Misunderstood.
Language
warning: Well I
have been known, so absolutely yes.
Love
and sex warning: That
also, and it’s between two women as well.
You have been warned!
Angst
warning: Hurt
comfort etc.
Violence
Warning: Oh yes,
most definitely though not gratuitous. Just for a sense of justice you
understand, oh that and my way for certain characters to get their just
deserts. There may also be a
mention of sexual violence as well.
Thanks:
I would
like to thank two new friends: my beater reader Regina, for your work on
correcting my mistakes and advising me with the tweaks. And my Aussie mate Tammy, for helping me
and giving your honest opinions.
You both gave me the confidence to continue with this.
And
finally to everyone who read my last story Four Mondays, your feedback was
greatly appreciated
Let me
know what you think,
4
Graham Adams stood in the hallway talking
to Clinton about the noise Angel had been creating the past few nights, when he
spotted a familiar duo walking down the other part of the corridor. He couldn’t help but notice the distance
between the two of them, and that it seemed Miss Austin herself was creating
it.
She
walked a couple of steps behind, her head held slightly lowered with an angry
expression on her features. Her
hands were pushed firmly into the pockets of her worn light blue worn jeans, and
her feet moved with indignant purpose.
He
watched as Charlie opened the door to Sarah’s room and the young woman walk in,
without so much as a glimpse of recognition to the woman she passed. The nurses’ face was set in a neutral
mask,
“Are you
sure you don’t want to talk about it?” she asked.
He heard
no answer and watched as the woman closed the door. If he had have been closer, he would
have been able to see the wink Charlie gave Sarah, before the door shut and
locked.
The tall woman turned and seemed to
notice the two spectators for the first time. She walked towards them, giving her most
sincere, yet concerned smile.
“Is
something wrong Miss Taylor?” Adams asked.
Charlie
shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know Sarah Austin has closed up on me. I haven’t been able to get more than a
couple of words out of her. I’m
wondering whether I have done something to upset her, she seems
troubled.”
The
director nodded his head with faux sincerity, “Sometimes it is best just to let
a patient stew a little while. What
ever is bothering her will probably be gone tomorrow and she will speak
again. My suggestion…leave her for
today and let her work though what ever is on her mind. When she is ready she will
talk.”
Charlie
noticed the surprised look on Clinton’s face, “Perhaps you are right, I will
leave her for today and speak with her again tomorrow.”
Clinton
moved forward, “Do you want me to speak to her, you know…see if she will open up
a little and let me in on what is wrong.”
Damn,
“No…well you can try Clint, but I would really prefer Grahams approach and give
her till tomorrow to cool down.”
They
both noticed the smug expression on the directors’ face, and wondered what was
going on.
“Well if
you will excuse me gentlemen, I have work to do…Graham, I will see you tonight.”
And with that, she left.
Two sets of
eyes watched her leave, one with surprised, and the other with lascivious
intent.
*******
The feel of Charlie’s lips and skin,
burned in Sarah’s mind. The memory
of the dark woman’s touch had persistently invaded her thoughts since they had
parted company hours before, now she was left with a constant aching that craved
attention.
She knew
what the ache was, but had always resisted before, being in a monitored room
kind of helped to quash that feeling.
But now it was back with a vengeance. She sat on her bed feeling the intense
pulse in her centre, and tingling on her flesh. It was like everywhere that Charlie had
touched her, was alive with feeling.
A
tingling, burning sensation coursed though her body leaving goose bumps in its
wake. Sarah closed her eyes and
counted to ten, but the images of desire filled eyes, moist swollen lips and hot
breath upon her skin intensified.
Oh…this
Is so not good, she
thought as she stood up and began to pace the room. Unfortunately the move seemed to brush
upon certain swollen areas of her body that begged for attention. She needed to take care of this but
wasn’t sure how. Well she was sure
on the basics, but she was in a monitored room and was damned sure she wasn’t
about to give the watching guards a show.
Sarah
looked over to the window, and then to the bathroom area, these were the two
areas that were not in the camera’s view.
Could she? She hadn’t
touched herself intimately since she lived at home, but was damn sure she
wouldn’t survive if she didn’t take care of this; now.
Feeling
a little self-conscious, she walked over to the wall beside the sink and stood
against it. The cool surface did
nothing to ease her heated skin.
Running
a shaky hand over her face, she let it trail down her body until it came to the
edge of her jeans. Sarah took a
shaky breath as she undid the button and pulled down the zipper. Her breathing increased and just as she
was about to move her hand lower she stopped. She realised she couldn’t do it. Although it was what she needed it was
not what she wanted.
Releasing
a frustrated sight, she re-assembled herself and moved away from the wall. She had survived this long; she could
wait. However painful it was at
that moment, she realised Charlie was worth it.
*******
Mark Stevens sat in the kitchen of his
dingy little flat. The once
pale-carpeted floor tiles were dark with soiled in dirt. Clutter covered every fake marble
surface and the smell of overly used cooking fat filled the air.
Upon the
table in front of him, sat certain objects. His old nurses uniform, ID card, cloth
and chloroform. In his hands he
held a disposable razor, which he worked at extracting the blade from. It was the kind of razor that the
hospital issued the patients for shaving, though they always took them back as
soon as they were done. High-risk
patients were never given the razors but he knew that Sarah Austin was allowed
to use one. Once he had taken out
the blade, he wrapped it in a piece of paper and placed it with the rest of
items.
He had received a call from Graham Adams
and was told tonight would be his perfect opportunity. Not wanting to waste it, he got
everything ready for his retribution.
*******
Charlie looked at her digital watch; it
had just gone seven o’clock.
