The Mission From Hell
Chapter 8 Part I
"Helping Hands''
By: Deep Shadows and EckoStalker
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Author's Notes: This is two parts because there was so much we wanted to do in this chapter but wanted to give a nice break in between. Just when you though things couldn't get worse. They did...
Alexis was sleeping lightly in the hospital bed, unconsciously basking in the warmth of the room that she hadn't felt too often these past three weeks. Dimly she felt a presence hovering about her, but she was too damn cozy to care. That is, until that presence quickly turned menacing.

A sharp voice cut into her mind, jerking her back to the world of waking. "Get up, NOW!"

She jumped eyes wide and unfocused as she tensed, looking up in shock, She saw Severus leaning over her, wide eyed and looking extremely miffed. Slightly angered at the rude awakening, she demanded of him. "Whoa, where's the fire?"

He didn't answer her as he took her arm that had the IV needle in it, studying it intently, much too her confusion. Without a word, he proceeded to slowly remove the tape from around the lodged needle. What the hell is he doing... Alexis thought to herself, taken by surprise when he quickly grasped the needle and carefully slid it out of her skin, and she winced slightly at the stinging. She was about to ask him what the hell was going on, but he nixed that idea as he quickly pressed a Band-Aid over the wound and looked up at her, looking dead serious as he explained simply.

"We are going now."

"What? Why?" She asked, growing a little nervous now by his urgent actions. He explained as he surprisingly leaned down, scooping her carefully into his arms, Alexis hitching her breath at her aching ribs as he stared at him in surprise.

"We are going because the agents are here, and if you are healed enough to yell at me, you are healed enough to go home." He stated simply, turning and leaving the room, sneaking her around the bulk of hospital staff, constantly looking over his shoulder and not even acknowledging the fact that he was carrying her.

Wait... he's carrying me... why? I can walk fine by myself... well... maybe a little... She thought as she glanced at her bandaged ankle with a frown. Severus made it to the parking lot, going and unlocking the passenger side door and setting her in the seat. Alexis reached for her seatbelt, but he beat her to it, quickly snapping it around her that whisking around to the driver's side.

Alexis stared at him in utmost confusion as he ignored her, pealing out of the parking lot and turning onto the main road, looking in the rearview mirrors nervously.

After a silent moment, Alexis shook her head and asked him slowly. "Okay, maybe now you can explain why you basically just whisked me off my feet, put me in the car, and then even proceeded to buckle me in? Last time I checked, I was old enough to all that by myself..."

Severus answered her curtly. "I wasn't in the mood to deal with your arguments and slowness. Last time I checked, you had a sprained ankle. Just live with it alright..." He snapped, shaking his head as he watched the road.

Alexis shook her head as well, looking down at herself as she thought to herself slowly, trying to reorient her thoughts. Alright. Nothing to it. We're just on a mission, trying not to get killed by our own targets, and I'm in a bloody paper thin hospital gown... nothing to it at all... I hate my life...

She looked discreetly at Severus, who was muttering softly as he glared at the road in front of them. "Okay, so I'm going to die whatever I choose... either by these agents, or by Ron once he finds out about all this...I guess life was... well, saying it was good would just be pushing it..."

Alexis shook her head, tightening her seatbelt slightly as she thought drearily, looking down. Oh joy, Severus has finally lost it... and he's the one driving... this is just beautiful...

She happened to glance up once more, seeing a yellow light. She glanced then at Severus, thinking he would slow down. He had a look of contemplation on his face, and then Alexis felt the car speeding up. She tensed, gaze darting from Severus to the light as it turned red. She looked back at Severus with wide, confused eyes, wondering what the hell he was going to do as he stared at the road, his foot pressing the gas pedal to the floor.

HE'S GOING TO GET US KILLED! Alexis leaned back in her seat frightfully as Severus sped through the red light, Alexis hearing honking horns behind them as Severus continued driving, an odd smirk on his features. Alexis finally found her voice, trembling slightly as she turned and glared at Severus, hollering. "What the hell are you doing! Do you want to die right now! Do you hate me that much to kill me as well! You psycho!"

Severus merely shrugged, explaining in a calm voice. "I just wanted to make sure you were awake and alert. I guess you are."

Alexis shook her head at him, wanting to yell something more, but still too shocked to find the right words. Severus sped the rest of the way to the apartment, Alexis keeping a death grip on the armrests the whole way and wondering if she was better off with at the hospital with the agents then with a crazed Severus. He finally swerved into the apartment driveway, Alexis holding her ribs as she hitched her breath. They sat there in silence for a moment, Alexis breathing shallowly as she stared forward in shock, and Severus sighed, pocketing the car keys and exiting the car, walking towards the stairs.

Alexis watched him go, mumbling to herself in a shaky voice, breath steaming in the cold air. "I could run away now, err, well, limp away... could be a stowaway on a ship back to England... I'd be able to live a little while longer before he gets me killed..."

She thought to herself, but that thought was erased as Severus reappeared, opening her door, unbuckling her seatbelt, and lifting her once more. Damn... caught...

He brought her up the room, Alexis involuntarily snuggling against him due to the frigid air. He entered the now unsurprisingly empty apartment, walking to the couch and slowly setting her on it, then stepping back as Alexis watched him warily.

