*Note: I do not own any of the characters except for Abrielle Aimee.

Chapter 14 – Secret Revealed

Paris, 1 PM, 23rd of May 1832

Abrielle had woken up early.
She had a meeting with Combeferre.
Jehan was going to be at the university all day so she couldn't worry about him intruding them.
She was just doing her hair when there was a knock on the door.
''I'm coming!" Abrielle shouted as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before walking over to the door.
She quickly opened it.
''Joly? What are you doing here?'' Abrielle asked as she stepped aside to let him in.
Joly walked in and turned to Abrielle.
''Combeferre told me you two had an appointment today to talk about your situation. He said it was important so I thought I'd come too since I'm your doctor.'' Joly explained.
Abrielle sighed as she closed the door.
She turned to Joly.
''I asked him because you tell Jehan everything whenever I tell you something. The case I'm going to be discussing with Combeferre is something I don't want Jehan to be worried about. You can stay, but this isn't to be told to Jehan.'' Abrielle explained.
Joly nodded.
''I promise I won't tell him.'' Joly said.
Abrielle smiled kindly and said ''Merci, Joly. I appreciate it.''.
Joly waved her off.
''It's fine. It's fine. It's my duty to listen to my patients if asked to.'' Joly said.
''Do you want something to drink?'' Abrielle asked.
''A cup of tea should be fine.'' Joly answered.
Abrielle was about to walk off to make a cup of tea when there was another knock on the door.
Abrielle sent Joly an apologetic look before opening the door.
''Bonjour, Abrielle.'' Combeferre said with a gentle smile.
''Bonjour, Combeferre.'' Abrielle answered.
She let Combeferre in and closed the door.
''Please take a seat. I'll be with you in a minute. Do you want a cup of tea too?'' Abrielle asked.
''Yes, please.'' Combeferre answered as he sat down.
Abrielle walked off to the kitchen and Combeferre turned to Joly who greeted him happily.
''Bonjour, 'Ferre.'' Joly greeted him.
''Erm…Bonjour? Joly, may I ask you why you are here? I thought I had made it quite clear that you weren't to be here while Abrielle and I discussed her situation.'' Combeferre said.
Abrielle stood in the doorway as Combeferre asked this question and stood up for Joly.
''Don't worry about it. I made him promise that he won't say a thing to Jehan.'' Abrielle said.
Combeferre gave them both a look and shook his head.
Abrielle smirked at him and turned to take the water off the stove.
She walked in after a few minutes, carrying a tray with three cups, a teapot, three cubes of sugar and a little bit of milk.
She poured the tea into the cups and put a cube of sugar in each cup.
She then poured a tiny bit of milk into each cup and handed one cup to Combeferre and one to Joly.
She let her cup stand on the tray and sat down in her armchair.
Combeferre and Joly were seated next to each other.
''Thank you for the tea, Abrielle. Will you tell us what situation you wanted to discuss with us?'' Combeferre asked.
She looked at them and then she looked down at her hands.
''Please don't think I'm crazy, but…I have been depressed for two years. It started six months after we became poor. I still was when I arrived here, but I got happier when I met Jehan and you all. I knew immediately that you all wouldn't leave me alone, but I am so scared that I'll fall back into that state if I ever feel alone that I've decided to tell someone.'' Abrielle explained with sad voice.
Combeferre and Joly shared a look before walking over to Abrielle, who had started to sob.
They kneeled on either side of her.
Joly lifted Abrielle's sleeves while Combeferre distracted Abrielle by shushing her with gentle rubs over her back and a kiss upon her hair.
Joly gasped as he saw cutting marks on her wrists.
They may have been months, maybe even years old, but he still looked up at her.
He silently asked her for an explanation.
Combeferre kneeled in front of her and took one of her hands.
He squeezed it reassuringly.
''Well…I-I had to leave Marseille a-and people always saw me as a whore or they'd yell at me. I-I became in the worst state of my depression and started to cut myself. I am so stupid.'' Abrielle explained as she pulled her hands away from their grip and she buried her face in them.
She sobbed fiercely as Combeferre and Joly shared a look.
They were thinking the exact same thing.
Joly left to get Jehan and Combeferre stayed with her to shush her.
''Shhhh…All is okay. We won't ever judge you. Shhh…'' Combeferre whispered as he picked her up.
He sat down in her chair and set her on his lap, rocking her back and forth.
She reacted by burying her face in his chest.
Combeferre kissed the top of her head and continued rocking her back and forth.
It wasn't long till Joly returned with Jehan.
The university was nearby and when Joly explained the situation to Jehan, he didn't hesitate and pulled Joly along as he ran to his home.
Jehan barged into the house without knocking and picked Abrielle up from Combeferre's lap.
He sat down on the sofa with her on his lap and whispered ''Why didn't you tell me?''.
Abrielle reacted by only burying her face in his chest.
Combeferre sat down on the coffee table in front of Jehan and he explained what Abrielle had told them.
Jehan shook his head with tears in his eyes and kissed Abrielle's head.
''I'm so sorry…I'm so sorry.'' He whispered to her as he held her close.
''We'll leave the both of you alone now. You know where to find us if you need us.'' Joly said as he pulled Combeferre along.
They left silently.
The only sounds that could be heard were Abrielle's sobs and Jehan's soothing whispers to Abrielle.

Thank you all for reading! Please leave your review! Starting with chapter 15 soon!