Sorry about the title. I really wanted to save this one and the one before it for other chapters, but I couldn't think of anything better for them, so I went with this (a title of an Anberlin song). I can't think of anything else to say, soooo… On with the show!

(Besides OCs, these characters are not mine but ACD's and BBC's)

Beta-ed by bleedingcrimson.

Chapter Four: .

A few days later

Lestrade and Watson entered Terra Li's hospital room. The nurses had been adamant that they wait until today to come in to visit, though Watson had tried to use his medical expertise an as excuse for earlier permission. The young woman was lying down, her copper tresses feathering across a sallow hospital pillow. Her bruises had reached their darkest, but both men knew that it signaled oncoming recovery. She smiled wanly at the men.

"Hello, Lestrade. And you, too, Doctor…" she paused and flashed an embarrassed smile. "I apologize- shock isn't conducive to remembering trivial facts like names."

"It's fine. I'm John Watson."

Terra Li studied the doctor. The lines and bags around his eyes spoke of the hardship and pain he had suffered as well as the joy and happiness he had experienced. Their eyes met, and Watson's reflected a deep, piercing sorrow that reached across the gap and resonated within the young woman. She felt an intense ache in her chest and knew it wasn't from any physical wound.

I understand your pain. Though the one you love may no longer be here, they are not entirely gone as long as you hold fast to those cherished memories.

"Thank you," she replied softly, still holding his gaze. The corners of Watson's eyes wrinkled slightly upward, and Terra Li knew he understood.

"You're welcome, Miss Valentine."

"Please, call me Tilly." The doctor nodded. The girl's eyes lit up suddenly, and she weakly pulled a oatmeal-coloured jumper. "Thanks for letting me borrow this, by the way. It... helped. A lot. Sorry about the blood. Can you get it out?"

"It'll be fine. Why don't you keep it?" Terra Li opened her mouth to protest, but Watson silenced it with, "It means a lot more to you, I think, than it does to me. Why don't I go clean it up and bring it back on my next visit?"

"That… would be wonderful. Thank you." Terra Li looked at the detective inspector and asked, "Lestrade, how are you today?"

"I'm fine. Thank you for asking." Even when she's lying in a hospital bed, she still manages to be concerned about others' well being. She would have gotten along well with Jenny... Lestrade blinked, trying to banish the unwelcome memories. Focusing once more on the young woman in front of him, he asked, "Valentine, how are you feeling?"

"Better, thanks. Pain medication works wonders, although its effects on the imagination I could do without."

Lestrade grinned wryly at this. "I've never liked them much myself. By the way, Nik, his family, and everyone at the hospital send their regards."

"Thank you. Please give them mine as well."

Watson's phone beeped loudly, yanking the trio back to reality. Blushing, he apologized, "Sorry. I've got to go to work, though knowing Sherlock he'll find some way to weasel me out of it. Tilly, it was a pleasure to meet you. If there's anything you need, just let me know."

"Thank you, Watson. I will. It was a pleasure to meet you as well."

The blond exited, leaving silence in his wake. Lestrade walked over to a chair and sat next to his young friend. Each had a thousand things they wanted to say, but neither knew how to voice them.

"Lestrade… Thank you."

You saved my life.

"You're welcome."

We would have been devastated if we lost you.

Again silence.

"I suppose you want me to tell you what happened."

"Valentine, you don't have to now. I came to see how you were feeling, not to take your statement."

"It's fine, Lestrade. They're going to give me another dose of drugs soon. I wouldn't want all that to interfere with my story. It's better to just get it all out now so I can move on with my life."

"Whatever you'd prefer."

You're a brave girl, Valentine.

Thank you.

Terra Li nodded. She took a deep breath and stared up at the blankness of the ceiling.

"I normally take a cab home from the hospital, but that night, I felt like jogging. On the way, Pandora had texted me asking me to meet her at Belladonna's Brews. I don't normally go there from the hospital, but I figured I could find it on my own, so I didn't call a cab. Stupid, foolish decision. I knew better.

