Chapter 29: Reunited
Severus lifted Brianna's frail body and, with a nod to Pat, Apparated directly to the hospital. After explaining what had happened, he was shooed to a waiting room down the hall while the Healers did their job. It took hours before someone finally came and told him of her condition. By this time Brian had been sitting with Severus for a while. They had been silent for the entire time they waited.
Aside from her beaten up face, Bree had suffered three cracked ribs, a broken nose, a ruptured stomach, and a deflated lung. Her legs had been badly bruised, but neither was broken. She had suffered the Cruciatus curse and had nearly died six minutes into her healing from the internal bleeding. They had fixed all of her injuries, and her face had been returned to normal. Brian and Severus were advised that they could visit her now, but she had been given a Sleeping Draught and would be unconscious until morning.
As the mediwitch left, both men breathed a sigh of relief. Brian stood and extended his hand to Severus.
"Thank you for all of your help in this investigation, Severus," he said as he shook Severus' hand.
Severus nodded to him.
"I'll think I'll be off, now that I know she'll be okay. I'll come back tomorrow and visit, when she'll know I'm there."
"Thank you, Brian, for your diligence in trying to locate her," Severus told him.
With a nod, Brian turned and left. Severus rushed to the room he had been told Brianna was in and entered silently. Brianna was on her side, sleeping peacefully. Her face no longer looked like it had been stepped on. She looked like an angel. Severus pulled a chair close to the bed and grasped her hand in his. He didn't know if she could hear him, but he spoke to her anyway.
"Brianna, I'm here. I'm glad you're okay. I love you."
He brushed a curl behind her ear and caressed her cheek. Leaning over, he kissed it lovingly and then sat back down. He began to pull his hand away, but Brianna tightened her grip on it. She would not let him move it, even though she was asleep. He smiled down at her. She had heard him after all.
He got comfortable in the chair and prepared himself for a long night of waiting before she would wake up. Thinking about the events of the past few days, he realized just how exhausted he was. Between all of the running around he had done and the mental stress of Brianna being missing, he felt he was ready to pass out from fatigue.
As he watched his beautiful lady, he felt his eyelids grow heavy. He didn't fight sleep as it overtook him. After a few minutes he was breathing heavily in the arm chair, fast asleep.
After a while, Pat came in to the room. When he saw Severus dozing in the chair, his hand clasped in Bree's, he couldn't help but smile. Slowly he backed out of the room and left them to their recovery.
oooOOOooo
As the sun streamed into the window, Severus stirred. His eyes opened, and he groaned. His whole body ached. He couldn't believe he had slept the entire night on that uncomfortable armchair. He looked over at Brianna and noticed she still held his hand captive in hers. Smiling, he slowly pulled it out of her grasp and rose from the chair. He went into the bathroom and splashed some cold water on his face to wake up more. Glancing at the clock, he noted it was seven in the morning. That would explain why every muscle in his body was screaming at him. He had been asleep for more than twelve hours.
He walked back to his chair, flexing his arms and stretching out his legs as he went. Glancing down at Brianna, he noticed her eyes were open and looking at him. He smiled at her and sat on the edge of the bed. Taking his hand, he stroked her hair.
"How are you feeling?" he asked in his deep baritone.
She smiled at the sound of him. His voice brought safety and security.
Her voice croaked as she answered, "I feel like I've been hit by a Land Rover lorry."
Severus took his wand and waved it over a glass by her bed, chanting, "Auguamenti." The glass quickly filled with water. Brianna carefully sat up and took the glass, drinking thirstily. She drained the glass quickly.
"It probably wasn't very wise to drink all of that in such haste," Severus admonished her.
"I don't care. My throat feels like it's turned to sand paper." She was still a bit hoarse, but better.
Severus looked at her seriously. He reached out and caressed her face. "I thought I was going to lose you. I was sure we would never find you in time, Brianna. Thank Merlin you're safe."
"Thank Merlin you found me when you did, or it would have been too late."
She gazed into Severus' eyes. They were deep pools of emotion. The rest of his face was serious. He seemed to have put his ever present mask up. Bree's eyes searched his face, but she was at a loss as to what was going through that cunning mind of his.
"Why are you looking at me that way?" she asked finally.
"I don't think I could have survived your death," he said emotionlessly.
She put her hand over his as it propped him up on the bed.
