Mary

Alburquerque~New Mexico

2:00 PM

Wednesday 14 August 2009

Savannah blinks. She beeps and growls. "Aww" she whispers. She licks her lips. "Shh" softly resounds. The repeating tone of a dull beep resounds. A strange smell caresses her nose. An oxygen tube rests in her nose. Savannah opens her eyes. She looks around the cool hospital room. What the hell happened? Tyrus and Victor and the car? She heard victor roar? "What happened?" "Savannah" whispers a familiar voice. Savannah looks next to her. She could hardly believe it... Hayden...

Tears well up in her eyes. "Hayden" she whispers. "Ssh, it's okay. I'm here. You're okay" he whispers and takes her hand. "Sleep. It's okay," he says softly.

Savannah nods, she swallows and closes her eyes. She falls asleep with her thoughts on Marco one more time.

Savannah opens her eyes gently. "Hayden" she asks and tries to sit up. A strong hand helps her up straight. She looks up at the older heavy man and screams. "No, no. It's okay. I'm sorry, it's okay. I'm Officer Shrader. I didn't mean to scare you. Sorry. Hank, hank is the name." Savannah takes a deep breath. "I'm... I'm sorry" she whispers. "No, I'm sorry. I can understand you went through hell huh" he says and shrugs. Hell? More like a rollercoaster, she thinks. "I uh... want to ask you something. Savannah swallows. Here we go she thinks. Hank sits down and looks at her. He opens his little notebook. "Um, you probably saw that the shot was deadly." Savannah nods fearfully. "I know I'm really invading with it. You just woke up and already there are so many questions. The two guys were released from the hospital yesterday and I... I just need to know. What happened?" Savannah takes a deep breath. She looks outside for a moment. She can't betray Marco after all. And Nacho? No. And when she says Tuco, they come to them. No, she can't do that. And Hank was going to be slaughtered anyway. No, she can't say anything. "Officer Shrader, I really think you'll have to wait a little while before I can say anything. I haven't processed everything myself yet." Shrader nods and puts his book away. "I understand that. But we are already a little further and the track is cold. The judge will say soon." "I'm sorry" Savannah interrupts. Shrader nods. He walks out of the room without a word.

Savannah takes a deep breath and lays herself down again. Poor Marco. Would he actually miss her?The hours creep by. Hours seem weeks, days seem months. Every moment she is alone she thinks of Marco. Her mother came by. Tears of happiness flowed with the liters. They both thought they would never see each other again.Hayden stayed with her for as long as he could. The reunion was one of the fairy tales. Savannah couldn't describe how happy she was to see her mother and brother. She really thought she would never see them again. And although her joy could not stop, she missed Marco enormously. And worst of all was the fear... the fear of the questions she knew were to come. Just as she is putting down her head full of disturbing questions and thoughts, a young woman walks into her room. Savannah looks up at the young woman, unsure of what to expect. The woman, neatly dressed, has a sweet smile on her face."Oh, don't be afraid sweetie" she says and puts herself down on the chair next to her bed. She places her bag on her lap. "I'm Marie Shrader, Officer Shrader's wife. And I thought I should drop by." Savannah swallows. "I'm sorry." "Oh don't worry honey, I'm not here to question you, I'm here to apologize. My husband can be a bit rude sometimes. And I heard he treated you a bit rudely. But look, it is not meant wrong. He can be blunt now and then." "I'm sorry miss." "Oh Mary honey" she says hastily. "Mary, I can't really tell him anything I.." "Oh I understand but I just wanted to come and see the girl I've been looking for. I'd like to see her in real life" Mary winks. "You've been looking for me?" "Yes" Mary answers proudly with a grin. Savannah swallows. "I... er..." "Would you like to get some fresh air? Some sunlight?" "I'm not sure if that's allowed." "Oh of course honey, I'm a nurse after all" she says, untying the cables that tie her to the bed. Savannah swallows. Honestly, she could really use some oxygen and sunlight.Savannah growls when she stands up. Mary supports her. "I guessed your size, so I hope these are good," she says, taking a bundle of clothes from her bag. Savannah shakes her head. "I can't pay you." "Oh, but you shouldn't," she says hastily. Savannah nods gratefully. "Thank you, you're way too kind to me," she says. "After what you've gone through, I'm sure this is the least you deserve." Savannah swallows hard. She hurries to the bathroom.Her reflection in the mirror surprised her. She has a wound on her forehead, an abrasion on her neck and dark circles under her eyes.She refreshes herself as best she can. The clothes that Mary has chosen are fun, young and yet classy. These must have cost a fortune. Mary looks at her. She places her hands over her mouth. "Wow" she says. Savannah smiles. "Thank you, Mary. Mary smiles and hooks her arm into Savannah's. "Come on, I'll support you" she says and walks into the hallway.

