Chapter 34

The young woman lets the answer sink in. She perfectly realize the situation, the reasons that made her act in that way, despite that everything is more complicated than before. Anna will be lucky to not be reported, but there isn't any certainty about it. There's a big chance that Hans talks with his lawyer and he may convince him to press charges, plus it's wise to keep in mind that she's a private citizen, apparently without any reason for those actions. Nothing seems to be at her side. There's only to hope that the lawyers won't be involved on the matter.

Silence falls on them, Anna is embarrassed by the situation and tries to avoid looking at her, but the fact they haven't seen or talked to each other pushes her curiosity and her emotions to prevail, therefore her eyes occasionally lay on that figure only a few meter away.

The blonde is considering what to do, she remembers that Marshall told her, that she shouldn't be involved in any way with Hans or anything regarding him, therefore she doesn't really know how to handle this particular situation.

"How are you..?" the redhead asks looking at her shyly and with a bit of embarrassment. The question leaves her confused, asking herself why.

"Shouldn't it be me asking that..? After all you're the on in a hospital bed.. again.." At the answer she's smiling nervously, she knew she should have expected a reply like that.

"Well.. like my medical record says, I'm fine, nothing broken."

"You should be careful anyway.. I think you know the possible consequences of your actions." Despite she doesn't have any intention on lecturing her, since she knows pretty well that the girl in front of her is mature enough to comprehend the situation by herself, she feels like she needs to tell her it.

"Yeah, I know.. There won't be a second time." She tries to reassure her with a firm voice.

After a few minutes she breaks the silence once again between the two. "Despite the circumstances.. it's nice to see you.."

"Me too.." Elsa replies with a broken voice.

"I am sorry.."

"You've already said that.."

"I know.. but I feel like I should say it again, especially after what happened now. I know I've made things worse but.. I do hope to not have caused any problems or damage to you.." she's genuinely worried about it, she doesn't want to worsen anything between them.

"Honestly I don't know.. Later I'll speak with Marshall.." at the name Anna's eyebrows frown.

"Marshall?"

"Yes.. he's my lawyer." The revelation takes her by surprise for a moment, than she remembers that evening at Elsa's and how everyone kept saying how much Elsa has changed.

"May I ask you something..? If you don't want to reply, there is no problem of course."

The blonde is reluctant but nods anyway.

"Does Rapunzel know about..?"

"No. Nobody knows, they made sure my name was clear." She answers quickly trying to end the conversation. "However I'd like to thank you for giving me the time I needed.."

Anna lets escape a small smile, maybe a bit sad, she won't say for sure how much it hurt not being able to speak nor see her.

"I would have done anything to help you, so.. there's no need to thank me. Just.. how is it going on now?"

'A part of me is still hurt.. but the other one wishes only to take you, hug you and feel you close, make up for lost time..-' "It's.. better, step by step." Elsa freezes, she doesn't manae to say what she really wants to, but subconsciously, or maybe not, she gets closer, feeling that desire prevailing inside of her. The same little voice that kept tormenting her for the entire past week makes its presence again, trying to persuade the blonde in talking with the redhead, in confide to her everything she's been through, both those alone days and the past. A part of her conscience knows she has overreacted, but at this point what is done it's done and now she knows that it's better to move on. 'The past has the power to harm only if you let it' those are the words said not even too long ago, and she thinks that it may be the case to start listening to them for real. That day's events served the perfect occasion for the young doctor to collect her courage to interact with the other girl.

"It's nice to know you're good.."

"It takes more than that to knock me out." The redhead tries to lighten up the mood realising that Elsa is debating with herself internally. Knowing that the situation has gotten a bit better lightens her heart, but despite that she's feeling a burden, a twisted shadow that threateningly follows her step by step: the fear of making another harmful mistake to her, but this time something irreparable. She knows that if she lets herself sink in this vicious cycle she'd ruins everything, so she tries to let it go, she tries to enjoy the moment, to nurture this relationship that is so important to her and she'd do anything to not endanger it.

"I'd prefer not to find out it.. I believe your word." Elsa smirks, getting always closer. "Even if.."

"Even if..?"

"I think I know what could knock you out.."

"Yeah? Tell me if you're so sure." She looks challengingly at her without hiding her curiosity.

By now she's at the right closeness, she bends over slightly in order to whispering in her ear.

"Boxes.." the answer leaves the redhead dumbfounded. At the moment she can't make sense about it and then she remembers.

"No! That was an exception! I lost my balance.. That doesn't count." She starts to blush, she doesn't really know why, after all there's nothing to be ashamed of, those things happen and in the end that fall led her to know a very unique cardiac surgeon.

"I consider it valid." The two smile, forgetting they're in a hospital room, trying only to relax themselves and enjoy that calm between them.

They spend a good 15minutes joking about that accident and how much Anna is clumsy. This lightness in the air is good for both, to let off some steam, to keep aside the worries, the guilt.