Sighing she realised she ought to get ready to leave. The desire to see Sarah again was
intense, yet she knew she could not.
Everything had to appear as though the young woman was not talking to
her. It meant she would hopefully
only have to wait until tomorrow, if all went well.
Forcing
out an irritated breath, she shut down her computer and rose from the desk. She hated exiting the hospital knowing
she was leaving the blonde behind.
It hurt her inside, and she just wished she could take the girl with
her.
The tall woman’s thoughts were in
turmoil. Her little voice of reason
should be screaming at her; telling her that this was all wrong. But the voice was strangely silent. Everything inside her felt so
right. Images of Sarah, and the
precious moments they shared earlier, crept unbidden into her mind. The firm, young body in her arms felt
right. The soft, sweet lips pressed
against her own felt right. The
small hands that touched her in all the right places felt…so…right. Charlie groaned and shook her head. It was no good having these thoughts
right now, she had to leave and it only hurt more, knowing that she could not
take the girl with her.
With an exasperated huff, she pushed her
chair under the desk, picked up her things and left the room. She walked down the corridor trying not
to look at the door that separated them, but it was useless. With one final stare, she turned passed
it and solemnly walked towards the security room.
Once
inside she saw the three nurses who took over the night shift. Nodding politely towards them she swiped
her card through the device and entered the elevator.
Her progress was stopped on the second
floor, as the door opened and Betty walked in.
“Well
hello stranger…please tell me the rumours about you are not
true?”
Charlie
frowned, “Rumours?”
“Yes,
that you have a date with a certain Hospital director this evening?” She looked accusingly at the taller
woman.
The
nurse sighed, “And how did that ‘rumour’ get started?”
Betty
folded her arms, “Why are you answering my questions with a
question?”
“Why are
you?” Charlie challenged
The
shorter nurse grinned, “Oh ok, I heard it from Andrew, the porter. He said he heard it straight from the
warthogs mouth, and I swear, just in case you really do like the guy, they were
his words and not mine.”
The dark
woman arched an eyebrow, “ ‘B’ can you keep a secret, if I ask you a personal
question?”
The
woman sidled closer, “Of course dear, why what is it?”
Charlie
leaned in, “Do you trust Adams?”
Betty
pulled a sour face, “Ha as much as I trust my dog with the Christmas
Turkey.”
“Well
there you go.”
Betty
frowned, “Huh?”
“Lets
just say I feel the same way and am working on a hunch.”
The
portly nurse’s face beamed, “Really? ooh, sounds all cloak and dagger
what…?”
Her
words were cut short when the doors opened and they had to leave the
compartment. Charlie looked at
Betty and winked, placing a finger over her lips. She knew she could trust the woman, she
may be a gossip, but the tall nurse knew how far the woman would take
things. Betty was actually a good
friend to have, especially when she was in need of some information. If it were in circulation, she would
know it.
*******
It was still reasonably light out, when
she exited the building. Charlie
walked over to her jeep, and used the remote to unlock it. It was a quarter past seven and she
thought she might as well get things over with and go meet Adams. Besides, she was never late if she could
help it.
Her
drive to meet the director was quiet; the village was like any other
twenty-first century English village.
When she first entered she arrived on a new estate, a large area of just
built houses.
Then as
she drove further in, she got to the older part. These houses were more mature, and
definitely had better character.
Unlike the sparkling new red brick ones, these were a darker brick, and
their details were a lot more aesthetically pleasing. They looked more like
somebody had taken their time and built every house with a careful
hand.
The pub
was not hard to find, being only one in this village. But apart from that, it was painted a
bright pink on the outside. Charlie
smirked when she saw it, wondering how many of the locals had protested about
its rather, eye catching colour.
She pulled her jeep into the car park and got out. There weren’t many other cars there, so
either the locals had walked, which sounded logical, or it would be pretty quiet
inside.
She
entered through the side door and was immediately hit by a strong smoky
scent. It was rather strong, making
her wince as she walked further inside.
The place was quite cosy. By
the far wall stood a large bar counter, with rows of spirits behind it. The walls were all an embossed maroon
colour, with dark wooden beams going across the ceiling. It was your typical country pub, and
Charlie wondered whether there was some kind of law, which stated all rural pubs
had to have this similar appearance.
Scanning
the area she spotted fifteen or so tables, half of them were occupied, but no
Adams. Walking over to the bar, she
asked for a coke, before taking a seat at one of the unoccupied tables. She looked at the clock it was just half
seven and she watched the door expectedly, waiting for the director to
arrive. The sooner she got this
meeting out of the way, the better.
*******
Sarah lay upon her bed watching every
second go by on the analogue clock.
Charlie
should be with Mr
Adams by now she thought.
She wondered what Charlie had in mind,
wanting her to pretend to be angry?
But she trusted the woman and knew what ever it was, she would find out
soon enough.
The clock continued its persistent
ticking and she watched as the hour hand moved its way to five to eight. Somebody would be in soon for the last
check up of the evening before she was supposed to get to bed. God she hated having to go to bed so
early. She was twenty-four damn it;
she wanted to be treated as such.
Since
she had met Charlie, she had realised that she could confront her own demons and
live a happy life. She looked
forward to the day when she would be able to get out of Bell Tower. With the dark woman helping her she knew
she could do it.
What
will happen to me when I do get out? Where will I go? My parents don’t want to see me. Surely they would have at least tried to
stay in contact, or send some kind of word to me if they did?
*******
Charlie was on her second coke when the
director made his appearance. It
was twenty past eight and she was beginning to loose her patience. She didn’t want to be in this smoke
filled bar in the first place, but having to wait almost an hour, was more than
her patience was willing to accept.
