Title: A Quiet Mind

Rating: T

AU: No, for once.

Archive: If I ever figure out how to work Amorous Intent, then perhaps.

Summary: '…I'm in pain, but I won't let you band-aid the wound…'

Finally, another LOCI chapter. I know, I know…I'm sorry. I got caught up in my Wicked fic, and I couldn't really get past any of this because I hadn't seen VDO and KE in so long. All right, no more excuses. Here we go. Feedback is always loved (unless you're Fidel Castro).

I'll be honest-this is really just a filler until I can actually think after exams (physics and chemistry just murdered me. Not the positrons!).

Chapter Three

It was effortless. The edge eased out of its prison in a slow, unheeded motion, and the sharpened tip cast dull pink spots of light on the wall. With one flick of the wrist the sliver of ceramic mug hit the water trapped in the sink and sunk it sunk to the bottom. The sliver hit the bottom tip first, and spirals of rose colored water rose to the surface. The pink waves rose once then fell back into the water too diluted to survive till the next crest. Alex shook out the towel.

Her eyes glanced up at the mirror-hair out of place, eyes red, lips dotted with teeth marks-and sighed. She turned back to Bobby. His knee, a limb of jagged flesh, stared back at her. She sighed again and pressed the wet cloth against his skin. Her fingers pushed the cloth into the cut, but he showed no pain. She continued on although she was completely aware of her harshness; sometimes she couldn't resist.

Her hair fell in front of her face. She was bandaged and wrapped and cleansed and washed and Bobby was sitting there torn and battered and cut and bruised. Mind you, he's the one that did the cutting and bruising, but…Well…

"Alex?" His voice was soft and deep.

"Yes, Bobby?" Her voice was tight and constricted.

It would be a long night if they kept on like this.

"Will you stay with me tonight?" She stopped. "You don't have to…I know you don't want too…Probably…" Oh, the poor man! She touched his cheek. The third finger slid down his cheek bone, and the thicker-than-normal layer of beard rubbed her skin. She bit her bottom lip.

"I am." He finally met her eyes. Relief; pure relief flowed through his eyes into her. "But I am going to talk, you are going to listen, and if you don't, Bobby, I will not look back when I leave." She threw the cloth into the sink and opened the drain. The water swirled down the drain in a slow spiral. The dull pink finally showed through the clear water, and Alex looked back up at him. "And believe me. I will leave."

The last of the red water dripped down the drain.

-TBC-

I know! It's so short. I'm sorry. I promise that as soon as all of my exams are over, and I'm at my summer scholar program I'll write more. Promise!