Chapter 49
As she stirred from her slumber she couldn’t tell what time it was but really didn’t care. What she cared for was that she was in bed with others. She could tell that there was one person holding her. And that there was another resting there head close to her legs. Their arms were over her legs. She wasn’t sure if there was anyone else.
She didn't want to open her eyes to her reality. Where she couldn't keep it in. Where she allowed herself to break, if only for a moment. Allowed herself to feel all her emotions at once. But she had to see who was holding her. She couldn't deal with not knowing. So she forced herself to fully awakes up.
She opened her tired eyes.
She looked up to the person who was holding her. It was Libba. Why was she here? She moved her head around and noticed Tally at her feet. She looked around a little more and there wasn’t anyone else. She was very confused. Her tiredness once again took her. She rested her head on Libba's chest once again.
Getting a little squeezed from Libba.
"Are you awake?" she whispered.
She didn’t respond straight away. Fearing she would speak down to her or ask her, wants is going on. Her mind raced with the different possibilities. She is not normally like this. Her emotions are too open right now to just set them aside.
"I got you" a tired Voice sounded in the afternoon light.
Raelle let out a shaky breath that she didn’t know she was holding.
"I'm sorry" she almost cried out. She is sorry she hasn't been there for both Libba and Scylla or with anyone. Want is so wrong with her. Whatever it is she is sorry for. That was what she tried to convey.
"I knew you wouldn't come until after the surgery. I also knew that yesterday impacted you greatly. I saw you enter your room. Don’t ask, how" said with a slit chuckle, trying to lighten the mood. Raelle chuckled weakly. "Still I'm sorry"
And with that begins to sob into Libba's shoulder. Libba for her credit just held her close, didn’t fully get what was going on with her but whatever it was. She knew she would be there for her. Knowing if she herself was in the grind she would comfort her.
At some point Tally awakens from her slumber hearing her friend crying. She made eye contact with Libba, who motions for her to move up and hug her too. She a sad smile she climbed up and hugged Raelle.
Libba mouths “I don't know what to do”.
With an understanding nod. Tally begins to talk.
“So, Scylla’s surgeon says that the first part was a success and tomorrow there will be more. As they don’t want to overwhelm her body with a large surgery. But we can talk with each other now, as the pain is a lot more manageable. Oh, and Quartermain is known on wake up calls only. Something came up, I don't know what.”
Libba and Tally could tell Raelle was caring down a little hearing that. They just didn't know if it was subconsciousness or she was really hearing them.
“I think I have a crush. And this time it is not Alder or Garet.”
Libba looked at her, her eyes widened a little hearing that. But said nothing, it is not about her like girls and guys but the age of them. She clearly has a type, older people. She tries to hide her chuckle but fails.
Tally looks at her, “what”
“You have a type”
Tally shakes her head no, but remains silent. Her face flashes red.
“You are into older people, and dark hair”
Tally buries her face into Raelle's back. But didn’t say no to that Libba was right. And mutters her crush's name is.
“What was that?” Libba says, her smile coming though in her voice.
With a heavy sigh Tally left up her head, “Bells” before putting her face back into Raelle's back. They both start laughing both for different things. Libba for Tally shyness and Tally out of embarrassment. They didn’t notice that Raelle had stopped crying and had started to listen to them, it soothing her.
In a small voice Raelle speaks, “it likes you too”.
Libba and Tally pause, they both look at each other then at Raelle. They both hug her more. Knowing what she needs.
***
“I hear you wanted a word” pointing to him, “ your, Olly right”
“Yes, I’m Olly Stone, her half brother. I told Bearkiller. What I wanted to talk with you about. Healing someone with a bad link”
“If it's just for general interest then I can answer your question. But if this had anything to do with Raelle. Then I can not say anything. She trust very few people”
“I know, I think I nearly lost it, once. But I am worried. I was told she link with Scylla while she was still unstable."
He pulls out Toot’s notebook that she had given him “Toot has written the different behaviour after her healing.”
