Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 17:12:50 -0800 (PST)
From: Mandy Moorey <Mandy@DwarfStar.net>
Subject: Love Me When I'm Gone part 4

Alrighty. Took a bit longer than I intended, but here it is. ;)
Once again, a big thanks to everyone who's written me so far, I
appriciate it, and I hope you continue to enjoy! *tips 'er hat*
As before, if you shouldn't be reading relations between two women, you
probably shouldn't be here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

While Jen was sleeping, still nestled against the warm body of the woman
next to her, her parents were at home, at the kitchen table. They both
believed her to be at the library, studying. Of course, if they knew
where she really was, they'd no doubt be over there in a flash, demanding
their daughter return home with them. But since that wasn't the case,
they were currently discussing what they should do. Jen was their only
daughter, so it wasn't as if they'd dealt with this sort of thing before.

Thinking about it now, they didn't really care that their little girl -
who really wasn't that little anymore - had an obvious attraction to
other women. It wasn't right, as far as they were concerned, and they
were going to do anything they could to keep it from going further.
Atleast, her father was. It would of been the same, even if it was a boy.
She was their first, and only girl. It was easy to understand that they
didn't want her involved, male or female.

That was her fathers stance. Her mother wasn't so sure anymore. She was,
in a way, happy for Jen. As far back as she could remember, since Jen hit
those lovely teenaged years, she hadn't see her little baby as happy
before. So what was so wrong with it? When she'd asked her husband, he
was quick to tell her what was wrong with it. In great detail. He was
dead set against it. So she was in a bit of a spot. On one hand, she was
happy for Jen, on the other, didn't she have to support her husband?
Wasn't he right?

Maybe they should sit down and have a talk with Jen. That hadn't gone
well the last time, though. So, by the end of the conversation, they'd
decided to leave her alone for the moment. They'd told her to stay away
from the other girl, there wasn't much more they could do for now. Jen
had never disobeyed them before, so they believed this was the best
approach.

Jen was happy. She was happy to be with Nicole. She was happy with where
she was, right now. And that was in Nic's arms. But there was a little
voice in the back of her mind.. and it wouldn't go away. It kept telling
her what she was doing was wrong. That, in coming to Nicole's, she was
betraying her parents trust. She lied to them once. Would she do it
again? She didn't know. She didn't like that she had to lie to her
parents. Thinking about it, she liked it even less that she may have to
lie to them again. What could she do though? She didn't want to stop
seeing Nic. She didn't want to lie to her parents. Either way, she was
going to be unhappy. Stop seeing Nicole, or lie. It was a lose lose
situation in her eyes.

She'd been awake for a few minutes, but she hadn't moved. She kept
herself pressed against Nicole's side, and stayed quiet. In this place,
she was content. She didn't want to move, she didn't want to return home.
But it was inevitable, she would have to. Her parents would worry, and go
looking for her. And when they found she wasn't at the library, they'd no
doubt come to Nicole's first. That couldn't happen. They couldn't find
out.

Looking at the taller girl, she smiled softly. Nicole was still sleeping.
Her expression was one of perfect content. It was calming to watch. And
she realized, in that moment, that she was falling in love with this
girl. She realized that she never wanted to be kept from her. She never
wanted to lose her. Her parents would just have to come to accept this.
If they couldn't, oh well. She was a grown woman, she could make up her
own mind. And she just did. She didn't care who knew.

She watched Jen sleep for a little while, then leaned in to brush her
lips against her cheek gently. Nicole mm'd a little bit, and slowly
opened her eyes. The corners of her mouth lifted upwards into a smile
when her eyes finally focused on the smaller girl. The smile was soon
replaced with a sheepish grin.

"I sort of dozed off.."

Jen nodded, a slight blush creeping into her cheeks.

"I did too.. oh well."

Nicole chuckled, and turned over, stretching out. Jen, meanwhile, sat up,
and dropped her feet over the edge of the bed to rest them on the floor.
Keeping the blanket covering herself, she leaned down to pick up her
clothes. The action brought an amused grin to Nicole's face. Such a shy
girl.

