Title: And Then There Were Two
Author: TWBasketcase
Chapter Summary: This one is gonna be in Bender's POV again…just because I write so much Allison I find it fun in Bender's POV so I'm doing it again! Not too much action in this chapter but some fun and lots of dialogue.

A/N: Thanks to: Two Bit's TwoBit, Graficcha, Moonjava, Lazaefair (sorry bout the cornballs…I just couldn't help it lol), poohismyhomie, bravewolf (watching the spelling from here on out…I don't have a beta reader so I do my best!), DarkoBender, Tracebo, JBFan & Jessesgirl29, and Hannah (I like fluff too but I think I like angst more LOL I'm evil…I'll do my best, if not this chapter then in the future. It must have taken you a lot to read something that wasn't Andy/Allison! So I guess I'm doing okay if I won ya over! Thanks for reading!). So here is chapter 17 I hope you all like and feel free to drop me a comment.

Chapter 17 – When Does It End?

Although I had been lying in a bed for the last two days straight it felt damn good to lie down on my own bed again. I really hate to say this but it's damn good to be home.

I threw my boots on the floor and just sprawled out (as best I could anyways) on my mattress. Allison followed me down slowly; with her hair in her eyes and her bag still securely around her hip. She was watching me with a rather amused look on her face and it made me wonder what the hell she thought was so entertaining about the situation.

"What's so funny?"

She raised an eyebrow, "Nothing…"

I smirked, "Yeah right I saw that look you were giving me."

She shrugged nonchalantly, "What look?"

"That one!" I said as she stared at me with devilish eyes and half a grin.

She let out a small laugh as she sat down on the corner of my bed, "I think that concussion is messing with your eyes Bender."

I rolled my eyes and folded my hands over my stomach, "If you say so but I caught ya red handed."

She shook her head, "Maybe so…but who says I have to explain myself?"

I nodded my head and raised my eyebrows, "Fair enough."

She gave me a small smile and pulled out her sketchbook; she glanced over at me, "You mind if I draw awhile while you rest?"

"Sure go ahead…my head hurts anyways," I lied. I didn't care if she drew it didn't bother me any; but I guess less noise is better for my head, and I think she knew that. Then again maybe I can find out what she draws all the time anyways. She nodded her head and fished for her pencils; I don't know how she found anything in that bag it was so full of crap. She grabbed one out and began to draw.

It seemed to come pretty natural to her; she watched her paper intensely and every now and then she would stick her tongue out of the corner of her mouth or smile goofily…it made me smile in return. It was strange but it seemed to put her in this whole other world…a world only she existed in. I bet that world wouldn't be so bad either…

She tucked her hair out of her face and licked her lips; she was gazing intently at what she just did and seemed pretty satisfied. I took the time to study her face; she really did look a lot nicer when she wasn't hiding behind her hair. She had this small face but her features really stood out. Like her eyes…they were real dark and held a lot behind them…it sounds corny but they are almost mysterious. They were the kinda eyes that a guy could look into and feel trapped or even intimidated.

She stared crazily at her paper as she added one more line; it really confused me that she seemed so mesmerized by it. It was just a picture but she seemed to take it so seriously; I wonder what it is she's drawing, "What are you doing?"

She looked at me like she was just snapped out of a dream, "Huh?"

I snorted, "I asked you what you were drawing…"

"Oh," she said with a slight blush rising to her face. She pulled her hair back in front of her face and threw the book at me. I frowned at her self consciousness and plopped the book up on my chest. It was a mountain – or a cliff or canyon or something – and there were two people on it. You couldn't really make them out because they looked more like shadows of people…like silhouettes. And they were just looking at the sky…nothing else just the sky. I flipped the book down to look at her and she looked nervous, "What does it mean?"

She played with the hem of her sweater and replied, "It's just the way it should be."

I cocked an eyebrow and watched her, "The way what should be?"

"Life." Was all she said. She looked up at me seriously and tucked her hair back again. I smiled and flipped the book back up to look at it again; it made more sense now. They were just watching the sky and sitting in silence and there was nothin' bugging them at all. Even though I couldn't see their faces I felt strangely at peace when I looked at it. I flipped the book back down and looked at her, "It's good."

She shook her hair back over her face and took the book back, "Thanks," she mumbled. I furrowed my eyebrows at her, "Why do you do that?"

She looked at me in half-worry and half-anger, "Do what?"

"That," I replied about her defensiveness, "Why do you act all nervous and hide…you don't take compliments very well you know."

She narrowed her eyes, "I didn't do anything…I'm just not used to compliments."

I looked at her silently for a few moments and noticed how she squirmed under my gaze; I also noticed how she rarely looked me in the eye when I talked to her, "You not used to getting looked at either?" I asked with a smirk.

She frowned a little, "No…usually only if it's in a bad way."

I frowned back, "Who says I was looking at you in a bad way?"

She shrugged sadly and held her gaze in her lap. She still didn't look at me; not even a glance. I felt bad almost as if I was a prick for making her uncomfortable, "I'm sorry."

She swallowed and looked at me with wet eyes, "Are you actually saying sorry to someone?" She joked trying to take the pressure off herself. What pressure, I don't know.

I smirked and shrugged, "Just don't want ya getting' all worked up…I'm not going to eat you or anything."

She let out a laugh and blinked her eyes a few times to dry them, "Yeah, I always thought you were a cannibal."

I raised my eyebrows, "You wanna test me?"

She gave me a playful glare, "You bite me and I will bite you back twice as hard!"

I widened my eyes; she probably would. She looked satisfied with the response – or lack of – she got and smiled triumphantly, "Chicken."

