Thank you everyone for your wonderful reviews. I read all of them, keep them coming. Artfully, CG xx
Chapter 28
The dim halls of the hospital were at their quietest. Monitors beeped and hummed. Nurses mumbled and shuffled as they made their rounds. Televisions buzzed, patients snored. The odd cry of a child could be heard.
Constable Rory sipped on his coffee, trying to stay alert. He kept a watchful eye on Tilly's door. It seemed like Jen had been in there for a very long time. He glanced at his watch. Two hours and forty-five minutes to be exact. She hadn't really given him any further instructions if the Nurse, his brow furrowed as he tried to remember her name, Nurse Ratched? showed up again, which he was sure she was due too. He shifted nervously. He made his way stealthily to Tilly's door, his height allowing him to peer easily through the small porthole window in the door...Oh!
He turned away quickly, blushing, having inadvertently invaded their privacy. He swallowed the lump of surprise in his throat. He glanced in again, just to be certain. He blushed even redder confirming what he had witnessed; the sight of the two women in bed, holding each other and obviously sharing some sort of intimate moment.
Oh dear, he cringed, as he turned away. Here to serve and protect that's all... He felt himself getting very hot under his collar. With dread he spotted the Nurse at the far end of the corridor making a beeline for Tilly's door. Shit!
...
In Tilly's room the small lamp on the bedside table threw out a dull light, creating gentle shadows against the walls. In her narrow bed, Tilly lay warmly pressed against Jen's side. Jen's head leaned on hers, tucked as it was under her chin. Tilly's fingers laced with the fingers of Jen's broken left arm as it lay across her stomach.
They had only been napping a short while when Jen twitched and mumbled incoherently, waking Tilly. She was dreaming. Tilly gently propped herself up on her elbow, moving so as not to disturb her. The small lamp threw a gentle light on Jen's face.
She watched her, relaxed and at peace. Her exquisite lips gently parted, her breath moving in and out. The fan of her dark lashes veiled her closed eyes. Her dark hair, elegantly spread out over her pillow. Her fringe, carelessly swept to the side, framed her sculpted, symmetrical face.
Tilly studied the trail of purplish bruises that ran from her cheek to her temple. The sight of them disturbed her to her core. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and silently slid down her cheeks. The attack felt so sudden, so unexpected and violently shocking. A desperate fear swept through her, adding to the river of tears.
She wanted to cling to her and weep. Overcome with the urge to touch her, she leaned in close to Jen's face, tenderly kissing her bruise and the stitch on her brow. Her fervent wish that her love heal her. She placed her hand gently on her heart, the flow of her breathing moving her hand up and down.
Jen stirred from her luxurious sleep to her whispers. To her warm breath. Her careful kisses. To the heat of her sensuous, soft body against her side. In her sleepy haze, she marveled as her body rippled with pleasure at her touch. No one had ever had this effect on her.
"I love you so much" Tilly breathed in her ear. Jen smiled, sleepily, "Yeah?" she murmured. Tilly's lush lips found hers, making her tremble. She melted into their liquid softness.
Her whole body tingled and lit up, as their lips swirled together in a sudden, torrid dance. Jen pulled back, breathless, as the sweet taste of her mingled with the salt of her tears.
"Why are you crying?" Jen asked gently, as she stroked her hair. Jen looked deeply, soulfully into her shimmering eyes.
Tilly just shook her head, her eyes brimmed, she sniffed as she wiped her tears away with the back of her hand. She felt overwhelmed, lost for words once again.
"I just love you so much," Tilly croaked, her shoulders shook with her quiet sobs.
"Oh Tilly..." Jen breathed passionately. She pulled her in to her. Tilly wrapped her arm tightly around her and buried her head into her shoulder. Jen's eyes flooded in reaction to Tilly's upset. Tilly's pale, vulnerable face, feverish and delirious, only two short days ago, sprung into her mind.
They cried together.
Tilly heard Jen sniff and pulled back, wiping her cheeks for her, "I'm sorry..." Tilly rasped.
"Yeah, thanks," Jen teased, as her eyes brimmed and spilled, "for making me cry," she said, her voice wavering. She sniffed again, as her lip quivered. Their eyes met as they both smiled affectionately at each other through their vulnerable tears.
As they cuddled, Jen kissed her head,"I love you so much Tilly, you're all I could think about when he was hurting me, if he hadn't mentioned you I might not have gotten away..."
Tilly sprung up in surprise. "WHAT?" Jen's face dropped in surprise.
"They didn't say anything to you? The Police?" Jen said, incredulous. She had thought the Police had informed her and her parents about the attacker's threat.
"No!" Tilly said, horrified. "No one's told me anything...they probably figured I was too sick!"
