The day waned on for both Stephen and Bear and the women in charge of putting Julie back together again. The men questioned Henri, Victor and Stephan to see what they knew, followed scents and even revisited the bar Seth had led the small group of girls to to see if anyone had seen anything. Nobody at the bar recalled anything other than a wild and rambunctious twenty first birthday party. Henri had been the one that called it in, but left the vicinity shortly thereafter lest he become a victim of the growing intruders. Victor recounted that he was ‘busy’ at the time with a certain lady of the night they were all relatively familiar with. Stephan had the most significant information of the three.
Once the call had come in, he made it to the scene as quickly as he could. By the time he’d gotten there though, Seth had already been overpowered by an untold number of attackers. The remaining horde reclaimed their dead and carried the body of the unconscious werewolf to a motorcade that appeared in the night and vanished just as quickly as it had arrived. What happened from there, he wasn’t able to say. They had all been given orders not to face the leader of that particular army alone, no matter the circumstances. None argued with those orders.
Having covered as much ground as they could for one day and questioned everyone that would have any knowledge of the night prior, Stephen and Bear made their way back to the mansion with no definitive answers. When the car arrived in the courtyard again and they were let out, they both started making their way to the stabilization room where they had left the girl in the capable hands of Ailuros. The woman with the chopsticks in her hair.
“She’s not in there.” The woman’s voice came from behind them and to the right, stopping them just before they pushed through the door to the empty room.
“Where is she?” Stephen asked, turning to where the woman was.
Ailuros was in an alcove that stretched through to the other side of the building. Her back against a column and a glass of wine in her hand, she looked out to the landscape beyond and the setting sun in the distance. Not turning to fully face the man when he’d asked the question, she offered them both her profile and nodded her head back and up. Indicating one of the many bedrooms located on the second floor, she turned back to the pinkish orange sky and took a slow drink. Looking up in the specified direction and noticing a lone set of illuminated windows, he nodded softly but then looked back to the quieter than normal woman. Looking up to Bear questioningly, a simple shrug was the only thing the man could offer in return. When Stephen looked back to the woman, his brows furrowed slightly before he started walking in her direction.
“How is she?” he asked, finding the next column over and leaning against it with his shoulder.
“Fucked up,” she replied, though she still didn’t look his way. Her golden eyes still set on the soft hues of the slowly darkening sky, she brought her glass up for another inattentive sip. “We did the best we could, and she’s stable...for now,” she added. “Fucking humans,” she muttered with a squint after a moment of silence. The words rousing her from her own dark, inner thoughts, she looked Stephen’s way, though her eyes still didn’t rise to meet his. “Seth?”
With a sigh, Stephen shook his head and turned his attention to the orange disk sinking behind the hills. “Still nothing.”
One Fateful Night
Re: One Fateful Night
“Figures,” she said softly, turning her attention back to the hills. Bringing her glass up, she took another contemplative drink and then her hand drifted down to her side. The nail of her index finger tapping against the glass lightly, she went back to those grim inner thoughts. “It’s been a couple of centuries. I bet that bastard’s been planning this the whole time.”
Stephen nodded softly but didn’t look over at her. He probably had been, but neither him nor the woman next to him would ever know for sure. Wordlessly, the pair stared off into the sunset for a long time after that, each lost in their own musings and trepidations of what his answer might mean. After a time, Stephen stood from his lean and turned to walk towards the front of the building where the bedroom was located. As he turned, Ailuros reached out with her free hand and took hold of his wrist, stopping him. Rolling her head against the column to look at him, she finally dared to look up into his eyes, the look in her own showing the subtle but unmistakable indication of worry.
“Tell me all of our hopes don’t rest on that girl,” she said softly. Stephen, unable to answer at first, looked down to the hand holding his wrist, then back to Ailuros apologetically. The look she gave him was mirrored in his own, but he managed a soft smile despite it. Shifting his arm, he moved his hand to hold hers and gave her the best answer he was able to.
“I don’t know yet, but if they do…,” he trailed off, his attention moving away and up to the illuminated windows above the courtyard. With a soft sigh and a subtle nod of his head, he finally turned back to her and smiled weakly again. “...we’ll make it work. We don’t have a choice.” He squeezed her hand gently when he said it and they exchanged looks in a moment of silence. Finally, Ailuros nodded and turned back to the now darkened sky in the distance. Releasing his hand, she crossed hers in front of her and rested her other elbow on it as the glass was again brought up to her mouth. Knowing there was nothing to be said more than what already had been, Stephen looked at her a little longer and finally turned to walk away.
As he neared where Bear had remained, the larger man looked down at him as he came closer.
“Gonna go find something to drink. Want anything?” he questioned, not moving until he had an answer.
“No. I’m good. Thank you, Bear,” Stephen replied, lifting his hand to pat the big man on the shoulder as he passed. Bear nodded silently and watched as Stephen opened the door and then disappeared inside. Sighing, he shook his head, dared a fleeting glance to Ailuros still leaning and drinking against the column and then turned to go find the kitchen and something strong to drink.
Having taken his time, Stephen arrived in the bedroom to find one of the nurses that had helped smoothing her hands over the sheets and looking down at the unconscious girl affectionately. Leaning against the doorframe, he watched in silence. The woman leaned down, gently brushing her fingertips against the girl’s hair and kissed her on the forehead before turning to leave the room. That’s when she startled.
“Oh! Stephen!” she blurted out, one hand going to her chest before she took a deep breath to calm herself. “I didn’t see you there,” she continued. Coming up to him, she shook her head and gave him a stern but playful look. “Shouldn’t sneak up on people, y’know. It’s rude!” He’d done it for years. Ever since she’d known him and probably a century or two before that, but that didn’t stop her from poking fun at him every time he did.
“I’m sorry, Nora,” he apologized with a light chuckle. “I’ll work on it,” he offered, which produced pursed lips and a playful squint in his direction.
“Mhm. I don’t believe you,” she said in answer, a smile blossoming shortly after she’d said it.
Stephen’s smile was weak. Tired. But he tried to maintain it for the woman he’d known for nearly all of her life. Unable to come up with anything witty in return, his weak smile, delicate as it was, faltered slightly and his gaze drifted to the girl in the bed. Upnodding in her direction, he looked back to Nora.
“Do you think she’ll wake soon?” he asked.
Nora’s smile faded too and she looked back towards the bed when Stephen did. Sighing, she looked back to him, shaking her head.
“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. Looking back, an apologetic look overtook her and she continued. “The damage is extensive, but…,” She looked down, clasping her hands in front of her and took a deep breath. Looking back up to Stephen, it was her turn to show a weak smile. “...maybe tomorrow?” she guessed. Stephen nodded.
“Thank you,” he said of the estimated timeframe and reached out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Of course,” she answered eagerly. Looking at him for a moment, she decided to leave him with the girl. “Let me know if you need anything,” she offered in parting as she turned to walk through the door.
“Nora?” he asked, having a sudden realization.
“Yes?”
“Can you have someone bring my piano?”
“Of course,” she said, her weak smile gaining just a little strength at the gesture.
He nodded and so did she, and then she was off down the hall in search of someone to do just that.
Stephen nodded softly but didn’t look over at her. He probably had been, but neither him nor the woman next to him would ever know for sure. Wordlessly, the pair stared off into the sunset for a long time after that, each lost in their own musings and trepidations of what his answer might mean. After a time, Stephen stood from his lean and turned to walk towards the front of the building where the bedroom was located. As he turned, Ailuros reached out with her free hand and took hold of his wrist, stopping him. Rolling her head against the column to look at him, she finally dared to look up into his eyes, the look in her own showing the subtle but unmistakable indication of worry.
“Tell me all of our hopes don’t rest on that girl,” she said softly. Stephen, unable to answer at first, looked down to the hand holding his wrist, then back to Ailuros apologetically. The look she gave him was mirrored in his own, but he managed a soft smile despite it. Shifting his arm, he moved his hand to hold hers and gave her the best answer he was able to.
“I don’t know yet, but if they do…,” he trailed off, his attention moving away and up to the illuminated windows above the courtyard. With a soft sigh and a subtle nod of his head, he finally turned back to her and smiled weakly again. “...we’ll make it work. We don’t have a choice.” He squeezed her hand gently when he said it and they exchanged looks in a moment of silence. Finally, Ailuros nodded and turned back to the now darkened sky in the distance. Releasing his hand, she crossed hers in front of her and rested her other elbow on it as the glass was again brought up to her mouth. Knowing there was nothing to be said more than what already had been, Stephen looked at her a little longer and finally turned to walk away.
As he neared where Bear had remained, the larger man looked down at him as he came closer.
“Gonna go find something to drink. Want anything?” he questioned, not moving until he had an answer.
“No. I’m good. Thank you, Bear,” Stephen replied, lifting his hand to pat the big man on the shoulder as he passed. Bear nodded silently and watched as Stephen opened the door and then disappeared inside. Sighing, he shook his head, dared a fleeting glance to Ailuros still leaning and drinking against the column and then turned to go find the kitchen and something strong to drink.
Having taken his time, Stephen arrived in the bedroom to find one of the nurses that had helped smoothing her hands over the sheets and looking down at the unconscious girl affectionately. Leaning against the doorframe, he watched in silence. The woman leaned down, gently brushing her fingertips against the girl’s hair and kissed her on the forehead before turning to leave the room. That’s when she startled.
“Oh! Stephen!” she blurted out, one hand going to her chest before she took a deep breath to calm herself. “I didn’t see you there,” she continued. Coming up to him, she shook her head and gave him a stern but playful look. “Shouldn’t sneak up on people, y’know. It’s rude!” He’d done it for years. Ever since she’d known him and probably a century or two before that, but that didn’t stop her from poking fun at him every time he did.
“I’m sorry, Nora,” he apologized with a light chuckle. “I’ll work on it,” he offered, which produced pursed lips and a playful squint in his direction.
“Mhm. I don’t believe you,” she said in answer, a smile blossoming shortly after she’d said it.
Stephen’s smile was weak. Tired. But he tried to maintain it for the woman he’d known for nearly all of her life. Unable to come up with anything witty in return, his weak smile, delicate as it was, faltered slightly and his gaze drifted to the girl in the bed. Upnodding in her direction, he looked back to Nora.
“Do you think she’ll wake soon?” he asked.
Nora’s smile faded too and she looked back towards the bed when Stephen did. Sighing, she looked back to him, shaking her head.
“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. Looking back, an apologetic look overtook her and she continued. “The damage is extensive, but…,” She looked down, clasping her hands in front of her and took a deep breath. Looking back up to Stephen, it was her turn to show a weak smile. “...maybe tomorrow?” she guessed. Stephen nodded.
