He talked, and Elise let him talk without interruption. When he finally pulled himself back up to sit, she took her thumb and wiped away the last stray tears, softly kissing each of his eyelids. When he opened is eyes again, they were clearer than they had been since before this chaos started.
"I, uhm," Brodi looked down a moment, "I don't know where that came from." He looked back up and met her eyes. "I'm sorry I did that to you. You didn't need to hear all that. I don't know what happened."
"I think, sweet one," Elise dabbed at another stray tear, "that came from about ten years of bottled up grief. And don't look so embarrassed. You of all people should know that it's nothing to be ashamed of. You do know that, right? You are not to blame for any of it. It wasn't your fault, and it damned sure doesn't mean you're weak. How many people have you said that to while volunteering for the rape crisis center?"
Brodi sighed. "It's a bit easier to say it to someone else, I've found, than to take it to heart. Regardless, it's still important for people to hear it."
"People?" Elise looked at him pointedly. "It's important for YOU to hear it, sweetie. Not just people. You too."
"OK, point taken. Elise, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I've kept you up all night. I'm sorry I laid it out in such detail. Once it started coming out, it was like a flood that I couldn't stop."
"Will you stop apologizing already? This is Elise, remember? I don't do anything for anyone that I don't want to do. And don't forget I already knew some of it. The only thing that bothers me is that it happened to you at all, not that you told me about it."
Brodi nodded, and Elise was about to say something else when there was a knock at the door. Her eyes met Brodi's in a questioning gaze and he nodded once. She got up, muttering something about timing, and opened the door to find Rahzel standing there.
"It's about 1pm, hon," He said. "Can I come in? I'd like to get Nate working on this if Brodi will allow."
Elise sighed and stood aside, motioning for him to enter.
"Rahzel's here, babe. You up for company?"
"Sorry to drop in unexpectedly, Bro. I called earlier and you were sleeping."
Brodi held a hand up to say "no problem."
"Did Elise tell you the news?"
Brodi looked from Elise to Rahzel quizzically. "What news?"
"Uh, we haven't exactly gotten to that point yet, Rahzel. Brodi hasn't been awake long."
"Ah, OK. You want to tell him, or shall I?"
Elise moved to sit down beside Brodi on the bed. "Be my guest. You know all the details anyway."
"Yeah, true. Brodi, we found Lauryll—that is, security and myself. She's been escorted off the property. Man, she's a piece of work."
"Preaching to the choir, dude."
Rahzel stammered. "Oh, yeah, I guess so. Sorry." An awkward moment of silence ensued, and finally Rahzel continued. "Anyway, I was wondering if you'd be comfortable letting Nate do some research on her, to see if there's something we can nail her to the wall with. He doesn't have to know all the details, just that she's a stalker."
"Nate?"
"Yeah. Like I said, limited info. He has contacts, though, because of some of the jobs he's held, and he might be able to dig up something. I just want to make sure she's out of our hair for good this time. I'm not comfortable with just telling her to stay away. We do have a report filed in case she comes back, but I don't like the idea of waiting until she tries to hurt someone." Rahzel looked at Brodi pointedly. "Nate will be discreet."
Brodi sighed. "I know he will. Yeah, sure, go ahead."
"And I have one more request."
Brodi raised an eyebrow.
"Would you be willing to talk to a rape counselor?"
Brodi bolted upright. "What the hell for?" he spat, more sharply than he had intended. "I didn't file charges, there are no reports of ANYTHING, it was ten years ago…"
"Brodi…"
"No, Elise, let him be. I'll just say this, and I'll drop this for now. Not filing charges doesn't mean it didn't happen, and I don't care if it was FIFTY years ago, time doesn't lessen the impact on your life of something like this. I know you have your own way of dealing with things, and I have to admit it's worked for ten years. But some outside help might be good for you right now. And don't you dare tell me you're OK—you and Elise BOTH look like hell." Rahzel softened his tone a bit. "Just—think about it, and if you want to do it, let me know and I'll give you a name. No one will know but you, Elise, and me. Will you think about it?"
Brodi flopped back on the bed. "OK."
"OK, you'll see one?"
"No. OK, I'll think about it."
Rahzel walked over to the chair by the bed and sat down, leaning forward. He looked from Brodi to Elise and back to Brodi, who had thrown an arm up over his eyes.
"Look, Zen, I didn't bring this up just because we're required to offer it to you. And I didn't bring it up to embarrass you or piss you off. Look at it this way. If this was anyone else on the team, you'd do anything you could to help them. Right?"
"Of course I would."
"Damn straight you would. And you deserve the same level of care. You understand me?"
Brodi nodded without saying anything.
Rahzel stood to leave. "OK, then. I don't want to push you too hard. I just want to make sure you know you're not alone. Now, why don't the two of you get your butts up and let me take you to lunch."
"Thanks, Rahzel, but I don't really feel like I'm up for company right now."
Rahzel looked annoyed, but held his tongue. He looked over to Elise. "How 'bout you, princess?"
Elise stretched and yawned. "I'm more inclined to nap than eat right now, 'Zel."
"OK, OK. I'll drop it. But sometime in the next week I am taking the two of you to lunch, so get used to the idea."
Rahzel made his way to the door, but stopped with his hand on the knob and turned around. "If either of you need anything, you call me. If I find out you needed something and you didn't call me, both of your asses are in slings. Got it?"
He didn't wait for an answer, but heard "Got it!" in unison as he closed the door.
