Author's Note: Here is another chapter for you guys! I've been trying to spend some extra time working on finishing it up for you. I appreciate all the reviews you guys have left me for this story. I will try to post another chapter here soon. I'm unsure if I will write another story after this one, so let me know if you would be interested in reading another one from me!
Lots of Love!
Ana POV
I wake up and it's dark. Christian is not in bed any longer. I have an aching need to pee and I'm starving. I gently sit up and wait a moment to make sure my mind is clear enough to get up. I stand up gently and walk along the wall into the bathroom. Once I've relieved myself, I grab my silk gown to cover myself enough to go get food from the kitchen. I make it to the doorway of the bedroom when my legs start to shake again. I lean against the door frame giving myself a little break. I close my eyes trying to pull myself together enough to make it to a chair.
"Mrs. Grey?" I hear Sawyer call out. I open my eyes to see Sawyer coming quickly towards me. "Do you need something Mrs. Grey?" he asks.
"Where's Christian?" I ask.
"He's asleep in his office Ma'am," he responds. "Shall I wake him for you?" he asks.
"No, please. He's exhausted. Let him sleep. Can you help me to the kitchen? I'm hungry," I ask.
"I'll ask Mrs. Jones to make you something. Why don't you get back into bed? You need your rest Mrs. Grey. Let me help you," he gently commands. I nod my head and lean into him as he walks me back to my bed. I sit down gently on the edge, but I'm sitting on my silk gown and it's pulling tight against my burns.
"Can you get Gail? I need to get this off," I ask him motioning to my gown as the panic sets in. He nods and rushes from the room. A moment later Mrs. Jones appears in the doorway.
"May I help you?" she asks kindly.
"I need this off please," I beg gesturing to my gown again.
"Yes Mrs. Grey. Can you stand a moment to get it above your waist?" she asks. I nod doing as she's asked. Once it's cleared my waist I sit gently. She pulls it up over my head effectively ending the burning on my chest. I breathe a sigh of relief until I see her eyes welling with tears. I can't look at her any longer, so I stare at my feet. She must notice because she shifts back to professional Gail. "I hear you're hungry. Can I make you something?" she asks.
"I'd like some soup, vegetable, if we have it," I reply.
"Absolutely Mrs. Grey. I'll be back with it in a moment. Can I get you anything else?" she asks.
"I need my meds and maybe some tea," I reply. She leaves the room to start on her task gently squeezing my hand before she goes. A half hour later she returns with everything I've asked for. I notice she's also brought me a couple of cookies. She places it on my nightstand and helps me sit a little taller in bed. She places my tray on my lap and I begin eating. "This is delicious Gail! Thank you!" I gush.
"You're very welcome Mrs. Grey. May I sit with you until you finish?" she asks me. I nod so she takes a seat beside me making light conversation while I finish eating. When I've finished eating, she takes my tray and readjusts me so I'm laying down again. I'm feeling much better now that I've eaten and taken my medicine. I fall asleep dreaming of grey eyes in a little baby boy.
Christian POV
"Mr. Grey," Mrs. Jones whispers beside me. "Would you like some breakfast?" I open my eyes surprised to see Gail dressed in uniform and the sun out. I blink a few times trying to place the situation. I glance at my phone to see it's almost 8 A.M. I must have fallen asleep in my office. Shit! Ana!
"I need to check on Ana!" I yell jumping out of my chair.
"She's fine Mr. Grey. She's just finished her breakfast and is drinking a cup of tea in bed chatting with Sawyer. She's had her meds throughout the night, and she had dinner," Mrs. Jones reassures me. I breathe a sigh of relief. I really need to pay her more. "You must be starving. May I start your omelet Sir?" she asks smiling.
"Please," I reply. "Thank you for taking care of Ana. I didn't intend to fall asleep. It's unacceptable that I did so," I continue.
"Ana insisted we let you sleep. She's been fine though Sir. Sawyer stayed up with her and got me when needed," she smiles at me. Maybe I need to lighten up with Sawyer. I've been extra hard on him since Ana got hurt. He's doing everything he can to prove that he will take care of her at every turn. I need to get with Taylor and cancel his termination. I leave my study and head to our bedroom. I find Ana leaning against the pile of pillows enjoying her tea chatting with Sawyer. I notice a few manuscripts from SIP sitting on the bedside table.
"Working from home Mrs. Grey?" I question her jokingly. Sawyer stands to exit as I enter the room. "Sawyer I'd like a word with you this evening. I'll have Taylor get you after dinner time," He nods before leaving the room.
"Just some busy work while the old man was snoring," she returns. It's so good to see her so lively. "Mrs. Jones is making you an omelet. You've got to be famished," she says pointedly. It's so like her to be more concerned about me then herself. I open my mouth to scold her, but Gail comes in with a tray for my breakfast.
"Thank you, Gail," I reply taking it from her. I look at the bed for a place to sit, but its full of pillows. I can't help but frown.
