A/N: Yeahhhh. I know. I promised it sooner. But It was just so nice outside.
Also known as vacation.
So this chapter is for you....yuuup. YOU. No, not you!
You.
Mr. "Avery"...because you wouldn't shut up about it. ;)
Dark Blue
"Have you ever been alone,
In a crowded room?
Well I'm here with you…"
I heard the slight, hesitant knock on my door about an hour later. By this time my tears had dried, and my thoughts were in order. Or at least as ''in order'' as they were going to be for a long while.
"You can come in." I said, a sigh in my voice, knowing who and what waited for me behind the slowly opening door.
The curly hair appeared first, his eyes cast downward in hesitation and worry. "Annie…" Drew began, picking up his head, looking me in the eyes.
"It's okay Drew." I shook my head, not wanting him to worry unnecessarily. "I know the truth, and I know that truth lies with…you." I sighed, conceding.
His eyes lit up , as if surprised by my statement, searching mine for a lie or contradiction. "What about him?" He asked, letting a small amount of disgust leak into his tone.
"He won't be back." I shrugged, knowing this was the truth. He lost, and wouldn't try again. Not for a while at least. "And I won't go to him." I stated, reassuring.
Drew sighed, as if relieved himself, and came to sit again in the chair by my bed. "So. You're not going with him, and you're going to stop with all the…unsavory behavior?" He asked delicately, watching my response carefully.
"Yes, there's nothing for me in it." I shook my head again. Alcohol had done me no good, and the drugs had done me even worse. I reached for his hands, laid in his lap, and slipped mine into his-warm and comforting.
"Good." Drew said, swallowing and looking up as my hand joined his, his voice trying to become professional and detached. "Annie. We're going to release you soon. In a few days at the most. You're clean and safe, as it seems. But you're parents have talked about sending you somewhere. To get…better. They don't know about the rape, I promised you that much, but you've been through enough as it is." He sighed, staring at a spot just over my head.
I let this information sink in as I looked at his set, square jaw. I was leaving the hospital. This was good news; I could try to have a normal life, to find my place again. But, I was going somewhere, somewhere to get better. This was…probably a good thing. Though I wouldn't know until the end.
This all meant leaving Drew at the hospital. Despite the short time, something had grown, at least within me. The thought of being without him made me uneasy, and it was as if I would lose my way without him. He had been my angel while I drifted alone and unsure in my despair and mistakes. I wasn't his patient and he wasn't my doctor. Not anymore. I needed him.
I frowned, wrapping my hand around his tighter, as if securing myself to him physically could change anything. "Oh. I see." I nodded dumbly, unsure of what to say next.
Drew nodded too, still refusing to make eye contact, no matter how hard I tried to pull his eyes towards mine. "Drew…look at me?"
He turned his face to mine reluctantly, and I saw there the poorly masked worry and pain.
"Drew." I took a deep breath, and looked down at our tightly intertwined fingers. "I'm…going to miss you. So much." My voice broke on the last part, and I looked up at him expectantly.
The mask fell away from his face at my words, revealing his true emotions. He nodded, his green eyes finally connecting with mine as he rubbed his thumb across the back of my hand. "Yeah." He whispered. "Me too, me too." He sighed, looking away briefly before returning his gaze to mine. "But you have to go. And leave me behind." He nodded to himself, obviously decided.
I frowned, knowing that I would have to go. And that it was for the better anyhow. "But I'll see you again?" I probed, unsure of how far "behind" he wanted me to leave him.
He looked up to ceiling, taking in one breath. "I don't know if that's the best idea." He stated hesitantly, stumbling over his words.
My brow furrowed as I took in his words. I looked down out our hands, obviously not simply a comforting gesture. I hadn't misread him, of this I was sure. I saw the genuine worry and pain crease his forehead as he saw my pain. I had heard his voice, laced with sadness while I had slipped in an out of consciousness, his hand over my head in his best attempt to subdue my helplessness.
I finally shook my head at him. "Why not?"
"Because." He stated softly, trying his hardest to be reasonable. "You're broken. And having me-or anyone- in your life to complicate things…well, that wouldn't help much. And you need to get better." He sighed, swallowing. "And-well- I don't want to be here only for you to cling on. I..." He sighed again. "I really like you. And I don't think you're going to be able to tell what you really feel for a long time." He looked up into my eyes, uneasy.
A small smile tugged at the corners of my lips as he admitted that he really did like me. He may have had a point that I don't know how I really feel, not yet. But I wouldn't dwell on that. Not for a few seconds at least.
I sat up farther in the bed, watching him. "You like me." I repeated with a smile. "I think I like you too." And with that I gave into the dream I'd had over the past weeks and leaned over, pressing my lips to his softly.
His lips were better than I had imagined. The perfect combination of soft and firm, kissing me back after only the slightest hesitation. One of his warm, large hand left mine and moved to the back of my head, holding me there to let the kiss linger between our lips.
He pulled back first, his hand sliding down to my shoulder. He paused one moment before opening his eyes, softer than I had seen them before. Instead of the sharp, piercing green, they were arm and inviting-almost drowsy. He shook his head once, though I could tell he didn't mean it. "We shouldn't." He tried.
"Why not?" I contradicted, a small smile lighting up my face.
"Well-for one- we're in a hospital. The place where I happen to work. Though I'm not actually on duty right now." He smiled crookedly at me.
"Wait." I interrupted him, something he said hitting me. "What do you mean you aren't on duty? Why are you still here?" I asked him, confused.
He looked at me as if I was missing something key. "I wasn't going to leave you. You needed me here. I could tell." He smiled at me softly, his thumb moving up to my cheek, rubbing it gently.
I smiled, realizing how much he seemed to know me, despite how little I had spoken. "Oh. And what was the other reason?"
"I already told you. We're not getting involved. The most I can be to you is a friend." He frowned as he spoke, his eyes hardening to cover what he wanted, with what he thought he needed to do.
"Oh." I frowned too, looking down. "I see. I understand." I nodded, surrendering. He was right. I pulled back from underneath his hand, and freed my own hand from his. It would have to be friends, I don't know if I could stay on the straight and narrow without him. I offered my hand to shake. "Friends then."
His strong, steady hand closed with mine and I made a vow to myself that it would only be temporary, until I was fixed. Until then I could only hope that he would stand by me long enough.
A/N: Shorter than usual, but it needed to be. The story's wrapping up folks!
I'm still debating whether or not to write a sequel. I'll consult my "people".
REEVIEW. And You'll fid something special in your inbox..... ;)
