Chapter 29

Sitting in the waiting room was grueling. Nova kept shifting in her seat trying to get comfortable. Nothing worked because thinking about Claire, who was now in emergency surgery, was weighing heavily on her mind.

Nova jumped up from her seat. "I have to take a walk. I can't just sit here doing nothing. It's driving me insane."

"I know what you mean. What's taking so long? I just want to know if she's okay." Ace paced back and forth in the waiting room as Nova headed down the hall.

"Ace, she's in good hands. Did you call her family?"

"Yes. They can't make it here until morning. There were no flights out because of the snowstorm." Ace sat next to Becket as Nova left the room. His eyes glaring at her as she left. "This is all her fault."

"Don't say that. Nova had no idea Liam would pull something like this."

"She brought all this drama here, Beck. How can you not see that?"

"So you would have rather had Nova and Claire stay with the piece of shit manager? What if Claire would have been his next target and sexually assaulted her? Is that what you want? Who knows how many women that man has done this to?"

"No. I know you're right. I'm sorry. I'm just freaking out right now. I guess I owe Nova an apology."

"Yes, you do. We're all scared and confused right now, but don't blame her. She's punishing herself enough."

"I just hate Claire being in that room and I can't do anything to help her. I should have insisted she stay on the road with us to do her internship."

"It wouldn't have mattered. Liam would have found another way."

"So he really raped Nova and let other guys do it too?"

"Yes. She's going through a lot right now too, Ace. Claire is the only real friend she has and if something happens, I'm not sure how she'll react."

"I know, Beck. I'm sorry. I guess I'm just looking to blame anyone. If she dies-"

"Buddy, don't talk like that. She won't. We just need to keep hope. If they stop the internal bleeding, she'll pull through."

"I want to kill that bastard."

"We don't know for sure it was him yet."

"I can bet my money on it." Ace rubbed his chin thinking. "What if we set him up?"

"What do you mean?"

"Make him think we are letting our guard down. Maybe let him believe Nova is going to let him manage her again?"

"You mean trick him into a confession? Nova already did that."

"No bigger. On national TV where the whole world will see. We have that contest every spring and it's not scripted like our wrestling shows. It's a real competition to show who is the toughest and strongest of Powerbomb."

"You mean the Power Olympics? What about it?"

"It's the one time each year the fans see who we really are as competitors. What if we set him up to attend? If we can get them alone then-"

"Hell no. I'm not putting Nova in danger, and I'm sure not letting him alone with her again."

"Fine. I'll figure something out. I'm not letting this go. My Claire is a victim in this now too. I'm bringing that asshole down; with or without you." Ace got up ready to storm out until Nova and the doctor came through the door. "Doc? Is she okay?"

"She made it through surgery just fine. These next few days will be the real test. She has to fight. The internal bleeding in her abdomen has been stopped, but now I'm worried about the swelling on her brain. She'll be sent to the ICU on a ventilator. Claire's in recovery right now."

"So we still know nothing?" Ace looked like he wanted to cry but stayed strong. He knew he had to for his girl.

"I'm sorry, son. It's all we have right now. You may want to call in her family just to be prepared."

Nova gasped. "Prepared for what?"

"We don't know if she will pull through this. It all depends on her now. We are calling in our neurological team to assess her. I need to get back in there."

Becket reached out to shake the doctor's hand. "Thank you, doctor."

Nova turned away in shock. "Ace is right. It's all my fault."

Becket looked at Ace whose eyes were red and full of pain. He didn't know what to say.

Ace nodded to his friend and spoke up. "It's not your fault, Nova. I'm sorry for blaming you. We'll find who did this. We just need to be strong for her right now."

Nova turned and rushed into Ace's arms. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be. She'll get through this. I just know it."

***

Three days later, Nova was at Claire's bedside. Claire had taken a turn for the worst overnight and was now on complete life support. Holding her hand felt cold and lifeless as Claire slept in her unconscious state. Nova watched the monitors as if when she looked away, they would cease to work.

Becket walked in placing his hand on Nova's head smoothing her hair. "You need to get some rest, baby. You haven't eaten all day."

"I just can't leave her. Where's Ace?"

"I sent him to the hotel to get some sleep. He'll be back in a little while. You can't keep going like this."

"I know. I just want to be here when she wakes up."

Becket pulled her into his arms. "We need to talk about that. You do understand that she may not, right? Her family is deciding what they are going to do. This is not how Claire would want to live."

"They can't just pull the plug on her. Claire can fight this. I know she can. How could someone do this to her?"

Nova went to lean over her friend to whisper in her ear, as tears trailed down her cheeks. She wasn't willing to accept anything but the hope that her friend would be okay.

"Claire. I know you're there. I miss you. I wish you would wake up and talk to me. Wake up Claire bear. I'm going to be right here by your side until you're all better. I'll have ice cream and chick flicks ready for our girls night."

Claire's mother walked in smiling sweetly at Nova. She looked over to Becket and took his hand, giving it a squeeze. "She hasn't left her side, has she?"

"No. Nova is taking this hard. I can't get her to eat or sleep. She blames herself."

Claire's mother, Jenny, sat beside Nova and rubbed her back. "Don't blame yourself for this, sweetheart. The only one to blame was the person driving that car."

"Are you going to take her off life support?"

"Yes. The doctors say at this point she will either pull through and breathe on her own, or she will pass on. We don't want her to suffer. I love my daughter but this is for the best."

"I can't lose her. She's my best friend. She has her whole life ahead of her."

Jenny turned to face Nova knowing the pain she was feeling. "Did you know that she was your biggest fan? I remember when she first started working with you and was so excited. After she was turned down from so many personal assistant jobs, she had lost faith she would get to work with you. She's young and it was her first real job."

"I remember. She was the first person who had been nice to me in months. We hit it off from the start. I interviewed about six other girls that day. They all came in gushing over me like fangirls and were dressed like plastic clones. Perfect hair, makeup, and fake smiles. Then walks in Claire with a vintage band t-shirt and jeans and her big red frumpy nerd glasses she sometimes wears, smiling ear-to-ear. She was so laid back and chill. She didn't care what anyone thought of her. She was super shy but five minutes into the conversation we were talking about boys, our favorite music, and what kind of ice cream was the best."

"She has always been my free-spirited one."

"Jenny, I know she's going to pull through. She has to. We have so many more ice cream flavors to try." Nova giggled.

Claire gave a slight smile in her sleep and Jenny squeezed her daughter's hand. "She must agree."

"The doctors say it's a reflex but I think she can hear us."

Becket sat on the other side of the bed straightening Claire's pillow. "I think so too."

Jenny kissed her daughter's cheek. "If she has learned anything from you, Nova, it's how to fight. She's going to be just fine."