Chapter 5

Eponine awoke in the café Musain the next morning. She didn't have the slightest idea of how she got there. She shot up and remembered she had to meet Javert in the Market. She got off of the table and tried to take a step and crumbled to the ground.

"That is not something I would highly reccomend." The mysterious voice coming from the corner of the room.

"No shit. You couldn't have told me that before I stood up?"

"You were sleeping. I didn't want to wake you." Enjolras appeared in front of her and helped her stand up.

"How did you find me?" She stared into his eyes. Did he go searching for me?

"You were in front of the Musain. It only made sense to bring you in. You were injured."

"Well thank you Enjy. But I need to go." She tried to take another step. "I have to go meet someone."

"Who? The people who injured you?"

"No. Someone of importance."

"You can try. But I don't suggest it."

She managed to finally take another step but winced in pain. A shooting pain came from her ribs. I can't stand Javert up. It will look poorly on my report.

"I will make it I'm sure." She managed to limp down the stairs shooting pains going throughout her body with every agonizing step she took. She finally made it to the market place. She saw Javert hiding in the shadows. She purchased a biscuit before joining him.

"Your report miss?"

"The curly haired one known as Enjolras has plans to try to make a republic. He plans to make a rebellion. But he does not know when or where Monsieur. That is all I know of at this moment in time."

"Thank you. Here is your payment." He handed her ten francs this time. "Meet me next week same time and place. Yes?"

"Yes. Thank you Monsieur." She turned on her heels and saw Enjolras hiding behind a fruit stand. She managed to hobble over to him. "What the hell do you think you were doing?"

"I need to know why you are meeting with Javert three times in the past day and a half and why he handed you money."

"Number 1. None of your business. But... I'll tell you anyways. Number 2. I needed money And Number 3. My dad deserves to be sold out." Lying was one of her best assets.

"Was he the one who did this to you?"

She nodded then continued. "Come on let's go back to the café and I'll tell you what happened."

They took like three steps and stopped. "I think this as far as I'm making it. Go on. I'll meet you there... In like an hour and a half..."

He hesitated then scooped her up and threw her over his shoulder careful to not make her injuries worse. This wasn't exactly what he had in mind nor something he felt comfortable with... But she was injured and she needed help. He never realized how small her fragile body was.

"What are you doing" she was in so much pain that she didn't't even want to move now. "Put me down!" She kept banging her fists against his back.

"I am not putting you down until we get to the café. You are a member of the Amis and the Amis take care of each other."

She stopped hitting him and started to relax by the time they got there. He put her down when they reached the top of the steps. "There. Was that so bad?"

"I suppose not... But still give me a little warning next time."

"Well if I asked you would have said no. So we would have ended up in the same situation. I really didn't want to take that much time getting back. An hour and a half? That is ridiculous!"

"I hope you know I was exaggerating."

"Still. It would have taken an awfully long time. Neither of us should be put through that. Especially since you are strongly injured. Now sit."

"Yes mama Enjy. Whatever you say." In response to that he gave her the death glare and grabbed a chair.

"So what happened. Start at the beginning."

"Like.. The beginning beginning?"

"Of how you got hurt." He gave her a face that said that she was being dumb.

"Oh. Right. I thought you. Meant about birth and all." She chuckled at Enjolras being annoyed. "Fine. I went to take Marius to his precious Cosette for the first time." She sighed. "So I started to leave and I guess I got to the street near the Musain because I ended up here. But my dad showed up and was saying that I needed to come back and help support the family. Then he beat me and left."

"Sorry about your parents. They sound like bad people. Your father sounds like a jerk."

"Yeah well sympathy is not needed. I have had to deal with it for a while." She managed a small smile.

"I get it. Give me a little credit. I remember when I was that pathetic."

"What do you mean?" She looked at him.

"My dad was a drunk. It never ended we'll. I know what it's like staying up all night

nursing wounds. Trust me. I have had my fair share." He turned around and trekked over to his desk. He sorted through his papers and found the one he was working on. He started writing.

"How much damage did you discover on my body?" She was curious to see how much she had observed her.

He turned around to face her. "The bruising on your left cheek, arms and I am assuming you either sprained or broke your ankle considering how hard it is for you to walk. But... I am no doctor. Wait until Joly and Combeferre show up. They will examine you. They are studying medical."

She nodded and started to drift into her thoughts. Enjolras turned around and started writing again.

She fell asleep hunched over with her head on the table when the Amis showed up.

"What's up with her?" Courfeyrac questioned.

Enjolras spoke. "Oh... She ran into her father."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Wake her up and find out."

Eponine felt a poking sensation on her back then woke up.

"Oh my... You've got a black eye Madam."

"No shit. I can feel it." She looked at them in annoyance.