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Severus set Alexis on the couch, now feeling mildly better that they were in a place he knew well. Well enough to defend if need be. He stepped back from her and walked over to the door, locking it securely. Shaking his head, he turned back to Alexis.

"Are you hungry?" He asked and Alexis looked at him in mild confusion.

"Yes, but first, I would like some clothes." She told him and that was when Severus came to the realization that he had been carrying Alexis around while she was in a barely-there hospital gown. He turned his eyes immediately to the floor.

"Sorry, wasn't paying attention. Would you like me to carry... um, help you to the bedroom so you could get your clothes?" He asked her, purposely not looking at her. He looked at the floor and noticed a couple of bloodstains.

"Yeah, sure." Alexis groaned, trying to get to her feet. Severus looked at her and grabbed her arms, hoisting her up and walking her to the bedroom. He sat her on the bed by her dresser and left the room, closing the door, but staying near in case she needed help or the agents came back. He thought he heard the sound of water, but ignored it. After a few moments and a series of pained grunts he heard a loud thud.

"You alright?" He asked with concern and Alexis snarled back at him.

"Just fucking peachy! I'm dressed; you can come back in now." She barked and he shook his head as he walked into to the room, seeing her trying to get up from the floor. Without even thinking to ask her, he picked her up and hoisted her in his arms, carrying her back into the living room. She looked perturbed, but he didn't care, he needed to get some kind of food in her system and his own. He had yet to take a chance to deal with his own bruised ribs. He went to the fridge and began pulling out food, trying his hardest to ignore Alexis. Dinner he decided, would be macaroni and cheese and hotdogs.

"Severus, what the hell happened?" Alexis asked, breaking the silence after a while and Severus shrugged, looking at the stove.

"Don't just shrug at me. There is a span of like, a day that I was out. What happened to the agents? What did they hit me with?" Alexis asked and Severus shook his head, not wanting to tell her.

"Do you want two hotdogs?" He asked her and he knew she was getting irritated.

"That is your classic diversion tactic, food." She told him and he shook his head.

"No that is every man's diversion tactic." He spoke and Alexis laughed lightly, wincing slightly.

"Ah ha! You admitted it. Spill." She told him and he wanted to hit himself in the head.

"About?" He questioned, trying to get out of telling her how her concussion came about.

"About everything. Start when you got out of the shower and work your way until I woke up." She told him and he growled.

"Well, I was in the shower, heard you, looked out, got dressed and saved you. Then I took you to the hospital, they put needles in you, I bitched, I saw an agent, and then I drove us home. There. Done deal." He stated, giving her the abridged version of the events.

"Whoa, slow down and rewind. You got dressed before you helped me?" She demanded and he nodded, not looking at her.

"Why?" She growled and he snickered.

"Because, fighting in a towel has never worked out good for anyone. Even your Rush Hour 2 movie made that clear." He stated, the scene of the spa fight scene coming to mind.

"Ok, but how did you beat five guys down?" She asked him and he frowned, turning to look at her.

"With a frying pan." He told her and she looked at him warily, holding her head.

"Hold on a second, you had a frying pan. Harry, did you by chance happen to KNOCK ME OUT!" She yelled and he turned his back to her.

"Well, if you had bloody stayed down when you should have, it would have knocked him out, not you. I was already in the arc of the swing, I tired to pull back, but I had already hit you. But I did take out five guys with nothing but a frying pan." He thought aloud, feeling a bit prideful and Alexis shook her head.

"Ok, enough with the gloating. What happened next?" She asked and he shook his head as he mixed the cheese sauce in with the noodles.

"I put you in the car and drove around for twenty minutes until I found the hospital.-"
"You mean before you asked for directions." She chided and he gritted his teeth.

"Yeah, whatever. Then took you in and the bloody fools didn't help until I yelled and then they tried to take you off to some back room so I followed. Then they shoved needles in your arm, I bitched and got kicked out of the room. Then after they 'fixed' you, they took you to another room and I had to go fill out paperwork. And they tried to say that I had beaten the hell out of you and I was almost arrested. I cleared that up though." He stated and Alexis interrupted him.

"But you did knock me out." Alexis interjected and he shook his head at her, cooking the hotdogs.

"Besides the point. Then you wake up in hysterics about the agents and the nurse is watching and then she drugs you without even asking, bloody moron. Then you wake up again and start asking questions, so I walked out and well, wait... you were awake by then, I'm done explaining." He told her and she snickered.

"So how long were you in the shower before you came out? Wait... speaking of shower, what's that noise?" Alexis spoke and Severus listened and realization hit him.

I never turned off the shower... He thought as he turned the stove off, rushing back to the bathroom. He walked right into a royal mess. The shower had filled the tub and it was overflowing onto the floor. Shaking his head, he walked forward and turned off the now frigid water.

"What was it?" He heard Alexis yell and he shook his head.

"Nothing, just hell and a tub full of cold water." Severus snarled, walking back out to the kitchen. He served Alexis food at the couch and he himself ate at the table. Every movement or so would cause Alexis to wince and Severus had to think of a way to use magic on her that would not be obvious to their watchers. That would be a feat in it's self. After eating, Severus took the dishes and put them in the sink, deciding that they could be done tomorrow. He walked into the living room and picked up the frying pan, seeing the glisten of blood on it. He placed it to in the sink and then resignedly headed to the bedroom. He changed his clothes, wincing slightly as he raised his own arms above his head to take off his shirt. Okay, so maybe I'm injured a bit, but I am a man, I can take it, what's a bit of pain compared to a concussion? Not only that, but I have to continue the mission, that is my job, the whole bloody reason I'm here... He rationalized to himself as he walked out to the living room, turning off the lights and kicking the heater again, hoping that it would turn on. He looked at Alexis and shook his head.

