Tommy - Continued

Once in the infirmary, Pina starts pulling out various boxes and bottles, looking quite at home in the strange room as I on the other hand couldn't be more uncomfortable. Still though I guess it's okay so long as I don't have to stay here and there aren't any unpleasant surprises.

Pouring some pills into a tray that looks to be separated into sections she begins speaking over her shoulder, the majority of her focus still on her work. "Oh, I forgot. After your medicine, you need a bath and a shave."

A what? Oh no, that's not happening. No way. Not now - not ever. I slowly back toward the door while she's still talking. "We'll get you some fresh clothes too. I'm going to have to get some measurements so that I can get you some clothes that fit properly, the same as with your boots and shoes, but we can do that tomorrow."

Keep talking, just keep talking and don't turn around. Please, please don't turn around.

"Are you okay with me taking your measurements or would you rather have Zedd do it? And while we're on the subject of who you'd like helping you with things, would you be okay with Zedd helping out with your bath? I know you're still hurting so some help might be needed."

As she keeps up her questions of help I'm almost to the door when it swings open, letting Zedd in much to my panic. No! No! I was almost out! Taking one look at me he knows something is up as he quickly turns on his friend while still unfortunately blocking my escape. "What the hell did you do?"

Startled, she spins around. "What are you talking about?" She looks at me and her mouth falls open. "Tommy? Tommy what's wrong? Calm down."

I back away even further. Unfortunately since Zedd is still too close to the door, this puts me in a corner and I don't like it at all.

Zedd's attention is now divided between us and I can practically see his blood boiling. "What did you do Scorpina?!" Scorpina?

"Nothing! We were just talking!" Growing agitated herself, she is one to clearly not take crap from anyone him included.

Not giving up, he presses the matter more. If only he'd press it away from me! "What did you say to him?"

"I only said that he needed a bath, shave, and clean clothes." She protests. No, no bath, no bath!

Zedd's eyes narrow for a minute before he turns his attention fully on me. I cringe and wait for the yelling to start, but he catches me off guard when he only crouches down to my level, speaking quietly. "Thomas, calm down. Nobody's going to hurt you."

"Yes they will!" I snap back. He raises one eyebrow as he takes in the statement. And I can't even bring myself to care that I just yelled at a man who could very likely break me in half with a flick of his wrist.

Still though he stays calm - tone still soft - but what he says next is clearly a command, one that I'm afraid to disobey. "Tell me how."

"The water will be too cold and someone will hold me under and someone will hurt me when they wash me." Not thinking, the words burst out of me. "Then someone will touch me and make me do things I don't want to do. I don't want to be touched like that!"

Suddenly realizing what I've said, I look at them in fear, stomach churning, waiting to be punished or ridiculed. They haven't done it yet, but there's a first time for everything and after the fit I've just had at them I imagine now would be as good a time as any.

Zedd closes his eyes and swallows hard several times as Pina looks horrified and sickened as she drops to her knees. Still though she seems to find her voice first, though it's strained at best. "They did all those things to you at that place?"

Slowly, I nod, not taking my eyes off of either of them. I see the fire in Pina's eyes once more and when she speaks again, there is a low growl to it that I've not heard from her before. "I am going back to that pitiful excuse for a planet and I will burn the whole damned place to the fucking ground."

Zedd shakes his head, a silent order for her to calm even if he wants the same thing. "For now, let the female and the children handle it. If they do not handle it to our satisfaction, the three of us will return there and do it ourselves." He opens his eyes and focuses on me once more. "Thomas, again, I have not hurt you nor have I allowed anyone else to do so. You are safe here, I don't know how many times I will have to say this to you, but I will keep saying it until you understand and believe it. You are safe with us and I promise that no such thing will ever happen again. If you wish, I will sit with you while you bathe, but you will wash yourself if you're able to. No one else will touch you unless you say it's all right, and even then it will not be in a sexual way. You have my word."

For two days, he has kept his promises, but for how much longer? Doubt settles in my eyes and I can't help it. I look at Pina, still on the floor nearby.

