Replacement (The Umbrella Academy)

Chapter 20: Comfortably Peaceful

Ashlinn sits opposite Grace on the bed as she finishes applying the bandages to his wound. Ashlinn had her hand grasped firmly in Five's, not wanting to let go or leave his side. She sees Allison walk up to Diego who was standing in the doorway. She couldn't hear what they were whispering about but she could tell that it wasn't good.

"Please be okay." She mutters as she looks back down at Five who was sleeping soundly.

"There's nothing to worry about, Ashlinn. He's going to be okay." Grace places her hand that held Five's. Ashlinn just nods. She knew Grace was right, but God did her mind run through every worst-case scenario.

"Ashlinn, we're going to follow a lead on Peabody, you coming?" Diego poked his head in the door and Ashlinn looked up at him.

"I'm gonna stay with him. You guys go." She smiles at Diego before looking down at Five once again. She didn't want to take her eyes off of him for too long just in case.

"Okay, then." She could hear a smug smile in his voice and she shakes her head.

"What?" She looks at him again. Just as she suspected, sketchy smile.

"Nah, it's nothing. I'll tell you later." He waves her off as he sets off. Ashlinn just laughs to herself.

"I'll leave him in your care now." Grace stands and Ashlinn nods.

"Yeah. Thanks, Mom." She smiles at Grace, who returns the sentiment.

"It's not a problem dear." She walks out of the room, leaving Ashlinn alone with the sleeping Five.

"Such a pain in my ass." She mumbles as she kicks off her shoes and lays on the bed. She wasn't leaving his side until he opened his eyes.

Ashlinn turns on her side, her hand still firmly clutched in his as she examines his features. She hadn't really had the chance to since he fell out of the sky and the only detailed look she ever got was from a painting above the mantle place. She brings her free hand up to push his hair out of his face. He looked so peaceful. He also sounds peaceful. With Ashlinn holding his hand, she could get a better feel as to how his mind was and to her surprise, it was peaceful.

Comfortably peaceful.

She looks down at his bandaged wound and frowns. "Fucking idiot." She mutters under her breath. "All this could've been prevented if you had told me." She lightly grazes her fingers over the bandage with a sigh.

She rolls back onto her back and takes a moment to think as she stared at the ceiling. Why did she care so much? She's never cared this much about virtually anyone not to mention the amount of blind trust she's put into him. Why?

She turns her head to look at him again. Her brows were deeply knitted as she questioned her feelings. She looks down at their intertwined hands and back up at him before quickly averting her gaze back to the ceiling.

"No...no. You're imagining things, Ashlinn." She mutters to herself in reassurance as she turns to face him again. After a pause, she mutters, "Maybe...? No. No. Absolutely not."

"If you don't wake up in the morning, I swear to God, I'll kill you myself." Her grip tightens in his hand as she closes her eyes. She didn't realize how tired she was until she did and she fell asleep instantly.

A bright light invades Ashlinn's vision as she was ripped from her slumber. A small groan escapes her as she slowly opens her eyes, officially breaking her sleep. Instead of waking in her bed, surrounded by nothing but fluffy pillows and blankets she was surprised to see that she had woken in Five's bed; no longer holding hands but instead, she was carefully wrapped in his arms.