"You've got some bruises there too..." Joly added.

All Eponine did was give them a death glare and the shut their mouths. "Here let me take a look 'Ponine." He took a knee beside her and looked at her face. "Does anything hurt?"

"It hurts to stand... Like hell. I might have broken my ankle." She lifted her ankle up so he could see it.

He moved the ankle side to side. She winced in pain when he grabbed it she was almost to the point of crying when he started to move it. "Ahhh. Ahh! Yeah it hurts can you stop playing with my hurt ankle!"

"It's a slight fracture." He reached into his bag and grabbed some gauze. He wrapped the ankle in gauze then secured it with a metal piece. "I suggest that you stay off of it for the next few days."

"Are you serious?! What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to get around?" She started turning red from the anger and frustration.

"I guess you're not..." He gave Eponine a sympathetic look. "I don't know what you're going to do."

"His head is going to be on a platter." Eponine shook her head and placed her head in her hands.

"Who?" Borhel asked.

"No one you need to worry about." she looked up at him. "Thank you for looking at my ankle. I really appreciate it." She managed a small smile.

"No problem. The Amis help each other out when it is needed." He smiled then turned around to talk to Combeferre.

Put the mask back on. Don't take it off until everyone is gone. Cover up Eponine. Don't let them see the real you. This was turning out to be way more stressful then she planned. She looked up at the students who were laughing and having a good time. Only one was missing. Marius.

Her heart ached at the thought of what happened with Cosette last night. She almost started crying at the slightest thought of him. She put her head down on the table and tried to think of anyone or anything besides him. She just couldn't shake his smile and the smell of him.

She felt a tap on her shoulder once again. "Does everyone like poking me in the shoulder?!" she turned around and saw Marius standing above her. "Oh... Sorry... I didn't now it was you.. Hehe."

"Will you do a favor for me 'Ponine?" Marius gave her a puppy dog face.

"Depends on what it is." she winked at him.

"Will you take this letter to Cosette for me?"

"Marius... Do you not see that I have a hurt ankle and are in need of resting?" She hesitated before saying. "I will. But it won't be for another day or so. I need to stay off of my ankle. Doctor's orders."

"Fine. You can hold on to it and deliver it when you feel better." He smiled. "Thanks 'Ponine." He turned around and left her in peace. He left her only to her thoughts.

Why in the world am I agreeing to this? And why Cosette of all people? Is this some kind of joke?

She fell back into a sound slumber until she felt someone shaking her. "Who wants what now?"

"Ep... It's time for the cafe to close. We need to go." He gave her a small smile.

"What? How long was I asleep for?" She shot up, instantly regretting it.

"Like five hours or something like that."

"Wow... I didn't intend to sleep let alone for that long." she started to stand then faltered and fell back into the chair.

"Okay. So apparently you can't walk..." He looked at her for a second.

"I guess I have to stay here!" She said with a smile.

Without a blink he threw her over his shoulder again. She started to protest then gave up knowing from experience that it wasn't going to work. He walked out the door and turned left her still on his shoulder.

"Where are we going? If I may ask..." she seemed a little nervous going someplace where she didn't know.

"To my flat."

"I'm not staying there." She started to protest and beating on his back with her fists. "Put me down!"

"I'm not going to be convinced you have somewhere to stay then find you sleeping on some rock or on the front porch of some house." He adjusted her on his shoulder. "You're ankle needs a nice place to heal and my apartment is all that you have available to you at this moment in time."

She thought about it for a moment. "Fine. I'm sleeping on the floor though."

"Whatever. You just need to elevate your leg." Enjolras sighed.

"Well.. Thank you i suppose."

"Oh calm down. I would have done it for any one of my friends."

He turned right then left and ended up at his flat building. He lived on the second floor of the building. Carrying Eponine up stairs gave him a little trouble but he survived and fished the key out of his trouser pockets.

He opened the door and immediately put her down on the sofa then sighed in relief. "Here use this pillow and elevate your leg." He threw a small pillow at her.

"I'm sleeping on the ground."

"Fine do what you want. I don't care. There is a blanket on the back of the sofa." He watched her slide from the couch onto the floor. "Make yourself comfortable though." With that said he turned on his heel and left to go change for bed.

She took the blanket off the edge of the couch and waited for a few minutes. She covered her head the sighed heavily. Then let out a little grumble trying to relieve her stress.

"Hey little gremlin, is everything alright?" She almost jumped out of her skin.

"I thought you were going to bed!"

"I am. I needed some water." He smiled at her.

"Good night Enjy." she said in the most annoying tone she could muster.

She shut her eyes, acted like she was sleeping and listened for him to leave the room.

She sighed again before rolling over and falling into a sound sleep.