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This is a work of fiction. Any people, places or locations within are purely fiction and the product of the author's imagination, or their names are used to add realism and/or for satirical purposes. Their use does not constitute any type of endorsement or agreement, in part or in whole, with any belief or message, expressed, implied or otherwise inferred by the author and the story/story line, nor do they imply any endorsement of the story or author.

This story contains scenes of EXTREME VIOLENCE, mature subject matter and deals with alternative lifestyles. If you are not comfortable with these concepts and materials, STOP reading NOW. If you are under the age of seniority and consent where you live, or if these types of materials are illegal for you to read, possess or download, you must STOP reading NOW and you may NOT download this story. If you are very religious, this work will probably anger you. Do not read it. Do not download it. Hello, nice to see you, GO AWAY. You'll be more comfortable at http://www.disney.com please go there instead of here.

 

Midnight Downloads
by Wendy-J
Wendy-J@KimEM.net
© 1999-2004 Wendy-J All Rights Reserved.
Unauthorized distribution or archival prohibited.

 

Part-23
Monday Morning September 14^th

Tina spent most of Sunday researching computer gear for Jennifer Winchester or info for her philosophy paper. She only came out of her room for meals and snacks. Sam spent the day in front of the TV with Jan and Donna. It was a nice quiet day for once.

Monday morning came all too quickly and Tina -- still feeling a bit ill from morning sickness -- found herself walking up the stairs to her homeroom. The noise from the room was loud, even here, halfway down the steps. Half aloud, Tina was mumbling to herself, "I wonder if Brad's suspension is…" glancing up, she saw Bradley Thorndike standing in the door of the classroom. Tina stopped in mid stride and just stared. And then it was as if a switch had been thrown in her head.

"All right, Bradley," she thought, "if this is the way you want to play it, don't blame me." Setting her jaw, Tina resumed her climb. When she reached the top of the stairs, Brad started out to greet her. Before he could say a word, Tina spoke.

"Hold it right there, Bradley!"

He stopped; the look on his face was one of pure joy.

Tina's resolve wavered for the briefest of moments, and then she continued on in as firm a voice as she could muster. "I don't care who or what you think you are, but I am NOT interested in slime balls like you! Do you understand me?"

Brad's expression never changed. He just stood there… staring.

Tina started to walk past him, her head held high. Her posture was reminiscent of Mrs. Winchester's. Brad started to reach out to her as she passed. Tina, noticing the movement of his hand, whirled to face the lecher. She felt almost a bit giddy and dizzy; a roaring sound filled her ears. In her anger, she raised her voice.

"Mr. Thorndike! I don't believe you fully understood what I just said. I thought I used simple enough English for that Neanderthal brain of yours to understand, but maybe it takes a while for it to register. So I'll repeat it for that little pea you call a brain to be sure it gets through that thick skull of yours! I am NOT interested in YOU! Furthermore, any part of you that touches me you're not getting back!"

"I think the lady's made her point, Brad." A male voice said from somewhere in the direction of the classroom.

Tina whirled back to face the new masculine voice. It was Jon.

"Why don't you give it up and go sit down?" Jon said evenly.

Brad's hands balled into fists at the transformed nerd's interference.

Jon smiled a strange smile. "Any time, Brad," he thought.

Standing there, in the door, Jon looked impressive. For the first time since Tina met him, Jon wasn't slouching. With his head held high and his shoulders firmly squared, Jon looked twice his normal size. In fact, he'd gone beyond looking impressive. Jon looked down right imposing. Pear shape or no, the boy was BIG.

Just as Brad was about to respond, Mr. Mateo appeared behind Jon.

"Jon's right, Mr. Thorndike and, unless you want to spend the rest of this school year at Central, I suggest you close your mouth and return to your seat. Now MOVE!" Jon stepped back to make room for Bradley to pass. Brad's mouth started to move, but he thought better of arguing. Sullenly, he walked into the classroom, mumbling to himself.

"Tina, after you," said the teacher, sweeping his arm grandly towards the inside of the classroom.

"Thanks, Mr. Mateo," Tina mumbled; she was beginning to shake. The teacher just smiled at her.

"You'll be fine, Tina," Mr. Mateo said quietly. "Just ignore him."

"Ignore him. I wish I could," she said to herself.

Tina stepped slowly into the room. The bedlam of just a few minutes ago was gone. The room, again, was silent.

"Oh no!" Tina thought as she looked about the room. "I did it again." Everyone was staring open-mouthed! "This isn't happening," she moaned to herself. The words ran through her mind like a mantra.

Jon smiled as she walked past him. "Hi, Tina!" he said brightly.

"What?" The mention of her name stopped her. "Oh… Hi, Jon," she said distractedly. Head down, staring at the floor, Tina resumed her trek to the back of the room and her seat with Ro and Lee. Jon followed a half step behind her, babbling about some software he'd brought in. Tina never noticed him. She was repeating her mantra in a vain attempt to put what was happening out of her mind. She got no further than the first row of desks when the classroom erupted in laughter and applause. Tina's ears burned.

"NO!" her mind screamed. "Thisisn'thappening. Thisisn'thappening. Thisisn'thappening," she repeated over and over. She just wanted to disappear.

**********************

The walk to her first period class was a nightmare for Tina. From the moment she stepped from the room, she was surrounded by her classmates. They were asking her all sorts of questions. Each time she started to answer someone, another girl asked her another question. Tina was lost at sea. Never in her life had she had so many people want to be her friend. She nodded and smiled a lot, wishing she could just melt into the floor.

