Claimed by the Biker Giant (Maxine and Tank) novel Chapter 249

Cloe POV

Fixer woke me, startling me; I had briefly forgotten where I was, but it was good news: I was going home. Together, Dotty and Fixer changed my dressing, with Fixer holding me up while Dotty unwrapped me. My stomach looked awful, with blue bruises, some stitches, and what Dotty called keyhole marks from the surgery to remove fragments, and the doctors tried hard not to cut me wide open unless necessary. Dotty explained what she could, but my brain had not caught up yet, and I wasn’t with it enough to take it all in, something about my gut being damaged and needing to heal before I can eat solids, and to keep my poop soft. Between Dotty and Fixer, they changed me, and pulled the curtain open to see the back of Storm at the window. He looked tense, but his smile when he saw me waiting beamed bright, even brighter when I summoned him to me. I trust him to lift me with ease and little pain. He snuggled in, once in the SUV. I think part of it was to keep me from moving around too much and to reduce the pain in my stomach, which was tender when I moved. I fell asleep on the lounge, warm, comfortable and safe.

Laughter woke me sometime later. Penny was sitting on the floor in front of me, playing a game on her phone and laughing at it.

“Hey, Penny.” She turned quickly, dropping her phone in surprise.

“You are awake, I thought you were never going to wake.”

“Why aren’t you at school?” I asked, ” Surely it’s still Thursday, I thought, looking at the window to see it was still bright outside, time was fragmented for me.

“Off to the dentist today, getting teeth ready for braces, too many teeth in my mouth.” Penny pouted and then opened her mouth to show me her teeth.

“How many did they remove?” Her mouth still looked crowded and out of alignment.

“They removed four so far, and want to take two more, before the braces.” Penny did seem too concerned about getting teeth pulled. I have never been to the dentist. Dad thought it was a waste of money on me, yet my sister, yeah, let’s not go there.

“So no breakfast?” I asked, with a yawn.

“What? What do you mean, no breakfast? I had breakfast hours ago, I’m not allowed to have lunch, and I will be leaving soon. It’s nearly two o’clock.” Penny started giggling again. This time, I think I lost track of time. I sat up and groaned, wishing I didn’t have to use my stomach muscles. Penny’s fun, she laughs and is still enjoying life, not yet reached the stage where girls can change into witches. I hope she stays this lovely, friendly girl.

“You are a brave girl, don’t think I would throw myself in front of a bullet, for anyone, I am a chicken, I guess. But you!!! Our family’s hero. Do you mind if I use this in my assignment?” Assignment? Wow, that’s new. Someone wants me to be their muse.

“Go ahead, you should get an A+.” I giggled with her as we talked more about the shooting. She questioned me like a professional news reporter and even took my photo for her assignment. I thought it was cute. Not newsworthy at all, but Penny loves it.

“Does your father know? He might want to keep it a secret.” I joked, but she took my comment seriously and bolted out of the room, hunting for her dad.

The need for the bathroom became urgent, but the wheelchair was too far away. It might be at the end of the lounge, but it was still too far to reach easily from here. I tried to lower myself to the floor, carefully, but it still hurt like blazes, and I collapsed on the floor to gather my breath. This was worse than anything my Dad had done to my stomach. I hurt in places I didn’t know could hurt. Using my hands to help drag my bottom slowly across the floor, I reached the wheelchair, out of breath, sweating as if I had just finished ten laps around the oval. I sat at the bottom of the chair, catching my breath, wondering if I had it in me to climb up onto the chair, which looked so high from here, and I’m in so much pain, for that little bit of exertion, that I think it’s impossible.

The thought of wetting this lovely carpet because I am stuck here made me cry silently in defeat. That was when Storm came walking in, shock and anger morphed on his face; it was comical if I could appreciate it. His face didn’t know whether to be angry or sad.

“What the fuk? Cloe, what are you doing down there?” I was pale, shaking like a leaf, and hurting all over the place, and my need for the bathroom was extreme, like any moment my bladder was going to burst, bad, bad, bad.

Dotty put on the cuff and took a reading.

‘Lie down, let me feel your tummy.” With the aid of Storm, I lay down, and Dotty gently pressed on my stomach.

“Ouch.” I hissed a couple of times as she poked about.

“Doesn’t feel like you broke any internal stitches, but let this be a warning to you, yesterday your life was on the line, today you are trying to be Wonder Woman, STOP, let your body heal.” Dotty slapped the top of my head.

“Use your brain and think for a change, and stop trying to do everything on your own. We are all here for you. It hurts us to see you struggle when there’s no need to.” Dotty looked upset and, I think, disappointed in me, and that hurt inside. Storm was nodding in agreement before helping me sit up and take the tablets Dotty was giving me.

Storm fed me the soup again, and this time I didn’t argue or try to make a fuss. I think I hurt others’ feelings, and that hurts in a different way. I was trying to think of what to say, but words failed me. I was stupid, didn’t think of using the phone for help to go to the bathroom, thought I could manage, until I hurt so much on the floor, and was stuck, Even if I had made it into the chair, I doubt I would have been able to transfer to the toilet seat. I was so stupid, thinking I could do it. Or not thinking at all.

The soup was done, and I was sipping the tea that Fixer brought in and left again, not saying a word; one look from her was enough. My coffee was still on the table, going cold, but that was okay, I would still drink it, I love even when it’s cold, not as good, but still drinkable.

“We need you help, we have a computer that appears to have password files in it, and our guys were running out of ideas, as you are fresh from a course on this type of thing, was wondering when you are up to it, if you would give it a try. Fresh eyes and all.” I looked up at Storm to see if it was a real question.