The ride was quiet and Andy did her best to ready herself mentally for the next round, which she knew would follow soon. Miranda's even breathing and her loose grip told her that the older woman had fallen asleep. It was either a sign that she trusted Andy enough to allow herself to sleep or that she was simply too exhausted to stay awake.
The slowing car indicated their arrival at the townhouse. She gave the older woman's hand a small squeeze.
"Miranda," she whispered, "we are nearly there."
Miranda's eyes fluttered open. Taking in the familiar surroundings, she felt relieved that she was about to sleep in her own bed again and relieved that Andrea was still there.
When the car stopped, Roy and Andy hurried to open the door for Miranda, knowing full well that she wouldn't hesitate to leave unaided, if they weren't quick enough.
"Don't," Miranda warned.
Andy sighed. "Miranda please let me…"
"And let your little friends from the press take a nice photo of me? I think not."
"I…I understand. Roy, could you please take her bag?" Turning to Miranda she added, "I'll be right behind you just in case and you will accept that."
After the flash of shock left the older woman, she nodded sharply. She didn't think Andrea would have the gall to talk to her like that, but it clearly showed that Andrea wasn't scared of her anymore. Whether or not Miranda liked that was yet to be determined.
As she made her way to the front door on unsteady legs, she was glad Andrea was nearby. The short walk took so much out of her, she didn't even protest much when Andrea reached around her waist as they entered the house.
"Roy, do you think you could carry Miranda upstairs?" Andy asked, her arm still steadying the older woman.
"Of course, Andy."
"Absolutely not. I will not be carried anywhere," Miranda protested forcefully.
"I am sorry, Miranda," Roy apologized while carefully lifting her up.
Miranda winced at the movement. "Put me down at once! You are seriously endangering your job," she hissed angrily.
Roy looked at his formidable boss who felt so strangely frail in his arms. "I am truly sorry, but I'd rather endanger my job than your health." Without waiting for a reply, he began climbing the stairs.
Andrea followed silently with the bag, pleased when she saw the flicker of guilt in Miranda's blue eyes.
Pausing on the first landing, Roy looked a little uncertain.
"Another flight of stairs, first room on the right," Miranda murmured.
"Thank you."
Andrea felt her own exhaustion catching up with her while she climbed the last steps of the seemingly endless staircase. It wasn't the physical type of exhaustion one feels after too much exercise, but rather the emotional kind that she had always felt around Miranda.
Another wince from the older woman brought a sudden end to Andy's musings.
"I'm sorry, Miranda," Roy apologized after he had set her down on the huge bed.
Taking him by surprise, she looked into his eyes with a something that almost looked like gratitude and whispered a very sincere sounding, "Thank you, Roy."
"My pleasure," he replied before turning to Andy. "Call me if there is anything I can do."
"Could you wait downstairs for a moment, please? I'll be with you in a minute."
"Sure, Andy." He tapped his head and left with a last, "Goodnight, Miranda."
"So….um…right, I mean… you are home," Andy started rambling, her nerves getting the better of her.
"How very astute to assume that I am home as you are currently standing in my bedroom."
"Yes, well, I always had a way with words when you were around."
The older woman raised a questioning eyebrow, but couldn't hide the tiny smile that tugged on her lips. "I have noticed that on a few occasions."
Feeling a little more relaxed, Andy's mind was able to focus on the task ahead. "All right, I think it would be wise for you to rest for a while. If you tell me where, I'll fetch a nightie for you."
"I have no intention of wearing a nightie, as you so call it,in the middle of the afternoon. That is what sluggish people do." The disdain in Miranda's voice was palpable.
"No, that's what sick people do. That is what people who have to stay in bed for at least a week because they had an emergency operation do. And nightie is not a swear word, by the way." Andy saw Miranda taking a deep breath and held her hand up as if to stop the upcoming reply. "Don't start that with me. Tell me where and I'll leave you alone."
Impressed and annoyed at the young woman's new found self-confidence, Miranda gave in. "Through that door, second drawer on the left."
"Thank you. I know this is your personal nightmare, but please let's try not to fight over everything."
"We are not fighting, we are merely disagreeing on some points."
Andrea burst into laughter. "I always knew you had a different perception than the rest of us. You are…OH MY GOD!"
Miranda looked highly amused for a moment. "I see you found my wardrobe," she said loud enough for Andrea to hear.
"Your wardrobe? You'd need a map for this. I mean.. I know it is part of your job and I know what the designers send, but I never really imagined it being this big. Not that I ever imagined your wardrobe at all, but I…"
"Rambling," Miranda cut her off.
"Oh yes, sorry. Would you prefer something in particular?"
"The white silk one."
Much to Andy's delight, there was only one white one. "I have it," she confirmed, heading back into the bedroom.
Handing it is Miranda, she knelt down and started to remove the editor's shoes, much to the woman's displeasure…
"What do you think you're doing?"
Oh no. Not again. "I am helping you to change and I thought it was a good idea to start by removing your shoes."
"I am very capable of…"
Andy felt a migraine coming on. "Yes! Yes, I know! You are Superwoman Priestly, but you are sick. You've had two operations in 24 hours and if you move around too much the operation wounds will open up and I'll have to take you back to hospital and I don't want that anymore than you do!"
Feeling overwhelmed with the situation, the young woman let herself sit back and covered the eyes with her hands.
A few seconds of silence passed.
"I think Roy is waiting for you," Miranda finally whispered.
"Yes." Without another word, Andy headed for the kitchen where she found Roy.
"Are you all right, Andy?"
"As all right as anyone can be when trying to take care of Miranda. You know that it is all your fault, right?"
"I know you are the only person who can survive this job. To be honest, I didn't think you'd have that much to do. I just wanted you to visit her." He had the grace to look rather guilty.
"It's ok. I wish I didn't care about her, but I do. You were right, she needs a friend. I need you to do me a favour. "
"Anything."
Andy handed him a set of keys. "Could you please fetch a few things for me? I'll need clothes for at least a week, bathroom stuff and my laptop."
"No problem. That's the least I can do."
"Thank you. I'd better go back up again and make sure she doesn't do something foolish."
"I'll leave your things here in the hallway. You'll have them tonight. Take care, Andy."
"Thank you very much. Goodnight." Closing the front door behind him, Andy sighed deeply. It was time for round two with the dragon…
The astonishment at finding Miranda exactly where she had left her must have been evident on Andy's face when she entered the bedroom again.
"Don't look so surprised. I was supposed to wait, wasn't I?"
Andy just didn't have the strength for a smart-aleck reply. "I am glad you did." The young woman was as tired as she sounded and more than grateful that Miranda wordlessly let her help change clothes. Trying her best not to stare at her half-naked former boss, Andy worked as quickly as possible.
Andy wasn't exactly sure why the task was so unexpectedly trouble-free, but it must have had something to do with Miranda being thoroughly exhausted and ready to fall asleep where she sat.
"That's it. You can lie down now and rest while I go and make dinner."
The older woman nodded sharply and settled with a slight grimace into her wonderfully soft large bed.
Noticing her discomfort, Andy gave her a sympathetic smile and took out the meds she'd received at the hospital and went in search for a glass of water.
"Here are your pain meds."
Miranda wordlessly swallowed the pills and closed her eyes. Within seconds she was asleep.
Andrea took a moment to watch the editor. Her face was paler than usual and she really looked quite unwell, but she was still very beautiful.
She smiled tenderly and pulled the blanket a bit higher. "Sleep well, Miranda," she whispered before heading to the kitchen.
Thanks to my wonderful beta reader, I am finally able to update this story... I hope you enjoy it!