Chapter 13
"Somebody get Lee!" a panicked voice said. I wasn't aware of anything but Mair and what his hands were doing to me.
"Oh god," I moaned piteously. "Please. . ."
"I don't know what to do Lee!" a voice hissed. I could feel a hand on my shoulder. Screaming, I fought against this 'attacker'.
"By Iluvatar!" a male voice swore. "She nailed me!"
"Thank the valar, Lee! She's becoming wild and unmanageable." The male voice said after what felt like hours of silence.
"Meleth," Lee's voice was breaking through my guarded and wounded mind.
"No," I sobbed, caught in the clutches of the past which I couldn't escape. "He said you were dead." I cowered into myself, curling into the fetal position.
"Aria," Lee's voice filled my ears, as the grunts of Mair started to fade.
"Mair? Love?" I called helplessly. Suddenly a set of hands settled on my arms. "LEAVE ME ALONE!" I writhed furiously. The hands merely tucked me closer to their body.
"Shh. Meleth nin, calm down," Lee's soft voice again broke through my horrid memories. Going limp, I allowed Lee to pull me into his chest. Sobbing so hard, I was barely able to manage to breathe. I breathed in the comforting earthy scent of Lee, when I was semi calm. He was able to shield my memories and save me from myself.
"What happened?" Lee held me at arm's length, after I calmed somewhat.
"I was back with him," I trembled violently. "On the day I got the brand." Lee brushed a few locks of hair out of my face.
"He's behind bars Ar," Lee whispered.
"I remembered how I had to play along with him. Pretend I liked him – liked his touch so he didn't kill me." My face flamed with the shame of my actions. Lee's finger's stroked my cheeks soothingly.
"Now you aren't allowed to think like that!" He chided me. Leaning me back on the bed, he looked at me intently.
"Lee he was my first," I managed. Lee began to show understanding.
"Ah, you never had a partner of that kind before?" Lee asked, gently, his blue eyes searching my green ones. I nodded. "And you are afraid people won't want you, am I correct?"
"Yes," tears welled in my eyes.
"Never fear. Men all over the place will be falling over you." Lee said with an easy smile. "If you look now, you'll notice how many guys are struck by you!"
"Really?" I asked shyly. Chuckling he nodded. Getting up he went to leave the room. "Lee," I called softly. Turning to face me he waited patiently. "Would you?"
"Would I what?" He arched an eyebrow, confused at the question.
"Ever be with me?" I asked, flushing. Lowering my eyes, the room was dead silent and I was filled with regret. "Forget that I asked," I mumbled, embarrassed after a few moments of silence. I didn't hear him cross the room, but I started when his hand was under my chin, lifting it to look at me. For a few moments we stayed like that, before he brought his lips down on mine, to lightly kiss me.
"Does that answer your question?" he asked, a smile on his face. "But you don't belong with me." He said, stepping away. Confused I looked up at his form.
"Why not?" As they say, curiosity killed the cat, but hasn't killed me yet, so it must not be all that true.
"I'm a cop. I put my life on the line every day, as do you," Lee looked at me like I was dumb. "You would worry about me as I would worry about you."
"Oh."
"And Valar forbid you ever got pregnant. Our child would then have two parents as cops. And I wouldn't wish that on anyone." He said, frowning a little.
"I understand," I said, sincerely.
"Get some sleep," He finally said. Shyly I rolled over. He left the room. I tossed and turned for over an hour before I got up. Giving in, I made my way up the stairs where I quietly opened Lee's door. Kneeling beside his bed, I lightly touched his shoulder. He jerked awake, his eyes falling on me.
"Whassamatter?" he asked, sleepily, looking at me.
"I can't sleep. Can I sleep with you?" I asked. He nodded and moved back, at the same time flipping the blankets open for me. Shrugging off my robe, I settled in. Lee wrapped his arm around my stomach and buried his face in my hair.
"Go to sleep, Aria." He commanded before his breathing deepened. After a few moments sleep claimed me as well.
"It is time, my daughter," Yavanna said.
