Misunderstood.
Part 5, the
conclusion.
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,
5
The two Dales both sat in
the secure room. Mike and
Nick the night guards were still on the third but, off in one of the side rooms
with Caroline Evans. They had been talking with
the woman for about ten minutes so far, and the other officers were getting more
than a little nervous.
They knew first hand that Adams wasn’t a very just man, but he was their boss and when ever he said jump, they asked how high? They never questioned him for fear of loosing the well-paid positions they had and the director was completely in control of their futures at Bell Tower.
Adams walked into the room
quietly, startling both guards when they saw him.
“Mr
Adams,” Dale 1 started, “We weren’t sure whether you would be in today…there has
been talk…”
The
soon to be ex-director silenced them with a raise of his right hand.
“Listen to me carefully,
everything is fine I have had to play things a little close to my chest if you
know what I mean. Now listen to me,
Mike and Nick are staying so you may as well go home for
today.”
The
two Dales looked at him strangely.
“Don’t worry everything is
fine, you should be pleased I am giving you the day off, you don’t get that
often. Now I suggest you go home
and enjoy this lovely spring morning before I change my
mind.”
The
guards knew when not to argue, so within five minutes they had collected their
things and left for home.
Adams sat in the now empty
office and looked at the monitors.
He could not see which room Sarah Austin was in, and presumed the guards
would still be talking with whom ever the medical board had sent. With a malicious gleam in his eye, he
began turning off all the monitors, flicking each button one after the
other. Then the locking mechanisms
to each door on the third, and finally he turned off the mechanical lock to
Angel’s room.
*******
Angel lay on the floor, looking up at
the ceiling counting each bump and imperfection she could see again. She didn’t know how many times she had
done it and didn’t particularly care anyway; she lived in her head and preferred
it to the reality that she existed in.
She
heard her door open and didn’t even have to turn her head to know who it
was.
“Well if it isn’t All High
and Mighty Director, I heard nurses talking bout you, said you’d done a
runner. So whatcha doing here with
little ole me?”
Adams grinned and nodded his
head, “Now you know not to believe everything you hear, Angel. Thought I would come and see how you
are, you know like our occasional evening conversations, maybe offer you a
little taste of freedom.”
Slowly the thin woman turned
her head, and looked at the man with cold dark eyes.
“It’s not nice to
tease.”
Adams
shrugged.
“Why would you do
that?” She asked rising to her
knees.
The
balding man tilted his head, “Lets just say I’m in the mood to have a little
fun, and I thought you might want to share it with me. Come on Angel you must get board out of
your tinny little brain sometimes,” He pouted, “Don’t you want any
fun?”
Angel grinned and rose to
her feet.
“I
have never been one for sharing, but what the hell, there is a certain person
that I would love to share myself with at the moment. Hell…what can I say…sure I’m up for some
fun.”
The
ex-director opened the door and swung his arm out in an inviting gesture.
“Ladies first.”
*******
Charlie sat in Sarah’s room, her on the
make shift bed, and Sarah on the one they had recently shared. They faced each other but had hardly
spoken since the dark woman had returned; she was trying to decide what to tell
Sarah about her mothers call.
“I
have been thinking.” The blonde girl started, “About what you said about getting
out of here. I don’t want to wait
any longer; I want to have a go now, back up on the roof like
before.”
Charlie looked at the young
woman, surely not now.
But
she considered that if Sarah was ready to do it, then she had to be there for
her one hundred percent, no matter how inconvenient the
time.
“You sure you are ready for
this right now Sarah?” She
asked.
The
blonde nodded her head, “I have been gearing my self up for this since what you
said this morning, and I need to do this.”
Charlie rose and held out
her hand for the younger woman, “Lets go then, shall we?”
*******
Adams and Angel stood by a corner
watching quietly. They observed
with interest as Charlie and Sarah exited the open door of the young blondes
impromptu room. A twisted smile
spread across Angels face.
“I
want her.” She stated, looking over at the tall dark
woman.
“You know it’s pretty
obvious she has a soft spot for that blonde.” Adams stated
thoughtfully.
Angle snapped her head in
his direction, “So.”
The
thin man shook his head, “Just stating a point. My guess if you want her? Get the blonde
first.”
Angel shrugged, “Suppose I
could play around a little first.
You distract tall, dark and sexy first, ok?”
Adams pursed his lips,
“Anything for a little fun…sure.”
Charlie and Sarah walked side by side to
the exit at the end of the corridor, that lead to one of the towers. The tall woman stopped and pulled out
her card, swiping it though the lock, nothing happened. She tried it again, still nothing. Frowning she took a hold of the handle
and pulled…it opened easily.
“That isn’t supposed to
happen, is it?” The blonde asked.
Charlie shook her head, “No
it isn’t, and my instinct is telling me that something is wrong
here.”
Then, the sound of footsteps
made them both look up, and Charlie instantly recognised Adams. He walked a few steps up the corridor,
seemed to notice them both at the other end, then turned and disappeared into
one of the side doors.
Charlie’s heart picked up, “Adams.”
She
turned to Sarah, “Listen you wait here, I’ll try and get Clint to stay with you
while I go and check this out. No
better yet, go back to the room ok?”
Sarah nodded as Charlie
leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on the girls’ forehead, before taking off,
the blonde right behind her.
They split at the junction
of the corridor as Sarah headed for her room and the dark woman went off in
search of the ex-director. As she
was nearing the security room she spotted Caroline opening the door to the room
in which she was interviewing the two night guards. Charlie pulled to a halt by the
door. Gently pulling the woman out
of hearing distance of the two men, she spoke quietly in her
ear.
“Adams is here,” she
whispered, “Some thing is wrong, will you stay in there with those two and keep
them occupied while I go check him out?”
Caroline frowned, “The
interview has finished, how am I supposed to keep them in
there?”
Charlie shrugged, “No time
to think, improvise. I have to go,
please stay in there though ok?”
The
mousy woman nodded and disappeared back into the interview
room.
The
psychologist took off again heading towards the security room. Once there she opened the door and
stepped in. It was empty, all the
screens were shut off and the room held of eerie silence, Charlie’s breathing
seemed louder in the vacated room.
Rubbing her arms as if to
ward off an eerie chill she scanned the area and noticed one of the tonfas was
missing. Feeling an overpowering
dread, she ran out of the room and back into the corridor, heading for the door
she had last seen Adams enter.