Adams
walked straight over to the woman and sat opposite her, pulling of his expensive
black suit jacket.
“Please
accept my apologies, I was detained and couldn’t leave until I had dealt with
the situation. I tried to send word
but the phone line for this place was constantly engaged.”
Charlie
noted the true sincerity in his voice so decided to let him off the hook.
“That’s
ok. Right so let’s get down to
business shall we, what do you want to talk about?”
Adams
looked surprised; he hadn’t wanted to talk shop so soon. He was more interested in talking about
this gorgeous woman sitting in front of him; he wanted to know more about
her.
“Oh that
can wait for a while, I would like to get a drink first. Do you want to get some food? I hear it
is rather good here. I’m famished
could you pass me that menu?” He
said pointing behind Charlie.
She
turned around and picked the item up, handing it over to him. Food was the last thing she wanted; that
would mean having to spend longer in this mans company. There was somebody more important that
she wished she could be with right now.
“No
thanks, I’m not hungry.”
Adams
looked a little annoyed but said nothing, instead looking down to see what was
on the menu.
*******
Mark Stevens looked at his watch, it was
half eight and the patients would have been left alone for the night by
now. Pushing a trembling hand
through his unkempt hair he followed the back stairs of Bell Tower to the third
floor. Once there, he stood by the
door and listened carefully, there were sounds of two (presumably nurses)
talking, so he waited quietly.
He
thought back to Graham Adams’ slimy face as the man had accepted the money from
him. Ten thousand pounds was a lot
of money, especially to obtain in cash, but it would be worth it and he did have
a huge compensation payment after he’d left Bell Tower.
He
remembered how the director had complained after taking the money, saying that
he had a woman waiting. He had then
assured the ex nurse that he had put Sarah Austin in a bad enough mood to revert
her back to her stoic, and sometimes violent ways. This he was glad about, if the girl were
going to ‘commit suicide’ she would need to have been seen in an emotional
state.
Running
his now calmer hands over his uniform, he felt the weight of the chloroform,
cloth and razor in his pocket. It
gave him a sense of calm to know what he was about to do.
That
bitch deserved every thing I am going to give her, just a damn shame I wont get
to touch her though, this has to look like a suicide.
The only
things he had left to worry about now were the cameras. Mark knew he would get away with the
main ones, as he blended in with the rest of the staff on the floor. His problem was the one in Sarah
Austin’s room its self. He had come
up with the perfect solution though.
Unfortunately he was no electrician but he knew that on the side of the
camera was a night vision switch.
All he had to do was turn it off when he got in the room. He knew the guards in the security room
wouldn’t be paying any attention; they hardly ever did to any other than the two
secure patients. It was just a case
of walking into her room and reaching up to turn of the switch first. It was so simple and as long as the
change in the viewing screen wasn’t noticed it would be ok. Besides they would probably think it was
a malfunction or something and that problem would have to be fixed the next
day.
*******
Adams had been talking none stop for
nearly an hour now. He had tried to
ask Charlie questions, but the woman would give one-word answers and turn the
conversation back towards him. He
didn’t mind though, thinking he could impress her with tales of himself, whether
true or not.
Charlie
looked at her watch and sighed, “Look Graham, I would really like to talk about
what you originally asked me down here for. I am tired and would like to get to
bed.”
Adams
heard the word bed and thought his luck was about to
increase.
“Well to
be honest Charlene,”
The
nurse held up her hand, “Charlie please, only my mother can get away with
calling me ‘Charlene’.”
Adams
grinned, “Well Charlie, to be honest with you, there really wasn’t any work
related reason for me to ask you out tonight. I just thought it would be a perfect
chance for us to get to know each other.”
Charlie
felt the first sparks of anger shoot through her. Taking a deep breath she tried to calm
down, she was there for ulterior motives as well, after
all.
“So why
didn’t you just say that?” she questioned, letting go of her glass for fear it
might shatter in her hand.
To make
sure I got you here, He
thought. “I don’t know, I guess it
was nerves.”
His
clasped hands and lack of eye contact told Charlie he was lying.
Come on
Charlie keep calm and think.
“Well
there is no harm in getting to know one another, we are work colleagues after
all.” She was determined to make
sure he got the message in a non-plus, kind of way. “It’s actually a pity you couldn’t bring
your wife along, I would have loved to have met her.”
Ha, take
that!
Adams
first thought was to ask how did she know he was married, but it was not a
secret at work. He knew he would
have to try a different tactic now.
“So did
you try to talk to Sarah Austin again or are you still going to try
tomorrow?”
At the
mention of Sarah’s name, Charlie felt an intense feeling of dread slice through
her. It was king of like a cold
knife ripping through her heart; it was strange, sudden and bothered her
immensely.
Rubbing
her chest, Charlie answered him.
“Like
you said, I think it would be wise to wait until tomorrow. I just don’t know what suddenly happened
to cause such a change in her.”
The pain increased.
“What can I
say, she has always been a bad seed that one, attacking anyone who tried to help
her. I hoped she would calm down
given time, but she doesn’t appear to be changing. She doesn’t want to change, some of the
patients feel safer where they are.”
Charlie
still sat with her hand over her chest, something was not right and she knew
it. She was feeling it deep inside,
increasing in its intensity, surpassing dread, and bordering on outright
panic. It coiled itself around her
heart and painfully squeezed.
Realising
Adams had stopped talking; she lowered her hand and focused her eyes on the
balding man. The director looked at
her strangely.
“Are you
ok, you look a little pale all of a sudden?”
Charlie
sucked in a deep breath, “Actually I am feeling a little faint, would you mind
if we ended this discussion for this evening, I think I need to get home and
rest for a while.”
