Bite Me.

Chapter 17

...hurt...

With a sigh, I nodded my understanding, and stood up. I stepped over the mess we had made to get to Rick's side and put out my hand.

"Let's go home."

Rick looked up at me with a blank expression before he nodded and stood, not talking my hand.

So we left.

The stares did not stop but Rick kept me close to his side and did not let me out of his sight for a moment. It was a comforting feeling, having him next to me as if he were a wall. The warm muscle pressed firmly to me made the shivering slow and my tense shoulders loosen.

After having a silent conversation with Evie about what had just happened and where I was going we made it to his truck that was parked particularly badly.

The large black truck was almost horizontal to the yellow lines of the parking spot it was supposedly supposed to be in. I could smell the faint stench of burnt rubber and eyed the black marks on the pavement warily. But Rick ignored my glance, opened the passenger side door and without a word hefted me up. I sat silently in the leather seat as he swiftly moved to the other side and got in.

We sat in silence as we sped through the surrounding world leaving the world behind us in a blur. It felt as if it was only a few seconds before Rick was pulling up to... my cabin...

He parked the truck and then hesitated before he turned off the engine. He didn't look at me. My eyes were large as I looked from Rick to my cabin which stood still and cold in light of the day. It had honestly been over a month since I had seen my home of five years. But there was something odd about it. Normally I felt a warmth inside when I was home. But now I felt... something was missing... I turned slowly to see Rick was still staring silently out into the snowy landscape.

Oh...

"Why did we come here?"

My question was left to float in the cold air between us before Rick silently opened his door and exited the truck. He came around and opened my door for me. He held out a hand and I unsurely took it as he helped me down. We walked to my door and Rick opened it easily enough for I doubt it had ever had a lock upon it.

Who would be stupid enough to break into a bear's home?

We entered into the quiet cabin and Rick set me down on my couch as he went to the fireplace and proceeded to build a fire. He went about his task in silence and I felt the itching fear grow inside of me as Rick proceeded to ignore me. I grabbed feebly at my chest as the aching, burning pain increased and made my breaths short and pained.

It hurt to be ignored.

At the sound of crackling and the smell of smoke I looked up to find Rick stoking the building flames before standing up from his previous kneeling. He carefully brushed off his knees and paused for a moment staring into the flames. We both stared. Neither saying a word. It felt as if the first person to look away from the hungry flames would break the spell and everything would shatter.

"I'll..." Rick paused as he ran a frustrated hand over his beard and his eyes shut tightly. Rick was fighting something. I scooted forward on the couch and leaned forward trying to gain Rick's attention.

"Rick?"

This seemed to have snapped him out of his thoughts but what he said next caused my chest to seize, "I'll be going then."

Rick turned promptly and headed for the door.

"Rick?"

He didn't stop.