"Like, why don't you want to go out with him?" asked a brunette. She sounded like she came from California, but her skin was way too pale.

"I just…"

"It's nice to see someone take that ass down a peg!" said a blonde.

"Thanks, uh…"

"Like, is it because you're, like, dating that guy you come to school with?" Again the brunette.

"Uh…"

"I think he's cute! Like, have you done it with him yet?" she asked again.

"Wha…" And so it went, all the way to her class.

**********************

By lunch, Tina's nerves were frazzled.

"How am I supposed to answer all these questions?" her mind whirled, as she slowly made her way to the lunchroom. She'd been surrounded after every class, just as she had after homeroom. Now was no exception. "Look, um… guys, I hate to do this, but I really have to get moving. I'm supposed to meet someone at lunch and…"

The forward brunette, Kelly, Tina finally learned her name in third period, started to giggle.

"Like, I'll bet she means her boyfriend!" They were walking into the cafeteria.

"Come on, girls, let's give her some space. Sam's lots more important to her than we are… and a lot cuter, too."

Finally free of the crowd, Tina breathed a sigh of relief and went to the table she usually shared with her friends. She still hadn't gotten her lunch, but, right now, she just needed to get away from the horde that had surrounded her all morning.

"I see you've made some new friends," Sam quipped, "and made the 'Front Lip' again, too."

Tina was too drained to feel anything at the moment. She all but fell into her seat at the table and put her head in her hands.

"The ostrich is making a comeback," Lee joked as she put her arm around Tina.

"Aren't you going to get anything to eat, Tee?" Lee asked.

"I just wanna go home," Tina breathed in response. "You wouldn't believe the questions they've been asking me."

Rochelle giggled. "Oh yes I could. 'Like, have you, like, made it with him yet? I mean, like, he's really cute! Is he, like, as totally Khuehle between the sheets as in the halls? Like, I mean, why him? Like, Tad's way more buff!' Right?"

"Well, yeah, but…" Tina had to fight the giggles that were fighting their way out. Ro did that almost too well.

"Hey, Tee, ain't no thang. It's the usual stuff, y'-know?"

"No, Lee, that's the problem, I don't know." Tina was at her wits end. "I used to be just like Jon, a total social outcast. Now I'm the centre of attention and I can't get a second alone for myself!"

"That's the price of popularity, Honey," Sam said. "Speaking of Jon, has anyone seen him?" Everyone at the table shook their heads negatively. "Look, I'll go and get you something to eat, okay? In the mean time, Ro and Lee can fill you in on what to do and what you can expect. It's not as hard as it sounds, as long as you know how to handle it."

As she stood in line to get Tina a sandwich, Sam saw Jon. He was standing in line, talking to a girl who, while not cover girl material, was definitely cute. Sam smiled. Jon's new look was having a very positive effect.

"Hey, Jon!" she called out and waved. When he looked over, Sam gave him a "thumbs-up."

The boy smiled in reply and mouthed the word "Thanks."

On her way back to the table, Sam saw Jon sitting with the girl at another table. They were talking away as if to catch up on lost time. She smiled and continued on. When she got back, she saw Tina shaking her head slowly from side to side.

… "And that's all I need to do?" Tina asked.

"Pretty much," Lee said.

"It gets a bit more complex," Ro added, "but, essentially, that's it. Your personality does the rest."

Sam set the tray in front of Tina and asked, "They getting you all squared away on how to be Homecoming Queen?"

"I still can't believe that school's just a beauty contest," Tina said. "I mean, doesn't anyone care about learning anything?"

"What? Go to school to actually learn?" Lee giggled. "Not in the popularity department, Girl. It's strictly on the look," she said as she slid from her seat and did a pirouette.

And look is exactly what Tina did. The twirl gave the room the expected flash of skin and more.

All Tina said was, "Nice shoes." The group cracked up.

Lee sat back down and looked quizzically at Tina for a moment. Then she said, "Honey, you made the right choice."

"What?"

"I show you what every guy in the school wants to see and all you can comment on are my shoes?" The table lost it again.

**********************

After school, Sam found herself waiting at the car again. This time she was definitely worried. With the events of the morning, she expected Brad to make an appearance. So, with her concerns getting the better of her, she started to make her way back to the school.

Tina emerged from the door to the parking lot, with Jon holding it open both for her and the girl Sam saw him with at lunch. He walked down the steps between them. Before Sam could shout a greeting, she saw Brad Thorndike and one of his cronies follow the trio out the door.

"Oh shit… Tina! Jon!" she called out, trying to warn her friends.

"Hi, Sam!" Tina called back, waving. Jon smiled and waved.

"Be…"

Brad grabbed Tina by the shoulder and spun her around.

"Hey, Baby, miss me?" he sneered.

Caught totally unawares, Tina dropped her books as she was spun around. Finding herself crushed to the lecher's chest, she panicked. Before anyone could take another breath and without thinking, Tina's right leg moved. She brought it up fast and hard, getting Brad right where it counts with her knee. He sagged to the ground, holding himself with both hands, gasping for breath. He looked like he was going to be ill. Tina turned and ran for her car, tears streaming down her face.

Jon, not believing his eyes, just stared after the running girl. Cathy, his new girlfriend, ran after Tina. Then Jon got angry. Sam, not knowing what to do, stood frozen in place, staring in horror. Thorndike was down on his knees, heaving; the other guy just stood there, staring, and Jon looked like he was going to commit murder. Which way should she go? After Tina or to help Jon?

