Rescued

Chapter 13

It was nearly midnight when Tonks, still wide awake with fury and fight, quietly snuck out of her room and covertly floo'd her way to Grimmauld Place. After finding a cold teapot and a dark bedroom, she made her way to the library where her love lay asleep, legs outstretched in the worn wing-backed chair, book against his chest and teacup empty.

All the anger that Malfoy's article had aroused in her was instantly quelled as she sat at Remus' socked-covered feet and watched him sleep. She smiled as his chest steadily rose and fell. Then, thinking about the heavy news she bore, her smile faded. Quietly leaning forward, she tugged at the sleeve of his wooly grey jumper.

"Remus?" Pale eyes flickered opened.

"Dora." He whispered her name like a secret then quickly sat up, his eyes widening as he reached out for her flame red hair.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, but I'm afraid it's stuck this color," Tonks replied with a sigh, pushing his hand away. "Apparently, strong emotion triggered it to turn. I guess you know what prompted my strong emotion?"

Lupin sat up, his face hardened. "I'm so sorry, Tonks. I never meant for anyone to know."

"Oh no, Remus! I meant Malfoy's interview. I don't care about the photos of us." Then smiling widely, "I thought they were a bit fun, actually; little me kicking Posh off the front covers! I'd love to know what the office is saying about us!"

Remus didn't seem to share her amused spirit.

"That man had some nerve." Lupin rubbed his brow, voice low. "I should have taken care of him when I had the chance."

"No, Remus." She took his hands in hers. "This is my fight, remember?" Then, licking her lips, she broke the news. "I've decided to take the veritaserum."

Lupin looked up immediately. "Are you sure?"

"I didn't want to bring up the…the rape, but I'm tired of playing these games. I want the truth about Malfoy to be known, even if that means revealing everything."

Remus swallowed hard as she continued.

"As the plaintiff, if I insist on taking the veritaserum, then the defendant has to take it, as well. That's the only way he'll be convicted, and I'm not losing him a second time."

Remus nodded heavily. "I know."

Tonks kept her eyes steadily on Remus, but her voice trembled. "I suppose you know that if I take the serum, there's a chance that certain elements of our relationship might become public."

"Dora," he replied quickly, "I am perfectly fine with that. Whatever you say about that night I can handle, as long as you're doing what you must."

Tonks warmed at the sincerity of his words. "Thank you."

"Come here." Lupin moved forward in his chair, pulling Tonks closer to him so that her petite body was merely inches away on the ottoman. Looking directly into her eyes, he said, "I want you to know this. What Malfoy did to you…I would kill him…I would kill him and know it was right."

"Remus…"

He touched her lips with a finger. "You're the strongest, most courageous woman I know, taking him on in court. Whatever happens, I want you to know that I will support you; even if you decide you're not ready for…well, for 'us' or for me…I'm here for you."

Tonks sighed, leaning her head against his shoulder. "Hold me," she commanded, and instantly his strong arms embraced her. She relaxed against his shoulder, nuzzling against his neck. "I don't want to hear about there not being an 'us.' I fear that more than I fear facing Malfoy in court."

He rubbed her back like a supporting lover. "When you found me at Jahad's and refused me, I thought…" Her voice broke. "I thought that I disgusted you."

"No, no! Never, love." He held her even closer. "I couldn't stand the thought of violating you. I could never hurt you. Your words said 'yes' that night, but your eyes, your soul…" His hand stroked through her fiery hair. "Your eyes betrayed you. They screamed 'no'."

Remus could feel her warm tears against his neck. "Maybe, maybe it was selfish, but I wanted you, even then. I know that's wrong. I knew you were hurting and you had no want of me; not really. But I had loved you for so long. At the same time, I wanted something of what we were doing to be sacred. I wanted it to be more than a simple act…more than something we just did to remove the gauntlets."

Tonks sobbed a bit, and Remus rocked her against him. "I'm a foolish old man aren't I?"

"No," she cried, tears dampening his jumper. "I'm just sorry that I couldn't be that way for you." Sobs punctuated her every word.

"Shhh," he soothed, pulling her small body into his lap, cradling her against him. "You have nothing to apologize for. Nothing. If anyone should be apologizing, it should be me. If only I hadn't left you alone with Diggle that night."

Tonks pulled away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "You trusted me. You trusted me not to fail."

"That's where you're wrong. I trusted you to survive, and you did." Taking his handkerchief and wiping her face tenderly, he added, "With James and Lily and… Sirius. Well, I was angry. It wasn't right for me to be angry, it was foolish. But when I found you alive.." His face lightened. "I knew it was okay. I knew you'd make it. You have so many people who love you, Nymphadora."

Her face was swollen and her eyes red, but in spite of it all, Tonks smiled. "And to think the most important someone almost never let me know."

Lupin loved how the world could be going to Hell; but Tonks could smile and somehow, it was infectious. "I didn't think it was important enough to let you know as long as I cared for you."

"That wasn't very kind, Remus. What good is love if it's not shared?" She ran a finger around his collar, playfully undoing his top button and curiously exploring the sensitive flesh.

"I hadn't thought about it that way," he replied, slightly distracted by her teasing touch.

Cocking her head to the side, Tonks' dark eyes focused on the revealed flesh, the few light brown chest hairs making her curious. "Could I stay here tonight?" Then her eyes darted up to his. "Can I stay here with you?"

His heart fluttered. "Yes, of course." He tried to answer calmly, but his body pulsed with the sensation of her against him; her bottom in his lap, her breast pressed against his arm -- all sensations he had previously overlooked because of their serious conversation.

Dear gods, could he make it through a night with this woman chastely in his bed?

Author's Note: Well readers, there's only way to know if he did…

tbc