*******
Sarah sat in the room confused. She felt like she wasn’t supposed to be
there, like it was wrong and she should be with Charlie, helping her any way she
could. The blonde realised for the
first time that she had found somewhere to belong, but it was more than
that. It was more like she had
finally found where she was meant to be.
All her life she had felt an outcast, not fitting in with society as
though she hadn’t found her niche in life.
Now she had discovered it, she was not about to risk loosing the first
good thing to enter her life in as long as she could remember.
With that decision, she
stood up and headed towards the door, but stopped when she noticed someone stood
in the way. She looked up slightly
to a mass of wild brown and blond hair, and dark vacant
eyes.
“Hello” Angel said, smiling
as innocently as possible, though it looked nothing but
malevolent.
Sarah took a step back,
fully comprehending the intent on the wild woman’s face.
“Who are you?” she
asked.
“An
angel.” Was the thin woman’s response.
“What do you want?” Sarah
asked, feeling a tight ball of fear unravel in her
stomach.
Angle shrugged and looked up
thoughtfully, “Oh there is only one thing I want at the moment, and to get to it
I have to go through you. Nothing
personal you understand…just fun.”
She
moved further forward into the room, causing Sarah to back up, as she pulled the
tonfa out from behind her back. The
young woman recognised the item as one of the weapons that the guards
occasionally carried. She
frantically started searching the room for means of
escape.
“Oh, I have missed that
look. To see such fear on a persons
face, how it warms my heart. Tell
me, how does it feel to know what my intentions are towards
you?”
Sarah backup up
silently.
“Don’t want to talk? Fine, this will be over quicker then I
suppose.” She ran forward, swinging
the wooden weapon towards the blonde, who ducked and managed to swerve out of
the way. Sarah took the opportunity
of the crazed woman’s forward momentum to run behind her. She ran out of the door, frantically
looking for Charlie.
*******
Further down the corridor,
the psychologist had followed Adams through the door she had last seen him
enter. It led to a small, dark
hallway, about six feet long with another door at the end.
She
stopped by the small wooden entrance and listened carefully but hearing nothing,
gently opened it. She found herself
in another corridor, only larger with a large clear window at the other
end. This one was very old looking,
like it hadn’t been renovated since the building was converted into a
hospital.
The
walls were a dirty grey, but broken up by wooden, dark oak beams. It still had an old smell of wood,
mildew and cold stone. Lying on the
ground were ladders and other renovation equipment, and it was obvious some work
was to be done here.
Walking slowly down the
hall, her footsteps echoed loudly announcing her presence to the shadowed figure
hiding in a carved out alcove.
“I
can hear your breathing.” Charlie
stated, stopping all movement.
Adams stepped out into the
light and faced the tall woman.
“Can you hear my heart
beating just for you, as well?” He
asked sarcastically.
Charlie smiled but didn’t
move a muscle, “The only thing my heart does when you are around is go cold.”
Adams laughed, “Oh and
there’s me thinking there was something special between
us.”
“Why did you do it?” The nurse asked, trying to gain his
attention.
“Do
what?” Adams asked, “I do a lot of things.”
“Why help Mark
Stevens?”
The
ex-director smirked and shrugged, “Why does anybody do what they do, because
they can basically. I have such a
boring job, but one with such avenues of entertainment. Anybody would be a fool not to pick up
on that. Oh and of course he paid
me very well, but what is money, it can’t by one happiness now can it?” The man sighed, feigning
disappointment.
“So
your job is nothing more than mere entertainment to you?”
The
man looked at his hands, then back at Charlie, “What can I say, we all are
looking for that special something aren’t we. Fortunately I get to have a lot of fun,
like with the patients in here…and more so, the kind of patients we have in
here.”
Charlie thought for a
moment.
“Like the two secured
prisoners.”
Adams nodded, “Like the
secure prisoners, though Angel is my favourite I must say, she is a girl who
really knows how to have a good time.”
“You call mass murder
fun?”
“It’s not to everybody’s
tastes of course.”
A
instinctual cold awareness sliced though Charlie, “Where is she
now?”
The
ex-director laughed, “Who knows, but I did see her heading of in the direction
of a certain sweet little blonde.”
Charlie’s face fell as she
turned and ran back the way she came, listening to the deep sounds of laughter
coming from Adams. She stopped when
she almost collided into a solid form in front of her and she instantly
recognised it as Clinton.
“What the hell is going on?”
He asked shakily.
“No
time to speak, Adams is behind me.
Grab him and keep an eye on him, I have to go find
Sarah.”
Then she was away and back towards the
main corridor.
*******
Angel had followed the
blonde back out of the room and was chasing her along the corridor. They were nearing the end and her
laughter got all the more wild as the pursuit continued.
Sarah ran hard, hopefully
looking for some means of escape.
Instantly she remembered the door leading one of the Bell Towers and
headed straight for it. Knowing it
was open she pulled on the door and charged up the steps, still hearing the
maniacal woman behind her. Once she
reached the top, she pulled the second door open and ran into the tower. Not even registering where she was or
what she was doing as she pulled open the third door and ran outside onto the
roof.
She
instantly found herself within a maze of low walls and circular towers and
looked for a place to hide herself.
Spotting a two-foot high wall by a tower to the right, she made a beeline
for it and dived to her new place of concealment. Her back hit the wall hard, as she
dropped to the ground.
Closing her eyes, she tried
to calm her erratic breathing.
Angel appeared a few seconds later, a
wide grin spread across her face.
“Oh a game of Hide and Seek, I haven’t played this since I was little.”
The
woman sung, slowly weaving her way around the roof in search of
Sarah.
The
young blonde shrunk down against the wall.
Chilly gusts of wind flowed over her, causing her to shiver. It didn’t help that she was only wearing
a thin T-shirt and shorts.
*******
Charlie ran through the corridor, she
had gone to Sarah’s room and, finding it empty, had set off on a frenzied search
to find her. As she neared the end
of the hall she noticed the door leading to the tower was open, so with
desperation, headed straight for it.
*******
Sarah knelt by the wall shivering
violently, both through fear and the blistering cold. The realisation that she was actually
outside was only a dull perception, more over powered by the notion of the
crazed woman after her. She pushed
her back against the cold wall and tried to silence her breathing. Inwardly chanting for Charlie to come
and find her.
