If At First

Part 20 - Chapter 19

I lay silently, trying to grasp everything he was saying. How long had I been out? I felt eons away from the party last night, and it was so frustrating not to remember everything that happened. But Andy kept going.

"Tabby-Kat, have you seen that 'Lodge' place? I was picturing, like, a log cabin, but it's huge!"

"Stop shouting, I've seen it. Focus, Andy."

"You should get yourself one of those. Or buy me one." He smiled.

"I'll get right on that."

"Anyway, by the time I picked up your bags and the doctor and the stupid dog, Haven and I showed up at the airport about the same time. You were still out of it." He said, looking sideways at me. "And I've never seen a guy so concerned about someone who claims she doesn't give a crap about him."

I didn't answer, choosing to ignore his comment. "Does Nana know where I am?"

"Yeah, I told her when I went to pick up your bags."

"Did you tell her everything?"

"No! I told her you were going on a trip with Haven. She was pretty excited."

"I'll bet she was."

"And then she told me about the whole thing with Mr. Treane. Apparently she was meaning to tell you today before you left."

"She was?" I frowned, "Yeah, that makes sense. She had been hinting at something important she wanted to talk to me about since I got here...uh, there."

"Anyway, Haven said he'd drop us at home on his way."

"On his way where?"

"I don't know, I think he said he was headed to see someone named Greta or something." Andy stood and looked down at me. He patted my shoulder before going to the door. "Go fix yourself, I'm gonna tell Haven you're up."

I took the bottle of water he held and swallowed the capsule that promised to make me feel human, and limp/hopped to the bathroom. My reflection was depressingly less glamorous than it was yesterday. Hair, everywhere. Bruises, everywhere. Blood, on everything. There were bandages on my head and face, and my wrist and ankle were wrapped. The dress was completely ruined.

I fought a losing battle to hold back some very persistent tears, eventually resolving to wash what I could of my face and hands, and seeing an unopened toothbrush next to the sink, put it to use.

When I eventually emerged, Haven was waiting, pacing anxiously in the small space. He half-smiled when he saw me. "Hey," He sounded like he'd been holding his breath and the sight of me was air in his lungs.

Seeing him lessened the pounding in my head only to increase the pounding in my chest. "Hi," I answered warily. I didn't want him to see me this way, but I also didn't want to see anyone else.

"You've got crutches in that closet," he pointed.

"Crutches? Why?"

"Because your ankle is broken." He opened a slim door and took them out, leaning them against the wall. "And you have a pretty serious concussion. Your wrist is only sprained though."

I nodded and took an awkward step, falling into him. He lifted me effortlessly, holding me against his chest. "I'm sorry Tabby." He whispered, sitting down on the bed. I buried my face in his neck. He smelled so familiar and so soothing I almost forgot about the pain. "I'm so sorry" He whispered again. We didn't say anything for a long time, just sat there holding one another.

"I thought I scared you off." Haven said finally, devastation coloring his voice.

"Scared me off?"

"When I said I loved you."

I smiled at that, the only good memory of the night. "No, you didn't scare me off." My smile grew. "I don't think you could."

He held me tighter, carefully avoiding the bruised areas, and breathing a relieved sigh. "I was right when I said I couldn't leave you alone for five minutes." He smirked. "I won't do it again."

"You might want to rethink that when you take a better look at me." I said, and felt his arms stiffen. I looked up to see his jaw was tightly clenched. "What's the matter?" I asked.

"What do you mean, 'what's the matter'?" He said incredulously, "Look at you!"

"Oh, that."

"Yes, that." Haven scoffed. "I'll never be able to forgive what he's done." He looked down, "and that it was my fault. I might have killed him if Georgia wasn't there to stop me."

"Well, I don't love being grateful to Georgia, but I'm glad you didn't kill anybody." I rested my head on his shoulder. "It would be a pain to have to visit you in jail with a broken ankle." I smiled, "And nothing was your fault, how could it be your fault?"

"It was my fault for placing you in a dangerous situation to begin with. I should have had Greenleigh with you when I couldn't be, and I should have thrown Fitch out on his face."

"There's no way you could know he would do something like that at a gala." I insisted, "And I tried to get away, but he-" I lifted my head again and sniffed, stopping as a tear stole down my cheek.

Haven's eyes searched mine, and he brushed the tear away, running his fingers over the cuts on my head and eye. I met his gaze then. "I love you too, you know." I said.

A blissful smile brightened his face and he didn't hesitate kissing me slowly and with excessive gentleness. "Good. You were going to find me to be a terrible nuisance, otherwise."

I shut my eyes, savoring his closeness. "I was just about to give up when you got there."

He smiled. "From what Fitch said, you were far from giving up. I don't think he expected you to fight back. Especially so...effectively."

"Didn't feel very effective."

"You were. Far more than you realize." He said, and seeing that the topic wasn't doing anything to deter the direction of my thoughts, asked, "Do you mind flying?"

"Not at all." I smiled a little crookedly from the swelling in my cheek, "I like it a lot more than sailing, anyway. Andy said you're taking us home?"

"I'll take you wherever you want, but I'd like to take you home first."

"Okay. Why?"

"I have a feeling your father would like to see you," Ugh, my dad. He's really not going to be happy. "-And I wouldn't mind meeting him," Haven continued.

"Because -?"

"Because I wanted to ask you something."

"What would that be?" I smiled again.

"Will you go somewhere with me?"

"You keep asking that."

"But you keep saying no."

"Then, yes." I beamed. "I will go anywhere with you."

He grinned shamelessly. "I mean, after we put you back together and answer all of the questions from the police, of course."

"Of course." I said, kissing him again. "And where will we be going?"

"There's this place in Scotland I've always wanted to visit called Gretna Green."