“Thank you,” he said of the estimated timeframe and reached out to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
“Of course,” she answered eagerly. Looking at him for a moment, she decided to leave him with the girl. “Let me know if you need anything,” she offered in parting as she turned to walk through the door.
“Nora?” he asked, having a sudden realization.
“Yes?”
“Can you have someone bring my piano?”
“Of course,” she said, her weak smile gaining just a little strength at the gesture.
He nodded and so did she, and then she was off down the hall in search of someone to do just that.
Re: One Fateful Night
Looking over his shoulder as Nora took her leave, he finally turned his attention back to the room. Pushing off the doorframe, he took the few steps that would bring him to her bedside and looked down at her when she came fully into view.
In the end, there wasn’t much Ailuros and the two nurses could do for Julie. After carefully removing her soiled, bloody clothes, they bathed her and cleaned her wounds meticulously. From there they had administered anesthesia so that the broken bones in her arms could be set and wrapped with stiff bandages in lieu of casts. The greenstick and hairline fractures in her legs, as well as the many fractures to her rib cage, they could do nothing about. The same would go for her orbital socket and ruptured eardrum. All of those injuries would be taken care of when the time came. The four large puncture wounds, two on her chest and two on her back, along with the other smaller ones, were dressed and wrapped. Finally, once they had determined her blood type, she was given a blood transfusion to replace what she’d lost throughout the previous night.
Lying there, sleeping peacefully and cleaned up, though still visibly battered, Stephen couldn’t help but think the girl looked almost serene in comparison to how they’d found her. Looking over to the other side of the bed, he noticed a small portable vital signs monitor. Studying it for a moment and seeing that everything looked good, he nodded and then looked back to her. With a soft smile, he nodded again and then made his way out of the room. It had been a long day and they both needed rest. He would pay her another visit in the morning.
When the morning arrived, Stephen made his way back to the bedroom to find Nora in there again. New to the room was an IV pole with a monitor which had a clear bag hanging from it and a tube running from it to Julie’s arm. He watched as she put a handle with a button on top of it within the girl’s limp hand and then his gaze was drawn past her. Noticing that his piano had arrived in the room as he’d requested, he smiled softly at the sight.
“Didn’t I tell you sneaking up on people was rude?” Nora asked with a smile, smoothing her hands over the sheets and making sure the handle wouldn’t fall out of the girl’s hand.
“And yet you knew I was here without looking,” he teased back, his smile widening just a bit as he looked back her way. “Told you I’d work on it.”
"You did.” Straightening up, she tilted her head and looked down to make sure everything was just right before turning and walking over to the man in the doorway.
“Any change?” he asked, upnodding in the girl’s direction.
“Sadly, no,” she answered, sparing one last look to the girl and then back up to Stephen with apology in her eyes.
“Maybe soon,” he said, his lips forming a thin line and the corners of them tugging upwards subtly, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“Hopefully.” Nora looked at him for a moment, watching as he turned his attention from her to the bed again. With a soft furrow of her brow and pursed lips, she wrung her hands in front of her for a moment before she turned and walked into the hallway.
Waiting a moment or two to let Nora get a little further down the hall, Stephen finally pushed off the doorframe and walked to Julie’s bedside again. Turning to look down at her, his eyes moved over everything briefly. The monitor to the left side of the bed. The IV pole on the right. Back to the girl that seemed to sleep so peacefully in the bed with a soft cant of his head.
“Don’t wanna wake up yet, huh?” he asked softly. With a tiny huff, a shrug of his shoulders and a shake of his head, he smiled, looking at her face. “I don’t blame you.” With a heavy sigh, he turned and looked toward the piano. “Sometimes I don’t want to either.”
The girl was still unconscious and he was basically having a conversation with himself. Realizing this, he turned fully and walked over to the piano. Rounding it, he stared down at the keys for a long moment and then up to Julie, contemplating. Finally taking a seat, he laid his fingertips on the ivory gently and furrowed his brow again with a tilt of his head. After a long moment, his expression relaxed and he nodded, thinking of something he could play for her. Very slowly, his fingers began caressing the keys note by note until they picked up tempo and the definite sound of Crawling by Linkin Park would be heard throughout the room. The song, though it was without words or other instruments, was apt for him and, in time, would prove to be the same for Julie.
In the end, there wasn’t much Ailuros and the two nurses could do for Julie. After carefully removing her soiled, bloody clothes, they bathed her and cleaned her wounds meticulously. From there they had administered anesthesia so that the broken bones in her arms could be set and wrapped with stiff bandages in lieu of casts. The greenstick and hairline fractures in her legs, as well as the many fractures to her rib cage, they could do nothing about. The same would go for her orbital socket and ruptured eardrum. All of those injuries would be taken care of when the time came. The four large puncture wounds, two on her chest and two on her back, along with the other smaller ones, were dressed and wrapped. Finally, once they had determined her blood type, she was given a blood transfusion to replace what she’d lost throughout the previous night.
Lying there, sleeping peacefully and cleaned up, though still visibly battered, Stephen couldn’t help but think the girl looked almost serene in comparison to how they’d found her. Looking over to the other side of the bed, he noticed a small portable vital signs monitor. Studying it for a moment and seeing that everything looked good, he nodded and then looked back to her. With a soft smile, he nodded again and then made his way out of the room. It had been a long day and they both needed rest. He would pay her another visit in the morning.
When the morning arrived, Stephen made his way back to the bedroom to find Nora in there again. New to the room was an IV pole with a monitor which had a clear bag hanging from it and a tube running from it to Julie’s arm. He watched as she put a handle with a button on top of it within the girl’s limp hand and then his gaze was drawn past her. Noticing that his piano had arrived in the room as he’d requested, he smiled softly at the sight.
“Didn’t I tell you sneaking up on people was rude?” Nora asked with a smile, smoothing her hands over the sheets and making sure the handle wouldn’t fall out of the girl’s hand.
“And yet you knew I was here without looking,” he teased back, his smile widening just a bit as he looked back her way. “Told you I’d work on it.”
"You did.” Straightening up, she tilted her head and looked down to make sure everything was just right before turning and walking over to the man in the doorway.
“Any change?” he asked, upnodding in the girl’s direction.
“Sadly, no,” she answered, sparing one last look to the girl and then back up to Stephen with apology in her eyes.
“Maybe soon,” he said, his lips forming a thin line and the corners of them tugging upwards subtly, though the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“Hopefully.” Nora looked at him for a moment, watching as he turned his attention from her to the bed again. With a soft furrow of her brow and pursed lips, she wrung her hands in front of her for a moment before she turned and walked into the hallway.
Waiting a moment or two to let Nora get a little further down the hall, Stephen finally pushed off the doorframe and walked to Julie’s bedside again. Turning to look down at her, his eyes moved over everything briefly. The monitor to the left side of the bed. The IV pole on the right. Back to the girl that seemed to sleep so peacefully in the bed with a soft cant of his head.
“Don’t wanna wake up yet, huh?” he asked softly. With a tiny huff, a shrug of his shoulders and a shake of his head, he smiled, looking at her face. “I don’t blame you.” With a heavy sigh, he turned and looked toward the piano. “Sometimes I don’t want to either.”
The girl was still unconscious and he was basically having a conversation with himself. Realizing this, he turned fully and walked over to the piano. Rounding it, he stared down at the keys for a long moment and then up to Julie, contemplating. Finally taking a seat, he laid his fingertips on the ivory gently and furrowed his brow again with a tilt of his head. After a long moment, his expression relaxed and he nodded, thinking of something he could play for her. Very slowly, his fingers began caressing the keys note by note until they picked up tempo and the definite sound of Crawling by Linkin Park would be heard throughout the room. The song, though it was without words or other instruments, was apt for him and, in time, would prove to be the same for Julie.
Re: One Fateful Night
Slowly and softly Stephen continued to play, and when that song came to the drawn out final five notes, there was a moment of silence. Fingers still on the ivory keys, his eyes slipped closed as he transitioned into the next song he’d decided to play. The next one a little faster than the first, he didn’t ease into this one. Quickly, the sounds of Numb, also by Linkin Park, began to fill the otherwise silent room. As he played, silently reciting the lyrics in his mind, his brow furrowed slightly and his head canted just a bit to the side, but the music never faltered or ceased. When the final, halting note was played, his finger on the key remained until the sound died down and silence again fell over the room. His forehead still tense, the muscles of his jaw worked slowly beneath the skin and he finally, begrudgingly, let his fingers slip off the keys. Hands landing in his lap, he shook his head to clear it of the thoughts that particular song brought on and eventually opened his eyes to look over at Julie.
To his surprise, the girl was awake. Sitting up with her good eye open, she was looking around the room curiously; more than likely trying to figure out where she was, until Stephen stood from the piano bench. Catching the movement, Julie’s gaze shot to the man and she froze. This was not the man that had pulled her from the dumpster and told her she would be safe. Seeing the confusion and fear in that look, Stephen held both hands up and didn’t move.
“Hi,” he said softly.
Julie stared silently from her bed, waiting and watching to see what, if anything, the man would do next. When it seemed that he wouldn’t be coming closer, at least not yet, she dared to take her eye off of him and looked left, to the door, and then back quickly. Seeing that he still hadn’t moved, she looked down to his still raised hands and then back up to his face. Wary, frightened, confused and still in some amount of pain, she subtly lifted her chin to the man with an upnod for a greeting.
Seeing the girl’s reaction, even to a friendly hello, concern worked its way onto his features. He couldn’t blame her really. Having known Seth well enough, he couldn’t imagine the turmoil and paranoia she must have been going through at that moment as a survivor. None ever had before. Sighing softly and keeping his hands up, he thought of the best way to handle the situation.
“My name’s Stephen,” he began to explain, turning his hands inward and motioning to himself as he took a step forward. At the very moment he took that step, Julie shifted uncomfortably under the sheets. Looking towards the door again, she shot a look back to him and seemed to be contemplating going for it.
“Okay, okay, okay,” the man said quickly, raising his hands again and untaking that initial step. The motion seemed to ease Julie from her panic and she settled, uneasily, on the bed once more. Watching him intently and silently for a moment longer, she seemed to relax even more, though her gaze did not wander.
“We found you...in an alley,” he started. Choosing his words carefully and leaving out the part where they had found her in a dumpster, he continued. “Me and my friend Bear. He’s the taller one that pulled...picked you up.” He winced internally at the slip up but showed nothing outwardly.
“Safe,” Julie croaked out, echoing the word she remembered most from Bear. Her voice was barely above a whisper, and hoarse at that. The injuries, it seemed, had affected her voice as well as the rest of her. Stephen nodded at the word, the hint of a smile pulling at one corner of his mouth.
“Yes. You are safe here. No one is going to hurt you,” he reassured.