“Thought you could hide from
me did you?”
Sarah looked up to see Angel
above and behind her. The crazed
woman bent down grabbing Sarah around the waist and pulling her up to a standing
position.
“Gotcha!” she whispered
savagely in the girl’s ear.
Sarah whimpered feeling the
ground move beneath her, as Angel pulled her along, grazing her legs against
whatever obstacle was in their way.
The
wild woman pulled the young woman roughly, until they reached the end of the
roof, and they could see down onto the car park below.
“Oh
would you look at that.” Angel stated, “You know I haven’t seen the outside
world for along time, and this really is an interesting
view.”
Sarah tried to calm her
terrified mind; she needed to distract the woman.
“This is the first time I
have been outside in over four years as well.” She stated, her voice sounding
strange to her own ears.
Angel looked down, “Really,
well in that case I am honoured it was me that got you out here.”
She
squeezed her arm tighter around the blonde slightly crushing her chest.
“You know I saw the way she
looked at you. That stupid fuck Mr
Adams wouldn’t have noticed it, as it takes a woman to see something like that
and I saw it.”
“What do you mean?” Sarah asked, feeling it slightly
difficult to speak as the pressure on her chest increased. She tried bending her knees in order to
push herself away from the roof edge.
“The look in her eyes, it
was more than she should be having for a patient, that is for sure. Still if she does go for patients then
she will love me. I’m about as sick
and twisted as they come.”
The
crazed woman began pushing Sarah back towards the edge, causing the blonde to
struggle harder.
“Oh
come now, that will do no good, stop annoying me Blondie and keep
still.”
“ANGEL”
The
woman turned at the sound of her name, pulling Sarah with her until she found
herself face to face with a tall, dark, enraged looking woman. The psychologist stood about five feet
away from them.
Angle smiled, “Well, well
Charlie, seems Mr high and mighty director was right about
you.”
Charlie remained
expressionless.
“Oh
and what was he right about.”
Angel moved the tonfa
around, placing it along Sarah’s throat.
“Is
this really what you want to talk about now?” She asked, her eyes sparkling with
mirth.
“What do you want
Angel.” The voice was deep and
menacing.
“Oh
I love the way you say my name.”
Charlie took a step closer,
“What do you want?”
“Ah, ah, ah, not another
step or else blondie here gets it.”
She stated pulling Sarah closer to the edge once
again.
Charlie lifted her hands,
“Ok, fine. Now tell me what you
want.”
“You.” Angel stated
simply.
Charlie looked at Sarah; the
young woman was uncomfortable but seemed to be managing to hold it together,
though her fear was tangible.
The
psychologist held her arms out in an inviting manor, getting the woman away from
Sarah was her biggest concern.
“You got me.” Was her only
response.
Angel laughed and pulled
Sarah slightly away from her, swinging the wooden baton until it connected with
her head, knocking the girl out cold.
She fell to the woman’s feet with a heavy
thud.
Charlie watched feeling her
heart explode as Sarah’s body hit the ground. She knew she had to keep calm and stay
in control though, so she remained quiet and stood as still as
possible.
Angle looked up and smiled.
“Watch out baby, here I
come.” She sung and walked slowly towards Charlie swinging the tonfa by her
side.
Once the woman was in reach,
Charlie lashed out landing a series of rapid blows on Angel. The surprised woman didn’t even have
time to wonder what was happening, as she was assaulted with an assortment of
swift blows, until she too lay unconscious on the ground.
“That was too easy.” Charlie
said to herself.
She
looked down at the cataleptic form for all of one second, before turning her
attention to Sarah. She was about
to move to the young woman’s side when she heard an echoing click.
She
froze, and then slowly turned around, finding Adams standing by the tower
entrance holding a gun in her direction.
“If
I was you I would be wise enough not to move a single
muscle.”
Charlie shivered, “It is
over Graham, why do you continue doing this, there is no way out you know
that.”
The
psychologist was unsure what type of gun it was. She did believe it to be one of the
tranquillisers but was not willing to take any chances.
The
thin mans lips twitched as though he was trying to hold back a smile.
“You know what they say, ‘if
you are going out, might as well do it with a bang’ no pun intended of
course.”
“Where’s Clinton?” She
asked.
The
man laughed, “Oh please…did you really think that guy could hold me.
Don’t worry though he isn’t
dead…just a little out for the count.”
Behind her Charlie heard the
sound of somebody come around.
Knowing it could only be Sarah she tried desperately to defuse the
situation.
“Just put the gun down
Graham,”
Adams grinned, “What’s the
point.” He asked, before diverting his attention to the movement he saw from the
corner of his eye. Sarah was
beginning to come around, and she had one hell of an aching
head.
“Well, look at this, looks
like I get the pleasure of both of your company.”
At
Grahams words, Charlie leapt forward, jumping over the three-foot wall and
landing square in front him. She
efficiently pulled the weapon from his grasp, throwing it cleanly out of the
way.
Once he realised he was no
longer in control of the situation he lunged forward, knocking them the tall
woman backwards and over the small wall.
Charlie landed on her back
and managed to push her foot into Adams' chest, catapulting him into the
air. She expected him to land
directly behind her, but her pumping adrenalin had resulted in an increased
spurt of strength and she had pushed him straight over the edge of the
building.
He fell three stories to his death, landing onto of a row of neatly parked cars.
********
The first thing Sarah became
aware of was a persistent throbbing ache in her head. It was increasingly painful and, as she
tried to open her eyes it only grew stronger.
A
familiar voice, close to her ear spoke softly, “Hey sweet heart.” It whispered,
“Get some rest I will be here when you wake…always.”
At
those comforting words, she drifted off to sleep.
The
second time she awoke the pain was almost gone. Gently testing the waters, she squinted
slightly and opened one eye. Her
vision blurred, she tried opening both eyes to see whether it was any better,
after a couple of seconds, her sight began to clear.
Slowly focussing on the room
she tried to make out where she was.
Turning her head in a slow sweeping movement she took in the sights and
realised she was in a hospital. As
she finally looked to the right, she saw a crown of dark hair, resting on the
side of the bed.
“Charlie?” She
whispered.
At
the mention of her name the waiting woman lifted her head, looking directly into
Sarah’s blurry green eyes.
