The sun shined through the previously shattered window down onto her. Cuts, bruises, and broken bones raked through Abigail Whistler's body. She sat looking dully at the light streaming down onto the floor of a warehouse. Blood dripped onto the ground in a steady stream. Her breathing was heavy, hurting from the bruised ribs. She was lucky it hadn't punctured a lung. The Werewolf had beaten her, hands down. He was stronger than she was. But when the sun was out….she was the winner at the moment. At least she liked to think that way. Hannibal King had been right. The Werewolves were smarter, quicker, and stronger than the last time they appeared. But since it had been the first of their appearances just after the Daystar success, neither one of them knew how strong they could be. Vampires had been easy compared to them, it was almost like fighting an immovable object. The only good thing was that they hated silver as much as the vampire asswipes, which she had no problem shooting an arrow right through their chest. But, killing them made dusting vamps seem like crushing a glued down spider.
"Abby? " Hannibal
King's voice rang throughout the warehouse. Abigail didn't turn
to the sound of her partner's voice. He'd probably be
disappointed with her. She groaned as she tried to pull herself up,
remaining seated on the ground, waiting for him to reach her. Waiting
for him to pickup her broken body and put it back together again.
Like she wanted him to, needed him to.
" Where's
the Wolf?" he asked behind her, not seeing the extent of her
injuries.
" Gone," she whispered.
"
You killed it then?" King continued
" No."
Abigail replied not even turning to meet his gaze
"
What happened?" he inquired bending down to her level, closer to
her back.
She didn't want to look into his probing brown eyes.
Failure would be written all over her face and that was one
expression she never wanted to express.
" It…it
got away. It was too strong." she replied
"
Damn," was all Hannibal King could say, " We need to rethink.
Track him."
Hannibal King touched her shoulder. Abigail tried
not to flinch, but since it was dislocated, it was impossible.
" Let's get you patched up Abby," he told her as he
came around to see her face in the newly restored sunlight. She
couldn't look at him. Not after letting the Werewolf get away. And
she knew she wouldn't be ready any time soon to track him.
" Oh, God," Hannibal King whispered as he saw the real
damage done to her.
" It's okay. I'm fine,"
Abigail said, wanting to reassure him. Since he crouched with his
back to the sun, she couldn't see his eyes clearly, which was good
since she didn't want to see the awaiting criticism in them just
yet.
" Can you walk?" he asked, gently touching
the side of her face. It even hurt to shake her head no, but she did.
As gently as he could, he lifted her broken body in his arms. Abigail
tried not to cry out in pain, but her shoulder alone was just too
much.
" My shoulder…" she muttered
" I have to pop it
back in place," Hannibal King stated, Abigail nodded and grunted as
he placed her back down, still cradling her like a child, " This
will hurt."
" Just do it." she replied, Hannibal
King must have done it to himself before, because he knew exactly how
much pressure to maneuver it back into place. That didn't mean it
hurt any less. Abigail screamed more in rage than pain. Stars danced
in front of her eyes for a few moments, but she stayed conscious.
Maybe it was the guilt or maybe the fact that Hannibal King looked
directly at her the moment he popped it, that made her not want to go
under.
" Okay?" he asked, holding her close once
again, like he was trying to absorb some of her pain. She nodded yes
and put a slight smile onto his face. Then again, he gingerly picked
her up, almost like she was a rag doll. She never knew he could be
that strong or that gentle, considering he was built like a rock. As
he held her close, she could feel his heart pumping fast, smell the
soap he used, feel the muscles in his arms move as he carried her
from the building.
Not a word was spoken until they reached his car.
" I have to put you down to get the
door open, Abby." Hannibal King stated as she nodded. Abigail
didn't mean to slide down his body as he placed her on her feet,
but it happened. She heard a slight gasp as her feet slowly hit the
ground. Seeing a look of pain on his face, she tried to pull back to
let him have some space, for which she almost tumbled over to her
knees. Her legs would not support her weight yet. He grabbed her
waist to keep her upright.