"Would you like me to carry you to bed?" He asked and Alexis looked at him aghast. Then he caught the connotation to his words as she replied.

"Nope I can walk." She told him, getting herself to her feet. Shrugging, he went and collapsed in the bed, waiting for her to ask for help.

Ten minutes later she was finally in the hallway and he heard a loud thud and a sharp yelp of pain.

"Need som-"

"No I don't need any help. As soon as I get up I will be fine." Alexis cut him off stubbornly and he sighed, getting out of bed and walking to the hallway. He found Alexis face down in the hallway, trying to get up as she bit her lip with the effort. Sighing, he picked her up, ignoring his screaming side as he carried her to the bedroom. He put her on the bed and laid her down, shaking his head as he walked over to his own side, collapsing into it. Alexis pouted and Severus rolled over on his other side, facing her and taking pressure off his injured side.

"Just don't roll over on me or anything." She told him sulkily and he shook his head, grunting.

"Didn't plan on it." He replied and was taken aback by hers.

"Better not have." She told him and he snorted.

"Just got to sleep and shut up for once." He growled and she was silent. She rolled a bit onto her not-so-injured side, her back touching his partially and he snorted.

"Women." He stated as Alexis's voice grunted.

"Men." She grumbled at almost the same time and he looked over at her and they both began laughing a bit, though it hurt his ribs, Alexis grimacing as well.

"Go to sleep Lindsey." He told her and with that they settled into mildly comfortable silence. Severus closed his eyes, ignoring the fact that Alexis, in her sleep, had just embraced him around the chest, and he fell asleep.

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Two days later...

Alexis awoke, feeling just as sore and pained as the day she had woken up in the hospital. Her ribs throbbed with every breath, and her ankle had swollen again from her repeated attempts to go about daily life as if nothing had happened. Her concussion had mercifully disappeared the night after returning to the apartment though, so the only place not hurting on her body was her head. And she could tell it was wearing on Severus to be carrying and helping her around constantly, and it would only be a matter of time before he reached his limit and snapped. Most likely at her.

She then noticed Severus was already awake, for she smelt bacon from the kitchen along with muffled clinks and clanks of pots and dishes.

I'm starving... but alas, if I eat too much, I hurt... and if I eat too little I hurt... and if I don't eat at all, I still hurt... so whatever choice I make, it's going to be painful... Alexis thought darkly to herself, sighing. She strained to sit up, only to be rewarded with stabbing lances of pain through both her sides. She gasped, falling back on the bed and breathing shallowly. She looked up at the ceiling dismally as she grumbled.

"Why do I even bother..."

She shook her head, deciding to try and scoot off the bed, but managed only in twisting her sprained ankle again, making her whimper as she quickly lay back on the bed. She put a hand over her eyes, shaking her head. She removed her head as she stated aloud. "That's it. I quit. I'm just going to lay here until I don't hurt anymore. I can't take this anymore."

She crossed her arms resolutely, hearing Severus calling from the Kitchen. "Breakfast is done. Come eat. Or do you need help?"
"No. If getting food requires moving, I'll just wait." Alexis snapped loudly with a scowl. There was relative silence for a moment, and then Severus appeared in the doorway, looking tired and fed up.

"Quit whining and get in here and eat." He grumbled, moving to her side and taking her arm. Alexis snatched it away, not wanting to be treated like a helpless child any longer.

"No... It hurts too damn much... I'll wait until I'm healed." She spoke stubbornly, and Severus merely stared at her. Alexis looked away, pulling the blanket up around her and looking away from his stare.

He finally sighed, grumbling as he left the room. "Fine. Then starve..."

Alexis huffed, snuggling into the pillow and staring up at the ceiling with a bored sigh.

Alexis stayed there in bed for pretty much the rest of the day, ignoring Severus's frustrated attempts at getting her to get up and eat and quit being lazy. Well if this was being lazy, she was content to stay that way until it didn't hurt to breathe anymore. Severus finally gave in around lunch and brought her a sandwich, which she took gratefully, eating slowly.

It was drawing nigh onto evening when Alexis realized there was one flaw in her plan. She needed to go to the bathroom. She looked at the bathroom door a few feet away, and for all it mattered to her, it could've been a mile away.

She sighed, shaking her head. She gingerly scooted to the edge of the bed, ignoring her grumbling stomach and drew in a breath as she slowly sat up, carefully setting her foot on the floor. The pain in her ribs intensified, and she sat still for a moment as it subsided a tad, then held onto the wall and pulled herself to her feet shakily.

She smirked and told herself. "Not doing too bad..."

She took a step, and gasped out as the movement felt like she was stretching her entire rib cage apart. She grimaced, holding her sides as she fought to breath. She realized that lying still like that all day had made her stiff, and that walking was a very bad idea. But she had to go to the bathroom. She hobbled to it after a few rest stops and relieved herself.

