Disclaimer: I don't own Yassen... or John Rider
Yassen fell to his knees in the bloody pool surrounding Holly and gazed at her pale face. Jack looked at him and said something. Yassen stared back, his face empty, nothing made sense. Jack repeated it again, then yelled it, Yassen still didn't understand. Finally Jack slapped him with his free hand, "Get Laura, NOW!"
Yassen nodded quickly and scrambled to his feet. Laura… where was she? He burst back into the bathroom and asked jack told him and he raced out into the passageway. He reached the right door within seconds and pounded on it until it opened, Laura was there, looking bemused at the noise. There wasn't enough time to explain so Yassen just grabbed her arm and hauled her back to Holly's room.
As soon as she saw Holly, Laura shook Yassen off and moved forwards. Jack moved out of her way and told her quickly what he thought had happened. Yassen watched silently as Laura inspected the wound. She clearly knew what she was doing and did it flawlessly.
The bleeding had all but stopped, but from the large pool of it all around Holly's limp body, she had lost an enormous amount of blood. Yassen followed Laura's every move with his sharp gaze. He didn't move as they talked quietly, checking her vital signs; she was still alive, but only just.
When they were certain that the bleeding had totally finished, Laura got Jack to release his hold and went to her room to find her surgical thread. Yassen sank down onto Holly's bed, grateful that he hadn't lost a possible friend. He replayed their conversation in his mind again, this time hearing the words she edited out of the answers she had given him.
The afternoon passed quickly after that. Holly was moved into Jack's room to be closer to Laura; their rooms were connected by a door. Jack and Yassen cleaned the blood from the bathroom and moved Jack's belongings into Holly's room. They didn't speak, though Yassen felt as though the older man had accepted him more than he had that morning.
That night, Yassen went to his room early; he had eaten dinner in the fish and chip shop because he couldn't find the energy, or the inclination to do anything else. As he sank into his bed, he couldn't keep the images of Holly lying in pools of her blood out of his mind. It was like they had been branded onto his eyes. Even sleep brought no relief, dreams merged into one another, never clear, but always full of blood.
At four thirty, Yassen got out of bed and dressed, it was dark outside but Yassen knew that he would still be expected to run, probably with a torch. He sat in the lounge until five and then went outside, unsure of where to meet the person, presumably Jack as Laura was looking after Holly. At ten past, no one had come out so Yassen crept back inside, a torch was lying on the front desk and he took it and put it into his pocket. He lingered for a bit longer then went back outside and set off.
He ran slowly at first, allowing his eyes to adjust to the darkness, he didn't light the torch; he couldn't see any need to. As the sky paled, his speed increased, he had run along the pavement to a path, and then followed it up the steep gradient. He hadn't slowed down or walked, he ran the whole way, slowly feeling himself unwind. When he reached the top of the hill his breath was coming in short bursts and a stitch burned his side. He jogged along the pavement and came to the turning he had seen the day before, he ran towards the hill, and then altered his course slightly so he was running to the concrete bunker on the hillside.
He stood on the edge in the same way he had stood on the deck of the ferry, alert and tense, watching the sunlight touch the ocean. He couldn't believe that he had only been here for two days, it seemed like an age. He heard footsteps and looked around in time to see Holly stumble over the rocks into view.
She hadn't seen him yet- he was still stood in shadow. She moved down the hill and froze when she saw him. She smiled faintly and waved a heavily bandaged hand. Yassen walked along the wall and climbed up to her.
"Morning," he said, "shouldn't you still be in bed?" she shrugged and looked away. Yassen smiled, realising that she'd sneaked out, and that she must have been unbelievably quiet to escape undetected.
"I couldn't just lie there," She muttered defensively, "I'm sorry I lied to you. I suffered from depression for six years and I can't always control it, even now. I'm sorry you had to see that." Yassen nodded and gently touched her arm to show he understood. She looked up at him, suddenly realising that he was much taller than her, he was smiling gently and she couldn't help but smile in return.
"You were right," He said abruptly, "I do like running now." Holly laughed.