"I need to be going..before my parents start wondering where I am.. I
didn't mean to fall asleep for so long."

Nicole sighed softly, and nodded once. She still didn't like the fact
that Jen's parents loathed their new relationship. But what could she do
about it? Not a whole lot, and she couldn't really see reasoning with
them working out well.

"Yeah.. I guess I'll see you at school then?"

Jen smiled a bit, and nodded. She stood up, pulling her pants on, doing
them up. She glanced around for anything she could have forgotten, or
missed, absently smoothing her hands over her shirt, getting the wrinkles
out of it. Glancing back at Nicole, she arched a brow slightly, running
her fingers through her hair.

"Do I look okay?"

"Uh huh. You look just fine." The older girl wiggled her eyebrows, and
grinned.

"Pfft. Do I look like I've just spent hours in a library?"

Jen stuck her tongue out. Nicole snickered quietly, and nodded at her
question. She rolled off of the bed herself, and stood, stretching her
arms above her head. Jen leaned down, and picked up her backpack. She
didn't want to leave. Pouting a bit, she took a step towards the door.

"I'll see you, then.."

Nicole nodded, but moved around the bed to wrap the smaller girl up into
a hug, an embrace Jen happily gave into, leaning against Nic, resting her
cheek against her shoulder. After a moment, Jen drew back from her,
gently brushed her lips against Nic's, then turned and moved out of the
room, and downstairs to start putting her things on.

Nicole followed her shortly thereafter, and began putting her things on.
She wasn't going to let Jen walk all the way home, it was freezing out.

Darlene found her way to the kitchen doorway, and leaned against the
frame, watching the two girls.

"Off already?"

Jen glanced over at her, and blushed just slightly, nodding her head.

"My parents will start worrying soon.."

Nicole gave her mother a look. Darlene just shrugged, and smiled
pleasantly at the pair of them. Jen pulled her coat on, and zipped it up,
shouldering her backpack. Nic moved to the door, and opened it up,
allowing Jen to slip out. Now Darlene shook her head slightly, eyeing
Nic.

"It won't do any good to be skulking around behind her parents back,
sweetie. Things'll be worse if they find out."

Nicole frowned, but didn't respond. She turned, and moved outside,
closing the door behind her. Quickly she slipped into the driver seat of
her car, and started it. Easing the car into gear, she backed out of her
driveway, and they were off.

Once again, she stopped about a block from Jen's house, and put the car
in park. Jen glanced out the window, and sighed.

"Well.. I'll see you tomorrow, Nic."

The taller girl nodded, and leaned across, a hand slipping to the back of
Jen's neck. She drew the girl close, pressing her lips against hers. The
lingering kiss was brief, too brief for either of their liking, but there
was nothing they could do for now. Jen, with a sligh blush to her cheeks,
grinned, and slipped out of the car, starting the walk towards her house.

Nicole watched her walk off, then dropped the car into gear again.
Pulling a u-turn, she began the drive back to her house, eyes on the
road, though her mind was elsewhere. Not exactly a great combination when
one was driving...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jen stopped walking, and stood before her house, staring at it. She was
so tempted just to turn back around, and walk back to Nicole's place. It
wouldn't take her that long. She could handle the cold outside for the
short time. She couldn't handle the frigid environment inside her house,
though. It was almost stifling. Maybe her parents had got a bit better
while she was gone.

With a gentle sigh, and slightly slouched shoulders, she walked up the
path, and opened the door, slipping inside. The house was silent, but
that wasn't unusual. Setting her bag down, she shrugged her coat off,
boots soon to be untied and set neatly in their place. Rubbing her hands
together, she moved into the kitchen. Both of her parents were still
there, at the table. Or there again. They were eating, now. Her father
glanced up.

"You're home a bit late. Did you get a lot of studying done?"

