Set Me Free (Michael Jackson Fanfiction) (Completed)

Chapter Thirty-one

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Blair and everyone else held their breath as they huddled closer to the doctor. He was very slim and tall with rich dark skin. "My name is Doctor Nwokenaka. I've been assigned to your son, Randell Jackson." His accent was also heavy but he was able to enunciate his words clearly so there wouldn't be any confusion from what he was saying.

"How's he doing?" Katherine queried eagerly. The sound of her voice suggested that she was close to the edge.

Blair wanted more than anything to go up to Michael and take his hand as they discovered the fate of his brother, but she couldn't move. Instead, she grabbed on to Claudine next to her.

Claudine held on to her too.

Doctor Nwokenaka continued, "We had to give him a blood transfusion in order to keep his blood pressure stable. He was shot in the abdomen, but the bullet missed his lungs, spine, and abdominal organs."

Katherine released a giant sigh of relief as she sent loud praises to Yahweh.

Joseph cradled her close with a weak smile. He looked better than before, but it was obvious that he was still worried.

"However, a few of his blood vessels managed to get torn, causing him lots of internal bleeding. This explains why he keeps coming in and out of consciousness. Fainting is common during penetrating trauma."

"Will he be okay?" Joseph asked. He sounded calm, but his expression was the opposite.

"He'll need surgery," the doctor replied. "One called Exploratory laparotomy."

"What is that?" Maureen asked.

"It's when we go in and seal the ends of all the leaking blood vessels with a heating probe."

Katherine was worried again. "Will it hurt him?"

"No, ma'am. We will make sure he remains sleep through the entire process. It shouldn't take long," Doctor Nwokenaka assured them with a polite smile. "No more than an hour. Then, either one my teammates or myself will come back to update you."

Joseph released Katherine just long enough to shake the doctor's hand and thank him for coming out to speak with them.

"May Yahweh work through you and your team to heal our son," Katherine added on.

The doctor nodded gratefully before turning to leave.

When he was gone, Joseph's face hardened, and he turned to back to Michael and Marlon. He pointed a finger at both of them. "I want this mess to end," he said firmly. "Fix it before Randy comes out of surgery."

Both sons seem to have understood that wasn't a request.

Joseph led his wife back to the waiting area. All of his children followed, save for Michael and Marlon.

Both brothers wore unreadable expressions.

Blair wasn't sure if she should leave or not. She really did want them to make up, but she also didn't want to risk them fighting again.

Claudine tugged on Blair's arm. "Let's go," she said softly.

Blair was reluctant. She glanced at Michael.

It surprised her when he finally met her eyes. The moment was brief, but Blair was hopeful all the same. He gave her a curt nod, telling her it was okay for her to leave.

She still didn't want to leave him, but she also didn't want to cause anymore tension. Before she allowed her sister to lead her away, Blair shot her gaze over to Vanessa. No matter how quiet she was, Blair hadn't forgotten that she was there.

Vanessa was still looking pretty please with herself. Did she honestly think that Michael still wanted her and that was why he and Marlon were bumping heads?

Blair wanted to scream at Vanessa to get over herself, but Michael spoke to her before she could. "You should go with them," he gestured at Blair and Claudine.

Blair frowned with heavy disapproval but didn't argue. Michael had nearly gotten himself killed over her tonight. The least Blair could do was get his ex-girlfriend out of his hair while he tried to mend things with Marlon. Blair waited for Vanessa to follow, but she didn't look too happy about the suggestion either.

Vanessa scoffed. "Stopped being selfish, Michael. Marlon doesn't want me to leave." She came up wrapped herself around Marlon's arm. "He needs me and I want to be here for him."

Blair saw Michael's jaw clenched.

Vanessa grinned, probably thinking Michael's reaction was done out of jealousy, but Blair knew it was just him getting agitated.

Marlon faced Vanessa. For the longest time he just stared at her, lacking every trace of a smile. In fact, Marlon's look was so cold it snatched Vanessa's gin right off her arrogant face.

"Mar?" she called him worriedly.

