And here goes the second chapter of today's update! I'll try to not disappear again (may my midterm results be good enough for that...)
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Hope you enjoy the story so far :)
Chapter 18. Eric Mercier
John tried to move Victoria's arm from the boy's shoulder; but the moment his hand reached her, she opened her piercing grey eyes wide and stared intensely at her surroundings. Her body was tense and there was no doubt that she would attack any source of danger detected. The doctor needed to get through her defensive state. "Rita…" He had to start again: "Victoria. You're safe. It's all over. Look at me." Her gaze looked a bit more self-aware. She stared at John's face, and her eyes sparkled with tired joy.
Suddenly aware of holding a kid in her embrace, she sat up awkwardly. Probably bruised ribs, John observed while focusing on the poor boy. Victoria stayed silent and just stared at him with hope and apprehension. Apparently, she was barely holding back up her tears, and couldn't see anyone else but her little protégé anymore. The boy presented no external injuries. At least, those thugs hadn't dared beating a kid; however he looked extremely skinny and exhausted.
John gently patted Eric's cheeks. The boy opened his sleepy and frightened eyes, desperately trying to grasp the situation. When he saw an unknown man leaning over him, he wailed in terror; but then Victoria darted towards him. "Eric!" She displayed a tired-looking smile and reached out to him. The child threw himself into her arms, crying out loud. Everyone present in the room observed them with compassion while the young woman whispered comforting words in French.
Eventually, Eric seemed to calm down. He separated himself from the warm embrace and turned to Lestrade with a somewhat leery expression. "He needs to be taken to the hospital." Victoria's voice was unsteady, yet convincing. She remained kneeling, hands lifelessly lying on her knees. After getting Watson's silent assent, Lestrade took Eric's hand and led him out of the house.
Gradually, Victoria's eyes were becoming dangerously void. Alarmed, John talked to her in a soft voice: "Victoria. Do you hear me?" He brushed against her shoulder. No reaction. He grew seriously worried.
In her mind, thoughts and memories were tangling together. She didn't know what to do anymore. Stupid, stupid, how stupid could she have been! What would happen now? It was scary. Losing people was scary. Being at fault was scary. Please, God, let me apologize!
A/N About the apologizing part... You'll see in the next chapter (if everything goes according to the plan) what Victoria means by that, but basically it's a real mess in her mind and she feels guilty about her disappearance and memory loss, and... Well, she'll explain it next time ;)