She realized this was his way of a peace offering. His roundabout way of
an apology. But what he'd done was uncalled for. He should just be happy
with her.

"Yeah.. Figured out a lot of things.."

Her reply was distant. She moved to the fridge, and pulled out an orange.
She was starving, but she didn't want to sit at the table with her
parents. Her mother frowned a little.

"Won't you sit with us, dear?"

"I can't.. I still have some more studying to do.."

Infact, she still had all of it to do. She had gotten just slightly
wrapped up. The thought of earlier that day brought a soft blush to her
cheeks. Thankfully they were still rosey from the cold. A small smile
given, she walked out of the kitchen, grabbed her back pack, and went up
to her room, quietly closing the door behind her.

Her father frowned. His expression was mirrored on his wifes face. All
they could do was wait, and hope their daughter came around, and got over
this phase. He was convinced that was all it was. A phase. Teenagers
experiment, afterall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jen couldn't remember a time she'd been so tired. She'd stayed cooped up
in her room after she got home the night before, and studied. She needed
to get it done, and getting it done meant she had to stay up later than
usual. Her alarm had just gone off, and in a true show of grace and
elegance, she rolled over, and directly off of her bed. Thud.

She groaned a little, and sat up, rubbing her eyes. Her bed must have
gotten smaller. Yes, of course. Standing, she stretched her arms above
her head, then ran her hands through her hair. She needed to shower.
Glancing at the clock, she frowned a bit. Already 7:30. She had the time,
though. Gathering her clothing - a tight grey long sleeved shirt, and
black corduroy pants - she proceeded to the washroom and started her
shower.

She didn't stay in for long, she didn't have time for a long shower this
morning. Hair washed, body cleaned, she got out, and dressed within the
bathroom. Opening the door, she moved out of the steamy room, absently
drying her hair as she made her way back to her room. She passed her
father in the hall, but said nothing to him, just kept going.

Slipping into her room, she dropped the towel over her desk chair, and
sat down. As she brushed her hair, she put all of her notebooks and text
books back into her back pack. That done, and her hair brushed to her
liking, she stood, and looked around her room for anything she could of
forgotten. Nodding, she set the brush down, and grabbed up her bag.

She moved downstairs quietly, got her breakfast, and ate quickly. She
just wanted to leave, despite the fact that she could claim she were
sick, and stay in bed. Once she had her coat and boots on, she slipped
out of the house quietly, ducked her head to the wind, and began the
semi-long walk.

About the time Jen was leaving her house, Nicole was doing the same. In
her car, she was on her way to the school. Her mind was elsewhere.. On
Jen, on what was going to happen with them, if her parents would ever
accept it. She wanted so bad for them to accept her and Jen, and their
relationship. Every child needs, craves the acceptance of their parents.

Her thoughts returned to the road, just in time to see that she'd drifted
across into the other lane. Apparently the driver of the other car hadn't
been paying much attention either. Horns blasted, tires squealed, but
couldn't grip, the roads were icey. The next sound was one that would no
doubt stick in either of their minds for a long time, the crunch of
metal, the shattering of glass, and the pain filled screams..before a
world of darkness enveloped her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jen sat in her last class, slouched in her chair slightly. Her notebook
was open, her gaze on it, but she wasn't listening to the lesson, and she
hadn't taken down any of the notes. Nicole didn't show up this morning,
and she didn't know why. She was getting sort of worried. Her suspension
was over, so, by all rights, she should be here.

The bell ringing snapped her from her thoughts.. Blinking, she sat up,
and packed her things away quickly. Picking her bag up, she hurried out
of the classroom, to her locker, where she gathered her things quickly,
and was off and out the doors of the school, heading towards Nicole's
place. The walk was longer, granted, but she had to make sure everything
was alright.

By the time she was a block away from Nic's place, she was jogging. She
just had a bad feeling, she didn't know why. Running up the walk way, to
the door, a few rapid knocks were banged on the door. There was no
answer. She frowned, stepping back. Nicole's car wasn't in the driveway.
Where could she of gone?