"Go." Was all he said. His tone was unnegotiable and Vanessa was smart enough not to try.

She walked away with Blair and Claudine, finally looking unsure of herself.

Now, it was Blair's turn to feel smug.

**

Michael's shoulder ached from when Marlon slammed him in the vending machine. He wanted to reach up and massage it, but he deserved the pain and much more. He deserved to be the one lying in Randy's place.

Randy was still with them. Michael thanked Yahweh a thousand times over for that, but he still wasn't done with his guilt trip. Marlon had every right to be mad at him.

Michael watched the way Marlon looked at Vanessa. It was with pure anger and heartbreak. Michael hated himself even more for causing another brother more pain. He didn't have to bring up Vanessa's advances, not like this anyway, not in front of their whole family and strangers. "Bringing that up was out of line," he said, breaking the suffocating silence between them. "I shouldn't have told you that way."

"Is it true?" Marlon glowered.

Michael sighed and nodded reluctantly.

"Were you going to tell me at all?"

Michael looked away and rubbed the back of his neck. "I don't know. Probably not. I wasn't sure what you would think."

Marlon narrowed his eyes. "You were scared I'd think you'd betray me?"

Michael faced him again, tightening his eyes as well. "Do you?"

Marlon's laugh was etched with bitterness. "You can be many things, brother: carless, stupid, naïve, the list goes on, but a traitor isn't one of them."

Michael sighed, only feeling somewhat relieved. "I still feel terrible about it. You're crazy about her and I just humiliated you in front of everyone." Marlon just glared at him. "I really am sorry, Mar." Michael's voice cracked a little. "For Randy and for the way I exposed Vanessa."

Marlon came towards him. He was quiet for a long time until he placed a hand on Michael's shoulder.

Once his brother touched him, Michael didn't bother holding back his tears. "I wish it would have been me."

A second later they held each other in a brotherly embraced. Michael clung to him and cried. They stayed that way until Michael used up all his tears. When they pulled away, Michael felt lighter than before. "Thanks," he said softly.

"That's the last time I let you get all wimpy on me."

They both chuckled.

Michael wiped his face with his hand. "So, what now?"

Marlon shrugged. "We pray for Randy to come through with a full recovery."

Michael agreed. As they walked back to the waiting area, Michael asked, "Just so we're clear, you didn't believe Vanessa when she said I wanted her back, right?"

"I know you, brother. I know how you get when you're in love, and the woman you're in love with is not Vanessa. Blair's got you whipped." He smiled just a little before it faded. "I'm sorry for the way acted with her back there. I was angry and not thinking straight."

"Neither was I when I talked about Vanessa. Despite her actions, she's still your woman and I should respect that."

His face hardened again. "Not anymore." Marlon must have felt Michael's eyes on him because he turned to meet his stare.

"You don't think you two can work it out?" Michael asked.

Marlon frowned. "Why the hell would I continue dating someone who's after my brother? Vanessa is insane if she actually thinks I'm just going to let that happen."

They joined the rest of the family. The few quiet chatters that were going on stopped as soon as they entered. Everyone watched Michael and Marlon expectantly.

"We're good," Michael assured them, and Marlon nodded.

Satisfied, everyone seemed to have released a long overdue breath before leaning back in their seats.

Joseph nodded at sons in approval but there was no smile. He probably wasn't going to smile until Randy came out of surgery all right.

Michael's eyes casually swept across the room, but they halted when they landed on a particular green pair. They resembled Claudine's, but these were bigger and more hypnotic. He always knew when those pair of eyes were watching him. He was under their spell. Truth be told, he was under Blair Chambers' spell altogether. All she had to do was look at him the way she was doing right now, and he'd bend over backwards for her, as if rescuing her tonight wasn't proof enough. How did she do it, he wondered. How did she make him want to be with her so badly? Even when he wanted to be angry with her, Michael could feel the wall of detachment he placed between them slowly crumbling.

Vanessa kept two empty seats between herself and Blair, which Blair didn't appear the least bit bothered by. Vanessa smiled in their direction and patted the vacant seat beside her.

