Unexpected

Part 16: Fire

It feels like a vacuum has sucked all the air from his lungs.

What he thought was going to be a talk about their feelings for each other- turned into a shit storm of Helen confessing her deepest secret and it was something he really didn't want to hear.

It broke his heart hearing the strongest woman he knows breaking down and saying she deserves life less than someone who died- not from the car crash itself, but rather from the complications of being their child into the world.

For her to say that she tried to stop loving him and couldn't- only turned into her trying to get him to stop loving her: that was the nail in his tire.

Now she stands there.

Shaking.

Crying.

And unsure as what he will do or say.

He'll, he doesn't even know what he should say or do.

He knows whatever he says isn't going to make her feel better.

He knows it won't stop her fears of him hating her or wanting her gone from his life.

He knows all of this and yet— he knows he must do something.

Struggling to stand, he holds onto the IV pole and goes towards her, but she backs up from him. Sad and scared of what he might do.

Is she scared I'm going to hurt her?

Really?

Never in my life have I hit a woman.

And I'm not starting now.

He has her backed into a corner, the low lights shadowing them slightly. He takes her in. The sight of her quivering lip and wet glassy eyes. The sound of her wavered, clipped breathy sobs- choking on her own tears. Taking his right hand he brings it up to her left cheek and she immediately closes her eyes and flinches with a gasping plea. Cupping her cheek with one hand and holding onto the IV pole with the other- he feels her shaking against him. Leaning down, he rests his forehead against hers.

"I love you." He quietly and calmly says. Her eyes remain shut and she continues to shake and sob quietly. "I'm blessed you're here, Helen. Georgia's death...it has nothing to do with who lived or who died in that accident. We were fortunate you got to us in time so she could meet her daughter. You gave her time- Helen. You didn't take it away. I've never once thought that my life would be better without you in it. I feel— in fact...I know my life would be worse. I'm not religious- but even I thank God for you everyday. So please- if not for yourself- then for me and Luna: let go of this guilt you have, because I need you, Helen. All of you- for now and forever."

When he stops talking, her eyes open and she looks up into his. He smiles softly, a few tears rising to his eyes and for the first time in their brief history- he doesn't hesitate with her. Tilting her face up, he presses his lips gently to hers and leaves a quick, but tender kiss there. It zaps them both in a way. It calms her and it energizes him. It's what he has thought about since that night in her office and it lives up to his standards and dreams.

"I love you, Helen Sharpe. Don't ever try to convince yourself otherwise... Now...uh...I feel my legs giving out from standing so much—could you please..." He exasperatedly says and she immediately hooks under his right side and assists him back to bed. Getting there, he struggles to get back against the elevated bed- but he gets there, slightly winded from his weak lung. "Thanks, Love."

It causes her to blush madly as he says it.

"Do you need anything else?" She asks through her stuffed nose.