The new chapter is here. Hope you like it.

I want to thank: Haruna Uchiha, watergoddesskasey, CremeLover, 93, lori, Haeronwen and MissSparrow101. Thank you all for your reviews!

Review replies to:

Lori: I am glad you enjoyed the last chapter. It's really great for me to know that you liked it. Thank you so much for your sweet words!

MissSparrow101: Yes, she has Mort but will she able to see that he cares for her or will she blame him for her aunt's death? I guess you'll see. Thank you so much and I am glad your dad is okay.


Disclaimer: I do not own Secret Window!

Chapter 7

Mort slowly picked up Eleanor and gently cradled her close to his chest. He kissed her forehead and glanced at her sleeping face with sympathy and sadness. He stood up with her and headed for the bedroom. He walked up the stairs and lied her on the bed before he covered her with a blanket. He moved back and sighed deeply, a frown carved on his face.

"Jesus, Ellie…This is going all wrong." He whispered as he sat in a chair right next to the bed.

"It was not supposed to be this way…" he muttered as he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. He ran a hand through his hair and groaned softly.

"I seem to carry trouble with me… he said to himself as his eyes returned to her sleeping form.

Yeah, since you decided it was a good idea to forcefully bring her here… His inner voice chirped in his head and Mort frowned.

I didn't have any other choice. He answered back as his eyes darted to the floor.

Yes, you did. You always do you, just don't see them. The voice said in a mocking tone and Mort closed his eyes.

Just go away. The last thing I need is you driving me crazy… He snapped as he rubbed his temple.

Crazier you mean… The irritating voice whispered again.

"Yeah, whatever…" He muttered out loud before he closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair.

He stayed like that for a few hours; sleepless. It was after four o' clock in the morning when he heard movement on the bed. His eyes snapped open and he slowly, as if not to startle Eleanor, walked close to the bed and kneeled next to it. He saw in the dim light as her eyes opened and she looked confused at her surroundings.

"Ellie?" he whispered and she focused her gaze on him.

"It's still true, isn't it?" she asked him and he stared at her, not knowing what to say.

"What is it true?" he asked and her eyes welled all up again.

"She's dead…It was not a dream, was it?"

"No, sweetheart. Unfortunately it was not." He said softly as he stroked her hair away from her face with gentle fingers. She closed her eyes and shook her head as her fingers curled around the covers tightly.

"I am sorry, Ellie. I know it's-…"

"No you're not sorry." She cut him off and he paused.

"You're not sorry because now I have no one. You're happy because now no one is going to look for me. And you're probably satisfied because I depend on you." She whispered as she glared at him with red eyes.

"That's not true. I am not happy someone died." He said shaking his head.

"Why not? They said you killed your own wife." She said without thinking and he froze.

He took his hand away and moved back from her, his eyes unreadable. He sighed and looked at the bedcovers for a long time before he was brave enough to meet her eyes again.

"You may not believe it, Eleanor but I do care about you. No matter what you may think about me I can't avoid the fact that what you just learned didn't cause pain only to you but to me too. I don't like seeing you in pain; either physical or emotional." He said softly and she looked at him intently, her face visibly softening.

"You have to believe me. I care for you so much, Ellie." He whispered and she closed her eyes briefly before she opened them again to look into his brown ones.

"Okay…" she said in a barely audible voice.

"Okay?" he asked with a small hopeful smile.

"Yes." She whispered wiping at her eyes with her hand. Mort smiled and hesitantly reached for her hand. He clasped it between his own and slid closer to her.

"And you are right about one thing; I am glad that you depend on me because that means that I get to take of you." He said as he placed a lingering kiss to her knuckles.

"I'll let you sleep, alright?" he whispered as he slowly moved back.

"Wait!" she called and he stopped to look at her perplexed.

"Yes?" he asked and she bit her lip.

"Could you stay here? I don't feel like being alone." She said not looking at him. Mort felt a small smile stretching on his face. That was a small triumph for him.

"Of course." He said as he carefully crawled behind her on the bed and slid under the blanket with her. At first he stayed still behind her but then he dared to wrap an arm around her waist. When she only tensed but didn't flinch he let himself slid closer to her body and pulled her more tightly to him. Eleanor swallowed but his warmth slowly caused her eyes to drift shut and her body relaxed reluctantly. Mort lied his head down on the pillow and closed his eyes too; content to have her lying in his arms.

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The next morning Eleanor woke up alone in the bed. She opened her eyes and looked around before she sat up. She looked at the door and she that it was wide open and that water was running from the bathroom. She rubbed a hand to her forehead and threw the covers away just as the bathroom door opened and an almost naked Mort entered the room. He was in the process of drying his hair with a towel while he had a larger one wrapped around his waist. Eleanor's eyes widened and she looked away, blushing red.

"Mort!" she yelped and he paused to look at her surprised.

"Oh…I thought you were still sleeping, sweetheart." He said as he looked down at himself.

"Well I am not…" she mumbled as she dared to look at him sideways again. Mort smiled and walked to the closet and got a pair of pants. He slipped them on while she busied herself with staring at the patterns of the blanket.

"You can look now." He called and she sat up again, the blush still on her face.

"Did you sleep well then?" he asked as he ran a hand through his wet hair.

"As well as I could." She muttered as he threw the towel in the bathroom and went to sit next to her.

"There's still warm water if you'd like a bath." He said as he placed a hand to her arm.

"Thanks." She said as she pushed hair away from her face.

"No problem. Go. I'll wait for you for breakfast." He said as he kissed her cheek before he stood up and walked away, grabbing a shirt on his way out. Eleanor blinked and stood up, wondering why in hell she was staring at him. Shrugging she entered the bathroom and took a bath, a much needed one.

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Later they were sitting in the kitchen, eating breakfast. Mort looked up from his eggs and smiled.

"You know I was thinking of buying you some clothes. I know you probably hate wearing those." He said and she looked at him with a frown.

"I don't…I don't mind." She stammered as she looked at her own scrambled eggs.

"Sure you do. I can see it. First thing tomorrow I'll buy you new ones. Anything else you want? I'll make a list." He said as he took a bite from his toast.

"Yes…but I am not sure how to ask this." She said and he frowned.

"Oh?"

"Yes, you see it's women's stuff." She muttered and his eyes widened in realization.

"No worries, darling. I'll get it for you." He said with a wink and she shifted nervously in her seat.

"Okay…" she trailed off.

"There are pills inside that drawer there if you…you know need them." He said and she nodded.

"Okay."

"Anything else? Something you'd like to eat maybe?" he asked hopefully, trying to cheer her up.

"Chocolate would be great." She said with a small smile and he grinned.

"Chocolate it is then." He said with a chuckle, watching as she took a sip from her orange juice. He cleared his throat when he realized that his staring wasn't helping her relax in his presence and averted his eyes to his food again.

"Mort?" she asked and he looked up startled.

"Yes, sweetheart?" he asked as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"Thank you." She whispered looking at him. Mort blinked and nodded shakily at her words.

"Anything for you, Ellie. Anything for you." He heard himself whisper back as they sat there, looking at each other.

End of chapter 7

Author's note: Thank you for reading. Please review! :)