DxC: Shattered Ch. 5

Note: If you didn't read chapter 4 because you weren't notified, please read it before you read this. Thanks!**


Chapter 5:






"Duncan? Duncan wake up! Please wake up!"
Duncan felt someone pushing on his arms, and Courtney's soft voice pierced the silence. He slowly got up, just missing the petrified look on Courtney's face.
"What is it Princess?"
He finally turned to look at her, and that's when he saw her huge frightful eyes glazed over with terror.
"Courtney, what the hell is going on??" Duncan asked, this time a lot more concerned.
"Duncan it's him again."
"Who?"
"That guy Duncan!! He's in the apartment, he was staring at me!"
Duncan slowly comprehended what she had just said, and when he did he got up and went to the door. But as he was opening it he heard soft crying. He turned to face a violently shaking Courtney, sitting innocently on the bed with the covers wrapped around her.
"Courtney, it'll be okay, I promise," he said as reassuringly as he could, and with that he opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

The apartment looked like it was covered in a black veil, only random objects illuminated by dull streaks of light. Duncan scanned the area quickly, but nothing out of the ordinary caught his eye. He walked quietly to a set of lights and flicked them on. The bright light burned his eyes instantly, but they adjusted fast. He continued to search the apartment, looking in every possible place some freaky guy could possiby hide. After about forty five minutes of detailed searching, Duncan was relieved to say that no one was in the apartment.
He stepped back into Courtney's bedroom quietly, but as he closed the door he noticed she wasn't on the bed.
He crept around the bed, and once he reached the other side he found her. She was curled up in a little ball holding her knees tightly to her chest, and she was shaking as violently as ever.
"Courtney," Duncan spoke softly, and Courtney jumped at the sound of his voice.
He went over to her and helped her up. She clung onto him like a wet bathing suit, not letting go even when they were sitting on the bed.
"Courtney it's okay, there is no one in the apartment."
"Are you sure?" she asked nervously, still clinging onto Duncan.
"Positive," he said as he wrapped his arms around her. Courtney snuggled into him. There was a long moment of silence before Duncan finally said something.
"Courtney," he paused, not wanting to say this the wrong way. "Who is this, um.... guy?"
He felt her arms start to tremble, and Duncan tightened his grip around her.
"He said he was gonna kill me," Courtney cried quietly, her voice shaking nervously. "He was gonna murder me that night Duncan. He said he'd find me and kill me, he said I was gonna DIE!!" she started hyperventilating, and Duncan pulled her in close. It kinda made sense now. Kinda.
"This the guy who um... that night..."
"Yes."
They both remained silent, only Courtney's labored breathing ruining the silence. Duncan thought about what she had just said. He knew that guy was too much of a wimp to actually continue threatening Courtney after four years. He just knew. Then why did Courtney always say she....
He looked down at her, and surprisingly she was looking up at him, her big eye framed with tears.
"We're gonna get you help tomorrow, okay?" Duncan said calmly, and Courtney took in a deep breath.
"Okay."
"That's my girl," Duncan kissed her head as they layed back down, and within a few minutes, Courtney's crying had actually stopped.

                                                            *    ~    *

"Duncan I can't do this!" Courtney cried as they approached the door to the therapist's office. She was back in her huge knit sweater again, which was giving Duncan difficulty in holding onto her struggling arm. He grabbd her by the shoulders and looked her right in the eyes. Her face was wet and bony.
"Courtney, you are a strong girl. I know you can do this."
She looked back at him, then began shaking her head side to side.
"Duncan, no no I can't, no no DUNCAN NO STOP IT NO!!!!"
He had dragged her into the waiting area, and every person who was in there was now staring at their entrance. Duncan faked a smile before he walked up to the receptionist, the whole time Courtney hyperventilating behind him.
"Um, Courtney Rogers is here for her appointment with, um... whats-her-face..."
"Diane? Please, take a seat, she'll be right with you," the receptionist said kindly, and Duncan tried to make Courtney sit, but she prefered to stand beside the wall, hitting it annoyingly every five seconds. Just when Duncan was ready to snap at her, a lady walked out.
"Courtney Rogers?" the lady said kindly, but Courtney didn't move. She was now holding quite tightly onto Duncan's arm, her grip getting tighter and tighter-
"Are you Courtney?" the lady asked Courtney calmly. She looked at her, and Duncan finally regained his senses.
"Yes, this is Courtney."
"Oh great! If you can just follow me," she began to walk slowly, keeping an eye on Courtney. Duncan had to use a surprising amount of strength to get Courtney to move, but eventually she went along with it.

