier. Hunter wondered what she was doing. He missed her already. His phone vibrated in his pocket and he almost pulled it out to check, but didn't want to be rude. But what if it was Becca? What if-?

No, she was with Shara. She was fine.

Hunter's hand twitched, but he left the phone alone and tried to listen without spacing out. This was important.

When asked to introduce themselves, he hesitated. Jesse stood and went first.

"I'm not sure what to say here. My name is Jesse, and I lived through a traumatic event when I was nine. I had to do something no child should be asked to do. I don't know if I'm ready to share what it was, but I have nightmares and flashbacks about it all the time. I can't stop living it over and over again. It never ends." Then he sat down.

"That's a good start, Jesse. You don't have to share everything at once." Rick nodded, then shifted his gaze to Hunter.

If Jesse could do it, so could he.

Hunter decided not to stand, but he'd talk. "I'm Hunter. I just recently found out I'm suffering from PTSD. A few friends have been telling me for months, but it took one hellish night where I almost lost someone I love again because of it to finally see someone about what I've been feeling. When I was twelve, I was on a plane with my family and another family when our plane crashed. There were only two, possibly three survivors. I saved an eight year old girl's life and for five days we were alone on an island until we were found. I don't have a whole lot of memories of the crash and afterward, but I keep dreaming about it. I have flashbacks. I thought I had a handle on things until a few months ago." So far, so good. Hunter stopped to catch his breath as his words came out rushed "I became a pilot to overcome my fear and things started really coming back about the crash after I had a rough landing the night of my divorce. Really, the story gets complicated and twisted. You'd think it's something from a fiction story, but it's my life and I wish I knew what normal was." There came the rambling, but at least he was trying to get the words out.