Point Of View 2 [*Do not read until you've read the same chapter of ATW]

Chapter 27 Berlin

"They have to keep them restrained during the procedure, so they don't pull the tube out," he whispers.

Wait. What?! A horrified look on my face shows Nate I had no idea what stomach pumping really was, or the fact that you have to be awake for it.

"So... sh- she was." I stutter, unable to form a complete sentence through my tears. Nate nods, knowing what I'm asking.

"Yeah. She was awake."

I take Julia's hand and rest my forehead on it. I begin to cry. I pray and I cry at the same time. I don't fucking care if Nate is in the room. I cry and hold on to Julia's hand, knowing we could have lost her. What the hell was she thinking?! WAS she thinking? Was she trying to kill herself?? No... No, I don't believe that. Julia was trying to get better. She WANTED to get better.

A nurse comes in to do a vital check, so I back away and let her do her job. Paul comes into the room right after.

"Trisha, Casey, and the dog are heading back to the venue. Trisha will figure out tonight for you but Nate, you need to reach out to Banks." The bodyguard mumbles. Nate stands and begins to pace the room.

"And tell her what?! She shouldn't leave her fucking pills around, so the drug addict doesn't get them?!?" He snaps. I feel so bad for Trisha. I know how hard Nate can be on her.  And when it involves Julia, Julia comes first. He is very protective of her and thinks Trisha can handle it when he lashes out at her the way he sometimes does. Nate has a temper. And Trisha IS strong. But not THAT strong. This is probably eating her up right now.

"This wasn't her fault. Plenty of people carry medication." Paul sticks up for Trisha and gives me a little nod. I've known the man for years. He's a quiet man who keeps to himself. But when it comes to Julia, something tugs at Paul.  He looks worn down, mentally and physically, and I wonder if he bit off more than he can chew with trying to take care of Julia. I also wonder how Nate manages to care for her and doesn't look the least bit worn down from it, making me think maybe he had to take care of his sister on his own for a while and is used to this.

While the nurse is writing in her chart, Julia starts to wake up. But the second she sits up, she vomits black charcoal all over herself and begins crying.

"I've got her." Nate insists, and the nurse steps back. Julia is a whimpering mess after getting sick all over herself. It was pure charcoal, the only thing left in her body, that came up. The nurse said it's a good thing, but Julia wants a shower. Paul and the nurse quickly leave the room so we can care for her.

She's weak, and it takes both Nate and me to hold her up to take her charcoaled clothes off. Julia leans her head down on my chest and cries while Nate gets the shower going.

"Aww, sweetie. You're ok." I whisper and hold her. It's devastating seeing Julia this way. It's also heartbreaking to know I can't help Julia in the shower. Sure, I could hold her up, but the room is way too small, and Nate will need room to wash her. I can't hold a fucking bar of soap. Just thinking of how I can never care for Julia brings a hard lump to my throat.  I start crying while holding her, and the more upset I get, the more my coordination will be off.

"I've got this," Nate whispers to me and takes over. I nod and leave the small bathroom.

That's when I lose all control of my emotions and bawl my eyes out. I can hear Julia crying, wailing, and throwing up in the shower. The nurse looks at me with sympathy and, in a very strong accent, tells me she will make me a cup of tea and shows me to the waiting room. I take her offer and join Paul.

*****

*Trisha*

The entire night is a blur. The concert has been postponed. Nate's face is already all over the news. And Leslie is less than pleased right now. Once I've done my job, I head to Nate's personal dressing room and lock the door. I fucking lose it. I cry so hard, and the only thing that interrupts it is a text message. Noah.