"You don't have to deal with that, Severus, I'm okay."
Severus placed his other hand on her neck and rubbed little circles with it. He still had no emotion on his face as he looked her over, making sure that she was real and whole. Before Bree could realize what had happened, his lips descended upon hers, and he kissed her as he'd never kissed her before. It felt as if he were taking control of her senses. She felt whole with him embracing her. The aches in her body seemed to lessen as she lost herself to her all-consuming love for Severus.
"Severus," she whispered between his passionate kisses.
Severus groaned and whispered, "Brianna," to her. He put everything he had not said into his passion for her. He felt her melt into him and wished he could envelop her and have her close to him like this forever. Finally he pulled away and embraced her tightly.
"You need to rest, and I'm not helping matters much," he explained.
Bree rubbed his back and spoke into his chest. "Whatever you did, I feel much better."
He pulled away and looked down into her face. She was smiling warmly at him. His heart seemed to melt right there. There would never be a day in his life that he wouldn't be grateful for her presence and for the love she had for him.
oooOOOooo
Brianna didn't leave the hospital until the end of the week. Severus was by her side almost the whole time. Finally the Healers gave her the okay to leave. She almost ran out of the hospital. She would have if it hadn't been for the fact that she was still a little weak on her feet.
Severus gingerly led Brianna up to her apartment and settled her in on the couch. He sat down next to her and looked her over as if to make sure she was whole.
"Is there anything I can get you," he asked her.
Bree smiled at him and told him no.
"My Portkey is about to leave, Brianna. Please be careful while you're finishing up here," he told her seriously.
Brianna caressed his face. "I will see you next week. I'm sorry my little adventure set my move back a week."
He pulled his head in close to hers. "Don't worry, we will be together soon."
They kissed passionately before it was time for Severus to leave. He stood up and smiled at Bree. He was not happy to be going, but Dumbledore had been more than agreeable to let him stay as long as he had. He could not impose on the Headmaster's good will anymore. Seeing Brianna's sad face, he leaned into her and whispered into her ear.
"The week will pass quickly. If you do not keep your spirits up, I will be forced to get into a tickling match with you when you return home."
Bree smiled lustily at him. "I'm going to be very sad then," she teased.
He straightened and took the Portkey out. Within a few seconds, he had disappeared, leaving Bree to herself. She slumped back into the couch and put her legs up. She was feeling much better, but she wasn't fully recuperated. Many of the bones that had been broken still ached. She had been assured that by the end of next week all the pain would be gone so she would be fully herself again.
Brianna looked around her apartment. She had so much to do this coming week. She needed to pack everything and shrink it down so it would all fit into one box. She didn't feel like starting anything now, though. She just wanted to pine after her Severus. She had gotten used to his presence, and now there felt like there was a huge gap in her life.
She couldn't wait until the week was over, and she was again living close to him. She had become so needy! He was like a drug to her. She was going through withdrawals already. She wondered how she'd last the week.
She shook her head. She had already gotten too serious. They had just gotten back together again. It would take them a while to really feel comfortable with each other. Well, it would probably take Severus a while, she felt completely comfortable. She decided she was really jumping ahead of everything. She wasn't sure what she expected from him. All she knew was that every minute she wasn't near him felt like a century.
Her mind swirled with thoughts of her handsome Severus until she felt her eyelids grow heavy. It wasn't even lunch time yet, why was she so sleepy? She gave up wondering and let her weariness overcome her. Soon she was fast asleep on the couch.
oooOOOooo
Severus walked quickly down the street at Hogsmeade. He kept his head down so he wouldn't have to acknowledge anyone passing him by. To his dismay, he heard his name being called out. He heaved a great sigh. The voice calling him belonged to Sybil Trelawney. He thought she never ventured from the hallowed halls of Hogwarts.
"Severus, yoo hoo?" called Sybill.
Severus quickened his pace, hoping she would think that he hadn't hear her.
"Severus, wait!" she hollered after him in a very unladylike way.
Before he could duck into a store, she was at his side.
"Oh, Severus, I knew we would meet here today. I read it in my tea leaves."
Severus had stopped and was looking at the loony woman sternly.
"What can I do for you, Sybill?" he asked tautly.
"I just wanted to tell you, I have had a vision!"
Severus kept himself from rolling his eyes.
"It's about you," Sybill came in close to Severus face. Her giant spectacles made her look like a crazed owl.
