A/n: this is a considerably short chapter due to me not wanting to get into the rescuing. So please bare with me. Comments are LOVE! Thanks.
By the time Topper returned to her, Savannah had slipped into a light sleep in front of the fire. She looked so peaceful and he didn't really want to wake her. There was something about the easy way her eyes stayed closed, and the way there was no scowl or smirk on her lips. She looked impossibly younger when she was asleep. She looked impossibly happier when she was asleep. She looked impossibly pretty when she was asleep. Impossibly kind, and possibly caring. But her injuries couldn't go any longer untreated. He couldn't afford to lose her to something so trivial as an infection. He couldn't really afford to lose her at all. There was still so much he had to learn from her. He needed to learn to be foolishly brave. He needed to learn to care. He needed to learn to believe in himself. He needed to learn to be the willing hero. He didn't have a choice anymore, he had to do these things. So he may as well learn to be willing to do what must be done. She was the only person who he really felt could teach him all these things. In order for that to happen he would have to nurse her back to the peak of health. Of course with the peak of health would come cursing, and beating, and growling, and yelling, and anger. If the others didn't get out, and he had only saved her she would be furious with him. He studied her peaceful features once more, and hoped to memorize them for later when she was enraged by what he'd done. There was no doubt she would be. She was the kind of girl who would rather have died in that prison than leave anyone behind. And he had forced her to leave them behind. She would be furious. Well, no more delaying the inevitable, he had to rouse her and dress her wounds and be ready for her fury.
"Savannah," he whispered kneeling beside her sleeping form. He sat the things he'd found down beside her. He had managed to find some food and some plants that he had learned in school could be used for medicinal purposes. He had never paid much attention during school, but on the days when they were taught to survive in the Wonderland woods he had been very interested. He couldn't explain why. It's not like he actually thought he would ever end up trapped in the woods. It just seemed far more interesting than all the other inconsequential stuff they'd been taught. This skill was something useful, even if he didn't end up trapped in the woods. It seemed far more practical than studying history, and other nonsense. He had always been a practical sort of child, and he wanted to learn practical things. Things that he could actually use in real life. The girl before him stirred a little but didn't wake. "Savannah," he repeated shaking her gently, trying his best not to cause her any unneeded pain.
Savannah winced audibly and opened her eyes to glare at him. He had tried to be as gentle as possible, but it was clear that he had caused her pain. The wounds she had been hiding from everyone were somehow evident in her eyes. He could tell that through all her talk she had just been foolishly brave, nothing more. She was still human, and still very hurt. Surprisingly no swings were aimed at his head, which kind of worried him at the same time. It also worried him that she didn't move, she just laid there glaring at him. "What do you want," she asked in a hoarse voice laced with pain. Now he was really starting to worry. He thought he knew a decent enough amount about the girl to be able to say that she wouldn't have allowed pain to be in her voice unless it was severe. She really didn't want people to worry about her, but it was evident to him perhaps only because he'd watched everything they'd done to her that she was truly hurt.
"Sit up against this log. I need to look at your injuries." With that Topper gently helped her sit up and lean her thin form against the log. With her sitting up he finally got a good look at her face, and a wince escaped his own lips. Her right cheek was swollen so badly you couldn't even see the definition of her cheekbone anymore. He couldn't tell if it was red, but it certainly wasn't the same pale color as the rest of her face. There was a part of him, a very angry part, that wanted to march right back to the cave find those doctors and tear them limb from limb. But then he recalled that he'd have to leave her alone in the woods in a state where she wouldn't be able to protect herself. Not that he doubted her ability to protect herself if the need arose, it was just that in the pain she was in he couldn't see how she could possibly lift a weapon much less use one.
