A/N Thanks for all the Reviews, and I hope you enjoy this chapter. Let me know what you think. Also, I wanted to know if this story is getting boring. I haven't put the Soldier/Bucky in hardly any of the chapter as of late, and I was wondering if that was annoying for being a reader. Should I start 'amping' up the story and adding him in, or is it alright? Please pop me a message if you have any suggestions.
"Has she said anything to you" I asked while look in the direction of the showers; the noise of the water running echoing out. It had been a month since Helen had come to join us in the observation room, and she had yet to speak another word to me the whole time.
"Of course she has" replied Laura "it's just…Helen is a quiet person…it takes a while for her to open up. Adjust" replied Laura as she rested the palm of her hand against her slightly swollen stomach. Unlike Laura, my own and Helens had grown twice the size in the same time and upon realising; Erik had instantly made appointments with the doctor.
"Awhile" I almost yelled. Breathing a sigh, I continued "she barely even looks at me. Did I do something wrong? Does she not trust me? Is that it?" leaning back in my bed, I stared up at the roof "what did I do wrong?"
"You didn't do anything" hearing Laura sigh, the metal doors opened. Stepping through, Erik walked over to the side of my bed; cutting off the heated argument that was about to rise. With the pregnancy, I had been prone with all sorts of fluctuating moods. One minute I was calm and happy, then the next I was pure rage. It was annoying at times.
Scanning his gaze down my body, I had sat up and swung my legs over the side "Time for your appointment" spoke Erik in a formal tone because of the company around. Nodding my head, he helped me off of the bed and I followed him out of the large room. Once we were out of range from the prying ears and half way down the hall, Erik asked "are you doing well this morning?"
"No, not really" I replied blankly with a shake of my head. Looking up at Erik, he made a sign for me to further explain. Huffing a sigh "Helen…I don't think she likes me very much. She never talks to me, but I always hear her whispering to Laura at night; when they think I'm asleep"
A moment of silence passed when Erik had let out a slight chuckle. Looking back up to him with a glare on my face, he stopped to shake his head "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to laugh. It's just amusing to me that, in a time like this, you would worry about such things…friendships"
"Are they not important? I'm stuck here. I can't be by myself. Alone. I need friends to feel human and survive this place"
"You don't need friends Amelia. Friends drag you down. They give you unnecessary complications. Especially when you leave" he said whispering the last few words "I told you before, you remember, that I can't take any more than you and myself. That's all. The more these girls grow on you, the more it hurts to let go" feeling a pang in my heart, I continued to walk along with Erik. He's right, like always.
Laying on the cold gurney, I stared up at the L.E.D lights above. Feeling rubber clad fingers press around my swollen stomach, I fidgeted uncomfortably "I'm not hurting you am I?" came Gregov's wiry voice. Shaking my head, I winced when he pressed around a particular part near my hip bone "your silence is provocative" muttered the man under his breath.
Sighing as he moved away, he ordered me to get up. Doing as instructed, I swung my legs over the edge; my hands clutched over the side "…it…doesn't hurt" I said, deciding to speak up "it's just uncomfortable"
Watching Gregov's eyes light up and his eyebrows raise, he repeated "Uncomfortable. In what way?"
Shaking my head, it was hard to answer as I couldn't quite explain the feeling "…It's like a dull ache around my stomach. Sometimes it's there and other times it's not. It feels strange, and…I feel…movement" I whispered the last word. I must sound strange; saying the baby is moving when it couldn't be; even when considering the increased mass of my stomach.
Nodding his head, Gregov scratched under his chin while trying to think "It's not uncommon for woman to think they feel movement when there is none" said Gregov while wheeling over a large monitor screen sitting atop a portable trolley "I'll have to run a few more simple tests…just to make sure everything's alright" feeling a wash of panic, I shuffled back "don't worry. You won't feel a thing" he tried to assure me, a smile on his face as he clicked buttons on the console.
"What is it?" I managed to stammer out; nodding toward the device.
"A machine that will send me images. It will allow me to see inside of you. That way I can make sure the baby is growing nice and healthy. We wouldn't want anything serious to happen, would we?" asked Gregov as he continued to look at the monitor. Not moving or saying a word, he ordered me to lay back down. Doing as he says, he reached for the edge of my long sleeved white top.
Since getting the new uniform I've managed to sleep better without the constant itch of the material from before. Pulling up my shirt to rest above my ribs, I didn't bother to try and swat him away. There was no point "now, this may feel cold" he said before squirting some kind of cold gel onto my stomach. Picking up a remote, I shivered as the rounded end of it pressed against my lower stomach; moving around in circle motions.
