Disclaimer: Ok, I have been writing this damn thing for the past eight
chapters. If don't know it by now please refer to one of them.
A/N: Well the beginning of another chapter. Need I say more?
Hope and Memory
Chapter 9: The Morning After
The morning light from the window stung her eyes. Unable to focus she blinked a few times to wash away the fuzzy grogginess of the drugs that still flowed into her system via the IV. Her shoulder throbbed with pain as well as her leg.
Where was she? What happened? The questions floated threw her mind in fast erratic bursts. Her eyes began to focus slowly. She was lay on a medium size bed in a rather homey room. There was a man sleeping soundly in a chair at the foot of the bed under the window.
She shifted into a more upright position causing the blanket to off her. She was naked except for a pair of shorts and a bandage on her shoulder.
The rusting of blankets woke Gabe. And he saw the young woman sitting up in the bed staring at him.
She quickly realized that that she was topless pulled the blanket over her chest. "Where am I?"
Relief, washed over Gabe as he stood and walked over to the bed. "You're at my place and you are very lucky to be alive." He sat down slowly on the edge of the bed.
She cocked her head and looked at him. "What do you mean? What happened?"
"I found you early this morning in an ally with two gunshot wounds and a very nasty gash to the forehead." Gabe watched as fear spread across her face. Then she sunk back against the headboard, tears forming slightly at the corners of her eyes. "There were men chasing you. Do you know why?"
"No, I can't remember anything?" Her voice quivered and the tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
Gabe didn't know why he did it but he just couldn't stand the crying or the total look of despair that was apparent on her face. One minute he was just sitting there and the next he was gently holding her being careful not to injure her injuries.
Felling his strong arms around her. She stiffened for a second not wanting to trust anything or anyone but the comfort and security of his arms called to her. She relaxed and let the tears come.
Gabe whispered slowly into her ear, "just let is go." Slowly her began to rock her and stroke her hair.
Gabe looked up and saw Red bud standing the doorway. Slowly he shook his head and motioned for him to go back to the living room. She didn't need to meet any body else new right now. She was confused enough.
Red Bud immediately understood the gesture and turned around. Poor thing she's been threw allot he thought as he made his way into the kitchen to make some fresh coffee.
The men held her for what seemed like to her hours. It felt good real good. She might not remember much but she new for certain that she hadn't felt truly safe in a long time. It was a good feeling and she wanted it to last forever. Her eyes were red and bloodshot now and their no tears left.
And then nature called. It was embarrassing but it would be even worse if she went right there. Slow and with much hesitation she pulled back from the security of the man's arms. "Um, do you have a rest room?" She watched as a smile slowly crossed his face. It was a smile that maid her heart jump slightly and her stomach turn summersaults.
Gabe chuckled slightly at the question as her pulled away from her. "Yes I do. Do you trust me?" Taking her there meant he would have to carry her and he didn't want to spook the poor girl. He didn't think she had any tears left.
She didn't know why she trusted him, just that she did. "Yes I trust you." Then she remembered that she was wearing only shorts and nothing else. "But do you think you could find me a shirt?"
Gabe laughed again. Her recovery was amazing. Could this be the same girl that hours before had been withering in pain? Hell the bruises on your abdomen and arms already appeared to be fading. "Sure, I am glad you feeling better." He went to the closet and grabbed a t-shirt. He threw it to her.
The shirt landed in her lap and she began to smuggle with putting it on. Her shoulder began to throb again and she grunted with the pain.
"Here let me give you a hand." Gabe walked back over to the bed and slowly eased her into the shirt.
"Thank you?" She cocked her head sideways again. She hadn't gotten his name. Christ what was wrong with her? Oh yeah she had no memory and the only reason she was alive right now was the man standing before her.
Gabe saw the look of sadness spread over her face yet again. Oh God, please don't let her cry again. He wasn't sure if he could take it. Then it dawned on him. Stupid! You never told her your name. "By the way. Name's Gabriel Rath, but you can call me Gabe." And with that he reached his arms under her legs and picked her up in one fluid motion. "Pleased to meet you."