Julie listened cautiously, never taking her eye off of him as he spoke. Going over the beginning of the explanation he had offered so far, she looked down briefly, replaying the words over and over in her head. She still didn’t know this man, and she remembered what happened the last time she trusted someone. Looking back up to him, her chin lifted slightly and her lips pressed together, trying to form the word. Another lift and another attempt, and she finally managed to get it out.
“B...Bear.”
To his surprise, the girl was awake. Sitting up with her good eye open, she was looking around the room curiously; more than likely trying to figure out where she was, until Stephen stood from the piano bench. Catching the movement, Julie’s gaze shot to the man and she froze. This was not the man that had pulled her from the dumpster and told her she would be safe. Seeing the confusion and fear in that look, Stephen held both hands up and didn’t move.
“Hi,” he said softly.
Julie stared silently from her bed, waiting and watching to see what, if anything, the man would do next. When it seemed that he wouldn’t be coming closer, at least not yet, she dared to take her eye off of him and looked left, to the door, and then back quickly. Seeing that he still hadn’t moved, she looked down to his still raised hands and then back up to his face. Wary, frightened, confused and still in some amount of pain, she subtly lifted her chin to the man with an upnod for a greeting.
Seeing the girl’s reaction, even to a friendly hello, concern worked its way onto his features. He couldn’t blame her really. Having known Seth well enough, he couldn’t imagine the turmoil and paranoia she must have been going through at that moment as a survivor. None ever had before. Sighing softly and keeping his hands up, he thought of the best way to handle the situation.
“My name’s Stephen,” he began to explain, turning his hands inward and motioning to himself as he took a step forward. At the very moment he took that step, Julie shifted uncomfortably under the sheets. Looking towards the door again, she shot a look back to him and seemed to be contemplating going for it.
“Okay, okay, okay,” the man said quickly, raising his hands again and untaking that initial step. The motion seemed to ease Julie from her panic and she settled, uneasily, on the bed once more. Watching him intently and silently for a moment longer, she seemed to relax even more, though her gaze did not wander.
“We found you...in an alley,” he started. Choosing his words carefully and leaving out the part where they had found her in a dumpster, he continued. “Me and my friend Bear. He’s the taller one that pulled...picked you up.” He winced internally at the slip up but showed nothing outwardly.
“Safe,” Julie croaked out, echoing the word she remembered most from Bear. Her voice was barely above a whisper, and hoarse at that. The injuries, it seemed, had affected her voice as well as the rest of her. Stephen nodded at the word, the hint of a smile pulling at one corner of his mouth.
“Yes. You are safe here. No one is going to hurt you,” he reassured.
Julie listened cautiously, never taking her eye off of him as he spoke. Going over the beginning of the explanation he had offered so far, she looked down briefly, replaying the words over and over in her head. She still didn’t know this man, and she remembered what happened the last time she trusted someone. Looking back up to him, her chin lifted slightly and her lips pressed together, trying to form the word. Another lift and another attempt, and she finally managed to get it out.
“B...Bear.”
Re: One Fateful Night
The single word spoken in her broken voice was enigmatic at first and Stephen didn’t catch her meaning. Simply nodding and smiling, he reiterated what he’d already told her.
“Yes. He helped me get you here,” he explained again.
Julie looked at him for a long moment, trying to figure out how she could make him understand when she couldn’t communicate as easily as she could a mere two days ago. Intricate gestures were out as the bandages wrapping her arms went all the way to mid palm and it still hurt to move them too much. Writing would be difficult for the same reasons. She was nowhere near a mind reader and she very much doubted he was as well. After a moment of thinking about all of this, she let out a sigh and tried again.
“Can...see?” she got out, her voice raspy and weak.
It didn’t take very long at all for Stephen to find the meaning in her words then.
“Still don’t trust me, huh?” he smiled, his words soft. Before she could answer, he added. “I don’t blame you.” Before he moved, he very slowly pointed to the doorway. “I can go get him, but I’m going to have to go through the door to do that. Is that okay?” he asked.
Julie narrowed her eye subtly at the comment. Of course she didn’t trust him. As far as her addled mind was concerned, she may never trust anyone ever again after what had happened. Thankfully, he answered his own question before she had to. When he asked if it was okay if he went through the doorway, she nodded subtly, giving permission though she didn’t look away.
His first step was slow. Tentative. He watched her just as she watched him. For Stephen, it was more out of concern for the girl and that he didn’t frighten her more with sudden movements. When she didn’t show any signs; shifting uncomfortably, trembling, eye going wide, he took another, and then finally another until he was walking, albeit slowly, to the door. Soon enough, he reached the opening and placed his hand on the frame, looking back to her briefly.
“I’ll be right back, okay?” he asked. Julie nodded.
When Stephen left, Julie stared at the empty doorway for a long time. Eventually, her attention turned back to the room she’d found herself in as well as the bed. There was a piano, she’d heard that. Looking down at herself, she examined the bandages on her arms, the tape and tube stuck to her left hand and the patches on her chest that wires were attached to. Special attention was paid to the strange object in her left hand that appeared to have a button atop it. Curious, she moved her thumb over top of the button and pressed it. When nothing happened immediately, she furrowed her brow at it and her attention drifted. Following the tube in her left hand, she looked over at the corresponding machine, then to the machine on her right, which was much more animated and active. Looking at the numbers, she looked to the line that went across the screen and jumped every so often. Following the tubes that went from that to her, she very delicately placed her hand over her chest where the patches were and soon felt her heartbeat. Looking back to the machine, she noticed that the line corresponded with the beats and she nodded, finally understanding that it was to monitor her heart. Looking back to the room, beyond the piano, she noticed that the opposite wall wasn’t really a wall at all. More of a series of panes of glass, she could see the outside world and trees that dotted the landscape at the foot of a large hill or mountain. Then she sighed. What a mess she had gotten herself into.
“Yes. He helped me get you here,” he explained again.
Julie looked at him for a long moment, trying to figure out how she could make him understand when she couldn’t communicate as easily as she could a mere two days ago. Intricate gestures were out as the bandages wrapping her arms went all the way to mid palm and it still hurt to move them too much. Writing would be difficult for the same reasons. She was nowhere near a mind reader and she very much doubted he was as well. After a moment of thinking about all of this, she let out a sigh and tried again.
“Can...see?” she got out, her voice raspy and weak.
It didn’t take very long at all for Stephen to find the meaning in her words then.
“Still don’t trust me, huh?” he smiled, his words soft. Before she could answer, he added. “I don’t blame you.” Before he moved, he very slowly pointed to the doorway. “I can go get him, but I’m going to have to go through the door to do that. Is that okay?” he asked.
Julie narrowed her eye subtly at the comment. Of course she didn’t trust him. As far as her addled mind was concerned, she may never trust anyone ever again after what had happened. Thankfully, he answered his own question before she had to. When he asked if it was okay if he went through the doorway, she nodded subtly, giving permission though she didn’t look away.
His first step was slow. Tentative. He watched her just as she watched him. For Stephen, it was more out of concern for the girl and that he didn’t frighten her more with sudden movements. When she didn’t show any signs; shifting uncomfortably, trembling, eye going wide, he took another, and then finally another until he was walking, albeit slowly, to the door. Soon enough, he reached the opening and placed his hand on the frame, looking back to her briefly.
“I’ll be right back, okay?” he asked. Julie nodded.
When Stephen left, Julie stared at the empty doorway for a long time. Eventually, her attention turned back to the room she’d found herself in as well as the bed. There was a piano, she’d heard that. Looking down at herself, she examined the bandages on her arms, the tape and tube stuck to her left hand and the patches on her chest that wires were attached to. Special attention was paid to the strange object in her left hand that appeared to have a button atop it. Curious, she moved her thumb over top of the button and pressed it. When nothing happened immediately, she furrowed her brow at it and her attention drifted. Following the tube in her left hand, she looked over at the corresponding machine, then to the machine on her right, which was much more animated and active. Looking at the numbers, she looked to the line that went across the screen and jumped every so often. Following the tubes that went from that to her, she very delicately placed her hand over her chest where the patches were and soon felt her heartbeat. Looking back to the machine, she noticed that the line corresponded with the beats and she nodded, finally understanding that it was to monitor her heart. Looking back to the room, beyond the piano, she noticed that the opposite wall wasn’t really a wall at all. More of a series of panes of glass, she could see the outside world and trees that dotted the landscape at the foot of a large hill or mountain. Then she sighed. What a mess she had gotten herself into.
Re: One Fateful Night
“Well look who’s awake,” Bear said softly, ducking through the doorway and coming to stand at Julie’s bedside. She hadn’t been expecting such a sudden and nonchalant greeting and Julie turned, a little too quickly, to face the only person in the world she trusted right now. With a hard wince and a jerk of her side, she slowly relaxed and smiled up to him.
“Bear.” Her voice was still strained and hoarse, but she got it out in one go that time. It was also nice putting the name to the face.
A short moment after the larger man had appeared, Stephen reappeared off to his side and folded his arms over his chest. Silent for now, he simply watched as the two interacted. Bear smiled down at his newest little friend, his eyes roaming over the bandages and wires and tubes momentarily before looking back to her.
“You doing ok? Don’t hurt too bad do ya?” he questioned, slightly concerned after seeing her for the first time since they’d taken her away.
Julie shook her head and did her best to give the man a reassuring smile. She didn’t hurt too bad, though she did still hurt a little. For the most part, she had figured out most of her immediate surroundings, though she had yet to figure out where she was. There was still one thing she hadn’t though. Holding up the handle with the button on top of it up, she looked at it, then looked back to Bear curiously.
“Oh that. That’s…that’s uh...,” he tilted his head, looking at it just as curiously. Following the tube that led to it, he looked at the machine and reached over to turn it more in his direction. His brows furrowing and head dipping as he looked it over, he finally turned to look at Stephen over his shoulder. “What’s that?” he questioned.
“That’s a self administered morphine drip. Pain killer. Anytime you start to feel pain you can press the button and it will administer a dose that will help you feel more comfortable,” Stephen explained, though he looked at Julie instead of Bear. “You should start feeling the effects within thirty minutes, give or take,” he finished. Julie nodded sheepishly and looked down to the button. She didn’t relate that she’d already pressed it once.
“Drugs on tap,” Bear spoke up, grinning back at Julie. “You got it better’n I ever did,” he added, shooting the girl a wink. Julie turned her attention to Bear, smiling at the reference of drugs before her brow furrowed in confusion at the last.
“So,” Stephen suddenly spoke up, drawing Julie’s attention, and confusion, away. “Trust me yet?” he smiled. Julie turned his way, then looked back up at Bear, who was also looking his way.
“I wouldn’t trust him. Mangy mutt...,” Bear answered for her, which got a worried look from Julie as he eyed the man with mock disgust. Stephen shot him a glare. Bear just rolled his eyes and looked back down to the girl. Leaning over, he whispered to her conspiratorially.