Now getting back was another story. She stood in the bathroom doorway, staring hard at the bed and willing herself to walk towards it. She took one step and stumbled, falling to her knees hard. She yelped, doubled over as she grimaced.

"Ah, so you're finally up I see." She heard Severus's voice ask, and she glared up at him. He rolled his eyes, walking forward and lifting her up slowly, and Alexis could see the strain on his face as well.

"Dinner is done. And you're going to eat it in the Kitchen." He told her, and before she could protest, he was pulling her into the Kitchen.

She hobbled into her seat, grumbling under her breath as she glared up at him and he ignored her, setting down a plate with two beef pot pies on it. Alexis smiled, picking up a fork and digging into them as she mumbled. "I love pot pies..."
"I know." Severus spoke quietly, sitting across from her with his own plate. Alexis looked up at him oddly, but he didn't look at her as he began eating thoughtfully. Okay, maybe he just didn't have anything easier to cook... She thought, eating a few bites, and then asking to break the silence.

"What kind are they?"
"Beef." Severus answered, and Alexis looked at him oddly. Beef was also her favorite kind. She asked carefully as she ate slowly. "Really... any reason why you made them?"
Severus shrugged, still not looking at her as he replied. "No..."

Alexis nodded, going back to her food, stopping now and then to rest her sides. They were silent for a moment, and then Severus sighed, speaking quieting. "There is one thing..."

Alexis paused with the fork halfway to her mouth, feeling uneased by his tone of voice. "What thing?"
Severus was quiet with thought for a moment, then spoke, taking another bite of his meal. "I found a way to heal your ribs and not blatantly look like we're using magic."

Alexis's ears practically perked up with interest. Oh man, I'd almost do anything to make this stop...

"But..." Severus continued, and Alexis's good mood quailed slightly.

"That always means something bad..." Alexis muttered forebodingly. Severus sighed, purposely avoiding his gaze as he spoke.

"But it will require me having to touch you."

Alexis froze, narrowing her eyes at him. "Touch me as in how?" She spoke warningly, mentally telling him that if was the wrong answer, broken ribs or not, she'd beat him.

"Well... I, I'm going to have to give you a massage." Severus finished, taking a few bites from his pot pie.

Alexis in the midst of eating as well, swallowed convulsively, coughing as she practically choked on beef bits. She gasped slightly as the movement seared her ribs, and she took a few seconds to breath before speaking in a deadly calm.

"You want to do what."

Severus stood, putting his plate in the sink calmly, then turned to her and replied with no expression at all. "In order to help you, I'm going to have to give you a massage. Now, I'm going to take a shower. You can think on it and give me an answer after I'm out." With that, he turned and calmly walked out of the Kitchen, Alexis staring after him in opened mouthed shock.

He wants me to let him do WHAT! She thought to herself, staring at her plate with wide eyes. She shook her head, muttering aloud with unbelief. "A massage... from Severus... and he offered it... I think I'm going to be sick..."

She pushed away her plate, unable to finish it as she stared at the table, still shocked. Let him touch me... around my, midsection... She shuddered, hugging herself, already feeling kind of violated just by the thought.

But then, she actually thought about it some more. "It's not really a massage massage... it's just to heal my ribs... then he'll be done. That's it... that better be it... And I'm not drunk, so if he, for some god forsaken reason, gets it in his head to try something else, I can outright kick his ass... yeah..."

She sat there for a few minutes, trying to steel herself, then groaned, shaking her head. I can't believe this... I know exactly what this is... this is a nightmare in hell... this month can't be happening just because of my bad karma... no, this just keeps getting worse and worse... no karma was ever that bad...

"But if I live with these ribs like this any longer, I'm gonna go nuts... you know, there's a knife right there... I know a quick and surefire way out of this..." Alexis thought grimly, leaning forward toward the counter, reaching out to grab the large knife. But it was just out of her reach. She frowned as she whined. "Getting that to kill myself would require moving... Damnit..."

Just then, Severus walked in. He looked at her with confusion, then reached and took the knife, handing it to her. Alexis smirked grimly, speaking quietly. "Why, thank you Severus..."

She studied the knife intently, wondering how long it would take for her to die if she missed her heart, and then Severus quickly took the knife out of her hand.

"On second thought..." She heard him mumble as he put the knife away in a cupboard, and she frowned at him, hugging herself as she watched Severus, searching to see if she could pick out anything odd about him that could explain this offer. He merely avoided her gaze, washing up and putting away the few dishes, then making a pot of tea.

Alexis finally couldn't take it anymore. "OKAY! Fine..."

Severus stopped, looking at her and asking. "What was that?"
"I said okay! Don't make me say it again..." She whined, looking at the ground in defeat. Well, if it made her better... then she could reach the knife.

Severus was silent, and she looked up at him. He nodded slowly, sipping a glass of warm tea. Alexis shuddered once again, face feeling hot as she sniffed, speaking softly. "I think I'm going to cry..."

"Me too." She heard Severus grumble, and she watched as he turned his back to her. He turned back around, handing her a cup of tea, which she took and drank it quickly, wishing it had some drug or another in it that would make her not remember any of this.

Severus spoke up quietly after a moment. "You're going to have to lie down in the bed on your stomach."

