Big big shoutout to Tnet for reviewing every chapter so far. And MK543- you're not wrong in the earlier chapters I was still finding my pace hopefully by the time you reach here I've sorted some of those issues!

To all others, if you think this story is a T not an M rated one please let me know! I do hope to be able to share with more people and T might help with that!

Continued

I know this is a short, slightly filler sort of chapter. But bear with me!

As he stopped the car, he saw her slumped over in the seat. Without thinking about it, he picked her up easily and carried her into the A&E. It seemed like the orderlies were waiting for them, "Leticia called," one of them said in explanation. Will recognized the name as one of the people Elizabeth had called.

He held her hand as they put her in a stretcher, "I'll be with you. I'm here. You're fine. You will be fine, Elizabeth." He sat in the waiting room no longer paying attention to his surroundings and went back through the events of the evening. He went to her office hoping to find some resolution in his mind to what felt like an important question. Then Elizabeth made him question himself when he saw the body falling through the window, he was no longer sure what his priorities were. He rushed into to see Elizabeth, she'd been panting and then looked at him calmly. He was frozen in place, seeing Wickham on the floor and Elizabeth's bloody face as she held her nose. She smiled, spat out some blood and proceeded to make phone calls and take pictures. Why, why was she doing this? What was the point? Ok, Wickham was in jail. But that wasn't important. She was hurt. And it was because he hadn't taken care of Wickham ages ago. First his sister then Elizabeth. How much more damage could that man do to the world? He waited for the rest of her family to arrive. He hadn't even noticed all the blood on his shirt from her nose, as he thought that was the only place, she was bleeding. When he saw Jane and Charlie enter, he was thankful that he could tell them what happened, though he didn't understand most of it.

Jane asked, "and you say that after he attacked her, she was bleeding and stopped to make a few phone calls? Who did she call?"

Will responded, feeling like he had no energy left to have a full conversation. "Grant. He came before we left. And Leticia?"

"That's Lizzy for you. Thorough even if she's dying. You needn't worry Will, she's been through worse and if she was able to do all that I don't think it'll be too bad," said a worried Jane.

He was mortified, he hadn't even thought of that. "Worse?"

"A few years ago," Kitty spoke through her tears. They all knew that Lizzy was a fighter, but it didn't make it any easier.

"How're all so calm?" He didn't understand.

"You don't understand Lizzy, and I don't blame you. She made choices handling this in the way she did. If something happened because of her work, she would happily take the consequences because it meant that she was fulfilling her mission," said Mary. While she might be level headed in such a situation it didn't mean she wasn't worried about her sister.

"You should go home, Will. Take care of yourself," said Charles. He wasn't sure that Lizzy would want him around, anyway.

He looked up incredulous at his friend, "I can't leave her. What happened to her, Wickham it's all my fault. He wouldn't have looked for her if not for me."

"How do you figure that?" asked Kitty, confused.

"I let Wickham go 4 years ago. He ruined my sister's life. Had I done anything else, he wouldn't be here able to ruin your sisters either," his tone reproachful.

"He hasn't ruined her life," said Jane. She was worried and didn't want to have to explain all this to Will.

It was Mary who best understood this side of Lizzy, "if you take the blame on yourself for something like this, you reduce the power of the choice that Lizzy and others made. They made their choices, you made yours. Now, quit being a child. We need to find out more from the doctor."

The doctor found them in the waiting room who told them that Elizabeth was unconscious but would be fine. She had two cracked ribs, and a concussion. "It says on her chart that no opioids are to be given, are you sure? It will be rather helpful if we could give her something. She's bound to be in a lot of pain."

"No, she won't do opioids. If you have any other options that's fine," said Jane.

Will burst at that moment, "not do opioids? Are you people insane?"

4 pairs of critical eyes turned towards him, and he was no longer sure of himself. This wasn't his place, he knew that, but he was just so worried. And now, her family was telling him that she made her choices, and that there wasn't much they could do. He knew what they said wasn't because they didn't care. Anyone who knew anything about them knew that they cared about each other deeply. But it was some deeper level understanding that they all seemed to have about her, and he was just on the periphery. He was just in the way. He got up, told Charles to keep him updated if he could and left without saying anything else.

A few hours later, Elizabeth gained consciousness groaning slightly. She saw Kitty waiting by her side. Elizabeth looked over at her sister and saw some tears as her sister got her some water, "Oh, Kit, I'm perfectly fine. Stop crying."

"Will said you waited and called people waiting for Grant at the cost of yourself!" she said indignantly.

"Kit, it's my job. It needed to be this way. I had to make sure G was safe. What if Wickham had gotten up and slithered away in the time that it took Grant and Leticia to come? He was already twitching when we left, that would've meant that G would never be safe."

"What if something happens to you when I'm in France?"