"Tilly I'm so sorry, this must be such a shock," Jen stopped, and painfully continued, "...he said..." She stuttered as a new round of emotion welled inside her, "as he was...hitting me...he threatened to hurt you too, he called you 'my red-head'" Jen choked on the words, the raw violent memory of the attack fresh in her psyche, etched in the welts on her body.
As she broke down and sobbed, it was Tilly this time who wrapped her arms around her protectively. She stroked her back to comfort her, as the sounds of her weeping echoed painfully inside her.
...
Lynsey dragged her tired feet up the stone steps to her flat. She pushed herself and her large bag through the narrow door, delighted to find Cheryl in the kitchen, where delicious smells and a myriad of steaming pots were being carefully checked.
"Hey," Cheryl called from the kitchen. "Your timing couldn't be more perfect! Brendan is on his way home too!"
Cheryl poured Lynsey a glass of deep burgundy wine and skipped her way over to hand it to her as she dropped her bag and fell into the sofa. She gratefully took the large, round glass as she kicked her shoes off.
"What's the occasion?" she asked, curious.
"Just because! So rare that the three of us are in the flat at the same time so I thought it would be nice to have a proper dinner together." Cheryl said enthusiastically.
"Sounds lovely," Lynsey leaned back against the cushions. "Cheers!" Cheryl trotted back over to clink glasses and they both took a big sip, chuckling at each other. Lynsey then sighed, and reached to rub her feet a moment.
"So, how was work?" Cheryl asked as she set the table.
Lynsey smiled pensively, "Oh, you know, busy!" Lynsey reached over and pulled the newspaper from underneath her bag, "Did you read this?"
She held the newspaper up to show Cheryl. She had read the hate attack article on the bus as she travelled home.
Cheryl slowly took the paper in her hand, her look turned to worry.
"That's horrendous!"
Brendan, in his crisp blue shirt with his jacket slung over his shoulder, came in and grunted a greeting. He tossed his keys and cell phone down on the side table.
"So what's the occasion?" he asked dryly, as he passed by the set table. He went over to the side cabinet and poured himself a whiskey. He took a languid sip.
He looked at Cheryl's concerned face and groaned. "What 'ave I done now?"
"It's not about you Bren!" Cheryl swatted his arm as he came over. She smiled tensely.
Brendan read the article over Cheryl's shoulder as she held the paper. Lynsey said, "I met her today, she's one of my patients! You'd never believe how pretty she is and a student teacher at the college. She was running with some huge Australian guy, and suddenly he attacked her, yelling at her about being a lesbian...broke her arm and her face is all bruised up from fighting him off...She was very lucky."
Brendan grunted, "Big Ozzie? I think I've seen him at the bar."
Lynsey's eyes flew open. "You know him! Have you seen him recently?"
"No!" Brendan's mustache twitched at the corner, "Don't get all excited!"
They sat down to dinner. Brendan listened quietly as he tucked hungrily into his food.
He always enjoyed Lynsey's passion, and listened with subdued interest.
Lynsey carried on, "And if you know him, Bren, maybe you can ask around...the police are still looking for him as far as I know..."
Brendan stopped chewing and raised his knife and fork in surrender, "What do I look like? The Poe-leece?" he drawled out, annoyed. "It's none of my business as I'm sure the fine detectives at the station are handling it!" he added sarcastically.
"Brendan," Cheryl interjected, "Don't be like that! Even you have some standards! What if it was Lyns or me that was attacked by some big nasty guy, no less tearing into you because you're gay?" Cheryl's eyes peered knowingly at him.
Brendan just grunted again, and continued chewing thoughtfully. He tucked back into his dinner. None of my business. He thought to himself. Then again, what kind of fucker would even consider beating on a lady?
Brendan was not known for his loving or compassionate nature. However, being the shrewd and ruthless business man that he was, as Cheryl mentioned, he did have some standards. There were a few things that did piss him off, and this attack was one of them.
...
Constable Rory stood waiting, as the portly Nurse came barreling towards Tilly's door. He steeled himself, at the ready to delay her tornado like movement as she came towards him. He had no time to politely knock on the door to warn them, as she was staring directly at him.
He felt his duty was to protect his charge at all costs. He needed to warn Jen, and give them time to unravel themselves.
Otherwise, who knows what would happen if this bear of a woman were to find them in such an intimate state. With anticipation, he stood at the ready, he just needed to delay her...but how? In a blink of an eye, it came to him.
I'd be such a goddamn good spy, he thought with amusement.
...
With a jump, Jen drew back from Tilly's embrace hearing loud voices arguing outside Tilly's hospital door.