Adams
looked visibly disappointed, “Would you like me to give you a lift
home?”
The tall
woman rose from her seat, “No, no I will be fine. I will see you tomorrow.” Distractedly she left the building and
headed straight for her car.
The air
had turned cool and a strong wind whipped her hair savagely. With the mounting feeling still in her
chest, she got into her jeep and pulled it out of the parking lot. With a single destination in mind, she
directed her vehicle towards Bell Tower…. towards her heart. I’m coming, Sarah.
*******
Sarah
couldn’t sleep. The howling wind
had picked up forcing a light rain against her window. She loved the different changes in the
weather. The blonde girl felt it
was like the world showing its emotions, and at the moment if sounded determined
and annoyed.
Lying on
her back, she folded her arms under her head and closed her eyes. It had been so long, she had forgotten
what the rain against her skin felt like.
It was not like she was the kind of person to go running out in the rain,
especially when she was younger; she just missed the freedom to feel such
emotions.
An
unexpected sound pulled her from her contemplations, as the mechanical lock
echoed through her room. Closing
her eyes she pretended to be asleep as the door opened and she waited for the
light to come on; a definite feeling of dread enveloped her.
She
waited two, three, four seconds but the light never came on, and when she heard
the door close she felt a sigh of relief leave her as she opened her eyes.
The
moment was short lived however as she saw movement in her room. Due to slight light shining from outside
she could see it was a nurse by the illuminated whiteness of the clothing. She watched, her heart increasing its
tempo, as the figure moved over to the corner of the room and reached up to the
camera.
A sudden
fear ripped through her and she tried to stifle her heavy breath. She looked across the room as the figure
stood in the corner a couple more seconds, before moving towards her. She couldn’t stop the whimper of fear or
the trembling that engulfed her body.
“Oh
look, the BITCH is awake!” The
figure spat.
Instantly
she knew that voice and a greater fear rose within her.
“Asleep
or awake, it makes no difference to me, you are still going to pay. I just wish I could see the fear in your
eyes.”
Sarah
sat up in her bed and moved into the corner, she could feel her body begin a
violent tremble.
“What do
you want, you don’t work here anymore?”
“And
who’s fucking fault is that, BITCH”
Sarah
flinched at his hateful words.
Realising she was in a vulnerable corner she tried to edge her way
out.
“Don’t
fucking move, I like you just where you are.”
Sarah
froze, feeling the bed dip as Mark knelt on top. It was still too dark in the room, so
she couldn’t see his face clearly, but she could make out that he was holding
something in his left hand.
“Do you
know how long I have waited for this?” he moved his head closer, “How long I
have fantasized about getting my revenge on you for what you have done to
me?”
The
young blondes breath hitched as she tried unsuccessfully to contain her sobs of
fear.
“Oh…I
like that. This is how I imagined it to be, FUCK I feel so good right now.” He
started to laugh, long and deep.
Suddenly
he lunged forward, clasping Sarah around the waist and pulling her swiftly
towards him. She writhed violently
to gain her freedom but to no avail.
The young woman’s struggling had caused her to end up lying on her side,
with Mark securely wrapped behind; restraining her with his arms and legs.
“Well
this just gets better and better.” He commented; pulling the hand that was
underneath her around so he could hold her arm on top.
Once he had freed his top hand he groped
around for the chloroform soaked cloth, which he had readied just after he
entered her room. Sarah felt his
weakened embrace and took a chance.
Unexpectedly
she thrust her head back; hitting the crazed ex-nurse, square in the nose. Reeling back from the sudden pain, Mark
let go of the blonde and she was able to scramble off the bed. Her victory was short lived though as he
dived after her, catching her off guard and pulling her down to the ground. They fell together with an almighty
THUD, and Sarah found herself once again in his evil
clutches.
Marks
blood fell freely from his nose, dripping persistently onto the girl beneath
him.
“THAT”
he clasped a hand around her throat, “Was a very stupid move.” He
roared.
“Funny I
was just thinking the same thing of you.”
They
both looked up at the unexpected voice, one with relief and the other
shock. Before either could react
however, the ex-nurse felt his body fly off the ground as he was savagely kicked
away
Sarah
scrambled up of the ground and into the arms of her saviour. She wrapped both arms around the tall
dark woman and sobbed into her chest.
Trying to shake
off the effects of the kick, Mark looked up to see the blonde in the arms of a
woman he had never seen before. Her
tall form highlighted by the hallway light that filtered through the open door,
looking both stunning and menacing at the same time. Determined to finish what he came here
for, he rose to his feet.
Charlie
saw his move and pulled Sarah away from her, pushing the young woman’s body
behind her own.
“If you
have any sense, you will stay down.”
Charlie ordered, her eyes blazing with barely controllable
rage.
“Fuck
you.” Mark shouted and charged the
taller woman.
He
lifted his fist in order to throw a punch but it was efficiently deflected.
He tried
again but Charlie’s swift movements deflected that one as
well.
His
anger mounting with each punch that failed to meet its target, he lunged
forward, attempting to grab the woman.
His lunge ended abruptly as one solid fist impacted with his stomach, and
another hand grabbed his outstretched arm, slamming it down on an upraised knee
with a sickening crack. Any scream
he might have uttered was cut short by a final strike to his throat that left
him gasping for air as he crumpled to the floor.
At that
moment the night guards rushed blindly into the room to see what was going
on. They found the psychologist
standing over the now unconscious ex-nurse.
Charlie
turned at the sound of the two men and spotted Sarah in the corner. Completely ignoring the questions that
erupted from the guards’ mouths, she headed towards the shocked young woman and
engulfed her in a comforting embrace.
