Chapter Six Reunion
Carly Shay lay on the bed. Griffin had forced her from the building completely naked. Fortunately, an FBI van had been waiting for her anyways. Nevel, though preoccupied with the data on the flash drive, insisted they take her to a hospital.
One ugly paper dress and a nasty 'health conscious' meal later, and Carly was already bored.
She would almost rather see Griffin again. Hours passed. More boredom set in. She used to be this excited girl who hosted a webshow. Now who was she?
On some level, the patient knew what would be awaiting her once her eyes closed.
Carly took a moment to reflect on what she had learned; the federal government was currently searching for Freddie, who had disappeared from their radar. The school semester had ended around the time he vanished. Luckily, he had managed to take care of his finals early.
The Institute had won a major victory; they had killed an FBI officer without any proof of involvement. Right now they could sell their children soldiers to anyone who needed driven youth. And, as Adolf Hitler taught, the young are the important ones to influence.
Carly stayed awake as long as possible. It had been a month since Freddie had left her all alone. As horrible as that run-in with her ex had been, it brought back some nicer memories. Memories of what life with Freddie had been like. There was a monster in the dark.
In some ways, Freddie and Griffin were very much alike. Their faces were similar, their hair color was the same, even the way they spiked their locks was the same. Both were Institute wolves. Both found her attractive, and lied to her.
But only one had her heart.
She closed her eyes, and concentrated hard on his face. No one caught in this twisted game seemed to know where he was, or what he was doing. The only thing they knew was what side he was on.
Freddie was on whatever side was closest to Carly.
So she was the girl everybody wanted. It was ridiculous; like some high school feud, the popular kids were fighting the band geeks for her attention- only everyone had access to assault weapons. (So... still a little bit like high school.)
A haze came over her, like a day dream within a nightmare. Her mind fluctuated between sleep and wakefulness.
Carly tried not to fall asleep- she was too frightened by what she may find in her mind. Between Freddie's disappearance and Griffin's disturbing reappearance, being awake but tired was better than whatever her subconscious had in store for her.
The hospital was so boring. The young woman fought her drowsiness for as long as possible. She would drift in and out. Her eyes would close for one second, only to open six minutes later. The later it got, the worse the strain to stay conscious.
Somewhere deep in the night- like a dream, she found herself alone in her hospital room- but she did not feel alone. The shadows moved. Her breath caught in her throat- anyone could be there, but it was probably an Institute dog. They loved watching her from the shadows, right before they... She inhaled deeply.
A sense of calm filled her, starting at her heart and moving its way into her limbs. Her hand flew to her breast; only one person had ever filled her with such panic, and such warmth.
"Freddie!" She called into the shadows. Someone had to be there. She was not crazy, right?
The silence was lifted by his face.
"Carly, hey, are you okay?"
She laughed. For weeks she had spent her nights tossing and turning, worried about what had happened to him. Now here he was, safe, worrying about her.
Freddie walked to her slowly. His footsteps so careful, (silent, like a wolf stalking his prey) he asked a quiet question, "I heard about what happened."
Carly's eyes closed hard, blocking out the ordeal, "Freddie…"
"I am so sorry." He grabbed her hand, "So, so sorry."
She gripped him back, "Freddie, the Institute is to blame. If it weren't me, it would be some other girl."
Carly gave him a quick disapproving eye; he was filthy, head to toe, clothes worn out, and thin, just like him. He had obviously not eaten much since leaving her, bringing out the hard muscle and scar tissue. He almost did look like a hungry dog/
"Where were you?"
He looked away. Ah, the 'ignore Carly when she asks you a question' defense. This time honored classic has been around since Carly first started asking the men in her life questions they did not want to answer because A) They did not want to scare her B) They did not want her to know something, and, her favorite (sarcasm, obviously) C) They did not want her to be disappointed in them. There were ways around this, of course.
Sex might be out of the equation, though.
"Are you not going to tell me where you were?"
"Not close enough to protect you."
Back to feeling guilty. Carly suppressed a sigh. Why was the sweetest, most understanding boy in the world gone? He would have known what she wanted- (he always had!) him. She wanted him nearby. The only reason she had been vulnerable was because Freddie was gone.
Bad things happened when Freddie was not around. He left, and she had lost him. He had not been there to stop Griffin from burning her brother almost to death. He had not been there to rescue her from the situation at the Baxter Corporation.
What was coming her way if he left again...?
"Freddie, I'm scared."
"I'm sorry."
"I'm scared for you," She explained. He looked up in shock, "I can't help but worry that you're out there all alone. And now I know you were, and will be."
"I'm not alone now."
The young woman smiled at this. He settled onto the bed. Carly pulled Freddie close. They had been apart too long. Far, far too long.
His hand found that spot on her neck, his spot. A happy murmur escaped her. He sighed wearily. Her happiness was all that mattered to him anymore...
"Freddie, what is going on?"