"Go after her and make sure she's all right," Jon yelled. "I got these assholes covered." Sam took off at a run. Turning slowly to face Thorndike's friend, Jon said, "You want more of the same?"

The punk just stared wide-eyed at Jon and shook his head no.

"Then beat it!" The punk hurried away from his buddy, abandoning him.

Brad was a mess; he'd lost his lunch and managed to get it all over himself. Jon grabbed him by his hair and pulled his head back so that he could face him.

"You just don't learn, do you, Thorndike? Guess where we're going now?" he asked as he pulled Brad to his feet by his hair.

"First, you're going to apologise to my friends. Then, we're going to have a little talk with the principal."

"What's going on here?" a voice boomed from the doors to the school. Looking over his shoulder, Jon smiled. It was one of the security officers.

"Guess what, Thorndike?" Jon hissed into his face. "We have an escort!" He all but threw Brad to the ground. Slowly and carefully, Jon started to explain what happened to the security guard.

**********************

Tina got to her car, sobbing hysterically, digging through her purse frantically for her keys. Cathy reached her first, calling out as she reached the car.

"Tina! Wait!"

Hearing her name, Tina shrieked, dropped her keys, and fell to her knees, sobbing.

"Oh jesus christ," Cathy mumbled as she stopped running and went to the sobbing girl's side.

"It's gonna be okay, Tina," she cooed as she knelt beside Tina. Slowly, and ever so gently, she started to pull Tina to her.

"Saaaam!" Tina screamed out, and broke into hysterics.

Sam got to the car just as Tina screamed her name.

"I'm right here, Honey," Sam said, softly kneeling beside her and laying her hand on Tina's shoulder. Tina broke away from Cathy, grabbed Sam and held on for dear life.

Sam looked at Cathy and said, "Go get the nurse! HURRY!"

Cathy took off at a run. Seeing security hassling Jon, she made a beeline for them.

"She's totally freaked, Jon!" she gasped. "Sam said to get the nurse!"

The Security Drone picked up his radio and called it in to the office. In seconds, more drones appeared, followed by the nurse. Stopping by the security guards, the nurse asked what had happened.

Getting the Reader's Digest version from Jon, she started issuing orders. "I want him," she commanded, pointing at Thorndike, "out of here. I don't want her seeing him. Get two female officers out here now. You, get her contact information and call her mother. I'm sure this young man knows who she is," she said, indicating Jon.

"Please take me to her," she said to Cathy. When they got to the car, they saw Sam, on her knees, holding Tina, who had finally calmed down to a gentle sob.

"The nurse is here, Tina," Sam said into her hair. "Come on, let's stand up, okay?" Slowly, Sam got Tina to her feet. But as soon as Sam tried to turn her over to the nurse she got hysterical again.

"NO! NO! Don't leave me!" she screamed and broke into hysterics.

"I'm not going anywhere, I promise," Sam whispered.

"We're just going to go somewhere where you can lie down, okay, Tina?" the nurse said. Tina nodded into Sam's chest. She held on with a death grip.

Slowly, the entourage made it back to the nurse's office. Once there, the nurse spoke to the two female security officers. "No-one comes in here except her mother, Mrs. Janice Wilson. Got it?" Both women nodded and stood, one on either side of the door.

Inside the office, the nurse had Sam put Tina on an old medical couch in a small room. Seeing that Tina was calming down, she went back out into the main office and got a complete, blow-by-blow accounting of the incident from Cathy. The nurse looked back in on Sam and Tina. Tina was sitting up, wiping her face; Sam sat pressed next to her, her arm around Tina's waist, holding her close.

"Are you two all right in here?"

"We'll be fine for now, thanks," Sam answered for the two of them. "Have you called her Mom?"

"She's on her way."

"Thanks."

**********************

The nurse closed the door and went back to Cathy. "So, let me get this straight. All he did was come up from behind, turn her around and pull her into a hug?"

"That-and-say, 'Did-you-miss-me-Baby?' I-don't-understand-it. I-mean-sure-I'd-be-upset-but…" She was talking so fast you could hardly understand her.

"I think you need to calm down and relax, young lady," the nurse said, concerned.

"What?!? OH! You-mean-the-way-I-Talk? I'm-always-like-this. I'm-really-hyper-active-and…"

Nurse Archer held up her hand to stop her. As long as we have that settled. Now, Cathy, sometimes, it's not just the incident itself, but a culmination of a series of events. A bunch of things, that have piled up over time. This was just a trigger to release all that pent-up emotion. Is this the same girl the whole school is talking about?"

"You-mean-the-one-who-keeps-telling-Brad-off?"

"Yes, that's just what I mean."

"Uh huh. That's-why-I-can't-understand-it. I mean…if-she's-strong-enough-to-put-him-down-so-hard-wouldn't-she…"

"Not necessarily; sometimes, the harder someone resists, the more insecure they are. Many heroes during war-time did things out of abject terror, not heroism or bravery. They didn't think; they just reacted. There may be other things that enter into the equation as well. Why don't you…"

The phone rang. "Excuse me, Cathy. Cliffside, Nurse's Office. … Yes. … Hmm… Okay. … Yes, that's exactly the same story I got. Good, serves him right. … Thank you, Mr. Burnbauer." She hung up the phone.

"That was Dean Burnbouer. It seems that Mr. Thorndike will be expelled and the case has been turned over to the Police."

