Disclaimers: Same old story here.
*Acts like a waiter:* fluff anyone?
Hurt Before
*Tell Me*
*Show me the way Show me tell me how What do you say?*
Christmas spirit had really got to Serena. It was a Tuesday on the eve of Christmas Eve, and she was in high spirits, happy to be on the taxi that was driving her to the airport, where she'd catch a plane home.
It seemed, however, that she wasn't the only one eager to get to the airport. In fact, the main highway was jammed, so her driver was nice enough to make a detour through a less known route. There were almost no cars in the small, snow covered road, and there were beautiful pine tress on both sides of the road. They had to drive slowly and carefully, so as to not get into a nasty accident.
Going so slowly, Serena saw a dark green car outside the road. They could only see about thirty yards ahead, so she couldn't make the scene out at first, but as they got closer she noticed that is was a Chrysler just like Darien's car and that it had smashed against a tree (AN: it hurt to have to destroy such a beautiful car!).
"Stop! Please, stop the car," she shouted with alarm, and the driver did as he was told. She quickly ran out, ignoring the mounts of snow, towards the accident scene. The airbag was blown out, she noticed, when she was near enough to see. She opened the door to the front seat and there was Darien unconscious, with a bit of blood coming from his nose, fallen against the airbag. Her heart leapt up to her throat and sank heavily down again. His face was white, and his lips almost purple.
"Oh, my God! He's hurt!" she told herself not knowing what to do. "He's hurt! Please call 911!" she called to the driver, who was coming check on the accident.
It didn't take long before an ambulance arrived, and they took Darien in, covered with thick woolen blankets. Serena, then, told the taxi driver to go to the hospital, and forget the airport. Once there, she proceeded with calling her family telling them what happened, and that it wasn't likely that she would catch her plane that day. She waited for hours to hear anything of Darien, and in the meanwhile she tried to reach his family and friends. Amy, her husband, Mina, Andrew, and Damon had flown to Quebec the day before to visit the senior Diamonds. Lita and Rei had also gone away with their boyfriends the day before- London to be precise. The only ones left were Michelle and Amara, so she called them, but no one answered, they didn't even have answering machines!
To her relief a doctor finally showed up to talk to her.
"It was nothing serious, although I must say that if you hadn't found him, he might have died of hyperthermia. We figured that he's been there since late morning, that's four hours out in the cold without any winter gear. But moving on, he has two of his lower ribs dislocated by the impact of the airbag, but other than that he's fine," the doctor explained.
"Oh, I'm glad," she breathed with relief. "Can I see him?"
"He's a very difficult young man," the doctor smiled, "Won't go to sleep before he sees you. Come, I'll take you to his room."
"Hi," she smiled going over to his bedside. "How are you doing?" she continued touching his hand, knowing that he's finch it away as soon as she touched him, which he did, as expected.
"I apologize for making you lose your plane. And thank you for-" he paused, then continued rather unwillingly, "saving my life."
Serena smiled as a warm feeling washed over her body. To her utter surprise she felt Darien take a hold of her hand that had lingered on him bed. He held it with both hands; she watched as he slowly brought it to her lips and softly, gently kissed it. Then Serena felt shivers down her spine all over again.
"Now, could you get me out of here? I abhor hospitals!" he begged her firmly.
"But, Mr. Shields! No one is here to take care of you; I tried calling Michelle but it seems that she's not at home."
"She's on her way to Australia with Amara," he tried to say it with nonchalance, but the bitterness couldn't possibly be hidden.
"Oh," Serena nodded. "That isn't very nice of her."
"You don't say," he told her sarcastically. The first time she heard him speak in a tone that was not stern, nonchalant, mocking, or yelling with anger.
"See, now you'll have to-"
"No! Get me out! I'll stay home alone, I don't care! Just get me out of here before I kill one of the doctors," he told her with utter alarm. It had to do with his parent's death, this fear of hospitals, she thought.
"All right, I'll ask the doctor when you can leave."
"Don't you understand-" he yelled, and the doctor came in, wondering what the commotion was.
Serena smiled at the doctor and kindly asked when Darien could leave, while Darien tried to get his point across by telling (yelling) that he wanted to go home as soon as possible.
