Cold, Empty Mattresses And Falling Stars

*Vic's POV*

"Cass?" I said quietly, she moved a little before her eyes shot open and she looked straight at me, I couldn't help but feel pity for her, she was/is in such a vulnerable position, "Vic" she said quietly, it was barely a whisper, "I'm here" I said rushing to the side of her bed and sitting in the chair, Austin followed and sat in the one beside me, "Mike?" She asked starting to get panicked, "Mike, where's Mike?" She asked trying to sit up and look around, "Austin, can you call Mike, tell him we're here and what happened?" I asked, he smiled and nodded before leaving, "Cassidy, Mike will be on his way down soon" I said, she nodded and closed her eyes, "Can you tell me what happened?" I asked praying that she would, suddenly her heart rate monitor went up and she was panicking, I quickly placed my hand on hers and she started calming down, slowly, "Please, I just want to help you" I said softly, I felt her grip tighten on my hand as she tried to sit up again, I quickly got up and helped her adjust her position, I sat back down and grabbed a hold of her hand again waiting on her to tell me what had happened to her, "K-Karen" she said with tears in her eyes as she slowly re-lived everything that happened, "Her friends were over and they were drunk and..." she said before she started to cry, she brought her hands up to her face and cried into them, I couldn't help but feel like I wanted to cry too, "And then they did this to you?" I asked, she nodded, I sighed and brought both of her hands down, holding them as I looked at her bruised and bloody face, "You don't have to go back there, you can stay with Mike or me or any relatives you have that are near, we're your family now and we're not going to let anything happen to you, okay?" I said smiling, she smiled back weakly and nodded, "Thank you" she whispered, Austin came back in and took his seat again, "Mike will be here in 10" he smiled, I nodded and looked at Cassidy who was staring at Austin closely, "Oh Cass, this is Austin Carlile, he's in the band Of Mice and Men, Austin this is Cassidy, she's my brothers, girlfriend?" I asked just to make sure she was in fact Mike's girlfriend, she smiled and nodded, "Hi" Austin said reaching his hand out, Cassidy shook it warily, "Isn't Of Mice and Men a John Steinbeck novel about two guys who travel?" She asked, Austin nodded and laughed, "You're a smart girl" he said laughing a little, she shook her head, "I just like to read" she defended, Austin was about to say something before his phone buzzed, "Mike's outside, I'll go get him" he offered getting up and leaving, "You can't tell Mike it was Karen, please Vic" she said as soon as Austin was away, I sighed and nodded, "I won't" I promised before I heard Mike's voice appear behind me.

"Oh my god! Cass are you okay, how did this happen? Who did this to you?" He asked rushing over to her and inspecting her face, "Mike, I'm fine, it's not a big deal" she said as she flinched away when he touched her face, "Not a big deal!? Look at you, you've been beating black and blue, how did this happen? I only dropped you off at your house 2 hours ago?" He asked, she just shrugged, "I had to go to the shop for milk so I walked since it wasn't late and I guess someone jumped me?" She shrugged, looking at me, I smiled reassuringly, "Do you know what the damages are?" He asked, she shook her head, "The doctor said that she had a collapsed lung, some blunt forced trauma and three broken ribs on the left side" I explained to Mike, he nodded and smiled at me before looking back at Cassidy, "When you get out you're coming home with me so I can look after you, okay" he said, she smiled and nodded knowing that in her state there was no point in arguing, "Anyone want a coffee?" Mike asked, I shook my head but Austin nodded, they both left to go get coffee from the cafe while I stayed with Cassidy, "I love him but he's overprotective sometimes" she said laughing a little, "Well you did get jumped?" I said, she just shrugged, "How am I going to ask him if I can stay there?" She asked clearly fretting about it, "How about you tell him you want to move out because you're 22 and you don't want to stay with your dad forever?" I suggested, she smiled and nodded, "Sounds like a plan" she giggled, "Oh hey can I tell you a joke?" I asked, she rolled her eyes and nodded, "Okay knock knock" I started, "Who's there" she sighed, "Ach" I said starting to laugh a little, "Ach who?" She asked, "Bless you" I said before bursting out in laughter, she looked at me and slowly started laughing, "See it's funny right?" I asked as I laughed, she shook her head, "I'm laughing because it was so bad" she said before holding her stomach, "It hurts so much" she laughed as she held her stomach and tears started to form in her eyes, "What's so funny?" Mike asked as he and Austin entered with a coffee each, "You're brother is terrible at telling jokes" Cassidy said as she wiped her eyes, "I am not!" I defended, Mike just laughed weakly as he sat on the bed next to Cassidy, he has a good one there.

Notes

1/3 today, done!!