There was a knock at the door.

The nurse rose to see who was at the door. She whispered to the person there then closed the door. "Were you with a boy named Jon?"

"Uh-huh. Why?"

"He's waiting for you outside. Why don't you two go on home? Tina will be just fine."

"Uh-thanks-Mrs. Archer. Here-um… would-you-please-give-Tina-my-number?" she asked, handing the nurse a scrap of paper.

"Sure, Cathy, I'll be happy to. And don't worry, Tina's going to be just fine."

"Thanks-Mrs. Archer." Cathy stood up and left the small office.

She was gone only a few seconds when there was another knock at the door. It was Cathy. "Jon-picked-up-Tina's-books," she said, handing the bundle to the nurse.

Mrs. Archer looked at the boy standing in the hall. "Thank you, Jon. I'll give them to Tina for you."

"Is she going to be all right?" he asked. He looked scared to death.

"She'll be just fine. You two go on home. Her mother is coming in to take her home."

"Yes, Ma'am, uh, thank you, Ma'am."

Cathy snuggled up to him. "Would you walk me home, please?" she suddenly sounded like any other teen. Her hyper-driven speech a memory. "I don't want to be alone right now."

"Sure, Cath," Jon said.

"Thanks again, Mrs. Archer," Cathy said.

"You're welcome, Cathy." Grace Archer, RN, closed the door to her office and went back to look in on Tina.

**********************

"Ready to talk yet, Tina?" she asked softly.

"I… I guess."

"Do you want Sam to leave the room?"

"NO!"

"It's okay, Dear, she can stay."

Sam just stared at the nurse.

"I know all about you, Samantha. Who do you think helped Linda get you enrolled?"

"Thanks."

"Would you like me to call Mrs. Winchester, Sam?"

"Could you, please? I'm already late for work."

"I'll be happy to do that for you as soon as I finish asking Tina some questions." Sam looked a bit uncomfortable at this. "She'll understand why you didn't call sooner. Now then, Tina, we're going to have to get as detailed and complete a story as possible from you. Why don't you tell me what happened?"

"I wa-was talking to Jon and Cathy and all of a su-su-sudden I was yanked from behind…" Tina told everything in excruciating detail. "…miss me, Baby?' a-a-a… and I fu-felt h-his…his thing pressing into me. Then he let me go and I ran." She started crying softly.

"He let you go…"

There was a knock at the outer door. "You two just try and relax."

**********************

As she reached the outer office, Grace heard a commotion outside her door. "Damn them anyway! I thought I told them to let her in here!"

"I don't think YOU understood ME!" THUMP! "My daughter is in there, and NO-ONE is going to keep me from her!" And the door to the room burst open revealing a rather upset Janice Wilson.

"Mrs. Wilson, I presume?" a rather amused Grace Archer asked as she closed the door behind Janice.

"Yes, where's my daughter?"

"Mrs. Wilson, I'm Grace Archer, School Nurse. Tina and Samantha are just fine. They're in one of the examining rooms."

The mention of Sam's feminine name stopped Jan cold.

"You're a friend of Linda's then." It was a statement.

"Yes. I think you need to calm down before you go in there. Tina was accosted, but she'll be fine. She wasn't harmed physically, although what she did to the boy who accosted her will take some time to heal. I'm told that the police took him to the hospital for treatment before they take him to the station. Your daughter has finally calmed down. I don't want you bursting in there and getting her all wound up again!"

"Yes, of course. Thank you, er…"

"Grace. Just call me Grace."

"Thank you, Grace."

"Was that one of my security guards I just heard hit the wall?"

"I'm afraid so. I think I pushed her a bit harder than I thought."

"Didn't you identify yourself to her?"

"Of course I did. That's why I got so upset. They told me to wait while they checked to make sure it was okay to let me in! That's when I lost my temper. I really should go out and apologise to her."

"Don't worry about it; I'll take care of that later. Has anyone told you what happened?"

"Only that Tina was attacked."

"I see. Well, here's what's happened…"

**********************

"And she doesn't remember kneeing him in the, uh…"

"Groin?" Grace filled in for her politely. "No. She seems to think he just let her go."

"I see… Is she going to be all right?"

"I think you should get her to Dr. Bennett soon, but I'm sure she'll be just fine. Considering what she's been through over the past week, I think her reaction wasn't as abnormal as it may seem."

"May I see her now?"

"Sure, I don't see why not. Would you like something to drink? Water, coffee, tea?"

"A cup of tea would be nice. Sweet, with a twist if you have it."

Grace opened the door to the examining room. "Tina, your mother's here."

**********************

In the teacher's lounge, Grace was making the promised phone call to Jennifer Winchester. "What are you going to tell Tigger?"

"First, I think I'm going to have that quack of hers sedate her, Grace. Then we'll tell her."

Grace Giggled, "I wish I could be there to see the Tiger Lady sedated. You'd better have Chilli there for backup; you just might need her, Jenny."

"I think you might be right on that score. Linda acts as if that child is hers. Thanks for the call, Grace. Tell Sam she has the day off with pay."

"Will do, Boss."

"Jenny sighed so heavily it almost sounded like a sob. "Again with the Boss sh… stuff."

"I heard that."

"Go tell my employee not to worry about her job, Grace, and thanks again."

"Try and take it easy, Jenny. It happens." With that, Grace hung up the phone and started making Jan's tea.

**********************

"Marjorie, I'm going to be a bit tied up for a while. Please reschedule my appointments for the rest of this evening. And, when Bennett gets here, send him straight to my office."