“Hey,” she smiled
softly.
The
blonde lifted her hand and stroked the face of the woman in front of her, or
more so the large black and blue bruise on the left side of her cheek.
“What happened?” she asked
groggily, motioning towards the contusion.
Charlie shook her head,
brushing of the concern, “It is nothing, just landed funny when I
fell.”
Sarah accepted the
explanation, “Ok…where am I?”
“The infirmary on the first
floor.”
The
young woman frowned, “I didn’t know there was an infirmary on the first
floor.”
“Well you learn something
new every day.”
Charlie smiled and took
Sarah’s had gently.
“So
how are you feeling?”
“Better than the last time I
woke up.” She answered, “What happened to Mr Adams and that
woman?”
The
dark woman sighed, “Angel is back in her secured room, locks
activated. And the
director…well lets just say he didn’t make it.”
Sarah frowned, her still
foggy mind a little slow in comprehending what she was being
told.
Charlie pursed her lips, “He tried to kill us Sarah, I did what I could to stop him…he is dead.”
The
young blonde nodded her head, “Oh…I…ok”
“Are you alright sweet
heart?”
Sarah nodded, “Yeah I guess, just a little taken aback by all that has happened. Kind of numb…again…”
Charlie nodded and kissed a
warm hand, “Listen Sarah…there is somebody who is waiting to see you. She has been here for five hours
now.”
The
blonde frowned, “Who…how long have I been out?”
Charlie got to her feet,
“You were unconscious for about seven hours. Listen I will go and get her, she is
dying to see you.”
Sarah felt a little nervous,
as Charlie left the room. She
wondered who would want to see her, and presumed it was probably Mel the
cook.
Hearing the door creak open
slightly she turned her head, looking at her visitor. Instantly a choked up sob left her
throat as she spotted her mother walking through the door.
Mrs
Austin walked towards her daughter, eyes filling with tears. She had changed the older woman
thought. Sarah’s hair was longer
and a little blonder. She
difinately looked a little more grown up.
The childlike features had been replaced with the looks of a striking
young woman.
“Mum?” Sarah asked, looking
up to the woman before her eyes.
Yes she knew it was her; but she too had changed. The woman looked thinner, and her hair
was a little greyer.
“Yes baby.” Her mother
whispered and moved to the side of the bed.
Sarah lifted herself to a sitting position, “I can’t believe it.”
Caroline finished her
conversation and walked back into the wide corridor to find Charlie. She sat next to her on another of the
less than inviting, plastic chairs.
“That was an Officer
Saunders on the Phone. He said that
all the guards have been taken in for questioning, just to see what they
know.”
Charlie lifted her head from
the wall, and opened her eyes.
“The police still want to
speak to you about Graham Adams death, what are you going to tell
them?”
Charlie frowned, “The truth
of course. It was not like I killed
him on purpose, Caroline, I was just trying to save Sarah and
me.”
“Ok…ok I was just asking…”
she paused wondering how she was to broach the next subject she knew needed
addressing.
“Charlie…we have been
friends for a long time right?”
The
dark woman turned her head looking at the mousy woman curiously.
“Why do I have the feeling I
am about to hear something I am not going to like, hmm?”
Caroline shook her head, “I
don’t know…but I witnessed something earlier that I have to draw attention
to. Look Charlie, I was at the
door, when Sarah Austin came round…I heard the way you spoke to each
other.”
Charlie took in a sharp
breath, “Yeah?”
“It
is kind of obvious that there is something going on between you
two.”
Charlie stood up, “I don’t
know what you are talking about.” She stated and moved to stand on the other
side of the corridor.
Caroline followed, speaking
in hushed, angry tones, “Charlie I know you too well, don’t try and deny this,
especially with me.”
She
stood toe to toe with the taller woman.
“What’s going on? Off
the record, please…you know you can trust me.”
Charlie sighed and folded
her arms, “I don’t know, it all happened so suddenly, but from the moment I laid
eyes on her, I felt something.”
“Something?”
The psychologist closed her eyes briefly to calm her racing heart, “THE something…the something you feel when you find that one special person.”
Caroline looked at her
quizzically, “You’re in love with her?”
“Yes.”
The
doctors’ head fell into her hands.
“Oh
God…Charlie how could you allow this to happen?”
The
woman felt her defences rise.
“I
didn’t allow this to happen, it just did.
I tried to fight it but there was no use. I can’t help the way I feel, I’m in love
with her.”
The
doctor raised her head.
“Ok…and…how does she feel
about you?”
“She says she feels the same
way.”
“What do you mean ‘she says’
how can you be sure of her feelings towards you?”
The
woman sounded more concerned than sceptical.
“I
just am, I see it in the way she looks at me, the way she speaks to me, I
just know alright.”
Caroline held up her hands,
“Alright, I believe you. But listen
Charlie you do realise you have to quit your job here.”
Charlie instantly shook her
head, “Absolutely not, no
way.”
The
mousy woman grabbed hold of her arm, tightly.
“Listen to me Charlie. With everything that has happened this
couldn’t have come at a worse time,” She whispered. “If you want to continue a relationship
with this girl, the best way to help her is for you to step down as her
therapist and let another take over.
I read over her case earlier, I know she has been making progress, and if
you seriously want Sarah…you know that it will best thing for
her.”
Charlie sighed in a defeated
tone.
“You know I hate it when
you’re right.”
Caroline let go of her
arm.
“Good because I am and you
know it. Listen…I have never had to
deal with this kind of thing before, but I promise to keep it off the
record. It would probably be best
if you were not to see her for about a month as well…”
She
lifted her hand, stopping the protest that was about to leave the taller woman’s
mouth.
“There will be an inquest into the
directors death and an investigation into the way in which he ran this
place. It would be best if you
didn’t add anymore fuel to the fire by starting any suspicions about you
misusing the patients’ trusts.”
“I
would never…”
“I
know that…Sarah would know that…but there will be an investigation and it would
be best if just left quietly like you were supposed to after you finished this
job. Remember although you were
sent here as a psychologist your main aim was to watch over Adams, even though
that information will not become common knowledge.”
The
defeated psychologist sat back down on the orange chair, Caroline was right and
she knew it. Now all she had to do
was explain this all to Sarah.
