"you are not going back," mike stated sternly as el furrowed her eyebrows, "why? that.. that's my home,"
"no, el," he shook his head. "i am not letting you go back to that goddamn house. you deserve better and you're not staying in that house any longer. you're going to stay with me and your brothers are free to visit, but they are not taking you home."
"emerson.." el whispered and looked behind him which made mike turn around.
"look, i don't give a crap about what you say emerson. she's going to stay with me." mike stated sternly, "and that's fucking final."
emerson nodded. "okay. i agree with you. el, you should stay somewhere safe and if mike can do that, then it's fine. at least i will know where you are."
mike gave el a nod. "i just need your consent, el,"
"yes," she breathed out, "yes, i will stay with you. only if karen lets."
"she lets. she already knows," he smiled and caressed her face, "now come on, let's get your shit packed because there's no point for you to stay here any longer."
"the doctor said—" emerson started.
"fuck the doctor, i'm healthy as hell," el said with a wide smile as mike grabbed her stuff.
"eli will take you down, sunshine," emerson said, "i'll have a little chat with mike, yeah?"
she nodded, giving mike a smile before she walked over to emerson and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"bye, love you," el told him which made mike's jaw clench.
he knew emerson didn't hurt her yet. yet still, he felt a ton of anger towards him.
but he knew he needed to calm down or else emerson will be suspicious as to his sudden attitude towards him.
once el was out the door, emerson spoke up.
"look uh—"
"i will treat her nicely. i will make sure she is well. don't worry about it," mike said, "i will make sure she is safe."
emerson nodded, "i know you will. just.. make sure she calls, okay?" he whispered, "and make sure she eats. and takes her meds. she's very whiny about that.." he let out a small chuckle.
mike looked away and deeply sighed. he could have never imagined emerson even laying a hand on el.
he seemed like he cared for her deeply and that he loved her a lot.
why did he hit her?
"i don't want to keep el waiting," mike muttered and picked up el's bags, "i'll make sure she calls."
"okay, thank you," emerson smiled at him and mike forced one back before he exited the room.
the good thing is, is that emerson at this moment has not touched her. all mike needed to do was that he would never ever do so.
*
"here," mike smiled as el slowly sat up on the bed with a yawn, "mike... it's so early. hm, let me sleep,"
"it's noon," he said, "and i need to go help my mom grab a few things from the store. she made you food downstairs," he said as he handed the glass of water and her medication to her.
he needed to make sure she took it this time. he needed to make sure she was okay.
as she gulped the pills down, she leaned her head down to his shoulder and closed her eyes. "you're very nice to sleep with, mike."