"Mrs. Jones, can you help me shift? And let's remove some pillows for Christian," Ana says to Gail. Mrs. Jones smiles brightly and jumps right in before I can protest. A moment later I have a spot right next to Ana and I'm eating my breakfast. Mrs. Jones leaves us to talk.
"How was last night? Sorry I passed out on you. It was irresponsible Anastasia. It won't happen again," I say frustrated with myself.
"I was fine. I got up to get dinner, but Sawyer insisted I stay in bed. He woke Gail to make dinner and he woke me for my meds. I asked them to let you sleep. Do you feel better now?" Ana asks.
"Much… incidentally I think it's because you look like you feel better," I say leaning in to kiss her. She smiles and leans her head on my shoulder while I finish my breakfast. After clearing my plate, I take it to the kitchen and place it in the sink before returning to Ana.
"Christian, can I ask you something?" she asks picking at her fingers.
"Anything Ana. Anything for you," I respond immediately.
"I'd like to shower, but I don't want it to be too much for you. I can call Grace or Gail, but I don't want to upset you." she says carefully. I think about what she's saying before I respond to her. On one hand I want no one to care for her but me. On the other hand, I know seeing her like this will cause me to explode in rage. I need to be strong for her like she has always done for me.
"Let me be the one Ana. I won't lie and tell you I don't wish I could have killed that bastard, but I want to be there for you. It's over Ana. All we can do now is move on," I finish. "Let me see if Gail has a stool you can sit on when we get in the shower," I say before running out to find Gail. A moment later I'm returning with a folding chair for Ana. I go to the shower and turn it on the right temp. After placing the folding chair under the showerhead, I go back to the bedroom for Ana. I realize then that she's wearing her silk gown. I cock my head at her surprised she's even bothered with clothes.
"Sawyer," she says reading my body language. "He was concerned if I needed him last night that I'd be undressed, and you'd be angry. Mrs. Jones dressed me," she finishes. I laugh lightly glad that Sawyer knew how I'd react. I help her to her feet gently leading her to the shower. Just before she steps inside, I pull the slip over her head. I make myself keep eye contact, so the rage doesn't set in.
"Are you steady enough to stand on your own while I undress?" I ask her.
"Yes Sir," she responds leaning against the shower wall. I make quick work of my clothes and grab her. We step into the shower and I hold her while she reaches into the stream of water. "I'm scared to let the water touch the burns," she whispers.
"It hurts at first," I say quietly, "but it fades fast," I respond equally as quiet. I'm staring at her watching her every action closely. I'm taking all my cues from her. She takes a deep breath and steps into the stream letting the water cover her body. I can see the moment the pain hits her and my heart shatters.
"Ah! Christian!" she screams gripping my hand firmly. I try to pull her to me, but she shakes her head, "No Christian! Ah!" she screams again. "I've…. got….to…..get…..used….to…it," she stutters through the pain biting her lip until it bleeds.
"Mrs. Grey!" I hear Sawyer yell as he runs into the bathroom with Gail.
"She's fine Sawyer. She's just showering," I say pointedly.
"Mrs. Grey?" Sawyer asks taking another step closer challenging me. I'm surprised by his audacity to think I'd hurt her.
"I'm good Sawyer," she says taking a seat on the folding chair. I can see the pain leaving her face. The burning is finally leaving. I look up at Sawyer and he nods turning to leave the room. I grab her strawberry shampoo and wash her hair. I take my time massaging her scalp and rinsing it well. I grab her loofa and put her jasmine body wash on it. She leans forward in the chair so I can wash her back.
"Ready for your torso?" I ask gently. Her eyes shoot to mine and after a moment she nods. I wash her belly first then move gently to her ribs. They are still horribly bruised. Anger starts to build, but I force myself to let it go. I make eye contact with her again asking silent permission to wash her chest. She nods again so I continue. I take a gentle sweep across her chest with the loofa and she grabs me tightly. "We can skip it Ana," I say suddenly.
"Again, slower," she says between her teeth. My heart is breaking, but I do as she asks me to. I take the last swipe across her chest where the worst of the burns are, and she sobs.
"Oh Ana! We're done! No more!" I shout dropping to my knees in front of her. She wraps her arms around me and holds me to her. After a few minutes she lets me go.
"Your turn Mr. Grey. Time for my floor show," she chuckles. How does she do that? Turn herself from distressed to control in moments. It took me years to let someone touch me the way that she's letting me touch her. She pulls me out of my thoughts by standing. "Can I wash you?" she asks. I nod and smile at her. She grabs my shampoo and washes my hair. I close my eyes enjoying her nails on my scalp. She grabs my loofa and squirts my bodywash on it. Before I know it, she's washed my whole body and I've felt no fear. How can I be afraid when she is so brave? Ana has changed me… no one can deny that. I offer her a sweet kiss not knowing what to say to her. My heart feels so full, but I can't find the words to tell her. I just hold her instead.
