A New Judgment

Chapter 7: The Drive and an Explanation

Nessa just drops her bag there at the door once it is closed, clasping her trembling hands together as she tries to control her breathing. After a few minutes of trying to ground herself, she shakes her hands out to control the trembling and picks up her bag and purse putting it with her full-size luggage. She absentmindedly grabs a change of clothes while processing the conversation she just had with Damien.

Once she is changed she plugs in her phone and gets into bed, scrolling through various websites researching more information on poly relationships, and trying to find some history on the other three members of the judgment day she doesn't really know. She doesn't realize how long she has been researching, taking notes, and saving websites to reference later. She finally decides she has had enough and needs to sleep when she yawns for the fourth consecutive time in a few minutes. She sets her phone down and snuggles into the covers, not noticing how bright the room has been getting when there is a knock on the door.

She looks at the alarm clock on the nightstand and groans, "Fuck." The knock at the door comes again, this time louder.

"Give me a moment please," She calls out, having a good idea who is at the door. She shuffles to the door and opens it. Not surprised to see Dominik standing there looking towards the ground rubbing the back of his neck.

"We didn't agree on a time and I figured..." He trails off as he looks up and sees the state she is in. He steps in and closes the door placing his hands on her shoulders and looking into her eyes.

"Nessa, what happened are you ok? Did he do something? Did something happen?" His eyes go to the slight bruise on her wrist from the taping last night and his expression darkens.

She shrugs off his hands and takes a step back rubbing her eyes. "Nothing happened, no he didn't, he was a perfect gentleman last night. I just apparently didn't sleep because I was too busy researching." She yawns at the end.

"Researching what Nessa?" He asks sitting on the armchair in the corner to give her space.

"Researching more answers to my questions I didn't ask last night Dom." She answers as she digs through her suitcase for a change of clothes.

"Maybe I could answer your questions mi.... Nes, sorry." He catches himself. "I might ask some questions but Dom, I would like to research this on my own so I can come to my own understanding and then ask if I am understanding things right. I know Luis talked to you all last night about our conversation." Nessa heads towards the bathroom.

"Actually not exactly. He gave us the gist of the conversation. Said he would elaborate when we are in Seattle. He was more focused on me apparently not treating you right," he calls out as she changes in the bathroom. She yanks the door open, her nightclothes in her hand, and stomps over to her luggage.

"I didn't say you didn't treat me right, just that I would open my own car door, and other doors occasionally because you didn't fight me as much on it." She shoves her clothes in the bag and zips it up.

"Well, I am under orders..." He draws out the s sound as she glares at him. He remains sitting and holds up his hands in surrender. "It's what we know, how we were raised." He begins his explanation only to be cut off by Nessa, "It shows respect to women..."

"Yes I know he said the same thing last night," she snaps and immediately feels guilty. "I'm sorry Dom, it's not your fault. I didn't mean to snap at you. I've been doing that a lot the last two days."

"It's ok Nes, both times you just woke up or in this case didn't sleep at all. You are tired so let's get started. A quick breakfast on the way and you can sleep on the way and we can have our talk when you are feeling better and ready." He stands up and grabs her bag to no argument this time, only her silently nodding in agreement and following him to the door and falling back into the rhythm they had when they were together, he opens the door and she steps through with him following behind and closing it then wraps his free arm around her shoulders allowing her to lean into him. If she wasn't so tired she would push away from him but it feels familiar, it feels right.