AN: Thanks to my new beta i can finally update this story!!
There was a soft knock on the door that caused Andy to turn around and see Mr. Maison enter. A quick look at Miranda told her that the woman was still asleep.
"Mr. Maison, could you please wait outside for a moment until Mrs. Priestley is ready?" Although Andrea phrased it as a question they both knew it was a request.
"Of course, I will be back in ten minutes." He nodded sharply and left the room, leaving Andrea alone with the still sleeping Miranda.
The young woman sighed and started stroking Miranda's hair again. "Miranda," she whispered. "Time to wake up."
The older woman slowly stirred in her sleep. "Hmm"
Andy had to chuckle. She always imagined Miranda would be spot on as soon as she opened her eyes, but it seemed even the dragon lady needed a little time to wake up. "Come on sweetheart, open your eyes for me."
It must have been the word 'sweetheart' that did the trick.
"Sweetheart? We are no friends, Andrea." The moment the words left Miranda's mouth she regretted them. Lashing out whenever the opportunity arises became a part of her nature even when she doesn't really want to hurt Andrea, but looking at the young woman she knew she just did. "Andrea, I…"
Mr. Maison chose this precise moment to knock on the door. Before Miranda was able to reply, she heard Andrea telling him to enter.
"Good morning. May I please have a private word with you Miranda?"
"No," Miranda said without hesitation, but Andrea was already at the door.
"Of course, I'll wait outside."
"In case you didn't hear me…" the older woman started, but was cut off by Andrea.
"Oh yes, I heard you. If you wish you can postpone talking with Mr. Maison until a friend can be with you. I will try to call one for you, if you wish." With that the young woman shut the door behind her. She knew she probably just overreacted, but enough was enough. There was only so much she would take from Miranda anymore, so she sat on one of those uncomfortable hospital chairs and waited. It wasn't long before the door opened again and a very unhappy looking old man stepped out.
"Miss Sachs, I can't emphasize enough that is it essential Miranda stays in bed for at least a week. A nurse will come in every morning and evening at seven, everything will be ready for discharging Ms. Priestly in an hour. Call immediately when you think something is wrong." He turned and left a speechless Andrea in his wake.
"Wait! Why are you telling…" Andrea shouted after him, but he was gone already.
Andy stood motionless, trying to grasp what had just happened until she heard Miranda calling for her. "Andrea, I know you are there. Come in, I don't have time to deal with your attitude now."
The young woman felt herself going on autopilot when she opened the door.
"There you are. Call Roy, he needs to be here in half an hour. Leave the address of the townhouse with the nurse and don't bother packing my bag. You can burn the clothes or do whatever you want to do with them. In any case they won't enter my house."
"Miranda, it is your attitude that makes your life hard." Andy left the room without another word, already absorbed in her tasks.
Miranda closed her eyes for a moment and let out a deep sigh. She didn't know why her former assistant's words stung so much, but they did. 'Oh yes, I heard you. If you wish you can postpone talking with Mr. Maison until a friend can be with you. I will try to call one for you if you wish.' It was true. She didn't have any friends. Business acquaintances, yes. The social circles she needs to attend, definitely. Friends who would come and sit at her bedside without wanting something back? Certainly not.
Andrea interrupted her thoughts when she entered the room again. "Roy is on his way and I left the address with the nurse. Do you want me to go and get new clothes for you to wear now?"
"No, the Prada suit will do." Andy just nodded and went over to the tiny wardrobe to fetch it. Well, tiny at least compared to what Miranda's wardrobe must look like.
"Here. Do you need help with changing?"
She looked at Andy as if she were insane. "Certainly not."
Andrea just nodded and waited, until she understood what she was expected to do. "Oh yes, sure. I'm… I'll wait outside."
And waiting she did. After fifteen minutes had passed, Andrea knocked on the door. "Miranda?"
No answer.
"Miranda, are you ok?"
Risking getting murdered, Andy carefully entered the room. She found Miranda still sitting on the bed with her blouse half on.
With a deep sigh she slowly walked over to the older woman and wordlessly started dressing her. "Why is it so impossible for you to accept help when you need it. You don't even have to ask for it, just accept it."