They entered the room, filled with various books and pictures and chairs.
"Please, take a seat," the lady said, and Duncan sat down thankfully. Courtney remained standing.
"Courtney?"
Courtney just stood there shaking her head. The lady reached over and gave her some kind of squishy looking ball.
"Here take this. It's a stress ball."
Courtney kneaded it viciously.
"Well my name's Diane, and I'll be helping Courtney it seems for a while," she said as she reached out a hand to Duncan, who introduced himself. He couldn't help but notice her give him that look, the look that all adults gave him whenever he walked by.
"I'll just start by asking you a few questions, then if I could just speak with Courtney alone-"
"WHAT??" Courtney shouted, and Duncan shifted uncomfortably. This was gonna be a long process.
"It'll only be for a bit dear, I promise."
For some reason Courtney stopped her whining after she said that, and continued kneading the crap out of the stress ball. She finally sat down, much to everyone's amazement.

                                                         *    ~    *

Duncan continued sawing with his pocket-knife at the chair, a detailed skull becoming evident in it's wooden surface. He could tell the receptionist was pissed at him, but she was too scared to say anything. He had been waiting for almost two hours for Courtney, and hell he was bored. He just hoped it was all worth it.
Another five minutes ticked by before Duncan saw the door open, but instead of seeing Courtney he saw Diane. Delightful.
"Duncan, can I speak with you for a moment?"
Duncan sighd as he got up and followed her to a private area right outside her office. He could see Courtney inside, sitting their just staring out the window.
"Well after much deliberating and analyzing Courtney's state of anxiety, I have come to our first conclusion to make things better."
"Well what is it?" Duncan asked, exasperated.
"Well..." Diane began, and Duncan became nervous after hearing her tone of voice. "Although we still need to do some medical tests to rule everything out, I think it's safe to say that Courtney has very severe anxiety over muderers and criminals and anything relating to it."
Duncan knew where this was going. Shit.
"I think it would be best if you-"
"Oh c'mon, are you serious??" Duncan shouted, completely shocked even though he knew it was coming. Damn broad.
"Yes, I'm afraid I am."
"But she'll be a wreck without me, she needs someone to take care of her-"
"That's already been taken care of," Diane promptly intervened. "We have called her parents, and they will be coming over at exactly 5:30 today to come and watch over her."
"But, but, her parents hate her!"
"Well, her parents seemed quite concerned when I told them the scenario, so I think she'll be fine-"
"No, you don't understand," Duncan's voice began to rise, he knew other's could hear them but he didn't care. "Courtney-"
"Is afraid of criminals. If I'm not mistaken you don't have the cleanest of criminal records, do you sir?" she tapped her foot irritatingly. Duncan felt so defeated. She was such a stubborn bitch. "Do you think it makes much sense for someone who has anxiety over criminals to be living with one?"
Duncan gritted his teeth angrily.
"If you really cared about her, you'll do this for her. For her safety. For her health. Just do it for Courtney."
Those last words pounded Duncan's head. Just do it for Courtney. Just do it for Courtney. For Courtney.
He saw her come out, the stress ball still firmly in her hand, and she smiled at him. Courtney actually smiled. Maybe the bitch really did know what she was doing...

