Truth Hurts

The nights had been so quiet lately for Cooper that on the first sound of whimpering he sat bolt upright in his makeshift bed, still in the room he was sharing with Ved. He blinked in the dark and listened carefully for the sound.

After a few moments the mumbling came again and he was on his feet quietly across the hall and opening the door to Ally's room.

She hadn't had the nightmare for so long that now it had decided to return it was more vicious than ever before, her small limbs thrashed against her own personal demons and her mouth murmured protests and cries for help.

Cooper moved smoothly, fearing that jerky movements would scare her awake, and he was pretty sure that could cause heart failure…he put a hand gently to her arm and held it there for a long time, letting her get used to the warmth as still she continued to fight against herself and the covers.

His lips frowned with sadness and tears choked slightly at the back of his throat as he watched her, so small and helpless her face hot and streaked with tears. Cooper shook her gently, easing her from the terror and back into her present reality – a reality that he shared…a reality in which she was free…

"Ally!" He spoke now, urging her back, forcing her free – pulling her away from the nightmares.

Ally jolted awake with his call and jumped up, but he was there immediately and caught her in his arms. The small and shaking girl fought against him for a moment before she realised that that these arms were arms of comfort not violence and she clung to him, willing him to put those arms tighter around her.

She sobbed, in both anguish and relief as he held her – and she, finally, let herself be held as the sobs racked her frame. "Hey now…" He cooed his breath vibrating against her soft hair. "What's brought all this on huh?"

Ally heard his question but kept still as though she hadn't, she'd been thinking about Cooper and Tammy before she went to bed, wondering if there was something going on between them and it had conjured bad memories of being left all alone again with no one to care for her…She pulled back from him and looked up into those eternal eyes and for a second she wanted nothing but him, so close, for as long as she could see forward – but that meant one thing and one thing only. He had to know the truth.

Cooper's expression was filled with worry, as he looked into her eyes so big and bright yet so sad and teary. She was frail in his arms and shaking as her small hands moved to wipe the tears from her already water-filled cheeks. He was anxious at what was wrong and put a comforting hand on her shoulder as she pulled away, letting her legs dangle over the edge of the crumpled bed. "I think we need to talk." Was her opening line, a line that scared Cooper down to his core. "My story…"

Cooper's voice was soft and warm as the hand on her shoulder slid down to take her shaking hand in his. "Ally…don't feel like because of this…that you have to tell me anything."

Ally's head shook furiously so that her hair fell over her face in a brown and slightly tangled curtain. "I want you to know." She managed. "You need to know…"

Cooper nodded, but remained silent, his hand gently squeezing hers in reassurance. "Be sure you're ready." He murmured and she bowed her head.

A long drawn-out silence passed over them as they sat there, holding-hands and looking at the floor as though it was the most interesting thing in the whole world.

"Before the virus I lived with my mum and my older brother Dax." The words were being forced out – that much he could tell – but he wouldn't stop her if this were something she had to do in order to feel better about herself. Cooper nodded for her to continue, unsure if she was actually looking at him from the corner of her eyes. "And after it happened we split up. Dax was always so good at everything, my mother's pride and joy and I was just…a little girl. I lived my life in his shadow day after day after day, so once mum was gone I wouldn't take it anymore. He thought he owned me, he thought I had to do everything he said – but I wouldn't." Her tiny voice was strained. "We fought and I left, swearing never to go back to that…but I was…still am…such a naïve little girl."

Cooper opened his mouth to speak, to contradict this final comment, but she silenced him with a gaze.