Severus was at a loss for words. Why did this woman consistently seek him out? She was always crooning about some vision or other.
"Don't you want to hear what it is?" Trelawney's eyes grew wider, if that was humanly possible.
"Do I have a choice?" Severus grimaced.
Sybill's head pulled back in astonishment. She couldn't believe that someone might not want to hear what she had seen.
"Well, it's about your happiness, Severus, I think you would want to know about that."
Severus studied the woman, trying to decide what the best course would be. Should he tell her what he truly thought of her, or let her babble about her stupid vision? He decided to listen to her to avoid being pulled into Dumbledore's office and having to hear yet another speech on his relations with the staff.
"Do tell, Sybill," he said curtly.
"It is about the one your heart desires."
She had gotten Severus' attention.
"Well…" he said tersely.
"The desire of your heart is within reach. Happiness will begin where sadness departs. Your future will be sealed when the circlet is bestowed."
Severus' eyes narrowed at her. "What in heaven's name does that mean?" he asked her testily.
Sybill looked at him dubiously. "Why, that is the vision. I am not the interpreter but the deliverer. It is up to you to decide what it means."
"Perhaps you could hazard a guess," he encouraged her.
"Well," Sybill thought. "I know that you are in love with me secretly, my dear Severus. Perhaps it means that you should finally let your passion for me be known."
Severus took a step back. "I am no more in love with you than I am in love with a blast-ended skrewt. I will have no more of your insane babbling, woman. I have things to do, leave me be!"
With that Severus stalked around her and continued on his way without even a backward glance. He heard Trelawney gasp behind him and smirked.
"You will regret not confessing your love for me, Severus. You will see. I can only wait so long before another will come and carry me away from you!" she called after him.
"The day couldn't come too soon," he mumbled under his breath.
He kept walking quickly away from the deranged witch. Soon he was far from her and standing in front of a shop he had never entered before. He hesitated for a minute, staring at the letterhead, before bravely opening the door and entering the shop.
He found a tall, thin wizard standing behind a counter. The wizard looked at him and smiled. Severus approached the counter.
"I need to purchase a…" He hesitated for a moment.
"Is this your first time, lad?" the older wizard asked.
Severus huffed. "Of course!" he said.
"Well, I have some things you may like," the wizard said.
He directed Severus over to a separate counter and took out a few selections. Severus admired them all, but couldn't decide on the right one.
"Do you want to keep it quiet, or shout it out to the world?" the man asked him.
Severus looked up at him, debating. "Probably somewhere in the middle," he finally said.
"Then I have just the thing for you," answered the wizard. He put the first selections away and went over to a cabinet on the wall. He opened it and took out just what Severus had imagined when he had finally decided to look for this item.
Severus stared in incredulity. "That's almost exactly how I had pictured it," he said in amazement.
"Would you like me to wrap that up for you?" the tall man said.
"Please do," Severus said and smiled to himself.
oooOOOooo
Bree appeared on the street in front of her new apartment in Hogsmeade. Her time in America was finished. Her last week was uneventful, thank heavens. She had managed to pack everything into a large box, which she was holding. The training of her replacement had gone well. He definitely was an asset to the Ministry. On her last day, she found herself a bit teary eyed as she headed for Brian's office. She rapped on the door lightly.
"Come in," she heard and opened the door.
"Bree!" came the heartfelt welcome. "Are you ready to leave us already?"
Bree smiled as Brian jumped up from behind her desk and came over to her.
"Yes, Brian, I have my office cleared out, and I was just on my way out. I came to say goodbye."
She was surprised to find Brian's arms around her. He wasn't usually the demonstrative type. He hugged her quickly and then backed away, somewhat chagrined.
"We'll really miss you, Bree. You have been phenomenal. I only hope your replacement will be as competent as you have been all of these years."
She scoffed at him. "Oh, he's so on the ball, you'll forget about me in no time. You'll probably wonder how you got anything done without him."
"Well, he may be good, but we'll all really miss you, Bree. Good luck in England. I'm sure we shall be speaking now and then, as I am still your boss on this side of the Atlantic. Give my regards to Jason, by the way,"
"I will," she said. "Take care."
"You too. Travel safely."