Savannah listens with a smile to the story of Mary's newborn niece. She glances up in the hallway for a moment when a warning in her gut arrives. Her heart stops for a second. Her stomach twists and twirls. Tyrus walks into the hospital. Savannah gasps and stops moving. "Mary" she whispers scared. Mary looks at her. "What is it?" "Mary... that man." Mary looks at her. "That is him?" Hastily, she pushes Savannah in a different direction. "Don't be scared child, I know the way around here very well and I know where we can hide you." As Tyrus leaves the hospital room annoyed, Mary rushes out of the hospital with Savannah. Savannah breathes a sigh of relief when she finds herself in Mary's car, safely in the underground employee parking lot. "Listen, don't be afraid okay. We're going to my house. Hank is home, he can protect us perfectly." "But" Savannah begins but Mary stops her. "Until we're sure you're safe, I'll take care of us. Think of it as some sort of protected person's shelter." Savannah swallows. At least she now knows what to say...

"And here we are" says Mary excited and lets Savannah come in first. The beautiful Spanish style house is nice and cool. Hank is sitting at the table with a fresh pint. "Hey" he greets and stands up. Savannah fakes a smile. "Nice house," she finally says. "Thank you" Mary says proudly as Hank looks around and nods. "Sit down" Mary says invitingly. Savannah sits uncomfortably on the stool. Hank looks at Mary uncomfortably. Mary beckons Hank. Savannah hears them talking in the hallway; "That man came to finish his work, you know, probably. And I didn't know what to do or where to go, Hank." Hank nods. "Hey Savannah, sorry about earlier. I uh. Was a bit restless. Look uh I.. You're welcome here as long.." "I'm ready to talk" Savannah says with tears in her eyes. Hank looks at Mary and nods. "Sure, it can wait?" Savannah shakes her head. " Better as soon as possible." Hank nods, if it's okay I page my partner and then we can start." Savannah nods. Marie puts her arms comfortingly around the trembling girl. "It's going to be okay sweetie," she says.

Savannah swallows and looks scared at the Mexican man who slowly walks in. "Hey, I'm Officer Steve Gomez. But you can call me Steve." Savannah nods nervously. "I'm glad to see you in person. Safe and sound." "Yeah, me too" Hank says, setting up a camera. "Sorry but this is really necessary, we have to have it on screen." Savannah shakes her head. "No problem." "Okay" Hank says and sits down next to Gomez. "Start at the beginning," he says. Mary stays in the kitchen. She insisted on baking cookies for Savannah, saying that chocolate is therapeutic. Savannah takes a deep breath. And through the tears, she tells the whole story from the beginning to the end. She only replaces the name with Tyrus and the city with Santa Fé.

When she's finally finished, there's a moment of silence. Mary gapes at her in shock. Now and then she also had a few tears running down her cheeks. Hank turns off the camera and takes a deep breath. Hank coughs. "I uh.. drink" he asks. Savannah swallows her tears and shakes her head. Steve licks his lips. "I'm sorry you had to go through this. Before everything. Literally everything. "I.. wow, that's a story." "And what about her family" Mary asks. "They've been informed." Mary nods.