“I’d trust him with my life. Have many times. He’s good people and you can trust him,” he reassured her before standing back up and looking over at Stephen. “If you’re into that sorta thing,” he added, cause Bear. Stephen’s eyes widened and he looked at Bear critically, then back at Julie who was giving him a wary, scrunched up nose look. Soon the look faded though and turned into a playful smile as she nodded. She did trust him now, but only because Bear had said so.
Satisfied and smug, Stephen turned back to the huge man and grinned. “Good.”
“Bear!” The voice was a harsh whisper that came from somewhere beyond the doorway suddenly.
“Yo!” Bear answered without hesitation, turning in that direction.
On the other side of the door, Ailuros, purposely staying hidden, jerked her head to the left, indicating some nondescript point somewhere down the hallway. Bear nodded once, then turned back to Julie.
“Hey, I gotta go…,” he started, sticking on what to say next. “...figure out dinner,” he decided finally, smiling at the most delicate way he could think of to put what they were about to go do.
Julie frowned, her shoulders slumping and the pout immediately forming as she looked down, defeated. After a moment, she looked back up and nodded like she had a say in the matter. Bear nodded back, then looked back at Stephen, then back to Julie. “You’ll be alright. Like I said…,” He chucked a thumb at the man behind him. “You can trust him, yeah?” Julie nodded again and so did Bear before he turned to Stephen and reached a hand out to lay it upon his shoulder. “Don’t be too long?” he asked.
“I won’t,” Stephen answered, smiling softly up at the man and reaching to place his hand on his massive forearm with a pat. “Be there as soon as I can,” he assured. Bear nodded, then looked back to Julie.
“You’ll feel better soon. Keep yer chin up,” he smiled. His hand leaving Stephen’s shoulder, he brought it over to the girl and very delicately bumped the edge of his finger under her chin, exaggerating his point with a wink. At the bump, Julie smiled and nodded again, then watched as he turned and disappeared out the door with whoever was on the other side.
“Bear.” Her voice was still strained and hoarse, but she got it out in one go that time. It was also nice putting the name to the face.
A short moment after the larger man had appeared, Stephen reappeared off to his side and folded his arms over his chest. Silent for now, he simply watched as the two interacted. Bear smiled down at his newest little friend, his eyes roaming over the bandages and wires and tubes momentarily before looking back to her.
“You doing ok? Don’t hurt too bad do ya?” he questioned, slightly concerned after seeing her for the first time since they’d taken her away.
Julie shook her head and did her best to give the man a reassuring smile. She didn’t hurt too bad, though she did still hurt a little. For the most part, she had figured out most of her immediate surroundings, though she had yet to figure out where she was. There was still one thing she hadn’t though. Holding up the handle with the button on top of it up, she looked at it, then looked back to Bear curiously.
“Oh that. That’s…that’s uh...,” he tilted his head, looking at it just as curiously. Following the tube that led to it, he looked at the machine and reached over to turn it more in his direction. His brows furrowing and head dipping as he looked it over, he finally turned to look at Stephen over his shoulder. “What’s that?” he questioned.
“That’s a self administered morphine drip. Pain killer. Anytime you start to feel pain you can press the button and it will administer a dose that will help you feel more comfortable,” Stephen explained, though he looked at Julie instead of Bear. “You should start feeling the effects within thirty minutes, give or take,” he finished. Julie nodded sheepishly and looked down to the button. She didn’t relate that she’d already pressed it once.
“Drugs on tap,” Bear spoke up, grinning back at Julie. “You got it better’n I ever did,” he added, shooting the girl a wink. Julie turned her attention to Bear, smiling at the reference of drugs before her brow furrowed in confusion at the last.
“So,” Stephen suddenly spoke up, drawing Julie’s attention, and confusion, away. “Trust me yet?” he smiled. Julie turned his way, then looked back up at Bear, who was also looking his way.
“I wouldn’t trust him. Mangy mutt...,” Bear answered for her, which got a worried look from Julie as he eyed the man with mock disgust. Stephen shot him a glare. Bear just rolled his eyes and looked back down to the girl. Leaning over, he whispered to her conspiratorially.
“I’d trust him with my life. Have many times. He’s good people and you can trust him,” he reassured her before standing back up and looking over at Stephen. “If you’re into that sorta thing,” he added, cause Bear. Stephen’s eyes widened and he looked at Bear critically, then back at Julie who was giving him a wary, scrunched up nose look. Soon the look faded though and turned into a playful smile as she nodded. She did trust him now, but only because Bear had said so.
Satisfied and smug, Stephen turned back to the huge man and grinned. “Good.”
“Bear!” The voice was a harsh whisper that came from somewhere beyond the doorway suddenly.
“Yo!” Bear answered without hesitation, turning in that direction.
On the other side of the door, Ailuros, purposely staying hidden, jerked her head to the left, indicating some nondescript point somewhere down the hallway. Bear nodded once, then turned back to Julie.
“Hey, I gotta go…,” he started, sticking on what to say next. “...figure out dinner,” he decided finally, smiling at the most delicate way he could think of to put what they were about to go do.
Julie frowned, her shoulders slumping and the pout immediately forming as she looked down, defeated. After a moment, she looked back up and nodded like she had a say in the matter. Bear nodded back, then looked back at Stephen, then back to Julie. “You’ll be alright. Like I said…,” He chucked a thumb at the man behind him. “You can trust him, yeah?” Julie nodded again and so did Bear before he turned to Stephen and reached a hand out to lay it upon his shoulder. “Don’t be too long?” he asked.
“I won’t,” Stephen answered, smiling softly up at the man and reaching to place his hand on his massive forearm with a pat. “Be there as soon as I can,” he assured. Bear nodded, then looked back to Julie.
“You’ll feel better soon. Keep yer chin up,” he smiled. His hand leaving Stephen’s shoulder, he brought it over to the girl and very delicately bumped the edge of his finger under her chin, exaggerating his point with a wink. At the bump, Julie smiled and nodded again, then watched as he turned and disappeared out the door with whoever was on the other side.
Re: One Fateful Night
After a moment or two, Julie turned away from the door and looked down again to her useless hands in her lap. With another sigh, she turned her attention to Stephen and smiled weakly. Stephen was standing where he had been and crossed his arms over his chest again as he looked over at Julie, smiling.
“Do you mind if I sit?” he asked, unfolding one of his arms and gesturing to the edge of the bed, palm up. Julie looked to where he motioned and then back to him, shaking her head. Stephen nodded. “Thank you.”
Easing over to the bed, he slipped onto the edge of it and placed his hands in his lap as he looked over at Julie.
“So,” he started again. Bringing his hand up, he placed it on his chest. “I’m Stephen.” He nodded towards the doorway. “That’s Bear.” He looked back at her. “But we don’t know your name, or what to call you,” he finished.
Julie, watching him as he moved to the bed and then sat, listened, nodding along as he reintroduced himself and Bear. When it was mentioned that they didn’t know her name, her attention drifted down and away absently. Her eye looking back and forth, searching for an answer, she finally shook her head, conveying that she didn’t want to give her name.
“I see,” Stephen answered, nodding thoughtfully. Furrowing his brow, he looked down too and tried to think of a solution. “How about…,” he started, still looking down. Julie dared an apprehensive look his way, though her head remained down and away. Stephen finally looked up at her and smiled contemplatively.
“Once upon a time, I was married. My wife’s name was Amara and we loved each other very much,” he started, looking down again. “Sometimes I think she loved me more than I ever could her, but I did my best,” he lamented, instantly getting off track. Looking back up again, he continued. “It never happened, unfortunately, but we talked about having children once, and what we would name them if we did.” He huffed a short lived chuckle and his shoulders rose as she shook his head, smiling. “We went back and forth for days. She wanted this. I wanted that. We tried different variations and…,” his brow furrowed again, remembering, but it soon melted into another smile. “...we finally decided on what we would name our first if she were a girl. A very beautiful name.” If he did say so himself. Looking at her, he paused for a moment and then said out loud what that name would have been.
Julie watched him as he told the story of him and his wife, her head slowly rising as it went on until she was looking at him with head up and full of interest. When he said the name out loud, she thought about it for a moment, looking down and away again in the process, and finally lifted her gaze to look at him. After a moment more, she nodded and a smile slowly began to pull at the corners of her mouth. It was a very beautiful name and, for now, she agreed that that’s what they could call her.
Stephen watched her mull it over and then decide, then he smiled too. “Thank you,” he said, lowering his head in a scant bow at her agreeance. Julie smiled at his bow and then blinked her eye very slowly as her head dipped and almost fell, but recovered quickly. Furrowing her brow in mild confusion, she shook her head and looked at Stephen sleepily. Stephen tilted his head in return, confused at first.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking around to see if he could see what was the matter. Julie nodded sleepily, her eye almost drifting closed but not quite. In his survey of her, the bed and the machines, Stephen happened to see the handle with the button on it still in her hand. “Did you already press the button?” he asked, a slow smile creeping on his lips even as he asked it. Another sleepy nod from her was answered with a knowing nod from him and he rose from his seat on the edge of the bed. Moving over to her, he placed his hand at her back and gently eased her back down onto the bed as he smiled down at her. “It’s bedtime now. Sleep good?” he questioned. As Julie laid back with Stephen’s help, she nodded once more before her eye slipped all the way closed when her head touched the pillow. The morphine had done its job and now she was comfortably, and fast, asleep. Stephen stayed for a moment longer, looking down at her and making sure she didn’t wake or stir from her slumber. Once he was positive she wouldn’t, he rose slowly and moved to pull the covers over her. Resting his hand on her shoulder softly, he looked down at her one last time and a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. His voice but a silent whisper, he tested the girl’s new temporary name out on his lips and soon the smile widened. With a soft pat, he whispered again. “Goodnight.” Turning finally, he too made his way out the door to go join Bear and Ailuros on their hunt.
The next morning, Julie awoke to the beautiful sounds of more piano music from Stephen. This time it was Somewhere I Belong. Yet another song by Linkin Park. Seemed the man had an affinity for the band and their brand of music. When the song came to its close and the last note was dying into silence, Stephen noticed the sleepy-eyed girl in the bed smiling his way. It was nice, compared to the looks he’s gotten the day prior.
“Good morning,” he said softly.
“Mmm,” she said with a nod and a smile. She agreed.
As his fingertips slipped off the ivory keys, he stood slowly and made his way around the piano, leaning his hip and a hand on it gently.
“Mind if I sit again?” he asked. Julie shook her head and motioned to the edge of the bed with one of her useless hands. “Thank you,” he said again, pushing from the piano to do just that. As he settled there, hands in his lap again, a somber expression graced his features and he thought for a moment. Turning to her, he spoke softly.
