After two hours of lying in an exceptionally uncomfortable hospital bed, Valkyrie decided to release herself from the Infirmary. Her back ached a little but it was no damage compared to that of her pride. Getting dressed proved to be more difficult than she'd predicted. With the stitches in her back, on the right side of her spine, she couldn't stretch far with her right arm. She did manage, however, to pull herself together but not without effort.
"What are you doing?" Said a woman standing in the doorway. She was a nurse of sorts but an integral part of the medical team nonetheless.
"I'm fine, therefore there is no reason for me to stay here any longer. I'm leaving," Valkyrie replied cheerfully.
"Has Doctor Synecdoche released you? She said -"
"I don't care what Doctor Synecdoche said. Look, there are very bad people out there doing very bad things and it is my job to stop these guys which, in turn, prevents you all from dying slow and, no doubt, painful deaths," Valkyrie said as she gathered her things. "Now," she added as she straightened up and looked the nurse in the eye. "You don't want to be the one to stop me from doing that do you?"
The nurse, wide-eyed and shocked, stepped aside. "No, I, I guess not," she stammered.
"Thank you," Valkyrie said as she passed the woman.
As she led herself out of the Sanctuary she dialed Skulduggery's phone number. After two rings he answered. "Valkyrie?" He asked.
"Hey, I need to be picked up. I'd walk but I'm concerned my stitches may fall out," she replied.
"Are you supposed to be out already? I was expecting you to be in there overnight," Valkyrie could hear the skepticism in his voice.
"Synecdoche said I can leave as long as I take it easy," she lied. "Plus, I'd rather be home than in there. They're all idiots."
"Okay, okay I'm coming," Skulduggery replied with a sigh and Valkyrie smiled as she pressed the button to end the call.
"Who was that?" Ghastly asked as he entered the room. Tanith was on the couch, fiddling awkwardly with her sword. Her recent confrontation with Skulduggery left her feeling a little guilty and a whole lot embarrassed.
"Valkyrie," Skulduggery replied.
"Is she okay?" Tanith asked and stood immediately.
"She's fine," Skulduggery said with a wave of his hand. "She's just out of the infirmary."
"Already?" Ghastly asked incredulously.
Skulduggery sighed. "I think she released herself. I'm going to pick her up and bring her back here, is that okay?"
"Yeah if she'll be comfortable on the couch is left to be determined though."
"Ah, she'll be fine. She would sleep on concrete if she was tired enough," Skulduggery left Ghastly's shop.
It didn't take Skulduggery long to get to the Sanctuary. He wasn't sure if he was speeding or his mind was on other things that it seemed like a short trip.
Valkyrie wasn't in the Sanctuary car lot so he got out and checked in the foyer though he doubted the likelihood of her waiting in there. Worry started to consume him as he ran back to the car and circled the lot. She wasn't around there either.
It wasn't until Skulduggery came back to the front of the Sanctuary and his headlights shone on the main road leading away from the Sanctuary that he found her. She had begun walking and her shoulders were hunched against the cold weather. She had a mild limp in her step and she slowly strolled.
Skulduggery shook his head, pulled up beside her and swung open the passenger door. "What are you doing silly girl?" He called.
For a moment she scowled until she recognised the Bentley and it's driver. "Oh, it's you," she said in mock disappointment as she climbed in awkwardly.
Skulduggery, without thinking, put his hand on Valkyrie's waist. "How are you feeling?" He asked.
When Valkyrie glanced at his hand he removed it quickly. "Alright," she grunted as she settled in her seat. Skulduggery tilted his skull curiously at her. "Okay, so I released myself, whatever. I wasn't going to stay in there to be fussed over."
Skulduggery patted her shoulder and began the drive back to Ghastly's shop. "It's probably better this way anyway. They can't protect you," Skulduggery paused. "Well... I guess it's clear that I can't exactly do that either. Protect you, I mean," he said in a quiet voice.
Valkyrie grunted again as she positioned herself in a way to face Skulduggery. "Don't ever say that again," she said sternly. "I'm alive because of you. Literally from the moment we met you've been all about saving my life. I will admit at times it makes me feel weak but I'd still be dead if it weren't for you. I love you for that because no one else would do the same for me," she whispered.
"I'll try harder," Skulduggery said as his hands tightened on the steering wheel. "We will find Alistair and kill him and then this can all be done with."
Valkyrie touched his arm. "You underestimate yourself."
Valkyrie watched the world blur past her and never had she wanted to tell Skulduggery how she really felt than in that moment. He seemed so vulnerable and it made her feel guilty. She barely even knew it herself but she almost felt stupid for not realising it. She loved him. Simple as that. Though it was the telling him part that was yet to be figured out.