Lara made her way to bedroom, seeing everything she had seen once before. It seemed like it had been years since she stepped foot in this room, and her eyes looked at every detail. Her bed, black and white covering with four pillows, two on each side. Her desk, full of paper and books, with a pen and pencil on top of it all, with her TV on her chest of draws. The bin in her room definitely needed emptying as it was overflowing with paper, and she knew they were all to do with Yamatai. Lara looked back to see the bathroom in her room, finding Sam in there looking through the cupboard. She watched her for a moment, thinking how much trouble she knows she'll cause Sam, and how much she wishes she wouldn't. Oh Sam...
"Found them!"
Sam soon emerged with a packet of something, Lara wasn't sure what, and a bowl and cloth. Soon Lara knew what Sam was intending to do. She soon began to back away, not looking forward to this.
"Sam... I'm fine, really. I won't need this."
"Nonsense Lara! You may have been in charge of your injuries on the island and how you dealt with them then, but now that we're home and I'm taking care of you, I'll choose what we do."
Lara was taken aback. Not sure whether or not Sam was intending to be, but she sounded annoyed. No, she wasn't annoyed, she was worried. Sam just wants to help me. But still...
"Trust me; it'll be over before you know it!"
Though Sam was trying her hardest to be comforting, Lara was still scared. It was strange for her; she didn't know why she was suddenly afraid of being touched, especially by her best friend's gentle touch. My secret lover as well but let's leave that part out for now. Everything was still a blur, and it angered and confused Lara even more with every moment. On the island, she still had her sanity, but now that she's off... Just what the hell is happening to me?
"Sam... Please don't."
"Lara, you need this. You need to get better. I promise, it'll be alright."
"It won't Sam, it won't. Stop pretending like it will already."
Sensing her annoyance in her own voice, Lara looked up at a worried and slightly hurt Sam. Lara took a deep breath, and finally began to say what was on both their minds.
"I'm not meaning to hurt your feelings Sam, believe me that's the last thing I want to do. But I can't let you continue to believe in a lie you're creating. It's alright Sam; I know I'm all fucked up right now."
"Lara, no. You're not. You're actually not! You're not as bad as the doctors are making you out to be. You're you right now, nothing strange is happening to you. Please, just drop this and let me check on your wounds."
"No Sam. Just tell me how you really feel about this first, and then I'll think about it."
Sam looked at Lara with a confused look.
"I do not doubt you at all Sam, but do you really think you'll be fine with taking the role of a doctor for me? I don't want you to lose out on any sleep, food or make you stressed, and I know I'll do that. Just tell me, help me understand, why the hell are you doing this for me? Why put yourself through this hell?"
Soon Sam placed herself on Lara's bed, and gently patted the spot next to her. Lara was a little worried, wondering what Sam's response was going to be. It was obvious it was something big since she needed both herself and Lara to sit down. Lara slowly made her way to where Sam had patted, and sat, awaiting her response.
"Because I care about you Lara. We've known each other for a very long time, and every time I saw you upset, hurt or angry, I felt the same. I hate seeing you suffer on your own, and I hate it even more when you keep things to yourself. Now that I know what's wrong with you from the doctors, and I know how you actually feel and are, I want to help. You mean a lot to me Lara, and I'm going to help you get better. That's how I feel. I'm not freaked out about you being fucked up, because quite frankly, you're not as bad as everyone's making you out to be. You seem fine right now, all that's concerning me now, is the amount you eat, the amount of sleep you get and your wounds condition. You're healing quite quickly not anyway, cause you're allowing me to touch and hold your hand, and you've accepted the fact that you know something's wrong with you. But it's not even that much wrong! It's perfectly normal that'd you'd be like this, especially on that fucked up island. I don't know what happened to you on there, not all of it anyway, but I want to help you get through this. It's the least I could do, but I'm not just doing this because you saved me, I'm doing this because I care so much about you, Sweetie. That's all there is to it. It's not hell if it's with you Lara, trust me."
"Sam..."
Lara was speechless. Everything Sam just said was very touching, and she knew Sam meant every word. Lara then inhaled deeply.
"Just... Don't look at me. You can but, just don't stare. And please, don't take too long or be too rough."
Sam gave Lara a reassuring smile.
"If it helps, face your back to me, and I'll work from there. And I promise I'll be quick and gentle."
Lara nodded, and slowly turned around. She soon felt Sam grab the bottom of her tank top, and she to a sharp breath.
"It's alright, Sweetie."
Lara felt some of the fabric threads of her top cross her wounds, making her grit her teeth.
"Sorry Lara."
Lara just nodded, and soon her top was taken over her head, leaving her with just her bra on. Lara felt over exposed, and wished she could cover herself, but she felt Sam's worried and shocked eyes one her.
"Oh God... Lara."
"I know... it's not a pleasant sight."
Sam didn't know how to react. She just wanted to embrace Lara, and try and hug all her pain away. But she knew she couldn't. Lara was too afraid, and now that Sam saw every scar, she understood fully why. She felt tears threatening to fall, but held them back as best she could, only allowing one or two to pass. Lara turned to glance at Sam, and immediately her eyes widened.
"Sam! Sam please don't! Please don't cry!"
Sam quickly wiped her tears away.
"I'm sorry Lara. It's just... You've suffered so much... How did you survive all this?"
Lara remained silent for a moment, and then gathered up the courage to answer.
"I kept the thought of you in my mind. I couldn't lose you to that place Sam, I couldn't let you die."
"The thought of me?"
"Yes."
Sam was stunned. So throughout all the hell on the island, the one thing that kept her going... Was me? Wow...
"Sam, can we please hurry with this?"
"Sorry Sweetie!"
Sam mentally kicked herself and soon soaked the cloth in the bowl of cold water. She then realised something, and quickly spoke.
"Lara, we will need to take your bra off too. I can see wounds under it."
Thank God Lara had her back to Sam because she could feel both a rush of fear and heat spreading to her face. Shit.
"Don't worry, we're both girls Sweetie. Plus, you do have your back to me so I won't see anything."
We may be both girls Sam, but you're the girl I love and suddenly stripping in front of you is a bit much. Lara squeezed her eyes shut, letting out a sigh. She soon raised her arms to the back of her bra, unhooking in. She took off the straps, but kept the cups on her chest. She heard Sam sigh a little, and glanced back to see a little smile on her face.
"Why are you smiling?"
"Just memories Lara. You were just like this when we shared a room together in boarding school, remember?"
Lara gave a little chuckle. "How could I forget? You'd always through a hissy fit when I did this."
"That's because it's silly! We're both girls!"
"Just because we're both girls doesn't mean I'll happily expose myself around the room without a care in the world!"
She heard Sam laugh, and she too gave some giggles. Lara felt a little more at ease, remembering their past and laughing together, and felt herself able to relax her muscles a little. She was still however, very self conscience, and urged Sam to hurry.
"Alright Sweetie. Just tell me if I'm pressing to hard, and if it gets too much, just say. Okay?"
"Okay." Calm down Croft. It'll be fine. You survived the fucked up island, so you can survive your own best friend slash crush, to help you with your injuries. At least, I hope I can.