Refuge chapter 5
Liz didn't really wake up for hours. There were times she'd open her eys, she'd stare out the window, not really seeing anything... blinking only when her eyes forced her to do so. By 10 am her mother had already checked on her twice. Liz had mumbled something about not feeling well and had nestled futher down in her bed. Nancy had ask if Liz needed a doctor. Liz hadn't replied and Nancy had taken that as a no.
Michael hadn't slept since he'd arrived on Liz's balcany. He'd looked at her and wondered how 24 hours could make such a big difference to a person.
Michael watched Jeff and Nancy pull out of the driveway. Nancy had reminded Liz earlier that they were leaving for Florida. She reminded Liz that she was in charge and that she could close the Crashdown for a day or two if things got too much. They'd be gone for a fortnight. The staff had been told not to disturb her for the rest of the day because she was unwell, emergency numbers were on the fridge etc. Michael had rolled his eyes at that. The Parkers were that type of family.
Climbing through Liz's window he attempted to wake her, calling her name. She simply started shaking again. Michael shook his head. He hadn't realised she'd stopped.
Locking her window he walked towards her door, heading for the kitchen. He knew the house vaugely. Jeff Parker had invited him for dinner a couple of times. They seemed to get along quite well. Michael wasn't sure why that was, but he liked the Parkers and Jeff had earnt his respect.
Once in the kitchen Michael put himself to work, making some coffee and french toast. Putting them on a tray he headed back to Liz's room.
She was sitting up when he got there staring at the mirror opposite her bed. For the first time she was seeing the full impact of Max's attack on her. The black eyes he'd left her, the cuts, the bruises and burns. She was brought away from her thoughts when she saw Michael walk in the room carrying breakfast. She didn't say anything to him. She didn't actually acknowledge him at all. She hoped he'd leave soon. She couldn't deal with him... He was going to have questions and she didn't know how to answer them.
Michael sat the tray down on Liz's bedside table.
"Liz are you ok?" She tried to glare at him, tried to scream at him, ask him if she looked like she was alright... She didn't feel ok... Nothing about the whole situation was ok. But instead she just looked away.
Michael sighed. That obviously hadn't worked. He brought the coffee and toast to her.
"Do you want some breakfast Liz? It's still hot..." He tried to make his voice gentle. The last thing he wanted to do was upset her. She slid back down in bed pulling the covers back up around her.
Michael put the food back down. Running his hands through his hair in frustration. He sat down on the edge of the bed. She still wasn't looking at him so he tried again.
"Liz... I kinda know what you're going through. You need to talk to someone. I'm not real good at this though... maybe I should call Maria... or Max..." Liz shot up in bed staring at him.
"NO!!!!" Her voice cracked but Michael was still too taken back to notice.
"Ok Liz, I wont tell them if that's what you want." Liz didn't look like she believed him. She looked scared of him.
"Liz I promise.... I won't tell anyone." She looked at him a little longer, then convinced he was telling the truth she lay back down.
"I just need to sleep." Her voice was a ragged whisper. Everything about her was a ragged whisper of who she had been.
"Ok Liz, but i'm staying here to make sure you're ok." She tried to argue but he stopped her. "Liz, I'm staying." The tone of his voice didn't leave much room to argue so she closed her eyes and tried to ignore the pictures running through her heaad. At least she could be sure Michael didn't know. The way he'd referred to Max... like he could help made her feel ill. Michael moved up on the bed so he could lean against the headboard. He gently ran his hand over her hair in a calming gesture he'd seen her mother use once. He stayed by her side for hours... prepared to stay for days or longer until he was sure she was alright.
TBC
Liz didn't really wake up for hours. There were times she'd open her eys, she'd stare out the window, not really seeing anything... blinking only when her eyes forced her to do so. By 10 am her mother had already checked on her twice. Liz had mumbled something about not feeling well and had nestled futher down in her bed. Nancy had ask if Liz needed a doctor. Liz hadn't replied and Nancy had taken that as a no.
Michael hadn't slept since he'd arrived on Liz's balcany. He'd looked at her and wondered how 24 hours could make such a big difference to a person.
Michael watched Jeff and Nancy pull out of the driveway. Nancy had reminded Liz earlier that they were leaving for Florida. She reminded Liz that she was in charge and that she could close the Crashdown for a day or two if things got too much. They'd be gone for a fortnight. The staff had been told not to disturb her for the rest of the day because she was unwell, emergency numbers were on the fridge etc. Michael had rolled his eyes at that. The Parkers were that type of family.
Climbing through Liz's window he attempted to wake her, calling her name. She simply started shaking again. Michael shook his head. He hadn't realised she'd stopped.
Locking her window he walked towards her door, heading for the kitchen. He knew the house vaugely. Jeff Parker had invited him for dinner a couple of times. They seemed to get along quite well. Michael wasn't sure why that was, but he liked the Parkers and Jeff had earnt his respect.
Once in the kitchen Michael put himself to work, making some coffee and french toast. Putting them on a tray he headed back to Liz's room.
She was sitting up when he got there staring at the mirror opposite her bed. For the first time she was seeing the full impact of Max's attack on her. The black eyes he'd left her, the cuts, the bruises and burns. She was brought away from her thoughts when she saw Michael walk in the room carrying breakfast. She didn't say anything to him. She didn't actually acknowledge him at all. She hoped he'd leave soon. She couldn't deal with him... He was going to have questions and she didn't know how to answer them.
Michael sat the tray down on Liz's bedside table.
"Liz are you ok?" She tried to glare at him, tried to scream at him, ask him if she looked like she was alright... She didn't feel ok... Nothing about the whole situation was ok. But instead she just looked away.
Michael sighed. That obviously hadn't worked. He brought the coffee and toast to her.
"Do you want some breakfast Liz? It's still hot..." He tried to make his voice gentle. The last thing he wanted to do was upset her. She slid back down in bed pulling the covers back up around her.
Michael put the food back down. Running his hands through his hair in frustration. He sat down on the edge of the bed. She still wasn't looking at him so he tried again.
"Liz... I kinda know what you're going through. You need to talk to someone. I'm not real good at this though... maybe I should call Maria... or Max..." Liz shot up in bed staring at him.
"NO!!!!" Her voice cracked but Michael was still too taken back to notice.
"Ok Liz, I wont tell them if that's what you want." Liz didn't look like she believed him. She looked scared of him.
"Liz I promise.... I won't tell anyone." She looked at him a little longer, then convinced he was telling the truth she lay back down.
"I just need to sleep." Her voice was a ragged whisper. Everything about her was a ragged whisper of who she had been.
"Ok Liz, but i'm staying here to make sure you're ok." She tried to argue but he stopped her. "Liz, I'm staying." The tone of his voice didn't leave much room to argue so she closed her eyes and tried to ignore the pictures running through her heaad. At least she could be sure Michael didn't know. The way he'd referred to Max... like he could help made her feel ill. Michael moved up on the bed so he could lean against the headboard. He gently ran his hand over her hair in a calming gesture he'd seen her mother use once. He stayed by her side for hours... prepared to stay for days or longer until he was sure she was alright.
TBC