One day later.

You were enshrouded in darkness, just floating along.

"Please wake up, Daddy," she whispered. You can't feel much, but you think you feel a kiss on your cheek.

Then you were floating again, but it was different now. You were starting to feel pain...

Beep...beep...beep...

Your eyes flutter open, and you find yourself in a white-walled room. It was dark outside, and you could hear a beeping behind you. For some reason every muscle in your body was sore. Holding up your hand, you saw a white wristband with your... name in it.

You were staring at the wristband when you heard an exclamation from out of sight, "Oh thank god, you're awake, Daddy."

Coming into view was a beautiful brunette wearing a band shirt. Your eyes widen as it all comes back to you. The night with Bailey, getting her three tattoos, and finally getting jumped.

Swallowing hard, your mouth was parched, but you managed to raspily ask, "What happened?"

Bailey smiled, beautiful despite the deep bags under her eyes. "You were attacked by a bunch of frat boys. A member of the Warlocks showed up to get some work done on a tattoo, and he intervened."

You briefly close your eyes as she entwines her fingers with yours. You could feel your mind getting clearer as whatever the hospital had given you was wearing off.

"Can you get me some water, honey?" you ask her.

Bailey squeezes your hand, whispering, "I'll go get a nurse."

You made sure she'd left the room before you gave in and whimpered in pain. You started looking around for something to call for help when the door opened. In walked a young African American woman in her mid-twenties. Judging by her hospital scrubs, you assumed she was the nurse. Her name tag read Banner.

"Good evening, Mr. Clarkson. Your fiancée told me you're awake and like some water," she said with what sounded like a Bostonian accent.

Licking your dry lips, you painfully nodded, "Please."

Getting you a cup of water Nurse Banner helps you drink it. You could feel the cool liquid soothing your parched mouth. You saw her glance at a whiteboard next to the door for a moment before turning her attention back to you.

"I see your pain meds should be wearing off. On a scale of 1 to 10, how much pain are you in?"

You think about it before answering, "six."

She nods, telling you, "Okay, Mr. Clarkson, I'll let the doctor know you're awake, and we'll see about getting you something to take the edge off."

She turned to leave, but something occurred to you. "Nurse, can I have my phone?"

"I believe your fiancée has it," she tells you. It could be the meds, but you swear you heard a slightly disapproving tone in how she said "fiancée."

The nurse leaves, and Bailey comes back into the room. Looking at her, she was still wearing the same clothes she had when you left the hotel room.

"Ummmm, I kinda told them you were my fiancée so they would let me stay." She worriedly informed you.

"It's alright, sweetie," you drowsily assure her. "I'm glad you stayed."

She hurried over to your bedside. "You fought for me. Took a beating for me, Daddy." She whispered, tears in her eyes.

"I took a beating because I wasn't paying attention; you had nothing to do with it."

It then occurred to you that you had no idea how long you were out. "Ummm, Bailey... how long was I out?"

She grabs ahold of your hand, saying, "It's just after 7pm Monday night."

MONDAY NIGHT!!!

Slightly panicked, you hiss, "Did someone let Krystal know what happened?"

"Shhhhhhh, Daddy, calm yourself," she whispers. "The police were hear earlier, they said they'd informed your niece what happened." Then a moment later she added, "Oh, and Angela at Fallen Angels arranged to have your car towed home; she said they'll bill you."

Knock, knock, knock.

A young man in a white coat rapped on the doorframe before. "Good evening, Mr. Clarkson, I'm your attending Dr. Simmons."

Dr. Simmons gave you a brief examination and discussed what was going to happen. Despite extensive bruising, you had no internal bleeding, plus your lab work was good, so your beating had only done, as he put it, painful but cosmetic damage to you. Now that you are awake, unless something pops up, you'll be released in the morning. He then ordered you something to help sleep that night while advising you to avoid getting into beatdowns with fraternity members in the future.

Bailey, who'd slipped out while the doctor was with you, slipped back into the room as he left. Wandering back over to the bed, she let out a huff. "I hate how these nurses are talking about you."

A shiver of concern worked its way into your mind, prompting you to ask, "What are they saying, Bailey?"

"They keep asking me if you groomed me." She tells you.

The notion makes sense given the age disparity between the two of you. "Did you tell them anything?"

She gives you a hopeful look, saying, "Umm, this afternoon, the hospital social worker asked me about our relationship, and I told her we met in July after I became 18 and downloaded Tinder."

Thinking about it, you figure that was the best way Bailey could spin the kinds of questions she was being asked.

"It's okay, Bailey, you did the best you could. Instead of a groomer, I'm a creep that cruises Tinder looking for younger pussy. Something that's reprehensible but legal." You reassure her.

Looking at you, she whispers, "I'm sorry I'm causing you so many problems, Daddy. I just didn't want to leave you after what happened."

Slipping her fingers, you gently squeeze her hand, murmuring, "It's alright, honey. You did nothing wrong."

"But..." she starts.

"Bailey," you interject. "You answered their question in a way that made sense. Let them grumble."

"Fine..." she replies, clearly not liking how the judgmental nurses were acting. Wanting to change the conversation, you ask, "I take it you didn't go to school today?"

Bailey gave out a long sigh. "Nooooooooo, I didn't go. And before you ask, I finally called my aunt while you were talking with the doctor."

"And..." you ask.

"We're going to have a conversation when I get to her place." She finished.

Just then the nurse walks in with a small cup and your painkiller. You thank her, taking the water and medicine. The nurse then leaves, but pauses at the door, giving the two of you a look.

After she finally leaves, you look to Bailey, saying, "Bailey, as much as I'd like your company, you should probably head home. There are enough questions as it is without us feeding the flame."

Bailey wasn't happy, but she did agree to head home. You give her some cash to Uber home. Digging your shattered phone out of her bag, she hands it to you before leaving.

Alone now, you close your eyes, letting the painkiller lull you to sleep.