The doctor eyed them, and shook his head at the man in the bed. Then he said: "Oh, he can go tomorrow, if he wants. We need the beds any way; you two are the early ones to get into accidents this holiday. But he needs someone to take care of him, he might be able to yell like that, but he can't move around much as his ribs have to heal. He has to be constantly warm for some time too. All in all he should keep to his bed for around a week or so."
Darien groaned giving up. There was no way Serena was going to let his go now, he thought.
"Okay then," she said calmly, then turned to Darien, "You'll go home tomorrow; I'll stay with you."
Darien stared at her with disbelief, then he realized that she was serious. He opened his mouth to tell her that she didn't have to, but she quickly cut him off:
"Don't you even think of complaining, Mister! This is a huge favor I'm doing," she told him off, and Darien shut his mouth.
Momentarily, of course, for he opened it again. "It's okay, I can endure if they tie me up," he joked (AN: I can't believe myself! Darien joking? What is the world coming to?), "You can go, if you want. I mean your family is expecting you."
"It's not a problem," she beamed, "They'll understand. Besides, I've been with them every Christmas for twenty four years now, missing one wouldn't hurt."
The next day at around mid morning Darien was settled in his bed, and was Serena looking around his apartment. It was so impersonal and cold. No pictures, nothing lively or even half cute, it was deathly clean, and worst of all no Christmas decorations! She commented that to him, and he answered something about there not being a point since he was going to spend Christmas in Quebec. She returned by saying that she was going way too, but she had decorated her apartment anyway, he told her that she was too sentimental.
Then Serena went to buy groceries to make them a kind of special Christmas dinner. On the way to the store, she saw the perfect present for him, and didn't hesitate to enter the shop and buy it.
When she returned, she made him hot chocolate, and walked to his room humming. She beamed at him when she entered, while he just glared at her sternly as always.
"You like to see me suffer, don't you?" he posed this question rhetorically, as he struggled to sit up. Serena put the drink on the night stand and helped him sit, putting pillows behind him for extra support.
"I can't say I dislike it," she admitted sincerely.
Then Darien went off complaining, telling her that he preferred coffee to chocolate, that she should have asked what he wanted to drink, etc. She just rolled her eyes to the roof with impatience.
"I don't know how Michelle could put up with you!" she uttered sighing.
"She couldn't, that's why she left," he told her angrily.
"Yeah, I have to admit that it wasn't the best timing," she thought, rather louder that she wished, "But then again, not making it official with Amara was killing her."
Darien stared with astonishment. He put the cup on the nightstand and blinked a few times, processing the information.
"You knew about her and Amara?" he bellowed so that the whole apartment shook. Serena trembled. "You knew about them?" he pushed.
"Y-yes. Michelle came to me to talk about it." she said weakly, sitting by the edge of him bed so as not to fall, hoping that he wouldn't strangle her or something.
Darien just passed a hand through his messy, ebony hair, then muttered clearly distressed; "You knew about them all along. why didn't you tell me?"
"First of all, I'm under professional secrecy, meaning that I'm not entitled to discuss anything about my patient's problem unless told by them to do so. Secondly, you would've never believed me. And I guess thirdly, because I wanted a little revenge for your ill treatment of me."
His eyes looked as if he was bowled over by what she said last. "You got your revenge, alright," he said coldly. "Are you happy now?"
Serene looked serious, it was obvious that he was hurt by her words, and she felt guilty, but how many times had he not hurt her? She didn't want to deny what she knew was the truth.
"Yes," she said at last, seeing how he was taken aback by her answer, then she added, "Although I must admit that hyperthermia and dislocated ribs were a deal harsher than I ever imagined."
"That's bonus for you," he remarked sarcastically, "How exactly did you want your revenge on me?"
"I wanted you to be so hurt that the mask that you put for the world would shatter, and I wanted to be there so see it break!"
"Do you think Michelle succeeded?" he questioned nonchalantly.
"No," Serena smiled snugly, "at least not yet. but you physical pain makes up for it."
"So now we're even?" he asked with a faint smile on hip lips.
"No."
"What more do you want from me? Fall off this building?" he blurt out annoyed.
"All I ever wanted to know is why you hate me." she revealed looking at her lap, and away from his face.
Darien stretched his hand to her chin, and forced her head to turn to him. Then she saw how his face softened. He bore a gentle expression although he didn't smile- and looked handsomer than ever and Serena had to remember to breathe.