"I promise, too. But you do need to get clean or your wounds might get infected. Please, Tommy, trust us."

I hesitate and then nod slowly, watching as she slowly pulls herself off the floor as well and returns to the cabinets. Her hands are shaking as she sorts through the medicines and Zedd is not much better off as he crosses to another cabinet and grabs a bottle.

Opening it, he shakes some pills out into his palm and swallows them dry making the woman give him a curious look. Shaking his head his only response is, "Later."

Nodding and moving to me, she hands me a half a dozen colorful pills and a cup of water. "Take these and then I'll unwrap your ribs. After your bath, I'm going to try a different treatment on them to help them heal faster."

Looking at the pills in my hand and not sure about taking things when I don't know just what they'll do, I glance back up to see her studying me curiously. "What are they?"

"It'd take a while to explain exactly what each does, but I promise they will not make you feel strangely like I'm sure the drugs the doctors on Earth did. These really are just to help you heal."

Warily, I take the pills and let her lead me over to the exam table, handing the cup to Zedd as I go and knowing he's watching everything very carefully.

Helping me out of my shirt when she sees me struggling with the buttons, she gently eases it off before starting to unwind the bandage Zedd had placed around my ribs two days ago, speaking gently to me as she does.

"Be careful of the bruise on his right side."

Glancing up and giving Zedd a look, Pina shakes her head before continuing, choosing not to address his order. That is until another is given in the same manner only seconds later.

"Don't pull too tightly on the end of the bandage it'll stick to his skin and hurt if you do." And another. "Wait no not like that either." And another. "He has a bruise on his back as well maybe you should-"

"Zedd who's the doctor here?" Looking at him sternly as she finally removes the bandage completely, her hands quickly finding her hips.

"I'm just saying-"

"Yes you are. You're just saying, and saying, and saying. Stop saying. I know what I'm doing and in case you haven't noticed I've yet to harm him. So please, with all due respect, sit down and shut up until I finish what I need to get done and then you can take him and be as over protective as you wish." Waiting to see what he will do, but seeming to know he will bow due to the fact she apparently is the one with the most medical training, she turns back to me satisfied when he huffs and moves to take another pill.

Heaving a sigh and turning back to me, she studies the surface damage and her eyes flame once more before she addresses me again. "Will you let me do a scan to see how you're healing and maybe take some blood?"

Puzzled, I just look at her, unsure why she needs to take blood if all she's trying to fix right now is my ribs.

She answers my unspoken question quickly and calmly. "I want to do some blood tests to make sure that all the drugs they gave you are out of your system. If they are, then tomorrow I can give you some stronger medicine." Stronger? Stronger is good, right?

I blink for a minute, processing what she said and as she opens her mouth to perhaps try and convince me further, I nod. I don't like it, but I'll let her if it's what she needs to do.

Grabbing a hand held scanner first she runs it all over me three times before checking what it says and seeming satisfied.

"Am I okay?"

"You're fine, just a few minor things, nothing to worry about at all." Setting it aside she next picks up a needle and little glass tube making me look away as I do not want to see her stick me.

A couple of minutes later she announces that we're done and I have never been so happy to hear those words. "All done. All right you can go with Zedd for your bath while I start these tests and get you some fresh clothes, but beyond that you're free for the night. Okay?"

"Okay." I slide off the table and head for the door right behind Zedd, not sure how 'free' I am since I technically have to go do something I never want to do again.

-oooo-

Still a little shaky I follow Zedd as he leads me back to my room and into the attached bathroom. Flipping on the light, closing the door, and moving to the large white tub across the room he starts the water running and after a minute feels it testingly.

Turning back to me he gestures for me to come closer. "You'll need to feel the water, Thomas. Let me know if it's hot enough."

Keeping one eye on him, I slowly do as asked, reaching into the half full tub and feeling the temperature of the water, before finding myself amazed at just how hot it is. I had forgotten that water could feel like that, not having had it that way since before I got hurt. Pulling back after a moment I shake my head just a bit. "It's a little too hot."

Frowning and adjusting the temperature slightly he lets it fill a bit more before asking me to check again.

