<span style="color: #FF80FF"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><div style="text-align: center;">Lea Stevens</div></span></span></span><br/><div style="text-align: center;"><a class="postlink" href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn24/SociallyToxicBeauty/036e0d3a-b28c-47ec-b858-0eaea6c67e4d.jpg">[ img ]</a></div><br/><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #FF80FF"><div style="text-align: center;">"Jazz"</div></span></span></span><br/><br/>Carlos had finally stood and planted himself in front of Lea, asking her to calm down. She was still trying to pull her clothes on with a great amount of difficulty. Lea hardly registered Carlos' words, but when they finally did settle into her mind she paused in her actions and looked up at him with a bit of confusion. She wondered if he was messing with her. Lea had always been a rather paranoid person, but the recent years had made it much worse.<br/><br/>Carlos held out his hand non-threateningly and Lea gave a small sniffle, her chin wobbling as she nodded and let her good hand rest in his. He brought her back to the bed, helping her up and she kept her her eyes cast down on the blankets as the nurses and doctors began to treat her small wounds and hook her back up to everything.<br/><br/><span style="color: #40BF00">"How come you are the one to decide when we release her? She isn't in the condition to go anywhere and there is no way that I will sign her papers in the morning..." </span>Lea's doctor exclaimed, letting out a sudden yelp as Carlos snatched him by his tie and brought their faces close together. The sudden noise caused Lea to look up and she had a moment of concern for the doctor, though said nothing.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF8000">"First of all, this is a matter of life and death...Lea won't die of the pains she will surely go through...you will go down to the press...Have we understood us, DOC?"</span>Carlos' voice brooked for no argument and the doctor gave an audible gulp as he nodded. Carlos released him and the nurses and doctors left the room. It seemed that they were all a little wary of the duo.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF80FF">"This is all my fault..."</span>Lea finally mumbled out as the door closed.<span style="color: #FF80FF">"What are we going to do? You said it wasn't the people Mary-Ann was after, but who else would be in on this sort of thing? Unless Ralph has some sort of accomplice or...I don't know, Carlos. This doesn't sit well. Maybe we should halt the story until we know more. We can't just let Renea and her children suffer for this! She's been working so hard to keep her family together and she's such a good person and...and..."</span>Lea's voice began to crack as she dropped her head into her good hand, trying her best not to cry.<br/><span style="color: #FF80FF"><br/>"I can't handle this, Carlos. I c-c-can't..."</span>Lea admitted with a shaky breath. She felt like she was at her limit, and if truth be told, it was likely she had gone far past her limit a long time ago.<span style="color: #FF80FF">"I w-won't...be ab-able t-to live with--this...I c-can h-hardly st-stomach M-Maria being h-hurt!"</span>she wailed, finally breaking down completely. Her hand dropped from her face to the blanket, pulling it closer to her face and burying her head in it to muffle her sobs. Her shoulders shook and she felt as if there was no end to the torment the world was bringing through.