"There." Addena inspected Breena's back. "I think you're a little less of a mess now." She gently rolled her love from her side to her back, making sure her head was situated just so on the pillows piled behind her. "All we have now are you neck and face and you'll be all done."
She dipped the rag she was using in the basin on the bedside stand, trying not to notice the dark green tint of the water it held as she rung the cloth out and went back to the task at hand.
"Maybe I spoke to soon." She sighed as she started rinsing her own bloody fingerprints off of Breena's neck.
The gore covering the witch's legs and back from lying in a pool of her own blood on the ground was awful but in a way these were worse. They were a very personal reminder of her frantic search for a pulse as she tried to resuscitate the woman she loved. What if it hadn't worked? What if she'd lost Bree in that camp?
"I bet you had a hard time keeping your face clean as a kid." She shoved the morbid thoughts away as she switched her attention to the handprints on Breena's cheeks. "I can just see you now, a pint sized Bree running around covered in dirt with your hair coming out of your pigtails."
She ignored the heat radiating from the skin beneath her hand too, hoping the second dose of antibiotics she'd given her when they got to the house would bring the fever down. "You probably didn't have pigtails but that's how I picture you."
Her brow furrowed as she threw the rag back in the basin and expertly probed the bruise under Breena's left eye. "I was never allowed to wear my hair in pigtails when Father was home. He thought they were undignified."
She unconsciously nodded her approval when she determined the bone beneath the bruise wasn't cracked. Surprisingly enough Breena didn't have any broken bones. Plenty of bruises but nothing broken.
"I bet your mother didn't care about being dignified. She strikes me as the let your kid be a kid type." She inspected the finger sized bruises littering Breena's arms. "My mom was the same way. But everything was different when Father was around. Luckily he traveled a lot."
She stared down at Breena's pale features. "I don't want things to be like that for us. I want... No, I need our kids to be happy. Happy and healthy and spoiled rotten. Not so that they're brats, mind you. Just enough to make other kids wish we were their parents."
The corner of her mouth turned up. "Listen to me, talking about us having a family. Could you imagine? A little girl with your dark hair and charm and my blue eyes and sensibility."
"That's a lot to pile on one kid."
Addena's heart leapt when she heard the nearly non existant voice. "Bree?"
"I think we should have two. One with dark hair and blue eyes and my charm." Her eyes fluttered open. "And another with blonde hair and green eyes and your sensibility. That way she can keep the dark haired troublemaker in line."
"Two huh?" Addena poured some water out of the pitcher behind the basin into a glass and lifted Breena's head so she could take a drink. "I hope you don't expect me to have them both."
"Thanks." Breena's voice sounded a little better as Addena gently lowered her back down onto the pillows. "And I think I could handle squeezing one out."
Addena smiled for the first time in what seemed like forever. "Squeeze one out?"
Breena nodded. "Maybe if you play your cards right I'll consider having them both. That way you can deliver them."
"I knew there had to be an ulterior motive to go with the offer." Addena leaned in to place a gentle kiss on the lips she adored. "Welcome back baby."
"Baby? I must be worse off than I thought if you're calling me that instead of giving me hell for getting hurt." Breena winced as she tried to shift into a more comfortable position.
"Easy." Addena bit her lip as she watched her, praying she wouldn't pop any of the delicate stitches in her leg.
"I'm OK." Breena breathed rather than said, her limited movement zapping her strength.
"That's about enough for now. You need to rest."
"But I just woke up."
"Bree..."
"I'll rest in a minute, Addy." Breena persisted. "Now come here."
The site of her love weakly holding her arms open was all the invitation Addena needed. She laid her head on Breena's chest, tears filling her eyes when she heard the slow but steady beating of the witch's heart. But it was Breena's sigh of contentment that made her sob.
"Hey." Breena rubbed her back the best she could. "What's with the waterworks?"
"I..." Addena tried to get a grip on her emotions. Now wasn't the time for her to breakdown either. "I'm just so glad you're here."
Breena chuckled. "Me too."