"It's not that bad," she said with a slight shrug. The shrug caused something in her side to pull, but she didn't let it show on her face. It was clear Topper was already too worried about her injuries, and that was something Savy just didn't like. They didn't have time for him to fuss over her. They had things to do, people to save, a world to put to rights. She had to be the hero, and heroes didn't allow pain to stop them. "Don't be a baby and make it out to be worse than it is." But even through her tough talk Topper could see her jaw clenching against pain. She was a strong girl, but she was no where near strong enough to deal with this on her own. He crushed one of the plants in the palm of his hand until it softened into a mushy cream, and then gently rubbed it on her cheek. Savannah felt the cooling instantly and sighed a little as the burning of her skin ceased.
"There see, you do need my help. Now stop being stubborn and let me help you," Topper's words were calm and easy. His lips had stretched into a ghost of a smile at the look of relief of her face. Savy didn't like it. She didn't like that she knew she needed his help. He was the one who knew this world, not her. She needed his help to survive, to fight, to save this place. And she had never needed anyone's help before. She didn't like it. But what she possibly disliked even more was that she actually kind of felt like he could help her, like he could be a hero to her. There was something strange in that protective look in his eyes that set off something strange in her stomach. She shifted uncomfortably and vowed to ignore it.
"Don't play hero. It doesn't become you," she snapped her eyes sparking angrily. Topper easily mistook this anger for her being angry with him, when in fact Savy was angry with herself. She was angry with the way she kind of wanted this man-child to learn to be a hero. The way she wanted him to be able to help her save his world. The way it was so easy for her to lean into his hand as he spread the cream across her cheek.
"Oh and I suppose it becomes you does it," he asked snarkily in return. He kind of would like her to realize that being a hero was a silly notion. Maybe then she would act more like her life mattered to her, than like it didn't matter when compared to the greater good. This only earned him a cold glare. He sighed running a hand through his mussed dark hair. She would never change, she had to be the hero, the tough girl, the one who fixed everything. He was just trying to remember that this was best, and the feeling of watching her be hurt. Those events had left him strangely protective over her. That feeling is what allowed him to ignore her sarcasm and remember what injuries she had. "Take off your coat and lift up your sweater."
"No way in fucking hell!" Of course there was a part of her mind that was saying that it was irrational to scream at him for wanting to look closer at her injuries. But she could ignore that part for a long ass time for all the she fucking cared. She was not letting him see her without clothes. This was fucking ridiculous. He must be fucking insane.
He sighed, "Savannah I need to get a good look at those burns. If I don't they'll get infected. Now let me see them." She glared disbelievingly at him for a long moment before relenting, and slipping her arms from her coat. Topper managed to roll her sweater up her ribs without receiving a blow to the head. He was exceedingly grateful for this, but also shocked by it. Savannah was guarded, scarily guarded. And this show of vulnerability meant that some where along the line she had grown to trust him. She was putting herself in a vulnerable position with him. That.. well it was just bloody amazing. Both those emotions faded when his eyes landed on the dark welts along her ribs.
"How bad is it," she whispered not having the courage to look herself. She had felt the way her sweater stuck to her skin when he peeled back the fabric, that alone was enough to tell her it wasn't good. Savy had had injuries upon injuries since she was born. She had been the little girl who got into fist fights before she could walk. So these were nothing new, but that didn't mean she liked to seem them. Blood didn't make her queasy like it did some people. But injuries like burns, and deep cuts always made her antsy, especially when they were her own injuries. There was just something creepy about the idea of burns and deep cuts. And another thing, she couldn't watch people be inflicted with them on TV. It didn't bother her so much in real life, but on TV everything always looked so much more painful. She shook off the thought, and waited for his answer.
"Pretty bad. You really ought to see a doctor," he said honestly. At least he was being honest about it. She couldn't stand it if he lied to her and told her everything would be alright, because she knew it might not. She hated people who lied and said it would all turn out alright, especially when they knew it wasn't true. People had told her everything would be alright after her parents had died. But it hadn't been. Sure, life had gone on, but it hadn't been alright. He continued with, "but we will make due with what we have. I'm afraid your sweater is ruined, and I have nothing else for you to wear, so you're kind of stuck in it." His eyes remained glued on the shiny dark mass of welts before him. He just couldn't believe such a little body had been able to take such a beating without giving out. There was no doubt in his mind that had he been in the position Savannah was, he would have given up.
