Author's Note: I'm very sorry for taking such a long time to update this. I've just been so focused on my other story that I seem to have neglected this one. I'm sorry. I'll be amazed if anyone even cares for this one anymore. But anyway, thanks to vausesandspanishharlem, Shirayuki55, and unnamed Guest for taking the time to read and review this. Hope this chapter is okay.
Chapter Five
Red sits at Nicky's bedside, holding one of her hands tight in her own as she looks her over with overwhelming compassion. Her fingertips brush softly against the young girl's knuckles. A heaviness sits in her heart. These two girls have really put into perspective just how precious life is. They've made her realize that one's life can be forever changed without any preparations and that seals her decision of bringing them home with her once they're recovered enough.
Running a hand maternally through the young woman's bushel of red curls, the Russian officer looks intently at her face. An innocence she easily notes; it breaks her heart tremendously to know what horrific pain's been caused to her. It eats at her thinking about how both she and her friend were held captive for ten years. And not once did either of their families file a missing report? Blood boils at that.
The sound of stirring accompanied by heavy-breathing immediately brings Red out of her thoughts and attention focused back on the redhead. She bends down to stroke a hand gently across her forehead. "You're okay, Nicky," her thick accent whispers soothingly into the girl's ear. She watches closely as the other's eyes slowly flutter open. A pang fills her chest at the shear horror that sits in those big brown orbs.
"Where, where the hell is Lorna? What did these monsters do to her?" The redhead fearfully yells out, instinctively pulling away from the older woman's touch.
Such questions tear Red's body with a strong heap of concern. She quite cautiously gather's the frantic woman's head in her hands and peers compassionately into her dark orbs. Fingertips brush delicately along the frail skin. "She's okay, I promise. Both of you are safe and okay now. There's no monsters here, Nicky. The devil of a man who had you locked up in his basement is spending the rest of his life behind bars. You don't need to worry anymore, sweet child; I'll take care of the both of you," she soothes into the young girl's ear, gazing warmly into her eyes.
Big brown eyes look skeptically up into lightly colored ones. "Don't make promises ya can't keep," is her muttered response, pulling the blanket further over her body. The past several years has made her realize that the only person she can truly trust is herself (and Lorna).
Staring down at her with an overpowering compassion seeping through her light eyes, the older woman feels a melancholic sensation tear amongst her insides. She cautiously reaches down to lightly stroke her hand against the redhead's forehead. "Who said I can't keep my promise? As soon as you two girls are released, I'm bringing you to my house so you can be cared for properly."
"Why though? You hardly even know us—why are ya so insistent?"
"I want to help the both of you. You already told me you have nowhere to go so why shouldn't I offer a place for you to stay, huh?" Red inquiries, folding her hands over her hips while giving a stern stare down towards the other.
Hearing her respond in that way easily has Nicky questioning the older woman. How can she believe her to really want to help them? Her words made it seem the only reason for her offering is because she pities their situation. Eyebrows arch skeptically, her dark eyes pierce heavily up into blue ones. "So, you're doing this outta pity, yeah? Need something to make ya feel better about yourself? No thanks, Lorna and I can manage. Ain't no one gave two shits enough to search for us in ten fucking years so why should we let some stranger takes us in? Why should we trust you?"
Scooting her chair nearer the girl's bedside, Red reaches her hands down to cup maternally around her face. "I know it's not easy to trust anyone new right now but I really do want to help you and Lorna. I wouldn't have offered for you two to come home with me if I didn't truly mean it. In fact, you two are the first people who I've ever felt the desire to offer my extended help to like this. I'm not doing this out of pity, Nicky. I'm doing this because there's something about you girls that's pulling me to do this. You're both such sweet people and you need someone to get you through this. I want to be that person," her voice softly assures, fingertips delicately stroking along her forehead.
The sound of her door's opening instantly pries Nicky's eyes open. Her heart swells when she sees that it's her petite best friend's slowly walking in with her IV-pole assisting her. She quickly maneuvers into a sitting position, watching the brunette intently. "You supposed to be up outta bed so soon, Lorna? Doesn't it hurt?" A warm smile forms on her face as she holds out her arms for the younger girl.