"I'm serious." Addena sat up to look at her.
"So am I." Breena grinned.
"I never meant to hurt you, Bree. Please believe that. I..."
Breena brought a shaky hand up to cup her cheek. "I know."
"But..."
"We can talk about it later." Breena closed her eyes as her hand fell back onto the bed.
"Bree?" Addena felt a flash of panic.
"Still here." She mumbled as she sighed. "And I still feel like I'm made of lead."
"I told you you'd be weak. Just like I told you I would take care of you." Addena ran the back of her fingers down Breena's cheek. "And that's exactly what I'm going to do."
"I love you."
It was Addena's turn to grin. "I love you too." She leaned in for another kiss. "Now get some rest."
"Yes ma'am."
"That's my girl." Addena ran her fingers through Breena's hair. The witch might not have been one hundred percent yet but she was on the mend.
"Addy."
She nearly jumped out of her skin when Breena suddenly gripped her leg. "What? What is it? What's the matter?"
"Elly..."
Addena frowned at the barely audible word. "What?"
"Elly." Breena repeated herself. "Take care of Elly for me."
"Take care of Elphaba?" Another jolt of panic shot through the doctor. "What are you talking about?"
"Elly."
"I know, but you're not going anywhere. Take care of her yourself."
"No." Breena sighed. "She needs your help."
Addena's frown deepened. "She does?"
Breena nodded as she fought to keep her eyes open. "Help her."
"I will."
"Swear." Breena started to breath heavily.
"I swear I'll help her." Addena was quick to reassure her. "Bree, you've got to calm down."
"Promise."
"I promise I'll help Elphaba any way I can if you promise to calm down. You're going to make yourself hyperventilate."
"Promise." Breena repeated herself again as her eyes drifted shut.
"You have my word."
"She'll be here... soon..."
With that Breena passed out again.
Addena stared down at her, wondering what in Oz brought on the sudden bought of concern for Elphaba. If Breena hadn't been so lucid she would have chalked it up to the fever. Then again her temperature was pretty high. She probably wouldn't remember any of what they talked about.
"Ginny please!"
Her head snapped up when she heard the voice in the hallway.
"Just go, Max."
"But..."
"I said to go!"
She brushed a quick kiss against Breena's brow before climbing off her perch on the side of the bed and heading for the door.
"You can't just kick me out Ginny. I'm your husband!"
"Not for much longer."
Addena's heart hammered in her chest as she opened the door to her room. She'd never heard her mother speak such harsh words before.
"You're not thinking clearly right now. What you need is a good night's rest."
Max's tone was desperate as he pleaded with Ginella, who was sitting in a chair along the far wall of the hallway.
"No, what I need is for you to leave like I've asked you to."
"Addena." The Wizard sprang for the chair next to Ginella when he spotted her standing there. "How's Breena?"
"You." Max turned on his daughter before she could answer. "This is all your fault!" He took a menacing step toward her only to be stopped by one of the Gale Force guards flanking him.
Instinct had Addena taking a half step back into her room. "What's going on?"
"Your mother is kicking me out!" Max spat. "And it's all because of you!"
"That will be just about enough!" Ginny stood, going to her daughter's side. "How is Breena, darling?"
"She..." Addena's head was spinning. "Her temperature is still too high but she woke up a few minutes ago."
"She did?" The Wizard breathed a sigh of relief. "That's wonderful!"
"Who cares?!" Max bellowed.
"Shut up!" The Wizard snapped.
"I most certainly will not!" Max countered. "My marriage is falling apart and all you people seem to care about is that... that..." He pointed into Addena's bedroom.
"Mind what you call my daughter." The Wizard warned him.
"To hell with your daughter! Ginny, please. All we need to do is talk about this in private and..."
"I already told you, Max. It's too little too late. I've put up with your nonsense for far too long."
"But..."
"Just go." Ginny sighed.
The Wizard nodded at the guards, who stepped forward to grip Max's arms.
"Tell me why Ginny." Max sidestepped their efforts, his eyes on his wife. "Just tell me why!"
