Everything was in a blur. Alec could only faintly hear doctors running up and down. The place reeked of medicine. Alec's mind went back to years back when Gwen's dad was in the hospital.
A knot tied in his throat and he fought back the tears. He just wanted to stay in this moment...void , ignorant about what was going on. He didn't even look at his mother once. He left Derrick to do all the work.
The fear in his heart stopped him from looking.
" I don't know what to do. " Gwen looked to Derrick for an answer. " I don't know..."
Derrick's eyes were tearing up already. He was terrified and he couldn't even imagine what Alec was going through. When he thought about the state he'd found Freya in , his stomach turned.
" Gwen..." he held her hand, " I don't think this will end well. "
" She'll be fine. " Gwen nodded with tears in her eyes. " She has to be. The wedding's...the wedding's only a few weeks away. "
She was trying her best to have faith in her own words but she couldn't lie to herself. Alec was alone by a window. He hadn't said a word since they left the house. Her heart was aching and she was filled with dread. She didn't have the courage to comfort him and she was sure she'd just burst out crying.
" Alec! Alec!" Ruth came running. Her face was already red with emotion. She pushed him to the wall and started to scream. " What happened? You should have protected her!"
" Ruth ! " Derrick pulled her away. " Leave him alone. "
" Why?" She barked at him. " He should have saved her!"
Derrick held her by the wrist and dragged her to the side. " Since you're so capable , where were you when all this was happening ? Huh? Why didn't you come to save her?"
" I..." She started to wail. " I'm useless."
Gwen had a little weakness but she paid no attention to it. She just sat there and watched Alec from afar. He was burn marks on his hands but he'd refused any medical help.
" Oh God!" She sat there with folded arms and watched him. It wasn't long before here headache got worse. She closed her eyes and tried to stomach the pain.
" You haven't had anything since last night. " Alec's voice made her open her eyes. He held a sandwich to her face. " Your body's weak. "
" I'm not hungry. " Her words came out as whispers.
Alec sat next to her and started to feed her. " Mrs. Reinster , don't punish yourself and our son for my current predicament. "
A tear fell from her eyes and landed on the sandwich. Alec smirked.
" You should've told me if the sandwich wasn't salty enough. You didn't need to add tears to it."
" Alec , I'm honestly not hungry. I can't stomach anything right now." Gwen held his hand delicately. She examined the injury.
" It's just a burn. I'll be okay. " He held her hand. " I'll get someone to take you home."
" No. I'm not leaving. " She couldn't leave. Alec didn't push further. He just smiled weakly and held her in his arms.
" She's going to be okay. " She was trying her best not to think about anything negative.
" Are you sure?"
She couldn't being herself to speak again so she just nodded.
" If you're so sure , then why are your tears wetting my shirt?"
" Because...I..." She could only sob. She held him tighter. " She has to be okay. "
Alec lifted her face and wiped her tears. His face was so blank. She didn't even know how to begin to guess what was going through his mind.
" Alec , what's going through your mind? You can tell me . " She cupped his face and waited for him to say something...anything.
" I'm thinking that this may be karma. " He shut his eyes and rubbed in between his brows. " I remember it like it was just yesterday. The day your father died. "
Gwen froze for a minute. Why was he linking this to what happened years ago?
" I stood at a distance and watched as you waited for news from the doctor. I silently prayed that he would be alright but...that didn't happen. "
" Alec...it wasn't your fault. " She tried to hold his hand but he pulled away.
" No , Gwen. " He glared at the floor and then at his hands. " It was my fault. Why was I in that car with Richard? Why didn't I stop my father?"
" Alec , that's all the past. There's nothing you can do about it!" She clasped his hand. "That's the past. "
He stared her in the eye and smiled. " Then why do I feel like the past is here to haunt me? "
Gwen didn't know what to say. Was he losing hope? Why was he blaming himself?
" Gwen , Alec! Are you alright? How's Freya?" Marylynne came rushing to her daughter.
" We're okay. " She glanced at Alec. He definitely wasn't okay.
" And Freya?" Marylynne was scared. They'd become good friends and she didn't want it to end this way.
" She's still in the theater. " Gwen breathed. " She will be okay. "
" She will be okay. " Marylynne knelt and held Alec's hands. " Have faith boy. "
" Mom , where's Bain?" Gwen didn't even know what he'd do when he found out about this.
" He's out of town. I called and told him about this. He's on his way here. "
Alison came with coffee for everyone. She handed a cup to Alec first. He watched her as she served the coffee. She was oblivios to the fact that it was her mother who was battling death in there.
" Alison insisted on coming. " Marylynne explained.
" Why do you look so down?" Alison knelt by Alec. " You're totally ruining the bad boy aura. "
Alec didn't know how he'd explain this to her. All he could do was smile.
Minutes turned to hours. It felt like an eternity. Why weren't they getting any information ?
" Gwen , you should get some rest-" He stopped when he saw Ryan walk in.
" What brings you here?" Alec was cold.
" How is she?" Ryan had tears in his eyes.
" Hopefully , alive. " A muscle ticked in Alec's jaw.
" If not , then I'll make sure there's a storm of bodies to accompany her. "