"I'm injured."

"Nice excuse,"

I scoffed, "I don't think that is an excuse that is a fact."

She smirked, "I guess you're lucky then." She smiled widely and clutched her purse.

I sat up slowly and grabbed my night table for support as I stood, "I wouldn't say that." She gave me a curious look before I walked – hobbled rather – towards the far corner of my room where the entrance of our laundry room and bathroom was.

"Where are you going?" she called.

"I'll be right back." I called back to her. The truth was I was starting to feel really shitty again and now I didn't have any pain killers to help. I walked into the laundry room and stepped in front of the old cracked mirror. My face was looking a lot better and less swollen, but the thought that scared me was what my chest and stomach looked like. I slowly took the sweater off that the hospital gave me and took a look at myself.

I was black and blue.

Disgusting.

I turned to my side and noticed the welts and deep cuts around my back and under my arms. I couldn't believe how bad I got fucked up. I rolled down the bandages on my ribs to get a closer look at them; when I got the bandage down to around my belly button I bit my lip.

It was disturbing.

My ribs kinda stuck out a bit and if the bruises on my chest were bad these one made them look as harmless as freckles. They were dark colors of blue, green, brown, and even black and you could see some the size of full shoe prints. I swallowed and touched one gingerly; it stung like no blow I've ever took before. I've always thought about myself as a tough guy but this beat down had to be unlike anything I've ever been through…the pain is insane!

I spun around to look at my back and that was even worse; with the mixture of scars I had from before my back looked like a fucking abstract canvas. Different colors and shapes…it made me wanna throw up just looking at it. I wanted to throw up even more when I saw something move out of the corner of my eye.

I spun around and saw Allison there with her mouth hung open…she looked at me with this horrified look that made me feel really self conscious. I swallowed and rolled up the bandages quickly and looked for a shirt to wear…anything…

…just get covered up.

So no one can see.

"John…" she said as I scrambled with the shirt, ignoring all the shooting pains racking my body. I didn't wanna look at her; she seen me in my ugliest state, the one thing I didn't want anyone to see.

"John…" she repeated. I shook my head and tried as best as I could to get the shirt over my head; at this point the pain was so intense I felt as weak as a kitten. This is so humiliating.

"Look I'm sorry…I was just going to ask you where your bathroom is…" She stuttered nervously over her words.

I put my arms through the sleeves of my flannel and pointed to my left, "Right there." My tone was very low and I'm surprised she actually heard me…I barely even heard myself. I threw my arms around my ribs and slowly made my way back towards my bed. I moved way too fast…the pain is unbearable…my stomach lurched and I ran back into the laundry room and hurled out everything they fed me for breakfast. My concussion was still bad enough that too much movement or pain made me sick.

I bent over slowly and grabbed my stomach…it hurts so fucking bad…

"Oh my god!" I heard Allison yell. She came towards me but I stuck out my hand, "Don't…" But she didn't listen…she crawled under my arm and walked me back towards my bed. I was sweating again…sweating hard and real dizzy…

"Just lay down," she said gently. I fell rather hard on to my side and just cradled myself. My head is spinning, my stomach is turning, and I had these lightening bolts of pain just shoot left and right throughout my body. What made me feel even worse was the fact that I looked helpless, weak, and disgusting…and she was right there watching me.

She sat down behind me and pushed my hair out of my face, "Are you alright, John?"

I squeezed my eyes closed, "Don't look…at me."

She pulled herself back as though she been burned, "What?"

I threw a hand over my face as I kept the other one over my abdomen, "Go away…don't look at me."

Before she could answer I heard my dad throw the door open upstairs; it made us both jump. He was home for work which meant he would be looking for supper. I listened quietly as he yelled around the house looking for my mom. If I didn't feel totally stupid and humiliated before…I definitely do now.

"Oh shit…" I muttered quietly as I heard a bang upstairs. I knew he had hit my mom and there was no way in hell I could help her…or else I could end up dead if I wasn't careful. I felt the body next to me tense up and suddenly I realized I needed to get her the hell outta here. I turned over – despite my arguing torso and head – and studied her face…she looked scared and horrified.

I squeezed my eyes shut once more to try and clear the horrible thoughts outta my head; this was like a nightmare in the worse case scenario kinda way. I sat up slowly and reached out my hand; she grabbed it quickly and helped me up. I don't think that my old man knew I was home yet – I had faith in my Ma that she wouldn't give me away – and that the only thing I could do at the moment with Ally here was to just hide and be quiet. I pulled her over to the closet and opened it up; there were only a few piles of clothes in there so that was okay. I motioned her in and climbed in next to her.

I slid the door shut and sat back against the wall. My breathing was heavy and labored due to my injuries but hers was faster and shorter all due to fear. I felt so fucking bad and at the same time I felt so stupid that she got a glimpse into my pathetic life. I was disgusted with myself; she had seen me at my all time worst.

I felt her hand on my arm, "Are you okay?" She whispered.

"Peachy," I replied. I was in no mood to talk at all.

"How long is this going to last?"

"Could be a few minutes, could be all night," I replied quietly.

I heard her sigh, "Do you always hide in here?"

I closed my eyes, "No…I don't usually hide…"

"I'm sorry,"

I hate when people say that! I snorted, "Don't say that…"

"Okay…I want ya to know though that I'm here for you."

I sighed, "I know…I just feel like an ass."

She didn't say anything; she just picked up my hand and held it, and leaned her head softly on my shoulder. I still felt really gross about myself but at the same time when she touched me I felt more at ease. I only hope this bullshit will end soon…

TBC