Chapter 14



JC walked up to the apartment complex. He couldn't believe that it was already October. It was a little brisk up here in NY. He missed Orlando, except for the fact the Bridget was here. 'Bridget.' He thought to himself. If anyone could keep him in New York, it was Bridget.
"JC, ya gonna ring the bell or what?" Justin asked.
JC was snapped from his thoughts to see Justin standing there with him at the door.
"Yeah, man. I was just thinking...." JC said.
"About Bridge?" Justin asked.
JC smiled. "That obvious?"
"Yeah, you had that funny look on your face again." Justin said smiling.
"Ha-ha" JC laughed. "You're so funny, J." JC said while ringing the bell.
JC and Justin waited for Bridget to answer the bell, but she didn't come.
"Hmm. I wonder what's keeping her?" JC said, sounding worried.
"I'm sure it's nothing. Maybe she was in the bathroom or something. We are like twenty minutes early. Try ringing it again." Justin said.
JC rang the bell again and waited another five minutes.
"Something's not right." JC said to Justin. "We gotta get in there."
As if perfect timing, a group of people came in and approached to apartment complex and unlocked the door. JC and Justin quickly followed the group inside and headed to Bridget's apartment.

**~*~*~*~**

JC and Justin approached the door and saw it slightly ajar. JC walked in quickly, frantically searching for Bridget. JC saw the apartment had been messed up pretty badly. Something was going on. He had to find Bridget.
"Bridget!" he yelled.
"Bridget! You here?" Justin called.
JC feared the worst. That someone had taken her and he wouldn't get to her in time. JC's eyes frantically searched all over the room. Then, looking down by the living room couch, he saw her.
"Oh my God!" JC cried.
Justin's eyes followed to where JC was now standing over Bridget.
"Holy shit. Justin..." JC cried trying to check for a pulse on Bridget.
"Bridget? Bridget...can you hear me?" JC tried to reach her. Justin thought quickly and called 9-1-1. After he got off the phone he joined JC over Bridget and helped him try to recover her.
"Bridget....please...." JC cried. "Answer me! Please, Bridge!"
Justin looked and saw the bullet wounds that penetrated Bridget's back. He knew JC saw them, he didn't need to point out the obvious.
"Bridget? Can you hear me, baby?" JC said softly.
Justin could only imagine what this was doing to JC. He left the apartment to intercept the ambulance that should've been arriving any minute. Walking out the door he picked up his cell phone and called the other guys who were still at the hotel.

**~*~*~**

Bridget's head started to stir. The whole world seemed to be moving at the speed of light. There were lights and noises everywhere she looked.
"Bridget! Baby, I'm here. Talk to me Bridget!" JC said. The ambulance had come and they were on their way to the hospital.
Just seeing JC's face made her believe everything was going to be alright.
"JC?" she whispered.
"Yes, I'm here Bridge." JC said.
"Don't leave me, ok?" she said.
JC smiled. "I'm not going anywhere." He said.
They reached the hospital just as Bridget faded back into sleep.

**~*~*~**

JC walked the halls of the hospital desperately searching for an answer. Who would do this? Why Bridget? Nothing like being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"Shit!" he said aloud.
"Mr. Chasez?" the doctor called.
"Yes? How is she? She's gonna be ok...tell me she's gonna be ok." He pleaded.
"Bridget is suffering from multiple bullets wounds directly to the spine. She's in a critical stage right now." He said.
"Is she conscious?" JC asked softly.
"I'm afraid Ms. Cariac has slipped into a coma." He said.
JC's expression was sullen. There was nothing he could do for her. He had no power over this one.
"If you could get in touch with her family, this would be the time to do it. Mr. Chasez?" the doctor questioned. "Yeah..." he said softly. "I'll take care of it."
JC reached for his cell phone and dialed Bridget's parents. This was one phone call he never thought he'd have to make.

Chapter 15