Gonna go forward in time a little bit but don't worry. I will return to current events of the story in this chapter. Basicly I'm going to go from future to present day. If you guys don't like it let me know and I'm more than happy to change it.
6 months later
Carly sighed as she shut off her car in front of the familiar building. It never got easier but she knew she had made the right choice.
Entering the Freedman Clinic, she smiled at the receptionist. "Hi, renay. Can I see her?" She asked and the woman nodded with a smile. Walking down the familiar corridor, Carly stopped at the room she'd entered every day for the last month, knowing what awaited her on the other side. "Nelle?" She whispered softly and the young woman looked up at her, a huge smile taking over her face and she immediately threw herself at Carly, all the while never saying a word. Returning the embrace just as desperately, Carly looked her over. She was better and she could tell she'd been eating.
She just wished she would speak, but that was to be expected after what had happened. "I missed you." Carly whispered, Nelle beginning to cry and clutching Carly's shirt. "Come here. Let's relax." She said, motioning to the bed and Nelle nodded, knowing what was about to happen. Settling on the bed, Carly allowed the younger woman to lay her head on her shoulder, the tension beginning to leave her small frame now that Carly was holding her.
Your doctor says you're doing quite well. You should hopefully be able to come home soon." She said and Nelle's eyes widened. All she wanted was to be home with Carly. "Home." She signed, tucking her face into the crook of Carly's neck. "Yes." Carly said, overjoyed that Nelle had spoken to her, even if it was through sign language. "Home, with you." She signed and Carly nodded, kissing the top of her head. "Yeah, baby. You'll go home with me." She confirmed, rubbing her back and just enjoying having Nelle with her, even if it was only for a short time.
"It's not the same without you." Carly said after a bit and Nelle looked at her, shocked that Carly still wanted her around after everything that had happened. "I know you've gone through hell, but that doesn't change things. I still want you with me." She said when she saw the look on Nelle's face. "I love you." Nelle whispered and Carly's eyes widened in complete shock. She hadn't spoken in three months and it was so good to hear her voice again. Taking a breath and composing herself in order to not scare her, Carly smiled and pulled her closer, burying her face in Nelle's hair and letting out the tears that had sprung to her eyes upon hearing Nelle speak to her. "I love you too." She said through tears and the girl looked at her before Carly felt a soft touch on her cheek and Nelle softly wiping her tears away.
45 minutes later
When Nina opened the door of Nelle's room she swore her eyes were playing tricks on her. "Am I hallucinating?" She said aloud, staring at the sight before her, still not believing it when after opening her eyes it hadn't changed. "Nina. Did you-" "What?" Sonny asked, coming up behind her and smiling slightly when he saw where she was looking and she just gave him a look, clearly catching on to the fact that he didn't seem at all shocked by what they were seeing.
"wh-what is this?" She stuttered, once again looking to Sonny for answers, the sight of Carly, leaning against the headboard with Nelle in her arms, both fast asleep having rendered her speechless for a moment. "After the..." He said before trailing off and she nodded for him to continue, not eager to be reminded of what put Nelle here. "Well they bonded." He said with a shrug, walking over and lightly tapping Carly's shoulder. "Carly." He whispered. "Wake up."
"Sonny?" "Yeah, it's me. It's about time to go." He said and she sighed. This was the part she hated. All she wanted was to take Nelle with her.
She flashed back to that day in Nina's office, remembering the argument and the words that had gotten her to see her enemy in a new light. Nelle's words getting to her just as much now as they did that day. It seemed like so long ago since she had uttered those three words and now, as she prepared to leave her once again here in this psychiatric hospital, she wondered if they would ever have a real chance to bond or if this was the new normal for them. "You left me." She had whispered, making Carly give her a strange look, the pieces finally clicking into place.
"Carly?" Sonny said, observing her far away look and she let out another sigh. "I hate this. Every time I leave I hear what she said to me in your office." She said, glancing at Nina who had approached the bed, gazing at Nelle who, even in sleep, still held on to Carly as if she was her only lifeline. "What did she say?" "You left me." Carly whispered, trying to hold in her emotions that wanted to come bursting out. "It's ok. You've more than made up for that." Nina said softly as Nelle shifted in Carly's arms and opened her eyes. They immediately filled with tears at the look on Carly's face, knowing what that look meant and both Nina and Sonny knew this wasn't about to go well, at all.