"Because you-" he attempted to explain. He restarted: "I don't want you setting my weaknesses on display for the whole world to see. Why can't you be like the others? Why don't you accept me as others do? I hate the way your eyes look at me, always trying to undress me, undress my soul, and of course, I have to fight not to stand naked. You want to see through me and I don't want to you to. That's why I stay away from you, or make you want to be away from me. a man has to defend himself!"
Serena gave him a little smile, "But now you're undressing," she half whispered. She was so amazed by him that she couldn't resist to run a finger down his cheek. "You don't have to be scared, I won't tell a soul. Besides, I like what I see." her finger had reached his chin now.
Darien could decide if it was her worlds that touched him or just pure desire, as she sat by him bedside looking like a salvation angel; on an impulse he grabbed her and pulled her to him, making his lips lock with hers. He did not feel the pain in his stomach as her body came in contact with his chest. It was a passionate kiss, which Serena had no power in rejecting. He wanted to kiss her breathless- and he almost did! Finally, he broke away, letting her gasp for air. As he caressed her cheeks, there was a real, genuine smile on his face that reached up to his eyes. What he was feeling was still unclear, but she hoped it was satisfaction.
"I guess I'm naked now," he whispered as she withdrew form him.
"I guess." she said in between breaths. She blushed fiercely, not knowing what to say. She stood up and took the cup of chocolate from the nightstand, and went out of the room. She had to get away, she had to clear her head and collect her mind that was shattered by his earth quaking kiss. As she stood by the door she turned to him and said rickety, blushing, still half stupefied, "I don't know why you did that, but I won't ask."
Darien continued with his amazingly fulfilled face. was he the only one who heard angles sing while they kissed- as if a master plan was to be announced? He didn't think so. but he also knew that Serena was not really ready for this sort of affair, at least not with him. And when he thought about it a bit deeper he came to realize that he shouldn't be ready for it either.
Right, right! Weekend! I'm so dead on Monday! Anyway, here's another chapter, hopefully I'll be able to finish this story soon. Thank you all for the reviews! Anyway, for all of you wondering about Damon. Heh! *smiles* we'll see what I'll do to him, or rather, what he'll do to her. oh whichever. ja ne, for now.
Hurt Before
*Tell Me*
*Show me the way Show me tell me how What do you say?*
Christmas spirit had really got to Serena. It was a Tuesday on the eve of Christmas Eve, and she was in high spirits, happy to be on the taxi that was driving her to the airport, where she'd catch a plane home.
It seemed, however, that she wasn't the only one eager to get to the airport. In fact, the main highway was jammed, so her driver was nice enough to make a detour through a less known route. There were almost no cars in the small, snow covered road, and there were beautiful pine tress on both sides of the road. They had to drive slowly and carefully, so as to not get into a nasty accident.
Going so slowly, Serena saw a dark green car outside the road. They could only see about thirty yards ahead, so she couldn't make the scene out at first, but as they got closer she noticed that is was a Chrysler just like Darien's car and that it had smashed against a tree (AN: it hurt to have to destroy such a beautiful car!).
"Stop! Please, stop the car," she shouted with alarm, and the driver did as he was told. She quickly ran out, ignoring the mounts of snow, towards the accident scene. The airbag was blown out, she noticed, when she was near enough to see. She opened the door to the front seat and there was Darien unconscious, with a bit of blood coming from his nose, fallen against the airbag. Her heart leapt up to her throat and sank heavily down again. His face was white, and his lips almost purple.
"Oh, my God! He's hurt!" she told herself not knowing what to do. "He's hurt! Please call 911!" she called to the driver, who was coming check on the accident.
It didn't take long before an ambulance arrived, and they took Darien in, covered with thick woolen blankets. Serena, then, told the taxi driver to go to the hospital, and forget the airport. Once there, she proceeded with calling her family telling them what happened, and that it wasn't likely that she would catch her plane that day. She waited for hours to hear anything of Darien, and in the meanwhile she tried to reach his family and friends. Amy, her husband, Mina, Andrew, and Damon had flown to Quebec the day before to visit the senior Diamonds. Lita and Rei had also gone away with their boyfriends the day before- London to be precise. The only ones left were Michelle and Amara, so she called them, but no one answered, they didn't even have answering machines!
To her relief a doctor finally showed up to talk to her.