Carefully making her way over, the brunette only shrugs. It doesn't matter to her what she's supposed to be doing right now—all she can think about is having Nicky's presence surrounding her. Once she's standing beside her friend's bed—with the support of her IV-pole—she very slowly lowers herself to sit on the bed next to her.
"It don't hurt no more than being without you," she murmurs, cautiously nuzzling up to Nicky's warmth. Her arms wrap gently around the taller woman's neck, needing the physical contact. Albeit it being only mere hours that the pair have been separated, that doesn't make it any less difficult for Lorna to endure. For ten years, aside from their captor, they were all each other's ever had. "I missed ya, Nicky. How are ya feeling?"
The sensation of Lorna's arms around her brings a fluttery tingle over her. Nicky instinctively wraps her arms protectively around the shorter woman's waist, dropping a tender kiss atop her head. "You're so sweet," she soothes against her ear while using her free hand to pull the blanket up around them. "I know, baby, I missed ya too. And I feel so much better now that I have you with me. I can't believe ya fucking let yourself get cut into just for me…you're too precious, Lorna."
Laying her head delicately on the taller woman's shoulder, Lorna brushes the tips of her fingers gingerly across her pale flesh. "Ya think I'd just sit back and let ya die? Nicky, you're the most important person to me…I'd give my life for ya," she softly confirms, snuggling deeper into her body. Her eyes momentarily shut as she relishes in the closeness she's sharing with the one person she loves so much—the one person who's tried her hardest to keep her safe these last several years. She knows that Nicky's the only reason she's alive today and for that she certainly would give her life for the woman.
"Sweetest thing ya are kid," Nicky murmurs, letting her hands comb lightly through the smaller girl's brown waves. A kiss she soothingly drops onto her forehead. "So, uh, that officer—Red—wants us to stay with her. What do ya think about that?"
Peaking her orbs out, the brunette gazes softly up at her best friend. She smiles lightly while wrapping her arms snuggly around her neck. "I think that's real nice a her. She's been so nice to us, don't ya think?"
"She sure has. But we don't know her…is it really a smart idea to go live with her?"
Brushing the tips of her fingers delicately along her cheek, Lorna nods. She easily senses the apprehension her friend's feeling at the thought of moving in with a woman who's a stranger to them—she can't blame her for that, but also knows they have no where else to go. "She's a police officer, Nicky, I don't think she'll do anything to us. She seems like a real good person. I think it's best we take her offer—we ain't got no where to go anyway," her voice softly points out.
With a sigh, Nicky rests her chin lovingly atop the other's head and gives her a tender squeeze. "I know, kid—I just I don't want us to end up in anymore hellish situations. That's the last thing either of us need."
"I don't think living with Red will be anything bad…let's just give her a chance, hon. If things get strange, we can always leave."
Stroking the palm of her hand up against the brunette's cheek, Nicky slightly nods her head with a small smile. "You're right, my doll. We'll give her a chance. Hopefully she truly is a good person," she says warmly against the Italian's ear.
Their conversation is abruptly interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open. Both pairs of eyes rapidly avert focus towards the sound—catching glimpse of a very out-of-breath Doctor Vause. She folds her hands over her hips, giving a piercing stare towards the two young women. "Lorna, what are ya doing in here? I just went to check on you in your room and about had a heart attack to see it vacant. You're supposed to be resting in your own bed. We already had one mishap with your incisions, don't need another do we?"
"What mishap are ya talking about? What happened with Lorna?" Nicky quickly throws out her own questions before Lorna can even open her mouth to respond.
Lorna throws an irritated glare towards the black-haired doctor. She shakes her head. "Nothing, Nicky. It's all good." The last thing she wants is for Nicky to stress over something she doesn't need to, especially when she's recovering from just having a somewhat major operation.
Shaking her head and wrapping her arms even tighter around the shorter woman, Nicky only continues to give a heated glance up to their doctor. "What happened? I need to know."
"It's nothing serious but after she woke up, her incisions opened back up and we had to rush her back to the OR to re-suture them. She was a little frightened when she woke up and musta hit her abdomen on the railing of the bed—that probably caused the stitches to break," the doctor carefully informs her, giving an apologetic glance towards the brunette.