                                                       *     ~     *

Duncan stormed inside the apartment, and started grabbing his stuff, completely pissed. Her parents were coming in less then ten minutes, and the last thing Duncan wanted was to meet up with them again after four long years. Without a question he'd be blamed for everything.
"Why are you so rushed?" Courtney asked him innocently, her big eyes starting to quiver.
Duncan sighed. "I....I...." he couldn't finish his sentence, he just continued searching for anything that belonged to him.
"Duncan, you're not-" the color drained out of Courtney's face, and her eyes flooded with tears. "Duncan, NO!!"
Courtney ran up to him and hugged him tightly. Duncan looked down at her, she was crying terribly into his shirt.
"Duncan you CAN'T leave, I can't live without you!!"
Duncan pushed her arms away from him. Dammit she had to make it hard...
"DUNCAN!!"
He didn't listen to her, he wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible. He did not want to face her parents.
Courtney started wailing so hard that she collasped onto the couch.
"YOU SAID THIS WAS GONNA HELP ME!!" she wailed, her body struggling to support her.
"Courtney it is going to help you," Duncan said quickly. She was looking at him from over on the couch, she looked so depressed.  She started twitching.
"Courtney-"
She flew off into the kitchen and madly threw open a draw. She pulled out a shiny object, then placed it against her wrist.
"I'll cut myself if you leave!"
Duncan walked up to her quickly, she was breathing heavily and choking on her sobs.
"Courtney, it won't be forever-"
She started crying even louder, and Duncan's stomach flipped as he watched her cut right through her smooth tan skin. Blood seeped over the edges of the gash readily, he watched it drip over the curve of her arm.
"Courtney stop it-"
"THEN DON'T LEAVE!!!"
She was about to cut some more when her body suddenly gave out on her and she collapsed onto the counter, crying miserably.  
"Courtney," Duncan placed an arm gently on her shoulder. Diane's words still rang in his head. Do it for Courtney. "It's gonna be okay, I promise. I'll call you everyday, and as soon as I can I'll come back for you."
Courtney's watery eyes looked up at him, she was frowning intensely.
"You're not coming back."
"Courtney, I am too, I just told you-"
"Duncan you're not gonna come back! Who the hell would want to come back to THIS???" Courtney whimpered, and another flood of tears swirled down her face.
"Courtney," he went up to her and gave her a big hug, "I love you. I promise you I will come back. You just need some time to heal, that's all."
She weakly pushed herself away from Duncan's body and turned her back to him.
"Then just go. GO!!"
She started crying on the counter again, and Duncan reluctantly went for the door. Her parents would be here any minute-
"Duncan WAIT... I...I didn't mean it, please don't go," he turned to look at her, her mocha brown hair wildly framing her tear-stained face. She was looking right at him. "I really can't live without you," she whispered so softly Duncan barely heard her.
"I'll come back for ya babe, I promise."
He stole one last look at her before he shut the door behind him, and heard incredibly loud wailing. Luckily he wouldn't have to deal with the neighbours anymore...

                                                      *     ~     *

Duncan walked down the street, not entirely sure where he was going. He was trying so hard not to think about Courtney, but it wasn't working. His heart was breaking just thinking about her tear soaked face, knowing that she wanted him there. But he knew this was for the best. It wouldn't be long before Courtney was back to her old rule-following self and yelling at Duncan for everything he did wrong. He couldn't wait till that day came.
He decided to pull out his cellphone, see if there was anyone he could call and live with for a while. Maybe one of his juvie buddies...
He felt his pocket. It was empty. There was no cellphone. He needed his cellphone. Duncan frantically searched for his cellphone, but he didn't have it. A wave of horrid realization shot through his body, and he let out a slow, angry breath before he turned around.
"F**k, f**k, f**k..." he mumbled to himself. The last thing in the world he wanted to do was go back to where Courtney was. And her parents would be there. How f**king perfect. As if he hadn't been through enough...
He continued walking, and nearly jumped when he heard sirens. He turned around, and was relieved to see it was just an ambulence. He continued walking and went to turn the corner just before Courtney's apartment.
When he got around he stopped. His walking stopped, his breathng stopped, everything just stopped. The ambulence behind him had stopped. It has stopped beside about five more ambulences up ahead, right in front of the doors that lead to Courtney's apartment. Duncan's stomach flipped violently. He saw them pulling a stretcher out of the doors, someone was on it.....
Courtney's last words suddenly filled his mind with extremely disturbing thoughts. I really can't live without you. Duncan lost all feeling in his body.

End of chapter 5.