"Ana, Ana!"
"Christian?" I respond weakly finally regaining consciousness.
"Oh, thank God" he gasps as he helps me sit up.
"Ana, would you like some water?" Flynn asks.
"Okay" I respond as I try to stand to my feet.
"Wow" Christian responds holding me back. "Are you sure you're ready to stand up?"
"I'm fine" I answer as I try again to stand, but this time I fall over.
"Ana" Christian gasps as he catches me. "God, you're stubborn. You need to sit still. Flynn, call 911!"
"I don't need to go to the hospital" I insist. "Christian, I just passed out, I'm fine."
"Ana, you were attacked last night. You hit your head and you lost blood. There could be something wrong; we need to get you checked out."
"I would feel better if you got checked out too Ana" Flynn adds. "I'll go have my receptionist call you an ambulance now."
"Okay" I shrug. God, this is awful! I don't want to go back there. The last thing I want is to go back there and have a bunch of doctors look at me and touch me…
"Ana" Christian says softly interrupting my thoughts. "It's okay, you're going to be fine baby."
"I know" I respond.
He holds me tightly and buries his head in my hair.
"Don't ever call yourself damaged goods" he cries. "You're my Ana, you're perfect, I love you. We're going to get through this baby."
"I know" I answer rubbing his arm. I can't fight the urge to comfort him. I know the appointment was making him upset, and when I passed out- he must have been so scared. I wish I could make this better for him. I wish I could make this go away.
"The ambulance is on its way" Flynn says running in with a glass of water. "Ana, would you like me and Christian to try to help you move back over to the couch?"
"I don't need help" I say as I try to stand on my own.
"Anastasia" Christian says sternly, glaring at me.
"Fine" I respond as Flynn and Christian each take one of my arms and guide me so I'm standing.
"Why do you think I fainted?" I ask as they guide me to the couch.
"The doctors will be able to tell us" Christian replies.
"It's good that you're getting checked out, but my guess would be that you just had a physical reaction to what we were talking about. What you have been through is quite traumatic Ana."
"So you're saying that she passed out because she's so upset?" Christian asks angrily.
"Christian, that's a good thing- it means nothing's wrong with me."
"Yeah" he retorts. "It's a great thing that you're fainting because you're so torn up inside about what that fucking bastard…"
"Christian" Flynn interrupts. "Why don't we keep things calm for Ana's sake."
"I'm okay" I protest. "Really, I am."
"God baby," Christian says taking the seat next to me. "You're white as a sheet."
"I am?" I ask as I clear my throat.
"Do you have any more symptoms?" Flynn asks.
Symptoms? "Um, I feel kind of hot."
"Why don't we take your sweater off" Christian says as he guides it down my arms.
Oh God, my arms. My arms are covered in bruises- covered in marks that his hands left behind, his hands. "Christian, no!" I yell as I yank it back up.
Oh God, he looks so hurt. I didn't mean to snap at him.
"I- I'm sorry" he replies.
"What's going on Ana?" Flynn asks. "Are you upset that Christian touched you."
"No" I reply quickly. "No, it's not that. I just didn't-"
"Just didn't what?" Flynn prods further.
"I just didn't want my arms to show!"
"You have bruises?" Flynn asks softly.
"Yeah."
"And that makes you feel uncomfortable."
"Yeah" I answer as I sniffle and fight tears.
"What do you think we could do to make you feel better about that?"
"I don't know. I guess I just have to wait until they heal."
"Really? You don't think there's anything we can do in the meantime."
"No, they aren't going to go away, and they're ugly, and they remind me of where he put his hands- I hate them!" I say as I start to breakdown.
I look over at Christian and he's crying. Great, I'm making him cry…again.
"Ana, that must be difficult for you" Flynn says sympathetically. "It must make you feel uncomfortable with your own body."
"Yeah" I answer. "It does."
"Maybe, there's something we can do about that. Do you think makeup might make you feel better?"
"Makeup?"
"You could use it to cover the bruises on your arms, or anywhere else you wanted to. That might make you feel like you have so more control over the issue.
I nod and place my hand on Christian's arm, but before I have the chance to say anything the paramedics burst through the door.
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