" You're hurt?" she
choked out
" A few wolfgang asswipes. Just a little
sore." he replied.
" You should have said
something." Abigail stated
Hannibal King wrestled the keys out
of his pocket all the while holding Abigail to his side. Opening the
door a little, he picked her up again, swinging the door open with
his foot. Placing her in the passenger seat, he reached over to
buckle her seatbelt, face coming within a couple of inches of hers.
It's
like you're a drug
It's like you're a demon I can't face down
It's
like I'm stuck
It's like I'm running from you all the time
He stopped on the way back out of the car to leave a quick kiss on her forehead. She settled down against the back of the seat.
" I….Don't be,"
Abigail stumbled with her words as she tried to ask him to accept her
defeat. But, he stopped her as he started the vehicle.
" Don't say it Abby….I'm not mad at you. I'm just concerned
about your health right now." Hannibal King swung the car out into
the light traffic. The sun was too bright for her eyes. Closing them,
she drifted in and out of consciousness. Sinking into oblivion helped
clear her mind somewhat so her body could relax and take a break.
Some time later, Abigail felt the car come to a halt. She opened her
eyes as Hannibal King came around to her side of the car. Just as she
readied herself to get out, he slid his arms underneath her legs and
back to pick her up again.
And
I know I let you have all the power
It's like the only company I
seek is misery all around
" Shhh," he told
her as she leaned into his chest.
He knew she'd protest his
treatment this time. He had obviously seen the defiant look in her
eyes as he opened the car door. When he reached the entrance of the
Honeycomb he shifted around her weight as he kicked the door open. It
was at that moment that Abigail realized that he still hadn't
attempted to put her down. Her body was much warmer than it had been
in some time, maybe forever. Not too many times in her life had
anyone held her so gently, almost to the point of cocooning her.
It's
like you're a leech
Sucking the life from me
Carefully
sitting down on a couch, Hannibal King still hadn't let go. He just
sat with her on his lap, now stroking her matted hair. Now Abigail
definitely didn't know what to do. At any time, she could get up,
out of his grasp, out of his reach. But she didn't want to. She
wanted his warmth to seep into her bones, taking in its somehow
magic. It didn't matter to him that her blood soaked into his
clothes, his wounds forgotten. She curled her legs up into his lap
also, wanting her whole body to feel that warmth. He grunted in
response. Abigail didn't say a word, but lifted her head to look
into his eyes.
It's
like I can't breathe
Without you inside of me
The sun had shielded those eyes until now. The man could say so much with just those intense eyes of his. His chocolate brown eyes showed pain, confusion and maybe a little amazement from how wide they had become. Now she got it. He hadn't expected her positive reaction to his gesture. He probably expected her to reject his overtures of help. But he offered anyway, even knowing that she might object. Abigail settled her head back down on his chest, hearing the fast, but steady beat of his heart. Did it beat fast because of all the exertion or because she had plastered herself all over the front of his body?
And
I know I let you have all the power
And I realize I'm never gonna
quit you over time
She breathed in his unique
scent, wanting to remember this kind of closeness for a long time.
Someone actually touched her because he wanted to, not because he had
wanted something. His arms came around to circle her body. Her head
came just below his chin. He rested it gently on top of her head as
the rest of his body relaxed into the sofa. She could feel his breath
in her hair, along with fingers that had started stroking through her
hair.
Abigail wondered if she should stop him. But as
she lay in his quiet arms, there was no place she'd rather be. They
sat there for what seemed like hours. Occasionally he would place a
light kiss on her head, but neither moved to leave.
The sharp
sound of Zoe crying shook them both out of their comfortable setting.