His tongue clicked, ignoring her, "I'm sorry about what happened to you, and now you can't… you know. I'm sorry."
She looked at him, puzzled, "What?"
"Carly... I know... how... he hurt you. The method," He looked down, whispering, "No girl should go through that. I'm sorry."
"Freddie, I'll be okay..."
"But now you can't- you know. We can't."
Carly found herself outside of the conversation again. What was he talking about?!
His body pushed back, "You know… you can't, uh, make love and stuff."
She blinked angrily twice, "Who said that? It's not like I'm a hermaphrodite!"
He stuttered- flustered, "Uh, well, I mean, you're damaged!"
Her eyes rolled, "I'm... damaged? What the chiz does that mean!?"
Freddie got up, "You know what I mean. We can't. I mean, that's not all I love you for, but… we just can't! Griffin... touched you... in a way to hurt you... which keeps you from... you're hurt!"
Carly crossed her arms under her chest, "So you don't want me now that someone else has marked me as his territory?!"
"No! And you're mine- I love you, and you chose me. It's just… You're hurt!"
"Lots of people play hurt!"
"I thought that girls couldn't have sex after being assaulted."
Carly crossed her arms. Yes, it was true that Griffin had managed to shake her up, but... but she was not that bad off. For one thing, it had only lasted a few minutes. For another, she had gone along- allowing him to dominate her to get the information she needed so that...
So that... screw it, it's not like she could keep it a secret to herself. Carly wanted Freddie. Yes, she wanted a friend, and yes, she wanted to see him okay. But she needed a lover. After years of being all-too aware of her virginity, the young woman suddenly found herself craving a lover's attention.
So, to get what she needed, Carly had to get Freddie to admit what his real problem was, "Do you think I'm gross now that another man has touched me?"
"NO! I mean, I didn't want him... you're missing the point!"
"The point that you took my virginity in an incredibly brutal, painful way, and that now you're just going to abandon me now that I've bored you!"
Freddie's face betrayed all the great emotions; shock, rage, sorrow, and guilt. Finally, he told her the truth, "I'm scared of Griffin."
"You took him down, that was pretty awesome."
"Yeah but…" He shook his head wearily and sat down beside her, exhausted, "He's better than me."
Carly ran a soothing hand up his back. It trembled. The Good Wolf feared the Big Bad Wolf on a very realistic level.
"Not at everything." She brought his head down to hers, and kissed it. He relaxed into it- that familiar sweet taste of fruit, "I decide whose territory I am. And I choose you."
For a moment, the two sat together, reveling in what they had. Freddie ran his hands across her cheeks, "I can't protect you."
"I am not defenseless, and this isn't Twillight. All I'm asking for is YOU. And I know you want to give me that."
He nodded. She pulled him close, and they began re-intimating themselves with one another. Freddie had forgotten how impossibly soft Carly was, and she how hard his body had become. The lovers coiled uncomfortably, wires and hospital beds did not come with room for coupling.
Freddie straddled her, kissing hungrily. His old fervor was back, the feeling of complete lust came over him. Nothing mattered more than having her, NOTHING! He became more and more aggressive, grabbing her body to pull her closer, ignoring the cords and wires. Her flesh was soft under his touch, supple, yet under his will.
"Ow, careful," Carly winced when his hand grabbed the bruise on her upper-arm from Griffin. He ignored her and continued, "Ow, Freddie, stop, stop, Freddie!"
The boy kept going, like an animal. He started hyperventilating, losing himself in his passion. A growl escaped him.
"FREDDIE, PLEASE STOP!" Carly begged.
As if coming out of a nightmare, he leapt back, "no."
She sat up sorely, "Ow…"
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no…" He ran his hands through her hair, "I am so sorry, I shouldn't even be here. Please, I'm so sorry, please, please don't hate me. I am so sorry. I'm sick, I hate myself, and I deserve to die. I'm so-so-so-sorry. Please be okay...!"
"FREDDIE!" He stopped, "You love me."
He nodded stupidly as she repeated it.
"Yes, I love you Carly," He said numbly.
"I love you."
He stood for a few minutes as she wrestled with the sheets. Finally, Freddie came over and took a look at the bruise, "I'm sorry."
Carly sighed, "It's just a little hard for us right now. That doesn't mean we can't do something. Come here," He obediently sat by her side, "I… need you to lie down and relax."
His eyes went wide. Life on the run was rough. The FBI and the Institute were both hunting him. Relaxing was out of the question.
"Please, for me?" He paused, and then lay beside her, "Thank you."
Carly straddled him this time. He was as stiff as a log. Her legs smoothly drifted outside of his.
"Ugh, I hate this stupid dress," she pinched the top irritably.
"I don't know, I think it looks good on you."
"You think I look good in everything."
"And anything."
She laughed happily. It was the first time she had done so in quite some time. Leaning close, she whispered into her lover's ear, "But your favorite is nothing…"
He smiled. Finally, she was getting through to him.