Elsa is found seated on the bed when Kai enters in the room knocking gently before opening the door fully and immediately he notices that none of them heard him. His daughter's smile surprises him, it's radiant and genuine, he hasn't seen it in a while and at the sight it warms his heart. He sees the back covered by the doctor's white coat, it's impossible to not recognize her, she's the only one in the entire hospital who has the braid in that way, and looking a little more carefully he catches his daughter's hand on top of the blonde's, which leaves him slightly dumbfounded. It isn't a everyday-thing to see some kind of physical contact between the doctor and another person. He knows that things are getting better, the friendship born with his nephew, but he can't recall having seen them hugging or packing their shoulders, therefore he's amazed seeing her apparently calm his daughter's hand contact. It's not only that little gesture that catches his attention, but being on the bed too. He knows Elsa and that she owns a rigid professional behaviour inside hospital's walls , it's one of the qualities that struck him at the moment of hiring her. He's aware about the friendship that is forming between his daughter and her, but he knows that the events of the week before have brought the two to distance themselves and leaving Anna in an almost depressive state. Not that she showed him, both her and him has the same character, they're not inclined to show their worries, precisely for this he was able to spot that something was bothering her. He's never asked her, suspecting the blonde was somehow involved. Even in that eventful evening, when his wife and her went out, he didn't pry. Once at home, Gerda simply told him they needed some fresh air and there were nothing to be worry about. Of course it wasn't the truth and he knew it. He knew and knows they went to Elsa, Anna was clearly upset about the blonde's story, knowing her he was sure that sooner or later she would have tried to contact her and comfort her, as she always does with her friends, it's in her nature. Of course he wasn't aware about her fast heartbeat in the blonde's presence, about the desire of kissing her and hold her that she was feeling, about how much she missed her and how much she wants to spend some time with her, forgetting everything else.

Kai decides to make his existence clear by clearing his voice.

"Dr. Winters, Anna. Sorry for the interruption."

The two startle hearing his voice. The redhead's smile changes in a nervous and embarassed one instantly, while Elsa jumps like a spring standing up and stiffening in front of her boss, avoiding his gaze.

"Dr. Summers."

"Ehy dad!" they exclaim in unison. The blonde senses he's there to talk with his daughter about the recent event and thinks it's best to leave them alone.

"It's better for me to go, I should check on some patient in the ICU." She turns to Anna making a short nod and than she stars leaving.

"Doctor."

"Doctor." Once she's out, Kai walks nearer to his daughter and watches her carefully. Anna swallows hard and panic raises. "How are you?" he asks calmly taking the chair and sitting.

"Fine.." she answers following with her eyes his actions, she sees a folder in his hands. "Listen..-"

"What was going on in your mind?" he asks strictly while he opens the folder. "For how I see it, there's two possibilities. You can get out of this making your apologies with his lawyer's presence and a few witnesses, they'd be us of the internal commission of the hospital. It would be better if you had a lawyer, I don't think you have one. The other option.. If he presses charges, you have to go and testify and it won't be pretty for you. You haven't any kind of relation with him and apparently neither a valid reason for the assault, considering his a patient in this hospital, in a restricted area, supervised 24/7 by police officers." Her father sighs heavily. "I know you, that's not you. Tell me, why?"

"I am sorry.. I didn't know what I was doing until I was doing it. I lost control.. It wasn't my intention to create problems. I wasn't thinking and I admit it.."

Kai stays still looking at his daughter, she isn't telling everything and he doesn't understand why. He wishes only to understand and help her if possible.

"Ripped off some stitches, a few bruises, but lucky for you, nothing too serious. Try to be careful, deal? As soon as possible go and talk with the internal commission, and you should look for a lawyer, just in case. If you prefer I'll find one myself."

"No.. I'll take care of it, I've given you enough to worry about. Sorry." Kai nods and he stands up, leaving her the discharge papers to sign.

"Your mother is coming. She'll bring you back home." And with that he exits.

Anna signs the papers and while she's getting dressed she keeps praying she won't get in troubles, to not jeopardize Elsa's freedom and safety. She thinks she can handle the idea of having to deal with the situation personally, but creating, or rather perpetuate an unpleasant situation for the blonde? She wouldn't forgive herself. Just like she doesn't forgive herself for the prior week, in particular not knowing to think before talking.

She feels like she has a huge weight on her shoulder, a part of her knew from the start that if she'd put her foot in that room, she would have had to deal with serious consequences. Yet she wasn't able to stop herself and know she has to find a solution to all this.

Looking at the bright side, something that she's told herself to always do no matter what, there was finally a reconnection with Elsa and she's very happy about that, she managed to see her, talk with her. She was happily surprised there was that quiet and light moment between them, like nothing happened. She missed her very much during those days. It's odd, after all it's not like it's been a month or more, she's never been like this. With her everything is different, her feelings are deep and knowing she hurt her made her really upset. Everyday she woke up and hoped to find a text, insults would have been fine too, yet nothing, the day went by without any sign of her. Once evening came around she was so tempted to write to her, but she promised to give her some space, to wait until she was the one reaching for her when ready. Her mother tried to calm her, to distract her and let off some steam as much as possible, while keeping her father in the dark, she wasn't up to talk with him, she didn't know what to say and most of all she didn't have any idea about his reaction. But for now, the only thing that matters is knowing Elsa is feeling better, step by step as she said, but at least there's been an improvement. When the blonde left her earlier she nods at her, Anna would be ready to swear it was like a promise, a promise to keep in touch and indeed, while she is waiting for her mother to arrive, she receives a message. At firs sight it is nothing so special, yet reading it puts a big smile on her face.

"Anna? Are you ready?" Gerda asks her daughter while knocking on the door.

"Yeah, one sec, putting on the jacket and I'm out." she puts her phone on the bed while she opens the closet. The screen is still unlocked showing the text that was arrived not only a few second earlier.

"Thanks."

Author's Note: I am terrible person.. I am so sorry for the long wait! Hopefully you'll enjoy this chapter and.. soon another one will arrive! As soon as I finish to translate it! I was so busy that I've only written the new chapters in italian, I'm sorry!
For those who are interested.. I think I'll put this story on Wattpad (same username as here, Christyslsb), it's already on Archive of Our Own.. And for those who speaks or knows italian or are studying it you'll find the story on EFP with the name "L'amore non รจ una cosa che si pianifica" (an italian fanfiction website, it requires subscription, my username there is the same here, Christyslsb).

Anyway.. I hope you do enjoy it and thank you so much for the patience, you're wonderful!

I'm sorry for the possible mistakes...xD

Have a great day,

Christys