Dark Days

Bad News

©JRF2016

{Darrick's POV}  Cearra had given her the poncho she was wearing to cover Becky up before I carried her into the hall. Becky was in and out of consciousness all the way back. When she was awake, somewhat awake, she was just babbling nonsense. Cearra stays back bringing up the rear. She keeps watch for anyone that might be following us while she's back there. We finally made it back to the gates where Reid meets us and he slams the gate open quickly rushing us in. I take her straight back to her house and laid her in the bed. I hadn't even noticed that Cearra and Conner were right behind me. I sit there just staring at her when Cearra taps me on the shoulder. I look down at her hand and see a washcloth lying in her palm. I take it and give her a 'thank you' nod as I dab Becky's forehead.

I stay beside her all night and she didn't wake up once.  My eyes are tired, I can hardly keep them open.  "You need some rest," I jerk my head up and look to the corner to see Cearra standing there, "Why don't you go get some rest? Both of you, I'll stay with her."  I was confused now as I turn back around and see Mason on the other side of his momma. His little green eyes were bloodshot as he stares down at Becky. I didn't realize he was in the room with us.  He shakes his head without looking at either of us, "I ain't leavin' my momma." As if his voice, his words were magic, Becky's eyes flutter open. Her head turns toward Mason and she places a hand up to his face. She smiles at him. Cearra walks over and is standing beside me as she turns to look at us. "Can you two give me a minute with my son?" I was shaking my head no as Cearra was nodding yes and pulling on my arm trying to drag me out the door. "I'm not leavin' ya either Becks."

"I'll be okay," she reassures me, "I've got our boy here with me."  She brushes her hand across my face as I let Cearra pull me out of the room.

As soon as the door is closed Mason dives onto his mom wrapping his arms around her. She returns his embrace. "Momma, what happened? Did they hurt you?" Becky smiles as she sets him up. 

"Whatever happened is in the past and you don't have to worry about it anymore." She knows the boy's temper and the last thing they need is for him to go off on a rampage. "I do have something I need to tell you though," she let her head fall and stares at her lap.

"Mom, I think I know." There was an awkward silence between them for an extended time until Mason speaks again. "It's back, ain't it?" Becky slowly nods as a tear begins slipping.

"I didn't want to admit it but, yeah, I think it is."

"What do we do?"

"Not much we can do. There's no way to treat it now, no medicine. I don't know little man." Mason falls over on top of his mother again and begins sobbing. Becky's heart was breaking, not much could break her tough little man but the thought of losing her was more than he could handle. She strokes his back as she quietly speaks to her baby.

I stay right outside the door despite Cearra's pleading. "They wanted a minute alone, Darrick." I glare at her and growl as I cross my arms and lean against the door frame. I was straining to hear any conversation but they weren't talking much and when they did it was too low for me to tell what they were saying. Cearra grunts and walks away. After staring me down for about ten minutes she realizes my stubborn ass isn't going to move from that spot. I move into an upright position from my leaning one when I hear Mason crying.  Cearra had just climbed the last step again when she hears the same thing. I look at her, concern showing on my face, before I turns around and fling the door open. "What's wrong kid?!" Becky and Mason both jump at the sound of the door slamming into the wall. Mason sits up straight wiping his eyes and trying to hide the fact that he was crying from me. "Nothin'," He snarls at me as he squints his eyes. Becky reaches out and put her hand on the boy's shoulder whispering in his ear. "I wanted to tell you first and now that I have we might as well let them know."  Mason turns and glares at her. "They are going to have to know sooner or later."  I was looking at her now and Cearra slides through the door behind me. Becky glances over at her from me. "How the hell do you get around so quiet all the time?"