Cold State Line

It felt so good to hold onto Haylee's hand again. Once I had woken up and found the ability to speak, I had sent Johnny and Alvin to go pick up Haylee from jail. We all were a little stunned she had beat the shit out of Clay. Every time I thought about it, it made me laugh. And the best news of all was that all charges had been dropped. As long as Haylee stayed away from Clay and Clay stayed away from her until we were back in court, everything would be forgotten.

"You okay?" Haylee asked, stroking a thumb across my knuckles. I looked at her, seeing the worry in her eyes.

"I've been better, babe. But I am going to be fine. The surgeons did a great job minus me waking up a bunch. I heard you beat the shit out of Clay."

Haylee looked down, sighing. "Jeez, I really wish that hadn't happened. I apparently put him the hospital, Matt."

My brain registered what she said and my body instantly reacted. I was sitting up in bed before I knew it, about ready to hop out. "What fucking hospital is that little dickwad at?"

"MATT!" Haylee pushed on her chest. "What the hell are you doing?"

I was fully out of bed, dragging my IV stand behind me. "He fucking tried to kill you, Haylee. I'm gonna find that bastard and fucking kill him. No one wants him on this planet anymore."

Haylee's eyes widened. "Matt, you are in no shape to be up and moving. Sit down."

I looked over at her. It was the first time I saw so much confidence in her eyes. I wasn't sure if it was because she was taking care of me or if it was because she had finally taken charge of her life and kicked the shit out of her abuser.

"Sorry, Haylee. I just felt this need to attack." Climbing back into bed, I took her hand again. "I want him dead."

"We all do," Jimmy said, poking his head into my room. "Brian and I found out which room he's in. Someone broke his nose, eye socket, and a cheekbone. I think he needs more."

"We are not doing anything to him," Haylee said, staring both of us down. "We need to let the justice system work this out."

A knock sounded on the door as Jimmy and I stared at my girl. Part of me knew she was right, but there was a much bigger part of her that wanted to just ignore her words of wisdom and make sure Clay was never in her life again.

It was only then that the three of us noticed Judge Anderson in my room. Haylee gripped my hand tighter, terrified of the man that had given life to her abuser. Jimmy sneered at him and my eyes never left him.

"Haylee, I... I have no words or excuses for what my son did. There is nothing I can say or do that would make this better. But I do have an idea I would like to run by the three of you, if you don't mind."

Haylee cocked an eyebrow at him. "What kind of proposal could you possibly have that you think I would want to take you up on?"

Judge Anderson looked down at his feet. "The kind that gets Clay out of all of our hair. Whatever that thing is... he's no longer the son I raised."

Notes

DUN DUN DUN!!!! WHAT IS GONNA HAPPEN?