Turning, she moved back down the walk-way, and glanced around the street.
Slipping her hands back into her coat pockets, she turned and began
walking again. There was no use waiting here, in the cold. She'd go home,
and wait there. Nicole would call when she got home, she was sure of it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"No ma'am, she should be fine... She had her seatbelt on, it saved her
life. She's got some minor cuts and bruises. She broke her left arm.
Otherwise, she'll be fine."

It was an officer, speaking to Darlene, who was outside of the emergency
room. Darlene sighed softly, a sigh of relief.

"Oh, thank God.. what happened?"

"We aren't sure, ma'am. The road conditions weren't that great to begin
with, but we'll need to question both your daughter, and the other
party."

"Are they alright?"

"They're fine, ma'am. Minor bruises."

Darlene nodded, and dropped back onto the chair. The officer decided it
best to leave her for the moment, there was nothing more he could tell
her, and obviously, since she wasn't there when the accident occured, she
hadn't seen anything.

A doctor moved out a set of doors and paused at the door of the waiting
room.

"Mrs. Hamelton?"

Darlene looked up, and quickly stood from her chair, striding towards the
doctor.

"That's me, can I see her?"

The doctor nodded.

"Of course. She's this way."

He turned, and moved back into the room he'd just come from. Darlene
followed quietly. He ushered her to a small room for patients, a room
occupied only by Nicole. She lay on the bed, in a hospital gown. Her arm
casted, a few bruises on her face. There were a couple cuts on it, too,
most of them just scratches, though one of them had to be deep, because
there was a white bandage on it, blood sort of seeping through it. She
was sleeping, apparently.

Darlene frowned at the sight of her, and moved across to the side of the
bed, taking Nic's hand in her own.

"Oh, Niccy.."

She sat down, to quietly watch over her little girl, frowning. She was
alright, Darlene knew that, but the fact that she was in an accident was
upsetting. She could of been hurt far worse than what she'd gotten today.
Nicole was still unconcious. So for now, Darlene just sat at her
daughters side, watching her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In her room, she watched the phone. Sitting at her desk, just watching
the phone. She'd been doing this for an hour. After Jen got home, she
went directly to her room. She hadn't moved since. She tried calling
Nicole's place a couple times, but there was still no answer. She didn't
understand.

Her mother came up, and opened the door, slipping half way inside. She
watched Jen for a moment, then clearer her throat. Jen hadn't even seen
her come in, so jumped a bit, then stared at her mother. What could she
want?

"Uh..Hello, mother."

"Hi, dear.. we got a phone call earlier, for you." Her mom looked more
sullen then usual.

Jen stood up, watching her mother closely.

"From who?"

"Darlene. Nicole's mother."

The blood slowly drained from Jen's face.. her flesh becoming white.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"Nicole was in a car accident, Jen.."

She gasped softly, and quickly sat back down, before her legs would hold
her anymore.

"Oh my god... is she alright, mom? Is she?"

"She's fine, sweetie. Just a bit banged up. She broke her arm. They're
still in the hospital, they want to observe her for a bit, make sure
there isn't anything else wrong."

Jen nodded slightly, glancing down to the floor, a tear running down her
cheek. She quickly brushed it away, then stood up.

"I have to go and see her."

"Sweetie, you can't.. You know your fathe-.."

"I don't care! I need to see her. Now."

Her mother sighed softly, and simply nodded. She wasn't going to try and
talk Jen out of it. It was obvious that wasn't going to work. So she just
moved back out of her daughters room. Jen, meanwhile, was quickly
throwing a sweater on. She strode out of her room, and downstairs,
putting her boots and coat on. Her father was standing in the hallway,
watching her.

"Where are you going, Jen?"

She didn't look up from tying her boots.

"Nicole was in an accident. I need to go and see her."

"No you don't."

"Dad! This isn't something that's just going to pass. You need to deal
with it, alright? Just deal. I'm happy, why can't you let me be happy?"

