Disclaimer: I still own no part of 7th Heaven. Only the plot and potential new characters are mine.
Ruthie's dead gaze saw the single wet ribbon come down his face. Her eyebrow creased in worry. As painful as the motion was, her hand came up to meet his cheek. Martin could see how much of a struggle it was for her and smiled sadly. His much larger hand came up to cover hers.
"That's it," he whispered. Why do you keep leaving me? As mad as Ruthie was, she couldn't help letting her eyes water. "What's wrong, Ruth?" He saw her bite her lip aggressively and sighed. Quietly, she gripped Martin's hand. In his rough palm, she scribed her desperate plea. "I'm not leaving anymore, Ruthie," he said softly. Just as soon as he said that, he bit back his response. Seeing her reaction, he knew that leaving now was out of the question. Someone in the house would have to go back and get Aaron's things. Kevin owed him anyway.
Pulling out his phone quickly, he sent a note to every phone on the first floor. Someone has to go get Aaron's overnight bag. She's not going to let me leave. At this point, it didn't matter to him whether or not the change would spike some kind of argument. He had already broken his promise to her a few too many times in the last 24 hours. The current situation wouldn't even let him leave the room. If Martin left, he would have to take Aaron with him. Aaron would put up some kind of fight to stay with her, and she wouldn't let him hear the end of it.
In the short few minutes that they had been sitting there, Ruthie was already making incredible progress. Martin didn't know what it was, but he had a feeling that his son had something to do with Ruthie slowly peeling away her shell. Just being in the room, Aaron brought out a couple of expressions and movements. Even more surprising was her whispering a greeting to him. As he knew they would be, all of these progressions were short-lived, but at this point, he would take anything she gave him.
"Roo!" Both looked down to see a wide smile across the little boy's face. Noticing that he'd finally gotten a reaction, Aaron bounced excitedly. As a result, a nearly inaudible string of hisses and silent tears came from a quiet Ruthie.
"Aaron!" Martin snapped, quickly taking the excited baby off her lap. His sharp tone was met with big frightened eyes, the little boy's bottom lip beginning to quiver. "Ruthie's hurt, little man. You're going to have to sit really still, alright?" Martin instructed. Almost as soon as he took Aaron, he brought closer to him, a clearly upset Ruthie. "Shh," he whispered, kissing her forehead quietly. "Did he hurt you?" he asked gently. She carefully shook her head settling closer to him. Ruthie brought her fingers up; gently brushing the little boy's blushed cheek.
"Da-ee," he whispered. Martin rubbed his back quietly, letting his head rest up against his shoulder.
"We have to be more careful, buddy," he said gently. "Daddy didn't mean to yell. I'm sorry," he apologized, kissing his forehead softly. Aaron shifted, moving closer to Ruthie. He nuzzled her in silent apology. She gave him a brief smile and brushed her hand along his back.
"He's fine," she whispered in a tone Martin could barely hear. There was nothing like the innocence of a child. Though she had to fight the mental cobwebs floating in her head, Ruthie knew enough to understand that he had no idea why she was so withdrawn. He was just a little boy, used to excited greetings. Even though it took more work, she found herself opening only a fraction, for him.
Aaron had no idea of the trials and tribulations faced in the last few days. She couldn't find it in her to give him anymore than he already knew. As young as he was, the little boy gave her something to work for. He gave her a reason to pull herself from the darkness that consumed her. The subtle growling of her stomach alerted them how long she'd gone without eating.
"Want me to bring something up?" Martin asked. She nodded, settling herself against a fluffy pillow. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Do you want anything specific?" Without a word, she shook her head. "I'll be back in a few minutes, honey. Are you going to be okay with him?" Ruthie's eyes shined with clear uncertainty. What if she accidently hurt him? What if he needed something and couldn't attend to him? She shook her head slowly. "Okay. I'll be back in a few minutes. Try and rest," he whispered. Leaving behind the phone, she watched the two of them exit the room.