This is not going to
be easy,
she thought.
*******
For a summers day it was cold and windy,
but that didn’t really surprise Charlie.
The British weather was anything if not unreliable, and she was glad she
had chosen to wear jeans and a jumper.
She
was sitting on a deserted wooden bench in an equally deserted city park. The only life that surrounded her were
the birds in the trees and the ducks on the near by lake.
Charlie sighed pulling her
leather jacket tighter around herself.
It was a little breezy and she was starting to feel its icy gusts invade
her cooling body.
Straightening her back on
the bench, her thoughts once again turned to Sarah. It had been almost two months since she
had seen the young blonde and she realised that absence really did make the
heart grow fonder.
Though she would more call
it, ache uncontrollably.
Charlie thought back to the last day they
had been together. It was in the
evening when she had told her that she had to leave. There had been tears on both their
parts, but Sarah understood why Charlie had to do it, and begrudgingly accepted
the decision. Not that it was easy
for the young woman, but at least she had her mother now.
It had been hard on them both. Only having two brief telephone
conversations since that day, had really taken its toll. Every day Charlie realised with
increasing certainty that Sarah was the only one she could, and would, ever want
again.
The inquest into the directors’ death and
subsequent investigation had taken six, arduous weeks, not a stone had been left
un-turned.
What had shocked people the
most was the news that the police had found Mrs Adams. Her unconscious body was discovered the
evening her husband had died. She
had been badly beaten by Graham, and had subsequently died in hospital.
Though six weeks may have
been short for the investigation, it was what the board had wanted, a swift but
ultimately thorough enquiry. To
Charlie though it was the longest time of her life. Three of the four security guards had
been charged, as they had been aware of the actions Adams took. And one of the night nurses was fired
too.
The
psychologist stayed out of as much of the investigation as she could, only
helping out when she was requested, but thankfully now, it was all
over.
Charlie lifted her hands, blowing warm
air into them. Though the breeze
was calming a little, it was still cold.
Looking towards the road, she tried to see whether Caroline’s car was on
its way. Still not catching any
glimpse of her friend, she went back to her thoughts.
Dr
Evans had been a great help for Sarah.
At Charlie’s request she had journeyed to Bell Tower, twice and some
times three times a week to check up on her. She had even taken the young woman out
for short walks on the hospital ground.
Sarah had not yet ventured that far away from the hospital and today was
the day she was to do so with Caroline.
The doctor had told Sarah she would take
her out in the car for a little drive.
What she didn’t tell the girl was that she intended on taking her to the
local city park where Charlie was waiting patiently for her.
She
was nervous. It felt like so long
since she had seen the blonde, that in some self-conscious way, she was afraid
the girls’ feelings might have changed.
Even though it was impossible, Caroline herself had told the nervous
woman that Sarah asked about her constantly. For Charlie those two months had felt
like a short eternity, and she felt she had waited her whole life for this
moment.
The
sound of a car pulled her from her thoughts. Looking up hopefully she spotted
Caroline’s black B.M.W; pull in by the side of her jeep. She grinned excitedly, all doubt leaving
her mind, and jogged silently behind the car.
The
woman didn’t want to be spotted just yet.
*******
Sarah sat in the passenger seat of the
large vehicle, hands tightly clasped together and head down. She tried to open her eyes and look out
the window, but nerves had gotten the better of her.
“Hey, Sarah you sure you’re
ready for this?” Caroline asked.
The
blonde lifted her head and stared at the row of trees they were
facing.
“Yeah, I’m just feeling
nervous…you know.”
The
Doctor smiled, “Hey…you’ll be fine…I just know it.”
Sarah smiled at the woman
and looked down, brushing the ripples out of her black trousers.
Caroline looked out the
front window of her car and spotted a familiar person, she smiled at her friend,
and discreetly winked.
“We
better get going then.” The young
woman stated, still fiddling with her clothing.
“Oh
I’m not going with you” Caroline proclaimed.
Sarah looked up alarmed.
“What…but you
said…what…why?”
Caroline smiled and pointed
her finger towards the window.
“Because she is
instead.”
Sarah looked in the
direction the Doctor was pointing and saw the figure she was referring to. There in-between two large oak trees
stood Charlie, standing with her hands in her pockets, smiling.
The
blondes’ breath caught, “Charlie.” She whispered.
Without a second thought for
the woman in the car beside her, Sarah pushed open the door and ran towards the
welcome sight. The psychologist was
almost knocked backwards, as she accepted the girl into her arms, securing her
in a tight embrace.
They stood silently together
for long minutes, allowing the reality of whom they were holding to sink
in. Sarah breathed in deep breaths,
taking in the scent of warm leather, it was a smell that she now only associated
with the woman. Even whey they were
apart, it seemed to remain in her senses, and resided as a constant reminder to
the person she desperately wanted to be with.
Charlie buried her face in the honey
blonde locks, taking in the unique scent of the young woman in her arms. She had dreamed this very moment every
night since they had parted, and now they were together, she knew she only
wanted to settle for the real thing.
Caroline watched them both
with a gentle smile. Any doubt she
may have had about the validity of their feelings for each other was quashed in
an instant. Respectfully she looked
away.
“Oh…how I have missed
you.” Charlie
whispered.
Sarah looked up into the
clear blue eyes she had waited to see again for so long.
“Please tell me this is the
last time I have to be apart from you.”
Charlie looked away
briefly.
“Well not quite. The hospital has to say you are ready to
leave, but as soon as they have given the affirmative you are a free woman,
sweet heart.”
The
blonde laid her head back against the older woman’s chest, listening intently to
the rapid heartbeat.
Charlie took a deep breath;
there was something she had been thinking about asking Sarah for a while now,
and she knew if she didn’t ask now, she might loose her
nerve.
“Erm…Sarah…when you do leave
Bell Tower, where are you going?”
Sarah looked back up at the
brunette.
“Back home I guess…why?” she
asked hopefully.
“Well it was just…I was
wondering whether you wanted to come…I mean only if you wanted to…come
and stay with me?” The last part was spoken quietly.
“Is that what you want?” Sarah held her
breath.
Charlie blushed, “I erm…well
I mean…yes?”
Sarah smiled and pulled the
woman down into an overpowering hug.
The
nervous woman smiled into the blonde hair.
“I
take it that means it’s a yes?”
