Okay so again i'm super sorry about the wait. Last week was a bit rough on me. Hopefully this chapter makes up for the wait. I should be posting more chapters soon as well.

I do not own The Winx Club

CHAPTER 12

"I think we're here." Helia announced turning and parking the car.

I propped myself up slightly being careful not to wake up Miele or move my ankle to look out of the window. Sure enough we were parked in my mom's driveway. No sooner than I had confirmed to Helia that this was indeed the place did my mom burst out of the door walking swiftly to the car. Naturally I had called her on the way here, and she was not too happy with my decision to postpone going to the doctor, but she understood that it was for Miele's sake and told me that if I had broken my ankle due to my stubbornness that she would make sure to break the other. Helia stepped out and greeted her as my mother thanked him and apologized for my "clumsiness," as she put it. I had managed to sit up a bit, scooting over so that she would be able to take Miele.

Once they were done talking my mother came over to the car and opened the door gently before taking Miele out. She disappeared into the house only to come out a few minutes later before opening the door on the other side to take a look at my ankle. She went to touch it and I winced at the mere thought of contact. She pulled back and instead cupped my cheek. Looking sadly up at me with worry and concern. She turned her head to address Helia.

"The hospital is two miles north of here. After you pull out make a left and keep straight. You can't miss it."

Helia nodded in response.

"I'm really sorry again for all this. If I had some way of taking her without Miele being by herself it would be no problem it's just that I don't want to leave her alone and I don't really want to have to take her to the hospital right now." She looked down at her hands. "It's really not a good time." She finished. I looked over at Helia as he looked over at my mom. I could see the clear confusion in his eyes as the gears were turning before he finally responded.

"It's really not a problem. Flora's a great neighbor and I'm just glad to help." During my previous conversation with my mother I had mentioned that Helia was a neighbor leaving out the part where he was practically my boss. I was thankful that he took note of that not wanting to go more into this with my mother than was needed. My mother nodded in response to Helia's statement before turning back to me. She leaned forward being careful not to hit my foot and brought her forehead to mine. Her hand cupped my face as her thumb lightly strum across my cheek.

"Tell Em that I said hi." She whispered. I tensed a bit, noticing Helia's eyes darting up to us through the rearview mirror as she said this. I was sure that he had heard her yet I refocused my eyes on my mother.

"Okay." I replied. She looked at me for a moment longer before letting me go.

"Helia thank you again." My mother spoke appreciatively.

He smiled and nodded as he started up the car.

"You get that checked out and you call me immediately after seeing the doctor. Got that?"

I nodded

"Yes mom"

She smiled slightly once more before shutting the door.

I let out a deep sigh before laying down.

I felt the car back up and turn just as my mother instructed before continuing on straight. Everything was quiet for a bit until Helia spoke.

"Do you know someone in the hospital?" He asked

I couldn't see him from my current position, but I somehow knew that he was looking into the rearview mirror at me.

"Yes." I stated flatly. He paused for a moment

"Why is she in the hospital?" He asked

Why indeed? I thought grimly to myself.

"Is everything alright I mean." He corrected himself carefully.

"No." I answered wanting to drop the subject. I didn't want to think about this right now. This entire day had me feeling like a complete failure. I freaked out Miele, and my mom for that matter. Lord knows how bad my I screwed up my ankle and if I'll even be able to walk on it tomorrow. I probably won't get to see Emily and since I left my phone I hadn't even called her so she probably thinks that I blew her off, and…

NO.

I didn't want to think about it

NO.

I didn't want to talk about it

NO.

I didn't want to cry about it

SNIFFLE…SNIFFLE

My body didn't listen

My mind didn't listen

In the back of Helia's car tears slowly began to escape. I was vaguely aware of the feel of Helia's car slowing down before coming to a complete stop. He said nothing

"I'm sorry." My voice came as a whisper.

"And thank you." My voice began to crack.

"You didn't have to do any of this." The tears began to fall harder.

"I really didn't want to drag you of all people into this." I could feel the tears catching in my throat.