"Nurse Ratched! That's not my name! What is this, some kind of joke? Well, Young Officer it certainly isn't funny!"
Constable Rory was apologizing, and very loudly.
Jen vaulted herself out of Tilly's bed and dashed to the washroom as the Nurse burst through the door.
"And keep your voice down! There are patients trying to sleep!" she yelled loudly at him.
"All right then, Oh! You're awake! Blame that Officer...quite unprofessional roaming the halls this late at night instead of being where he needs to be!" she huffed as she strode aggressively towards Tilly who was shaking nervously in her bed.
"Stop cringing and come here!" she directed her ire at Tilly. She grabbed her wrist and took her pulse and then clamped her large rough hand around her jaw, holding her head, as she stuck the ice-cold thermometer in her ear. Tilly gritted her teeth and glared at her in silence as she scribbled a quick note in her chart and dropped it noisily back in its holder.
"Go back to sleep!" she ordered. She swept out of the room.
All was quiet again. Tilly rubbed her face. Jen peeked out from around the washroom door.
"Safe to come out again," Tilly said grimly, miffed at the Nurse's horrendous bedside manner.
"How do people like that have jobs in the caring professions?" Tilly said angrily, not really expecting an answer.
Jen gave her a sympathetic smile, as she slowly walked towards her, her hospital gown askew, the ties dangling along its edges. Tilly sat up in the bed and moved to the side, letting her legs dangle over the edge. As Jen approached, Tilly slid her legs apart so Jen could stand between them. She circled her arms around her waist.
"I feel like I just avoided getting caught by the headmistress at a boarding school" Jen said humorously. She rested her hands on Tilly's shoulders, lost for a moment in the ocean blue of her eyes.
"You have to agree tho' my nickname suits her well." Tilly said, peering up at her admiringly.
Jen's mouth twisted sardonically, "I think you're being much too kind."
She grinned, leaning down to kiss her eager mouth. Tilly reached up and stroked her cheek, "You okay?"
Jen nodded, "Better." She hugged her affectionately. Jen's fingers trailed down the back of Tilly's gown, finding an opening, she ran her fingers lightly against her scaly rash infested skin. She felt Tilly suddenly stiffen against her.
"Oh!" Tilly gasped, "scratch please! I'm so itchy, please scratch me," Tilly begged. Jen ran her fingernails lightly over her itchy back. Tilly pushed against her nails, writhing and moaning as she gripped her in excruciating pleasure. She hung off Jen's gown and pressed her face into her belly, her sounds of pleasure muffled against her, as Jen scratched more firmly, thoroughly covering every inch that she could.
After several minutes, Jen was finally allowed to stop, as her back bloomed red with nail marks. Tilly fell back onto the cool bed, panting. "You have no idea how good that just felt!" Jen eased herself down on the bed beside her and gave her a sideways look, and blushed.
"Ha!" Tilly exclaimed, "you just got turned on didn't you!"
Jen furrowed her brow with embarrassment, "No I didn't," she mumbled, "I don't always get turned on just because your making the same sounds as if you're having an orgasm!"
Tilly squealed with laughter, "You totally did!" Tilly flipped herself over on the bed and bounced on all fours making Jen bob gently beside her. "Careful!" Jen said, wide-eyed with terror, "I'm still sore!"
Tilly laughed and eased herself gently against her and crooned in her ear, "Now Miss Gilmore, since my Nasty Nurse isn't due back for at least a couple of hours, are there any itches that I can scratch for you this evening?"
...
Like any good soldier boy, he had done his research. He knew the layout of the hospital. He guessed she'd either be in trauma recovery, or the orthopedic ward, since he was sure he had broken her arm.
He ran his knife, a rather small hunting blade, against the stone sharpener, again and again. He stopped and flicked his thumb against the razor-sharp edge. He grinned with satisfaction. It would slice through her throat like butter.
He rubbed his brow as the rough scratches over his eye itched. They were healing, albeit slowly. He rubbed the sore spot on his thigh, a fading bruise, reminding him of his moronic stupidity. He had gone in blind to his attack, and worse of all, under-estimated the prey.
He was on the run, his former life in ruins. He felt uncomfortable, dirty and hungry.
He grit his teeth angrily. I'll dispatch that lesbian bitch Jen first, and then find that little red-head. They'll never see me coming, and they certainly won't expect me at the hospital.
Just wait. Watch and wait. It won't be long now.
...
Jen had lamely protested that she really should go back to her room.
"Just one little kiss," Tilly had begged. How could she say no to those pouting lips, that baleful look, her cute face? One smoldering kiss, led to another and another. The last one even more arousing and sumptuous than the last.
