Get ready for some Chlerek moments! Sorry in advance if it gets too sappy…
I woke up several times during the night. Each time, Derek was there watching me, green eyes glowing cat-like in the darkness. I didn't say anything, just rolled over and tried to go back to sleep. What was the point in insisting he get some sleep when I knew he'd never go for it?
When I woke up to sun streaming in through the window I figured I'd been asleep long enough. I made a show of yawning and stretching for Derek. "Good morning!"
"How do you feel?" were his first words.
"Great!" This was a lie and I could tell he wasn't fooled but he didn't say anything. "So, are Tori and Simon awake yet?" he shook his head no. I fell silent for a moment, tensing myself for the yelling, but it never came. Finally, I had to ask. "So, am I in trouble?"
He clenched his hands into fists by his sides but when he spoke it was surprisingly calm. "You already know what you did was one of the stupidest things you've done yet, and you almost got yourself killed, as well as ruining pretty much any chance of escape we had before," I winced. "So you don't need me to remind you of that." I was tempted to point out he just did but figured that'd be counter productive.
"I'm furious, of course," I had expected that, "but more than anything I'm just glad you didn't bleed to death." my heart did a little flip. "That would have really upset Simon." it fell again.
"Sorry." I mumbled, looking away.
He sighed. "I know. And that's part of the reason why I can't stay angry at you." We didn't say anything for a while. Pretty soon Simon poked his sleep-tousled head into the room.
"She awake?"
"Yeah." I answered. He grinned and stepped fully into the room.
"Still alive I see." I rolled my eyes at him. "How'd you sleep?"
"Great." I said.
At the same time Derek said, "Terribly." of course it was him Simon listened to.
"Why? Anything happen?"
"No, she just kept waking up."
"Oh." Simon nodded, unsurprised. "Yeah, guess you have a reason to lose sleep, what with being shot and all."
"Speaking of, we should probably change her bandages now." Derek said.
"Good point. I'll go rip up your t-shirt, bro." Simon grinned and left the room
"No, use a curtain or sheet or something!" Derek growled after him. I could hear the laugh from the hallway.
"So you're not going to rip your shirt off to save me?" I teased Derek.
"I already did two nights ago, remember?" he pointed out. "Not everything's a movie."
I pretended to pout. "You are the worst hero ever."
I expected him to laugh or at least grin, but instead his eyes turned glazed and distant. "Hey!" I tried to get his attention. "I was kidding."
"I know." he still looked far away.
"Do you need me to list all the times you've saved my life in the past few weeks? If so, I hope you've got a while." I hoped he didn't hear the near desperation in my voice.
Simon's return broke the tense silence. He was carrying antiseptic from the bathroom and a shredded bed sheet tied together in crude knots. Hardly top of the line bandages, but they'd work. "Ready?" he asked me. I nodded.
Derek lumbered to his feet and joined Simon standing next to my bed. I looked up at both of them uncertainly. "Um…if you could just lift up your shirt a little…" Simon's face flushed with embarrassment. I'm sure my face was just as red as I did as he asked, raising it up just enough to reveal the red speckled bandage.
I sat up and looked away as Derek unwound the bandage, revealing the stinging wound to the air. I didn't dare glance down, not trusting myself not to be the squeamish blonde who fainted at the sight of blood.
He used a cotton ball to swab antiseptic across it, making me flinch. I had to grit my teeth to keep back the shriek building in my throat as it stung. Then Simon was wrapping the new bandage around my waist, the coarse fabric tugging at my injury. I only hoped none of my agony showed on my face. The ordeal only took a few minutes, but it seemed to have lasted a lot longer.
"Sorry." Simon said afterwards, standing awkwardly by my bed as Derek carried the bloodied bandage to the trash downstairs. "I know that was probably hell for you."
"Nah, it wasn't that bad." I fibbed. "Besides, it was necessary."
"I wish it wasn't." His words, thankfully, weren't accusatory.
