Misplaced Trust
POV- Wanda/Wanderer
"Ian..." I say softly and grab his arm. We are standing in the fields of wheat; it is almost time for harvest again. It's been a year since I showed up at the caves, and there is more to worry about than just the crops this year. More human refuges have been discovered and more and more souls are being evacuated from human bodies. "Talk to me, please." I beg him. He's never been afraid to say how he feels with me. Why now? Why was he holding back now?
"I have already told you Wanda, something is not right about them. There's nothing more to say." Ian looks at me and his eyes are exhausted. "I don't want to fight."
He is referring to the new group of humans Jared and Mel came across on one of their "vacations". They have moments when they want to get away from everyone and the caves and so they take little short trips and call them vacations. I knew it was a way they could be alone. At first Jeb was against it, but when they brought back medicines and cryotanks from hospitals, Jeb didn't argue with them.
"You know Jeb is taking precautions. He's so paranoid about everything." I say gently. My hands slowly move up his softly. Touching his skin still makes my heart leap and I do not think I will ever get used to it. At my touch, his expression warms slightly, his eyes soften and I can tell he is finding some peace.
Ian moves closer. "I am sorry; I kind of snapped." He says softly and moves closer to me. His arms wrap around my waist and I lean into him. His familiar smell fills my nose and I take it in for a moment. He smells of earth and soap. "I just don't have a good feeling about them. I don't like the way they look at you." He says and I look up to meet his blue eyes.
"I trust them Ian." I tell him. "Plus, you wouldn't let anything happen to me."
"I can't lose you, Wanda." Ian says and kisses my forehead. I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze him tightly against me.
"You're not going to lose me." I tell him, because I am now certain that we will spend the rest of our days together. "I am going to stay right here forever."
"You better." Ian says and his hand lifts my chin up so his lips can meet mine. I disappear in the kiss and forget about where we are or the fact that someone could be around. I forget about the caves, the humans and the souls. I am completely consumed by Ian and everything that is Ian. How do humans ever survive losing this? I couldn't imagine…
The kiss doesn't last long enough, because Ian pulls away with a warm smile on his face. "Let's go to our room okay?"
"Isn't Jamie going to be there?" I ask him.
"Wanderer, are you trying to get me alone?" Ian smirks and takes my hand and starts walking toward the room.
"Maybe," I smirk back to him.
Ian stops walking abruptly and pulls me against him. His lips crash on mine and I am swept away by him again. Completely consumed. He pulls away, faster than before. "You have no idea how beautiful you are." He whispers and his voice sounds different, huskier somehow. I decide not to fight him on the fact that this isn't my body, because I like him calling me beautiful and I don't want what we are doing to stop. "I told the kid to stay with Melanie and Jared tonight. They can have Jamie-sitting one night." He gives me a big smile and I fill with warmth throughout my whole body.
I start giggling as he leads me to the room. We are almost there when someone grabs me and rips me away from Ian. I scream as arms wrap around me. I squirm trying to get away from my captor and trying to get back to the safety of Ian's arms.
"Wanda!" Ian shouts. It is dark, I can hardly see but two men push Ian against the wall. I cannot really identify them but I know they are not part of our group. They are new and foreign.
"Ian!" I screech. I squirm again trying to break away but I can't. If I was still in Mel's body I probably could have fought off the person who held me but not in this weak body.
"You and it!" One of the men spits and punches Ian in the gut.
"Disgusting!" The other says and punches Ian's cheek. It is happening so fast that I can't think, or react properly. I just know they are going to kill him in front of my eyes and then they will kill me. They will probably rip me from this human body. But that does not even bother me. Ian cannot die. I cannot imagine Earth without him.
"Stop!" Please! It's me! Not him!" I squirm. My hands find flesh and I dig my nails as hard as I can.
"Shit!" The man that is holding me says and his grip loosens. I throw my elbows back and they meet bones. He curses again and lets me go. I run and pull on one of the men.
"Please! Don't hurt him! It's me you are after! Stop! Please!" I shout as I pound and scratch into the man's back. They keep hitting Ian and I feel every hit against my body as if I am the one being hit. My heart drops at the thought of Ian dying because of me. These men are after him because of his love for me. This is my fault and I can't stop them from killing him, I am too weak. He turns abruptly and grips my wrist so hard I am sure it will break.
"Parasite! I should kill you right now!" The man says.