"Yes'm."

"And, Marjorie?"

"Yes, Mrs. Winchester?"

"Thank you."

**********************

There was a soft knock on the examining room door and Grace came in. She set the cup and saucer on an instrument table when she saw Tina and Jan in a tight hug. Sam looked about forlornly; she didn't like the idea of sharing Tina with anyone right now, including Jan.

"Sam, why don't you come out to the office with me?" Grace asked.

"I, uh…"

Tina's hand snaked out and gave Sam's a brief squeeze. "I'm okay now, Sam, go ahead."

Sam kissed her fingers and said, "If you need me for anything, just call."

"I will."

**********************

Once the door to the room was closed, Grace asked, "You don't want to be away from her, do you?"

"No, I don't."

"Do you have any idea why she wouldn't let go of you?"

"I, uh… No."

"Sit down, Sam." When Sam made no motion to sit, Grace asked, "Please?" Sam sat.

"Sam, after being sexually assaulted by a man, women don't want to be around men, or women who look like men. The fact that she wouldn't let go of you speaks volumes on how much Tina trusts you. To her, you were the only person in the world who could help."

"But I…"

"Didn't do anything?"

Sam nodded.

"But you did. You were there for her when she needed you. You protected her when she needed protection."

"All I did was hold her after she decked him."

"Not in her mind. In her mind, Brad just let her go. In her mind, I'm sure that you were the one who err… decked Brad. Then you kept her safe until her mother got here."

"So, uh, what does that mean? I mean…is it something to worry about?"

"Do you love her, Sam? I mean Really Love her?" Sam just nodded her head. "Then no, there's nothing to worry about. Tina cried out for her lover and he came running. There's nothing more to it than that."

"But you just said that women don't want men…"

"Except their husbands or lovers, and then, only if the assailant doesn't…didn't…"

"I think I get the picture; you don't have to say it." Sam shuddered at the mental image of Brad on top of Tina. "Do I need to do anything for her?"

"Just be there for her. She's probably not going to want you to be very far away from her for the next few hours."

"But I…"

"Have an appointment with Dr. Eastman tonight?"

Sam looked shocked. "How did you know about that?"

"Jenny, err…Mrs. Winchester told me about it when I called her for you. She told me to tell you to take the day off with pay, by the way. If Tina feels the need to be near you, just take her with you. Dr. Eastman will understand."

"But I…"

"Do you really think Tina doesn't know, Sam? Do you really think that every time you said you fell or tripped she believed you? She knew what was happening. She didn't say anything because she wanted to believe you. Just take her with you."

"Thanks, uh…Mrs. Uh…"

Grace Archer chortled. "You had to have heard it a hundred times already, Sam. Archer, Mrs. Archer."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Archer, I guess I was just a bit preoccupied."

"Yes, I guess you were at that. Now let's see what we can do about the police."

"Police?" Sam asked, horrified.

"Every time we have more than just a little fight, the school's security calls the police. I'm afraid that a sexual assault is a bit more than just a little brawl between two testosterone crazed teens. Security called the police. They're in the school office waiting to talk to Tina."

"Oh, great. Does Aunt Jan know?"

"Do you mean Mrs. Wilson?"

"Uh, yeah, well… when my father did this," Sam said, pointing to her face, "and I left, she umm…Mrs. Wilson, that is, took me in and uh…filled out some papers so that she could umm… she's my legal guardian now, so I call her Aunt Jan."

"And your mother's okay with this? You are eighteen. That makes you an adult under the law, you know. You don't require a legal guardian."

"Well, I, uh…it's supposed to be for emergencies and stuff. As long as Mom lives with us… I don't think Aunt Jan will um…"

"I think I understand," Grace said softly. "Now, to answer your question. No, I do not think your Aunt Jan is aware that the police have been called. Do you think Tina's calmed down enough to handle them?"

"I don't know, ever since…" Sam's voice trailed off.

"You mean her hormone pills?"

Sam just nodded.

"Then we'll just have to watch her. Let's go tell them the good news."

After a brief and heated discussion with Janice, and Tina was calmed down enough again, Grace led the police in to the office.

**********************

"Officers, I'm afraid I really must insist. Only female officers may interview Miss Wilson at this time. If you cannot abide by that, then I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to leave the premises. And then you may only interview her after her doctor's given her consent."

"Thank you, Nurse Archer," Officer Wright said. "I understand. Maybe I can just sit out here in the office and just listen? You know -- out of sight, out of mind?"

"Yes, I think that's reasonable," Grace conceded. "If you'll come with me, Officer Phorcey?"

Grace knocked softly on the door and opened it.

**********************

"Tina, Mrs. Wilson, Sam, this is…"

"Officer Phorcey," Tina finished. "Yes, Officer, I remember you. Thanks for not giving me a ticket."

Anne stood there open-mouthed. When she tried to speak she sneezed.

Tina gave a weak giggle, "Yeah, I think that's the excuse I used."

"This officer stopped you?" Jan asked.

Tina nodded.

"Hello Officer, I'm Janice Wilson, and this is my ward, Sam Boone."

"Ladies, Sam. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances, Mrs. Wilson. I'm afraid I have some rather hard questions to ask Tina."

"We're aware of that, Officer," Jan said. "But I'll tell you right now, if Tina starts getting upset again, the interview is off. As it stands, I'm not so sure I want my daughter going through court proceedings for an attempted assault. I understand he's been expelled, or soon will be, and that he has, err…suffered for his crime as it is."