Alexis cringed, looking at him with disbelief. Severus continued, only making it worse. "And I can't give you a massage with your shirt on-"
"NO." Alexis demanded sharply with a dead serious glint in her green eyes. That was just going too far.

Severus quickly shook his head, explaining. "No. I know. But you do have a lot, not that I pay attention, a lot of... sports bras. You could wear one of those." He spoke in a quiet, almost embarrassed sounding voice.

Alexis plopped her head on the table, groaning. "Why can't I just kill myself? None of this would matter then..."

Severus rolled his eyes, moving to help her from the seat. "Because fate likes to torture us. Get up and let's get this over with..." He grumbled, and Alexis sighed, letting herself be pulled up by him and directed to the bedroom. She closed the door on him so she could change, and did so into a sports bra and jogger pants.

"Okay, come in..." She grumbled, Severus walking in as Alexis lowered herself gingerly onto the bed, wincing slightly. Severus brought over a bottle of salve as Alexis slowly and deliberately turned on her stomach, settling herself with some level of unease. She rested her head on her bare arms as she felt Severus sit down on the bed beside her, and she closed her eyes, shaking her head.

She suddenly felt something cold on her back, and drew in a sharp breath, grumbling. "Jeesh! That stuff's cold..."

"I know. Don't move too much." Severus told her as he began to hesitantly rub the salve over her sides and partly across her back. He seemed very reluctant to touch her at first, but eventually loosened up and rubbed more rhythmically. Alexis fought every urge to turn around and draw away from him, focusing on breathing as he continued to very gently rub the salve into her skin. He began chanting some incantation lowly under his breath, and Alexis tried to listen for a few moments, and then gave up as she sighed with relief, feeling the pain gradually lessen in her sides, being replaced by a throbbing soreness.

God, I can finally breathe properly... she thought contentedly to herself.

Severus continued to rub in the salve lightly, and Alexis closed her eyes again, shifting slightly to rid of the soreness in her back. Her eyes shot open though as Severus began kneading into her sides and across her back, working into the soreness a bit more strongly as if in answer to her thoughts. He had stopped the incantation, and Alexis felt she needed to break the silence. She sniffed slightly, asking then curiously. "Hey, I smell peppermint again..."

"Well you would. This is the same salve I used to get rid of your concussion."

Alexis looked over her shoulder slightly at him with confusion. "What?"
Severus smirked, moving his gaze from the wall to her face. "Yes. I used it the first night back here. It looked to the entire world like I was merely lovingly smoothing your hair back."

Alexis frowned at him a moment, then smirked. "Why, you sneaky bastard! Smart... but sneaky!"

Severus shrugged, looking back ahead at the wall as Alexis turned back to lay her head on her arms, relaxing limply as Severus's warm hands rubbed the soreness out of her tense muscles.

She found herself involuntarily smiling and sighed, semi-consciously thinking to herself. Wow... this feels pretty good... NO IT DOESN'T! She caught herself, eyes wide as she stiffened at that scary thought.

Severs paused a moment as he asked with concern. "What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
Slightly perturbed, Alexis shook her head, mumbling. "N, no... I'm fine..."
She lay back down, firmly telling herself it did not feel good as Severus continued the massage. Presently though, Alexis's mind became fuzzy, and she smiled slightly, eyes drooping a bit tiredly. She then roughly shook her head, telling herself mentally. No. I'm not going to fall asleep... it doesn't feel that good... I guess...

She thought as her eyes dropped again. Well, I can just rest my eyes for a little bit... She thought contentedly, thinking vaguely that she felt Severus now rubbing around her upper back and behind her shoulders. But she soon found that she didn't really care. The pain was mercifully disappearing, that was all that mattered. She sighed once again, laying her head flat against her arms happily, not several minutes later falling into a deep and peaceful sleep with Severus still massaging her back.

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All day Alexis had remained in her bed, pouting in her predicament of broken ribs. Severus would have lifted her and made sure that she ate, but the other night he pulled not only the muscles around his bruised ribs but some in his back and he didn't think he could lift her small form without dropping her, causing more pain for them both. He set into making dinner, making beef potpies because he knew Alexis loved them and she would need to be in a good mood for what he was going to suggest. Not that he wanted to, or even liked the idea, but he couldn't continue on this mission with Alexis in her state. He had gone on one solo mission and that was enough. He managed to bruise his ribs more as he fell from the loft to the ground, landing on his injured side. He swore he cursed so colorfully that the Manor occupants should have been able to hear him. He pulled the pot pies out of the stove and went to the bedroom to get Alexis. What he saw was enough to make him finalize the suggestion.

"That's it..." He mumbled as he walked forward, seeing Alexis half crawling half lying in the bathroom on the cold floor, looking to be in incredible pain.

"Ah, so you're finally up I see." He asked her and she glared up at him and he rolled his eyes at her. He walked forward and leaned down, lifting her with a minor grimace as his side cursed at him in the language of his body, which was stronger than any spoken word. After a moment, he spoke, having pushed aside his pain.

"Dinner is done. And you're going to eat it in the Kitchen." He told her and before she could tell him no, he painfully pulled her into the kitchen. He led her to her seat and she returned his kindness with a glare, but he ignored it, figuring it was painful for her to move. He set her plate down for her and sat across from her at the table. He watched her out of the corner of his eye as he 'focused' on his dinner, seeing her smile as she spoke, digging in.

