Page 19 of Bart (Hades Rejects MC)
“Well at least her spunk hasn’t been lost.” Pops said clapping his hands like a mad monkey dancing to music.
“Um...did someone think to grab me some clothes? I mean I love these hospital gowns as much as the next gal, but I don’t want to show everyone my ass when I leave.” Nurse Bitch gives me a scathing look, go ahead and say something you cunt, I dare you. As if on cue, Holland pops his head in.
“Had one of the guys run and grab you some sweats, figured you want something comfortable.” Bart growled next to me when I gave Holland my sixty-watt smile in gratitude.
“Perfect, thank you, now out with all of you while I get dressed.” I was feeling much better, but when I went to stand up, my body didn’t cooperate, Bart was there to grab me before I landed on my ass.
“I think my love; you might need some help with getting dressed.” The one thing I didn’t want, he’d only seen my arms and face, just some bruises with small cuts. Once I took off my gown he’d see the worst of it, and then he’d turn from me.
“I’ll help her get dressed.” Holland offered quickly, which only earned him more growling and the finger from Bart.
“The hell you will, I can help her just fine, now get the fuck out.” Pops was just standing there laughing at their exchange while I was forced merely to just listen. Not wanting an all-out fight in my hospital room I decided to put an end to the child like bickering.
“Holland thanks for the offer, I’ll have Bart help me, there now you can stop acting like children fighting over a toy.” I’m pretty sure if Bart wasn’t afraid of looking more like a child he would have stuck his tongue out at Holland.
“I just thought, that is...never mind, I’ll be outside when you are ready to go.” He knew I wasn’t in a hurry to have Bart see all the damage, I was grateful for his effort to help me avoid it longer, however I didn’t want a war in my room.
“Why is he waiting outside for you? You’re going home with us; he can go the fuck home.” Shit, I’d told Holland while we were on the road, that as soon as I got out I’d need a place to stay, Pops followed us in his truck so he didn’t hear the conversation. How to tell them I wasn’t going home with them? I couldn’t have the hovering over me all day, every single day. I couldn’t live with them knowing every time they looked at me they saw some broken girl. I just couldn’t live like that.
“He’s waiting for me, because I’m going to stay at his place until I find my own. Pops don’t give me that look please, I need to do this, as much as I love you I need to figure out how to deal with this shit myself.” Pops looks wounded, like a puppy I just kicked, damn that hurts, but Bart looks furious. He doesn’t say a word to me as Pops leaves the room and he helps me dress, his lips are firmly pressed together. The only sound in the room is his hiss between his teeth when I remove my gown. I don’t look at his face. I can’t see the revulsion in his eyes, it will kill me.
He helps me into a wheelchair before he speaks. “Bliss, I love you, please don’t do this, don’t shut us out, let us be there for you.” If I don’t get away from him I’m going to cry, the pain in my chest feels like a giant anvil is sitting on it. I’m afraid to speak, if words start to come out of my mouth I may not be able to stop them or the tears I’m holding back.
BART
I can’t believe this shit; she’s actually going to leave with Holland. I want to rant and scream at her not to go, but I want to do anything that will make her feel safe. If that means letting her leave the hospital with another man, I guess that’s what I was going to have to do. Pops puts his hand on my shoulder as Holland wheels her out of the room. He does it for my comfort and to keep me from running after her. We both wait until she’s clear of the room and the door shuts to let the curses flow.
“How the fuck could we let her go like that? Of all people she chooses Holland, seriously what the fuck.”
“He was the one who found her son, maybe she feels safer because of that. Hell, I don’t fucking know, but I’m with you, we shouldn’t have let her go with someone else.” He’s running his hands through his hair, paces for a few seconds before he storms out the door. I needed to stop him before he said or did something stupid.
“Pops, stop, just stop, let her go. We have to let her go.” Holland turns around and gives us a sympathetic look. “Don’t you fucking touch her, do you understand that man, you’re like a brother to me, but if you touch her I’ll kill you.” His sympathetic look turns lethal in a matter of seconds. He stops the wheelchair, parking Bliss on the side of the hallway while he makes his way back to where I’m standing.
“I know you’re fucking hurting, so I’m not gonna beat the shit out of you for even suggesting that shit, but give me some fucking credit man. The only reason I am taking her to my place is because she begged me to. She thinks she’s damaged goods man, she says she doesn’t want to soil you two with her being there at your place.” The last he says on a whisper, and I almost fall to the floor, how could she think that about herself.
“I’m sorry man, take her home. Keep her safe.” Hanging my head, I try to get my emotions under control. “I know you’d never do anything to hurt her, hell your dad would have your ass in a sling if he ever found out you ever hurt any woman. I was out of line.” Holding out my hand to him we embrace each other in a man hug, slapping each other on the back.
“I’ll keep you updated on her, when she’s ready you can come get her, she’s always been yours.” I know he will take care of her, make sure she stays safe until she comes to her senses. Bliss hasn’t said a word, but I can tell my words have upset her, her head is down and her hands are covering her face. Fuck. Bending down on my knees in front of her, she jumps when I touch her knee and I wish I could kill that fucker all over again.
“Baby, go with Holland, when you’re ready you can come home to me.” She looks up at me and I see the tears just barely contained.
“Bart, I’ll never be ready, please don’t wait for me. Holland, please I want to leave.” I don’t get a chance to argue with her, Holland starts to wheel her chair away with me still on my knees. I was going to find her bastard of a father and put him in the ground, then I was going to make sure she knew where she belonged.
BLISS
Leaving Bart was for the best, he deserved someone who wasn’t broken in his life, I’d known that for years. Why I ever thought we could be together was beyond me? Holland was safe, I knew he’d had zero interest in me. As a matter of fact, I had a feeling he was gay, but hadn’t come out of the closet yet. Regardless of that I knew his dad would have his balls, not to mention his two little sisters might beat him to death if he ever laid a finger on a woman without her permission. He was a good guy, safe, and I knew his place would be safe to recover at.
“Thanks for doing this Holland, I’m sorry for coming between you and Bart, that wasn’t fair of me.” It’s bad enough I can’t be with him, but to come between Bart and his friend, I have to be a pretty fucking shitty ass person.
“Stop that shit right now, I can see the wheels turning in your head, whatever bad shit you think you’re doing its bullshit. Bart and me we’ll be fine, we’ve been thick as thieves since we were little, nothing is gonna fuck that shit up, not even you cupcake. He’s hurting darlin’ that’s all, he’s hurting because he can’t fix what’s broken. His anger isn’t at me, it’s at the situation, so stop all your blame game bullshit.”
“Well tell me how you really feel about it Holland!” Everyone had been walking on eggshells around me, but clearly Holland was through being “nice”.
“Look Bliss, you’ve been through some shit, but instead of the pity fucking party you need to get some help ASAP. You can stay with me, but only if you find someone to talk to, and I don’t count.” Well shit so much for licking my wounds at Holland’s, maybe I should have gone home with Bart, he probably would have at least left me alone to wallow in my misery for a little while.
“Yes sir, Officer Holland, geez you sound like that trauma lady back at the hospital. She was talking while they were...well while they did what they had to do.” Yeah that trauma counselor kept saying “we can set you up with counseling in your area” and “make sure you don’t try to go it alone,” and now fucking Holland was at it too. Why couldn’t they just all let me crawl into my hole and leave me there to rot?
“Yeah well there’s a good damn reason for her saying you need to get help. This shit can eat you up inside, you don’t deserve that Bliss; you did nothing wrong that sick twisted S.O.B. did.”