"Yes, Ma'am, he's at Memorial hospital right now, being treated for a possible rupture. But the school has…"

"Asked me if I wished to prefer charges and I said I would get them my answer in the morning. If they choose to press the issue and I decide not to, they will have to do so without my daughter's testimony."

"Ma'am, your daughter is eighteen and…"

"…will do whatever my mother thinks is in my best interest, Officer," Tina said. She was struggling fiercely not to cry. "I'll answer any questions about what happened, but if you plan on interrogating me like you do rape victims, you might as well leave. I'm not going through that." Her lip trembled with her suppressed emotions. It was all she could do to stand up to the Officer's attempt to push her into pressing charges.

"But he'll…"

"Get off without being punished?" Sam finished it for her this time. "Maybe, Officer, then again, maybe not."

"Now look here, young man, statements like that can be considered simple assault."

"Statements like what?" Sam shot back. She didn't like the forceful attitude of the cop. "I didn't threaten anyone. All I said was maybe he will get away with it and maybe he won't. Who can say for sure what a court will decide," Sam finished with a snide smile.

"And misleading statements like yours, Officer," Jan picked up where Sam left off, "are what can lead to a lot of grief and turmoil for the victim of a crime. If you have questions for my daughter, please ask them now. Otherwise, please leave so that we can get home and put this…ordeal behind us."

"If you'll excuse me a moment," Anne said to the group.

**********************

Outside the examination room, Anne looked to her partner and all but begged him, "Peege, please, I can't do this. Get another officer down here or something. I'd much rather be interrogating that asshole they took to Memorial."

"Just take her statement, Anne, leave the rest for the D.A. That kid doesn't deserve this."

"Thanks, PJ."

**********************

"And you're sure you didn't knee him or kick him in the groin?"

Tina, tears running down her face again, shook her head, "I can't remember," she sobbed. "He just let me go and I ran away."

"I think that this interview is about over, Officer," Jan said, standing up. Tina held on to Sam for dear life and just cried.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Wilson. I really am."

"I know you are, Anne." The look of surprise on Anne's face was precious. "You have to close the door if you don't want me to hear what you're saying," Jan finished.

"Thank you, Mrs. Wilson. Here's my card. Call us if your daughter thinks of anything else, or if she just wants to talk to someone. I promise, no more pushing her to testify."

"Thank you, Anne."

As Anne was walking out the door, Jan asked, "Anne?"

"Yes," she said over her shoulder.

"What ticket? What excuse?"

"She was coming home from school last week when she swerved into the lanes for oncoming traffic. Luckily, there was none. I pulled her over. She said she sneezed."

Jan just started laughing. "Sneezed? Now that's original."

"She's a good kid, Mrs. Wilson, she needs you, not a lecture. Call me if you need to." She pulled the door closed behind her.

As Janice was gathering Tina's books and preparing to leave she turned to Grace. "I'm worried about Linda; she's going to go off the deep end when she hears about this."

"It's been taken care of, Jenny's handling it personally."

"Thanks, Grace."

Grace held out a scrap of paper to Tina. "Cathy wanted you to have this, Tina."

Looking up from Sam, Tina smiled and slowly took the scrap. "Thanks, Mrs. Archer."

Grace looked at Sam, "See, even she picked it up."

Sam blushed, "Thanks, Mrs. Archer."

"Jan, I'll wager Jenny has already set an appointment with Tina's therapist. Why don't you call him when you get home and see what arrangements have been made."

"You people are unbelievable, Grace. How do you do it?"

"We just look out for one another. When something happens, we just make one or two phone calls. You'll see. We aren't as bad as we sound. Take care of your little girl. I can see why Ti…Linda has taken such a liking to her."

Jan smiled at the lapse. "Thanks, Grace, for everything. It's good to know you're here."

At the door to the parking lot, Jan asked, "What do you want to do about your car, Honey?"

"Could I ride home with Sam?"

"Are you feeling up to it, Sam?" Jan asked.

"I think I can manage to follow you."

**********************

"Hi Marjorie!" Linda said brightly. "She in her office?"

"Hi Linda," Marjorie said flatly, "yeah, she's waiting for you. Go right in." As soon as Linda passed her, Marjorie hit the buzzer under the counter.

"What's with her?" Linda said to herself as she passed through the salon. "Wow, this place is dead tonight,"

Linda opened the office door, took a step inside and stopped. Jennifer Winchester sat at her desk. In front of her was a huge, half eaten bowl of ice-cream. Immediately to her right was Dr. Brandy Dewinter. Standing slightly behind her and to her left was an embarrassed and obviously uncomfortable Dr. Eugene Bennett. Linda felt more than heard something just behind the door. Looking around it, she saw Joanne "Chilli" Ayers.

Slowly and carefully, Linda closed the door, focusing on each movement she made. She could taste the fear that started to rise at the back of her throat. Her hands began to tremble. "Something's very wrong here," she thought as she stared at her perfectly manicured hand resting on the doorknob.

Chilli spoke first as the door latch quietly clicked home. "I'm sorry, Tiggs."

Linda's head snapped up at the sound of her voice. For an instant, fear filled the sparkling violet blue eyes that stared up at the nearly bald Amazon. Then, just as quickly, it disappeared as she started to shift modes and become her namesake.

"Sit down, Linda," Jenny said around a mouthful of the frozen confection.

Linda turned to face Jenny but stayed in place.