Cupping the brunette's head tenderly in hands, the redhead gazes compassionately into her brown orbs. Her lips stroke affectionately over Lorna's porcelain cheek. "I'm sorry ya had to deal with that, baby. But I'm glad you're all fixed up now. Guess Doctor Vause ain't so bad, huh?"
Silently observing the two, the black-haired woman exhales a small breath of air. It's quite evident that the real healing will only happen if the pair is together. "I guess I'll have to move your stuff down here, yeah Lorna? You're just gonna keep sneaking your way here anyway. At least it'll be easier for me to check on the both of ya," she notes, a kind smile spreading on her face.
"Thanks," Lorna musters up a smile of her own, nestling herself closer to the redhead's body. She tucks herself into the crook of her neck and gazes quizzically up towards the oldest woman. "How long ya think we'll be in here?"
"I'd like to keep you both here for a good week to make sure neither of ya suffer any complications. I doubt ya will but I rather play it safe," doctor Vause responds, glancing over the charts in her hands. "I also highly recommend meeting with one of the therapists here—in fact, I know of the perfect one. I can ask her to stop by while the two of ya are still in here if you'd like."
The thought of meeting with a therapist right now is exhausting in and of itself. Nicky lets out an irritated breath at the mention. The last thing either of them need at this point in time is to talk to some stranger about the horrific abuse they've endured. That, she knows, will only continue to bring forth the painful memories—something neither of them is ready to work through. "I, uh, don't think now's the best time for either of us to be talking to a therapist," she mutters, running her hands therapeutically through her friend's dark brown hair.
Not too surprised at the response, their doctor gives a slight nod. "I understand it's not something either of ya want to do, who does? But I really think it'll be beneficial for you girls. At least let me see if she'll be willing to come meet you, yeah? Just to talk and get to know the two of ya, nothing personal."
"Who's this therapist you're talking about? Do ya know her real well or something?"
Nodding her head once again, the taller woman kindly smiles at the two. "Her name is Gloria Mendoza—she's a very generous person. I think she'd be very helpful for the two of ya. I talked to her myself after losing my mother and she really was such a good support," is her honest answer. The one therapist she recommends to any patient of hers who may need more than physical help.
With a sigh and roll of her eyes, Nicky slowly nods her head. "Fine, I guess it wouldn't hurt to meet her. But that's all it is—we're not talking about any personal shit. Make that clear to her."
"I will let her know that don't worry. I'm pleased you're both willing to give it a try. I'll see if she can stop by within the next couple a days and let ya know when she's coming. You girls rest up and don't overdo anything, I mean it."
That Friday morning, carrying a bag full of fresh homemade food, Red walks her way down the hall towards the room she's been spending the majority of her free time in recently. A smile forms on her face as she enters inside to see both Nicky and Lorna sitting up in their separate beds—eyes glued to the screen of the television that hangs up on the wall.
She sets the bag of food onto one of the trays and sits down in a chair right in-between the two girls. "How are you two today? Seems like you're managing well, that's great. Either of you been up walking yet?" Her accent thickly noticeable through her questions.
Taking her attention off the TV, Nicky turns to stare at the Russian. She can't stop the smile that takes up her face at seeing her for the fourth day in a row. Albeit her apprehension, she's secretly thrilled that the woman cares enough to keep visiting them and doing what she can to take care of she and her friend. "We're doing okay. Lorna's been a much better patient than I have that's for sure—she's always up walking even when she shouldn't be. Ya off or something today? You usually don't come until the afternoon," she wonders, clearly observant of the times of the older woman's visits.
"I have to work late today so I figured I come spend the morning with you two…and I brought you some real food—I'm sure you're both tired of that hospital shit they give you, huh?" Red inquiries with a light chuckle.
Eyes slowly moving away from the lit-up screen on the wall, Lorna smiles kindly over at the Russian matron. "They got good waffles but it's pretty bland here. Thanks, Red, it was real nice a ya to do that," she gratefully responds, looking her over with sparkling brown orbs. This woman, she sense, is the best thing for both she and Nicky. She seems more like a mother to them than either one of theirs.
Nicky shakes her head with a playful laugh at the brunette's claims. "Ya always did like the freezer-burned waffles your mom made so it's no surprise ya like the shit ones they make here," she yells over to her before staring over at Red with a thankful smile. "Yeah, it is so thoughtful of ya to bring us good food. I guess you really do wanna help us, yeah?"