*******
The ambulance and police arrived
within ten minutes after the call was made, and the paramedics had taken a still
unconscious Mark Stevens to the hospital.
Both women had been interviewed about what had happened, and the
policeman, Officer Saunders, had left them twenty minutes later to interview the
guards.
Now,
three hours after the hellish confrontation with Stevens, Charlie sat on the
couch in her office with Sarah securely wrapped in her arms. The young woman was physically and
emotionally exhausted, literally passing out in Charlie’s arms only moments
ago. Charlie tightened a protective
arm around the girl and closed her eyes, thinking.
Officer
Saunders had informed Charlie that Mr Adams had been notified as to what had
happened, but as yet he had not arrived at Bell Tower. Obviously the tall woman found that
instantly suspicious but hadn’t voiced her concerns.
Charlie
jumped out of her thoughts as she felt the young blonde wrap her arm tighter
around the tall woman’s torso. The
psychologist sincerely hoped that this would not cause a lapse in Sarah’s
progress.
She leaned her back into the couch and
laid her hand upon the golden head that was securely tucked under the older
woman’s chin. That had been a close
one, but what had caused her the most confusion was the feeling of dread she had
got before the event. She didn’t
understand what had caused her to get such strong feelings that the young blonde
was in trouble, it was like something out of some weird paranormal program, she
thought.
Sighing
Charlie looked at her watch; it was gone midnight. She knew that what ever official the
medical board would be sending, would not be here in until the morning, so she
wondered what to do. The feeling of
leaving Sarah alone tonight was painful.
She knew they couldn’t really stay, as they were, however comfortable it
was. But she was unsure what to
do.
I
suppose I could just decide to stay with a patient who needs me!
Just
then she was pulled from the musings by the door to her office opening. Saunders walked in and sat in Charlie’s
desk Chair.
“Well
Miss Taylor, I have spoken to everyone involved and gotten all accounts on what
has happened. Everything seems in
order so unless there is anything else you want to know, I shall be on my
way.” The officer ran a hand
through his red hair, and took in the protective way in which Charlie was
holding the young blonde.
The tall
woman nodded her head, “Yeah, I was wondering whether Mr Adams has arrived
yet?”
The
officer shook his head, “Actually no, we rang him at home and he said he would
be straight in, but as yet there is no sight of him.”
Charlie
frowned.
“Has
Mark Stevens come around?”
Charlie
looked down, surprised that she hadn’t been aware Sarah had
awoken.
“As far as I am
aware Miss Austin, he has not come around yet. Seems he took a few good hits.” Saunders looked over at Charlie with
mirth.
“Anyway I have
to get going over to the hospital.”
He rose
from the chair, as Sarah let go of Charlie allowing her to stand also. She walked over to the man and shook his
hand.
“Thanks
officer Saunders.”
He
nodded his head and walked out the door, shutting it behind
him.
Charlie turned around and looked at the
petite blonde, sitting on the couch.
Neither of them knew what to say at that moment, both still feeling the
effects of what had happened. Sarah
wrapped her arms around her self and rocked forward, looking at the
floor.
“I don’t
know what would have happened if you hadn’t have turned
up.”
Charlie
took that opportunity to rush to the young woman. She knelt down in front of her and
cupped her face within her warm grasp.
“Sarah,
look at me?”
The
young woman raised her head, and Charlie smiled.
“Don’t
even think that, because if I am honest with you there was no way I would not
have been there.”
Sarah
frowned and looked on, confused.
Charlie
wondered how to explain, “I…I had a feeling, I didn’t know what it was at first
but the stronger it got the more I felt the need to get to
you.”
Sarah
pulled away from the woman’s touch, “Are you trying to say that you knew what
was going to happen?”
Charlie
shook her head, “Oh no…I just got the feeling that you needed me and I knew I
had to get to you as soon as I could.”
Sarah
looked deep into the pale blue eyes in front of her, it sounded unbelievable,
yet she so desperately hoped it was true.
“What is
going to happen now?” She asked needing to change the
subject.
Charlie
shrugged her shoulders, “About what?”
“Everything.”
She stated lowering her voice to a whisper, “I don’t think I can take much more
of this place Charlie. I want to
get out, I want to be with…with…”
“With
me?” The hopeful nurse
questioned.
Sarah
nodded her head, letting it fall forward.
Her long golden locks shrouding her face.
Charlie
moved forward and pulled the young woman into a hug, “I want you with me too.”
She stated seriously.
Sarah
raised her head, “Yeah?”
Charlie
grinned, looking into two light green eyes, “Yeah…Sarah I…I’m in love with
you.”
The
blonde opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the knocking on
Charlie’s office door.
The dark
woman sighed, annoyed and a little apprehensive that she never got to hear
whatever the girl was about to say in response to her
declaration.
“Yeah?”
she shouted.
Nick,
one of the night guards opened the door.
“Miss
Taylor, Miss Austin’s room has been locked for evidence. One of the nurses had readied another
room for her, when ever she is ready.”
Charlie
nodded her head and the man closed the door.
Sarah
who had listened to the short statement rose up from the seat.
“Charlie
I don’t want to be alone tonight.”
The fear was evident in her voice.
The
psychologist nodded her head, “I know, wait here.” And with that she was
gone.
Sarah stood alone in Charlie’s office
and waited. She wondered what the dark woman had in mind. As her thoughts continued, her mind
replayed the words she had not long ago heard.
Did she
say she loves me, or was I just hearing what I wanted to hear?
“Well I
have just talked to the nurse who readied your room.”
Sarah
jumped at the unexpected voice.