I wiped at my eyes again and again willing myself to calm down. I listened as Helia's door swing open. He pulled his seat up as far as he could before walking around to the passenger side and doing the same. I continued to wipe my eyes baffled when the door by my head suddenly swung opened. Helia got in closing the door behind him and sat on the floor looking at me. I looked up at him and then away, ashamed at what I must look like. I stared at his backseat refusing to look at him wiping away any stray tears that threatened to fall before I felt him take my other hand. I looked at him briefly before turning my head back towards his seat. He didn't say anything and neither did I. Instead he sat there patiently holding my hand as I used the other one to finish off any tears that remained. I only needed a minute or two to compose myself more from being embarrassed than the actual tears. I wandered how incompetent I must've looked in his eyes. The last few months had definitely presented me with some of my most vulnerable moments in life and somehow Helia had been there to witness a lot of them.

"Okay." I finally stated turning my face from the seat. "You can drop me off at the hospital now." I didn't want to necessarily meet his gaze but Helia didn't move. I glanced up. When my eyes finally met his there was a nearly indescribable swirl of emotion. Concern, for obvious reasons, tiredness, confusion, guilt and… something else… something that resembled…fear? No. Not fear per say. I turned to face him more as I looked deeper, searching his eyes trying to understand and remember this unnamed emotion that I just knew that I had seen before. I just can't put my finger on it. Suddenly without warning Helia broke eye contact. He cleared his throat and I felt a slight blush come over me under the embarrassment of realizing that I had obviously been staring.

"We should get going we've been pulled over for a while."

"Yeah." I let out my voice barely above a whisper. I leaned back down resting my head back onto the seat, even though I wasn't really sure when my head had ever left it. I took my hand and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear nervously. Helia got up shooting me a look as if asking if I was okay. I gave him a grateful smile and tipped my head slightly. He accepted it and disappeared from the backseat before reappearing in the front. Shutting the door he started the engine before continuing on towards the hospital

"Wait here." Helia stated getting out of the car once we arrived. He had stated it as a command leaving no room for question and I raised an eyebrow to myself wondering just what that was all about. None the less I stayed put and after a couple of minutes the door swung open. Expecting to see Helia I looked up to greet two orderlies who immediately went to work helping me out. Slightly confused I cooperated thinking that I was going to be helped into a wheelchair only to be carried onto a stretcher. Confusement and a slight wave of panic rushed over me, as they scrambled to get me inside taking me right past check-in and through a set of double doors as if I was dying. I looked to Helia for answers only to find an amused smirk that only seemed to grow as the panic stricken expression on mine increased... Just what the hell is going on?

When everything was said and I done I found myself on a bed in a room, and I don't mean one of those rooms separated by curtains. No, this room had a door and four walls. I stared at the door that the last person had just walked out of telling me that the doctor should be in shortly. I had only nodded my head at the time, not really knowing what else to say. Suddenly I heard someone clear their throat and I snapped my head to see Helia was still in the room.

"What just happened?" I asked still trying to process. Helia bit back a laugh clearing his throat before walking over to me a smug smile trying to creep up at the corners of his lips.

"What do you mean?" He asked tilting his head innocently, while grinning. I continued to stare at him confused and after a moment or two he burst out laughing. Finally registering that I could indeed control the muscles in my face I took that moment to glare at him. He knew what the hell I meant. Peaking up at me he almost laughed again but held back, straightening his disposition a bit.

"Are you really so surprised?" He asked obviously surprised at my confusion.

"I've been coming here my whole life and I've never received such treatment." I answered plainly "What exactly did you do?"

Helia opened his mouth and as if on cue Dr. Pedro walked in with the slightest look of annoyance. His eyes soon landed on me and mine and that quickly changed.

"Flora dear what happened?" He asked rushing over to me, his face now full of concern.

"It's just a sprain I think." I stated as he took my hand in his.

"Then why are you in a room?" He asked confused. I glanced over at Helia.

"Honestly I'm not really sure myself." I replied honestly. His brows furrowed in confusion before taking sight of my ankle wrapped in the towel. Gently he sat my hand in my lap.

"Let's see."

Slowly he unwrapped the towel which didn't really matter, because the pain was still evident. He looked at my ankle and then looked at my face. "Oh my little plant, you'll be lucky if this is just a sprain."

"Plant?" Helia asked, clearly intrigued by my nickname making his presence known in the room.

"Yes Flora has always been called that Mr.…"

"Knox." Helia filled in.

"Right. Mr. Knox" Dr. Pedro responded, the initial aggravation he came in rising to the surface. I scrunched my brow. I had never seen Dr. Pedro give such a cold greeting and I glanced and Helia really starting to wonder just what it is that he said to get me into this room. My wondering soon ceased as the only thing that my brain could process was pain as Dr. Pedro began applying pressure.