"Ugh. Is she awake yet?" Tori slouched into the room to sink onto the empty mattress.
"Hi Tori." I smiled wanly at her.
"You're looking better." she accused, glaring at me from eyes that hung with circles.
"Yeah. It's almost entirely stopped bleeding now."
"Good to know. Now that you're not in immediate danger of dying, can we please work on the escape plans?"
"Good idea." I hastened to put in, wanting to make sure they knew how sorry I was to have butchered the original escape.
"Not to be the parade rainer or anything," Simon sat down next to Tori. "But we do remember they have guns right?"
"We'll take that into consideration." Derek perched on the end of my bed. "But the alternative would be to just wait here, which would be definitely not be in our best interests in the long run."
We all muttered agreements. "So we should escape now?" Tori guessed. "Not stick around here?" Though no one said anything, I saw all three of them glance at me. I felt my cheeks flush a bright red and stared hard at the wall so I wouldn't have to meet any of their eyes.
"I think we're ok to wait around here for a little bit longer," Derek sighed at last. He didn't have to add the last part. It's not like we have a choice.
"Yeah, they won't find us right away." Simon added quickly.
I knew the right thing to do was argue that they should just leave and try and escape, but I had already tried that and it didn't work. Besides, I was really too selfish to offer again.
"So until…the time is right." Until Chloe heals. "We should continue searching the house for more clues as to what the Edison Group's trying to accomplish by keeping us here. And I think we should try to learn more about Andrew and Margaret's involvement. We all agree we can't trust them now, right?"
"Not necessarily…" Simon pointed out. "I mean, yeah I agree we shouldn't tell them anything escaping. But…I don't think we should rule out trusting them completely. Not yet at least. We need more proof." Tori and Derek looked skeptical but I sympathized with Simon. He grew up with Andrew. He had been one of the few stable adults in his life. Him becoming the enemy would be a hard blow for Simon, who wasn't ready to give up hope on him just yet.
Of course, Derek also was raised to trust Andrew. But even I had noticed the subtle fear Andrew now treated him with, and that had to sting. As far as Derek was concerned, Andrew had already betrayed him.
"Ok. We'll do some more research on them. Tori?" Derek turned to her expectantly.
She sighed, standing up. "Computer Geek on duty. But I want someone to come with me. No way am I tramping through this ginormous creepy house alone with killers after us."
"Fine. I'll go with you." Simon also sighed as he stood and stretched. "Derek?"
"I'll stay here." No shocker there.
"Ok. Be back later." The two turned and left.
"You know, you don't have to stay and be my bodyguard." I pointed out once they had gone. "I don't think I'm going to die of blood loss in the near future and no one can really get to me from here to kill me, so-"
"Tori was right." There's a first. "Buddy system's not a terrible idea."
I sighed. "But you should be helping them look for clues and stuff. Not babysitting me."
"We've got plenty of time to search the house."
"Yeah. Because of me." I said bitterly.
"Well, you were just doing what you thought was best." Derek softened his tone.
"And almost got myself killed because of it and totally ruined any chance of escape for us." Great, I was crying now. Silent tears were leaking down my cheeks. I only hoped Derek wouldn't notice them. I turned away from him but his finger under my chin brought my face back towards him.
"Hey- don't cry. You were right, it had to be done. And you were the best one for the job. I just wish…"
"It had actually worked?" I supplied.
"Not exactly what I would have said, but yeah." he grinned slightly, making me sniffle and smile back. His green eyes bore into mine, promising it would be ok; and I believed him. Our faces were mere inches apart. All we had to do now was lean forward a little and our lips would meet-
"Hey Derek!" Simon called up the stairs, shattering any potential the moment may have had.
"Yeah?" He pulled away and stood up, walking to the doorway to better hear Simon.
"We think we found something. You wanna come check it out?"
Derek glanced back at me. I made shooing motions at him. "I repeat, I don't need you to baby-sit me. Go see what they found."
"I'll be right back to fill you in." he promised before walking out of the room.