“I know you probably have questions,” he started. Julie nodded. “And I know it’s difficult for you to ask them right now.” He stopped there, his brow furrowing as he tried to think of the best way to go about it. “Still trust me, right?” He said after the long pause, daring a glance up to her. Julie’s look turned quizzical at the sudden question of her trust. Pursing her lips, she thought about it. Bear had said he could be trusted, and that he trusted Stephen with his life on more than one occasion. With that furrow still set deep in her brow, she looked up to him again and nodded slowly. Stephen nodded back and sighed heavily.
“That night in the alley...Seth attacked you.” He barely had time to start before Julie blinked and froze. Not only had she heard the name of the man that had very nearly killed her, but Stephen knew his name. Her trust faltered hard. “I’m sorry, but...please just listen? I will explain everything,” Stephen tried to reassure her, but the look on his face was already one of defeat. Julie had already reverted to fear and panic, blinking rapidly as she tried to process what she’d just heard.
“B...Bear,” she managed to blurt out. She needed him here if this was to continue. Stephen simply sighed again and nodded, bringing his hand up towards the door.
“Bear,” he called for his friend. The very man, having known this conversation would take place after last night, ducked through the doorway and leaned against the frame. Looking over at Julie, his expression was also sympathetic and he nodded to her.
“It’s alright,” he soothed. “We won’t let anything happen to you.” His heart ached for the girl, but even he couldn’t make this go away for her. It had to be done.
Julie looked to the man just inside the door and blinked again, then looked to Stephen, back to Bear and then back again. Very slowly, she tried to relax. Bear was here and he had promised. After a long moment of silence between them all, Julie nodded softly again. Stephen looked at her again.
“I know this is hard, and I’m sorry, but, Seth meant to kill you. I’m sure you know that. Before he could, he was interrupted. Someone that has been trying to get to him for years.” Stephen looked to Bear apologetically. “It was our job to protect him, but, we were away at a…’function’ and we weren’t in town.” The look he received from Julie when she heard it was their job to protect him didn’t need words to convey what she was feeling. She was hurt. Scared. And the two men she trusted had been entrusted to protect her murderer? Her breathing escalated shakily, but she continued to listen.
“He threw you into the dumpster and that’s where we found you the next morning, like...this.” He gestured to her with his hand. Julie nodded again. “The thing is,” he continued. “No one has seen him since and, we fear, he is dead.” Julie relaxed slightly. Though it seemed like horrible news to Bear and Stephen, it wasn’t so much for her. “That being the case, it is now our job to protect you, and we have sworn our lives to make sure nothing like that happens to you now.” It didn’t make sense to Julie, at all, but she couldn’t argue their logic. Not yet. Simply nodding softly after a few moments, she continued to try and process everything she’d just learned.
“And…,” Julie’s eye widened suddenly and she instantly tensed again. There was yet more she didn’t know. yay.
‘I…,” he hesitated. “...am a werewolf too.” Rip the bandaid off. “Bear is a werebear, and Ailuros, who you haven’t met yet, is a werelion. But we are all here to protect you and make sure no harm comes to you. No matter what. Once you become a werewolf too….,” he trailed off there, watching her in case she tried to make a run for it and hurt herself more. Bear readied himself too. They both knew it wasn’t an easy pill to swallow.
Julie’s breath hitched in her throat and she stared, wide eyed, at the man sitting on the edge of the bed. Very slowly, she brought her useless hand to her chest, indicating herself. Slowly, Stephen nodded.
“Yes. You will become one of us,” he admitted to her.
“Do you mind if I sit?” he asked, unfolding one of his arms and gesturing to the edge of the bed, palm up. Julie looked to where he motioned and then back to him, shaking her head. Stephen nodded. “Thank you.”
Easing over to the bed, he slipped onto the edge of it and placed his hands in his lap as he looked over at Julie.
“So,” he started again. Bringing his hand up, he placed it on his chest. “I’m Stephen.” He nodded towards the doorway. “That’s Bear.” He looked back at her. “But we don’t know your name, or what to call you,” he finished.
Julie, watching him as he moved to the bed and then sat, listened, nodding along as he reintroduced himself and Bear. When it was mentioned that they didn’t know her name, her attention drifted down and away absently. Her eye looking back and forth, searching for an answer, she finally shook her head, conveying that she didn’t want to give her name.
“I see,” Stephen answered, nodding thoughtfully. Furrowing his brow, he looked down too and tried to think of a solution. “How about…,” he started, still looking down. Julie dared an apprehensive look his way, though her head remained down and away. Stephen finally looked up at her and smiled contemplatively.
“Once upon a time, I was married. My wife’s name was Amara and we loved each other very much,” he started, looking down again. “Sometimes I think she loved me more than I ever could her, but I did my best,” he lamented, instantly getting off track. Looking back up again, he continued. “It never happened, unfortunately, but we talked about having children once, and what we would name them if we did.” He huffed a short lived chuckle and his shoulders rose as she shook his head, smiling. “We went back and forth for days. She wanted this. I wanted that. We tried different variations and…,” his brow furrowed again, remembering, but it soon melted into another smile. “...we finally decided on what we would name our first if she were a girl. A very beautiful name.” If he did say so himself. Looking at her, he paused for a moment and then said out loud what that name would have been.
Julie watched him as he told the story of him and his wife, her head slowly rising as it went on until she was looking at him with head up and full of interest. When he said the name out loud, she thought about it for a moment, looking down and away again in the process, and finally lifted her gaze to look at him. After a moment more, she nodded and a smile slowly began to pull at the corners of her mouth. It was a very beautiful name and, for now, she agreed that that’s what they could call her.
Stephen watched her mull it over and then decide, then he smiled too. “Thank you,” he said, lowering his head in a scant bow at her agreeance. Julie smiled at his bow and then blinked her eye very slowly as her head dipped and almost fell, but recovered quickly. Furrowing her brow in mild confusion, she shook her head and looked at Stephen sleepily. Stephen tilted his head in return, confused at first.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking around to see if he could see what was the matter. Julie nodded sleepily, her eye almost drifting closed but not quite. In his survey of her, the bed and the machines, Stephen happened to see the handle with the button on it still in her hand. “Did you already press the button?” he asked, a slow smile creeping on his lips even as he asked it. Another sleepy nod from her was answered with a knowing nod from him and he rose from his seat on the edge of the bed. Moving over to her, he placed his hand at her back and gently eased her back down onto the bed as he smiled down at her. “It’s bedtime now. Sleep good?” he questioned. As Julie laid back with Stephen’s help, she nodded once more before her eye slipped all the way closed when her head touched the pillow. The morphine had done its job and now she was comfortably, and fast, asleep. Stephen stayed for a moment longer, looking down at her and making sure she didn’t wake or stir from her slumber. Once he was positive she wouldn’t, he rose slowly and moved to pull the covers over her. Resting his hand on her shoulder softly, he looked down at her one last time and a small smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. His voice but a silent whisper, he tested the girl’s new temporary name out on his lips and soon the smile widened. With a soft pat, he whispered again. “Goodnight.” Turning finally, he too made his way out the door to go join Bear and Ailuros on their hunt.
The next morning, Julie awoke to the beautiful sounds of more piano music from Stephen. This time it was Somewhere I Belong. Yet another song by Linkin Park. Seemed the man had an affinity for the band and their brand of music. When the song came to its close and the last note was dying into silence, Stephen noticed the sleepy-eyed girl in the bed smiling his way. It was nice, compared to the looks he’s gotten the day prior.
“Good morning,” he said softly.
“Mmm,” she said with a nod and a smile. She agreed.
As his fingertips slipped off the ivory keys, he stood slowly and made his way around the piano, leaning his hip and a hand on it gently.
“Mind if I sit again?” he asked. Julie shook her head and motioned to the edge of the bed with one of her useless hands. “Thank you,” he said again, pushing from the piano to do just that. As he settled there, hands in his lap again, a somber expression graced his features and he thought for a moment. Turning to her, he spoke softly.
“I know you probably have questions,” he started. Julie nodded. “And I know it’s difficult for you to ask them right now.” He stopped there, his brow furrowing as he tried to think of the best way to go about it. “Still trust me, right?” He said after the long pause, daring a glance up to her. Julie’s look turned quizzical at the sudden question of her trust. Pursing her lips, she thought about it. Bear had said he could be trusted, and that he trusted Stephen with his life on more than one occasion. With that furrow still set deep in her brow, she looked up to him again and nodded slowly. Stephen nodded back and sighed heavily.
“That night in the alley...Seth attacked you.” He barely had time to start before Julie blinked and froze. Not only had she heard the name of the man that had very nearly killed her, but Stephen knew his name. Her trust faltered hard. “I’m sorry, but...please just listen? I will explain everything,” Stephen tried to reassure her, but the look on his face was already one of defeat. Julie had already reverted to fear and panic, blinking rapidly as she tried to process what she’d just heard.
“B...Bear,” she managed to blurt out. She needed him here if this was to continue. Stephen simply sighed again and nodded, bringing his hand up towards the door.
“Bear,” he called for his friend. The very man, having known this conversation would take place after last night, ducked through the doorway and leaned against the frame. Looking over at Julie, his expression was also sympathetic and he nodded to her.
“It’s alright,” he soothed. “We won’t let anything happen to you.” His heart ached for the girl, but even he couldn’t make this go away for her. It had to be done.
Julie looked to the man just inside the door and blinked again, then looked to Stephen, back to Bear and then back again. Very slowly, she tried to relax. Bear was here and he had promised. After a long moment of silence between them all, Julie nodded softly again. Stephen looked at her again.
“I know this is hard, and I’m sorry, but, Seth meant to kill you. I’m sure you know that. Before he could, he was interrupted. Someone that has been trying to get to him for years.” Stephen looked to Bear apologetically. “It was our job to protect him, but, we were away at a…’function’ and we weren’t in town.” The look he received from Julie when she heard it was their job to protect him didn’t need words to convey what she was feeling. She was hurt. Scared. And the two men she trusted had been entrusted to protect her murderer? Her breathing escalated shakily, but she continued to listen.
“He threw you into the dumpster and that’s where we found you the next morning, like...this.” He gestured to her with his hand. Julie nodded again. “The thing is,” he continued. “No one has seen him since and, we fear, he is dead.” Julie relaxed slightly. Though it seemed like horrible news to Bear and Stephen, it wasn’t so much for her. “That being the case, it is now our job to protect you, and we have sworn our lives to make sure nothing like that happens to you now.” It didn’t make sense to Julie, at all, but she couldn’t argue their logic. Not yet. Simply nodding softly after a few moments, she continued to try and process everything she’d just learned.
“And…,” Julie’s eye widened suddenly and she instantly tensed again. There was yet more she didn’t know. yay.
