The Power of Love

The Power of Love- Chapter 28

Chapter 28

Leighton's POV

I don't know how long I sat in the hall but I apparently fell asleep because I was awaken by the two people I had no idea would show up. "Jackson? Carol?" I asked as I rubbed my eyes. I instantly regretted it because one of them was almost swollen shut and super sore while the other had stitches right above my eyebrow from a cut Craig had left. I heard one of them suck in a breath through their teeth and I had to hold in a groan that tried to escape.

I pushed myself to where I sat straight on the wall and opened my eyes the best I could. Both Carol and Jackson crouched in front of me. I was about to say something else when Carol and Jackson pulled me into an extremely tight bear hug. I wanted to enjoy their hug but I was so sore that I could hardly bare the pain.

"Guys... Can't breathe... sore... OUCH!" I told them in a strained voice. They both laughed lightly and sat back. The way we sat, we pretty much took up the hallway and people were having to dodge us as they walked. "What are you guys doing here?" I asked.

"What do you mean what are we doing here? You were almost killed for goodness sakes! Do you know how scared we were when your dad called to tell us that you had been kidnapped? Do you want to know what we did?" Carol asked and didn't give me a chance to answer. "We went straight to the airport and booked the soonest flight out here, which wasn't until later due to it being Christmas, I thought that I had lost you!" She rose her voice in anger and tears filled her eyes. "I don't know what I'd do without you, Leighton, You're my rock, you're the person that keeps me stable... " She hugged softer than before and leaned her head into the crook of my neck. "You can't ever do that to me again!"

I put my hand on her leg and patted it lightly while leaning my head on top of hers. "Believe me, I have no intention for that to ever happen again."

I felt Jackson move beside me and he grabbed my hand. I looked over at him and he kissed my forehead in a brotherly manner. "I'm glad you're safe. How are you kiddo?" He asked and squeezed my hand.

Carol moved to see my face as I stared ahead at the 'authorized personnel only' door. "He's still in there, and I..." I got choked up and the tears I thought I could never cry again came flooding back to my eyes. I cleared my throat. "He's in there because of me. He risked his life for me. It should be me in there. He doesn't deserve this, and I just can't help feeling guilty." I cried.

"Shhhhh," Carol cooed and stroked my hair lovingly. "This isn't your fault."

"But it is! I should have never gone back on my word and given him a chance. It was supposed to be a clean break...but that's not even what I feel guilty about." Jackson wrapped his arm around my shoulders. "I feel guilty because I don't regret anything with him. I should feel guilty because I broke my word and continued to see him and now here we are, but I don't. I love him. I wouldn't change our time together for anything. It should be me in there though, not him. Craig wanted me and because of that Jensen got in the way."

They let me cry for a while and eventually coaxed me off of the floor and to the cafeteria only for a failed attempt to eat. Everything on me was sore. Walking hurt, my face hurt, but most of all, my heart hurt. I craved to hear from the doctor about how Jay was doing.

After a while of sitting in the cafeteria, a man walked up to our table. "Hey any word on our guy?" I felt confused as this random man asked his question.

Carol perked up to answer. "No not yet, He's still in surgery."

The man sighed and pulled up a seat, plopping down between me and Jackson. He rubbed a hand over his face and let out a deep breath. "Man, I can't believe this is happening."