"I got a little turned around, and I ended up wandering into a part of town I wasn't familiar with. Suddenly someone attacked me from behind. I struggled against him, kicking, punching, elbowing, biting– angry, he drew his knife and stabbed me in the side. I should have kept running, but I couldn't. My body must have gone into shock or something because it refused to do what my brain was screaming for it to do." She cringed at the memory but continued nonetheless. "I don't remember much of what happened next."

"Valentine, you're doing a great job. If you want to stop, it's perfectly fine. I wasn't expecting you to say anything about it at all today."

"I'll finish. I just want to get this over with."

Lestrade nodded.

"He took his knife and sliced my stomach– 'carving,' he called it– and whispered dark, poisonous words that made me wish he'd just run me through and get it over with. And then, he–" she made a strangled noise as if the words lodged themselves in her throat. After several attempts she managed to clear it. Her voice was quieter, yet it held more vibrancy than before.

"But then you came. I remember you squeezing my hand and telling me that he was gone, that I was going to be okay, that Doctor Watson wasn't going to hurt me, and I knew that I was going to be alright as long as you were there. If both of you hadn't been there… he would have killed me."

Her gaze was someplace far away. Lestrade had never heard her speak so much in her life. He only wished that she could have told him a happier story. Valentine, you're a brave, brave young woman. We've got him locked up now, and I swear that I will do everything in my power so that he never touches another girl again.

Suddenly, Valentine blinked and chuckled sheepishly.

"I'm sorry. I'm rubbish at this recounting thing, aren't I? I've provided you with hardly anything helpful at all."

"Valentine… you were amazing. Really." He glanced at his watch and frowned. "I'm sorry, Valentine, but I've got to go. There are some things at the station I need to clean up."

"It's fine. Thank you… for everything."

Suddenly, someone burst into the room. Lestrade tensed involuntarily, prepared to fight.

"Oi! Valentino, you, ah, alright there?" Pandora asked. She looked at Lestrade smirked, revealing a black eye. "What's the, ah, 5-oh gotta do in, ah, place like this? Not, ah, inter-ra-gattin' this, ah, poor girl here who's just, ah, mindin' her own busi-ness, I hope."

She cracked knuckles and neck, ready to forcibly eject Lestrade from the room if need be even if he was the police. Despite the worry that her friend might get into trouble, Terra Li laughed.

"Pandora, please! I'm fine, really. Actually, you ought to thank him for saving my life."

"I'm not gunna thank him for, ah, catching your attacker. I got there, ah, just before those guys did, and if I, ah, had my way, let's just say, the, ah, govern-ment wouldn't of had to pay for ah-nother prisoner to feed..."

Terra Li smiled apologetically at her silver-haired friend, who really should have left but couldn't tear himself away for reasons he couldn't quite explain. Lestrade stood at the edge of her bed.

"Amélie told me that your father is fighting overseas and that your mother is- unavailable..." Lestrade coughed uncomfortably. The detective inspector knew he shouldn't judge, but he couldn't understand how anyone could possibly desert their family like that. He slipped a piece of paper into Terra Li's hand and gave it another squeeze. "I know you already have Amélie's number, but here's my mobile and John's in case you need anything."

"Thanks. I know Pandora is intent on taking care of everything, but I'll let you know if there's anything you can do." She smiled, then nodded toward the door. "Now, Detective Inspector, you'd better get along. You wouldn't want to be any later than you already are."

"Right. I'll try to drop in later, but-"

"Tha's right, I'm here to take care'a her! Don't you worry your little policeman head; she'll be fine. Better me than some wacko doktor, in any case."

A look of recognition dawned on Lestrade's face, and he briefly wondered if he should press charges for the brass knuckles Terra Li's companion was wearing the other night. Perhaps they could be pushed aside like the "unmentionable" in Watson's drawer. As he exited he nodded and said,

"Good day, ladies."

Once the door closed, Pandora dropped most of her jaunty facade and turned to Terra Li.

"You okay?"

Terra Li smiled. "I'll be fine. I promise."

)o0*0o(

Wah! Such a hard chapter to write! DX Terra Li isn't the most talkative person, so getting her to talk and still stay in character is... difficult. T.T

I'm not really sure what else to say except please let me know what you think! Was it good? Bad? Ugly? Have and constructive criticism because I'd love to hear it!

Thanks and have a lovely morning/day/afternoon/evening/night wherever you are!