Grabbing one of each of their hands, Red nods sternly. She stares down at her with firm eyes. It breaks her heart that either one of them would question her integrity. Yet, she understands their reasons—being held captive for a decade would take a negative toll on anyone. "Yes, sweetheart, I really do want to help you girls. You're both such sweet people; I couldn't stand to see you suffer alone. Now, how about I fix you each a plate of food? You girls hungry?"
"What'd ya bring?" The redhead curiously wonders, eyeing the brown bag that sits on the tray in the corner of the room.
Red gently releases their hands before walking to fix them their meals. A smirk forms. She looks over at the young redhead, "You'll just have to wait and see. Believe me, you guys will like it. It's old-time Russian recipe that's been passed down for generations."
"You cooked it? Geez, Red, you're a police officer and a Russian chef? Damn, badass much?" Nicky chuckles, leaning her head back against the pillow while watching the woman closely as she prepares their plates.
"I'm a woman who likes to eat her own cooking, that's all. I don't own a restaurant or anything crazy, child. Course' I wish I did—make more money doing that than I do as an officer. But that's beyond the point," she rambles while very cautiously bringing two very full dishes over to the younger women. She places one in front of Nicky and the other in front of Lorna. It makes her heart swell to bring a smile to both of them, especially after all that they've endured. A reason she deems perfect for taking them in once they're released.
Later in the evening, after falling asleep from eating such a large meal, Nicky's awoken to the sound of muffled screams. Alarmed, her body jolts up in terror. Eyes glance throughout the room, landing on the brunette who lays in the bed near the window. The sight of her immediately shatters her heart. Cautiously, she pushes herself up out of her own bed—using the IV-pole as a means of support—and walks over to the other. She perches herself right beside Lorna's head, gently lifting it and laying it on her chest. Her hands brush soothingly through her dark hair in an effort to gently calm away whatever's distressing her.
The sensation of the Italian's body fiercely trembling and thrashing about in her arms has a few tears fall from Nicky's eyes. She tightens her hold on her, stroking her lips lovingly against her head. "Wake up, baby, you're okay. It's okay, it's just a nightmare," her voice warmly whispers into her friend's ear. Fingers touch lightly along her face.
Brown eyes rapidly pop out of Lorna's sockets, looking frantically around the room. They involuntary blink for several seconds before registering their surroundings. Instinctively, she hides her face in the taller woman's chest and snakes her arms desperately tight around her neck. "I-I don't wanna be here any-anymore, Nicky. Pl-please let's call the police—it's-it's too much," she mumbles fearfully, still not entirely sure of where they're currently at.
Dropping another tender kiss atop her head, Nicky pulls her closer and brushes her hands over and over through her hair. "It's okay, baby. We're safe here. We're not anywhere near that monster, I promise. He's in prison. You just had a terrifying nightmare is all, Lorna doll."
"But-but I saw him…I saw him—he, he was trying to kill ya, Nicky! Please we have to get outta here. I don't want him to hurt you," she cries out, lifting her head momentarily to stare bewilderedly up into the redhead's compassion-filled eyes.
"Baby, I know you saw that. It wasn't real though; you were sleeping, that means whatever ya saw was only a nightmare. We're both safe and okay now. We're in a very safe place, honestly. He can't get us anymore. They have him locked up in a prison far away from here. You don't have to worry anymore, my sweet doll," Nicky soothes, trying her hardest to bring the younger girl any amount of comfort she can. Her hands cup lovingly around her terrified face; she takes a good look over it and sighs sadly. It brings pain over her to see how horrified her best friend is over the nightmare, to actually believe it's real. That, she dreadfully realizes, only confirms their doctor's suggestion of needing to meet with a therapist.
She very delicately strokes her lips over Lorna's, a gesture she hopes somehow brings her out of this dream-like state. When she sees that it doesn't, she sighs and lays her head back down onto her chest. Her hands lovingly stroke through the brown waves of hair. "Shh, shh. Close your eyes and relax. You're safe in my arms, no more nightmares now. Try to focus on my voice and heart-beat; you'll be okay, baby. I love you so much and I promise we're gonna get past this together. As long as we have each other, we can survive anything."