She laughed as he picked her up. It felt wonderful being cradled in his arms. But why? Why did this man she barley knew make her feel so comfortable. She wasn't going to dwell on it though she was just going to enjoy. "Ok Gabe, now about that bath room?"
"We're on are way. I could let you risk walking on that leg yet." He walked out into the living room cradling her.
Red Bud stood up from the couch and watched them walk out of the room. He had heard the entire conversation. "So how's our favorite patient doing?"
Gabe felt her tighten a little at the sound of the other mans voice. Shit he had forgot to mention Red to her. Man he was fucking up royally this morning. "Miss, I would like to introduce you to Dustin Meyers. He is a good friend and he helped me put you back together last night." At this he felt her loosen.
She was relived so now she had two people she was grateful to. "Hi, and thank you."
"Don't mention it. And call me Red Bud every one else does." He smiled at her and watches her do the same back at him. Man she did clean up good, and now that she wasn't writhing in pain or unconscious it was even more apparent. He watched as the Gabe carried her into the bathroom and closes the door.
Gabe set her down lightly on the toilet seat. "Are you going to be able to manage this?" He smiled at her but there was definite concern is his voice.
She smiled at this and looked up at him, "regardless I am doing it alone. I don't know you well enough to have a bowel movement in front of you."
Gabe let out a hearty laugh. "Ok then I will be right outside. Call me if you need anything."
"I will now will you please let me shit!"
This surprised Gabe a bit but he still laughed. How was she recovering this quickly most people would still be in shock? Oh well he wasn't going to dwell on it. "Ok, enjoy." And he walked out of the bathroom closing the door behind him.
What was she doing? She didn't know and really didn't care. Things were fucked up and if she though about them to much she would breakdown again and she didn't want that to happen at least not until she had finished taking care of certain bodily functions. She smiled slightly and the arduously tedious task of using the toilet.
Gabe walked into the kitchen. Red Bud was stand at the counter fill up a coffee mug. "Hey buddy how did you sleep?"
Turning a with a grin on his face and a mug of coffee in his hand. "She seems to be rather spirited for having no memory of self. And I slept great." He handed the mug to Gabe and turned back to pour another for himself.
"So, when you heading back to your place?"
"In a little while, I want to make sure she's really Ok before I go." Red Bud replied. In reality he need to talk to Gabe about Riley. "Besides I wanted to talk to you about Riley."
Oh, great how did Red no that big bastard. "What about him?"
"I wanted to tell you he is going to be ok. He's my neighbor. I took him to the clinic last night on my way to get supplies." Red smiled and the surprised look of Gabe's face.
"Well I'm glad he is doing ok, but Red I was just doing my job."
"I didn't have a single doubt in my mind. Lobo treated him and sent him on his way." Red grinned again.
"Lobo huh, since when did he know how to set a broken ankle?" Gabe sipped at his coffee. He missed it all and he really wanted that part of his life back.
"Since I found that nights were boring and wanted to work days. He does ok and he know how to get a hold of me or Dree if a real emergency comes up."
"So how is the lengthy s.o.b. doing?"
"Well he is actually doing Anita." Red Bug watched as Gabe choked on his coffee grinning from ear to ear.
"He's what?" Gabe was flabbergasted. Anita? Lobo? Then he smiled as well. "Does Dree know?"
"No and I didn't know until last night. I kind of walked in on them in the middle."
"Really, you going to tell Dree." Gabe's eyebrow cocked up quizzically.
"No I am not. Made a promise to Anita that I wouldn't if she didn't tell Dree about where I was going."
"I see," Gabe paused. "I she the only one who knows you're here?"
"Yep." And as if Red Bud could help it would stay that way. "Hasn't the girl been in the bathroom for quite awhile?"
"Yes, she has. I'll check on her." Gabe walked out of the kitchen.
Gabe hoped she was ok. He knocked lightly on the door. "You doing alright?" There was no response. Instantly he feared the worst. "If you don't answer I am coming in."
She didn't answer so Gabe opened the door and froze.
The girl was curled in a small ball in the corner. She was rocking slowly back and forth sobbing. Gabe ran to her immediately wrapping his arms around her.
The cold had come back to her and the world had shattered again only a few seconds after he left. But then he was back. The warmth was back. So she pressed her face into his chest, and cried until she fell asleep.