It's
like I can't breathe
It's like I can't see anything
Nothing but
you
I'm addicted to you
" She probably had another nightmare." she said
" I'll tend to
her…you rest here." Hannibal King replied loosening his grip and
jarring her out of the cocoon he had created around her. Abigail
shifted as he moved, sliding off to sit in his spot. Immediately her
body became cold again without his heat to warm it. She watched as he
disappeared into the halls of the Honeycomb in search of Zoe's
room. She wanted to comfort her so badly, just as King had comforted
her. But, Zoe was scared of loosing them as it was already, and
seeing her banged up wouldn't help her right now. So much had
happened in the past few mouths that she herself was occasionally
bewildered by it, one could only imagine what a child felt like at a
time like this.
" I need to take a shower." she
declared snapping out of her thoughts,
It's
like I can't think
Without you interrupting me
In my
thoughts
In my dreams
You've taken over me
" Abby your wounds …..." she heard King approaching her
" Will heal. Don't worry about me, Zoe alright?"
Abigail asked
" She's asleep again." he replied
nodding his head in acknowledgment, " Do you need me?"
" I can walk." she replied, Abigail gingerly put weight one
by one on her legs, grimacing but able to stand. King still held onto
her elbow to guide her into the bedroom.
" Thanks," she said as he leaned her against the wall, when she was okay he left her to herself. As she glanced in the mirror, she figured that maybe he was right in her needing help. She could barely stand, much less take her own clothes off.
It's
like I'm not me
It's like I'm not me
Some of the blood
had dried, but every time she moved she opened a cut that had started
to close. Turning the water on in the shower, thoughts of the warmth
that King has surrounded her in fluttered back. Her body shivered
from the remembrance as Abigail tried to block the out. Stripping
off her bloody clothes, she reached for the shower door. The water
ran hot now, steaming up the bathroom until she couldn't see her
pale reflection in the mirror anymore. Stepping into the enclosure,
the heat settled around her, but still didn't seep into her bones
like Hannibal King's heat had before. Nothing could replace that
feeling.
It's
like I'm lost
It's like I'm giving up slowly
It's like you're a
ghost that's haunting me
Leave me alone
As she rinsed
the blood off of her face, her brain started catching up with all
that had happened not an hour before. What if Hannibal King had
gotten hurt or died on their mission, what if she lost him? They were
damn lucky that the sun had reappeared. That Werewolf would have been
on him in a minute, killing them both. Suddenly anger rose in her
matching the steam of the shower. Her failure to kill the Werewolf
had put Hannibal King in danger. She hadn't done her job.
Underestimating it had almost taken both of them down. Rage boiled
through her veins. " I had put him in danger." She told herself.
And
I know these voices in my head
Are mine alone
And I know I'll
never change my ways
If I don't give you up now
Abigail
was surprised when her fist had punched out and hit the shower wall.
The anger that built up inside her had no other way to come out. It
needed to before she faced the rest of the world again, before she
faced him again. So she preferred to beat on the wall, imagining the
Werewolf's face for a moment, fueling the fire even more.
"Abby," Hannibal King yelled from the doorway. He must have heard her, but she didn't care. She wanted to erase what had happened to them. Her body wouldn't let her escape that need.
It's
like I can't breathe
It's like I can't see anything
Steam
pored out as Hannibal King jerked the shower door open. She could
barely make out his shocked expression at the half-destroyed shower
stall.
Nothing
but you
I'm addicted to you
"Abigail,"
Hannibal King called, " What on earth are you doing?" Abigail
turned her head back and forth, not really knowing why she took out
that much anger on an inanimate object. Her style had always been to
beat flesh.
" So cold," was the only thing she
could think of.
" The water's scalding,"
Hannibal King told her as he felt the temperature.
It's
like I can't think
Without you interrupting me
Blood still washed down off her naked body. King hadn't commented on her state one way or another, nor did he look down from her face. If he were blushing, she'd never know with the steam everywhere. Abigail leaned on the back of the shower stall, trying to find her balance after the workout. Hannibal King took it as her almost falling over. His shoes and socks came off quickly. He climbed in beside her, fully clothed. Clearing away most of the debris, he gently touched her arm to get her attention.
