Unspeakable

Chapter 48: Crash Course

"Are you still annoyed that they left us behind today?" Garreth said, sorting through the potions he'd piled in his bag, setting them on the floor in rows so he could take inventory of them.

"Of course I am." Anne growled softly. They were trying not to wake the girls as they slept.

"You agreed with them that it wouldn't be a good idea for us to wander on our own when we don't know London." Garreth sighed.

"That's why I'm annoyed. I agreed to it. But I'm still unhappy about it. I hate feeling so useless." Anne grumbled

"Anne Sallow." Garreth said in a suddenly serious voice, making her look over to him in surprise. "Stop saying you're useless. You're not."

Anne looked down with a gentle smile at the reminder, moving closer to him as he counted his potions, leaning her head on his shoulder. Maybe it was for the best that they hadn't gone on a super dangerous spying mission, being subtle wasn't a strength of either of them.

"Are you feeling okay?" He asked in a softer tone. He knew how terrified she'd been after the fight, and knew that an impending fight was likely on the way. He hadn't known she was still so mentally scarred by her curse, but it did make sense.

"I'm nervous." She confessed softly. "I don't want to freeze up again. I'm..." she sighed wearily. "I feel bad, because what if we had been able to get there sooner? Maybe we could have saved Diane."

"Hey, now." Garreth turned toward her, bringing her into his lap as he kissed her forehead gently. "No talking like that. It's not your fault you reacted like that. No one is blaming you for anything."

He remembered that night well, though. The way she'd woken up screaming in terror at the sound of spells and yelling had ripped right through him. He'd been awkward about sleeping in the same bed as her, but... he was glad he had. He'd held her in his lap as she shook, whimpering softly as she clutched at him while she slowly came to her senses. She was so vulnerable in that moment, so raw and torn. He hated seeing her hurting like that.

Anne laid her head against his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his neck gently as she leaned against him. Sitting in his lap like this felt so comforting, his arms wrapped around her waist as she held him. It was quickly becoming one of her favorite things to do.

"Do you think they'll find anything?" She asked softly against his shoulder.

"I hope they do." Garreth replied, looking down at her. "But if they don't, there's always tomorrow."

Anne smiled at his optimism before looking over to the rows and rows of potions and giggled softly. "Brought enough?" She teased.

"Well between my terrible dueling skills, Sebastian's impressive ability to get hurt, and your medical potions, I figured I was better safe than sorry." He grinned. "Besides... I packed a few extra. Just in case."

"Extras?" Anne asked curiously.

"You never know." He shrugged.

Anne tilted her head curiously, wondering what they could be. "Tell me what they are."

"Nope." He teased back with a wry grin.

"Tell me." She insisted, poking him in the gut.

He winced and his green eyes flared with mirth. "Oh you want to play that game?"

"Ah- no wait-" she looked over in alarm at the sleeping girls before Garreth tickled at her sides, making her wheeze loudly as she tried her best not to laugh as she wriggled against him.

He let up when she let a cry slip out, both of them looking over as Alice grumbled in her sleep and turned over before snoring again.

They sighed in relief and looked back to each other with playful grins.