Page 147 of Jackass

Mimic stormed over to Sammy, and Tank rushed over and lifted Charlie off her feet.

“What the fuck is he doing here?” Mimic growled.

“Uncle Derek is a hero, Uncle Mimic,” Charlie declared.

“A hero?” Mimic snorted.

“Yes! He saved me!” Charlie yelled.

“Ok, everyone, listen up,” I shouted. “Derek is the reason we got Charlie back. And he is the reason Carrie can never come after her again.”

“What about what he did to Sam?” Stocks asked.

I opened my mouth to say more, and Derek touched my arm.

“Let me,” Derek offered. “What I did to Sam is something I will never forgive myself for. I am not asking you to forgive me either. Jack invited me here because my room at the motel is a crime scene. I will only be here a few days before I head back to Arkansas. While I’m here, I would like the opportunity to get to know my brother a little, and maybe at least try to make it up to Sam in some small way.”

Sammy smiled at Derek.

“You already have, by saving Charlie.” Sammy turned to the room. “The truth is, he could have turned his back on her when he opened the door and found Carrie standing there. He didn’t. He did everything he could to not only protect her, but to keep her from being traumatized more than absolutely necessary.”

Sammy walked over to Mimic. “We do our best to forgive andoffer grace. Isn’t that right, Mimic?”

Mimic continued to glare at Derek.

“Mimic?” Sammy pressed.

“Yea, Momma. I’ll do my best, but I ain’t promisin’ shit.”

Sammy hugged him, and I heard her whisper, “That’s all I ask.”

“Derek is my family. And Charlie’s family. I’m gonna get him set up in a room, then I need to head to the hospital to see Ryder,” I told everyone.

Once Derek was set up in a room, Charlie wanted to hang out with him and watch TV. Sammy offered to ride to the hospital with me, but I didn’t want to leave Derek at the clubhouse alone on his first night. It was enough I had to leave.

King called and asked me to grab something from the office before I went up. I stopped and grabbed the box, then headed out.

Walking down the hospital hallway, I thought about the way today could have ended. I reached the waiting room and found Mr. and Mrs. Thomas, Blade, Cash, and King all sitting there.

There was another pretty young woman I didn’t know sitting in the corner, talking with Beck and Rachel. There was something familiar about her, but I couldn’t place it.

“How is he?” I asked.

“He’s in surgery. They had to repair a small artery, but it was a through and through, no bones hit,” Mr. Thomas explained.

“How are Charlie and Samantha?” Beck asked.

“They’re both doing well, considering. Charlie is telling anyone who will listen that her Uncle Derek is a hero.”

“You told her?” Cash asked.

“He did. He needed her to trust him.”

I explained to them everything that had happened.

“I offered him a room at the clubhouse for a few days until he heads home,” I said, looking at King.

“Is that a good idea?” Blade asked.