Miranda didn't move. Nor did she look up or talk. Why wasn't she able to accept help? Was is because during her younger years nobody ever offered to help her, no matter how much she would have needed it? Was it because of the fact that with money, all the people who would only offer help for something in return came into her life? She didn't know. The only thing she knew is that Andrea was different.
"Roy must be here now," Andy interrupted her train of thought.
Miranda was so caught up in her own thoughts she didn't even notice that Andrea had finished dressing her.
"Miranda, are you all right?"
"I want to go home."
"Ok. I'll let the nurse know and then we are off." Andy waited for the curt nod she knew she would get and left without another word.
----
Before entering the room again Andrea took a very deep breath. She knew this would be no fun at all…
"Absolutely not!" was the first thing that was thrown at her upon entering.
"Miranda, please."
"Did you hit your pretty head on the way? Otherwise you surely wouldn't come in with that! Or would you like me to push you?"
Andrea's mind was still two sentences behind. Pretty head? Only Miranda could make it sound so utterly insulting. It was amazing how this woman was able to cause cold sweat on your forehead with just a few whispered words.
Having worked up her courage, Andy looked the older woman straight in the eyes. "My head is just fine, thank you. And this wheelchair will enable you to get home, as you can't walk all the way to the backdoor where Roy is currently waiting for you."
Miranda forced herself to stay calm. "No."
Andy could feel her blood rushing through her veins . "Fine. Tell Roy I said hi," she said and sat on the chair beside the bed.
This was outrageous! No one ever dared to talk to her like that and Miranda would definitely not give in now. Somehow she had counted on the younger woman to support her with walking, but she could very well do it on her own. Clenching her jaw, she slowly slid from the bed onto her weak and slightly shaking legs. After a moment of hesitation she carefully started walking, focusing on setting one foot in front if the other.
It broke Andy's heart to see the older woman struggle, but she knew it was the only way to make Miranda see reason. It was a ten minutes walk to the backdoor and she wouldn't make that, even with support. Miranda needed that wheelchair. Andy just hoped she didn't hurt herself in her attempt to walk.
When she heard a thud she knew it had happened. Running to the source of the sound, she saw two nurses already hovering over the woman on the floor and knew she'd have to save the poor women from the editor's wrath.
"Don't you dare touch me," Miranda hissed angrily, pushing the helping hands away with as much force as she could muster.
Andrea stepped in just as one of the shocked nurses opened her mouth to speak. "Could you please fetch the wheelchair from the next room?"
She didn't wait for a reaction, because she was focusing on the older woman already, reaching out to grab her arms. She was about to retort when Miranda push her hands away, when she saw that the editor had her eyes closed.
A huge lump formed in the young woman's throat, seeing her former boss trying to get her breathing, pain and embarrassment under control. She reached out and gently clasped Miranda's hands in her owns. "Miranda," she said quietly.
The older woman opened her eyes and looked into the soft brown ones. There was no gloating, no gratification reflecting in them, only compassion and something that almost looked like tenderness.
"It's all right, I'm here to help" Andrea whispered and reached around Miranda. She gave the older woman a moment to brace herself and then gently pulled her up. She felt Miranda stiffen during the process and knew standing up caused her pain. Andy was glad the nurse had brought the wheelchair and otherwise kept her mouth shut.
After she helped Miranda sit in the chair, she knelt in front of her, taking the older woman's hands again. The editor didn't look at her, but didn't pull away either.
"Do you need to have the doc have a look at you again," Andrea asked carefully?
Miranda only shook her head no.
"Ok." Andy gave her hands a gentle squeeze and stood up, looking at the nurses. "Thank you, I'll take her from here."
---
A few silent minutes later they reached the backdoor. Andrea could see the car waiting outside and stopped. "If you want to, I'll help you walk to the car from here."
Miranda just nodded.
Andy moved in front of her and reached around her, but was stopped before she could pull her up.
"Wait."
A few deep breathes later, the older woman nodded, indicating that she was as ready as she could be. Andy carefully pulled her up and waited a moment until she was sure Miranda was able to support some of her own weight. Slowly she helped Miranda to the waiting car where Roy held the door open.
"It's good to see you again," he said and was surprised to hear a soft "Thank you" from his boss.
When Roy pulled into the traffic, Andy mirrored Miranda's action and rested her head against the window. Without looking, she reached out and placed her hand over Miranda's and to her surprise, the older woman allowed it.