"I love pot pies..."
"I know." Severus replied darkly, looking at his food as he thought of how he was going to word what he was going to suggest. She broke his thoughts though with a simple question.

"What kind are they?" She asked him and he replied quickly.
"Beef." Severus answered, and Alexis looked at him oddly. She ate carefully as she questioned him once again, giving him his opportunity to bring an uncomfortable subject up.

"Really... any reason why you made them?" She spoke quietly, but he shrugged deciding that he was going to have to say something, but he didn't have the words yet.

"No..." He told her, refusing to look at her. She nodded at him and then the room was silent for a few moments.

God damn it Sev, just say it and then go hide... Severus thought as he sighed. Severus speaking quietly, stated. "There is one thing..."

He continued to not look at her, thought he could see her out of the corner of his eye, just so he could gauge her reaction to his statement.

"What thing?" She asked and Severus was thoughtful for a moment, taking another bite of his meal.

"I found a way to heal your ribs and not blatantly look like we're using magic." He stated, getting the easy part over and done with.

"But..." Severus continued lowly and could see curiosity on her face.

"That always means something bad..." Alexis muttered at him forebodingly. Severus sighed at her, still purposely avoiding his gaze as he spoke to her, giving her the downside.

"But it will require me having to touch you." He stated with complete calm. He watched as her eyes narrowed at him dangerously as she questioned him.

"Touch me as in how?" She verbally warned him with her tone of voice. As if he had something underhanded in mind, laughable.

"Well... I, I'm going to have to give you a massage." Severus finished slowly, taking a few bites from his pot pie while not looking at her. He watched as she nearly choked on her food and then gasped as she took a few moments to catch her breath. By that time Severus was near done with his meal.

"You want to do what." She asked him in her deadly calm 'I'm-going-to-kill-you-now' voice.

Severus stood, putting his plate in the sink calmly before turning to her. He made himself reply with no expression at all on his face.

"In order to help you, I'm going to have to give you a massage. Now, I'm going to take a shower. You can think on it and give me an answer after I'm out." He told her, using his escapist ways to maneuver out of a stressful situation. He calmly walked out of the kitchen and into the bathroom. Grimacing as he pulled his shirt off, he witnessed the large deep purple bruise on his side that spanned from his underarm to his hip. Sighing, he got into the shower, barely letting the water touch his side for fear he would yell out in the pain. It hurt that bad right now. He washed, paying no mind to the fact that Alexis was probably throwing a temper tantrum in the kitchen, well as best as she could at the present moment. He got out and dried off, gingerly drying his side. He dressed carefully, hissing as he lifted his arms to get his shirt on.

He walked out to the kitchen, witnessing Alexis trying to reach for the knife he had used to open the boxes. He looked at her with confusion, then reached and took the knife, handing it to her curiously. Alexis smirked grimly at him, speaking quietly. "Why, thank you Severus..."

He watched as she intently studied the knife, witnessing the look of someone about to off themselves and he took the knife quickly out of her hand.

"On second thought..." He mumbled as he put the knife away in a cupboard far from her. He then went to the sink, washing the dishes and avoiding looking at her, even though she was staring holes into the back of his head. After a moment, Severus heard the answer he wasn't sure he actually heard.

"OKAY! Fine..." She spoke as he finished making a pot of tea, adding her serum to it. He stopped and looked at her, just to make sure she was saying it.

"What was that?" He asked her.
"I said okay! Don't make me say it again..." She whined at him, looking defeated at the ground. Severus didn't say a word as he poured two cups of tea. She looked up at him and he nodded, sipping his own tea. He watched her as she shuddered and then heard her speak lowly.

"I think I'm going to cry..."

"Me too." Severus mumbled as he turned his back to her. He grabbed her cup of tea and handed it to her, watching as she drank it down quickly. After a moment he decided to arrange this prior to going into the bedroom, knowing that she would have the opportunity to back out.

Severus spoke up quietly after a moment. "You're going to have to lie down in the bed on your stomach." He told her and she cringed, looking at him in disbelief. But that wasn't all of it and he knew it as he continued.

"And I can't give you a massage with your shirt on-"
"NO." She cut him off with a killer glint in her eyes. He quickly shook his head at her, implying for her to let him finish.

"No. I know. But you do have a lot, not that I pay attention, a lot of... sports bras. You could wear one of those." He told quietly, feeling almost embarrassed for having this conversation. Alexis slammed her head on the table; groaning and making Severus think she wanted another concussion. "Why can't I just kill myself? None of this would matter then..." She whined and he had come to an answer to that a while ago. He rolled his eyes as he moved to her side, replying.

"Because fate likes to torture us. Get up and let's get this over with..." He grumbled at her, lifting her up, much to his own pain and directing her to the bedroom. She closed the door on him and he waited until she called for him.

I can't believe this is happening... This has got to be hell... Severus thought as he heard her.

"Okay, come in..." She grumbled through the door and Severus walked in seeing her lowering herself painfully on to the bed. He walked over to his dresser and pulled out the salve. He waited until she had rolled over to her stomach to sit in on the bed and he opened the salve, putting some on his fingers. He looked and could see the bruises covering her skin. She lowered her head to her arms, shaking her head and he understood her sentiment. This wasn't his picnic in the park either.

He softly put some of the salve on her back and she jumped, inhaling sharply.