Charlie
looked at her apologetically realising her had scared her, “I told him that I
was going to stay with you tonight, to make sure you are ok. He is fine with it, so are you
ready?”
Sarah
looked blankly at the woman.
Charlie
fidgeted, “Well only if you want me to stay with you, that
is.”
The
blonde blinked and shook her head, “Sorry…you mean you are going to spend the
night with me?”
Charlie
nodded her head cautiously, until she saw the smile grace the younger woman’s
face, then she grinned back.
Putting
a warm hand on Sarah’s back she lead her out the room.
*******
Like Sarah’s usual room, this one was
very similar. Everything was in the
same positions, bed, bedside table, camera etc; the only difference being that
it was a slightly different colour and facing another direction of the
hospital. Charlie knew the car park
was outside of the window and in the morning she would be able to see her
haphazardly parked jeep.
Sarah
stood by the still open door, but jumped forward as a small, folding bed was
pushed in by two other nurses.
Charlie
smiled and thanked them, as they left the room, shutting the door behind
them.
Sarah
looked at the bed feeling a little disappointed but tried not to show it. Charlie on the other hand noticed and
smiled inside.
“You
know,” She started “For obvious purposes that bed had to be brought in, but if
you don’t want me to use it I won’t.”
Sarah
sheepishly looked at the woman walking slowly towards her, “What about the
camera?”
“Look
closely.”
Sarah
did as requested; “There is no light on it.” She stated.
Charlie
grinned, “Well spotted Watson, this room hasn’t been used in a while, and the
camera isn’t in use. They were
going to activate it, but I said it would be ok tonight because I was going to
be in here, so it isn’t on.”
Sarah
smiled, “Wow I can’t remember a night since being up here when there hasn’t been
a monitor running.”
Charlie
stood in front of the blonde, “How are you feeling Sarah?”
The girl
looked thoughtfully up at the nurse, “Kind of numb I think. I feel empty and drained I
guess.”
Charlie
guided her over to the bed motioning for her to get in, “Then I guess
it’s bed time.”
Sarah
lay on her back and looked up to the older woman, “Are you joining me?” she
asked shyly.
Charlie
bent down and pulled off her boots, placing each one by the side of the
bed. “Scoot over.” She stated,
climbing in beside the other woman.
She lay on her side facing the blonde.
“I will
be up in the morning before anyone comes in ok?”
Sarah
nodded her head and rolled onto her side, backing up until she was spooned up
against the dark woman. Charlie
smiled and buried her faced into the fragrant blonde
locks.
“Charlie?”
“Hmm?”
Silence.
The
woman lifted her head, “What is it Sarah.”
“Nothing.”
She stated.
Charlie
lowered her head and closed her eyes, putting her arm around the girl in
front.
“Charlie?”
Sarah whispered.
“Yeah?”
The woman whispered back.
“I love
you too”
Charlie
grinned and pulled the younger woman into her, “good.” She whispered and kissed
the blonde head in front of her.
Sarah
smiled and reached for the other woman’s hand, “Good
night.”
“Good
night sweet heart.”
*******
The sun had yet to rise, but Graham
Adams didn’t even notice. He had
been walking the night streets since receiving the phone call hours
earlier.
How
could this have happened? He
thought, picking up another stone and throwing it into the road.
He had returned home after Charlie’s
departure and had just gotten to bed with his still angry wife when the phone
had rung. He could not believe it
as he heard of how somebody had gone into the hospital and tried to kill one of
the patients. Well what he couldn’t
believe was the Charlie had turned up and stopped Mark Stevens.
He knew
the man was unconscious, which meant it wouldn’t be long before he awoke and
more than likely tell the police every thing. Including the part about paying
Adams to help him.
He had
to think quickly and act, as there would not be much time left and he had to
decide what to do, while he was still in control of his life.
*******
The morning sun had already completed
its assent by the time Charlie had started to come around. She came to a semi conscious state with
a tickling sensation on her head and a loud beat in her ear.
She
opened her eyes and tried to focus her sleep filled mind. After a couple of seconds she realised
where she was and knew she had to move.
Unfortunately
or maybe fortunately, she found her self on her side, with her head on Sarah’s
chest and one of the young woman’s arms wrapped around her. The beating she could hear was Sarah’s
heart, directly under her ear.
Charlie relished the feel of lying with the girl decided she wanted to
spend the rest of her life waking up in this same manner.
The
sound of footsteps roused her, and she delicately shifted her self from the
bed. She sat down on the edge and
pulled on her boots, tying the laces as she heard Sarah rouse behind her.
Once her
boots were done, she stood up as the door opened and Clinton walked in. He looked at Sarah, then at Charlie and
motioned her to follow him with a jerk of his head. Once he had backed out of the room the
tall woman turned and looked briefly at the young blonde, before leaving the
room. Clinton waited for her out
side.
“I heard
what happened.”
Charlie
just nodded her head.
“You
know, I can’t believe it. I never
thought Mark Stevens would ever try anything like that.”
Charlie
frowned, thinking for a while. “Did
you know the guy?” she asked.
Clinton
shook his head, “Well no, not really but I did briefly talk to him when we
swapped over shifts.”
“So he
worked the night shift.” Charlie stated, and Clinton nodded his head.
Charlie
sighed at that, there were some questions she was going to have to ask
Sarah. The official report and how
the ex-nurse had gotten injured stated that the patient he’d been treating had
gotten violent, but knowing Sarah like she did, Charlie knew the girl only
reacted violently when she was afraid.
She realised that Sarah hadn’t even been questioned over the incident,
which just happened to have been investigated by Adams. That brought a thought to
mind.