"Please, Linda," Chilli said softly, "take a seat."

Looking up at her friend and compatriot, she nodded her head and sat in the chair.

"I feel like I've been invited as guest of honour to the 'Spanish Inquisition'. Would someone care to elaborate?" asked the petite blonde.

Jenny daintily dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a silk handkerchief and nodded to Chilli.

Chilli stepped behind the chair and gently placed a hand on each of Linda's shoulders. Chilli's hands were trembling.

"Something is very wrong here," Linda thought, the fear beginning to rise again. Linda looked to each face in turn and saw only pain and commiseration. She was getting scared.

**********************

Marjorie closed the doors and put the closed sign in the window.

"Piss on 'em," she muttered, "damned money mongers anyway! Close early, she said. The fines be damned, she said. Well, damn them all to hell! Linda's my friend, you old biddy! How could you?!? Let her do it! The bastard deserves whatever she gives him!" She began to cry as she turned out the lights on the sales floor.

**********************

Glancing at the monitor on the wall above and behind Linda's head, Jenny saw the lights go out in the store. Placing her elbows on her desk she interlaced her fingers and bit down on the knuckle of the index finger of her right hand with enough force to leave a red indentation of her teeth. Her face was white as a sheet. Taking a deep breath she began.

"How long have you known Janice, Linda?"

Now Linda was totally lost. "What the hell is she talking about?" she thought. "We went to grade school together, Jen. You know that."

"When she gave birth to Tina, how did you feel?"

"I… I was happy for her."

"Only happy, Linda?"

"It was like my sister gave birth. You know all this, Jenny. What the hell are you getting at? You're starting to scare me here."

"So Tina became like a niece to you?"

The panic started to rise. Linda tried to get up, but the hands resting on her shoulders acted like restraints. While they didn't press down, they didn't let her up either. Linda's head snapped around. Chilli had tears running down her cheeks. "She's more like my daughter," she said in a very small voice as she slowly turned to face Jenny.

"I thought so," Jenny said. "So you've known Sam for quite some time, too. Haven't you?"

"Since she was ten or eleven. Jenny, please, get to the point! If it's something I've done…"

"I needed to understand why you pushed Boone so hard, Linda, but most of all I needed to know how you feel about Tina."

"What's wrong with my Tina!?!" Tigger made her appearance as she tried to get out of the chair.

First, Linda tried to rise by using both her arms and legs in an attempt to lunge forward and up. The hands on her shoulders pushed down hard, preventing her from moving. Then Linda kicked up and out with both legs. The motion forced her hips to slide forward in the chair. When her feet contacted the desk in front of her, the heels of her shoes put two small holes in the thin wood of the modesty panel. One of the shoes was pulled from her foot; it hung there in the desk like an odd piece of abstract art.

"Once more and…" Linda thought as she brought her legs back in for another kick.

"I DON'T BELIEVE HER STRENGTH!" Chilli thought. "EUGENE!" Chilli called out in desperation; she was losing her "target." "Hurry it up! I can't hold her much longer! Damn it, she's strong!"

The hands pushing on Linda's shoulders disappeared. The instant they were gone, Linda tried to dive from the chair. But, before she could move, those hands became a band of steel holding her arms to her sides and restraining her in the chair. Joanne had put Linda, and the chair, into a bear hug

"NOOO!" Linda screamed as she tried to claw at the arms around her chest.

Her fingers couldn't quite reach bare flesh. In her struggle to get free, her nails ripped a hunk of cloth from an arm of the silk pantsuit Chilli wore. Linda started to kick again in an effort to dump the chair.

"NOOOO!" Linda screamed again, giving a massive kick that destroyed the front of the desk and cracked the back of the chair.

Its initial impact pushed the chair back into Chilli with enough force to cause her to lose her breath. Chilli felt, more than heard something "pop" in her ribcage as the chair back let go. The recoil from her fighting stance almost pulled the Amazon back down on top of Linda.

"Don't fight me, Tiggs! Please! Don't fight me!" Chilli cried. "Eugene! Hurry it up!"

Linda could feel Chilli's tears falling on her hair and cheek as she struggled for freedom. Then there was a pinprick in her thigh. Slowly, the fight went out of her.

"NOOOO!" she cried.

"Eugene, you're going to pay for this," Linda mumbled as Chilli slowly released her grip.

The doctor started to tremble, "But I had to, Tigger. I'm sorry, but I had to."

Chilli looked at the needle in the doctor's hand. The needle had been severely bent during the struggle. She shuddered as she released her friend; Linda's body slumped to one side in the chair.

Dr. Bennett looked at the needle. "It's a miracle she didn't manage to break it off in her leg with all the kicking she was doing."

Jenny glared at him.

"Jenny," Joanne said quietly, "it wasn't his fault, it was mine. I couldn't hold her securely enough to let him do his job," Joanne wheezed. "Damn that hurt; who'd have thought she could pack such a wallop?" she thought.

Jenny took a deep breath and looked into the hate filled eyes of the immobile Tigger. That look almost toppled her. She looked away and took another breath before trying to speak. She couldn't look at Linda.

"It's one of Brandy's new toys, Linda," Jenny said, her voice shaking with emotion.

"It works in much the same way as Thorazine," Brandy spoke for the first time. She was completely removed, clinical. "The main difference is, it leaves the patient completely cognizant. We were looking for something to help with cranial and neurosurgery that would leave the patient immobile, yet capable of speaking and feeling. The problem is that it completely suppresses the voluntary muscles. The patients couldn't move their mouths to speak, and we couldn't manipulate the nerves to see if we were in the right place. It was considered a failure. It's proved useful, but not in a clinical setting. I'm sorry, Tigger."