Fear consumed her as soon as he turned the corner. A sharp gasp escaped her lips, her blood running cold. Martin was almost out of earshot when he heard as desperate, strangled cry. In hearing it, he struggled to push forward. She has to learn to be by herself. As much as it killed him, he made his way downstairs.
Quietly, he made his way into the kitchen. His entry was met with Annie's concerned gaze. The sight of Martin's hopeful expression was enough to produce a smile. It was small and lasted no more than five seconds but it was the first Annie had allowed herself in the last three days.
"She's talking to him," Martin whispered. Annie could feel herself releasing a breath she didn't know she was holding. Martin could almost feel the relief coursing through her body. Maybe it was due to the fact that he too could feel that same relief. Ruthie would have a long way to go before she reached any form of normal. That much went without saying. Martin also knew that no matter how long it took her, he wasn't going to give up on her.
Since day one, he felt the younger Camden was his personal responsibility. That much wasn't asked of him, he just seemed to fall into the role. Almost immediately, Martin became her protector. The job was done, whether she needed it or not. Ruthie Camden was stubborn. He'd come to realize that the little brunette was among one of the most stubborn individuals he'd ever met. There was nothing annoying about her blunt refusals. Denying the need for help was a part of her charm. The defining quality, that seemed to have been flushed out completely in the last few days. Ruthie was no longer the outspoken, opinionated woman he knew. On that defining night, Martin could see that she'd been turned inside out. Ruthie was curled into herself and so visibly shaken. It was a wonder she'd let anyone in at all after the horror that she'd been through. With shaking hands, she let him in. Martin wasn't about to let the opportunity slip. If he was offered such a privilege, he would make damn sure that he fulfilled his duty, as not only her protector, but the one person who could pull her out of the hole she'd buried herself in.
"At least we're getting somewhere," Annie said quietly. Martin silently nodded in agreement as she handed him a plate she'd already prepared. Looking up at Annie in a moment of confusion, he nodded his thanks. "I've been watching the clock," she admitted. He gave a small chuckle, making his way back up the stairs.
"Da-ee," Aaron mumbled. "Roo owie," he whimpered, his bottom lip jutting out in a whimper.
"Don't I know it," he sighed. "We're going," he promised. Out of the corner of his eye, Martin saw Annie nod, and hurried his way up. He could feel Aaron start to pull on the hem of his shirt and smiled. "Calm down, we're getting there," he said, not able to wipe the smile off his face. When he reached the bedroom, Martin wasn't even able to step inside before his eyes fell on a very disturbed Ruthie. If the physical thrashing wasn't enough to tell him, her facial expressions painted the clearest picture. Putting Aaron down quickly, three giant steps had him at her side.
"Ruthie?" he asked calmly. "Ruth honey, wake up for me," he said shaking her only a little. Martin's hands acted as restraints, keeping her as still (and hopefully calm) as possible.
"Don't…don't…please no." she whimpered Martin could feel her legs curling under him, a fraction of his weight keeping her still.
"Shh," he whispered. With quiet reassurances, he brushed a mix of sweat and tears from her brightened cheeks. "Wake up pretty girl. It's just a dream. I won't let anything hurt you." Martin had honestly lost count of just how many times that promise passed his lips in the last 24 hours.
As hard as she tried, the air she needed just wouldn't pass her lips. He was starring right at her, dark eyes seeing into her very soul. These weren't the pair of soft gentle eyes she knew. No. The eyes in this pitch black alley shined pure evil. Without the monster having to say a word, she knew they meant harm, doom, and if angered enough, worse.
Her tiny fists were brought up as a way of trying to protect she knew he would be taking. Even though she understood it wouldn't be Martin's, she sure as hell wasn't giving it to this creep.
"No one can save you now, sweetheart. It's nice and quiet. Quiet enough so no one can hear your petty little pleas for help." She heard him laugh with a witch-like register and shivered. His amusement loosened the grip he had on her, long enough for Ruthie to send a firm kick to his calf.