In
my thoughts
In my dreams
You've taken over me
Shifting
them around, he held her as they slid down the wall and he cradled
her in his arms. Abigail held onto his arms in front of her as her
back rested against his now soaked shirt.
" Abby, speak to me." King breathed as he could feel her struggling against him. She started to softly sob in his arms as the water mixed with her tears. King held her tighter and pressed his cheek against hers. " Abby please, talk to me. This isn't you, your scaring me."
It's
like I'm not me
It's like I'm not me
" I don't want to lose you King….I can't. I'm sorry I messed up, it could have been my fault and I don't know what I would have done if I lost you." Abigail sobbed, this took King aback. Here was the strongest woman he knew crying over the thought of losing him. Abigail was tough and nails and would kick anyone's ass in a heartbeat, even his if she had too..
" I'm not going any where. Nothing is your fault, don't blame yourself anything out of your control. Hey I make stupid mistakes how many times a week?" he tried to make her laugh. Abigail half sob and chuckled at him. He reached his hand up and tucked a strand of wet hair behind her ear. She looked radiant, he thought; her hair glistened from the radiance of the water, and her skin was flushed from the steam.
" You're beautiful," King said, unable to stop the words.
" What?" Abigail asked quietly, her head turned away from his.
" You're beautiful." he repeated
" King?" her voice was barely above a whisper, he turned her head back and shifted her a little so her back was still against his chest, but their eyes could lock. As his brown eyes held her green ones tightly, he had leaned towards her and pressed a small kiss on her lips. Abigail started to move away, but he caught her and held her in his grip. The kiss started sweet and slow, but quickly gained in intensity as King now slid his arms around her waist.
I'm
hooked on you
I need a fix
I can't take it
Just one more
hit
I promise I can deal with it
Abigail turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. King fell down on his back and pulled her on top of him. She reacted without thinking, bringing her arms to rest on either side of his head as his fingers ran through her dripping hair. Her legs slid across his and she was suddenly straddling him. A groan brought her out of her trance, and she pulled out of his kiss, her eyes round and her mouth forming an "O" as she realized what they were doing.
I'll
handle it, quit it
Just one more time
Then that's it
Just a
little bit more to get me through this
" King, I think this is wrong." she whispered
" Then let it be wrong Abby." King replied as he suddenly pulled her against him and kissed her, Abigail tried to pull away from him, but his lips were so perfect as they gently pressed against her own. He was tracing her bottom lip with his tongue when she groaned in protest, King took advantage of her slight protest to maneuver his tongue into her mouth. She struggled against him, and he responded by pulling her closer to him in a tight embrace. He deepened the kiss and moved his hand up to cup her chin, brushing his thumb along the soft side of her face. Abigail trembled against him as her body melted into his arms, a soft pant escaped from her lips as he released her.
I'm
hooked on you
I need a fix
I can't take it
Just one more
hit
I promise I can deal with it
I'll handle it, quit it
Just
one more time
Then that's it
Just a little bit more to get me
through this
" I love you Abigail. No bullshit, just the truth Abby. You were scared about losing me, when I nearly lost it at the thought that I might not be able to see that beautiful face of yours that keeps me going anymore. You're my rose in this concrete world. I know hating is easy, but love takes courage. And you give me that courage." King said as Abigail stared into his eyes.
It's like I can't
breathe
It's like I can't see anything
" We belong together, you complete me. You make me feel like it okay to be scared and strong at the same time. I could never see myself doing this without you." Abigail replied.
Nothing
but you
I'm addicted to you
It's like I can't think
Without
you interrupting me
" I love you King." she confessed, he kissed her neck and jaw line, starting to move his hands over her body.
In
my thoughts
In my dreams
" Guess I should take that shower now." Abigail stated
" Guess you should…..and so should I." King replied
You've
taken over me
It's like I'm not me
It's like I'm not me
Fin….not the best but hey, it's kind of cute.
9