"Because you're a bastard, Max!" Ginny finally lost her cool. "Our whole marriage has been about you and what you want or need! You're selfish and controlling and never think about anyone but yourself!"
"That's not true!"
"It most certainly is! You sold our daughter to the highest bidder to further your business career!"
Max scoffed. "I'm sure I could have gotten a better offer."
Ginny shook her head. "You say things like that and then ask why we're through." This time she looked at the guards. "Please escort him out."
"I hope you're happy!" Max turned his hateful gaze on Addena again.
"This isn't my fault, Dad." Addena defended herself.
"Don't call me that!" Max snarled. "You're no daughter of mine. I wish you'd never been born!!"
Ginny slapped him hard across the face. "I would say I wish I'd never married you but then I wouldn't have my girls. So I'll go with I wish I'd kicked you out years ago. But I'm rectifying that decision now."
"Take him to the hotel in town." The Wizard ordered before Max could say more.
"Ginny?" Max looked at her over his shoulder as the guards dragged him away. "Ginny please! It's still storming outside!"
She turned away from him, concentrating on her daughter instead. "Addena, I'm so sorry. There is no excuse for what he said."
"It's all right, Mom." Addena shrugged. "I stopped listening to what he said a long time ago."
"Maybe so, but I know that hurt. And it certainly wasn't something you needed after everything else you've been through recently." Ginny cupped her daughter's cheek. "I for one can't imagine my life without you in it."
Addena smiled. "Luckily you don't have to."
Ginny grinned. "Why don't you go back in with Breena while I make sure those guards don't have any trouble getting your..." She pursed her lips. "Getting him out of the house."
"Mom." Addena gripped her mother's hand as she started to walk away. "Please tell me you're not doing this just because of what he did to me."
"Addena..."
"I just... I don't want you to make a rash decision now that you might regret later."
"I won't." Ginny reassured her. "To be honest with you, I don't know why I stayed with him as long as I did. I don't think he ever really loved me."
Addena nodded. "And I know he never loved me."
"Well I do." Ginny gave her hand a squeeze. "And so does the girl in that room." She nodded toward the still open bedroom door.
"I know."
"Then go take care of her." Ginny made a shooing motion with her hand.
"I'll keep an eye on your mother." The Wizard volunteered.
"Addena!"
They all three turned when they heard Lion.
"Maeveishere." He spoke as he finally reached them, dropping his paws to his legs in an attempt to catch his breath.
"What?" The Wizard frowned.
"It sounded like he said 'Maeve is here.'" Ginny tried to translate.
"He did." Penny answered as she joined them.
The Wizard asked, "Who is Maeve?"
"She's Yackle's niece." Addena didn't feel like elaborating more than that. "What is she doing here?"
"She wouldn't say." Penny replied. "She just walked in the front door and insisted on seeing Elphaba or Breena."
"I tried to tell her Breena's not in any condition to see anyone and that Elphaba and the others haven't made it back yet, but she wouldn't listen." Lion straightened back up.
"Then he ran up here to tell you before I could." Penny gave Lion a dubious look.
"You're just jealous because I can run faster than you."
"Yeah, keep telling yourself that."
"Cut it out you two." Addena chastised the bickering cats before turning her attention to the Wizard. "Can you sit with Bree while I go see why Maeve is here?"
He nodded. "Of course I can."
"It shouldn't take me too long and then I'll come right back up to check on her."
"Take your time. We'll be fine." The Wizard assured her.
"Looks like you're going my way." Ginny looped her arm through her daughter's as they started downstairs. "So who is this Maeve?"
"Elphaba and Breena have this crazy magical advisor of sorts named Yackle."
Lion snorted. "You can say that again."
Penny frowned at him. "Don't interrupt her. It's rude."
"I wasn't interrupting." Lion gestured with his paw. "I was agreeing with her. Yackle really is crazy. But she seems to know what she's doing with Elphaba and Breena."