Sarah nodded her head into
the warn chest.
“You know it
does.”
Charlie kissed the golden
head, “Good…Sarah…I…erm…Oh God, I’ve waited so long for this…please kiss
m…”
She
didn’t have time to finish her plea, as her lips were covered by two, just as
willing ones. Charlie fell into the
kiss, pulling her hands from around the young woman’s back to tangle in her long
hair. Gently she pushed her tongue
through the warm lips and Sarah willingly allowed her entrance.
Weeks of not seeing the
blonde had given her an unquenchable thirst to feed upon as much of Sarah as she
could.
The
reality of where they were didn’t seem to matter to the young woman as she
pushed Charlie up against the nearest tree and deepened the kiss further. Pushing her tongue into warm recesses of
the taller woman’s mouth, that was slowly making her forget whom or where she
was.
The
cold wind no longer had an interfering chance. The heat building between them both was
consuming.
Reluctantly…very
reluctantly, Charlie pulled away; she had something to say. “Hey,”
She whispered out of breath, “You do
realise where we are?”
“I
don’t care” Sarah stated.
Charlie grinned.
“No
I mean, you and me together. You
outside…you did it you know, and you haven’t even
realised.”
Sarah looked around, as if
comprehending where she was for the first time.
“Jesus…your right.” She looked back at Charlie, “I guess all
I needed was the right kind of motivation.”
“Then I’m glad I was what
you needed.”
The
petite blonde smiled, caressing one dark tanned cheek, “You are all I will ever
need. Now stop talking and kiss me,
I have to get back s…”
This time Sarah never got to
finish her speech, but she smiled inside.
And they say interruptions
are impolite. If this is the way I
am interrupted, I may never want to finish a sentence again.
*******
It had taken another three weeks for
Sarah to be told she was fit to leave Bell Tower. During that time she had managed to see
Charlie once a week, during her trips out with Caroline. The three of them went different places
and the young blonde got to hear all the embarrassing med school tales Caroline
told about the dark woman. Charlie
didn’t mind though, she would sacrifice the odd blush just to hear the melodious
sounds of the young woman’s laughs.
Still they had yet to be
alone together and secretly, it constantly played on both of their
minds.
Sarah’s mother was a little
disappointed when her daughter informed her that she was not coming to live back
at home, but all she wanted for the girl was to be happy. The old woman was very much aware of her
daughters’ feelings towards the psychologist even though Sarah had yet to admit
it.
Mrs
Austin also noticed the distance they had put between each other during the
investigation, and was glad. It
meant that the dark woman’s intentions towards her daughter were worthy, and she
respected the woman for that. What
mattered most were the facts that one: she had her daughter back and two:
emotionally, Sarah was a lot better.
*******
It was a Saturday morning when Sarah was
to be released. She had awoken to a
beautiful warm day, with the sun shining persistently into her room. Since that first day out in the park,
she had taken to sleeping with the curtains open. Now the outside world was much more
appealing to her.
The
plan for the day had been set. She
was to be collected by her mother in the morning. They would spend most of the day
together, before Charlie would come and pick her up in the
evening.
Her
mother arrived on time, and after a short farewell to the few nurses she had
come to know, she left. The feeling
of walking out of Bell Tower with her possessions, though meagre, was one of the
greatest feelings Sarah had ever experienced.
*******
It was early evening. Sarah sat at the kitchen table in the
home she had not seen for over four years.
It was just as she had remembered it, and even the smell seemed
comforting to her. It was like
nothing had changed, well almost nothing.
Her father was gone and she hadn’t even been told when it had
happened. Still her mother took her
to visit his grave that morning, and she told him she would come to see him
whenever she could, feeling the need to make her past deeds up to him in some
way.
Now
she sat waiting for Charlie to come for her, nerves bristling furiously.
Barbara had noticed her
daughter’s behaviour.
“Hey are you
ok?”
Sarah looked up to her
mother, standing by the table.
She
smiled, “Yeah, just a little nervous about seeing Charlie…”
Sarah froze realising how
her remark must have sounded. She
looked at her mother warily.
“I
mean…”
Barbara shook her head,
“It’s alright sugar, and I know what you mean. Did you really think you could hide
something like that away from me?
No matter what has happened or how long we may have been apart. I am your mother and always will
be. Us mothers have a secret
insight into things like this you know.”
She
smiled, yet a deep sadness showed on her features.
Sarah noticed the look and
instantly knew what it was about.
She had yet to tell her mother the full story about what had happened to
her. She did intend on doing so,
but was waiting for the right moment, and now wasn’t it. Though really, she would admit, if only
to herself, that she was very anxious about doing so.
“Are you ok with it
mum? I mean ethically there would
be a lot to be said about what has happened between Charlie and myself. But there was nothing we could do
though, it just happened. She is
like my Knight in shining armour that came to that place and rescued me from the
rut I had placed my self in. I love
her very much.” She said almost
wistfully.
Barbara smiled down at her
daughter.
“How could I possibly argue
with a statement like that? Your
happiness is all that matters to me, and if she gives it to you then I am happy
too.”
Sarah got to her feet,
capturing the woman in a warm hug.
“Thank you
mother.”
They stood together for a
few seconds, until a knock echoed from the door. Barbara pulled away and looked at her
daughter.
“Do
you think she will be wearing the shining armour tonight?” The woman
questioned.
Sarah blushed and watched as
the woman went to answer the door.
Charlie smiled cautiously as
she came face to face with Sarah’s mother.
“Mrs Austin.”
She wasn’t sure whether Sarah had told
her mother about their relationship or how she would react when she
did.
The
old woman looked at the psychologist, as if noticing her for the first
time. She took in the long dark
hair, stunning features, and olive skin. The blue eyes that were regarding her
with caution suddenly moved behind her, and took on a warm loving
expression. Barbara smiled inside
knowing her daughter had caused that look.
Charlie smiled as she
continued to look at the adorable blushing blonde standing behind her
mother. They hadn’t seen each other
for six days and were both beginning to feel the strain of absence.
Barbara decided to break the
silence.
“Well Miss Taylor, no sense
in you staying out there, might as well come in for a
while.”
The
dark woman smiled at the entered the house.
*******
The drive to Charlie house was
quiet. Both women were lost deep in
thought about the future ahead. A
certain amount of uncertainty hung between them, and until they voice their
concerns that little bit of tension would keep them in an uneasy silence.
