Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters mentioned, they are property of Seven. I'm just playing with them for a bit.\
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Saving Grace is a series of one shots that follow on from one another, depicting the lives of Matilda Hunter and Lucas Holden.
Full Summary: Matilda Hunter is forced to live a life she hates. And loves. Stuck between life and death, she hovers, waiting for someone to come and save her. Waiting for that one moment that will change her life. Lucas Holden has been forgotten for most of his life... for alcohol, for the endless stream of men his mother would bring home. He's told he's special, but he refuses to believe them. What will happen when serendipity takes hold of their lives, and a series of random events lead to one ultimate mistake?
Rated M for drug & alcohol abuse, sexual situations and suicidal thoughts. You have been warned. Do not read further if you are uncomfortable with these things.
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Saving Grace
Chapter Six: Damaged
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I turned the corner and there she was, alone, in the dark, damp, alley. Slumped over, lying against a cold brick wall, her eyes shut tightly, her arms wrapped around herself protectively. The barely existent skirt she had chosen to wear was riding up her thighs, revealing the bright red g-string she wore underneath. As I approached her cautiously, I saw that her make-up had become smudged, her mascara was left running down her tear stained cheeks.
I heard her whimper gently as I bent down towards her. For a brief moment, her eyes opened, and a flicker of recognition flashes on her face. But it was gone the instant my skin touched her own, as my arms moved around her, scooping her almost lifeless form up in them, and pulling her towards me. She made a feeble attempt at fighting me off, but soon gave up, bruised, battered, exhausted, and clung tightly to my chest, as small sobs escaped her perfect lips, and the tears ran gently into my shirt. I pulled her closer once more, and began to carry her home.
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Dreaming comes so easily
'Cause it's all that I've known
True love is a fairy tale
I'm damaged, so how would I know
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I lay her down tenderly, covering her near naked body with my thick quilt as she snuggled deeply into the bed and began to breathe deeply, a content look appearing on her face. I smiled a little, as I ran my fingers gently through her hair, as her breathing became calm, stable. And she rolled over, becoming lost in her own dreams, hopefully in a better place than she had been tonight.
Standing up, I walked over to my desk and pulled the chair out, bringing it back to the bed. I knew I wouldn't be sleeping tonight, not when she could suddenly wake up and decide to continue to ruin her life. Not when she could decide to walk out of mine, without letting me explain. Without letting me in.
As I watched her delicate features rise and fall with the breaths she took, I wondered what could possibly have tainted a girl so much that she becomes this… barely living, barely breathing, barely human… thing… who just wanted to make the world disappear. Who just didn't want to be anymore.
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I'm scared and
I'm alone
I'm ashamed
And I need for you to know
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Some time later, a thin line of harsh sunlight managed to filter its way through the blinds and fall directly in her line of vision. She stirred a little, rubbing her hands over her eyes as she yawned, before clamping her eyes shut tightly, groaning before she pulled the covers up over her head. After about five seconds she realised she wasn't in her own bed, and her head came gingerly out of the covers, as she glared at me.
"Where am I?" She snapped, her voice raw still from the nights crying.
"In my room." I replied, meeting her eyes as she continued to glare.
"Why am I here?" She continued, as she broke the gaze to look around the room.
"Thought you might like a decent nights sleep for once." I replied, as I stood up and walked over to the mini-fridge I'd had installed a couple of months ago. I pulled a can of coke out and walked back over to her, holding it out as she looked at it suspiciously.
"Don't you trust anyone?" I asked, and with an exaggerated eye roll she reached out and snatched the can out of my hand.
"You're welcome." I said as I sat down in the chair again. She glared at me, but willingly accepted the cool liquid as it rolled down her dry throat.
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I didn't say all the things that I wanted to say
And you can't take back what you've taken away
'Cause I feel you, I feel you near me
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We sat in silence for several moments, and I watched the thousands of thoughts she had swirl in her eyes. Finally, she sat up higher in the bed, pulling the quilt around herself tightly, as she turned to look at me, and said, "Why bother?"
I looked at her, shocked, confused, hurt. How could she not understand why I did this… any of this… how could she not see the truth behind everything? That I just wanted to be with her, to hold her, to keep her safe from harm. That all I wanted was for us to be together, to face the world, and not be alone any more.
"Maddie." My voice came out strangled, as I reached forward, but she shrank away at my touch. "How can you not see it?" I said, leaning back in my chair as I watched tears begin to well in her eyes. "How can you not see how stunning you are? How amazing, talented, funny you are."
She shook her head, and moved back further against the wall. But I was undeterred.
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I didn't say all the things that I wanted to say
And you can't take back what you've taken away
'Cause I feel you, I feel you near me
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"Maddie," I said, standing up and sitting on the bed. "I just want to get to know you. I just want to make sure you're safe. I just want to protect you." I said, taking her hand and rubbing it gently.
Her lip quivered and the tears fell gently, but her eyes refused to meet mine. She shook her head, and I sat there, waiting for her to finally realise that it was okay to need to feel safe. That it was okay to need to feel loved.
Finally, she looked up, and her tear stained eyes met mine.
"I don't deserve to be loved." She said, her breath shaking. "I don't need to be."
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Healing comes so painfully
And it chills to the bone
Will anyone get close to me?
I'm damaged, as I'm sure you know
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I sighed, as I pulled her into me. She fought me, until she could fight no more. And then she melted into my arms. She wept into my chest, and clawed at my shirt, trying to pull me closer to her, as if she was trying to become one with me. As if she just wanted to be me.
"You need to know that I can deal with everything you throw at me, that I can always be here for you. I need you to know that I want to love you, want to be with you. That I want to save you." I said, as she looked up at me.
"I don't know if I can be saved." She whispered, as she clung tightly to me, and I rocked her in my arms, lulling her into sleep.
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There's mending for my soul
An ending to this fear
Forgiveness for a man who was stronger
I was just a little girl, but I can't go back
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AN: There you go guys. The plot thickens. I hope you enjoyed it. More soon! Also, thanks to Kate for proofing, and for your reviews, I'm always happy knowing you guys enjoy my stories!