‘I…,” he hesitated. “...am a werewolf too.” Rip the bandaid off. “Bear is a werebear, and Ailuros, who you haven’t met yet, is a werelion. But we are all here to protect you and make sure no harm comes to you. No matter what. Once you become a werewolf too….,” he trailed off there, watching her in case she tried to make a run for it and hurt herself more. Bear readied himself too. They both knew it wasn’t an easy pill to swallow.
Julie’s breath hitched in her throat and she stared, wide eyed, at the man sitting on the edge of the bed. Very slowly, she brought her useless hand to her chest, indicating herself. Slowly, Stephen nodded.
“Yes. You will become one of us,” he admitted to her.
Re: One Fateful Night
((Warning: Contains descriptions of depression and self harm/attempted suicide.))
The hand at her chest rose to cover her mouth just as her lips formed the silent word ‘no’ and her eye instantly welled with tears. The look of shock slowly twisted into one of grief and pain and a single saline drop fell from the corner of her eye, trailing down her cheek. Julie wanted to scream. Wanted to ask why. She wanted so many things that she knew her voice would not be able to convey. Instead, she stared helplessly at the blurry man in front of her on the bed. Blinking to try and clear her vision, she looked to her left only to find a bigger blurry spot just inside the door. She couldn’t see the pained expressions on their faces mirroring her own.
When she couldn’t make out the face of the man she trusted the most right then, and needed to see, her other useless hand came up and joined the first as she put her face into her palms and wept, stricken with grief.
“I’m sorry. I…,” Stephen started.
“Hey…,” Bear tried too, taking a step from the doorway towards the sobbing girl. They’d both done this before, but the circumstances had been vastly different. Their earlier ward had been but a child when he’d been placed in Stephen and Bear’s charge, and he had years to warm up to the idea of what he would one day become. They’d found Julie in a dumpster. Broken. Days ago. Now here she was in a strange place with strange people who had just told her she was doomed to become a nightmare. The same nightmare that had tried to kill her those few days ago. She gave them the only response she was able to.
“G..g..go...ah..ah..way,” she whispered. Her voice was still hoarse and strained, broken by sobs and gasps, but the message came across loud and clear. Stephen looked from the girl to Bear, finding his friend looking back at him. With a soft nod from the bigger man, he motioned his head to the door before making his way to it as well. With a nod from Stephen, he looked back to Julie sorrowfully and sighed before pushing up from the bed and walking that way. As he passed into the hallway, Bear patted his shoulder gently and turned to follow. Just before he ducked through, he placed his hand on the doorframe and took another look at Julie on the bed. As he watched her cry, his brow furrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line of frustration. He wanted to help her. Wanted to take the pain away. He wanted so much, but he knew what the girl needed right now was time. Shaking his head and sighing, he finally, reluctantly, turned and slipped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him quietly.
The rest of the day and night, Julie was left alone to grieve and process the information she had so suddenly learned. Sometime later that evening, not long after the sun had set, she noticed that the four large windows that made up the opposite wall of her room afforded an oddly specific view. There, hung in the sky with the stars, was the tiniest sliver of Arabrab in its waxing crescent phase. She had no idea what that window to the outside world would mean to her in the coming days, but she would soon find out. Until then, exhausted from the stress of the news, near constant crying and her injuries, sleep finally, mercifully, took Julie into its comforting embrace.
The following morning, Julie awoke to the dulcet tones of Stephen playing the piano. The song was Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, and though the sound was pleasing to her one good ear, her expression remained neutral as her eye slipped open slowly. Head turned to the right as she rested on the pillow, her swollen, blind eye obscured her vision so she didn’t have to look at the man sitting behind the instrument. As Stephen continued to play, the music became the backdrop for more of her disturbing thoughts and her left hand shifted on the mattress. Finding the handle with the button atop it once more, she started pressing the button slowly, but continuously.
Stephen, having the ability to watch her without being watched, saw what she was doing. Closing his eyes, he shook his head with a sigh but continued playing until the song had come to its completion. Once it had, and the last rumbling note died into silence, his hands slipped from the keys and fell into his lap.
“The machine will only administer a dose at set intervals regardless of how many times you press the button.” Meaning. “It won’t overdose you.”
Immediately upon hearing the news that the machine would not, in fact, kill her, Julie tossed the handle aside, sending it clattering to the floor. At the sound, Stephen furrowed his brows and sighed softly again. After a moment, he rose from the bench and slowly made his way to Julie’s bedside.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” he lamented, looking down at her with no small measure of concern. Julie didn’t turn to look up at him. Instead, she moved her left hand away to curl in front of her as she continued to stare at nothing in front of her.
“Go away,” she whispered, her voice not the hitching, broken thing it was the day prior.
Stephen nodded, then leaned down to retrieve the handle she’d discarded on the floor. Raising back up, he placed it on the bed beside her.
“Nora will be in later to check on you. If you need anything, anything at all, she will get it for you,” he said softly before turning and walking out the door, leaving her in peace. Nora did check on her later, periodically, but was met with the same silence and lack of will that Stephen had received. Later that night, just before Julie’s eye slipped shut, she glanced out the window and happened to see Arabrab again. This time the visible crescent in the sky was slightly larger than the night before, and then she slept.
The hand at her chest rose to cover her mouth just as her lips formed the silent word ‘no’ and her eye instantly welled with tears. The look of shock slowly twisted into one of grief and pain and a single saline drop fell from the corner of her eye, trailing down her cheek. Julie wanted to scream. Wanted to ask why. She wanted so many things that she knew her voice would not be able to convey. Instead, she stared helplessly at the blurry man in front of her on the bed. Blinking to try and clear her vision, she looked to her left only to find a bigger blurry spot just inside the door. She couldn’t see the pained expressions on their faces mirroring her own.
When she couldn’t make out the face of the man she trusted the most right then, and needed to see, her other useless hand came up and joined the first as she put her face into her palms and wept, stricken with grief.
“I’m sorry. I…,” Stephen started.
“Hey…,” Bear tried too, taking a step from the doorway towards the sobbing girl. They’d both done this before, but the circumstances had been vastly different. Their earlier ward had been but a child when he’d been placed in Stephen and Bear’s charge, and he had years to warm up to the idea of what he would one day become. They’d found Julie in a dumpster. Broken. Days ago. Now here she was in a strange place with strange people who had just told her she was doomed to become a nightmare. The same nightmare that had tried to kill her those few days ago. She gave them the only response she was able to.
“G..g..go...ah..ah..way,” she whispered. Her voice was still hoarse and strained, broken by sobs and gasps, but the message came across loud and clear. Stephen looked from the girl to Bear, finding his friend looking back at him. With a soft nod from the bigger man, he motioned his head to the door before making his way to it as well. With a nod from Stephen, he looked back to Julie sorrowfully and sighed before pushing up from the bed and walking that way. As he passed into the hallway, Bear patted his shoulder gently and turned to follow. Just before he ducked through, he placed his hand on the doorframe and took another look at Julie on the bed. As he watched her cry, his brow furrowed and his lips pressed into a thin line of frustration. He wanted to help her. Wanted to take the pain away. He wanted so much, but he knew what the girl needed right now was time. Shaking his head and sighing, he finally, reluctantly, turned and slipped out into the hallway, closing the door behind him quietly.
The rest of the day and night, Julie was left alone to grieve and process the information she had so suddenly learned. Sometime later that evening, not long after the sun had set, she noticed that the four large windows that made up the opposite wall of her room afforded an oddly specific view. There, hung in the sky with the stars, was the tiniest sliver of Arabrab in its waxing crescent phase. She had no idea what that window to the outside world would mean to her in the coming days, but she would soon find out. Until then, exhausted from the stress of the news, near constant crying and her injuries, sleep finally, mercifully, took Julie into its comforting embrace.
The following morning, Julie awoke to the dulcet tones of Stephen playing the piano. The song was Nothing Else Matters by Metallica, and though the sound was pleasing to her one good ear, her expression remained neutral as her eye slipped open slowly. Head turned to the right as she rested on the pillow, her swollen, blind eye obscured her vision so she didn’t have to look at the man sitting behind the instrument. As Stephen continued to play, the music became the backdrop for more of her disturbing thoughts and her left hand shifted on the mattress. Finding the handle with the button atop it once more, she started pressing the button slowly, but continuously.
Stephen, having the ability to watch her without being watched, saw what she was doing. Closing his eyes, he shook his head with a sigh but continued playing until the song had come to its completion. Once it had, and the last rumbling note died into silence, his hands slipped from the keys and fell into his lap.
“The machine will only administer a dose at set intervals regardless of how many times you press the button.” Meaning. “It won’t overdose you.”
Immediately upon hearing the news that the machine would not, in fact, kill her, Julie tossed the handle aside, sending it clattering to the floor. At the sound, Stephen furrowed his brows and sighed softly again. After a moment, he rose from the bench and slowly made his way to Julie’s bedside.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” he lamented, looking down at her with no small measure of concern. Julie didn’t turn to look up at him. Instead, she moved her left hand away to curl in front of her as she continued to stare at nothing in front of her.
“Go away,” she whispered, her voice not the hitching, broken thing it was the day prior.
Stephen nodded, then leaned down to retrieve the handle she’d discarded on the floor. Raising back up, he placed it on the bed beside her.
“Nora will be in later to check on you. If you need anything, anything at all, she will get it for you,” he said softly before turning and walking out the door, leaving her in peace. Nora did check on her later, periodically, but was met with the same silence and lack of will that Stephen had received. Later that night, just before Julie’s eye slipped shut, she glanced out the window and happened to see Arabrab again. This time the visible crescent in the sky was slightly larger than the night before, and then she slept.
Re: One Fateful Night
The night’s slumber had been plagued with restless, fitful sleep and Julie tossed and turned as visions of that night in the alley flashed through her dreamscape. At the bite to her neck and shoulder, her face twisted in agony and a feeble whimper escaped her lips. Upon the impact of her face against the lid of the dumpster, she jostled awake and her face scrunched up again as she started to cry, awake and aware. Dreams left behind, she cried even more with the knowledge of what she was soon to become. Dreadfully, painfully, she cried through the minutes and hours until she finally cried herself back to sleep.
Some time later, she was again awoken to the sounds of the piano and Stephen playing yet another song. This one, The Sound of Silence, was much softer and slower than all the previous songs he had played for her. It too, was met with much the same reaction as the one prior as Julie simply laid on her side and stared off into nothing. Every now and then a tear would roll down her cheek and disappear into the cover of the pillow she rested upon, but other than that, there was hardly any other movement from the girl.
On he played, his eyes mostly watching his fingers move slowly over the keys and every now and again glancing up to the unmoving girl on the bed. With no change, and the song slowly coming to its conclusion, his hands once more slipped from the keys and fell to his lap. Trying to think of something, anything, to say to her and coming up with nothing, he rose from the bench and started making his way to the door. Just as he reached it and was about to pass through, a small voice echoed out through the silence.
