Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Author's note: So I tried to add some anger in here from Lucius. Please read and review!
Wide Awake: Chapter 2
"What the bloody hell happen to your face?" Lucius asked his wife as she walked back into their bedroom to shower and dress for Bellatrix's appointment.
"Nothing." Narcissa said as she stripped down to her underwear and walked back into the bathroom.
"Nothing my arse!" He said angrily as she advanced on his wife and turned her face upwards so he could look at it in the light.
Narcissa turned her face away and moved out of her husband's grip, moving further into the bathroom to start the shower.
"It's nothing Lucius; please don't make a big deal out this." Narcissa said coldly.
He didn't like this rare side of his wife. Her coldness to the subject of Bellatrix only made him angrier that the woman was still in his home. He didn't like the person Narcissa became around Bellatrix, and he was determined to talk his wife into making her go back to her own Manor.
"How many times has she hit you?" Lucius asked.
"What?" Narcissa asked taking off her bra.
"You heard me." He said crossing his arms over his broad chest.
"I can't answer that Lucius." Narcissa said resuming her undressing.
She climbed into the shower and began to lather up her body and wash her hair. He still didn't leave the bathroom; he was determined to get to the bottom of this.
"Cissa…I just don't like who you become around Bellatrix. She changes you, and not for the better." Lucius said.
Narcissa peeked her head out around the shower curtain to glare at her husband who didn't back away and stood his ground. He wasn't going to let her dismiss his opinion about her sister anymore.
"I know Lucius…I know what she does to me…But I can't just throw her out!" Narcissa said indignantly.
"Cissa it's not like she doesn't have her own house to go to! Or her own money!" Lucius shouted.
Narcissa rolled her eyes and closed the shower curtain.
"I know Lucius." Narcissa said talking over the spray of hot water.
"Then why do you allow her to stay here? It's been two years and she doesn't do anything but make you upset! I mean she stays out of the way and doesn't talk to myself or Draco, but I spent years watching you be upset over everything that was going on, and now that we are free, I don't see why she has to be here." Lucius said moving closer to the shower.
Narcissa rinsed and turned off the water, she took the towel Lucius handed her and wrapped it around her body and stepped out of the shower.
"She is here because I want her here. Lucius you spent time in Azkaban, you know what its like. Bella spent 15 years there…can you imagine? She is very different. She wasn't this way before she went in, I mean even you can agree on that…He made her that way…" Narcissa said.
Lucius said nothing at this. It was true, what she had said about Azkaban and Voldemort. He knew Bellatrix in school, she was a little ruthless and insensitive but she wasn't crazy and insane.
"Okay, so why is she here Cissa? Do you think she can't take care of herself?" Lucius asked seriously.
"It's not the Lucius…she is in a very vulnerable state…though she projects this air of confidence and independence, she is just as weak and vulnerable as the rest of us. I am not trying to protect her Lucius…I am trying to comfort her…let her know that I am still here for her." Narcissa replied finally drying off and changing into a pair of jeans and a blue button up shirt.
Lucius considered Narcissa's words for a few moments, he knew that she was only trying to help her sister, and her compassion was one of the things that had stolen his heart all those years ago, but his patience had limitations. And seeing that bruise on Narcissa's face just broke that patience.
"She won't be here forever, I know she hates it here, but I am keeping her here until I know that she is stable enough to be alone. I am hoping that this court ordered therapy will help her." Narcissa said waving her wand, instantly drying her long blonde hair.
"Let's hope. I want my wife back." He said softly.
"You haven't lost me Lu. I have just been busy, you know that I love you." Narcissa said moving to stand in front of him.
"I know." He said smiling.
They kissed, and Narcissa put on her shoes and picked up her purse.
"Are you going to cover that?" He asked gesturing to the gash on Narcissa's cheek.
"No, she needs to deal with things instead of suppressing them." Narcissa said quickly.
"Do you really think that is wise?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
"Well, no. Honestly I don't know how she will react. She will both ignore it and pretend that it never happened, or she will justify it and say that I deserved it, or she will be moody and agitated by the sight of it. She is still so unpredictable." Narcissa replied.
"Either way, you lose." Lucius said.
"Yes." Narcissa replied sighing.
"You better get going; you don't want to miss that appointment." He said.
Narcissa nodded and grabbed her blazer and left the room. Once downstairs she found Bellatrix waiting for her in the sitting room.
"Ready?" Bellatrix asked.
"Yes, let's go." Narcissa said opening the front door.
Bellatrix followed her to her car and climbing the front seat. She buckled herself and Narcissa started the car, turning on the radio.
"Why didn't you cover that?' Bellatrix asked looking sideways at her sister's bruised face.
Now that Bellatrix looked at it an hour and a half after the fact it looked ten times worse. She did feel slightly sorry, she knew that she shouldn't have hit Narcissa, but she couldn't control the anger that built inside of her. Narcissa was her only outlet now that she was staying with her and Bellatrix knew that she had to try and get better for Narcissa.
"I'm sorry." Bellatrix whispered.
"I know." Narcissa said.
She knew that Bellatrix was really torn up about it, but she wasn't going to admit it. Even though Bellatrix had apologized it still seemed like it didn't matter to her that she had actually hit Narcissa.
"I will go to this therapy thing Cissy. But I am only going for you." Bellatrix said as they pulled onto a side alley where the visitors' entrance to the Ministry of Magic stood waiting.
"Don't do it just for me, do it for you Bella." Narcissa said getting out of the car.
Bellatrix followed and Narcissa waved her wand, casting a disillusionment charm on her car before placing it back inside her jacket.
"I am scared Cissy…what if…what if this doesn't work? Am I to be forever mad?" Bellatrix asked.
That statement caused Narcissa to gasp a little. She had never heard Bellatrix open up and admit something like that. She supposed that the fear of actually once and for all confronting her crimes and insanity drove Bellatrix to confess that she was in all sense of the word scared shitless.
"You'll be fine Bella. You are strong. Just because you have some serious and deep rooted issues, doesn't mean that you can't have a normal life. You're not who you used to be, you have the chance to start over." Narcissa said taking her sister's hand.
"I don't know how you understand me so well." Bellatrix said, and she actually smiled at her baby sister who smiled back.
"I know you better than you think Bella. You have to give me more credit than that." Narcissa said.
"I know…Cissy I really am sorry about this." Bellatrix said cupping her sister's injured cheek.
"It looks worse than it feels." Narcissa said.
"Can I heal it?" Bellatrix asked.
"No, leave it to heal like it should. Bella it's time you start confronting your actions, and this is where it starts." Narcissa replied.
Bellatrix nodded and leaned forward to place a soft kiss on the bruised and angry gash. Narcissa flinched but recovered as she felt Bellatrix press her lips to hers. And she wasn't surprised to taste salt. Bellatrix was crying again.
"Let's go Bella." Narcissa said against her sister's lips.
She took Bellatrix's hand and they two women entered the Ministry of Magic.
TBC...