Chapter Sixteen
Blue Funks and Bloody Aunts
The days pass slowly— yet too quickly at the same time. There's still no word from the FBI go-between, making Apollo, Rex, and Emmett more worried as time goes on. As for me, I'm mostly in my own little bubble often staring off into space or napping. I hear Braeden whispering to the guys and Brent about it, but I refuse to have the doctor check me out. There's not anything he can do for it as I highly doubt they care about mental health or PTSD in here.
I'm lying on the couch with an upset stomach and barely react when Apollo comes in frantically, telling us about the national news station that picked up on my and Braeden's kidnapping. As of now, Rex and Emmett are the only suspects since there were cameras from other storefronts around the coffee shop showing the men going into the alley before Braeden and I followed a few minutes later. The investigators have concluded that we never came back out in that direction, and there wasn't any surveillance at the other end to see if there were others involved. A needle left at the scene with traces of a fast-acting sedative and my blood type was found, confirming I had most likely been incapacitated. He continues to go over the details of the news report while I stare despondently at the still image on the tv screen.
"Lark. Lark!" I startle out of my stupor to see what Braeden is yelling at me about. "Little bird, what is going on with you?"
I try to form a cohesive answer, but the words stick in my throat like glue. I settle on shrugging my shoulders, much to his displeasure. My abdomen is cramping and I'm sincerely hoping I'm not going to be sick.
“Brent, can you not help here?” Braeden directs his anger at the doctor.
“What would you like me to do? I can’t force her to tell me what’s going on, and I can’t treat something I don’t know the cause of.” I idly note that the good doctor seems exasperated with us both.
I ignore the rest of the sniping between those two and the more serious conversation going on with the other four. Another cramp in my back alerts me to the issue that explains my stomach ache; I’m going to have one of my infrequent periods. I’m not sure what to do about it, if there are even any supplies to be had. I get to my feet to make my way out of the room, heading for the bathroom. Wiping after I use the toilet, a light pink tinge is on the paper. I pull a few paper towels off the roll by the sink to fold them into my underwear for a makeshift pad.
After searching the cupboard in the hall, my shoulders slump in defeat— the shelves are bare of feminine products. Unless, of course, I want a douche. Let's clean it out but not worry about periods. Assholes.
Marcus steps up behind me as I close the cupboard door.
"Looking for something, Four?" Of course he's back to numbering me.
That's it, I can't take it anymore.
"My fucking name is Lark, you sadistic piece of shit!" Rapid footsteps come into the little hall at my shout— I now have a crowd to witness my meltdown. "Get away from me. All of you.” Turning my back on the dumbfounded men, I stalk into the bedroom, slamming the door behind me. I throw myself on the bed, giving into my tears. The helplessness that overwhelms me follows me into troubled slumber.
Braeden
“I don’t understand. She was fine. Well, as fine as she could be, considering the situation. She won’t talk to me, and the more I try, the more upset she gets.” Pinching the bridge of my nose, I wrack my brain for what could have set her off while the others stare at each other like lost idiots.
“This isn’t my fault. I’ve already told you, multiple times, that I can’t magically pull a solution out of my ass.” He certainly could if I shoved my foot up it. Getting the gist of my thoughts from the expression running across my face, Brent shuts up and walks away.
Rex, ever helpful, states the obvious. “She’s in there crying— again. Either she’s crying, or she's yelling at us to leave her alone. That is, when she’s not staring off into space, blocking everyone else out.”
Sighing in disappointment, I go back to the living room area to give Lark her space.
Later that evening, when she still hasn’t come out of the bedroom, my patience runs out. I have to piss, and I’m sure the others do as well. I open the door to find her a sleeping lump in the enormous bed. Not wanting to wake her, I go ahead and quietly use the bathroom, throwing the paper towel in the trash after I wash my hands. I happen to glance down and find blood-soaked wads of paper in it and nearly panic before comprehension dawns on me. I quietly go back out and through the bedroom to the hall, closing the door gently so as not to disturb her.
***
Emmett
“I’ll go get her some things. Do you know what she prefers?” Apollo’s question is directed at Braeden.
I can’t believe they hadn’t bothered to have basic necessities on hand. It's no wonder she’s so pissed. I voice my thoughts to the men gathered around the living room.
“You think being without supplies might be something like being stuck on the pot without toilet paper?” At least they have the grace to look ashamed.
“She shouldn’t even be having a period. I mean, yes, there can be breakthrough bleeding, but it’s not common after the first year. I was under the impression that Lark had been using the depo injection for a long time. If she’d cooperated and answered my questions, I could have let Marcus know to expect it. I need more medical history than she’s willing to give me.” The good doctor just doesn’t know when to shut the fuck up.
Braeden proves that immediately, replying, “Are you really trying to blame her for having a period? Or for not divulging every little thing about herself?” Braeden’s a big guy, and he’s headed straight for Brent. If I'm annoyed with the doctor, he's probably livid.
Rex tries to grab his arm and gets pushed away. Marcus, shorter than them both, but no less built than Braeden, gets between them holding his hands up.
“I’ll go. I’ll get some of everything I can find. Can you three behave if I take Apollo with me? He needs to be seen regularly to avoid anyone coming here.”
We all nod in the affirmative, retaking our seats around the room. They aren’t gone long and come in with Marcus toting a large bag of feminine products and different pain relievers as well as a heating pad. Almost immediately, Braeden gets up and starts gathering things in his arms. He’s able to pick out what she’s likely to want even though I’m positive they have separate bathrooms in their home. I wonder if Lark knows how much of a stalker her best friend is. She probably wouldn’t care, but still. I interrupt when he goes to leave the room.