"Hey," came her calm collected voice urging him to look at her. He did. "I'll be fine. Just hurry the fuck up and get me cleaned up. We have shit to do and people to find." Topper nodded dumbly. He didn't know what else to do and he was sure nothing he had to say would make her see the gravity of her situation. She was reckless and the only thing he could do was patch her up to the best of his abilities. So he did. There were several curse words accompanied with his attempts at dressing her wounds, and he was certain she was on the verge of smacking him. His hands weren't careless, they were just nervous. He had never dealt with anything so severe and it was nerve wracking to be quite honest. At the end of it Topper took off his coat and tried to make some semblance of a comfortable place to sleep for her. He ordered her to sleep and Savy begrudgingly complied.
Everything looked different in the morning, and Savy had this sinking feeling that things weren't right. She had a feeling that something had happened the night before that she hadn't understood then. She pulled herself up to sit, her body protesting against her. "Topper," She growled shoving him roughly. Whatever wasn't right, it was his doing, he'd done this. The boy shot up looking startled, confused, and ready to jump into battle if the need arose. She swung her arm at him landing squarely in the jaw, but it didn't hold half the strength that first hook had held. And she winced as she felt her burns rub against the makeshift bandages under her clothing.
"What was that for," he growled at her his eyes glaring at her. And then those golden eyes softened, she didn't look so good. In full morning light she looked awful. Her right cheek was purple now from bruising, and her face was paler than it had been before. Her eyes were dull and watery, she looked sick. "Savannah, you should lie back down."
"Don't you tell me what to fucking do you bloody liar! You told me they'd be coming, you told me they would escape as well! You lied," She shouted her green eyes all fire and anger. "Where are they?!"
Topper sighed running a hand through his mussed hair. He knew this was coming, but he hadn't expected it to be right when she woke up. He thought she'd take some time, rest, heal. But instead she was ready to go at him. He should have known better. The girl had no head for her own safety. "Honestly," he said quietly "I don't know. I promised Hatter I'd get you out. I didn't think of anything else at that time, just getting you out safely."
"You idiot!" Well that's gratitude for you, he supposed. No thank you. No oh my hero. Just you idiot. He supposed he should have expected nothing else from her. Savy was still Savy after all, even if he had saved her. She would never do anything else. "Well we'll just have to go back in there, that's all there is to it."
"No," Topper answered very firmly. He would not allowed her to run head long into danger again in her condition. Maybe after she rested a few days. Maybe after he saw some improvement in her state. But not now, not this morning. He understood her want to save everyone, really he did. But one of them had to be responsible, and think clearly, and she just wasn't capable of doing so. She cared nothing for herself. Well one of them had to care for her!
"No," she asked quirking a brow indignantly. She couldn't believe he was telling her no. Who was he to tell her no? She was the one working to save them all, and he was telling her no. She didn't like it. She didn't like it one bit. She was the one in control here, or at least she liked to think so.
"You heard me well and good, I said no. I'm not letting you run about trying to save everyone in your state. You'll get yourself killed," he scolded. Savy couldn't get over the fact that he'd told her no, and it was clearly evident in her face. She still looked positively furious. "Don't you look at me like that Savannah. One of us has to worry about your safety."
"Well it's not you," she snapped back. "I don't need you looking after me. And I don't want you looking after me. I just want to get this over with so I can go back to where I came from with Alice and Hatter. Or don't you get that?" She pulled herself to her feet, and felt herself sway on her feet, but she held her ground. She was not going to show a bit of weakness in front of Topper who wanted her to stay here with him while he did God knows what. For all she knew he was playing to feed her to one of those little raptor things. Or maybe he was planning on turning her back over to that crazy little girl. She didn't trust him.
"You don't trust me," it wasn't even a question, it was a statement. A true statement, she didn't trust him still. "I don't get you Savannah. I've done nothing but try to help-"
"Recently," she interjected with a scowl. "Before you lead me and my friends right into a trap." Alright, so she was right about that.