Martin grunted quietly, massaging his injured calf. Ruthie's eyes snapped open, long enough to see him bent over in pain. Before he even had time to recover, her entire weight was thrown in his direction. Knowing well before it happened that this was coming, he recovered fast enough to take her firmly in his arms.
"You have quite a foot on you there, honey," he chuckled. Having guilt mix itself with sheer terror, Ruthie cried openly now, full body tremors making it hard for her to catch her breath. "Breathe nice and deep, angel. You have to breathe," he said softly. "He's not going to take you. Shh," he said settling Ruthie on his lap. Almost immediately, she took that as an invitation to curl herself as close to Martin as humanly possible.
He could feel small hands on the hem of his pants. With one arm, he brought Aaron up to sit on his other knee. Seeing as Ruthie had taken up as much of him as she possibly could, the little boy's small weight was shared between them. Martin made sure to take on most of it, leaving Ruthie as much freedom as the tiny space allowed.
"He's fine," she whispered Ruthie found herself playing mindlessly with his hair. Aaron seemed not to notice, as his main concern was being of help to Ruthie. His body almost melded with hers, the distance between the two of them unseen. "Just…fine," she said softly.
"If he starts causing you any pain, just say the word." Aaron got more out of her than Martin could have possibly imagined getting her to say, had he done it himself. The subtle growling of Ruthie's stomach, reminded him why he'd left in the first place. Taking the plate off the night stand, he picked up the sandwich Annie made. "Open up, pretty girl." Like the last time, she downed it in nothing flat. "You're getting faster," he pointed out. Ruthie's eyes shinned in reply but still no verbal response.
"Da-ee hungee," Aaron cried. Martin looked up at Ruthie momentarily. Seeing the question in his eyes, she nodded.
"You sure? I'll be gone for no more than five minutes," he said quickly. Again she nodded allowing Aaron the freedom to play with her hands. "You, be good for Ruthie, alright?" Seeming not to care, the little boy only continued with his new found fascination. "What do you want to drink?" he asked. She shrugged. An indication that she'd just let Martin surprise her.
As he left once again, Ruthie sighed. This was a content sigh. Not only did she enjoy having Aaron around. Having him there made being without Martin a little easier. Along with that, came an innocent understanding. Unlike the need to constantly be talking in the presence of adults, the silence was enough for Aaron. He was just happy to be there.
When Martin returned, he could see a hint of a smile on Ruthie's face,. He had to stop for a minute to be sure that the expression on her face was real and not just a hope created by his own imagination. Quietly, so as not to disturb what he'd walked in on, he set the glass on the night stand, a really bottle in the other hand. Aaron's hands came up in eager anticipation. Martin watched as he at his dinner independently. As he ate, Aaron's head settled on Ruthie's shoulder, his head right below her chin. The sight before him was enough to make Martin wish he had a camera. Even more surprising was the fact that Ruthie did nothing to fight him off.
Martin saw her shiver and immediately relinquished his place on the bed. Taking Aaron from her, Martin could see that he'd already fallen asleep. He saw Ruthie yawn loudly and laughed. She sighed at his reaction but did nothing else. Carefully crawling in under the covers, her pillow lay ready and waiting.
"Stay," she whispered. Martin smiled not even ready to consider denying her. Ruthie had a power over him and she knew it. Even with the state she was in, somewhere deep down, she was still the Ruthie he knew far too well. The Ruthie he loved with every fiber of his very being. Neither had ever said so out loud, but somehow they both knew that. Somewhere in that shell, his vibrant Ruthie sat waiting. Somewhere in there, she was clawing her way out.
"What's going on in that pretty little head of yours, baby girl? Where are you?" he whispered as he settled in beside her.
A/N: Oh my goodness! How long has it been since I've even touched this story? -Sigh- I'm so sorry for the major delay, guys. School has just been so hectic lately! Anyway, here's the long awaited chapter! Hope you enjoyed. :)