"Another Lost Cause," Part II

Once again, I don't own GWTW or any of that mess.

Later that night, long after the store had closed, Scarlett sat in front of her dresser combing out her tangled locks. As she brought the brush through her hair, it caught on a stubborn pin still caught amidst the tangles. She reached up to move it in irritation. "Ouch!" Scarlett scowled at the already rising blood from the slight puncture wound. But she was momentarily distracted form her pain by the sound of someone knocking on her door. Assuming it was Mammy or one of the other servants she call out for them to enter.

Why weren't they saying anything? When she heard her door close quietly she abruptly turned and stood to confront whomever was rooting around in her room.

"Surely you realized it wasn't Mammy at this hour of the night, my pet," Rhett spoke as he saw her eyes widen in surprise and fright. "I was passing by and I heard you cry out," he stated calmly.

Scarlett swallowed dryly. What in God's nightgown was he doing back? Surely he didn't mean what he'd said earlier about not leaving her alone!

"I hurt my hand on a pin, that's all. I'm sorry I disturbed your slumber," she replied coldly.

"I told you I wasn't asleep," he returned stiffly, but then added in a far gentler tone, "Let me see your hand," as he drew near to her.

Scarlett tried to retreat from him, only ending up running into her dresser that stood behind her in her efforts. Rhett chuckled lightly.

"Going somewhere, my pet?"

"No…I just recall that the last time you requested to see them you became rather upset with me, and I'd rather not deal with that again," she said with a smirk as she recalled their meeting in the jail.

He winced at her words, giving a short, uneasy laugh. Slowly he retrieved her hand and turning it palm up, took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the blood away before raising her hand to his lips.

Scarlett started at him, statue-like. She weakly tried pulling her hand away, fearful he would notice her steadily increasing heart rate.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered into her palm between ardent kisses that made her flesh burn.

Scarlett gulped uneasily as he pulled her closer. He was sorry? Sorry for what, she wondered as he continued his task, lightly kissing each fingertip. He then lifted his hand to her face and caressed it gently.

"You drive me mad, you know…That day…I'd thought for sure you'd cared something for me…only to have you shatter my hopes…that's why I became angry with you." He spoke in a tender voice, a voice that Scarlett found all at once disturbing and desirous.

"So you're apologizing for something that happened in the past, something that doesn't even matter anymore?" Scarlett asked in confusion. Why wasn't he apologizing for his recent behavior instead? The man was a complete enigma.

Rhett dropped his hand from her face. "No, dammit," he growled in irritation. "Why can't you see anything unless it's spelled out for you? Hell, you can't even see it then, can you?" he added in disgust, turning from her.

Scarlett clenched her fists in rage. "Maybe because I'm not the great mind reader that you so often claim to be," she retorted hotly. "You're such an ass."

He turned back to her and smiled broadly. "You always do bring out the best in me, my dear."

"ERRR!" Suddenly Rhett ducked as she hurled her silver backed brush at him. As he straightened out to face her, it was his turn to stand mesmerized. Her green eyes were blazing with a fire he hadn't seen in ages, her bosom heaving in passion under the thin silk dressing gown. His eyes rolled over her, burning like two hot coals. Then he chuckled to himself, breaking the silence in the tense room.

"My dear, dear, Miss O'Hara. I see you still haven't grown up much. Surely you would have realized by now that throwing things won't aid you in getting your way?" he inquired in jest.

"No, but maybe if I work on my accuracy it will," she retorted.

This caused more laughter on his part, and Scarlett unwittingly allowed a smile to creep to both her mouth and her eyes. God, how she'd missed this, she realized. The feisty bickering and retort, Rhetts maddening words that both enraged her and comforted her. She allowed her fighting stance to relax as he approached her once more.

"I've missed you, Scarlett," he whispered softly in her ear before kissing her, first cautiously, then with a gradual intensity that left her breathless. But Scarlett pushed him away, confusion evident in her face.

"If you're stupid enough to believe I'll fall into bed with you, after what you said to me-"

"I thought you didn't care." He returned coolly, his sudden change shocking to Scarlett.

"Why should I? You obviously don't care how I feel."

"Touché, Mrs. Butler. Would you change you mind if I told you it wasn't in Ms.Watlings company I spent those nights, or any other woman for that matter?"

Scarlett narrowed her eyes at him once more. "Hah. You don't actually expect me to believe that, do you. Even that fat yankee police Captain said you were-"

"And you don't expect me to believe that your little run in with Ashley at the mill was innocent either."

Her face turned white at the whiplash she heard in his voice. He really actually believed- "But that's not true! Its lies, Rhett, I swear to you!" Maybe now she'd actually get to explain to him, she thought.

"Why should I believed in you when you have so little faith in me?" he countered, his features growing dark once more.

"You admitted…"

"I admitted nothing. You just assumed-"

"-just like you did," Scarlett replied heatedly.

Suddenly he began pacing like a caged animal, muttering profanities under his breath. Unexpectedly he turned to her. "Why do I even bother with you? I knew from the very beginning that you were nothing but a lost cause, something I couldn't conquer because someone else had already captured you. Yet I stayed and wed you, praying that someday you'd care something for me, but no, I see that it too is but another lost cause."

"Rhett, I swear to you on my mothers grave nothing happened at the mill. Archie and India both hate me-"

"You were in his arms," he replied distractedly.

Scarlett swallowed dryly. She had to say something and fast. She a "lost cause?" their marriage one as well? And he had hope she would care for him? Was that why he was so upset? Was he really telling the truth about Belle?

"…yes…I was Rhett. I won't lie to you. He…well, he was comforting me…You see, he got me to look back on what the county had once been like…and I started thinking about Pa…and, well you know I don't like to look back. And I started crying and he hugged me, but I didn't feel anything, Rhett. I swear that I wasn't trying anything that time."

Rhett laughed uneasily as he studied her face. "But you still believe that I was with Belle." it was a question. He watched as she became ill at ease, fidgeting with her hands and looking away.