"That remains to be seen." Addena disagreed with him. "Maeve is Yackle's niece that showed up out of the blue a few days ago."
"Let me guess," Ginny raised her eyebrows. "She flirts with Breena."
"No," Lion shook his head. "She's into Fiyero."
"You're being rude again." Penny interjected.
"I'm just trying to let Addena know that she doesn't have anything to worry about. Maeve likes Fiyero."
"I can't imagine Addena having anything to worry about anyway. I've seen the way Breena looks when she just thinks about her." Penny sighed wistfully. "I'd give anything to have someone look at me like that."
"Maybe if you weren't so bossy maybe someone would."
"Bossy?" Penny snarled at him.
"Yeah." Lion nodded. "You're always telling someone what to do."
"And I'm asking both of you to stop arguing." Addena growled as they reached the first floor.
"Addena." Maeve rushed over to her, dripping water everywhere as she went. "Am I glad to see you."
"What are you doing here, Maeve?" Addena's voice was curt.
"I'm not sure." Maeve gave a half shrug. "One minute Aunt Yackle was showing me where to find certain spells in the Grimmerie and the next she was shoving the book into my hands and telling me to get it here as quickly as possible. She said she would keep Betak busy while I was gone and sent me on my way."
"The Grimmerie?" Ginny was shocked.
Addena nodded. "It exists."
"And Elphaba and Breena can read it." Maeve raised her eyebrows like that was the most impressive thing in the world. "Where are they anyway?"
"Breena is under the weather." Ginny answered before her daughter could. "She can't have visitors right now."
"Under the weather?" Maeve frowned. "But she's a healer."
"She still can't have visitors." Penny tried to help out.
"Fine. Then I need to see Elphaba."
"Elphaba isn't..."
The sound of the front door flying open and hitting the wall made them all jump.
"Addena!" Fiyero yelled as he walked into the house, a drenched Elphaba clutched in his arms. "Addena." He visibly relaxed when he saw her standing there. "You have to help Fae."
Breena's words echoed through Addena's mind as she started at the two of them. How in Oz did her barely coherent girlfriend know Elphaba would be showing up soon, let alone that she would need her help?
"What happened?" Penny asked, snapping Addena out of her trance like state.
"We took Eadlyn into custody but he escaped and kidnaped Glinda."
Ginny put her hand over her mouth as she gasped. "That man has my daughter?"
Fiyero nodded. "He killed four guards and shot me before riding off with her."
"You've been shot?!" Maeve was instantly at his side. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine." He downplayed her concern. "But Elphaba's not. She took off after Glinda and Eadlyn on her broom. I don't know if she flew into a tree or what. By the time I caught up to her she was unconscious. She has a nasty bump on the back of her head and I can't get her to wake up. I would have had her here a lot sooner if it weren't for this damn storm. My horse kept getting turned around in the woods."
"Elphaba?" Addena, who had walked over to get a better look at the green woman, pushed a wet lock of hair out of the witch's face before tapping her on the cheek. "Elphaba, can you hear me?" She frowned when she didn't get a response. "We better take her upstairs where I can examine her. We can put her in Glinda's room."
"Next to yours?" Penny held her paws out to Fiyero once Addena nodded.
Fiyero frowned at her. "What are you doing?"
"Taking her upstairs." The Lioness said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"I think I can manage." Fiyero tightened his grip on Elphaba.
"See, there you go being bossy again." Lion mumbled.
"I don't care who takes her upstairs as long as she gets there." Addena spoke up before anyone else could as she started up the stairs, a million thoughts running through her head.
How could things have gotten so screwed up? She's almost lost Bree, who still wasn't out of the woods thanks to her fever, and now Elphaba was hurt and Glinda had been kidnaped by Eadlyn.
Her hand curled into a fist at the idea of her little sister being anywhere near that bastard, but what could she do about it? The only person who really knew what was going on with Glinda was blissfully unaware of anything as Fiyero carried her up the stairs. She was going to have to make good on her word to Breena and help Elphaba if she wanted to help her sister.
And that's exactly what she intended to do.