<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/>Renea watched Lea and Carlos interact, cocking an eyebrow at the two. Lea was out like a light once she closed her eyes and the paramedics kept an eye on her vitals as they sped through the city. Still, it was annoying that she didn't get to know much--her annoyance didn't last long as Carlos addressed her.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">"Ok, I think it is time that we introduce us properly, Renea..."</span>he began, and she listened to him with full attention, though she made a face at his last words,<span style="font-style: italic">"...I would be really happy if you say good-bye to stripping too, Renea. It isn't a place for a young mother with little kids. They will suffer one day for it..."</span>She folded her arms across her chest and her usually cheerful face became serious.<span style="color: #FF4000"><span style="font-style: italic"> "Listen, I get it. I hear this shit all the time--but as much damage as you think my stripping is going to do to my kids is far less than the damage their life will be like without their father. He forgot his own strength and accidentally killed a man. It should have been man slaughter at most, but the courts didn't want to see it that way and our lawyer was shit. I'm trying to save up money to get a new lawyer and get him an appeal. I can't do that with a minimum wage job and no work experience, alright? I've almost got enough and it isn't like I bring my kids to work with me or they know what mommy does. I'm not a moron. I know this isn't ideal, but life hardly ever is. I've made my decision and in the long run it'll be a good one. It doesn't look amazing right now, I know that...but I can't just sit around and slowly save money. I need my husband now, damnit."</span></span>By the end of her words, Renea's voice was shaky and watery. Her eyes seemed glassy, but she didn't let the tears fall.<br/><br/>Carlos had a plain way of looking at things and he didn't know her well enough to say that her choices were bad. She knew they weren't great, but she also knew the rewards far outweighed the consequences. She just needed a few more months stripping and she would have enough to get her husband a lawyer that could actually help him and get him back home with her. Taking care of the kids without his help and support had been difficult and the only thing that kept her going were the midday phone calls and frequent visits. She never told her kids that he was in jail or that she visited him. She just let them talk on the phone, pretending that daddy was away on business and that he would be home at some point. She had carefully constructed a positive environment around her kids so they wouldn't know what she was doing or what had happened to their father. She knew she'd have to let them know one day, but they were too young for that now.<br/><br/>She was so close to reaching her goal and Lea had helped with that, even if the woman tried to be slick about it--Renea knew that Lea had been leaving money in her purse with the rest of her earnings. Between paying the bills and keeping a savings, Renea had to say that she was doing pretty okay. Her children's standard of living hadn't gone down outside of missing their father, and somewhat more of their mother, but over all--they had the same amount of food on the table, they were able to take weekends out together as they had previously--she worked very hard to keep up the appearance of everything being fine, even if she did cry herself to sleep.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF4000"><span style="font-style: italic">"I'm a good mother, damnit,"</span></span>she said finally as they reached the hospital. The paramedics carted Lea out and Renea stepped out of the ambulance, turning to look at Carlos,<span style="color: #FF4000"><span style="font-style: italic">"I know you mean well, Mr. Delgado, but your best intentions can lead you straight to hell if you aren't careful."</span></span>With that, Renea was gone--likely in the waiting room as directed by the staff in the ER.<br/><br/>Lea was taken to surgery for her shoulder first, blood loss almost causing them to lose her. She pulled through though, much to the relief of the surgeons. She was put into an ICU room to be monitored for a while, only allowing for one or two visitors at a time. Security had to be set up to keep overly eager reporters and police out. Lea slept for a little bit, her wrist securely fastened so she would not bring it anymore damage before they could look at it fully. Her wrist would have to wait, as the surgeons were needed with Maria. They gave her an IV drip with a cocktail of fluids and pain relievers, so when she did finally open her eyes, her head felt like cotton and she had a difficult time focusing.<br/><br/>Her blurry vision cleared some and she took in Carlos' figure sitting in a thoughtful position.<span style="color: #FF80FF"> "...H-ahem--Hey, there,"</span>she croaked out, her mouth and throat dry. She felt uncomfortable with the tube below her nose, but didn't complain nor did she bother to remove it. Carlos looked rather strained and tired, if not a bit upset by something. She then remembered Maria and she sat up some,<span style="color: #FF80FF">"Is Maria okay?" </span>she asked worriedly.