"I told you that you would like it! Why didn't you believe me?" Yassen shrugged, and then his eyes lit up.
"Maybe, if you like, we could run together from now on. It might make you feel less depressed. It's for my health too by the way, I can't do repeats of last night too often, it's definitely not good for my heart." Holly smiled and turned to look at the sea. They stood in silence for a while before walking down the hill. They didn't talk until they got back to the hotel, Yassen changed and they went down to breakfast together.
Laura was standing in the doorway, glaring at Holly, who seemed to shrink.
"Where have you been?" she hissed, her eyes flashing dangerously, "I've been looking for you everywhere." Yassen walked past the two of them, touched Holly's arm gently, sympathetically, and went to the table where Jack was sitting, chewing slowly on a spoonful of cereal. He looked up as Yassen sat down and nodded to him. Yassen returned the gesture and helped himself to toast.
He gazed out of the window as he ate, his ears straining to hear Laura and Holly. He could hear Laura's voice, but not the words. Holly was silent, and when he turned quickly he saw that she was crying. Anger bubbled up inside him but he held his tongue, not wanting to jeopardise his chances.
When they came over, Laura's mouth was a thin line and Holly's face was wet and red from crying. She slid into the seat next to Yassen and reached for the toast. Yassen got there first and handed her a piece, she took it gratefully and they ate in silence.
Afterwards, Yassen was told that he was going to be paired with Jack for the next few days, until Holly was able to continue her training. As he stood up, Yassen gently touched Holly's hand, trying to comfort her. She smiled weakly up at him and then walked off with Laura.
Jack sent Yassen up to his room to change into his swimming trunks and wetsuit. They were going kayaking. Ten minutes later Yassen stood shivering outside the hotel while Jack went to get the boats. He sat on the wall and watched the sea.
When Jack came back he had a kayak on each shoulder, they were both quite short, with no recognisable logo or make.
"They're prototypes, brand new design," Jack explained quickly as they made their way down the slipway. Yassen nodded looking at the piles of equipment that Jack had stuffed into the cockpits of both boats. When they got to the pile of rocks that Yassen had sat on a few days earlier, Jack put the boats down and explained what each piece of equipment was for and how you wore it.
Jack went through safety techniques and basic paddle stroke while they were on the beach before dragging Yassen in his boat to the waters edge and handing him a paddle. Jack carried his boat out a bit into the water and got in. He came back and heaved Yassen off of the sand. Luckily the sea was calm and the waves were scarcely two inches high, even though Yassen had been told that they could get to be taller than him.
They paddled out a bit, Yassen going in never ending circles at first before being corrected. They fooled around for a while; Jack was constantly giving Yassen advice. In less than half an hour, Yassen was feeling quite confident about his paddling.
"Ok. You're not bad for a beginner. We'll go for a paddle to Land's End, then we can do some riding, I have some spare clothes for you," Jack added as Yassen opened his mouth. Yassen nodded and followed Jack past the lifeboat station and sea wall. Once they were beyond it, the sea got noticeably rougher, but not enough to knock Yassen off balance. He put in a few low brace strokes to keep himself steady and chased after Jack.
"Is Holly going to be ok?" he called. Jack stopped paddling, his head bowed.
"I hope so," he said quietly. "I picked her up a few weeks ago in London. She was an unknown, not like you. I saw her kicking the crap out of some unlucky mugger and thought that she had some potential. So I brought her here. I didn't know about her…history then."
"How did you find out? Sorry," He added as he crashed the kayak into the back of Jack's.
"She told me. Straight out, just walked up and said that she had been suicidal for six years. It was a bit of a shock." He laughed shortly, harshly. Yassen smiled grimly and concentrated on paddling.
It took them about half an hour to get to the foot of the cliffs at Land's End; Jack then took hold of both boats and all their kit and started climbing. Yassen watched from the floor, his mouth hanging open in amazement.
He stood there until Jack had disappeared over the cliff top and then started up after him, he tried to put his feet where Jack had placed his and found that if he really concentrated, he could do this quite easily. When he got to the top he found Jack sitting on a rock, holding a set of dry clothes.
