'Til Death - Chris Motionless Love Story

Chapter Five - The Lion, The Witch, and The Audacity of This Bitch

SALEM'S POV
"Chris, please, I promise I can go to work!" I begged as he was getting ready Monday morning. He shook his head at me and went past me to get some coffee.

"Salem, I already said no. That's an order as your boss. I don't need you overdoing it any, now please, just go lay back down." I crossed my arms at his answer. I really was feeling fine, almost no pain at all! I spent the whole weekend on Chris' couch practically, with my head on his lap as he brushed through my hair with his fingers. It was nice, but I needed to get busy again. That was too much time alone with my brain, needless to say.

"I won't be overdoing it. I'd probably just be taking pricing calls anyways. I'm fine, really!" I was being stubborn. I needed to get back to work. Chris took a deep sigh and hung his head to the ground, then laughed.

"Persistent are we? Fine, but we need to stop by your apartment first. You need to change." He grabbed his keys, and I followed him out the door. When we pulled up to my place he shut off the car and unbuckled his seat belt.

"What are you doing?" I asked as he got out of the car.

"I'm coming in with you." He stated the obvious and I rolled my eyes, then unlocked my door. I cringed at the sight of my couch, all disheveled and a mess from the incident. Chris placed his hand on the small of my back, then ushered me forward to my room. He sat me on my bed, then walked over to my closet.

"I'm going to choose your outfit today, you just sit there and relax." He insisted. I rolled my eyes again.

"Chris, for the hundredth and final time, I am not that fragile. I need to do these things." He ignored me and kept sitting through my hangers, judging each piece of clothing. He finally pulled out a sleek black dress, my black blazer, black tights, and my red studded stilettos.

"Here," he said as he handed all of it to me, "I think this will look amazing on you." I slinked off to the bathroom as he took a seat on the edge of my bed, placing his leg over his knee and pulling out his phone. I was still moving kind of slow, but managed to ease the tights on over my legs without snagging them on my black stiletto shaped nails. I slid the black dress over my head, then quickly realized I couldn't get the zipper up all the way, my arms were just too short. I sighed reluctantly, and walked out to Chris with my red heels on.

"I need help." He chuckled at my plea after I had been so insistent that I was independent and never needed help. He gripped the small black zipper in his hand, pulling it up with a zip.

"Ya know, usually I'm unzipping a woman's dress."

"Christopher!" I shouted, a blush coming across my face. He laughed and shrugged his shoulders at me.

"I'm just saying!" I turned to face him, the corner of his mouth was up in a smirk as he looked me up and down. I ignored his smirk and grabbed my blazer and my purse, then we walked out together. I went to get in my car, but he stopped me.

"No, no ma'am, you are not driving." He demanded. I stood there wide eyed with my keys in my hand.

"Well, I'm not walking to the office, so I'm taking my car." How the hell did he expect me to get there?

"No, you're riding with me." Was he insane? What if people notice? They are bound to talk. Especially that dick head funeral director in the office. He will talk for sure. "Just get in the car, Salem."

"No, I'm taking mine. People will notice if we pull up in the same car." I was insistent on taking mine. I needed to do this, and I needed some sort of barrier between Chris and me. He threw his hands up, surrendering, then got in his car. I rolled my eyes and huffed, then got into mine. Ah, yes. Alone time. Finally. I turned on my music, and just shuffled it. I typically had time for two songs on my way to the office, and those two were "Everlong (Acoustic)" and "Snuff". Both wonderful songs that I held near and dear to my heart, both the exact opposite of the other. It wasn't until I pulled up to the parking lot that my break down hit. I placed my head on my steering wheel and let out a frustrated scream. I was so angry. Not at anyone in particular, just with myself. I had fucked up such a great thing, and all for what? For me to come out to Scranton, fuck my new boss, then get raped? I was the problem, I was always the problem. About five minutes into my breakdown there was a tap on my window. I knew who it was, so I just reached over and rolled down the window, not even bothering to look up. I didn't want him to see the tears streaming, my makeup smeared, my blood shot eyes and puffy skin. Truly, I was an ugly cryer. The very definition of it.

"Salem?" He asked cautiously. I put a finger up, telling him to just give me a second. I collected myself and wiped a few tears, then looked up at him with a fake smile.

"I'm fine. I promise." He opened my car door for me, and I swung my legs out. Chris held his hand out for me and I looked at him like he was nuts.

"Salem, I'm not asking you to marry me, I'm trying to help you. Take my hand." His usual challenging demeanor had melted into compassion. I took his hand and could practically feel sparks, sending a jolt to my body causing goosebumps. I hadn't realized I was frozen until he waved his hand in front of my face. "Earth to Salem? You okay?"

"Y-yeah. I'm fine." I stood up, but stumbled and fell into his chest. My head rested there for a little longer than it probably should have, but it felt nice. His heartbeat practically soothed me, and his arms were a safe haven. The windchill was cold, causing me to shiver against him.

"We should go in, love." He said softly as he kissed my head. I nodded, and we walked in together, pretending like nothing had gone on between us in the parking lot. The moment I walked in Veronica ran up to me, pulling me into a hug.

"Christopher called and told me what had happened. I just want you to know, we are here for you." I wasn't sure what to say, or how to react. On one hand, I hated having people know about it, but on the other, I was glad to have a support system. I needed that, and I think Chris knew it so that's why he did it.
A couple hours into my day I was sitting at my desk, typing up several memorial books and folders just to pass the time, then saw someone lean against my cubicle out of the corner of my eye.

"Well, Ms. Salem, you been playing hookie?" I rolled my eyes. It was Ben, the director that hated me.

"I just had a few things to take care of. Christopher gave me time off."

"And he coincidentally had the same days as well, and y'all showed up together today?" What did he want me to say? That Chris and I were fucking? That Chris and I had a secret relationship? Just then Cherie, the receptionist, walked in.

"Hey, Salem? You have someone here asking for you." Odd, but okay. I grabbed my binder with pricing information and slid on my blazer, then placed my name tag on it. I walked to the front and into the room she had placed them in.

"Hi, I'm Salem, how can I-" I stopped mid sentence, shocked by who it was.

"Hey, Salem. I think we've got a few things to discuss."

"Trevor, I will only ask you once to leave. Get out." I gave him my warning and opened the door. He stepped towards me.

"Don't be like that, baby."

"Cherie, call Christopher."

"No, Cherie, this is between Salem and me." Cherie seemed panicked, but it didn't take Chris long to walk to the front with a few checks. I made panicked eye contact with Chris, and he stormed right over.

"Trevor, you have one chance before you see a side you don't want to see." Chris warned. Trevor smirked and spit on Chris' newly polished leather shoes. Chris pulled him out of the room by his collar, and slammed him against the wall. "If you ever, and I mean, ever, lay a hand on Salem again or even come near her, I will throw you in the crematory and shut the door, rejoicing in your screams." Chris was seething, I swear I saw smoke coming from his ears. He dropped Trevor, and watched as he walked out the door. That day I saw something in Chris' eyes. A side that cared deeply, a side that would kill for me.