Nodding as the cooler water has helped get it to just the right temperature I for a brief moment can't wait to get in, before all of my fears over it return. "That's good."

"You're sure?" Looking uncertain, probably due to how uncertain I look, he in the end though lets it be after I give another nod. "All right. Just give it another minute or two to fill, oh wait." Moving past me to the counter and grabbing a bright purple bottle that's been set by the sink he pours a bit of the liquid inside into the bath creating a thin layer of light purple bubbles over the water. "Pina insisted I have you use this, something about it being therapeutic. I don't know. A lot of what she says I don't quite understand, but if it will help you in some way than I will use it."

Biting my tongue so as not to make a comment about him not understanding women very well as even I can kind of understand why she'd want him to add bubble bath, I settle for another nod watching the tub fill up the rest of the way.

Stopping the water once it's full enough, he turns his back to me, moving to stand over by the door. "I'll keep my back to you until you've removed your clothes and gotten in if that will make you more comfortable. Once you're in and settled I'll sit over by the sink if you'd like me to stay."

Taking a deep breath and watching him closely to make sure his back stays turned, I slip out of the remainder of my clothes and step into the tub. I gingerly lower myself into the water and sigh as I feel the warmth seeping into my bones.

"Are you in?"

"Yes."

Turning back around and sitting down as he said he would by the counter and sink, he reaches into one of the cabinets under the counter as he speaks up once again. "The soap is on the little shelf next to you and I can toss you a cloth from here, if you like."

I nod, not wanting him to really get up or come closer right now and a moment later a small black ball of fabric lands in the water in front of me. I soap the cloth and begin washing myself almost wishing he'd talk to me as the silence is becoming a bit unnerving.

"You shouldn't have yelled at Pina, it wasn't her fault that I got upset about what she said. She didn't know."

Looking up in surprise, he tilts his head slightly considering what I said. "She should have been watching you more closely when introducing a new activity. If she had she would have stopped talking about it and begun reassuring you, and you wouldn't have had time to get so upset."

"It was an accident. You hurt her feelings; you should tell her you're sorry."

Smiling slightly, he looks at me for a long moment before finally responding in an almost amused tone. "Despite it all, you still put others first." What?

"What does that mean?"

"I'll explain later. Finish washing before the water cools. I'd like to keep your core temperature up, especially with how chilly it will be tonight."

Frowning at not being told just what he meant by his last comment about putting others first I reach to do my back and gasp in pain as my ribs shift. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Zedd flinch before his tone softens, "Be careful, Thomas. Don't injure yourself further."

Still feeling a little pain from that move I debate on what to do, knowing that I will hurt myself further if I try it again. Sighing as I realize that I can't wash my hair either I know that I need help. Biting my lip and looking at Zedd I know he's been trustworthy so far, but can I trust him with this. I look at him and my gaze runs across his crotch. It dawns on me that he's not aroused by this, or not noticeably at least, and my hope rises a little. "Can you help me?"

Remaining where he is, another plus as he doesn't jump at the chance to get his hands on me, he asks calmly, "What exactly do you want help with?" He's asking?

Hope rises a little more as I answer, "My back and my hair."

Nodding and leaving his position, he kneels by the tub holding his hand out for the cloth. "If that's all you need, than that's all that I'll do."

With shaking hands, I hand it over and put my hands in my lap, covering myself as best I can as the layer of purple foam has disappeared for the most part and of course at the worst possible time.

He says nothing as he takes the soapy cloth and begins washing my back, careful not rub too hard on any of the bruises, or go any further than my waist. A quick rinse later and he frowns. "You'll have to dunk under the water to get your hair wet. If you can do this yourself that's fine, if not then you can lie back on my hands and I'll help you."

Okay, I had forgotten about that. "I can do it." Unsure if I can bend that far over or not with my ribs like they are I gather my courage and dip my head under the surface, coming up quickly and with little pain from it.

Giving me a minute to wipe my face and get situated he then picks up the soap. "I think the soap will do this time unless you really want the shampoo and conditioner." Not really caring what he uses so long as it's over with quickly, I shake my head.