"Fine, recently. Look I'm not going to let you go back there until you're healthier."
"Then I'll go alone," he chin tilted proudly, and she started out in a direct assuming it was the one they'd come. She couldn't really remember, but she was going to get her point across. She wasn't just going to sit around and wait for something to happen to her. It was always better to go out and make something happen than to wait around. She didn't bother to think much on the fact that she didn't know anything about this place, nor where she was going. All she wanted was to get this saving of Wonderland fucking over with. She was really started to get sick of this place, and of Topper for that matter. He just kept trying to reinvent the wheel so to speak. One minute he was this annoyingly pathetic womanizer. The next he was turning her over to a crazy fucked up little girl. And now he was this charmingly caring man. So which was the real Topper, and which should she believe. She couldn't tell, and she didn't think she much wanted to stick around and find out.
"Wait, Savannah," he called after her hopping to his feet, and racing after her. He couldn't just let her wander around the mountains by herself. She didn't bother to look at him when he joined her but just glared forward. "I'm only condoning this behavior because you'll wander off recklessly and get yourself killed if you don't have someone to keep track of you."
Alice sat up in her cell looking confused, she'd fallen asleep and she wasn't sure where she was or how long she'd been asleep. She looked around and found just herself and Virginia in the cell. Savy had never returned. Alice was really starting to worry that maybe something had happened to her. What if she'd died. She couldn't handle that. She leaned her form against the wall and tried not to think about it. Unfortunately she couldn't, and she found herself dissolving into whimpers. Virginia looked over at her and frowned a little. "What' wrong," she asked of the younger woman in a motherly tone.
"She didn't come back. She promised she'd come back," Alice said in a low voice fighting the hot tears that threatened to spill down her face. Savy had said it best, they had to be strong. She had to be strong. She didn't know who for, not anymore. Especially now that Savy was gone. But she assumed she had to be strong for Virginia.
"She has to be alright," Virginia said quietly. Even if she wasn't sure that the girl was alright she knew that something would change if she wasn't. She wouldn't just not come back. They'd be told by that devil child of a little girl. They'd be given the news. Alice nodded numbly, and they fell silent. It was too hard to say anything. It was too hard to try to figure out what had happened to Savy. They didn't want to think about where she'd gone. They didn't want to think about what the Doctors had done to her. After the first beating she'd received it was likely they may have killed her. And that thought alone sent both women into silence.
Things were not the same in the cell of the men. For Charlie had been caught and thrown in with them. "Wha' happened," Hatter asked rising to his feet in easy excitement as the old man was tossed in with them a little worse for wear. "Did Topper and Savy escape? Are they alrigh'? Is Alice alrigh'? Did ya see Alice and Virginia?"
"Now now one question at a time m'boy." Charlie said holding up his hands begging for some patience from his comrades.
"How did you escape," Wolf asked coming forward to examine the old man dressed in a knights armor. He looked very strange, even to a man as strange as Wolf. But he had to know, how did this man escape. If he could then so could they.
"Practice," Charlie responded with a conspiratorial look. Hatter shook his head, but Wolf looked displeased with this answer. It seemed to Wolf the old man was a touch insane, which probably accounted for his escape. So instead of asking once more Wolf merely shook his head, and scratched just behind his ear in agitation. "As for Topper and Savy. Well I found them in a room tied to chairs, and set them loose. From what I heard of the guards they got loose from this place. They're quite free as birds I'd wager. So I think we can expecting a rescue mission any time now. I did not see the other ladies in question. But what I did see of little Savy she looked quite the worse for wear I must say. It seems those doctors but quite a beating on the poor child."
"That's enough," Wolf said noticing the hurt look on his cousin's face. Hatter didn't like the thought of Savy being so hurt. And he was sure that Topper would do anything in his power to bring her back to health. That alone gave him comfort. They settled into silence, well almost silence. Charlie started humming to himself as the others quieted.