“Will it hurt?” she asked, still facing and looking away from him.
With a sigh, Stephen closed his eyes and lowered his head, one hand going to rest against the doorframe.
“Yes,” he admitted.
“I don...I don’t want to hurt anymore,” she whispered, her eye closing as more tears streamed down her cheek. Stephen sighed, his eyes squeezing tighter and the muscles of his jaw clenching.
“I know. I’m so sorry,” he breathed. “It doesn’t last long and we will be with you through it all,” he added, trying to ease her fears as much as he was able.
“Who?” she asked.
“Me. Bear. Ailuros,” he told her. Julie nodded softly, then swallowed hard.
“When?”
“Eight days,” Stephen answered. Julie nodded again, this time much slower. She hadn’t moved from her position and still stared at the floor on the opposite side of the bed from the door and the man. After a long moment of silence, when he was fairly sure she had no more questions, he turned and looked her way.
“Would you like me to play again in the morning?” he asked softly.
For a long time, Julie didn’t move. Thinking about his question, she simply stared into nothing like she had been. Finally, just before Stephen had given up and was about to walk through the doorway, Julie nodded quickly but briefly. A faint glimmer of a smile ghosted upon his lips and he nodded in return, even though she wouldn’t see.
“Nora will be in to check on you. Anything at all,” he reassured again, then slipped out into the hallway. Julie nodded her understanding and listened as quiet footsteps carried the man away. She didn’t know if she could do this. She didn’t even know if she had a choice, but for the man that played the piano for her every morning and the other that had pulled her from the dumpster and promised that she would be safe, she would try.
Some time later, she was again awoken to the sounds of the piano and Stephen playing yet another song. This one, The Sound of Silence, was much softer and slower than all the previous songs he had played for her. It too, was met with much the same reaction as the one prior as Julie simply laid on her side and stared off into nothing. Every now and then a tear would roll down her cheek and disappear into the cover of the pillow she rested upon, but other than that, there was hardly any other movement from the girl.
On he played, his eyes mostly watching his fingers move slowly over the keys and every now and again glancing up to the unmoving girl on the bed. With no change, and the song slowly coming to its conclusion, his hands once more slipped from the keys and fell to his lap. Trying to think of something, anything, to say to her and coming up with nothing, he rose from the bench and started making his way to the door. Just as he reached it and was about to pass through, a small voice echoed out through the silence.
“Will it hurt?” she asked, still facing and looking away from him.
With a sigh, Stephen closed his eyes and lowered his head, one hand going to rest against the doorframe.
“Yes,” he admitted.
“I don...I don’t want to hurt anymore,” she whispered, her eye closing as more tears streamed down her cheek. Stephen sighed, his eyes squeezing tighter and the muscles of his jaw clenching.
“I know. I’m so sorry,” he breathed. “It doesn’t last long and we will be with you through it all,” he added, trying to ease her fears as much as he was able.
“Who?” she asked.
“Me. Bear. Ailuros,” he told her. Julie nodded softly, then swallowed hard.
“When?”
“Eight days,” Stephen answered. Julie nodded again, this time much slower. She hadn’t moved from her position and still stared at the floor on the opposite side of the bed from the door and the man. After a long moment of silence, when he was fairly sure she had no more questions, he turned and looked her way.
“Would you like me to play again in the morning?” he asked softly.
For a long time, Julie didn’t move. Thinking about his question, she simply stared into nothing like she had been. Finally, just before Stephen had given up and was about to walk through the doorway, Julie nodded quickly but briefly. A faint glimmer of a smile ghosted upon his lips and he nodded in return, even though she wouldn’t see.
“Nora will be in to check on you. Anything at all,” he reassured again, then slipped out into the hallway. Julie nodded her understanding and listened as quiet footsteps carried the man away. She didn’t know if she could do this. She didn’t even know if she had a choice, but for the man that played the piano for her every morning and the other that had pulled her from the dumpster and promised that she would be safe, she would try.
Re: One Fateful Night
Julie didn’t move much for most of the rest of the day. Still laid on her side and still staring at nothing, her contemplative thoughts all but consumed her until she eventually fell asleep. A little while after Stephen left, Nora did come to check on her. Seeing that she was asleep, she checked the heart monitor, morphine machine and sheets as delicately and as quietly as she could. After making sure everything seemed to be okay, Nora smoothed her hands over the sheets softly and happened to notice that a strand of jet black hair had fallen into the girl’s face. Smiling softly at the sight, she reached over to corral the stray strand away and with the movement, Julie startled awake and turned to face the nurse.
“Oh! I’m so sorry!” she apologized. “I didn’t mean to wake you,” she continued, placing her hands together in front of her.
Upon seeing that it was only Nora who had awoken her, likely just checking on her as usual, her expression softened and she smiled up at the woman.
“It’s okay,” she assured. It was a small response, but welcome after the days of silence she had previously offered. Hearing her speak, and assuring her that it was okay, relief washed over Nora’s face and she relaxed visibly.
“Is there anything I can get you?” she asked. She was there and Julie was awake after all. “Are you comfortable? Need another pillow? More blankets?” she continued in a flurry, eager to help.
“No, but thank you,” Julie answered, her voice meek but the soft smile still present. Nora nodded and smiled in return.
“If there’s anything you need you just let me know. I’m not far away,” she informed her, half turning towards the door to indicate some unseen spot, apparently not far away. Julie nodded with a slow, sleepy blink and the smile ticked up the corners of her mouth briefly.
“‘Thank you, Nora.”
The nurse smiled brightly at hearing her name, bunching up her shoulders and simply beaming for a moment before she nodded again.
“You’re welcome,” she added, almost forgetting, before she turned towards the door and made her way out.
Julie watched her go and then laid back down on her side, her worried thoughts once more slowly intruding. This time though, something else intruded as well. Soft notes from a piano drifted into her mind and with them, another gentle smile tugged at her lips. She thought of Bear, and how both men were doing what they could to make her feel safe and comfortable in this place. Nora too. She wasn’t far away after all.
After a little while, she gently took the corner of her lower lip with her teeth and shifted ever so slightly. Lifting her left hand, she hesitated, then placed it softly on the mattress beside her. With a wince and more than a little effort, she slowly, painfully, pushed herself up until she was sitting upright on the bed. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly after the effort, she worked the blanket away from her legs. Looking down at them, her face screwed up at what she saw. Bruised and battered, they didn’t even look like her legs. Nevertheless, she was determined. With another wince, she shifted her weight on the bed and very slowly eased her legs over until they were dangling over the edge; her hands resting on the edge of the mattress as she looked down at the floor below.
As she sat there, trying to gather the courage to slip off the edge, a familiar figure ducked through the door when she wasn’t paying attention.
“Well look at you!” he said with a huge smile on his face. She didn’t even flinch before she looked up at him with a bright smile of her own.
“Bear!”
“Oh! I’m so sorry!” she apologized. “I didn’t mean to wake you,” she continued, placing her hands together in front of her.
Upon seeing that it was only Nora who had awoken her, likely just checking on her as usual, her expression softened and she smiled up at the woman.
“It’s okay,” she assured. It was a small response, but welcome after the days of silence she had previously offered. Hearing her speak, and assuring her that it was okay, relief washed over Nora’s face and she relaxed visibly.
“Is there anything I can get you?” she asked. She was there and Julie was awake after all. “Are you comfortable? Need another pillow? More blankets?” she continued in a flurry, eager to help.
“No, but thank you,” Julie answered, her voice meek but the soft smile still present. Nora nodded and smiled in return.
“If there’s anything you need you just let me know. I’m not far away,” she informed her, half turning towards the door to indicate some unseen spot, apparently not far away. Julie nodded with a slow, sleepy blink and the smile ticked up the corners of her mouth briefly.
“‘Thank you, Nora.”
The nurse smiled brightly at hearing her name, bunching up her shoulders and simply beaming for a moment before she nodded again.
“You’re welcome,” she added, almost forgetting, before she turned towards the door and made her way out.
Julie watched her go and then laid back down on her side, her worried thoughts once more slowly intruding. This time though, something else intruded as well. Soft notes from a piano drifted into her mind and with them, another gentle smile tugged at her lips. She thought of Bear, and how both men were doing what they could to make her feel safe and comfortable in this place. Nora too. She wasn’t far away after all.
After a little while, she gently took the corner of her lower lip with her teeth and shifted ever so slightly. Lifting her left hand, she hesitated, then placed it softly on the mattress beside her. With a wince and more than a little effort, she slowly, painfully, pushed herself up until she was sitting upright on the bed. Taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly after the effort, she worked the blanket away from her legs. Looking down at them, her face screwed up at what she saw. Bruised and battered, they didn’t even look like her legs. Nevertheless, she was determined. With another wince, she shifted her weight on the bed and very slowly eased her legs over until they were dangling over the edge; her hands resting on the edge of the mattress as she looked down at the floor below.
As she sat there, trying to gather the courage to slip off the edge, a familiar figure ducked through the door when she wasn’t paying attention.
“Well look at you!” he said with a huge smile on his face. She didn’t even flinch before she looked up at him with a bright smile of her own.
“Bear!”
Re: One Fateful Night
“Hey, kiddo,” he said, still smiling. Taking up a lean against the frame of the door, he crossed his arms over his chest and feet at the ankles as he looked down at her bruised, dangling legs, her position and then back up at her. “Feeling better?”
“Mhm!” Julie answered, nodding quickly with the sound. It wasn’t the whole truth, but at that precise moment it wasn’t a lie. Bear grinned a little wider at seeing her enthusiasm.
“Good. Whatcha thinkin’? Marathon? Dancing?” he teased. He may not have known exactly how bad off she was, but he wasn’t completely ignorant either. Julie blinked, trading her smile for a look of surprise.
“Umm.” She looked down at her legs and the floor beyond for a moment, then back up to him. “I…,” she started.
The soft, baritone chuckle that he let out, thankfully, as he uncrossed his arms and ankles silenced the girl. Shaking his head, he took the few steps that would bring him to her bedside and he smiled down at her.
“Easy, girl,” he said with another playful chuckle. “I’m just teasing ya,” he explained. Taking a moment to get a good look at her. The bruised, battered legs. The still bruised and halfway swollen left eye with nothing but red behind it. The hospital gown with wires coming out left and right, including one in her left arm. His expression softened, the smile turning somber. “Would you like some help?” he asked quietly.
When Bear laughed softly and moved from the doorway towards her, Julie relaxed and let out a relieved sigh. Looking up at him as he neared, she watched as he looked her over. She didn’t know how bad she looked, but by the way his expression changed and then the question was asked, she figured it wasn’t good. With a small, timid smile flitting across her lips, she nodded silently that she would.
