Come on, just hold on. You just gotta hold on.
Claudia clutched at the sink to keep herself from sinking to the floor. She was gulping for air, and black spots were swirling in her vision. Once she had steadied herself a bit, she fumbled through her bag until she found her Farnsworth, and then called Steve.
"Hey Claude, how's it going?"
"I need back up." She said breathlessly, feeling nauseous.
"What's up? Are you okay?"
"Please just- just get here now." Her voice cracked, but she refused to allow herself to fall apart. Not now. Not yet. Just hold on till you get out of here.
"Where are you?"
"There's a bathroom in the back of the bar where I was questioning people."
"Okay. I'll be there in five. Claude?
"Yah?"
"Hang in there." he hung up. Claudia turned and leaned against the wall, but her legs refused to support her, and she slid down to the floor. She wrapped her arms around her knees and began to lose herself to old memories when a knock sounded at the door. She jumped.
"Who's there?" Claudia's voice was raw and dangerous.
"It's Steve."
She stood up, feeling shaky, and fumbled with the lock, finally undoing it and opening the door.
"Claudia, are you okay?" his face had concern written all over it.
She didn't say anything, but latched her arms around him tightly. Hanging onto something was all she could do. She couldn't let go or she'd lose it. Steve stepped inside the bathroom and let the door shut behind him, hugging her tightly. She was hyperventilating, but couldn't calm herself.
"It's okay, Claude. It's okay." Steve murmured over and over quietly into her hair, not knowing what was supposed to be okay, or if it was actually okay.
"Can't... breathe..." Claudia said between short gulps of air.
"Hey," he said, detaching himself from her and tipping her chin up."Breathe for me. Okay? You gotta breathe."
Claudia continued to gasp, and things became blurry.
"Breathe with me." he said, pulling her back into his chest, where she could feel him slowly inhaling. "Inhale." she tried to do it along with him, but took about seven breaths to his one. "Exhale." he said, breathing out slowly. They stood there for several minutes, and finally Claudia's hyperventilating gave way to a sob. More followed-not delicate or quiet, but big and loud and violent. He held her close for a long time. Finally, Steve pulled away and looked at her again. "What happened, Claudia? Are you okay?"
Tears were rolling down her abnormally pale cheeks. "I uh- ran into... one of my old foster fathers." She said in chunks, between her tears.
"Did he hurt you, Claudia? Please just tell me if you're okay."
"I'm not hurt. He uh... he didn't see me." she hiccuped.
"Okay. Okay. Do you want to get out of here?"
She nodded. "But he might still be out there." she said, eyes widening and clinging onto him tighter.
"It's okay, Claude. I won't let him hurt you."
"Okay," she said shakily, picking up her bag from the floor. He put his arm protectively around her as they exited the bathroom. She looked around, and relaxed a bit when she realized the man had left. They walked out to Steve's Prius, and got inside, but Steve didn't turn the key.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked, glancing at her in concern.
"That- that guy... He wasn't really the hugs and love kind of dad."
"Did he... hurt you? You don't have to answer that if you don't want to." he said quickly.
"Yah." She paused, and took a breath. "He used to hit me... and... " she winced slightly "...stuff." Claudia shivered involuntarily. There was a long silence. Steve's jaw was clenched.
"Did you ever report him?"
She shook her head. "No, he threatened me that if I ever did... well, needless to say, I didn't."
"You know, you still could."
"No. I can't... I can't deal with all the memories again. I'll lose it if I do. And besides a few scars, there's no proof he did anything. Look, can we get out of here?" she looked around nervously.
"Sure." he started the car and they drove back to their hotel. When they arrived, she started to get out, but he stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. "Claude?"
"Yah?" She was barely holding it together, and just wanted to get up to her room.
"If you ever want to talk about it... or anything... or if you just want to hang out and not talk, or-"
"Thanks Steve. I appreciate it. Maybe I'll take you up on that sometime." She said with a half smile, then quickly made her way to her hotel room.
Well, what do you think? I will most definitely be adding more to this, but am very open to suggestions, so please review and let me know what you thought and if you have any ideas! Thanks for reading.
