Chapter Eighteen
"Kate, is my name" Ninon said, later, under Athos's stony gaze. "It's short for Caitlin. Though technically, it's my middle name."
"Technically," he said, flatly.
At the raised eyebrow, she pursed her lips. Very nice lips, he thought, before checking himself.
"You seem more annoyed at my name than the fact I'm your assigned bodyguard," she said, firmly, before lifting her hand and tidying her hair.
It was a gesture he had seen her use many times over the last week or so, and it had become familiar. Or was it her who was now familiar?
"I thought you were a bit bossy for a nurse," he muttered, under his breath, his face like thunder.
"My first name is Ninon, but I grew a little tired of correcting all the mispronunciations. Nina, Nita, Nora ...etc. So, "Kate" seemed simpler.
"I imagine with a name like yours, though," she continued as she efficiently tidied up the bed, "You can handle it. After all, Athos isn't your first name either, is it, Olivier."
"That is classified," he snarled, although he merely received a raised eyebrow in return; his own weapon of choice. This was becoming very frustrating.
"Who gave you the authority to read my file!" he demanded.
"Special Forces. I have the authority and the rank," she replied haughtily.
However, if Athos did one demeanour well, it was haughty. He could match this.
"I will challenge that," he said, folding his arms.
"Take it up with your CO, Olivier," she replied, folding her own arms. "It was Treville who gave me access."
"What ...!" he spluttered.
"Standard practise. But you know that," she replied.
He was aware he was being pedantic and even cold to this woman who had nursed him and today, had protected him, saving his life. Why was he behaving like this? They subsided into the heavy weight of sullen silence, each too stubborn to break it. He reached up and began to pick at the new bandage she had put over his cut, recently glued together to save him stitches.
Finally, she took a pen from her pocket and whipped back the sheet that covered his foot, scribbling something on his cast before he realised.
"What are you doing!" he demanded, pulling his foot back.
It was too late.
There on the cast was a large smiley face.
Athos groaned.
"An excellent depiction," she said. "An antidote to the usual melancholy of your features."
He stared at her open mouthed for the longest moment, totally lost for words.
"Now, I just have to write your name underneath. Ol .." she added, raising her pen once more;
He sat up quickly and threw the sheet over his foot.
"Don't you dare!" he snarled, grimacing at the effort it had taken, before subsiding back onto his pillows, watching as she put the pen back in her pocket with a satisfied smile of triumph.
"Now I will have to wear a sock over that," he grumbled.
"Yes, we wouldn't want anything resembling a smile about your person," she sighed in exasperation, before turning to go.
As she reached the door, he spoke quietly;
"Ninon."
She turned.
It's a beautiful name," he said, softly. "You should use it."
"So is Athos," she conceded, acknowledging his dislike for his own given name.
She walked slowly back.
"Thank you, Monsieur," she smiled and tilted her head in acknowledgement, though she didn't add that she had stopped using her own name when Mark died. She couldn't bear to hear in on anyone else's lips.
Until now.
He watched as she moved to the bottom of the bed and sat on the chair by the window.
They looked at each other impassively. Neither talking, neither looking away.
Just then, Treville, Porthos and Aramis came into the room, having given Ninon time to talk to her taciturn patient.
"He's not finished," Athos said, before they could speak.
And, just like that, the spell was broken. Mendez dominated once more.
"He's gone from here Athos," Treville said. "Surely even he won't attempt another attack here."
"That is not his modus operandi," Athos said, his voice low with anger as he lay propped up on pillows. "We know he will come back."
"I'm putting extra guards on the floor," Treville said. "While we make arrangement to move you."
"No," Athos replied, raising his head and fixing his Captain with a determined glare. "Mendez is a psychopath. I will not put people in danger. It's me he wants."
"Athos ..." Aramis said.
"Get me a wheelchair," Athos said, cutting him off.
oOo
"You can't operate a wheelchair," Ninon pointed out, a little later, when they were alone once more.
"Then find me an electric one," Athos replied, crossly. "I am sure someone of your calibre can manage that," he added, coldly.