"I'm sending you in for an x-ray." Dr. Pedro spoke while writing notes on a clipboard. I bit my lip trying to swallow the scream that had just threatened to leave my mouth a moment ago. He finished writing before standing and bending over to kiss me on the forehead. I closed my eyes and mustered up a small smile when they opened. I had known Dr. Pedro my whole life, or maybe I should say that he has known me since before I was born. He started towards the door opening it before turning his head.

"It was nice to meet you Mr. Knox" He stated simply before going out of the door.

Once the door closed I turned to Helia. He was sitting in the chair by my side doing something on his phone. I just watched and waited for him to finish. I guess he felt my stare, because he soon looked over at me putting his phone away.

"What?"

I opened my mouth and then closed it. I took a moment remembering all that Helia had done for me today carefully I chose my words before speaking.

"So about what I asked you earlier… are you going to answer?" I asked slowly. The features in his face became firm. I had seen this expression of his enough to know that he was trying to look impassive, but in reality he was mad. It was one of the many expressions that I had seen him give Riven around Bethany when he couldn't outright express his displeasure.

"I have no problem answering your question, but why is it that I'm now getting a distinct feeling that you're asking me for a different reason now than when you were asking earlier?"

I thought for a moment, trying to figure out just how I should respond.

"Because I am." I stated honestly and firmly

Oh boy he did not like that

My firmness began to give away as Helia dropped his facade and I saw true anger on his face for the first time.

"Tell me Flora. Do you always assume the worst of people, or is this something that you save exclusively for me?"

"I don't think the worst of you Helia." I defended myself

"Really?" He asked disbelieving

"So when you asked me that question the second time, it had nothing to do with the fact that your doctor gave me the cold shoulder so you assumed that I must've said or did something?"

I shut my mouth…tight. Damn. That's exactly why

Taking my silence as his answer he shook his head in indignity

"You were saying?" He asked gravely looking towards the window

I opened my mouth several times trying to find my words.

Ugh! Every way I tried to word it, it either sounded like I was blaming him for Dr. Pedro's behavior or accusing him of using his influence negatively to get me this room. He really had my back pushed against the wall. Normally I'd have no problem at all pushing back, but considering I felt up to my ears in debt to him it felt more like I would be giving him a slap in the face. I found the words that needed to be said and said them.

"You're absolutely right, I do expect the worst from you. I wish that I could say that this is the first time it's happened but as you know and I have now been made aware it's not, and for that I'm truly sorry." He turned his head to look at me as I continued. "I was born here in this hospital and grew up in this city. I've always known Dr. Pedro and I've just never seen him receive someone like that. None the less it was wrong of me to naturally assume that it was due to something on your part, and it was wrong of me to assume that you used your influence negatively to help me out."

"I didn't. Just so you know. I said something obviously, but there was no malice intent behind my words and no one was blackmailed, threatened or anything along the lines of what you seemed to be thinking." He retorted

"Now who's thinking the worst of who?" I stated once he was done. "Not once did anything along those lines cross my mind. I don't think lowly of you."

"You just don't think highly."

"I never said that." I stated firmly. "I told you that I wasn't aware and I apologized and In the future I will definitely take note of how I respond now that I'm conscious of it. I appreciate everything that you've done for me and not just today but in the past as well. At some point in time I will find a way to repay you, but other than apologizing again I just don't know what else you want me to say."

Yeah I was wrong, but I was still aware that he hadn't exactly answered my question. That aside I was tired of this conversation and I needed for Helia to be as well.

"The first apology was enough." He breathed out exasperated. Resting his arm on the arm of the chair he bent his elbow up, leaning the side of his head into his palm "I think that I'm just a bit tired. Don't worry about it" He further explained. I looked towards the window realizing that the sun had long since set.

"You can go now." I stated

He turned his head slightly so that he could see my face.

"Not because of anything that was said or wasn't said or anything like that," I quickly cleared up. "but because I'm in good hands now. When this is over with I'll call my mom and get a ride, besides I'm sure that you probably had plans that didn't happen because of me. Sorry and thank you for everything, so…you can go now." I ended

"I supposed you're right." Helia replied gathering his things. "I hope your ankle is alright and I'll see you at work." I nodded and he turned around and left.

Author's Notes: I hope that you all liked it. Again I will be updating soon, i'm just working out a few kinks in the upcoming story line.