"Do it! Just don't hurt him anymore!" I plead with him. "Please…"
"Wanda! No!" Ian fights the other man but he is not strong enough after getting beaten. He grunts when one of the men punches him in his gut and he falls. I move toward him but the man won't let me go. His other hand goes to my neck and squeezes hard. His dark eyes are filled with hatred and I can barely breathe through my constricted airway.
"Derek!" The third man shouts to get his attention and his voice is panicked. I look and see Jeb with his gun to the one of the other man's head.
"Why don't you let our friend go?" Jeb says calmly.
I look over to Ian and see that Jared's arm is wrapped around Ian's attacker's neck. Jared has a small knife close to the man's side.
"And then we might not kill you." Kyle's voice says, as he presses a knife blade to the neck of the man holding me. "But, no promises."
The man's grip loosens and he lets me drop to the ground. I rush over to Ian and wrap my arms around him. He groans in pain and my stomach and heart drop at seeing him in pain because of me, because of who I am, and because he dares to love who I am.
Kyle grabs the third man. Jeb, Jared, and Kyle start to lead the men out. "We'll get Doc, Wanda. We just have to lock these bastards up." Kyle says and I can see his anger. I nod and I return my focus to Ian. I run my hands gently over his hair; I'm not sure what else to do.
"I'm so sorry." I whisper over and over again, wishing I could go back in time and stop the attack. I could have suggested we stay in the field longer, or stayed with the others at dinner longer, or refused to let the strangers in the cave. But I was open to the strangers and trusting of their kindness. Now, Ian is hurt and I am helpless.
"Wanderer…" Ian says weakly.
"I'm right here, Ian. I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. It's all my fault." I tell him.
"Wanda!" Doc's voice interrupts another apology. "Jeb said you and Ian were attacked. Oh, Lord!" Doc's face pales. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." I say, shaking now as the adrenaline subsides slightly. "Ian- It's Ian… he needs you."
"Need some help carrying him?" Kyle asks and I notice Jared has returned too.
"That would be very helpful Kyle." Doc says. Jared, Kyle, and Doc gently lift Ian and he grunts a little more. "Careful, he could have broken bones! Don't move him too much!"
They head towards Doc's office and I find myself falling to the floor and burying my head between my knees. "Wanda, are you coming?" I hear Kyle ask.
"I'll be there in a second. I… I need a moment. Please." I say.
"See you in a bit." Kyle says and they leave.
I find myself crying silently into my knees and shaking. I must look crazy, I must look weak. How did everything go so wrong so quickly?
"Wanda?" Sunny's high voice says. "Oh dear! Wanda!" She says and rushes to my side. Her hand rests on my knee, and she lets me continue to cry without asking what happened.
After my tears have calmed, she gently runs her hands over my hair. "It is okay. It is over." She reassures me. "Ian will be okay. You will be okay."
"Ian." I say and I straighten up. I wipe my tears away on my sleeve. "I have to go." I say and I stand up. Sunny joins me and we both rush to Doc's.
"Ian!" I say and I rush to take his hand. He isn't healed like I assumed he would be. If anything, he looks worse than he did in the hallway to the room. "Why haven't you used heal on him yet?" I ask Doc.
"Wanda…" Doc says calmly and my heart stops briefly. "We are low on it. I used some on him but we have to keep it in case something worse happens."
"But… he's hurt." I say and look to Ian. He is sleeping peacefully. In case something worse happens? What could be worse than Ian almost being beaten to death?
"I've given him some peace to help him sleep it off. Most of his injuries are internal. Heal won't work as well with internal injuries." Doc explains carefully. I nod my head understandingly. I need to be calm for both of us.
"Wanda…" Kyle starts but Sunny puts her hand on his arm as if to stop what he is about to say. She whispers something and Kyle forces a smile on his face. I turn back to Ian and focus all of my attention on this beautiful, broken human being. "He'll be healed in no time." Kyle promises. "I know this is a silly question but are you staying here tonight?"
I nod my head. "I won't leave him." I tell him but I don't move my eyes away from Ian. "I won't leave him alone."
"I figured." Kyle says and I can hear his slight smile in his voice. "Sunny and I are going to call it a night. Doc promised he would come get us if we were needed." Kyle walks over and places and arm on my shoulder gently. "He also promised he would check you out no matter how much you detest. You can still watch Ian while Doc checks you out." Kyle's hand grazes my shoulder gently in a comforting way. "Goodnight Wanda."
"Goodnight, Kyle." I say and look to Doc. Now is as good of a time as any to get checked out. Ian is asleep and I don't want to keep Doc up all night.
