Finding Maggie

Chapter Ten - Dreaming of The Devil

Chapter Ten - Dreaming of The Devil

The day passed with little excitement, which was just how Maggie wanted it. A quick call into the office at eight and she managed to reroute her work onto a few of the interns at the firm. Bruce asked her eight times if she was sure she was okay and only after the eighth avowal that she was fine did he let her hang up the phone.

Ice cream and old movies were the subject for the day's events. Curled up in her blanket with a box of tissues and a tub of Edy's, Maggie's only exercise for the day included several walks to the kitchen for wine and the subsequent trips to the bathroom. Depression sucked. She needed a cat. And more ice cream.

Sure enough, by mid-afternoon a bottle and a half of merlot and a whole carton of ice cream were gone. Tissues were scattered all over the place as each had been used and simply tossed to land where they may. The credits were rolling on her fourth TMC movie marathon when she snatched up her box of tissues and wobbled to her feet for a change of scenery. Not that it mattered much but her eyes were so puffy from crying it hurt to stare at the television.

Maggie crawled into her bed and pulled the covers up over her head. Sleeping was off the list of activities for the day but she needed to close her eyes for while and let them rest. The tears didn't really stop but at least now she had nothing to stare at but the back of her eyelids.

The smell of flowers wafted to her stuffed up nose, rousing her from her afternoon catnap. She couldn't remember falling asleep, but she must have at some point for the clock on the table read just after eight at night. At least she had gotten some sleep without dreaming. Probably thanks to the wine. A faint noise coming down the hall drew her apathetic attention.

Maggie slowly climbed out of bed and stretched. She still felt terrible and certainly still upset by her condition, but at least now she was rested. The television in the living-room was still on, just as she had left it. Only now it was showing a rerun of 'I Love Lucy'. Maggie blankly watched the screen for a few minutes before clicking the remote to turn the whole system down. With a sigh of resignation, she turned to head back to bed.

"Hello Margret." Mikhail smiled cautiously at her from the hall where he stood leaning against the wall with his arms crossed against his broad chest. Wearing nothing but a pair of dark wash jeans and a white cotton t-shirt, his bare feet and bare arms looked golden against the fabrics. Maggie stood frozen, unable to understand what was going on. She had just come through the hall and he hadn't been there! "You look terrible." He added, concern taking away his smile and turning it into a frown. "Did you not get the flowers I sent?"

"Yes, I did." Maggie's lips moved without her brain's permission. Shut up! Shut up! Shut up! Her inner thoughts were going ballistic. He's dangerous! Don't talk to him!

Mikhail's frown deepened as his brow furrowed but he didn't say a word. Instead, he simply studied her carefully, noting her disheveled appearance.

"I threw them away." Her mouth was at it again. SHUT UP, you stupid woman!

"Oh?"

"They scared me." Her consciousness threw her hands up in the air with defeat. Dangerous like Jake. She reminded herself.

"Oh?" Her answer earned her a lifted eyebrow from him. He seemed more curious than angry.

"You scare me." Good! Tell him!

"Then why did you call me here?" Mikhail uncrossed his arms but didn't move from his place in the hall. "I'm a very busy man, Margret. If you have something to say then say it. Otherwise, I'd very much like to get back to my work."