The older man frowned.. He just turned, and moved back into the kitchen.
Jen sighed softly.. But she was tired of this already. They needed to
learn to deal with her and Nicole. She moved outside, and jogged off down
the walkway. It was a twenty minute walk to the hospital, but no matter.
She was going to get there.

And she did, half frozen, and shivering. Her lips tinted a slight blue.
She went to the reception counter, still frowning.

"Excuse me, miss?"

The elderly lady behind the counter looked up, and offered a kind smile.

"How can I help you?"

"I need to know if Nicole Hamelton is here.."

The woman looked down to the computer screen, tapping away on the keys.

"She's here, yes. Are you family?" She looked back up.

"Um...no.. I'm a close friend.."

"Well.. I'm afraid I can't let you go to her room right now. She's under
observation, and her mother is in with her, I imagine."

Jen brightened just slightly.

"Oh! Can I talk to her mother then? She'll tell you.. I really need to
see her, miss.. I need to know she's okay.."

The woman narrowed her eyes towards Jen, as if studying her. Finally, she
nodded.

"Alright, but I didn't tell you this.. Room 34, down the hall, to your
right."

"Thank you very much." Jen smiled brightly.

Then she turned and hurried off. Reaching the room, the door was left
open..She paused there, and looked in. Darlene was seated beside the bed,
holding Nicole's hand. She was sleeping. Or so it seemed to Jen. She
quietly stepped into the room, moving across towards Darlene. Quietly,
she spoke.

"Darlene...? How is she?"

Darlene started a bit, then glanced up. She smiled a bit.

"She's alright, sweetie. Just a few cuts and bruises.. Broke her arm."

Jen soundlessly nodded, her gaze stuck on Nicole. She had to fight back
the tears. Even with the words in her ears, that Nic was fine, seeing her
like that struck her, somewhere deep inside. She could lose her at any
given time. Darlene watched the emotions playing over Jen's face, and
stood up.

"She hasn't woken up yet, Jen.. But she -is- fine..Just knocked her
head.."

Another quiet nod from the girl, she remained at the side of the bed.
Then she pulled herself together, and looked up to Darlene.

"Can I stay in here with her?"

Darlene nodded.

"I need to go and get something to drink.. But I'll be back."

Darlene moved out of the room silently. Jen took her place, seating
herself down on the chair the older woman had just abandoned. She reached
across tentatively, and took Nicole's hand in her own. She squeezed it
gently, looking the other girls face over. Most of the cuts weren't so
bad, but around the one that was bandaged, there was already a nasty
bruise. Sighing softly, she just rested there, beside the bed.
Eventually, she rested her head on her arm, and dozed off. It felt like
hours to her, but it was mere minutes. Darlene returned.. Smiled gently
at the sight and decided to just let them be.

An hour later, Nicole stirred slightly.. a soft groan coming from her.
Eyes were blinked open, a confused look coming over her as she tried to
place her surroundings. The smell hit her first. A hospital. They had a
distinct smell. She shifted a bit, and glanced around. She wasn't
surprised to see the cast on her arm, the dull aching atleast was
warranted. And her head hurt. After a few moments, she remembered bits
and pieces of what happened. She'd drifted into the other lane. Hit
another car.

"Oh god..." was the soft murmur from the girl.

She sat up a little, and then looked down to Jen. She blinked
slightly..then smiled just a bit when she noticed the girl was sleeping.
She settled back against her pillow. She couldn't be too bad, if they'd
let Jen in. She sighed softly, and closed her eyes again. Her head was
aching, and even though she'd just opened her eyes, she was already
feeling tired.

She squeezed Jen's hand, and relaxed as much as possible. It was
initially hard for one to do, when they were in a hospital, and in those
gross hospital gowns. But, soon enough, she was relaxed, and had fallen
back into a deep sleep. Darlene returned, and watched them again, both
girls sleeping, holding the others hand. She smiled, and turned from the
room. She'd take both of them home tomorrow.