Doc checks me out and besides some bruising I have specifically on my neck, I am clear. No internal injuries. It seems that Ian got the worst of the attack and somehow that makes me feel worse. This was because of me, because of his love for me, and I couldn't stop it.
"I'll be in the next room over if you need me." Doc says as he pulls a gurney beside Ian's for me to be able to lie beside Ian tonight. "Please don't hesitate to ask." Doc says and I nod and thank him.
Doc leaves and I pull myself on the gurney. I turn onto my side so I can watch Ian and I reach my hand out to gently rest my hand against his. I watch as his chest rises and falls calmly. He is in peace. His body is working on healing him. Soon, he'll be better. Soon, everything will be back to normal. I close my eyes for a second because they are becoming too heavy to hold open. I am exhausted but I need to make sure Ian is safe and alive at all times.
I close my eyes for a few moments and I almost give into sleep when I feel a gentle hand grazing across my neck. My eyes shoot awake. I meet beautiful sapphire eyes and a smile instantly comes across my face. "My Wanda…" Ian whispers as his fingers move gently across my neck, no doubt that he is tracing over the markings on my neck. "What did they do to you?" His eyes have fire in them and something I have never seen before in his eyes-hatred.
My hand comes up to meet his and I never lose eye contact with him. "I am okay." I reassure him. "That's the worst of it. The bruises will fade soon enough. You're the one who was attacked the most." I tell him. He moves slightly and I see him wince. "Doc is almost out of heal so he couldn't give you a significant dose. But there is some peace that I can give you if you are in pain. Doc says the worst you have is two broken ribs and bruising. He healed any cuts you received. The men are locked up. Kyle is worried about you and me. He doesn't say it but I can see it." I say and try to think of other things to fill him in on.
"Wanda…" Ian says. "Come here." Ian slides over to give me room to lay beside him. I clumsily get onto his gurney and lay beside him. I am scared to do what I most want to do right now. I am scared of touching him or leaning into him and hurting him. Ian realizes this and he moves against me, wrapping an arm around me and kissing my forehead.
"Does it hurt?" I ask him. I am not sure if I want the answer or not. If he is hurting, there is not much I can do about it. I have never felt so hopeless in my life.
"A little, but I'd rather be close to you and be in pain, than to have you away from me." Ian says.
We have a few moments of silence before I blurt out what I've been holding in. "I am so sorry. I am so weak. You were getting hurt and I couldn't stop it. I wanted to stop it. I would have done anything for them to stop but I was weak. So now you are broken and beat up because of me. Because you dared to love me, Ian. I am so sorry. This is my fault. How could you not be mad at me? What they did to you was because you love me… When you fell to the ground and I couldn't reach you I thought you were dead. I thought I lost you." I tell him and I realize I am crying only because Ian has wiped a tear from my eye.
"Shh… Wanda…" Ian says and he kisses my forehead again. "This is not your fault. It is those cruel mens' faults. They ripped you from me. They held you back. You are stronger than you think. I love you, Wanda. I will always love you. I will continue to love you even if I have to get beaten like this every day. It would be worth it to spend a lifetime with you. It would be worth a beating just to spend a day with you. Please don't let them tear you down. Don't let them tarnish us."
"I am so sorry. I trusted them. You tried to warn me and I thought you were just being silly. They could have killed you. They would have killed you." I say and shake my head.
"You choose to see the best in people and sometimes that can be a weakness but I love that part of you. That trait is what made you forgive me and my brother. They will get justice. I just need you to know how much I love you." Ian whispers to me. "I thought I was going to lose you again."
I lean more into him. "I thought I was going to lose you." I say to him and gently run my fingers up his arm. "It terrified me. I am sorry for ever putting you through that."
"No more apologies Wanderer." Ian says to me and I can tell he is tired. "Are you okay?" He asks as his hand touches my neck again.
I nod, "Doc says my neck bruising is the worst of it. It will fade." I kiss his t-shirt covered chest because it is the closest part of him to me. I let my lips linger there and I feel his heartbeat pulsing in his chest.
"I love you Wanda." Ian whispers softly.
"I love you Ian." I whisper back to him, and place my lips back to his chest over his heart. The pulse is strong, like everything about Ian. It is a sign of his life. It is a sign of his healing. The beat acts as a promise to me- soon Ian will be better, soon everything will be okay. I let the pulse lull me into sleep with thoughts of Ian filling my head.
Everything will be okay as long as I have Ian O'Shea by my side.
A/N: I hope you enjoyed the story! I have been meaning to write an O'Wanda fic and this idea just came to me. If anyone is interested in this continuing with at least one more addition let me know! Thanks for reading!