A/N: Well the beginning of another chapter. Need I say more?
Hope and Memory
Chapter 9: The Morning After
The morning light from the window stung her eyes. Unable to focus she blinked a few times to wash away the fuzzy grogginess of the drugs that still flowed into her system via the IV. Her shoulder throbbed with pain as well as her leg.
Where was she? What happened? The questions floated threw her mind in fast erratic bursts. Her eyes began to focus slowly. She was lay on a medium size bed in a rather homey room. There was a man sleeping soundly in a chair at the foot of the bed under the window.
She shifted into a more upright position causing the blanket to off her. She was naked except for a pair of shorts and a bandage on her shoulder.
The rusting of blankets woke Gabe. And he saw the young woman sitting up in the bed staring at him.
She quickly realized that that she was topless pulled the blanket over her chest. "Where am I?"
Relief, washed over Gabe as he stood and walked over to the bed. "You're at my place and you are very lucky to be alive." He sat down slowly on the edge of the bed.
She cocked her head and looked at him. "What do you mean? What happened?"
"I found you early this morning in an ally with two gunshot wounds and a very nasty gash to the forehead." Gabe watched as fear spread across her face. Then she sunk back against the headboard, tears forming slightly at the corners of her eyes. "There were men chasing you. Do you know why?"
"No, I can't remember anything?" Her voice quivered and the tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
Gabe didn't know why he did it but he just couldn't stand the crying or the total look of despair that was apparent on her face. One minute he was just sitting there and the next he was gently holding her being careful not to injure her injuries.
Felling his strong arms around her. She stiffened for a second not wanting to trust anything or anyone but the comfort and security of his arms called to her. She relaxed and let the tears come.
Gabe whispered slowly into her ear, "just let is go." Slowly her began to rock her and stroke her hair.
Gabe looked up and saw Red bud standing the doorway. Slowly he shook his head and motioned for him to go back to the living room. She didn't need to meet any body else new right now. She was confused enough.
Red Bud immediately understood the gesture and turned around. Poor thing she's been threw allot he thought as he made his way into the kitchen to make some fresh coffee.
The men held her for what seemed like to her hours. It felt good real good. She might not remember much but she new for certain that she hadn't felt truly safe in a long time. It was a good feeling and she wanted it to last forever. Her eyes were red and bloodshot now and their no tears left.
And then nature called. It was embarrassing but it would be even worse if she went right there. Slow and with much hesitation she pulled back from the security of the man's arms. "Um, do you have a rest room?" She watched as a smile slowly crossed his face. It was a smile that maid her heart jump slightly and her stomach turn summersaults.
Gabe chuckled slightly at the question as her pulled away from her. "Yes I do. Do you trust me?" Taking her there meant he would have to carry her and he didn't want to spook the poor girl. He didn't think she had any tears left.
She didn't know why she trusted him, just that she did. "Yes I trust you." Then she remembered that she was wearing only shorts and nothing else. "But do you think you could find me a shirt?"
Gabe laughed again. Her recovery was amazing. Could this be the same girl that hours before had been withering in pain? Hell the bruises on your abdomen and arms already appeared to be fading. "Sure, I am glad you feeling better." He went to the closet and grabbed a t-shirt. He threw it to her.
The shirt landed in her lap and she began to smuggle with putting it on. Her shoulder began to throb again and she grunted with the pain.
"Here let me give you a hand." Gabe walked back over to the bed and slowly eased her into the shirt.
"Thank you?" She cocked her head sideways again. She hadn't gotten his name. Christ what was wrong with her? Oh yeah she had no memory and the only reason she was alive right now was the man standing before her.
Gabe saw the look of sadness spread over her face yet again. Oh God, please don't let her cry again. He wasn't sure if he could take it. Then it dawned on him. Stupid! You never told her your name. "By the way. Name's Gabriel Rath, but you can call me Gabe." And with that he reached his arms under her legs and picked her up in one fluid motion. "Pleased to meet you."
She laughed as he picked her up. It felt wonderful being cradled in his arms. But why? Why did this man she barley knew make her feel so comfortable. She wasn't going to dwell on it though she was just going to enjoy. "Ok Gabe, now about that bath room?"