Looking left, I couldn't see the monitor no matter how hard I tried to manoeuvre my head at different angles. Waiting a minute or two, I eventually asked "Is everything alright?" he's been stunned quiet for some time, and I was starting to get worried.
"Everything is perfect" he said before removing his eyes from the screen to face me "it's doing very well indeed" removing the receiver off of my stomach, he wiped it down with a piece of tissue "you may leave now. Your caretaker will be given any additional information regarding your medication"
Nodding my head, I tugged down my shirt before hopping off of the gurney and back onto my bare feet; the cold of the tiles below sending a shiver up my spine. For some reason I felt sceptical of Gregov's behaviour. I thought he wanted to do more tests, and now he wants me to leave. Moving near the door, I turned around to face the old doctor. I still have something I need to tell him "I asked Erik…"
No pausing in his actions, Gregov didn't look up "Oh? And what did he say?" not at all sounding interested.
"He told me you are a liar and manipulator. That you're trying to get inside of my head" I relayed, a sense of proudness present in my voice.
Tisking, he shook his head with a smile etched on his thin lips "Harsh words from a harsh man. Though it sounds as if he were talking more about himself than me…did he answer your question?"
"I told you-"
"That wasn't an answer though. Was it Amelia?" furrowing my brow, I clenched my fists "look at you. Getting irritated because you can't defend him. Whatever he told you…that is a lie…his answer manipulated you away from the question. To make you stop digging for the truth. Erik is a notorious control freak. He hates when things don't go according to plan…and he's patient. Nothing trustworthy about a man with an abnormal sense of patience" added Gregov with a tilt of his head.
"Why do you tell me this about Erik? You make me question his motives. And you're aware of them but don't bother to say anything to Zola"
"Zola doesn't need to know everything little dove. If I were to say anything about Erik, it would cost me…I'm not here to snoop or pry on other people's business, but I can't help myself when I girl like you wanders in here…all innocent and afraid. You cling to the first sign of hope and salvation. I'm only here to tell you that Erik is not that person. He's not going to help or save you from the inevitable. It's all just a game he likes to play" said Gregov with a wave of his hand "Trust me little dove"
"Trust you? A man who tells me bad, gruesome things. A man who taunts me. Makes me watch. You killed a girl – Hannah. Or don't you remember?" I hissed.
Tisking me again, I was definitely starting to become irritated and angry. I wanted to kick, scream and yell. I wanted to hurt the man in front of me for what he's done "I never said that. You really don't listen do you?" breathing a heavy sigh, Gregov continued to work away on something on the monitor; tapping away on the buttons "...the services that are required of me aren't to go around butchering little girls. My job is quite the opposite – to make sure that you stay alive. I leave those sorts of things up to more skillful hands" fighting the urge to roll my eyes at his hidden message of that persons being Erik, I crossed my arms trying to calm down "…I have a daughter. Older than you. She's studying to become a nurse, a healer. A trait she's picked up from me so fortunately. Though I have vowed never to let her into this part of my life, she doesn't need to know"
"How does this have anything to with-"
"Let me finish" interrupted Gregov, his green eyes set on my own; a finger poised in the air for silence "the moral of this story, is that I am a normal man. I have a family, a wife and children. I create and sustain life. I don't destroy it. I did those things…I hurt you, taunted you, and made you watch so that you would learn; that there are people in this world, Amelia, that are far worse than me. This is my gift to you"
Walking back through the hallway, Erik held a chart and I couldn't help but distance myself from his body. At one point I craved his presence and touch, but now after listening to Gregov and what he had to say; I felt confused about who to trust and what to do. Of course I didn't want to make it too obvious about my uncomfortableness around my caretaker. I don't want him getting suspicious about anything. After all, who knows? Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow feeling normal in my beliefs of Erik – or maybe I won't. I'll just have to wait.
"Gregov has increased your dosage in some of your medication, and he also added additional ones. Did he say anything to you during your examination?" asked Erik curiously, looking down at me.
"No" I stated shaking my head "he didn't really want to talk to me. He said that he'd tell you if there were any changes" I said, trying to sound convincing "why? Is there anything bad?"
"No. Everything looks good" nodding my head, we entered through the double door. Hobbling my way back over to my bed, I got up and in; tucking the sheets around me. Once I was done, Erik handed over a paper cup; though it was heavier than usual "your new medication" he explained.
Grimacing at the sight of a sea of pills floating in the cup, I had separate them; swallowing the smaller ones in one gulp and the bigger ones by themselves. Feeling an explosion of chemical tastes on my tongue, Erik handed me another cup of water. Taking sips to flush the taste, I rested back in the bed before turning my head to see Helen picking at scabs on her arms; her stomach swollen just like mine.
"Try and get some sleep Amelia" spoke Erik.