"The city swallowed me whole, it damn near killed me but then I met him and I thought that finally everything would be okay." She gasped slightly as a sob caught in her throat, but chose to ignore it, carrying on with the story. "Top Hat. He was the leader of the tribe: strong and important and so, so kind to me. He would hold me, and let me cry or wait for me to scream and let me smash things, he acted like he understood me." Ally's face flushed with shame and she bit her lip. "But I couldn't afford to pay the batteries and food for my room at the casino – and he said I had to pay, it was only fair…" A tear fell onto her cheek and rolled over her face, finally dripping onto Coopers hand tangled with hers. "The first time he came to me I fought back - I fought so hard I thought I'd win, that he'd leave me alone for trying…but he was so strong and relentless. I told him to stop, I said no over and over – I screamed I promise I fought…but he just kept going…whispering how pretty I was, telling me to open my eyes so he could see how thankful I was…to see how much I was enjoying it…" Her brown eyes were loaded with tears as she looked up at Cooper, her face carrying nothing but shame and guilt about what she had told him, and as he looked back knowing she wanted him to say something to make it all seem better he couldn't find any words. Cooper blinked, fighting back his own tears, tears of sadness for his friend as she opened her heart to him, and Ally held her breath to stop the overwhelming sobs that were threatening to break her body. "I fought, I promise I did…" She squeaked out suddenly as her whole frame shook with fear and sadness, the tears now burning channels in her skin.

Cooper snapped out of the horrified trance he was in and bundled her into his arms pulling her tight and whispering softly – trying to settle her weeping as she clung to him repeating her last statement over and over.

Cooper closed his eyes as his tears began to fall on her soft brown head but still trying to be strong for her as he rocked her in his shaking arms…

"Morning." Her voice was cool and crisp, cutting easily through the still morning as she sat opposite him on the bench.

Scott looked up into her pale blue eyes and smiled showing his white teeth. "Morning." He couldn't, and didn't, hide the fact that he was happy she'd sat down to talk to him.

Silver felt her lips smiling back at him as she lost herself in those trademark eyes. He was playing his guitar as always but stopped and placed it lovingly on the table as she asked him how he was.

He looked surprised as she enquired about himself. "I'm good." He nodded truthfully. "And yourself?"

Silver couldn't believe how civil they were being with each other and felt her grin get wider. "I'm great." She admitted, liking talking to him without arguing.

Because this was new and fresh neither knew exactly how they were supposed to act, being snappy with each other had become a ritual, habit, and it was hard to get used to being nice. Silver looked down at her hands, hands in which she twirled the silver rose-ring distractedly. Scott put his hand out and caught her fingers gently – bringing the ring closer so he could observe it. "That's nice." He smiled truthfully as their eyes met again. "It suits you." Silver felt herself blushing, as he made no attempt to release her fingers from his soft grasp.

"Thank-you." She whispered not daring to look away from him.

"So what are your plans for today?" His tone was lighter now as he let her fingers drop.

Silver shrugged. "I don't have any." She admitted.

Scott nodded, satisfied. "Good. Me either. Which means we can talk – and you can tell me all about whoever gave you that ring." He winked and she felt herself go weak.

"I don't know that answer to that question." Her eyes quizzed him, silently asking him the answer, asking if he knew who had given it to her.

Scott laughed and picked up his guitar again, beginning to strum the song he'd written and played at the party. "A secret admirer? How intriguing…"

Malaika sighed and placed a hand out to the wall to steady herself. She'd been sick a dozen or so times already this morning, and now she was beginning to feel faint. Her beautiful eyes closed for a moment to stop the room spinning and she took deep breaths.

"Mali? Are you okay?" Beth put her hands on her friend's waist and held her up as her knees gave way slightly.

The concern in Beth's eyes was evident as Mali's own fluttered open and she smiled. "I'm fine…just a little weak that's all…this baby's gonna be a handful – I can tell." She laughed momentarily and shrugged. "What about you? Okay?"

Beth nodded, a lie clouding her eyes for a moment. "Fine." She put a hand to Mali's face. "You look pale, and feel very warm." She warned. "Have you been eating?"

Malaika laughed and moved to leave the house so that she could get some fresh air. "Yes I have been eating Beth – the only problem is that this little one doesn't seem to agree with my choice of food." When Beth looked at her blankly Mali explained. "Every time I eat something I end up throwing it back up. I just can't keep it down."

Malaika's hand rested on her tummy as Beth put a helpful arm around her to bring her outside. "Well mom you've gotta try." Beth smiled, an old smile, one that Mali hadn't seen in a long while. "You've gotta keep your strength up for this little 'un."

Mali looked over to Beth, who seemed more natural than before and smiled gratefully for the helping arm. "Thank-you."