"Jeesh! That stuff's cold..." She grumbled and he spoke, preparing himself for the incantation.

"I know. Don't move too much." Severus told her as he began to hesitantly rub the salve over her sides and partly across her back. He was very reluctant to touch her, first of all to avoid hurting her and secondly to avoid anything else. Eventually he loosened up, rubbing her back with his hands, kneading the salve into the torn and injured muscles rhythmically. He gentle rubbed the salve into her skin as he began the incantation under his breath, it flowing like a song from him as he focused his magic on her injuries, using it to heal the broken bones. He looked at a spot on the wall, not at the woman he was touching, putting all his thought into the magic and most certainly ignoring his own aching side.

Severus continued to rub in the salve, working it in more furiously. He felt her tense as he began to knead the muscles with his hands, working her skin with his fingers.

He stopped the spell, knowing that the bones were healed and that she was just sore. Now he was focused on rubbing the soreness and stiffness out of her formerly injured back and sides. He heard her sniff the air slightly, asking then curiously. "Hey, I smell peppermint again..."

"Well you would. This is the same salve I used to get rid of your concussion." He told her with a smug smirk, knowing now that she had no idea why her head never hurt anymore. She looked at him with confusion.

"What?" She asked and he smirked, looking down at her from the wall.

"Yes. I used it the first night back here. It looked to the entire world like I was merely lovingly smoothing your hair back." He mused, knowing that's what it must have looked like even though he was using old and powerful magics. She frowned at him and then that was replaced with a smirk as she replied.

"Why, you sneaky bastard! Smart... but sneaky!" She stated and he shrugged, looking back at his dot on the wall as she laid her head back down, going near limp under his hands. A second later she stiffened unexpectedly and he paused in his massaging.

"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?" He asked with concern and she replied lightheartedly.

"N, no... I'm fine..." She mumbled as she shook her head. She relaxed and Severus continued to massage her back, and he thought he felt her falling asleep and he was mildly amused as he continued to look at the wall.

You know... This is a very ugly color for a wall... Why would someone paint a wall off-white so close that it is almost yellow... ugh... Oh, is she sleeping?... Severus thought as he looked down at her, then noticing now that he was rubbing her shoulders, which had not been injured and he had just been rubbing them absentmindedly. He drew his hands back, looking to see that she was indeed fast asleep. He shook his head and turned toward her injured ankle, knowing that rubbing it down while she was like this was a good idea. He rolled up her pant leg to mid-calve and then took out the salve, rubbing her ankle tenderly, knowing it was swollen and sore. After about twenty minutes, he got up and turned the light off, shaking his head as he gingerly laid down in the bed beside Alexis, turning his back to her after he covered her with the wolf blanket. He closed his eyes and fell into a pained sleep.

----------------------

Severus awoke at a ripping pain in his side. It was so hard and so intense that he had to gasp for breath. Looking over to Alexis, he realized that she had just kicked him in the side and now it was screaming in revenge.

"I have got to take care of this." He growled as he checked to make sure she was sleeping. She was out and he got up, walking over and picking up the salve. He sat on his side of the bed, wincing as he pulled his shirt off, gasping in the pain of lifting his arm. To further his pain, he tucked his hand behind his head, holding his elbow in the air as he began to slowly and painfully rub the salve into his pained side. He didn't even notice that he was being watched.

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Alexis heard a pained gasp in her mind and groggily woke from comfortable sleep. She heard Severus's voice grumbling, though he sounded tired and in pain. What's wrong with him now? She thought wearily, feigning sleep as he got up. She felt him sit back down on the bed, and felt him moving about some. She silently rolled over, mentally cheering that she was able to, and let her eyes focus to the darkness. She then watched Severus, who had taken off his shirt; proceed to rub some of the salve he had used earlier into his own side, though with great difficulty.

She frowned as she watched him for a moment, noting the deep purple bruising that painted his side. What an idiot... typical man really. Pretending he's not hurt so he feels tougher and able to handle everything... I swear, man's ego is what's going to kill them... then women will rule the world, as it should have been. Alexis thought to herself as she glared at Severus, though he was totally oblivious to her watching. He struggled to reach behind his back, hitching his breath slightly, though noticeably trying not to be loud. Alexis oddly, almost scarily, finding herself feeling bad. He's been helping me a lot lately... more than he really needed to... probably because he thinks Ron's going to kill him and he wants to ease his conscience, but still. He didn't have to be that thoughtful... dude, am I really thinking this? Alexis thought, shaking her head at herself.

It was uneasing her to see him struggling so she sighed, finally making up her mind. She sat up slowly and quietly, reaching to the salve that lay on the bedside table. She got some on her fingers, and then carefully scooted closer to him. She hesitated for a moment, but only for a moment before reaching forward and rubbing the salve along Severus's bruised side gently, tensing for the reaction. She wasn't disappointed.

Severus nearly jumped out of his skin, actually managing to tumble off the bed as he yelped. "What the-" But it was cut off with a pained groan as he winced, leaning against the side of the bed. Alexis sighed, shaking her head as he looked up at her with confusion.

"You idiot. Quit freaking out. Who the hell do you think would be here? Sit down on the bed before you end up killing yourself." Alexis scolded him, but not with her usual harshness. Severus stared at her warily for a moment, and then pulled himself up, sitting on the bed gingerly as he watched her cautiously.