"Time?" I questioned.
"To go to Scotland," Aulë said.
"But!" I attempted to protest.
"No buts!" my mother scolded gently. "Get on a flight to Scotland tomorrow."
"Glasgow," my father said. "And have patience while you're there."
"It will take time, you know." Yavanna said. "So don't expect it to happen all at once."
"What's gonna happen?" I was confused.
"You will know," Aulë said. "And don't be scared."
"Your father is correct. Don't be scared. This is happening for a reason." Yavanna said with a smile.
"What's happening?" I was dying to know. They both smiled at me.
"We can't tell you everything." Yavanna said.
"But have fun." Aulë sternly said. "And remember, we are always there and will help you out in your dreams if you don't understand or stray from your path."
"Now it's time for you to wake up." Mother said.
"Remember who you are on this journey." Father said.
"Have fun." Mother yelled.
"And most important remember we would never harm you, our daughter." And then they were gone.
Waking up, I snuggled into the warmth that surrounded me.
"Um, Aria" a voice said, uncertainly.
"Shh," I murmured. "It's too early!"
"Umm," Opening my eyes I sleepily looked at Lee. He was uncomfortable, I could tell. Fully waking up I understood. The both of us were entwined with the other, while I was half on top of Lee, pinning him to the mattress.
"I'm soo sorry Lee!" I let him go. He gave me his signature smile.
"It's no problem, Aria." He stroked my hair lightly. "But I do need to go to work today." Yawning I sat up and looked at his clock. 4:47 AM.
"God, Lee!" I groaned. "It's way too early!" He laughed.
"You're getting off schedule, Aria," he tickled me. Shrieking with laughter, I tried to wiggle away from his questing hands. "Sloppy." His tone was betrayed by the humor on his face.
"Uncle! Uncle!" I hollered. He immediately stopped. His hands were still on my waist. My chest was heaving with laughter.
"By the Gods you are beautiful," the look on Lee's face was heartbreaking. Regretfully he let me go. Getting up I slipped my robe over top my pajamas.
"Oh and before you go to work, d'ya think you could drop me off at my place?" I asked, running his brush through my hair. His movements in the bathroom stilled for a moment.
"You wish to go home?" Lee had a strange, almost wistful tone to his voice. Stilling my own movements I looked up at him.
"We did agree Lee, on the day my stitches were removed I would go back home." I reminded him gently. "Lee, you've been a great friend. I love you quite dearly, but quite frankly, I do need to go home." Stiffly he nodded.
"Of course Aria." I left his rooms and went to my own temporary ones. There I changed my clothes and packed. In twenty minutes I was in the kitchen making coffee and beginning the bacon.
Dan was the first to stumble into the kitchen. His short hair was mussed by sleep, making me smile.
Hey gorgeous. What's for breakfast?"' He stretched and yawned. Rolling my eyes I continued to flip the bacon. A moment later, Rohi walked in. I gasped when I saw his black eye.
"Oh my god! Ro are you okay?" I left my post to inspect his eye.
"Of course sweet. You happen to have a damn fine right hook." He caught my hand as I was trying to pull his face lower.
"Yeah, he is no longer as handsome as me!" Dan exclaimed, flipping my neglected bacon.
"I'm soo sorry!" I muttered looking at the floor. I didn't see the looks Rohi and Dan exchanged.
"No need, gorgeous," Dan said cheerfully. "At least we know you can defend yourself!"
"Yeah, sweet, I won't die from this bruise!" Rohi reassured me.
After eating breakfast, Lee dropped me off at my place. Hurriedly I packed and left for the airport after writing a letter to Lee. When I got there, I went to the counter, which was surprisingly not too busy.
"How may I help you?" the clerk stilled her typing for several moments.
"One ticket to Glasgow, Scotland; the one that departs next," I told her. She clicked away at the computer.
"How about the noon flight?"
"Perfect," I handed her my credit card.
"Round trip or one way?" She said holding my credit card, poised and ready, but waiting on my last answer.
"One way."