Charlie knew that when they
arrived home, she would have to seriously talk with Sarah.
Home, the word held meaning
now. Before it was just another
place to lay her head. The woman
more or less lived out of cardboard boxes.
But where Sarah was concerned, she saw significance, for the first time
in that simple little word.
It
took forty-five minutes of un-comfortable silence, before they got home. Charlie pulled into the drive and Sarah
got a first look at the place.
“Wow Charlie, this is
beautiful…so open yet…private…you know what I mean?”
She
gazed at the small, red brick country house.
Charlie turned and looked at
the blonde, relieved to hear her voice.
“Well obviously, I am very
glad you like it. It’s your home to
now remember that.” She watched the
young woman closely.
Sarah smiled excitedly and
un-clipped her seatbelt, in a hurry to explore her surroundings, “Well let’s not
sit here, I am dying to see inside.”
The
older woman smiled at the blondes’ obvious enthusiasm. Releasing her seatbelt, she opened the
door and got out into the cool evening air. It was still light out and Sarah took
full advantage of the fact by doing a quick inspection of the outer
grounds.
She
disappeared around the side, and Charlie jumped when she heard a sudden
shriek.
Dropping the bags that she
was presently pulling from the boot, she ran in the direction Sarah had just
taken.
“SARAH…what’s wrong?”
Her
frantic dash came to a halt when she spotted the blonde. Sarah stood looking out onto the over
grown garden.
“Would you look at that?”
She exclaimed.
Charlie frowned, “Yeah I
know it’s a right mess. I was
thinking of getting it all slabbed…would look much
neater.”
The
young woman looked at the nurse shocked, “Charlene Taylor, don’t you dare. Don’t you know what these
are?”
The
woman shook her head and shrugged, chuckling at the tone in the younger woman’s
voice.
Sarah started pointing.
“Strawberries, blackberries,
gooseberries…oh and look over there in the corner, an apple
tree.”
Charlie strained her neck
looking, “I don’t see anything.”
The
blonde rolled her eyes, “Well won’t really see them yet, but give it time for
everything to ripen. I can’t
believe it; I used to love picking strawberries and making jam when I was
younger. This garden is
amazing.”
Charlie grinned, “Oh I can
think of other uses for strawberries.”
As soon as she had made the comment, she
regretted saying it and looked worriedly at Sarah. The girl noticed the look and
sighed. Knowing she needed to have
a talk with the woman.
With a new reigning silence,
they went back to the jeep and retrieved Sarah’s luggage. Quietly they walked into the house and
Charlie dropped the baggage onto the floor.
“Right lets get these up
stairs shall we?”
Quickly she re-claimed the
bags and started up the stairs, Sarah close behind. At the top of the stairs Charlie stopped
on the landing, between two rooms facing each other.
She
pointed to the larger room, “Erm…this is my room,” then she pointed to the other
bedroom, “And this is the spare.
Look Sarah I don’t know where you want to sleep…I don’t want you to feel
pressured, or anything…”
Sarah sighed, “Charlie,
please don’t.”
The
tall woman stopped talking, slightly afraid that her concerns may have been
warranted.
“I
know what you are thinking and I want you to stop it ok. God I was hoping this wouldn’t be an
issue.”
Charlie stepped closer, “Its
not an issue, I just don’t want you to feel I am pressuring you in to
anything. I love you Sarah,
more than I ever thought I was capable of…I just want you to know I will never
push or rush you into anything.”
Sarah took hold of one dark
tanned hand.
“Charlie, please listen to
me. My past is just that…the
past. You make everything that once
scared me, pale in to comparison to you.
I don’t need time and I definitely don’t feel rushed, I want this with
you, to be with you.”
She
kissed the delicately scarred knuckles on the woman’s hand. “Let’s just look forward shall we? All I want is to be with
you.”
Charlie leant down and
captured soft inviting lips. She
couldn’t find the words to express how Sarah had just affected her, so hoped her
actions would better convey.
Moving in until their bodies
fit perfectly, the older woman pushed her hands through Sarah’s hair, feeling
it’s silky texture run through her fingers. Sarah moaned relishing the contact, and
lifted her hands to cup Charlie’s face with a worshipping
tenderness.
She
pulled away gently, but placed tiny kisses on the older woman’s cheeks, eyes and
nose.
“Thank you” She
whispered.
Charlie smiled and bent down
picking up Sarah’s bags, “So do I have to even ask what room you
want?”
Sarah blushed and shook her
head, then watched as the woman took the bags into their
room.
*******
Charlie had a spur of the
moment idea, deciding she wanted to make this first night for Sarah in her new
home, special. Well as special as
she could given the time. So while
the blonde was in their bedroom, finding places for her belongings, to which she
was told ‘move what ever she wanted.
Charlie was frantically dashing around, trying to organise a romantic
evening.
She
looked down the phone book for the nearest Chinese restaurant and ordered a wide
variety of dishes. Then she had set
to work on the kitchen, since they didn’t have a dining room.
She
removed the last of the boxes, set the table after a hectic search for candles,
and looked through her music collection for some appropriate tunes.
Every time Sarah tried to
make her way down the stairs, the woman would usher her back up, asking her to
do little jobs. Sarah did as
requested willingly, but joked good-naturedly with the
woman.
“I
didn’t realise all you wanted me for was to be your own personal lackey!” She stated.
*******
Sarah was in the middle of
clearing out one of Charlie’s junk drawers when the woman appeared at the
door. She leant beside the frame
and waited until she was spotted.
“Come with me.” she simply
stated.
Sarah frowned, “I can’t just
drop all this.” She said pointing
to the pile of old clothes in front of her. It seemed the tall woman had a tendency
for hoarding old junk, and that wasn’t good in Sarah’s
eyes.
Charlie grinned, “Yes you
can, it is junk, just chuck it out later…look…I have a surprise for
you.”
The
girls head shot up at that, and she pushed her self to her feet with a
mischievous look.
“Oh
now you have me intrigued.”
The
taller woman walked towards Sarah and pulled out a black silk scarf from behind
her back. She stood behind the
younger woman.
“Do
you trust me?” She asked in a deep
whisper, sending a violent shiver through the smaller woman.
All
Sarah could do was nod.