“Gotcha,” he answered the wordless request, then looked down again as he brought his massive hands up. Seeing again the wires that protruded from her gown, his brows furrowed and he tilted his head, moving his hands this way and that. “Well...umm, got some wires there,” he commented.
“Oh.” Looking down, she realized that there were a few trailing out of her gown. Sitting up a little, she reached for them and, as best as she could, removed them one by one carefully with her useless hands. Those removed, discarded on the mattress behind her, she looked back up at Bear and smiled. “There.”
“There ya go!” he exclaimed proudly. Obstacles gone, he once more moved his hands to either side of her. Readying himself for her initial try, he bent his legs and watched her carefully. “Just take it easy. I’ve got you,” he said softly.
Hearing his exclamation, Julie smiled proudly and placed her hands on the edge of the bed again. Seeing that he was getting ready to catch her if she should need it, she looked back down to her legs, then back up immediately when she heard those words from him again. ‘I’ve got you.’ She stared a moment, remembering, then a slow, soft smile formed on her lips and she nodded before looking back down again. He had given her all the courage she needed and now she was sure she could do this.
Again taking the corner of her lip with her teeth, she very carefully started to ease herself off the edge of the bed. When the tips of her toes touched the cool tile of the floor, teeth gave way to a tentative smile. It was comforting, feeling something other than the bed she had been confined to for the past several days. Eager to feel more, and be up on her own two feet again, she eased off a little more and started to put some weight on the balls of her feet. Emboldened by the feel and filled with courage, she eased the rest of the way off of the bed and her heels finally sank down until she was standing...and her legs buckled immediately and she crumpled.
“Op!” Bear, ever watchful, caught her mid fall, keeping her from crashing all the way to the floor. With his hands around her waist, her arms settled on top of his and her head dipped forward as she took a sharp intake of breath, the sound almost a hiss as she winced from the pain.
“ow…,” she whispered, recovering once her weight was no longer on her feet or legs.
“That’s okay,” Bear reassured. “You’re okay. Here, let’s get you back in bed,” he said, very carefully lifting her up to do just that.
“No,” she pleaded, looking up at him when he began to lift and move her back. “Please,” she whispered. Looking from him to the window across the room, she looked back at him, the helplessness etched on her face. “I just wanna see,” she explained. “Can...can you help me?” she asked. She obviously couldn’t walk on her own and hoped he would understand.
Bear followed her gaze, looking at the window as well, then looked back at her sympathetically as his lips pressed together. It didn’t take long at all and he was nodding back.
“Alright,” he agreed.
“Thank you,” she answered back.
Looking at her for a moment, he contemplated how the two of them were going to accomplish this. Seeing her arms on top of his, he again noticed the IV coming out of her left hand attached to the pole on that side of the bed. After a minute or two, he nodded and looked back at her.
“I’m gonna put you back on the bed, but just for a second. Hold still, okay?” he said.
“Okay,” she answered, having watched the contemplating.
Easing her back onto the bed, he pulled the IV pole and machine in front of him and then moved to her again. Bending down, he slipped his right arm around her so that she could support herself using her arms. That way she could still ‘walk’ with him to the window. Arm under hers and IV pole in hand, he looked at her and nodded.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready,” she answered with a smile and a nod.
Very carefully, just as she had done earlier, he eased her off the bed until her feet once more touched the floor. Patiently, he waited for her to take the first step and then followed along at her pace. The initial step was slow and cautious, but when she put too much weight on her foot, she dipped, her arms tightening around his.
“Okay?” he asked as soon as she faltered. She didn’t look at him. Keeping her eyes on her feet and the floor at first, she eased more of her weight onto his arm and finally nodded quickly.
“Mhm,” she answered.
It was a slow journey across the room. Julie took her time and was mindful not to put too much weight on her feet or legs and Bear followed along patiently, IV pole in tow. When they finally did reach the window, the soft hues of dusk bathed the land beyond in soft pinks and blues and oranges. Julie stared for a long time, taking in the serene shades, the trees and every so often the movement of an animal in the distance. Two deer grazed lazily on the top of a hill, one lifting its head while the other lowered theirs to feast on the soft grass beneath them. A groundhog made its way onto the scene. Chunky and slow, it lifted up and took a look around before settling and moseying along to wherever it was going. It was all so beautiful and Julie leaned a little, lifting a hand to press against the glass as she looked on, taking everything in she could. Bear simply watched as well, letting the girl get her fill before he took her back to her bed.
After a long while, the shades of pink and blue and orange began to fade and night began to fall on the world outside. Julie watched for a long as she could, but soon, when she could no longer see the groundhog, the two deer and could only barely make out the trees, her gaze lowered slowly. Thinking for a moment, but not looking back to Bear, she finally managed a few meek little words.
“Bear...I..I’m scared.”
“Mhm!” Julie answered, nodding quickly with the sound. It wasn’t the whole truth, but at that precise moment it wasn’t a lie. Bear grinned a little wider at seeing her enthusiasm.
“Good. Whatcha thinkin’? Marathon? Dancing?” he teased. He may not have known exactly how bad off she was, but he wasn’t completely ignorant either. Julie blinked, trading her smile for a look of surprise.
“Umm.” She looked down at her legs and the floor beyond for a moment, then back up to him. “I…,” she started.
The soft, baritone chuckle that he let out, thankfully, as he uncrossed his arms and ankles silenced the girl. Shaking his head, he took the few steps that would bring him to her bedside and he smiled down at her.
“Easy, girl,” he said with another playful chuckle. “I’m just teasing ya,” he explained. Taking a moment to get a good look at her. The bruised, battered legs. The still bruised and halfway swollen left eye with nothing but red behind it. The hospital gown with wires coming out left and right, including one in her left arm. His expression softened, the smile turning somber. “Would you like some help?” he asked quietly.
When Bear laughed softly and moved from the doorway towards her, Julie relaxed and let out a relieved sigh. Looking up at him as he neared, she watched as he looked her over. She didn’t know how bad she looked, but by the way his expression changed and then the question was asked, she figured it wasn’t good. With a small, timid smile flitting across her lips, she nodded silently that she would.
“Gotcha,” he answered the wordless request, then looked down again as he brought his massive hands up. Seeing again the wires that protruded from her gown, his brows furrowed and he tilted his head, moving his hands this way and that. “Well...umm, got some wires there,” he commented.
“Oh.” Looking down, she realized that there were a few trailing out of her gown. Sitting up a little, she reached for them and, as best as she could, removed them one by one carefully with her useless hands. Those removed, discarded on the mattress behind her, she looked back up at Bear and smiled. “There.”
“There ya go!” he exclaimed proudly. Obstacles gone, he once more moved his hands to either side of her. Readying himself for her initial try, he bent his legs and watched her carefully. “Just take it easy. I’ve got you,” he said softly.
Hearing his exclamation, Julie smiled proudly and placed her hands on the edge of the bed again. Seeing that he was getting ready to catch her if she should need it, she looked back down to her legs, then back up immediately when she heard those words from him again. ‘I’ve got you.’ She stared a moment, remembering, then a slow, soft smile formed on her lips and she nodded before looking back down again. He had given her all the courage she needed and now she was sure she could do this.
Again taking the corner of her lip with her teeth, she very carefully started to ease herself off the edge of the bed. When the tips of her toes touched the cool tile of the floor, teeth gave way to a tentative smile. It was comforting, feeling something other than the bed she had been confined to for the past several days. Eager to feel more, and be up on her own two feet again, she eased off a little more and started to put some weight on the balls of her feet. Emboldened by the feel and filled with courage, she eased the rest of the way off of the bed and her heels finally sank down until she was standing...and her legs buckled immediately and she crumpled.
“Op!” Bear, ever watchful, caught her mid fall, keeping her from crashing all the way to the floor. With his hands around her waist, her arms settled on top of his and her head dipped forward as she took a sharp intake of breath, the sound almost a hiss as she winced from the pain.
“ow…,” she whispered, recovering once her weight was no longer on her feet or legs.
“That’s okay,” Bear reassured. “You’re okay. Here, let’s get you back in bed,” he said, very carefully lifting her up to do just that.
“No,” she pleaded, looking up at him when he began to lift and move her back. “Please,” she whispered. Looking from him to the window across the room, she looked back at him, the helplessness etched on her face. “I just wanna see,” she explained. “Can...can you help me?” she asked. She obviously couldn’t walk on her own and hoped he would understand.
Bear followed her gaze, looking at the window as well, then looked back at her sympathetically as his lips pressed together. It didn’t take long at all and he was nodding back.
“Alright,” he agreed.
“Thank you,” she answered back.
Looking at her for a moment, he contemplated how the two of them were going to accomplish this. Seeing her arms on top of his, he again noticed the IV coming out of her left hand attached to the pole on that side of the bed. After a minute or two, he nodded and looked back at her.
“I’m gonna put you back on the bed, but just for a second. Hold still, okay?” he said.
“Okay,” she answered, having watched the contemplating.
Easing her back onto the bed, he pulled the IV pole and machine in front of him and then moved to her again. Bending down, he slipped his right arm around her so that she could support herself using her arms. That way she could still ‘walk’ with him to the window. Arm under hers and IV pole in hand, he looked at her and nodded.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Ready,” she answered with a smile and a nod.
Very carefully, just as she had done earlier, he eased her off the bed until her feet once more touched the floor. Patiently, he waited for her to take the first step and then followed along at her pace. The initial step was slow and cautious, but when she put too much weight on her foot, she dipped, her arms tightening around his.
“Okay?” he asked as soon as she faltered. She didn’t look at him. Keeping her eyes on her feet and the floor at first, she eased more of her weight onto his arm and finally nodded quickly.
“Mhm,” she answered.
It was a slow journey across the room. Julie took her time and was mindful not to put too much weight on her feet or legs and Bear followed along patiently, IV pole in tow. When they finally did reach the window, the soft hues of dusk bathed the land beyond in soft pinks and blues and oranges. Julie stared for a long time, taking in the serene shades, the trees and every so often the movement of an animal in the distance. Two deer grazed lazily on the top of a hill, one lifting its head while the other lowered theirs to feast on the soft grass beneath them. A groundhog made its way onto the scene. Chunky and slow, it lifted up and took a look around before settling and moseying along to wherever it was going. It was all so beautiful and Julie leaned a little, lifting a hand to press against the glass as she looked on, taking everything in she could. Bear simply watched as well, letting the girl get her fill before he took her back to her bed.
After a long while, the shades of pink and blue and orange began to fade and night began to fall on the world outside. Julie watched for a long as she could, but soon, when she could no longer see the groundhog, the two deer and could only barely make out the trees, her gaze lowered slowly. Thinking for a moment, but not looking back to Bear, she finally managed a few meek little words.
“Bear...I..I’m scared.”
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