"All right, but if Pina asks we used the shampoo and conditioner." Soaping up my hair and quickly working it into a good lather I know that if I wasn't so nervous I would really enjoy the feeling of someone washing my hair.

Almost done with it, Zedd pauses as there is a small tap on the door and Pina's voice comes through it. "I have clothes for you, Tommy. Zedd, he'll probably need help with his hair."

Chuckling, Zedd gives an easy response back. "Already on it. He's almost ready to rinse." Washing his hands off in the water, he stands up and heads for the door. "You rinse your hair while I grab the clothes from her. I don't think you're ready for her to see you yet." No, him seeing me like this is more than enough for one day.

Waiting until he's moved out into the hall, closing the door behind him most of the way, I dunk my head under a couple of times to make sure all the soap is out before carefully standing and grabbing a towel from the rack on the wall.

Wrapping one around my waist and hoping it'll stay with how I tuck it in place I grab another and start drying my stomach, arms, and legs, running into trouble once more with my back and hair. Hissing as my ribs are starting to bother me more and more with all of the moving around, I look up as Zedd moves back into the room, the door once more closed behind him.

Setting the clothes on the sink and stepping around me he lets the water out of the tub. "Well, you did need that bath, didn't you?"

Forgetting about my dripping hair for the moment I look at the water, which is a disgusting shade of gray and make a face. "Gross. I um, I can't dry my back and hair." Looking away and beginning to feel just a bit embarrassed having to have him help me, I stand still as he takes the black towel from my hands and quickly dries the two remaining spots without question.

"Huh." The interested noise getting my attention I raise my eyes to see him studying my hair closely before turning to put the towel back up to dry.

"What?" Growling to myself as I try to touch my head to see what caught his attention only to realize I can't without pain, I look at him curiously, now really wanting to know. "What is it?"

"Hm? Oh your hair."

"What about it?" Is there something wrong with it? Did I not get all of the soap out? Moving to the mirror which is over the sink I look at it closely not really seeing anything wrong.

"Nothing, I just didn't realize it was naturally curly. When you were younger you must have always straightened it, and now it's short - and if gelled or greasy - spiked, but when clean and with no product in it, it curls a bit. See?" Running his fingers through it and messing up the already messy and wet locks, he smiles a bit.

"Yeah." Pulling my head away not liking the playful - petting? - in my hair, I shake my head a bit trying to fix it somehow without lifting my arm up. "It's always been like that I think."

Done drying I reach for my clothes and with a little help manage to get the shirt on, though I let Zedd button it, before turning my back to him and pulling the loose black pants on sighing as they're a little too big just like the last pair.

Turning back to ask Zedd when Pina will get me some clothes that fit like she said I stop as I see him sitting on the edge of the tub looking thoughtful.

"I'm trying to figure out the best way to shave you. Can you do it yourself or do you need help? I don't very much like the idea of giving you a razor if you're unsure about doing it right now."

Slightly offended, since I've been shaving myself for years, I open my mouth to tell him this only to have a huge yawn escape first. Once it's over I forget about my annoyance with his question instead asking, "Can it wait until tomorrow?"

Grinning as if this is the most amusing thing he's ever seen his response is light and understanding. "I think it's going to have to. Might as well get some sleep and we can tackle that before breakfast."

Nodding tiredly - unsure why I am so tired - I leave the bathroom and head straight for my new bed.

Following behind me Zedd leaves the light on in the bathroom and the door open slightly, responding to my curious look as he helps me get situated under the covers much like Pina had earlier. "So you can find it in the middle of the night if you need it." Oh well that makes sense. And it's a lot better than him saying it's because he's worried I'll get scared or something.

Once comfortable and laying back my mouth speaks of its own volition. "Will you stay until I fall asleep?"

He grins again and I've got to wonder what it is I say and do that make him so happy. "I doubt it'll be long, but yes."

"Thanks. Night."

Taking a seat in the chair by the window he relaxes easily a smile still on his face. "Good night Thomas. Pleasant dreams."

Falling asleep quickly, my last real thought is that I hope he's right.