"It was nothing serious, although I must say that if you hadn't found him, he might have died of hyperthermia. We figured that he's been there since late morning, that's four hours out in the cold without any winter gear. But moving on, he has two of his lower ribs dislocated by the impact of the airbag, but other than that he's fine," the doctor explained.
"Oh, I'm glad," she breathed with relief. "Can I see him?"
"He's a very difficult young man," the doctor smiled, "Won't go to sleep before he sees you. Come, I'll take you to his room."
"Hi," she smiled going over to his bedside. "How are you doing?" she continued touching his hand, knowing that he's finch it away as soon as she touched him, which he did, as expected.
"I apologize for making you lose your plane. And thank you for-" he paused, then continued rather unwillingly, "saving my life."
Serena smiled as a warm feeling washed over her body. To her utter surprise she felt Darien take a hold of her hand that had lingered on him bed. He held it with both hands; she watched as he slowly brought it to her lips and softly, gently kissed it. Then Serena felt shivers down her spine all over again.
"Now, could you get me out of here? I abhor hospitals!" he begged her firmly.
"But, Mr. Shields! No one is here to take care of you; I tried calling Michelle but it seems that she's not at home."
"She's on her way to Australia with Amara," he tried to say it with nonchalance, but the bitterness couldn't possibly be hidden.
"Oh," Serena nodded. "That isn't very nice of her."
"You don't say," he told her sarcastically. The first time she heard him speak in a tone that was not stern, nonchalant, mocking, or yelling with anger.
"See, now you'll have to-"
"No! Get me out! I'll stay home alone, I don't care! Just get me out of here before I kill one of the doctors," he told her with utter alarm. It had to do with his parent's death, this fear of hospitals, she thought.
"All right, I'll ask the doctor when you can leave."
"Don't you understand-" he yelled, and the doctor came in, wondering what the commotion was.
Serena smiled at the doctor and kindly asked when Darien could leave, while Darien tried to get his point across by telling (yelling) that he wanted to go home as soon as possible.
The doctor eyed them, and shook his head at the man in the bed. Then he said: "Oh, he can go tomorrow, if he wants. We need the beds any way; you two are the early ones to get into accidents this holiday. But he needs someone to take care of him, he might be able to yell like that, but he can't move around much as his ribs have to heal. He has to be constantly warm for some time too. All in all he should keep to his bed for around a week or so."
Darien groaned giving up. There was no way Serena was going to let his go now, he thought.
"Okay then," she said calmly, then turned to Darien, "You'll go home tomorrow; I'll stay with you."
Darien stared at her with disbelief, then he realized that she was serious. He opened his mouth to tell her that she didn't have to, but she quickly cut him off:
"Don't you even think of complaining, Mister! This is a huge favor I'm doing," she told him off, and Darien shut his mouth.
Momentarily, of course, for he opened it again. "It's okay, I can endure if they tie me up," he joked (AN: I can't believe myself! Darien joking? What is the world coming to?), "You can go, if you want. I mean your family is expecting you."
"It's not a problem," she beamed, "They'll understand. Besides, I've been with them every Christmas for twenty four years now, missing one wouldn't hurt."
The next day at around mid morning Darien was settled in his bed, and was Serena looking around his apartment. It was so impersonal and cold. No pictures, nothing lively or even half cute, it was deathly clean, and worst of all no Christmas decorations! She commented that to him, and he answered something about there not being a point since he was going to spend Christmas in Quebec. She returned by saying that she was going way too, but she had decorated her apartment anyway, he told her that she was too sentimental.
Then Serena went to buy groceries to make them a kind of special Christmas dinner. On the way to the store, she saw the perfect present for him, and didn't hesitate to enter the shop and buy it.
When she returned, she made him hot chocolate, and walked to his room humming. She beamed at him when she entered, while he just glared at her sternly as always.
"You like to see me suffer, don't you?" he posed this question rhetorically, as he struggled to sit up. Serena put the drink on the night stand and helped him sit, putting pillows behind him for extra support.
"I can't say I dislike it," she admitted sincerely.
Then Darien went off complaining, telling her that he preferred coffee to chocolate, that she should have asked what he wanted to drink, etc. She just rolled her eyes to the roof with impatience.
"I don't know how Michelle could put up with you!" she uttered sighing.