“Tell me see”
With that Olly opened the notebook and showed what Toot had written down. Whiched didn’t take long to read, she is a fast reader.
“Well it does explain her behaviour, I will not do nothing, right now. She is resting with Libba and Tally. And she should be ok for City drop” she watches Olly face drop “ City drop is her final test if she does complete it, then she has to do basic training again. After City drop, only then will i check her out fully, if she is still unstable i will require assessment done on her. But only then. In the meantime we will keep an eye on her”
With an understanding nod, Olly take the notebook and leaves. Allowing Lt: Grey to continue with her work.
*****
Abigail was sitting on a tree stump, she would often go there to think. Ever since she was young and had come to this base to visit her mother. The tree stump was away from prying eyes. She could tell that someone was close.
“I can feel your eyes, come on out”
With a big smile on his face Bells stepped out from behind a large tree that was some distance away.
“You abilities are getting better”
That when he noticed her sour face, “what wrong”
“Raelle had a breakdown, not sure if she will be able to do City drop. And if she can’t then all three of us. My unit will have to retake Basic training.”
“As your newly appointed Brother, I can say. She will not let you down. Can I tell you a story?”
She looks at him with a questionable stare but allows him to continue with a little nod.
“On my last mission, with the army. I was taken along with my unit mates. One very rare all male group. My first true encounter with the Camarilla. They attacked us, and managed to capture us. We were held by them for days. I don’t not know for sure. But I managed to break out. My unit mates, my brothers, died there. When I came back, I found out they had abandoned me and my unit. I hated everyone.”
Tears rolled down his face. He wasn’t ashamed to show how he felt.
“I hated, The army, the camarilla that killed them. I had no place to go, and put my rage. Raelle found me. Gave me a posting, to protect the border of the Cession. My point is that everyone has a breaking point. Mine was this mission. Raelle will come though, I know. But we all need to rely on each other”
Abigail looks down at her hands, “I mess up. At my cousin's wedding. I was so worried about impressing the higher ups about getting into war college. I didn’t protect her. I didn’t protect Raelle when the same people I was trying to impress talked dirt about her mother and herself. Or Libba”
She quickly looked away. He could tell that she didn’t mean to say the last part so for know he would move on.
“You did want you could, but learn from it. With your cousin there was nothing that could have stopped that form happening. And Raelle, you could have buffered it a little”
“I do that now for Raelle. No higher ups in ,my family can talk with her without going through me or my mother. Not sure about the other families.”
“Right know it shouldn’t matter”
***
For the next few days, Raelle hadn’t really talked with her unit or with anyone. Expect Lt: Grey. They all understood why. Having a breakdown of whatever you call it. Is a lot to deal with. But she was given the all clear to carry on, with training.
She did speak with them about Training. Or basic stuff not nothing past the surface. They knew that she would sit with Scylla at night. Not wanting to be alone unguarded. And sleep though her breaks.
Which there didn’t mind, she was still getting her training done.
They all knew that City drop was going to call any day now. So Abigail had made them pack and gone over everything just in case. This was the first day that Raelle spoke more.
So inside their dorm room, most of their stuff packs. Raelle turned to Tally and Abigail that are going thought there own bags
“Guys, should i wear my uniform or the usa uniform”
Tally looks over at Abigail. How only showed love and excitement with her finally talking with them again. More than the basic training or food.
“I don’t know. Why don’t you show us that uniform of yours. Before we decide which one you should wear.” Abigail suggested
“Good thinking.”
She didn’t leave the room to change like normally. She just started stripping her clothes and putting on her uniform. Both Abigail and Tally looked at each other and moves to Abigail's bed and sat down.
****
Willa smiles at her lover, she remembers the day that they found each other. She remembered the day when she talked to him about her further. He helped her to deal with going away to this witch's place.
“Take, City drop.” his voice was cold. She placed her hand over his.
“Together, we will clean this place. First with Raelle, then Fort Salem. And then the world”