Before she knew it, Tilly's hand had slid up her thigh and made its way underneath her gown. Their lips never stopped their sensuous sucking. Tilly stroked and caressed every inch of her. Jen's heart beat staccato in her chest as she massaged her breasts, teasing her nipples into stiffened peaks.
Jen's rational mind tried to intervene, "This probably isn't a good idea...doing this here..." she said breathily, trying to resist Tilly's alluring touch, the touch that seemed to reach deep down inside her, on so many levels.
"You're so wet," Tilly purred in her ear. Jen gasped as she arched against her probing fingers. Her touch was like sweet molasses, arousing and delicate.
Jen's legs quivered with tension. Tilly draped her thigh over hers, pulling her legs open, even wider. She could feel Tilly's hot breath, her warm face against her breast through her thin gown, her wetness as she rubbed herself against her thigh in her excitement.
A strange thought crept into a corner of her mind. Even if the world was coming to an end, she still wouldn't be able to resist her.
Jen moaned as she throbbed under Tilly's silky touch. Tilly teased her, she squirmed and panted as she throbbed again.
"Please, please," Jen begged, "finish me off!" She could feel Tilly smile against her neck, where she laid gentle nibbling kisses, Jen throbbed again, gasping loudly.
"Shhhh quietly," Tilly whispered provocatively. She gently pressed her hand over her mouth, as the beat of her fingers increased...quick thinking as within seconds Jen shuddered beneath her, her screams of ecstasy muffled against her palm.
...
...
With a bandage over the scratches on his eye, he casually wandered into the emergency room. It was a busy night, with Nurses and Doctors rushing about, lots of chaos and noise. Patients slumped in their seats, waiting for hours to be seen. Tired Mothers tried to comfort their squalling fevered children. He looked around, no one recognized him, and no one really seemed to notice him. Perfect, he thought.
Ally hovered, fading into the woodwork, still watching and waiting for the perfect moment. Not long, as a code red was called, a man was rushed through the door in the throes of a heart attack.
With unassuming stealth, he followed behind, and hung back, just enough to get himself through the secured doors. No one noticed, fully occupied with the ailing heart attack victim.
...
...
He was livid, absolutely livid. He stood in her room, staring at her empty bed. The knife shone sharply in his quivering hand. He looked around the room viciously. The room was filled with the floral odor, no, the stench, of many bouquets, and decorative rainbows blinked at him, taunting him.
Fucking fag rainbows!
He heard voices outside the door, two nurses passed by as he quickly ducked behind the door.
Thwarted again. It was too risky to stay. Despite his furious wish to smash and rip the entire room up, he slid out the door, and headed for the nearest exit. He ducked in panic inside a door well, as a pacing Police Constable at the end of the hall, stopped, and casually began chatting to one of the nurses.
He stood still, his eyes glinting furiously, as the sweat streamed down his face. Finally, opportunity came, he slipped back out into the sheltering night.
...
...
Scum.
The one thing Brendan hated about his nite club is that it attracted drunken scum.
This one was no exception.
Someone had complained. Some tall blond guy, harassed and was getting a bit too rowdy with some female customers.
Brendan watched as he swung his drink back. Brendan approached the bar. He signaled to the bartender who suddenly disappeared.
"Another!" he yelled, slamming his glass down.
"Take it easy Mister...we're open all night." Brendan hissed.
Brendan measured out his scotch and placed it on the bar in front of him. He collected the cash he threw on the table.
Brendan stared at him for a moment. He seemed familiar. He contemplated whether to warn him or throw him out.
"Cheers Mate!" he yelled loudly, slinging the drink back in one large gulp.
Brendan eyed him a moment as recognition came flooding in. He broke out in a furious sweat.
Scum, true scum. And in my bar.
"Hey don't you know my little sister? Aren't you...?" Brendan trailed off, trying to get a name out of him. He extended his hand.
The Ozzie shook his hand roughly, "Sorry mate, naw, don't know anyone around here, I'm new in town, Richard, Richard Bast."
Brendan nodded, "Nasty scratch you got there," He gestured towards his eye.
"Ha, yeah," Richard looked at him suspiciously, "Was tickling the missus a bit too hard, if you know what i mean, and she up and walloped me. The little hellcat bitch. No worries, she won't ever be doing that again."
He swigged his drink, his eyes pierced into Brendan's sharply.
"Funny," Brendan shrugged, "I thought you was someone else," Brendan mumbled.
Brendan turned and signaled the Bartender to take his place. He walked back to his office and picked up his phone...to call the Cops. He hesitated. The last thing he needed was the Cops crawling around his establishment. Damn it!
He turned back, having hesitated one moment too long, the tall Ozzie was gone.
...