She had left the office and gone back to her apartment to gather up the rest of her things. She went out to the balcony one last time and stared at the Chrysler Building. Its metallic top gleamed in the sun. She smiled as she took in the rest of the city view. She would miss the fast pace of the city, but she was trading it for something much more real and substantial. She would be with her heart's desire.
Coming back to herself, she looked at the much smaller building that stood before her. It was no towering skyscraper, but it was well maintained and very homey. She would be happy here, she knew.
Climbing the stairs to the top floor, she pulled out her wand and opened the door. She went in and placed the large box on the floor. She was surprised when Severus came out of the back of the apartment, bearing a single red rose. She gasped and ran over to him.
"You're here already!" she squealed in delight as she threw her arms around him.
He smiled and embraced her. He took the rose and traced her face with it.
"There's only one thing that's more beautiful than this rose, and it's you," he told her.
She about melted in his arms. "How did you become so wonderful?" she asked him.
"I found you," he admitted.
Their lips met as they shared a passionate kiss.
"Welcome home," Severus told her when they had finally parted.
He walked over to her box, and with a wave of his wand the top had opened up. He withdrew a miniaturized couch and looked over at Brianna.
"Where would you like this?" he asked.
They spent the rest of the morning pulling things out of the box and finding places for it. Brianna was just hanging a picture of the New York Skyline complete with the Chrysler Building over her couch when she felt Severus' arms around her waist.
"Are you hungry?" he asked her.
Bree hesitated and thought about it. "I'm starving," she said.
"Let's go, then," he said as he disappeared into the kitchen.
He emerged a minute later with a picnic basket. Bree regarded him curiously.
"Isn't it a bit chilly for a picnic?" she asked.
"Not where we're going," he told her.
"No mountains?" she asked.
"Well, cliffs, perhaps," he replied.
He took her arm before turning on the spot. They Apparated to a high cliff near the ocean. Bree gasped at the beauty of the sea as it crashed against the base of the cliff.
"Severus, where are we?" she asked.
"The southern tip of the country. I thought we could have some private time before our lives got complicated again with work and other unpleasantness."
"It's perfect," she gushed.
Severus set down the basket and waved his wand over it. The blanket set itself up, and within a minute, there was food and drink set up for them to enjoy. They sat across from each other and looked out into the ocean as they nibbled on their lunch. Before long there was nothing but empty plates.
Severus vanished the mess and scooted closer to Brianna. She looked over at him and smiled as he placed his arm around her. The wind blew lazily, making her hair float behind her as she looked at him. Severus caught his breath as their gazes met.
"Brianna, you're so beautiful," he told her.
She smiled at him. She was suddenly very nervous. Her insides were turning in knots. He was so close to her.
"Brianna, will you be mine forever?" he asked her solemnly.
"I already am yours forever," she replied huskily.
"Then will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" he asked as he produced a small box and held it in front of her.
He snapped the lid open and displayed the item he had procured at the jewelry store in Hogsmeade a few days before. Brianna gasped. It was the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. It was made entirely of small diamonds. They formed three strands that were braided together to form a circle. The ring shone brightly with the beauty and sparkle of the diamonds.
Brianna felt lightheaded. Had Severus just proposed to her? The ring that sat in front of her face pretty much attested to the fact that he just had. She looked at him dreamily.
oooOOOooo
"I would be honored to become your wife," she finally answered him.
He had been waiting impatiently for her to answer. She had seemed mesmerized by the ring for a time, and he was beginning to get a bit nervous. When she finally answered, Severus felt relief and a happiness that he had never felt before flood through him.
All the hardships he had endured before, all the sadness seemed to dissipate with her simple and loving answer. He embraced her and kissed her passionately. Her arms entwined around his. She automatically caressed his hair. He smiled at her predictability before continuing to cover her in kisses. All of the sadness that had surrounded him his whole life seemed to ebb away at her touch. Lightness filled his heart as his entire body was filled with joy. The witch in his arms would be his forever. His life had just become infinitely better.
He pulled back and placed the ring on her finger. Brianna admired it before she was pulled into another loving kiss. Severus couldn't get enough of her. The couple took each other in, not willing to let the other go.
"I love you, Severus," Brianna whispered.
"And I love you," Severus said before he consumed her mouth once again.
A/N: Well, there's just one chapter left! It's not written yet, so bear with me on the update. Thank you for sticking with me on this ride. Huge thanks go to Lilith Kayden for her beta work.
