Leslie woke up and looked in the mirror. Her eyes were red stained and her hair a mess from a bad sleep. And a bad whole day really. She slowly removed her clothes for her shower, refusing to look in the mirror. After she was out and dried, she managed to pull her black work jeans and her long sleeve button up top on.
She breathed steadily, slowly lifting her shirt to examine the damage.
She gasped in shock.
Dark purple bruises covered her entire rib cage in the perfect shape of a fist. You could even see the slight knuckle indents with the bruising pattern. She quickly pulled her shirt down.
Putting on her makeup to try and appear her normal self, her eyes gave away everything. Her embarrassment and her fear of Jamm.
She opened her Tylenol packet only got it to be empty. She cursed in frustration, knowing she wouldn't have time to go to the pharmacy with her finalising her bill today and all the paperwork.
She sighed.
She'd have to try and do her best to act normal, despite her aching ribs.
She snuck into her office early, not even bothering getting her usual coffee. She slowly lowered herself into her chair, her jaw clenched.
She tried to keep her mind off the pain, keeping her head down in her paperwork. A few people noticed something was up, with Tom making PMS comments occasionally but mostly everyone knew to not bother her.
Jerry was not in due to a cold, and people were out with various appointments which left Ron and Leslie alone most of the day. For the first time, Leslie was grateful that Ron kept to himself and didn't wander into her office for small talk.
Leslie sighed heavily, gasping as she remembered her ribs protest.
Her door slowly opened.
Ron stood in the doorway.
"Leslie congratulations on your park. I was expecting an entire cake and office party to celebrate. Is everything okay?"
Ron inquired.
Leslie dodged his eye contact and forced a smile, pretending to be busy with paperwork.
"Oh yeah thanks Ron. Yeah just got a lot of paperwork to do." She looked down.
Ron's eyebrows furrowed and his eyes narrowed but he chose not to pry. He knew she would come talk to him about whatever was bothering her eventually.
"Okay." He stated warmly and turned back towards his office.
Leslie breathed in relief clutching her right side.
She held back tears. She hated jamm with a passion and all the trouble he always caused. She wished she could stand up to him.
The day dredged on with the empty office. Ron and her working in silence.
Ron sat pretending to do some work, pondering Leslie behaviour.
He was surprised to find himself growing concerned at the normally bubbly and irritating Leslie Knope acting so reserved. He knew it would come out eventually.
Leslie finished the last of her paperwork, and suddenly grew nervous. She realised she would need Ron's signature now to make the park proposal official. Knowing how excited Ron knew she was about the park would only leave him suspicious if she didn't get his signature today.
She sighed in exasperation.
Slowly pulling herself up from the desk, she muffled an exclamation as she stretched her bruised ribs. She felt lightheaded as she reminded herself to breathe through the pain.
She acted as casual as possible, lifting her head up in faked confidence as she walked to Ron's office and opened the door.
"Hi Ron, can you please sign this and then I'll be out of your hair."
She slowly walked to his desk and lowered the paperwork into his hands.
He looked up interested.
"Yes, sure Leslie. Normally I can't say this honestly, but today, you're no bother." He smiled warmly.
She forced a smile.
To her surprise, Ron stood up and walked around his desk to sit on the edge, close to leslie.
She continued breathing normally, using all her energy to keep her expression neutral.
He sighed her paperwork as she tried to ignore her lightheadedness as she took shallow breaths.
He put the paper down and met her eyes in concern.
"You know, normally I wouldn't pry, but you are my friend so I will. Is everything okay? You look pale."
Ron said warmly, looking at her face.
Her eyes slightly welled up as she swallowed the lump in her throat.
"Yes, thanks Ron, I'm just glad I've got all this park stuff sorted. "She forced a smile as her passed her the paperwork.
The dizziness grew worse as it felt like she couldn't take a deep enough breath. Ron's eyes noticed her pale face and serious expression.
"Leslie, are you alright?" His eyes narrowed.
"I,I'm fine Ron, just didn't sleep well last night-" Leslie swayed slightly as Ron jumped up, his hand shooting out to stabilise her side as she leaned off balance. As bad luck would have it, this happened to be her bruised side.
Ron's hand brushed Leslie's ribs as scream of pain erupted her lips and she crumpled sideways.
"Leslie!" Shear horror rang out in Ron's voice as he easily caught her arms, lowering her to the floor gently.
Her facade immediately wore off as she gasped for breaths between sobs, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Ron jumped onto his knees as she propped herself sitting upright.
"Leslie are you hurt! Tell me what's wrong!" Ron demanded in worry, scanning her body.
"I, I'm fine, sorry it's nothing." She attempted to get up as he gently grabbed her arms stabilising her into standing position.
"No it's not nothing Leslie." He held her elbows as she gasped in pain again, grabbing her right side.
He quickly pulled his chair towards her and lowered her down. She sighed as her body weight relaxed into the chair and her pain slightly settled.
"Leslie, do you need a doctor? Tell me what's wrong." Ron's normal tough facade had faded into a concerned panic.
He kneeled down in front of her.
"Let me see." He grabbed the edge of one side of her shirt, not caring for politeness or etiquette.
She quickly grabbed his hand.
"No no, it's nothing Ron. Just a stupid little injury I completely overreacted I'm sorry." She surged with adrenaline and quickly pulled herself upright.
He blocked her path.
"Leslie, show me now, that's not nothing. You're in pain." His eyebrows furrowed in genuine concern. She took a breath to steady herself as tears prickled in her eyes.
He stood close to her, ready to catch her trembling frame.
Leslies hand shook as she sighed in defeat, slowly lowering her tshirt.
Her dark purpose bruises were even darker than his morning and covered a greater area. She slowly looked up to Ron's face.
"Leslie, what did you, WHO DID THIS TO YOU?" His voice boomed, his warm face turning livid.
She faked confusion.
"Wha-what do you mean? I just fell yesterday and anyway it's stupid." Leslie attempted to walk towards the doorway, Ron's furiously concerned expression and large frame blocking her way.
"Don't lie to me Knope." He said menacingly.
He stepped forward, his expression forcefully trying to contain his anger.
"Did someone hit you?" He said low.
She sighed as tears began to run down her face. There was no escape. Ron was her best friend and he would realise how stupid she was.
She prepared herself breathing slowly as his eyes glared at her in concerned fury.
"Ye-yes. But i don't know them." She stammered.
Ron turned to hide his furious expression as he exhaled.
Sobs wracked her chest as Ron quickly stepped forward and gentle guided Leslie to sit down, rubbing her shoulders.
He composed himself.
"Leslie, you need to tell me who it was right now." Ron said with forced control. He was so furious towards any coward of a man who would hit a woman, and not just any woman, but his best friend. He had never felt so furious in his life. He wracked his brains, waiting for her answer.
He gentle rubbed her arms as her sobs deescalated. He hated seeing her so afraid.
Her bottom lip trembled as she answered.
"It was J-Jamm." She stammered.
Ron's eyes suddenly went from warm concern to black fury. He abruptly pulled his arms back and stood up.
Leslie scrambled upright, clutching her side in pain and panic.
She grabbed Ron's arm pleadingly as he steadied her.
"No, Ron please! Don't, he-hell hurt you please."
Ron pulled his arm away quickly as he stormed from the room.
Leslie thought she heard under his breath, "I won't be the one who's in danger."