Michael wasn't completely sure if she was gesturing for Marlon or for him. Either way, neither one of them seemed interested. Michael took the seat closest to Blair, keeping one empty chair between him and his ex.

Reluctantly, Marlon sat between them but didn't utter a word. Vanessa must have tried to reach for his hand because Marlon broke the silence when he jerked away from her and said through clenched teeth, "Do. Not. Touch. Me."

Just when Michael figured the tension in the air couldn't get any thicker, it does. No one had any intentions of saying a thing until the doctor returned.

Michael could feel Blair staring at him at the corner of her eye. He felt guilty as he thought about the way he kept avoiding her gaze earlier. She already felt miserable enough without him being a jerk to her. He turned to her and gave her a weak pitiful smile. This has been the most exhausting night in his entire life.

Blair didn't seem to mind his pathetic excuse of a smile. She responded by gently cradling his hand in both of hers.

Michael didn't have the strength to pull away this time, neither did he want to. He relished in her caress. It took him back to the way they used to be before she ran back to her boss. Now, Blair could love him freely without restraint.

His mind suddenly trailed to Randy. More guilt flooded over him. How could he be thinking about his own happiness while his baby brother was suffering in the middle of surgery? Conflicted, Michael groaned and then pulled his hand away. He grew even more contrite once he saw how devastated Blair was by his action. "I'm sorry," he croaked, sincerely.

Blair abruptly shook her head. "I get it. I shouldn't even be here." She sounded like she wasn't far from breaking down.

Michael wanted to punch himself in the gut for hurting her. "Blair..."

She rose to her feet and looked at Claudine. "We should go. Only family should be here right now."

"Where will you go?" Katherine queried. Her brows were etched with worry.

Michael watched Blair closely. It was obvious that she and Claudine had nowhere to go. They were going to be homeless for sure. "We'll be okay," Blair fibbed.

Michael's jaw clenched.

Before he could protest, his father spoke with resolution. "I'm not about to let another thing happen to anyone else in this room. Do I make myself clear? Now, have a seat. As soon as we know how Randy's doing after surgery, you two ladies will be coming home with us. End of discussion."

Joseph spoke with such finality Blair took her seat without hesitation. When Michael's father got angry, no one dared to argue with him.

Michael grinned, grateful for his dad's intervention.

Half an hour later, Dr. Nwokenaka had returned. He said Randy was out of surgery and everything went smoothly. It would take him a few months to fully recover, but he was going to be okay.

Katherine sighed with heavy relief and almost fainted. Maureen caught her before she could. Almost everyone in the room had sent their thanks and praises to God before showing the doctor their gratitude as well.

Dr. Nwokenaka added on, "We'd like to keep him for a few days just to make sure he's recovering okay. Then, he'll be able finish his healing process at home."

"Can we see him now?" Jermaine asked.

"He's resting at the moment. We recommend that he remains sleep until morning, but if one of you would prefer to stay the night with him, that would be fine."

"I would," Katherine stepped forward.

"Actually, Katie," Joseph touched her shoulders. "I think it'll be best if you take the girls home and get them situated." He nodded at Blair and Claudine. "I'll stay here with Randy."

Dr. Nwokenaka nodded his approval before taking his leave.

Katherine turned to Joseph. "Are you sure? What if something happens when I'm gone?"

"Nothing is going to happen, Sweetheart," Joseph crooned calmly before planting a kiss on her forehead. "He's fine. The doctor just told us so."

Katherine nodded.

"Just come back when you can in the morning. I'm going to be here looking after him all night. He's going to be fine." The pastor and first lady hugged. "The rest of you can go home too," Joseph told the rest of his children. "I'll make sure to keep you all updated."

Gradually, everyone left the room.

Michael caught Blair's attention once more they parted. "Blair?" She froze and waited for what he was going to say next. "Don't disappear on my parents again, okay?"

He saw disappointment wash over her face before she recollected herself and followed his mother out of the room.

Michael stared after her until she was completely out of sight.