“Say
Clint, has Mr Adams arrived yet?”
Clinton
frowned, “No he hasn’t been seen since yesterday when he left work. He is supposed to be here but well
obviously he isn’t.”
The
blonde man shrugged his shoulders trying not to think the worst of his
boss.
Charlie
on the other hand was having nothing but the worst of thoughts.
“Well I
guess I better go back in there and see how Sarah is.”
Clinton
nodded his head, “It was a good job you were there last night,
hey.”
The
psychologist nodded, “Very lucky.”
The
blonde man looked thoughtful, “It is obvious she likes you, you
know!”
Charlie
felt her guard go up, “What do you mean, of course she does it’s my job to show
the patients they can trust me so I can help them.” Even to the dark nurse, her words
sounded a little too brisk.
Clinton
backed up a step, “Hey I was just making an observation.” He held up his hands in a defensive
manner.
Charlie
sighed, “I’m sorry it sounded like you were…”
“Look”
Clint began, “I don’t know you that well, but I know you enough to know you are
a good person. And I have known
Sarah in there for two years now.
It was obvious to anybody who cared to take notice that she just needed
somebody to connect with…she has finally found that somebody. I am glad for her, I know she can get
out of this place, and you will help her all the way.”
Charlie
looked at the young man in a new light, “You know what Clint, I’m glad I have
you as a colleague. Have you ever
thought about doing counselling or psychology?”
The
blonde man blushed, “Well no, I’m happy with what I have, but thank you for
saying that.”
Charlie
grinned and patted the young mans arm.
“I’m
going to get the breakfasts, you want some?”
“Sure”
Charlie said and turned to go back in the room.
*******
Sarah
was sitting on the side of the bed, waiting for the psychologist return. When the dark woman entered she looked
up and smiled cautiously, knowing she would have more questions to answer.
While
Charlie had been of the room, the blonde had lay on her bed and thought about
the past night. It was weird, but
although she was very frightened, she had this inner feeling that she knew
Charlie would come for her. Just
like it was the most natural thing in the world for it to be so.
“How are
you feeling this morning?”
Sarah
shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know, how should I feel?”
Charlie
smiled, “I can’t answer that for you, tell me what you thought when you awoke
this morning.”
Sarah
smiled, “That I had the most beautiful woman in my arms, but the next time I
came around she was gone.”
The tall
woman rolled her eyes, “I mean when reality hit you…but thank
you.”
The
petite blonde shrugged again, “That’s it I don’t know. It is like a dream, I still can’t
believe it happened, all I know is that because of you I am still here.” The slight quiver in her voice was
evident.
Charlie
walked forward and sat on the bed next to Sarah, close but not touching.
“I will
always be here for you, but I have to tell you something.”
Sarah
looked on, trustingly.
“From
now on we must not give in to the way we feel about each other ok? I’m worried people might get the wrong
idea, and think the worst, I know one person who already may suspect.”
She
noticed the look on the blonde girls face.
“Please
don’t doubt my feelings for you, but we have to be concentrate on getting you
out of here.”
She
lifted a hand to touch the inviting pale cheeks, but pulled back.
“Sarah,
what I did, not being able to keep my feelings under control was wrong. For a start I know I should not have
these type of feelings for a patient…”
“Charlie…”
The
older woman covered Sarah’s lips, “Please let me finish…but I can not help the
way I feel for you, from the moment I looked at you, it was like I had just
found the missing part of myself.
You know I love you, and when you are away from this place I want to show
you…if that is what you want also…I mean you have to…”
“Charlie!”
The
woman stopped babbling.
“I trust
you and what ever you think is best I will go along
with…ok?”
Charlie
nodded.
Just
then Clinton arrived, “Charlie there is somebody to see you in your office. A woman she never told me her
name.”
Charlie
stood up, having a good idea who it might be, “Right I will go see
her.”
*******
Doctor Caroline Evans was a
typically average person. Average
looks, average height, average hair colour. A painfully plain exterior that
concealed a caring and warm-hearted personality.
Charlie
walked through the door wearing a stern, no-nonsense look. Stopping a mere few inches from the
woman, she rumbled, “You’ve got a nerve showing your face around
here.”
Caroline
smiled sweetly, “Believe me, it pains me being here just as much as it does you,
I am sure.”
The tall
woman folded her arms and arched an eyebrow. “What makes you so sure it pains
me?”
“Well,
that sour look on your face, for starters.
You look like you’ve been chomping on whole
lemons.”
“I do
not!” Charlie
protested.
“Oh
Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, when are you going to learn that you will never beat
me at this, I always win. I can
read you like a book, my dear.”
Charlie
grinned, “oh really? Then why have
you never been able to ‘win’ at getting me into your bed? It seems that this is one ‘book’ you’ve
never been able to open the cover on.”
Caroline
stood there, her mouth opening and closing in a futile attempt at a
comeback. But for once, the spunky
woman was at a loss.
Charlie
mentally pumped her fist in the air. She
shoots…she SCORES!
Finally,
the smaller woman shook her head and chuckled, “ah, Charlie, such a cocky little
shit. I knew there was something I
loved about you. You were the only
one that could ever leave me flummoxed.”
Charlie
responded with a wry smile, “as much as I’d love to savour this little victory,
we need to discuss your presence here which, I imagine, is due to last night’s
events.”
Caroline
folded her arms and leaned against the desk. “Yes, I have to gather reports on what
happened from all involved, though, I must say I wasn’t surprised to hear that
you kicked some butt last night.”
Charlie
shrugged, “I just did what I had to do.
I take it Graham Adams still hasn’t made an
appearance?”
