Compassion

Struggle

Athena peeked her head in the doorway and was horrified at what she saw. Elijah was leaning precariously over the side of the tub broken into a sweat as he attempted to balance himself. She began to rush forward but stopped herself. He wants to be independent, why should I rush to help him? She thought annoyed with him.

"Ok, ok, shite. Balance. Come on!" He clenched his jaw and used his upper body strength to pull himself over the side of the tub. "Come on legs! Work damn you!" He shook with the effort to not fall over onto the floor. He took a moment to catch his breath and tried in one futile attempt to joust himself over the edge. Athena had seen enough and had run in before he started to fall back.

"And just what were you expecting to accomplish?!" She demanded.

"Get off of me. I don't need your help. Besides, I called out and did not receive an answer, you cannot expect me to soak all damn day do ya?" He tried to push her away and continue but the grabbing of his arm made him halt any movement.

"You think I enjoy your presence in my home? You think I asked to have you appear back in my life?" He resisted the urge to flinch at her words. "Well I didn't so for the time being you either will cooperate so you don't continue to reopen your wounds," she referred to the reddening of the water, "or you can just fall into a big heap on the floor. Won't matter much to me."

He glared and snatched his arm away from her. "I think I will manage."

She shrugged and turned to leave. "Your choice." She stormed out of the bathroom careful to leave the door open just in case.

He watched her leave a little shocked by the encounter. He did not want to accept the fact that he could never walk again and could possibly need assistance for the remainder of his life. His head began to hurt as well as his side. He was almost certain the cut on his temple had reopened at some point in his attempt to climb out of the tub. After while he caught his breath after another struggle and reexamined his situation. "I just need to heal enough to get home and find out what in the hell happened." And get away from Athena Lupe. He thought. "Athena!"

She peeped her head int the door and sweetly replied. "Yessssssssss?"

He crossed his arms.

***********************************************
"Today we mourn the death of our leader. Senselessly lost. But he died, saving my son and nephew. We run and commemorate." Jerry bowed his head and the crowd silently mourned their leader. Though not officially alpha yet, they respected him because charisma and dedication he showed. The tribe never understood exactly what possessed Athena to betray them and many doubted the rumors until the photos. Her parents Ashton and Lelia maintained their social standings but both made a habit of shunning everyone for the involvement in the horrid event. Despite their disdain for Elijah, they could not help but feel a tinge of sorrow in the lost of their fallen leader.

Elijah's sickly father stood, "Tonight we run in his honor and work to comfort his betroth." Vivianne hiccuped and let out a cry of anguish as Jason worked to keep her from falling over. They've not reached Intwinement yet. He thought annoyed with his cousin. Elijah's father continued raising his voice slightly above Vivianne's cries. "We will stay strong in this time of sorrow." He finished covering his cough. His father had fallen sickly with an unknown illness in the last few years and there has been a noticeable decline in his presence felt by the tribe in general. "In my a scenes Jerry and my son's betrothed will lead the run. We will convene here at midnight." The crowd dispersed and left behind a few people who lingered.

"Daddy, we're leading the run tonight?" Vivianne asked suddenly no longer as distraught.

"Yes. Honey I believe from now on, we will be leading a lot of things in this tribe of ours."

"Oh will we now?"

"Yes. You were to be future Luna, and now with the death of our Alpha, you will act as leader in his place until you mate, and then your other half will lead beside you. Fear not child, I will guide you in your leadership."

"Other half? Surely that could take years after my Elijah" she said as her gaze caught on a shirtless male returning from a run.

"I understand that. Do not worry I will act as your advisor. You must give yourself time to properly mourn Elijah, okay?" He said snapping her attention back to him.

"Why of course father." She sniffled and walked away. "Damien will you accompany back to my room? I am terribly tired and I feel faint. I'm all cried out I fear." She placed her hand on his arm to get his attention.

His eyes widened and he reluctantly escorted her. "Yes Luna."

Luna. What a glorious name.

Jason watched his cousin pass him and shook his head silently. Someone should alert Athena of this. She of all people deserves to know, wherever she is. I just hope she is content despite Elijah's death. Maybe I'll ask Ashton, surely he knows where she is.

********************************
"There. Was that so hard?" She grimaced at the fact that Elijah Ocean was currently in her bed naked.

"You are enjoying this aren't you?"

"I'd be lying if I said a small part of me isn't. But naturally, I hate seeing someone in such pain."

"What? I'm not in pain, the wounds are healing a little and that ointment you used earlier helped."

"Elijah, you are in pain."

"I just told you I was not Athena."

"Emotional and psychological pain Elijah."

"Wrong. I am fine."

"I've seen all stages of grief. Remember I used to treat those who lost their mates. The stunt you pulled trying to get out of the tub was the main depiction of your anguish."

"Athena. You are a DOCTOR not a psychologist, you'd do well to remember that."

"I may not be I do understand the human body. Your stress and repressed emotions are going to affect your ability to heal. You'd do well to remember that. Also, I must return to work tomorrow. I'm sure you will fare without me."

"Work?"

"Well... Yes, I work. That is kind of how people are able to live Elijah."

"Where." He ignored her sass.

"The Townshed hospital."

"You retreat humans?!"

"Yes. I learned. Not much different from that of our kind. The medicine differs and they do not heal as quickly. I'm head surgeon." She said holding her head up with pride.

Pride flashed before he put on a mask of indifference. "Well head surgeon, good for you for finding some use for yourself."

"Don't you dare Elijah!"

"Don't I dare what?!"

"Try and minimize what I do! I save lives and I'm damned good at what I do." He smiled a little at her passion. She had always been passionate about her ability to help heal people, but she never looked for praise just simply recognition. "Get that ugly smirk off of your face Elijah Ocean. I am serious. I have worked my butt off to help you and am constantly met with disrespect and now you minimize my job..."

"Athena, that's not what I meant I--"

"That's what you meant, that's what you've always meant."

"No listen. I smiled because you've always been so passionate about your work. Your ranting bought up memories of how you tutored me." He explained.

"That smile bought up rather different memories for me." She said turning and walking out of his room. He stared after her and laid his head back groaning. Suddenly his wounds didn't hurt him nearly as much as his chest was at the moment.