"We're on are way. I could let you risk walking on that leg yet." He walked out into the living room cradling her.
Red Bud stood up from the couch and watched them walk out of the room. He had heard the entire conversation. "So how's our favorite patient doing?"
Gabe felt her tighten a little at the sound of the other mans voice. Shit he had forgot to mention Red to her. Man he was fucking up royally this morning. "Miss, I would like to introduce you to Dustin Meyers. He is a good friend and he helped me put you back together last night." At this he felt her loosen.
She was relived so now she had two people she was grateful to. "Hi, and thank you."
"Don't mention it. And call me Red Bud every one else does." He smiled at her and watches her do the same back at him. Man she did clean up good, and now that she wasn't writhing in pain or unconscious it was even more apparent. He watched as the Gabe carried her into the bathroom and closes the door.
Gabe set her down lightly on the toilet seat. "Are you going to be able to manage this?" He smiled at her but there was definite concern is his voice.
She smiled at this and looked up at him, "regardless I am doing it alone. I don't know you well enough to have a bowel movement in front of you."
Gabe let out a hearty laugh. "Ok then I will be right outside. Call me if you need anything."
"I will now will you please let me shit!"
This surprised Gabe a bit but he still laughed. How was she recovering this quickly most people would still be in shock? Oh well he wasn't going to dwell on it. "Ok, enjoy." And he walked out of the bathroom closing the door behind him.
What was she doing? She didn't know and really didn't care. Things were fucked up and if she though about them to much she would breakdown again and she didn't want that to happen at least not until she had finished taking care of certain bodily functions. She smiled slightly and the arduously tedious task of using the toilet.
Gabe walked into the kitchen. Red Bud was stand at the counter fill up a coffee mug. "Hey buddy how did you sleep?"
Turning a with a grin on his face and a mug of coffee in his hand. "She seems to be rather spirited for having no memory of self. And I slept great." He handed the mug to Gabe and turned back to pour another for himself.
"So, when you heading back to your place?"
"In a little while, I want to make sure she's really Ok before I go." Red Bud replied. In reality he need to talk to Gabe about Riley. "Besides I wanted to talk to you about Riley."
Oh, great how did Red no that big bastard. "What about him?"
"I wanted to tell you he is going to be ok. He's my neighbor. I took him to the clinic last night on my way to get supplies." Red smiled and the surprised look of Gabe's face.
"Well I'm glad he is doing ok, but Red I was just doing my job."
"I didn't have a single doubt in my mind. Lobo treated him and sent him on his way." Red grinned again.
"Lobo huh, since when did he know how to set a broken ankle?" Gabe sipped at his coffee. He missed it all and he really wanted that part of his life back.
"Since I found that nights were boring and wanted to work days. He does ok and he know how to get a hold of me or Dree if a real emergency comes up."
"So how is the lengthy s.o.b. doing?"
"Well he is actually doing Anita." Red Bug watched as Gabe choked on his coffee grinning from ear to ear.
"He's what?" Gabe was flabbergasted. Anita? Lobo? Then he smiled as well. "Does Dree know?"
"No and I didn't know until last night. I kind of walked in on them in the middle."
"Really, you going to tell Dree." Gabe's eyebrow cocked up quizzically.
"No I am not. Made a promise to Anita that I wouldn't if she didn't tell Dree about where I was going."
"I see," Gabe paused. "I she the only one who knows you're here?"
"Yep." And as if Red Bud could help it would stay that way. "Hasn't the girl been in the bathroom for quite awhile?"
"Yes, she has. I'll check on her." Gabe walked out of the kitchen.
Gabe hoped she was ok. He knocked lightly on the door. "You doing alright?" There was no response. Instantly he feared the worst. "If you don't answer I am coming in."
She didn't answer so Gabe opened the door and froze.
The girl was curled in a small ball in the corner. She was rocking slowly back and forth sobbing. Gabe ran to her immediately wrapping his arms around her.
The cold had come back to her and the world had shattered again only a few seconds after he left. But then he was back. The warmth was back. So she pressed her face into his chest, and cried until she fell asleep.