Alexis didn't say anything, knowing any words would be awkward, and reached for some more salve. She rubbed some more into his side, and he flinched slightly, asking lowly. "What are you-"

"It's kind of obvious. Quit moving around." Alexis cut him off quickly, not looking at him as she scooted closer, rubbing the salve along the bruises gently. Severus turned around, elbows resting on his knees as he let Alexis continue, though was tense for a few moments. He stiffened once, growling, though not sounding as mean as usual. "Ow... be careful..."

"Oh quit your complaining will you? I didn't even whine that much..." Alexis snapped, though lessened up a bit on her massaging. Severus relaxed slightly, Alexis continuing to rub in the ointment and watching the bruises fade and eventually disappear, replaced by smooth, unscarred skin. Alexis massaged his side for a few more minutes, neither of them saying a word, Alexis focusing solely on her hands, and nothing else as Severus leaned his arms on his knees, silent.

There... now he won't wake me up any more with his whimpering... Alexis thought sternly with satisfaction as the last bruise disappeared. She capped the salve and backed away from Severus. Alexis handed him the bottle, purposely not meeting his gaze as he got up. Alexis lay back down, seeing him stretch and smile slightly with relief before putting the salve away. She turned around, pulling the blankets up under her chin, and felt him lay down on his side of the bed after a moment.

It was silent for a minute, and then she heard Severus speak lowly, almost wondering if she had heard him.

"We're even now. Thank you."

Alexis smirked to herself knowingly, and then replied. "No we're not. And you're welcome." With that, she closed her eyes and slept.

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Severus was trying to work the salve into his side and trying to be quiet as to not wake up Alexis. Last thing he needed was for her to wake up and ask him whet he was doing. He was busy getting some salve when he felt fingers that were not his own touching his side gently. Severus nearly jumped out of his skin, managing to tumble off the bed as he yelped in surprise.

"What the-" He began but that was cut off as another pain ripped through his side, making him wince and double over, leaning against the side of the bed. He heard Alexis sigh and he looked up at her with confusion, wondering how long she had been watching him. She was shaking her head at him as she spoke.

"You idiot. Quit freaking out. Who the hell do you think would be here? Sit down on the bed before you end up killing yourself." Alexis scolded him, but he thought it was not as harsh as it had been. He looked at her warily, wondering why he needed to get up and secondly if he could get up. He managed to pull himself up on the bed, sitting on it carefully as he watched her intently.

She is supposed to be asleep... What in the bloody hell does she think she is doing?... He thought as he watched her reach for some salve. He watched as she rubbed it into his side, making him flinch from her touch and the pain.

"What are you-" He began to ask lowly and she cut him off.

"It's kind of obvious. Quit moving around." Alexis grunted, looking away from him as she scooted closer, rubbing his side gently. He turned from her, resting his elbows on his knees as he allowed her to rub his side.

She is touching me... Willfully... Without complaint... God, I must look terrible then... He thought as he stiffened, her hard rubbing making his side cry out.

He growled at her, though from pain, not anger. "Ow... be careful..."

"Oh quit your complaining will you? I didn't even whine that much..." Alexis snapped at him, though he felt her small hands lessen in their kneading of his muscles. He relaxed as she rubbed his side. He felt the pain flowing away, her hands seemingly washing it away.

God, this feels good... NO! It doesn't... Well maybe... At least I'm not dying of pain... He thought as he argued with himself over if her massaging his side felt good or not. They were both silent and Severus now knew why Alexis had fallen asleep, the scent of peppermint and the massage was lulling him to sleep. To him though he was determined that it was mostly the peppermint. Severus leaned his arms on his knees, silent and feeling so much better. He could actually inhale completely. Alexis stopped her careful and concise massaging of his side and he heard her close the bottle. She backed away from him and handed him the bottle, taking her turn in avoiding his gaze. She lay back down and Severus stretched a bit, smirking at the fact that it didn't kill him to do so. He was relieved that the pain was now gone. He would never admit it to Alexis, but he reason he was up so early the past few days was that in his pain he had no been able to sleep. He put the salve away and the he turned to the bed, walking back to it and lying down softly.

The room was eerily silent, like one of those moments in a movie when the lead character is about to do something extremely out of character and to Severus that description was surprisingly accurate. Alexis had healed him, had rubbed his side when she could have let him suffer in his pain and discomfort and gone back to sleep. Even though it was Alexis, and he disliked her, even though at this moment he couldn't even think that honestly, she still deserved gratitude.

Severus spoke lowly, almost wondering if she had heard him speak or if she was asleep.

"We're even now. Thank you."

She was silent for a bit and then she replied.

"No we're not. And you're welcome."

That statement set a wildfire in Severus's mind.

We're not even?... you don't mean... Did she just acknowledge that I saved her?... Did she just say that she still owed me... That's putting herself in debt to me?... She would never do that... Would she?... Wow, I think I need to just go to sleep and forget this whole event... Ahh... My side feels so much better... Severus thought as he closed his eyes, hearing Alexis already snoring. Deciding he was still cold, he turned to face Alexis and wrapped her in his arms, ignoring the fact that she had just about as much shirt on as he did. He closed his eyes and fell asleep, blissfully painless and warm.


Now on to Part 2