Chapter Eight
Unwanted Help
"Don't touch me! I can do it!"
"No you can't! Now let me help you!"
"I don't need your help!"
"Yes, you do! Now hold still damn it! You bit me!"
"Come at me one more time and I will do more than bite you!" Their screaming match had been going on for the better half of fifteen minutes. In all his years Poe Dameron had never seen or experienced such a stubborn person than Captain Remi Shaw. He ran his hand through his hair as he took deep breaths trying to control his temper. He couldn't believe she had actually bit him. All he wanted to do was help. She had a dislocated shoulder, in tremendous amount of pain no matter how she tried to hide it and had out right refused any form of help. He hung his head and planted his hands on his hips. Finally he looked up to see her sitting in the corner of the room holding her arm close to her chest. Her jaw clenched in a determination. What caught his attention however was not only the defiance in her eyes but also the fear. That was when it dawned on him. She didn't like to be touched. He guessed it was due to some trauma at some point. It would account for her icy exterior as well as her stubborn set. He held his hands up in surrender, something that was becoming a habit with her and spoke more gently this time.
"Okay, fine. You win. But how may I ask are you going to set your own shoulder? I can't in good conscience leave you like this. So what is your plan, huh?" He waited a beat and watched as she took a deep breath, closed her eyes and nodded her head in defeat. She knew he was right; she just didn't want to admit it.
"Fine!" She responded through a clenched jaw and line lips. "Just make it quick." He approached her as if approaching a wounded animal and in reality she was in a sense. His movements were quiet, smooth and slow. "Oh for crying out loud Dameron, I'm not going to break! Let's just get this over with." He smiled slightly throwing her off guard.
"No, but you might bite me again."
"Are you like this with everyone or am I the only one lucky enough for you to annoy?"
"Now Sparky, you like me and you know it. Now on three." He had braced both hands on either side of her shoulder. He looked her in the eyes as she prepared for the pain she knew would follow. They counted down together. "One..two…you have pretty eyes."
"What?!" CRUNCH! "OWE! WHAT THE HELL! You said on three!" She then doubled up her fist of her good arm and punched him in the nose.
"What was that for?!" He shouted as his hands went to cover is already bleeding nose stumbling back.. She immediately paled and her guilt took over.
"I'm so sorry…I just reacted." She reached for him and he pulled away.
"No, now I don't want you touching me!" Now she felt really bad, kind of.
"I said I was sorry!"
"Why are you so violent?" Now her anger came back and her guilt started to disappear.
"Why are you such an ass?! I told you I was sorry! Now stop being such a baby and let me look." He shook his head more as she was the one that tried to approach. "Look you caught me off guard, you always do that and I don't like it. I really didn't mean to hit you and I'm…sorry." She looked down at her hands trying to look at least somewhat guilty. She heard him shuffle over to her but she still wouldn't meet his eyes.
"Okay, look…" His voice sounding nasally as he still had his hand on his nose to stop the bleeding. "I'll make a deal with you, I help you, you help me and then we start over. Sound good?" She finally lifted her head and meant his gaze trying not to cringe at the bruise that was already making his eyes turn black and blue. He caught it even though she tried to hide it. "That bad huh?" He questioned.
"N..no, not really."
"Liar." He added as he still tried to smile. "So do we have a deal?" He held out his free hand to her uninjured one. Surprisingly she grasped it and he gripped it tight pulling her slightly toward him. "For the record, you really do have pretty eyes." A spark of surprise light her eyes and she blushed, something that was becoming very common with him around.
"You're bleeding all over my ship." She added as she tried to pull her hand away, he wouldn't let her go.
"And whose fault is that Spark?" He then let her go as she quickly turned around to find some packing and an ice pack to help stop the bleeding. Using one hand she pulled his hand away still trying not to cringe and set to work. After a few minutes she had him set. She looked at him and cocked her head slightly.
"Well I don't like its broken but it will be sore for a while. But no worries Commander you good looks will be back in no time." In truth he still looked good even with the swollen nose and black eyes. She really did feel bad about it.
"So, you think I'm good looking then?" His smile slightly off as the swelling was now making one of his eyes start to swell shut. Still the flirt.
"I think if you don't put some ice on that all that swelling is going to go to your brain. And we can't have that. I'm not sure your head could swell that much more." She added with a sarcastic smile of her own. He dramatically placed a hand over his heart.
"Ouch, violent once more."
"Well don't cry about it. I thought you resistance fighters were made of tougher skin than that." Surprisingly he laughed and then winched which caused her to smile slightly.
"And there she is." He stated as he started gathering the items needed to place her sore shoulder in a sling. She looked at him puzzled.
"There's who what were?" She asked confused by his statement. He pointed at her with his finger.
"Underneath all that icy exterior and sarcasm is just a girl who wants to smile." He started wrapping her arm as she just stared straight ahead. After a few minutes of silence she finally spoke.
"I'm not sure I know how to do that anymore." She answered softly. He stopped at looked at her giving her a bit of a sad smile. He could tell that she had been through a lot in her short life, probably more than most.
"Well let's see if we can find it then shall we?"
"Not sure you want to place your bet on that." She answered softy. Neither of them seemed to notice how close the two of them had gotten to each other. Both staring each other down. She was the first to look away and started to put things away back into the med kit. He still hadn't looked away. Both of his hands were on either side of her on the table that she sat on.
"Remi, look at me." He said softly. She finally did all and any traces of emotions she felt were wiped away. At least she had thought, he didn't buy it. Instead he moved a piece of her hair which had fallen into her eyes and gently moved it to the side. "I never bet on anything I might lose." She didn't know how to respond. He was so close and the room was suddenly void of air. Her inter voice kept yelling at her to get out, get away but she could move. What was it about this man that left her empty of any coherent thought? Thankfully she didn't have to question her lack of thought any longer because Stilts choose that moment to intervene.
"You two didn't manage to kill each other yet have you?"
A/N Now I know it's been a while but I hope you enjoy this chapter. Please let me know what you think!
