A/N: Tonks' Point-of-View.
Tonks sat on Severus' bed, glaring down at her hands, trying very hard to temper her anger enough that her hair wouldn't be quite so alarming. How dare he! Tonks thought as the image of her racing headlong into the barrier he had erected flashed through her mind. By the time she had torn it down with her own magic she had been too furious with him to be of any help. The last thing the medical ward needed was two wizards practically bleeding to death. Damn him! I have a bloody job to do!She once again resisted the urge to pull at the collar, rip it off and fling it across the room, weighing the cathartic benefit with the futility of the action. I should wait until I have a target. Tonks thought bitterly. She ignored the fact that she had already tried to take it off only to realize Severus had to be the one to do it. A small rational part of her mind told her it was good that he had stopped her before she went charging in with it still around her neck. However, she doubted that had been his reason for the barrier and every other reason had her quite literally seeing red. Damn him.
Tonks' head snapped up as Severus entered the room. It was clear from the look of surprise on his face that he hadn't expected her to be there. Her fingers subconsciously flew up to the collar around her neck and her eyes narrowed. "Where in the bloody hell did you expect me to go! You sure as hell made sure I couldn't follow you in a timely manner! You don't get to make the rules when it comes to my job!" Somewhere during her outburst she had jumped to her feet. She pulled at her collar again, only to wince at how raw she was making her neck and a wisp of red hair fell in front of her eyes an exasperated cry escaped her lips. Hours of calming myself down..pointless!
Severus' look of surprise had shifted into one of shock and distain. Tonks knew how she must look, pathetic in her outburst, in her lack of self-control. I am an auror for Merlin's sake and I can't even get a damn necklace off! Humiliated, nerves frayed and body sensitive from the earlier scene, her inner emotional fire died, her hair fading from red to light brown, due to Severus' wordless appraisal. "Just take it off. Take it off and I will go." Her voice was hollow as she looked down, knowing if she looked up and got another glimpse of the glacial distain in his eyes that the tears that were threatening to spill over, would.
"I'm sorry."
Tonks froze, confusion enveloping her mind, certain she was hearing things. The arms that pulled her close did little to clarify.
"You're right. I shouldn't have blocked you from your job. I reacted not as a teacher, colleague, or even a dominant, but as a godfather. But Nymphadora, you must understand that you could not have done much good in that situation. Draco is in my house as well as my Godson, and the curse he was hit with was one of my own creation. Few know the counter-curse for it, nor could they have applied it as effectively as I had within the time needed to reverse the damage. I wanted to deal with whatever had happened myself and in doing so was unfair to you. I'm sorry. "
With a soft pull the collar around Tonks' throat came off gently in Severus' hands. One of his hands cupped her chin as he lifted it to get a closer look at the raw marks along the base of her throat and collarbone. The distain in his eyes deepened and Tonks realized it wasn't directed at her but rather at the pain he hadn't intended to cause.
"It really isn't-"
"Silence." Severus' order cut off Tonks attempt to downplay the marks. Those are my fault. If I hadn't been tugging on the collar to try to take it off they wouldn't be there. Severus guided her over to a cabinet of potions before chosing a balm and beginning to silently apply it, the harsh frown scrawled across his face in sharp contrast to the gentle strokes of his fingers across her raw skin.
"You mentioned a curse?" Tonks offered in an attempt to get their conversation on somewhat neutral ground.
"Sectumsempra was designed to permanently carve and tear through flesh. Even The Dark Lord does not know that there is a counter-curse; I will have to fabricate a tale of using other, more mundane healing charms and soaking his wounds in freshly ground dittany." Severus sighed heavily as he applied the last of the balm, gripping her shoulders and turning her left to right to inspect the damage.
"If the magic was that dark I should have been allowed to help. I have a job to perform, regardless." She was sick of being kept safe. All of her career Moody had been keeping her from the front lines, then Remus' entire diatribe about being too dangerous. I thought Severus was different. She thought glumly as she physically and emotionally pulled away.
The distance did not go unnoticed by Severus' scrutinizing gaze "It is within my authority and responsibility that I keep those whom I care for safe from harm, particularly my submissives. I will not apologize for keeping you from harm's way. It was in no way a commentary on your own abilities; I trust that you can fight your own battles. This situation was particularly suited for me and me alone to deal with."
"I don't need protection. I need trust. I need you to trust me to do my job and do it well, regardless of the consequences. I need you to trust me to serve you, sometimes in the only ways I know how. I need to trust …you." Tonks said as she looked up into his eyes. They were dark and unreadable as she tried desperately to find herself in them.
With a sigh that spoke of bone crushing exhaustion Severus closed his eyes and turned away from her, his hand trailing along the damage she had inflicted on herself, already healing due to the balm he applied. "I tire of this conversation, Nymphadora. If you still have issue with how I treated you, we shall speak of this on another day."
Tonks opened her mouth to protest, her word dying as she saw the obvious tension in his shoulders. She reached out wanting to comfort him in some way. Not knowing what to do or say she turned away and left, his dismissal of her crystal clear. We shall speak of this another day. There would be another day, a chance to heal after both of their nerves had settled. Right now they were both too worn, raw, and needed their space. It can wait for another day. Tonks thought as she wished him peace and made her way back to her room at the Three Broomsticks.