"No, please." She begged, the tears coming faster now and Carly just held her, knowing she wasn't going to handle the separation very well. She never did. "Shhh. I'll be back. You know I will." She whispered, lifting her chin to make eye contact and sighed when she let out a loud cry, once again hugging her. "I have to go now." She said, gently extricating herself from Nelle's grip and rising from the bed. "NOOO." Nelle screamed, attempting to follow Carly out the door but was stopped by Sonny who at the moment, decided the fact she had spoken, or rather, screamed could wait to be discussed later and moved forward to stop her, all be it gently. pulling her into his arms, he became slightly worried when she began hitting him with her fists, trying to break free. "I promise you, she will be back." He said softly, still continuing to hold her despite her hitting as Nina returned with her doctor.
Looking up, he saw Carly a good 30 feet away, tears pouring from her own eyes as Renay rubbed her shoulder comfortingly, clearly used to this. "Nelle? It's Dr. Garcia. Can you tell me why you're upset?" She asked kindly and Nelle made eye contact before breaking out of Sonny's grasp and walked towards her therapist. "Please." She got out through sobs and Anne frowned, not understanding. "What, Nelle? What can I do to help?" She questioned in a soft voice once more. "L-let me g-go with her." She stuttered, a fresh batch of tears pouring from her eyes when she made eye contact with Carly who did her best to hide her own tears. . "Oh, Nelle. I can't, not yet." Anne said, her patients distress levels increasing by the minute, watching as she ran towards Carly and fell into her arms, still sobbing hysterically. Seeing Sonny making a motion to guide Nelle back into the room, Anne put a hand up, shaking her head. "Let's let Carly calm her down." She proposed and Carly shot her a great full look, more and more thankful for the kind-hearted therapist. "Ok. Here we go. We are going to lay down for a while. You're exhausted." She whispered lovingly, getting her tucked back into bed and lying down next to her. "Y-you're l-leaving." She hiccuped, and Carly guided her head into the crook of her neck. "Don't think about that right now. I'm staying right here until you're calm. I'm not leaving you while you're upset." She whispered, glancing at Anne and gently rubbing Nelle's back, beginning to hum softly.
Finally, after about 20 minutes, her heavy sobbing turned into a steady flow of tears and then to quiet sniffling. "That's my girl. Just calm down." Carly soothed, still continuing to hum the familiar tune and Anne smiled from the doorway, Nina seemingly transfixed by the sight in front of her. "Nelle, Carly has to go now." Anne said softly and the girl lifted her head from its resting place having almost fallen asleep, a heartbroken look taking over her face but she slowly shifted her position to allow her to rise from the bed. "I'll see you tomorrow." She whispered, dropping down to her knees at the side of the bed, Nelle hugging her once more, a few tears leaking from her eyes which Carly wiped away. "Anne will take care of you." She said, kissing the top of Nelle's head as she rose to her feet. "Love you." Nelle whispered, stunning Sonny and Nina, Dr. Garcia taking it in stride while Carly smiled, more glad than she thought possible that she was finally speaking. Sonny and nina looked at one another, still observing this latest development. They were realizing this was the first time she'd spoken in 3 months and the first time she'd spoken to Dr. Garcia if you didn't count writing, nodding or signing. "I love you too." Carly responded softly as she quietly left the room, Nina immediately going over and hugging Nelle when the girls eyes once again filled with tears. "Hey. It's ok. She will be back." Nina said comfortingly, Nelle staring at the open doorway watching Carly's retreating form until she could no longer see her. "I wanna go home with her." "I know, and you will." Anne said, coming further into the room.
"When." Nelle questioned and Dr. Garcia sighed. "I don't know. We have some work to do before you can leave." She said and Nelle began to pick at a loose thread on the blanket, just wanting to go home.
"Carly. Hey. Talk to me." Sonny urged, following her out to her car and she finally turned to face him, tears brimming in her eyes. "What." She snapped. "What do you want me to say? She's here because of me." "No, carly.
She's here because of Frank." Sonny said and she just gave him a look. "I didn't believe her. I didn't believe her and she ended up here. He did to her exactly what she did to me." She whispered. "What happened?" He asked, not knowing all the details and she sighed wearily and leaned against her car, her thoughts drifting back to when Nelle had first been staying with her, right after giving her statement.
Present day
The next morning Carly awoke to a wait on her chest and looking down she saw Nelle cuddled up next to her. Sonny had decided to move out and allow her to take care of her, knowing she did better when it was just the two of them. "Morning, sleepy head." She whispered a little while later when Nelle awoke and sat up, wincing in pain. "You stayed." She said in amazement and Carly nodded. "I'm not going anywhere." She said. "I'm here for you, for what ever you need." She assured her, neither taking notice of the figure watching them from across the street.
"Oh, Janelle. Payback is a bitch." Frank Benson said and grinned evilly as he saw them through the bedroom window, his daughter in Carly's lap. "You won't know what hit you. You'll think you're as crazy as you tried to make her." He said, making his way back to his car and driving out of sight.