The
Doctor narrowed her eyes. “Why do I
get the feeling that you know more about this than you are letting
on?”
Charlie
leaned on the desk next to her friend.
“Probably because we’ve known each other since med school eight years
ago, and this is likely something you were hoping to
hear.”
“Ok…so,
care to share?”
“Let’s
just say I did as requested, and you were right to suspect Adams as being a less
than virtuous administrator.”
Caroline sighed, “Part of me was
kind of hoping this would not be the case.
When I first heard the board wanted to monitor Mr Adams, I thought it was
just procedure. But then when I
read an old employees report and knew what I would be dealing with, I still
hoped it wasn’t true, I mean who would just turn a blind eye to things that went
on here, for money as well. How
could anybody allow such treatments to go on? It makes one wonder just how many
people are in this with him.”
Charlie
shook her head. “I am not sure
about the nurses, but I definitely have my suspicions about at least two of the
guards. You know, when you asked me
to do this, I honestly thought it would be just another job. I didn’t really think there would be any
suspicious activities going on.
Caroline
walked to the window and looked out.
“I hoped there wouldn’t be.
But I chose you to come out here because I knew that if there were
something shady going on, you would know what to do about it.” The smaller woman turned and smirked at
the tall woman. “You’re good at
what you do, Charlie, and you can take care of yourself.”
Charlie
crossed her arms and returned the smirk.
“Well, I’m glad I managed to live up to your expectations. So, what now, you gather your reports
and take them back to your bosses?”
The
Doctor nodded her head; “yes…I will start with the guards that were on duty last
night. I requested they remain here
until I could speak to them. Then
I’ll speak to the patient involved and then you.
Charlie felt a
stirring at the mention of Sarah, “Her name is Sarah Austin, I will ask her
whether she is ok with talking about everything.”
Caroline
noticed how the dark woman’s eyes sparkled at the mention of the patient,
“Right, I am going to talk to the guards.”
With that she picked up her brief case and left the
room.
Charlie
was about to do the same when the phone rang,
“Hello,
Charlie Taylor.”
An
uncertain voice spoke on the other end, “Oh…hello…I ah…am calling about my
daughter. I was directed to this
line from the switch board…I was supposed to speak to…a Mr Adams but he was not
answering…I’m not sure…”
Charlie
frowned butting in, “Hold on Mrs…?”
“Austin…I
am calling about my daughter Sarah?”
There
was silence for a moment, “You’re Sarah Austin’s mother?”
Charlie
heard the older woman on the other end of the phone sigh, “Yes…I know she
doesn’t want to see me, but the police contacted me about what happened and I
had to ring. I would have come
down, but I knew my presence would not be wanted. I just want to know that my child is
alright”
The tall
nurse listened on the other end of the phone, trying to make sense of what the
woman was saying.
“Erm,
Mrs Austin, what do you mean not wanted here? I was under the impression that you had
given up on your daughter?”
“WHAT,”
the response was immediate, “She is my daughter, why on earth would I do
that? It was her that said she
didn’t want to see me, Mr Adams told me every time I rang, said he would pass on
my messages, but she didn’t want to see me. She didn’t even ring when her father
died.”
Charlie
could not believe what she was hearing, she knew damn well Sarah missed her
parents, and the way she spoke about them lead her to believe that the young
woman didn’t even know that her father had passed away.
Her
father’s dead?? Oh, Sarah.
“Mrs
Austin…first of all I would like to tell you that your daughter is fine, and
secondly I will tell her that you called and I am sure she will definitely want
to talk to you.”
“Oh I
don’t think…”
“NO
Mrs Austin.” Charlie didn’t
mean to sound angry, “I’m sorry, it is just that there seems to be a
misunderstanding concerning you and your daughter”
Misunderstanding
my ass, this is fucking Adams again.
I know
for sure she will want to talk to you and when I am able I will tell her, she is
to talk to the hospital board soon about what happened.”
“Oh
dear, I don’t like the sound of her having to go through what happened on her
own, I…”
Charlie
butted in again, “Don’t worry Mrs Adams, I will be there with her, she will do
fine, I’ll take care of her.”
The
other woman could here the sincerity in the nurses voice, “Well in that case
thank you, I am glad she isn’t alone in there.”
Charlie
grinned, “Your daughter is making excellent progress, and I am sure she will
tell you all about it next time you see each other.”
For the
first time, Mrs Austin felt a sense of hope, “Oh I do hope so, Thank you so
much.”
The
psychologist grinned, “My pleasure, now I hate to go but I have to see your
daughter now, so I will tell her you called as soon as the interview has
finished.”
Charlie
finished the conversation with Sarah’s mother and went to see the young woman in
question.
*******
He had used the back stairs; in fact he
had used the back entrances to get into the building as well, not wanting to be
seen.
Still
wearing the clothes that he’d had on the day before, he kept his head down and
continued on to the third floor.
The (what he presumed he would soon be) ‘ex director’ kept as quiet and
non descript as possible, not wanting to draw any unwanted attention to him
self.
The
events of the night before had lead him to this and he still could not believe
it, still he knew it was down to that fucking Sarah Austin and Charlie
Taylor, he wondered what he had ever seen in that woman, she was obviously
against him as well.
Graham
Adams knew the only person he could trust was himself now. Not even his own wife understood him,
always asking him to see somebody about his strange behaviours, well he gave her
something to think about, if she still could anyway. He laughed silently to him
self.
Once
reaching the third floor, he activated the locking mechanism and opened the back
stairs door. Adams could hear the
odd sound, but apart from that all was quiet. Now all he had to do was put his plan
into action, first he would go and dismiss the guards then see
Angel.
End of
part 4