Slowly Charlie brought her
hands around the petite frame and placed the scarf around her eyes, tying is
securely behind her head. Then she
took the blondes hand and led her out the bedroom towards the stairs. Quickly deciding she didn’t want to risk
Sarah walking down the stairs blind, she pick her up in one swift motion and
carried her to the bottom.
The
girl was pleasantly surprised by the other woman’s strength and smiled
inwardly.
Once they had reached the bottom, Sarah
was disappointed as she was deposited back onto the ground and lead into the
kitchen.
“Oh…I haven’t smelt that in
a long time.” The young woman
exclaimed, taking in the Chinese aroma.
Charlie smiled and pulled
off the scarf, “Welcome home.”
The speechless girl looked on in awe, taking in the sight. The kitchen was bathed in a soft candle lit glow. The table was set with a large amount of dishes covering the area and in the background; she could hear soft music coming from the living room.
“Charlie this is
beautiful…now I know why you kept me up stairs for two hours.” Sarah’s eyes misted
over.
Charlie bent down and placed
a soft kiss on the golden head, then lead her to the table. Pulling out a chair, she sat the girl
down, before taking her own seat opposite.
Looking up she noticed Sarah
was just looking at her with an amazed expression.
“I
can’t believe you did all of this for me.”
Charlie bent her head,
“Sarah in my eyes this is nothing compared to all you do deserve, and I will
spend the rest of my life trying to show just how much you mean to me.”
She
reached over the table taking a small, pale hand, and kissed it softly.
“Now lets eat before it gets
cold, shall we?”
With glazed eyes, Sarah
nodded her head and started on the feast before her.
*******
Just over half the food was gone before
both women declared defeat. Sarah
sat back in her chair and looked over at Charlie, a sly smile graced her
lips. The other woman noticed this
and arched an eyebrow in question.
With seductive slowness, the
blonde rose from her chair and walked over to the brunette. She smiled and bent down until their
faces were inches apart and with a lascivious grin pushed her tongue over
waiting lips. Charlie felt her
heart pound double speed, and then sighed as the girl pulled
back.
“Why did you stop?” She asked
breathlessly.
“You had some sauce on your
lips”
Charlie breath hitched, “And
you couldn’t just tell me?”
The
blonde gave a little smile, “I could have, but I thought you may like me to
remove it this way instead, I know I certainly did.”
“Good
thought.”
The
still breathless woman concluded.
She moved her hands forward taking Sarah’s soft cheeks in a gentle
grasp.
“I
wanna make love to you.”
This time it was Sarah’s
turn to gasp, she felt herself blush and her heart beat triple time within her
chest.
“But…”
“Don’t,” Sarah started,
“Don’t you dare ask whether I am ready or am I sure.”
She
pulled Charlie to her feet, “Because I am.” She whispered.
Charlie moved forward
placing her lips on the girl’s forehead and kissing it tenderly. She moved down until she had tasted
every bit of skin of Sarah’s face, ending with her lips. Cupping the soft cheeks in strong hands
she moved her lips over the blondes with mounting pressure. Sarah sighed, relishing the feel of the
taller woman against her, it was almost overwhelming. Charlie allowed the kiss to continue a
little longer until finally she placed one last chaste kiss on the warm
mouth. Smiling, she pulled away,
taking Sarah’s warm right hand in her own.
They walked through the
house and up the stairs until the found themselves in their bedroom. Charlie stopped in front of the bed and
pulled Sarah into an encompassing embrace as their lips met solidly. Together they fell into the welcome
bed.
Charlie rolled until she was
lying on top of the petite woman, bracing her weight on either side of the small
frame. She looked down into dark
green eyes.
With a trembling hand she
pulled Sarah’s t-shirt out the waist of her jeans and pushed it over her
head. Looking down at the softness
before her she felt a surge of overwhelming desire.
“No-body has ever
made me feel the way you do Sarah.”
She breathed
The
blonde pulled Charlie down to her waiting lips, running her dainty hands through
the thick black tresses.
“Charlie, you know when you
were talking about being happy and the different ways it could be
achieved?”
The
psychologist nodded, not even aware that she was holding her
breath.
“Well you’re right, Love
does make you feel happy, loving you makes me feel
happy.”
The
older woman smiled and breathed again, “I love you too, Sarah.” She leaned forward and closed the
distance, sealing together swollen lips.
Slowly unwanted clothes were removed, until bare flesh touched bare flesh for the first time. Uncertain and tentative touches became bolder, as whimpers of desire left swollen lips. Moving against one another, their sweat soaked bodies slid together in perfect tandem, pushing their desires higher. Determined hands wandered, touching desperately aching places, stoking an uncontrollable fire within them both, until their bodies exploded with relentless waves of passion.
*******
In
the comforting moonlight, they lay wrapped within each other’s arms. Sarah adjusted her head, upon the soft
breast it was perched upon. She
turned her head up, to look at the dark woman’s blue eyes that captured the
moonlight perfectly.
“Charlie?”
“Hmm?”
“Can I ask you a
question?”
The
tall woman smirked, “Anything.”
“How old are you…I just
realised that I don’t even know.”
Charlie paused for a second,
“I’m thirty two.”
Sarah just nodded her
head.
“Why…I mean…does it bother
you…that I am older?”
“No, of course not it’s only
eight years…but still…”
Charlie arched an eyebrow,
“‘But still’ what?”
“Nothing” Sarah said, “Don’t
you worry I’ll go easy on you.”
“What do you mean easy on
me?”
Sarah laughed, “Well you are getting on…but like I said
don’t worry, I’ll still love you, wrinkles and all.”
“I
don’t have any…why you little.”
Charlie twisted the young woman over until she was lying beneath her, and
started a mass tickling attack.
“I’ll show you,” she stated digging delicately into ticklish ribs.
Sarah shrieked in delight as
Charlie’s hands spread a seemingly relentless attack upon her body. But soon the touches turned softer, and
lips found waiting lips. Sarah
melted into the touch as the two women moulded together once again. Their desire to prove just how much they
loved each other reasserted its self, in the first of many long nights to
come.
She was worth the
wait. Was Sarah’s final coherent thought,
before she was swept again into a world that consisted of only the older woman’s
touch.
THE
END.
Well that is it
folks…feedback is a must; so let me have it.