"Thanks," Yassen said and Jack shrugged,
"I was about to come and get you. Holly took ages to get up there on her own. Now get changed." Jack turned away while Yassen struggled into a pair of navy jodhpurs and a thick sweatshirt. There was a pair of riding boots lying next to Jack and Yassen pulled them on, feeling ridiculous.
"I'm ready," He said finally, checking himself over. Jack looked him up and down and nodded.
"You'll do. Come on then." He turned and led the way through the gorse and heather to the stable. It was made of wood, set around a courtyard containing a large outdoor school. Horses' heads hung over the half doors and a woman's voice drifted from the nearest stall.
Jack walked over to it and peered inside, "Hi Mel," He said. "Come out here, we've got a new trainee."
"Another one? How many do you have now? I haven't seen that Adam guy for a while."
"Yeah, he's gone to Italy." Jack explained quickly, "Anyway, this is Yassen. Yassen, this is Melissa who prefers to be called Mel." They shook hands and Yassen found himself being scrutinised by a pair of dark brown eyes which seemed to look right through him.
He looked away as Jack spoke again, "Yassen, Mel will teach you how to ride. Do exactly what she says or you'll have to answer to me." Yassen nodded and followed Mel into a nearby stable; a large chestnut gelding was tied in a corner, he looked up and snorted as they approached.
"This is Russet," She said. "He's eight years old, sixteen hands. I think you'll get on ok. He has social problems, too." Yassen looked up sharply, but Mel didn't seem to notice. He shook his head and moved forward to stroke Russet. The horse looked at him from his lofty height and then dipped his head so Yassen could rub his forehead. Mel watched from the door, a small smile lifting her lips.
"He's nice. I think he likes me," Yassen said, allowing a small grin to creep onto his face.
"Yes, I think he does. Now come and help me with this tack." Yassen followed her into the tack room and had Russet's saddle and bridle thrust upon him. Mel led him back to the stall and showed him how to tack Russet up. He twisted the straps of the bridle again and again, getting more and more frustrated each time. Mel watched silently.
Finally Yassen forced himself to calm down and worked through it slowly, it worked and the bridle slid on without a hitch.
"Well done. Now do the saddle." Mel ordered. Yassen sighed loudly but complied. He was surprised that he managed to do it first time but hid his emotions, trying to practice the blank expression that Jack and Laura had mastered so well.
"Ok," Mel said. "Lead him out into the school and mount up. I'll be there in a minute." Yassen did as he was told and then nudged Russet into a walk, trying to find a comfortable position. Mel came out with a riding crop in her hand.
"What's that for?" Yassen asked nervously.
"It's to correct the horse. Don't worry so much." She grinned impishly, suddenly looking much younger. "Well, at least you can walk and your seat's pretty good. But you're holding the reins wrong." She corrected his grip and then showed him how to trot and canter.
By the end of the session, Yassen's legs were burning and his clothes were drenched in sweat. Mel had yelled herself hoarse and Russet's sleek coat was dark with sweat.
"Ok. Well done, bring him over here." Yassen sank down into the saddle and rode slowly over to Mel. "Give him a rub down and then get back to Sennen. Jack will go ballistic if you miss whatever he's got planned for you this afternoon." Yassen groaned as he slid out of the saddle.
"I hope he has a nice long sleep planned, because that's all I want to do now." Mel laughed and went to fetch a bucket of water. Yassen led Russet into his stall and untacked him. When he came back from the tack room, Mel was working on Russet.
"Go on back to Sennen. I'll take care of him." Mel smiled at him and waved him away. "Don't tell Jack!" she called after him.
He walked slowly back to Sennen, trying to ease some life back into his aching legs. Jack was waiting outside the hotel and called him over.
"Yassen, we have a visitor." a man moved out of the shadows and nodded to him. "This is John Rider; he's a trainer from Malagosto."
Heya, please cud u review cuz it's depressing when u have more chapters than reviews!