"She couldn't, that's why she left," he told her angrily.
"Yeah, I have to admit that it wasn't the best timing," she thought, rather louder that she wished, "But then again, not making it official with Amara was killing her."
Darien stared with astonishment. He put the cup on the nightstand and blinked a few times, processing the information.
"You knew about her and Amara?" he bellowed so that the whole apartment shook. Serena trembled. "You knew about them?" he pushed.
"Y-yes. Michelle came to me to talk about it." she said weakly, sitting by the edge of him bed so as not to fall, hoping that he wouldn't strangle her or something.
Darien just passed a hand through his messy, ebony hair, then muttered clearly distressed; "You knew about them all along. why didn't you tell me?"
"First of all, I'm under professional secrecy, meaning that I'm not entitled to discuss anything about my patient's problem unless told by them to do so. Secondly, you would've never believed me. And I guess thirdly, because I wanted a little revenge for your ill treatment of me."
His eyes looked as if he was bowled over by what she said last. "You got your revenge, alright," he said coldly. "Are you happy now?"
Serene looked serious, it was obvious that he was hurt by her words, and she felt guilty, but how many times had he not hurt her? She didn't want to deny what she knew was the truth.
"Yes," she said at last, seeing how he was taken aback by her answer, then she added, "Although I must admit that hyperthermia and dislocated ribs were a deal harsher than I ever imagined."
"That's bonus for you," he remarked sarcastically, "How exactly did you want your revenge on me?"
"I wanted you to be so hurt that the mask that you put for the world would shatter, and I wanted to be there so see it break!"
"Do you think Michelle succeeded?" he questioned nonchalantly.
"No," Serena smiled snugly, "at least not yet. but you physical pain makes up for it."
"So now we're even?" he asked with a faint smile on hip lips.
"No."
"What more do you want from me? Fall off this building?" he blurt out annoyed.
"All I ever wanted to know is why you hate me." she revealed looking at her lap, and away from his face.
Darien stretched his hand to her chin, and forced her head to turn to him. Then she saw how his face softened. He bore a gentle expression although he didn't smile- and looked handsomer than ever and Serena had to remember to breathe.
"Because you-" he attempted to explain. He restarted: "I don't want you setting my weaknesses on display for the whole world to see. Why can't you be like the others? Why don't you accept me as others do? I hate the way your eyes look at me, always trying to undress me, undress my soul, and of course, I have to fight not to stand naked. You want to see through me and I don't want to you to. That's why I stay away from you, or make you want to be away from me. a man has to defend himself!"
Serena gave him a little smile, "But now you're undressing," she half whispered. She was so amazed by him that she couldn't resist to run a finger down his cheek. "You don't have to be scared, I won't tell a soul. Besides, I like what I see." her finger had reached his chin now.
Darien could decide if it was her worlds that touched him or just pure desire, as she sat by him bedside looking like a salvation angel; on an impulse he grabbed her and pulled her to him, making his lips lock with hers. He did not feel the pain in his stomach as her body came in contact with his chest. It was a passionate kiss, which Serena had no power in rejecting. He wanted to kiss her breathless- and he almost did! Finally, he broke away, letting her gasp for air. As he caressed her cheeks, there was a real, genuine smile on his face that reached up to his eyes. What he was feeling was still unclear, but she hoped it was satisfaction.
"I guess I'm naked now," he whispered as she withdrew form him.
"I guess." she said in between breaths. She blushed fiercely, not knowing what to say. She stood up and took the cup of chocolate from the nightstand, and went out of the room. She had to get away, she had to clear her head and collect her mind that was shattered by his earth quaking kiss. As she stood by the door she turned to him and said rickety, blushing, still half stupefied, "I don't know why you did that, but I won't ask."
Darien continued with his amazingly fulfilled face. was he the only one who heard angles sing while they kissed- as if a master plan was to be announced? He didn't think so. but he also knew that Serena was not really ready for this sort of affair, at least not with him. And when he thought about it a bit deeper he came to realize that he shouldn't be ready for it either.
Right, right! Weekend! I'm so dead on Monday! Anyway, here's another chapter, hopefully I'll be able to finish this story soon. Thank you all for the reviews! Anyway, for all of you wondering about Damon. Heh! *smiles* we'll see what I'll do to him, or rather, what he'll do to her. oh whichever. ja ne, for now.