"Kit, you know this. You know what life is like," she could see her sister already fading. Kitty kissed her, knowing this wasn't the time to have this conversation. She knew that Lizzy had to make her own choices, and everyone did. But it didn't mean she wouldn't worry.

…

1 April 2024

After Lizzy called my thoughts were in a tizzy: Lizzy was hurt because of me. It's all my fault. I shouldn't have come here. How will I ever repay her, how will I ever forgive myself. Then I remembered that Jackie told me to call her if I started to spiral. I'm so glad I did. It was a difficult session and I found myself rambling incoherently to Jackie about everything without being able to even follow my own thoughts. Jackie told me to stop for a few moments, sit with the discomfort, and breathe. After that I was able to organize some of my thoughts. It was hard feeling responsible for what happened to her, until I thought of the one thing Lizzy talks about more than any other. Choices. And so I remembered that while I can't change the past or stop Lizzy from being hurt. I can make a choice about how to deal with it and how to help my friend. So that's what I'm trying to focus on for now.

…

Will was an absolute wreck. He didn't understand the cavalier attitude of her family. It made no sense to him. But it was their choice. They were her family. Seeing her, slumped into his chest, her blood flowing onto his shirt, not knowing if she would wake up or not was one of the most scary things he'd ever experienced. Was this what people meant about priorities? He was up the whole night, only one scene in his mind playing on repeat. She was so tiny, looked so fragile even if she wasn't. What if something happened to her? How would he deal with it? Why did it matter? Sure she'd become a friend in the past few weeks. But it felt so much worse, and he didn't know what to do anymore.

…

The morning was full of visits. Jane was stern with her but loving, and both she and Mary ultimately said very little. They both had their own understanding of the situation. Kitty brought G for a few moments and that was an intense conversation.

"This is all my fault, Lizzy. All of it," cried G seeing Lizzy wrapped up in bed.

Lizzy smiled at her indulgently knowing that her young friend needed a reminder. "G, darling. Tell me what you've learnt about choices so far?"

G looked at her and said nothing.

Lizzy smiled at her indulgently, "you don't have to like the choices I make. You just have to respect them."

"But he did this to you because of me!"

Lizzy was about to shake her head, but she remembered that made her dizzy. So she said, "no, he did this because he's an abuser who likes to assert his dominance over women. A small man. He had other avenues but chose none of them."

"How can I ever repay you?" asked G.

She took G's hand, and squeezed it, "there's nothing to repay. You can help take care of me when I'm out of the hospital, if you wish. But it's not repayment. I don't like transactional relationships. I only want you to do it if you love me."

"Of course, I love you, Lizzy. Who could ever meet you and not love you?" she kissed Lizzy on the forehead.

Thomas Bennet was pacing the small hospital room. When morning visits were dwindling down that Jane and Thomas talked to her. "I don't know if I should laugh or cry."

"Father, stop being melodramatic. I've had worse injuries."

"You're right. I don't know what I'm going to tell your mother."

She was a little hurt that his priority was what to say to her mother. She said without emotion, "just tell her I fell on stairs or something, I'll be totally fine and she can see me when I'm back at Netherfield. I know Jane and Charlie won't let me go home."

Jane nodded, "we sure as hell won't. You're going to stay with us for as long as you need."

Lizzy laughed. Not sure what to say. There was one person she'd rather wished was here. But she tried her best not to think about that.

Jane and Lizzy were alone in the room when Jane finally spoke to her about what was on her mind. "Seriously though, Lizzy. You don't think you were being irresponsible?"

Lizzy knew this conversation was coming. She was getting tired but needed to say something, "I did what I had to for G. I did it for me too. It felt rather good seeing the snake being taken care of and that I was the one who took care of him. It was all rather empowering."

Jane tried not to be too judgmental, "you're serious?"

Lizzy spoke matter of factly, "I won't go into harmful situations. But this, I can handle the trash, Janie."

Jane smiled at her sister knowing that no other conversation would be forthcoming.

Evening visiting hours saw two people she wasn't sure she would see at all. Lee came by worried about her. She was a bit annoyed that Grant had told him, but she understood. He was happy that she was ok. He never realized how it'd happened that he now spoke more to Lizzy than he did Thomas. So, when he bumped into Thomas on his way out, he spent some time with his old friend.

Will entered the room, he saw Elizabeth and Jane sitting there talking softly. Jane looked up and saw Will. She gave him a tight smile. When Elizabeth looked up, she saw the face of a very worried Will.

"Hi Will." She said softly, unsure why he was here.

"Elizabeth", he said tenderly. His legs carried him over to the bed and his hand caressed her face of its own volition.

Elizabeth didn't react. She figured it was just worry. "Thanks for getting me here. I knew I didn't need to worry when I saw you there."

"You're welcome. Though I can't say that I understand it much."