"Tina was accosted at school today," Jenny began in a dull dry monotone. A tear slowly trickled down Linda's cheek. "The police have the boy who accosted her in custody at Memorial Hospital…

"According to Grace, what happened was…"

"Concentrate, Linda! TINA! Must get to Tina! She needs me! DAMN YOU ALL! WHY WON'T YOU LET ME HELP MY TINA?!?" Her body refused to obey her. She just sat there, like a rag doll, while Jenny talked.

Tears streamed from Jenny's face as she told Linda the complete, unedited story. Not once had Jenny looked her in the eye; she just couldn't bear to see the look of hatred harboured there.

When she finished, Jenny looked at Brandy and said, "You're sure there won't be any side effects?"

"With the dose we gave her? Not a chance. It's based on salicylic acid, simple aspirin."

Chilli, standing by the door, heard the faint sounds of sobbing coming from the salon. Silently, she left the office. Joanne saw Marjorie sitting primly on the sofa, crying into a silk handkerchief. She walked over to the girl and sat next to her.

"Why is it always the nice people who get hurt, Joanne? Why?"

Chilli gathered Marjorie up in her arms like an oversized teddy bear and cried with her. "I don't know, Mar. I really don't know, and it's just not fair."

In the office, Jenny was struggling with treating Linda normally and keeping her cool. Finally, in exasperation, she asked, "Eugene, how long is she going to be like that?"

Looking at his watch, Dr. Bennett said, "Probably another two or three hours, Jenny. With something like this, it's really hard to tell. It all depends on the subject's ability to resist given medications. The patient is fully cognizant, but since all voluntary motor control is suppressed…"

"She's my friend, you miserable quack, not some disenfranchised patient in a psych. ward!"

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Winchester. For as much as I dislike working with her, I still like her as a person. Her heart's in the right place. It's hard to explain the drug and its effect in direct relation to her without becoming a bit, umm, clinical.

"I'd like to put her out, Mrs. Winchester. Just give her something to make her sleep. Right now, her brain has to be in overdrive."

Jennifer looked at Dr. Dewinter. As she opened her mouth to speak, Brandy said, "I concur with Dr. Bennett, Jenny. It would be the most humane thing to do at the moment."

"Very well, Bennett…"

Looking at Brandy, he suggested, "Valium?"

Brandy nodded.

Dr. Bennett retrieved his medical bag from behind the desk and took out a syringe, needle, and a vial of a clear liquid. Expertly he drew the dose and prepared to inject Linda with the sedative.

"Just a minute, Eugene," Jenny said. "Would you two please give us a moment… alone?

The two doctors quietly left the room.

"I'm sorry, Linda. I really am. If I hadn't done this, you would have gone looking for that boy, wouldn't you? If you had done that, I wouldn't have been able to protect you. Please forgive me.

"Bennett!" she called out and turned her back while the psychiatrist/physician gave Linda the injection.

"Get ready for an emergency appointment with Tina tomorrow," Jenny said, her back still turned to Linda. "I don't care who you have to put off to handle it. Open the whole morning for her. On your way out, tell Chilli and Marjorie to please come in here."

"Yes, Mrs. Winchester. Um… Mrs. Winchester?"

"Yes, Bennett?"

"I cleared the entire day for her before I came down here. That's one little girl that..." Dr. Bennett turned his back to his boss.

"Thank you, Eugene. That will be all."

When the door closed, Jenny made her way over the motionless woman in the chair, saying, "You've done well with him, Sweetheart. I know you don't believe this, Linda, but this hurts me more than you'll ever know. I'm sorry, Honey."

And she placed a kiss on the woman's forehead. Another tear trickled down the blonde's cheek.

Walking into the office, Marjorie took one look at the shattered desk and the cracks in the chair back, then she whirled on Joanne.

"What have you monsters done to her?!?" she wailed and slapped Joanne across the face with a swing that seemed to start at her toes. Then she started beating the Amazon about the chest and shoulders with her fists.

"Marjorie! Stop it! Jenny yelled at her. "Joanne, stop her!"

Joanne ignored Jenny and never lifted a finger to block Marjorie's blows. Then, the fight gone from her, Marjorie collapsed at Joanne's feet, sobbing. Joanne stooped to pick her up. She winced at the pain in her chest as she lifted the girl and carried her, like she would an infant, back to the sofa where she held the girl and cried with her.

**********************

Once Joanne and Marjorie had calmed down enough, Jenny had Joanne carry Linda to the sofa. Then she sent Marjorie to get her other car. It didn't seem right to put Linda into the back seat of her Oldsmobile. Once Marjorie returned, they carried Linda out to Mrs. Winchester's 1936 Bentley.

Marjorie, in the driver's seat, looked at Joanne sitting beside her. The welt on Joanne's face glowed an angry red and appeared to be swelling.

"Oh gods, your face! I'm so sorry…"

Joanne lifted her hand in a stop motion. "I deserved it."

Marjorie winced at the reply, then she whispered, "Isn't she worried that Linda will…"

"Then we'll wash the seats, too," Joanne said evenly. Marjorie simply nodded.

In the back seat, Jenny held the petite blonde in a hug and cried silently into her hair the whole ride home.

**********************

Continued in Part-24

  

  

  

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