"Now you're getting it," She tugged at the hem, "I get why they're like this, so easy to examine," the top started drifting lower, "areas of interest."
Freddie's breathing stopped. Inside, a battle raged. One part wanted to thrust forward, take her immediately and constantly until he was satisfied, the other was a droopy little boy who wanted his crush to keep talking to him. Somewhere along the way, Freddie decided to be a new man. He relaxed, letting his lover determine the next move.
"Before we go any further, I want you to know I am your girlfriend. Do you understand? That means, wherever you go, whatever you become, I am your girlfriend. You are my boyfriend. Get that? We are not going to play this 'will they won't they' game. We are together!"
He nodded happily. It was like a dream, "Whether we are apart, or together, I love you Carly Shay."
She blushed happily, "There's something I want to show you."
"I love something."
"Hush, and watch."
He settled back into the bed. Whipping her hair back, Carly loosened the top of her outfit. It was an agonizing wait. Freddie wanted to interfere. It took impossibly long to fall from her shoulders. Once it reached an almost inappropriate level on her chest, she stopped it, "There are things that you are better at than Griffin. You are a gentleman. You are loyal, and smart, and funny. And best of all, if I stopped now," His eyes flew wide in protest. Carly snickered, "If I stopped, you would be okay with that. If I stopped making out with you, and giving you -something- you would still love me, still believe in me, and my choices. Griffin... wanted something from me, but I won't give him that something because I'm giving it to you. You deserve it, Freddie Benson. And you pick me up when I'm down."
He nodded, reaching up to help her. If Carly wanted to stop, then he would help her. She stopped him, "Not this time. This time I'm letting my guard down."
Carly kissed his hands. They were covered in sores. He had been living in the forest, miles from the city, trying to survive on squirrel meat and berries. Even with his training he was still doing poorly. If anything, the hospital needed to admit the Good Wolf.
Carly brought Freddie's hands to the bunched top of her dress. He trembled. She laughed a little at his nervousness. He had always been so aggressive in their relationship, even when stuck in the friend-zone. No more than a few seconds ago, he had gone into her (literally, trying to get into her) with full force. Now that she was literally handing herself to him, now he was scared.
She sighed happily, "Freddie it is okay." He lightly brushed her skin, "Freddie! It's okay, they don't bite." She leaned forward, "I know sometimes you like to."
He blushed, "Sorry." Freddie hated that she felt pain because of him.
Their hands held tightly to one another, both very afraid of what they were doing. She shook his hand, "You're so limp!"
Freddie's mouth dropped open. Carly laughed again.
Instantly his appendages turned to iron, "Better?"
She flinched, and he deeply regretted it. His hands retracted to his sides. Carly took a moment to shake down the robe so she was fully exposed. Her breasts swayed in the dim light.
Freddie and Carly took a second to readjust their bodies. Freddie sulked as well he could in such a position. He was frustrated; so many men wanted to be in his position- a beautiful girl was seducing him, willingly giving her body to him. They were totally alone with time on their hands, but those hands, which were skilled at breaking bones, drawing blood, and making a tent, were no good at taking care of a girl. If someone came into the room looking for a fight, those hands were invaluable. Touching this perfect goddess... not so much.
He drifted his hands up and down lightly. She was so fucking soft. Impossibly so.
Carly sighed, "Okay… that's a little better. Let's do this again."
Freddie looked at her puzzled, "What do you mean?"
Her eyes rolled, "Did you think that was enough." She grabbed his hands again, "I know that you're… new to this. But really, I need more time to care of my needs. I need you to touch me. Please? For me?"
Her fingers trailed his palms.
Freddie swallowed. Slowly, he touched her. His right and left rubbed slowly, like they were made of heavy metal. Carly leaned back. This was so much better than a shower. The touch was so foreign so- not her own. Her boyfriend started getting a bit more bold- alternating strokes, pushing in and moulding her breasts- it was amazing.
"Oh!" Carly squealed. Freddie recoiled. "No, no," She stated, "That's a good thing. I want more."
He complied. She felt the stimulation grew in force, narrowing her mind into the erogenous nerves. The pleasure grew for her moment by moment.
After a few minutes, Carly sighed happily and lay down on her lover's chest, "Thank you."
A deep chuckle made its way up his throat, "No… thank you."
They laughed. Both had trouble with touching, but things were better now. They could not get any worse, right?
His hand kept stroking her, "I do love you, and I'm sorry."
"It's okay."
"No… not about that. I'm leaving."
Her hands twirled into his shirt discontentedly, "Why?"
He kissed the top of her head, "I have to go back."
She pouted, "I can't stand the thought of you out there somewhere. I want you warm, and safe, and with me."
They sat in silence.
His hand stroked her back, "That's not what I meant."
She peered at him puzzled, "You're coming home?"
He shook his head sadly, "No, I'm going back to the Institute."