Chapter 63

Jay and Richie visited with Billie for a while, and Richie was impressed by her courage, that she didn’t shy away from the subject of what had landed her in here. She didn’t exactly share details, but she did know that they were both well aware of what had happened, and she was clearly more comfortable than he’d have expected when she talked about it. Hell, she was far stronger and braver about it than he could imagine he’d ever be. After her declaration of pride in Jay for his attack on Fabian, she’d frowned pensively.

“Do we know what’s happening with him?” There was no need to elaborate on who ‘him’ was.

“Not so far. Don’t know much more than he got arrested.” Jay said, looking to Richie for confirmation.

Richie shrugged. “Haven’t heard anything. But, then, after Jon went back to the city, I was pretty much left to sit and wait.”

“Back to the city?” Billie figured it out in seconds. “Oh, God. His kids. His…….his wife….. He’s gone to tell them?” Her eyes flicked to her son, so like his father. “To tell them about Jay?”

“Dot already knows.” Richie replied. “Jon actually told her the night……..the night you got hurt.”

“I didn’t ‘got hurt’, Richie.” Billie said firmly, the cowgirl definitely back in control. “I got raped. Raped and more, but let’s stick with raped.”

“Mom.” Jay whispered, and she reached out to touch his hand, seeing the stricken look on his face.

“Jay, I didn’t do anything wrong, and I refuse to feel like I did. I will not let that bastard make me into a victim.”

“I……..” Jay cleared his throat harshly, pushing back from the bed as he felt his throat tighten painfully, an equal mixture of pride and hate. “You want some coffee, mom? I’m going for some.”

“Sounds good.” Billie knew he didn’t really want coffee, but she understood. And she respected him all the more for it.

Without another word, Jay nodded, leaving the room, not quite jogging, but with a long, fast stride, needing to get away to somewhere private before he lost it totally.

Richie watched him go, then turned back to Billie. “Want me to go after him?”

“No.” She shook her head. “He’ll be okay, Richie. He just needs some space I think. And I get it - it must be hard for him, knowing what happened.”

“Must be harder for you, though.” Richie said carefully.

“I guess.” Billie shifted uncomfortably. Dammit, she hated needing help for simple things, but……. “Could you help me? I hate asking, but I need to sit up more, and…..”

“Hey, it’s no problem, darlin’.” He was off his chair almost before she’d finished asking, seeing the blush on her cheeks, knowing how difficult it must be for her. “What d’you need?”

“I need………up.” She tried to push against the mattress, then his hands were at her sides.

“No, don’t move.” Richie said, taking her weight in his hands, lifting gently, pushing her toward the head of the bed until she was more firmly against the pillows. “How’s that?”

“Better.” She blushed again. “Thanks, Richie. I…..don’t understand why you’re being so good to me, though. You barely know me.”

“So?” He shrugged, grinning. “I like you, Billie. Liked you for protecting my friend, and the more I’ve got to know you, the more I like you. At the very least, I consider you a friend.” He paused. “And I hope you can see me the same way.”

“At least.” She murmured, slightly cryptic, but the meaning clear enough to Richie. Clear enough to make him smile at her again.

“Anything else you need while I’m feeling helpful?”

“Chocolate? Coffee? A bullwhip so I can skin Nick fucking Fabian slowly and painfully?”

Richie chuckled. “Coffee your boy is fetching, and chocolate I can bring next visit. As to the bullwhip……let me work on it.”

Billie laughed, shaking her head at him. “Y’know, I’ve been a fan of Bon Jovi a long time now, and I’d always thought you had to be probably the nicest of the guys. Seems like I was right.”

“Certainly the craziest - not so sure about the nicest.”

“Hey, don’t argue with the sick lady.”

“Okay, okay, I’ll let you have that for now.” Richie grinned. “But you won’t always be sick lady.” A sudden frown. “You won’t, right? I mean…….”

“Doctor Riviello seems to think that, with a little time to heal, I should be completely fine again.” She smirked. “Maybe what I told the prick - that would be Fabian, not the doctor, by the way - was right. That his dick was too fucking small.”

“Jesus! You told him that after he’d….raped you?”

“Actually, I think it was partway through.” Her eyes clouded. “I think that was what made him decide to move along from ‘normal’ rape……decide to…..to…….”

“Stoppit.” Richie said firmly, laying his big, tanned hand over her smaller but equally tanned one. “Not a victim, remember?”

“Not a victim.” She echoed, flipping her hand to squeeze his fingers before looking at him. “Thanks Richie.”

“Anytime, darlin’.” With his free hand, he reached to push a lock of dark hair off her face. “Any time at all.”

He kept hold of her hand, their fingers linked on the bed, and Billie didn’t even attempt to pull away. It felt good. Felt safe. Felt like she could trust him, and she liked that. She needed that right now.

After a few minutes, their companionable silence was interrupted by a knock at the door, followed by it opening, the two detectives from before standing there.

“Ms Kelsall?” Said Detective Kellogg, smiling across at her and Richie. “If you’re feeling up to it, we need to take your statement?”

“Okay.” She replied instantly, and Richie gave her fingers another reassuring squeeze before releasing her.

“I’ll go find Jay? See how he’s doing.”

“Thanks Richie.” Billie’s eyes sparkled as she looked up at him. “Again.”

“Told you - anytime.” He leaned down, touching his lips to her forehead lightly, whispering encouragement. “You can do this, Billie. Just remember - not a victim.”

“Not.” She repeated, unbelievably touched by his tenderness. “Can you……can you keep Jay away for a bit?”

“Sure. Though if he’s as stubborn as his……..” He cut off the words, but Billie looked at him steadily.

“It’s part of the ‘story’, Richie. It’ll come out soon enough. And you said he’s……”

“Yeah. They know.” He confirmed. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

He left the room, and the two detectives, having waited politely by the door, came to the bedside, pulling chairs up close. As was standard in rape cases, the female would take the lead, and Detective Kellogg smiled at Billie.

“Why don’t you tell us what happened, Ms Kelsall. What you can remember.”

“What I can remember?” She whispered, images flashing into her mind. “You think I could forget what happened?”

“Of course not. I’m sorry, I just meant……..”

“It’s okay. I know what you meant. And, please, my name is Billie.” She drew a deep breath. “It’s a kind of long story, so I need to start from the beginning, for it to make sense. Need to tell you why it happened.”

“Whole story is far better than bits and pieces.” Kellogg smiled again, pulling a recorder from her purse, holding it up. “We’ll record it, then we can have it typed up for you to check and sign, okay?”

“Okay.” Billie nodded, steeling herself to tell a story she’d hoped to never share. Not the whole, entire story, of course. Not the twenty-years-ago part, but just from the catalyst for this. “My son, Jay, plays for the Philadelphia Soul, and a couple of weeks ago he got hurt in a game……”