Tommy 39

Tommy knelt down next to his dad, "Dad, can you hear me?" He heard a groan from Jeff. Thank God he is still alive. Tommy thought, but for how long? It looked like Jeff had been beaten with a weapon of some sort, but Tommy couldn't locate anything around Jeff's battered body. "Dad, who did this to you?" Tommy noticed his left palm open up to release a tee. "Dad, did Derrick McKinley do this to you?" Tommy tried to remain calm for his Jeff's sake. Jeff was barely able to speak audibly, but managed to utter one word. "Becky" "Becky? Becky did this to you? Dad, please don't try to move. Mom called an ambulance." Tommy placed his hand on Jeff's back to reassure him that he wouldn't leave him. At the sound of Ginger's name, Jeff 's body stiffened. "Dad, don't move. Don't worry, I won't let mom back here to see all this blood." Tommy was doing his best to suppress the sobs that were caught in his throat. Jeff's body again relaxed in an almost comatose state. Tommy was almost reading his thoughts. Ginger was scared out of her mind, what was wrong with her Jeff? She headed out towards the alley after calling the 911 dispatcher, the polite lady wanted Ginger to hold the line until the Ambulance arrived, but Ginger was so worried about Jeff she hung up on her. "Tommy, JEFF!" Tommy heard Ginger calling for them, Jeff's body once again tensed up. He hated to leave his dad's side for even a second but knew his mom wouldn't be able to see anything but the blood surrounding her beloved husband's broken body. "Mom, I need you to do something very important for me. I need you to go out front & show the paramedics where we are." Ginger's face was wrought with fear. "Jeff?" "Dad, is conscious, but it looks like he was attacked by someone. Mom, the best way to help him right now is to get the Ambulance here as soon as possible. If you are back there with him now he will only use his strength to worry about you. Mom, do you understand what I am saying?" Tommy embraced his mother. Ginger knew that what Tommy was saying made perfect sense, Jeff always worried about Ginger. She nodded & ran to the front yard as she heard the sirens coming down the street. ********* The paramedics took Jeff to Saint Anne's hospital. Ginger rode along with him. Just as suspected, she broke into tears the minutes she saw Jeff. The paramedics reassured her that Jeff's vitals were strong. As soon as the Dr. saw him, she would be able to find out more.The police told Tommy it appears the Mr. Metcalf was struck 3 times, once to the head & twice to the back & shoulder area with a blunt object. Tommy thanked the police & they told him they would be at the hospital to speak to his dad later. Tommy assured Ginger that he would be at the hospital as soon as he called Steve & Susan. He made those calls, his siblings informed him they would be heading  to the hospital right away. Tommy couldn't get the sound of Jeff saying his cousin's name out of his head. What exactly did Becky have to do with Jeff's attack? These were questions Tommy wanted answers to now.