Elizabeth laughed. "Will, I'm sure there's many things you don't understand. I'll tell you someday if you wish. But for now, you see I'm fine. You needn't have come this far. I'm sure you have better things to do, have you spoken to Ms. Reynolds?"

"How could I not be here?" he asked,

Elizabeth scrunched up her face, not understanding what he was alluding to.

Startled at the emotions he was feeling. He took a breath, "no, I'll talk to her soon. We still need to have that conversation," he was glad he had something to talk to her later as an excuse to come back. He saw the consternation on her face and said nothing. He just squeezed her hand and left.

On his way out he bumped into Gardiner and his wife. He cringed wondering what they thought of him and had no idea how to explain his presence here. So he simply nodded his head as a sign of acknowledgement but said nothing else and made his way out.

Elizabeth looked at Jane and asked, "what in the world was that about?"

"Lizzy. How do you not see it?"

"I don't understand what you mean," she said petulantly.

"I know you don't, love. Just rest. Don't try and use your head right now, you're dealing with a concussion."

Elizabeth was happy to see her aunt and uncle. Both of them chastised her for not taking better care of herself. But it was her uncle who had a forthright conversation with her. "Was this really the only way you could see to get him in jail? You couldn't wait for the warrant and for the police to find him?"

She was groggy and having the same conversation again made her ire rise, "uncle, I know you worry. Once this opportunity presented itself how could I do anything else? Should I have not done anything and just become his punching bag? I might've left earlier instead of waiting for Grant, he was already twitching. I didn't know he wouldn't leave before they got there. It wasn't reckless. Just leave it."

He sighed, knowing there was no arguing with her and even if he did it wasn't a good idea right now. He let it drop and asked, "how can I help?"

She thought for a second, "watch the bail hearing. I'll forward you the divorce papers. Give them to him so we can end this."

Even in her pain addled state, she was thinking straight. He sighed, smiled, and then readily agreed.

Elizabeth was in some discomfort but refused opioids again. She woke groggy up the next morning to the feeling of a hand in hers. It didn't feel like Jane's but she was the one who stayed last night. She saw someone she truly hadn't expected.

"What in the world are you doing here?" she smiled seeing him there.

He looked into her beautiful eyes, "I called your phone last night after I got home. Your sister told me what happened. She looked very tired, when I came by, so I took over from her."

"You're not family," she felt confused.

"She told them I was your brother, love." He laughed at Jane's lie.

She giggled.

Wanting to keep the mood light he alluded to the joke that everyone always thought they were a couple when nothing could be further from the truth. "If you were anyone else, and if I were anyone else, it really wouldn't be this much trouble."

"If we were other people, we'd never be in this situation," she countered squeezing his hand.

He bellowed in laughter, "right you are, as always Bea." He smiled at her, thinking about what they'd been through in the past few years. She'd once told him that to her soulmates were simply people who changed your life irrevocably. And that that's what they were to each other, the best of friends, confidants, and there was deep abiding love on both sides. It was a friendship forged in fire with a comfort between them that others probably never understood. There was affection but no intimacy. In another life they may have been more. In this life, there were too many barriers to cross for them, so they remained what they always were.

She sighed, drawing comfort from his presence. She looked at him, her eyes narrowed as she saw it, "how've you been? I see the scar near your eye. Don't deny it."

He smiled at her, "I won't deny it. Not to you anyway. I know you can find out if you want."

"I only saw it was in Belarus."

He had a faraway look in his eyes, "it was a hard one. I never thought I'd have to do these kinds of things again. I'll tell you once you're out of hospital. For now, just rest you have enough on your plate."

She knew he was right, but couldn't just let it go like that. "I worry about you, dearest. You know I do."

He tried to change the topic he knew it was getting too much for her, "I know, I know. What about you though? What's this I hear about you knocking out a man? And then waiting while you were bleeding?"

She rolled her eyes, "you of all people must understand how it was necessary. The man had to be in jail. I had to make sure it happened. I did what I had to."

"Of course, you did. You never do things half assed do you?" he smiled.

"How can you, of all people ask me that?"

He smiled at her, "I know, love. I know." He kissed her again on her temple. Just so happy she was ok.

Will Darcy stood outside the door, some sounds escaping through. He saw the outline of a man staring at his Elizabeth. Wait, his? Where did that come from? Yes, of course. It hit him like a freight train, he was in love with her. No wonder he'd had a flurry of unrecognizable emotions in the past few days. No wonder she'd been the one he turned to when he needed to understand what happiness was. She was happiness personified for him. He was deeply, madly, in love with this woman who had turned his entire world upside down in a few weeks. Here she was staring at a man in a very devoted way while holding his hand. He heard a rich voice coming from inside even through the muffled sounds he heard. He saw the man kissing her and felt like he couldn't control himself anymore. He didn't knock at the door, he just walked in. Who was this man! He had to know.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on your first reaction to that last scene.
Hoping to keep this pace of one chapter a week.