"That's not fair," she said, defiantly, glaring at him.
After a moment, he looked at her.
"No," he replied. "No, it's not and I apologise. You saved my life."
"I do owe you an apology," she said, quietly, a few moments later.
"For what?" he asked.
"I over reacted, that time we were talking about your job."
"I didn't notice," he said.
"Yes, you did," she replied with a sigh.
"You lost someone," he stated.
"Yes. His name was Mark. He was Special Forces too. I met him in similar circumstances to you. I nursed him back to health. I fell in love with him. One day, he went on a mission and never came back."
"I see," he said. It did explain why she had cut him off that morning. He had suspected there were underlying issues but would never have probed.
"It was all for nothing," she added. "I swore I would never let myself feel like that again."
"That would be a shame," he said quietly.
"I trained for this," she said, firmly. "When Treville tasked me with guarding you, I wasn't sure. It was still too raw. Then, when I thought you didn't value your life, I ..." her voice trailed off.
"It's not that I don't value my life," he said. "For a long time, admittedly, I didn't. but that changed when I met Aramis and Porthos."
"I could see how you fought. And I can see the bond you all have," she said, gently.
"They are infuriating," he huffed. "But we are brothers, in all but blood," he replied. "We work well together."
"It's more than that," she said.
"Yes, it is," he smiled.
"Please." she said. "This time. Walk away."
Athos tensed and his smile was suddenly.
"This man needs to be caught," he ground out. "I cannot," he said. He reached up to rub the tension from his forehead.
"I'm so sick of it," he added, before sighing and turning his attention to her. "So sick of him winning."
"It's difficult when one slips through the net," she said, turning away.
Athos had the remote in his hand and pressed the button without replying.
The bed lifted up until he was sitting a little straighter.
She turned and pinned him with a cool blue glare of her own.
"Your ribs are cracked, your kidneys are bruised, you have a broken foot and a broken arm. You were sedated for a week and you have only recently stood for the first time since your accident."
"It wasn't an accident, Doctor," Athos replied tersely, conveniently ignoring the rest of her statement.
"Since the attack!" she hissed. She hated being corrected. "Since the bloody ambush!"
"And let's not mention our recent brush with death a mere few hours ago! I do include myself in that one," she said.
He did not reply for a long moment.
"I am well aware of my limitations," he said then.
"He is such a dangerous man," she added, aware she was losing her argument. "I looked into his eyes, Athos! Such cold, cold eyes."
"We can all be dangerous when we choose to be," he replied.
She deflated, tired of arguing. Turning, she walked to the window and looked out, her back to him.
"They told me you were stubborn."
He huffed.
"They were right. For once. I imagine you too have a stubborn streak."
She smiled, a faint smile, but did not reply.
"Were you married?" Athos asked, softly.
She shook her head.
"I don't believe I am the marrying kind," she replied. "Too independent. So I am told."
"It is not for everyone," he conceded.
"Do you speak from experience?" she asked, turning back to look at him, leaning against the wall, her hands behind her back.
"I do," he finally replied.
"I have known marriage to work," she said. "But I never needed it."
"Interesting choice of words," he said.
"How so?"
"Is it a question of need or want?"
"Ah, I see," she smiled. "Like chocolate."
He laughed, softly.
"I suppose so," he said. "Though I don't care for it myself."
"Now you introduce another element into it," she said.
He blinked a few times.
"We all care for something," he said.
"That's true," she replied. "For good or for bad."
They both sank into a pensive silence, before she pushed off the wall.
"You're tired and I am not being very professional," she said.
"It's good to talk," he replied. "So they tell me."
He smiled then and held out his hand;
"Hello, Ninon. I'm Athos," he said softly.
She took his hand. A new beginning, it seemed.
He drew her hand to his lips and kissed her finger tips.
"What are you planning to do?" she said, warily, tilting her head at him.
He released her hand and looked up at her with an intensity that intrigued her.
"Join us and you will find out," he said.
To be continued ...
