Moonlight Nocturne

"... Uhhuh." She nods unhappily, hugging herself. "... I'm okay."

 

"...dude." He settles her in the passenger seat, carefully looking her in the eyes. "...No. You aren't. You're hurt, and I'm mad, and I want to make sure you get patched up, okay?"

 

She looks up, blue eyes meeting his. "... Uhhuh. But... I wanted to fight. It's not as scary as... things I can't fight, you know? I wanted to hit something."

She gives an unhappy little shrug, breath hitching when it makes her ribs ache. "... It was dumb. But it wasn't scary like... like Wednesday."

 

"...I know." He says. "...I want to fight a lot, too."

 

"... can we go hunt a rabbit, after we see the doctor?"

 

"....maybe, we'll see, okay?"

 

She nods, buckling her seatbelt and curling up while they drive. "... at least I don't have to write any more about Charles Dickens."

 

"We'll see about that. I don't know what Lou's gonna put on your school schedule."

 

She blanches. "... really? Can't I at least read... read... something else?"

 

"Uh. I dunno, dude. We'll find out?" He blinks, driving carefully.

 

She sighs loudly, being a little melodramatic to try to make Nick laugh. "... ow. How far is the doctor?"

 

"Ten minutes, nearly there," he smiles.

 

"Okay." She fidgets, looking out the window, trying not to say anything to make matters worse.

 

Nick pulls up at the doctor's office and parks, then circles around to help Elena out, pulling her up into his arms again. He walks like he's about to fight anyone who looks at her wrong, hugging her close, but not too tight.

 

She clings to him, obviously trusting him completely, totally comfortable in his arms. "Thanks, Nick."

 

"You'll be okay."

He heads in, talking to the man at the front desk and letting him know that he's the Sheriff's brother in law, and Gabriel called ahead?

 

"... I have you and Miri and the pack," she agrees, closing her eyes. "You'll make it okay, right?"

 

"We will."

Nick goes with her into the doctor's office, holds her good hand as she's given her checkup...

 

Elena blushes unhappily when she's made to undress, but she clings to Nick with a fervency that forestalls any real attempt to make him leave. He's safe, in a world that's... very unsafe, right now.

One fractured knuckle, two cracked ribs, and plenty of nasty bruises and scrapes. She's flinching at every touch, looking deeply uncomfortable, by the time the appointment's over.

 

He holds her tight, scowling fit to gut anyone who looks like they might threaten her, and hugs her all the tighter as the doctor writes everything up and faxes the police.

He carries her out, mouth pressed into a thin line. "....let's go watch something. I... do you wanna go get a milkshake?"