Getting back to "Normal" | Rhekker

Chapter 75- Daniel and Drinks

"Daniel will be here in a few minutes, do you have everything you need?" Connor asked, coming into the living area.
"Yeah, I'll make some more coffee when he gets here" Ava pushed the dark curls from her face, holding her own mug in her hands to settle her nerves.
"Okey, I'll give you two some space, my card is on the kitchen table if you need anything" he said, leaving a black card on the kitchen counter.
"You know I have my own money" she reminded him, joining him at the counter.
"I know, but if you need it it's there"

Their was a knock on the door and Ava moved to answer it, leaving her coffee at the counter. Connor moved deeper into the house.
"Hi Daniel" she opened the door, smiling sweetly before stepping aside to let him in.
"Hello, Ava" he followed her into the apartment.
"Would you like a coffee? I just made a pot" she offered.
"Yes please, milk and no sugar. I'm trying to cut down" he said, sitting himself on the sofa.
Ava began making his drink focusing on treating this like any other day.

She placed it in front of him on the coffee table before taking her seat on the far end of the sofa. Ava took a soft sip from her own up, letting it warm her bones. She met Daniels eyes briefly.
"I won't ask you how you are, I'm sure you're sick of people asking that. But how are you recuperating?"
Ava swallowed her coffee, "em well? I suppose" she tapped her fingers against the edge of her mug.

Before Daniel could ask another question their were footsteps from down the hall. "Hi Daniel." Connor smiled.
"I'm just going to get a coffee, give you two some privacy"
Connor leaned over the back of the sofa, "text me when you want me to come back" he whispered in her ear.
"Bye" Connor kissed her cheek, his hand slipping from her shoulder.

The door clicked close behind Connor, leaving Ava alone, or at least without his presence for the first time since she'd come back.
Ava looked back to Daniel, "you still don't approve?"
"It's good to have someone there to support you"
"We're not- I mean we don't-" Ava sighed deeply, colour coming to her cheeks, "he cares for me"

Daniel cleared his throat, "So, recuperating. How are you adjusting?"
Ava stayed silent deep in thought.
"I hear you tried leaving the apartment the other day?"
Ava rolled her eyes. "You spoke to Connor, so you know I only made it as far as the lobby"
"Still Ava, it's great progress, for you to even attempt to leave"
"What happened when you made it to the lobby?"
Ava shook her head and looked deep into her dark drink.
"I don't know, it was just so big, and open. I'm safe in the apartment; I know I'm safe here" she told him.
"Safe with Connor?"
"Don't bring him into this" she told him flatly, rubbing her neck.

"Okey" Daniel exhaled.
"Do you think you'd like to try leave again?"
"Not anytime soon, no" Ava confessed.
"I just need some more time"
Daniel nodded, "it can be a slow process, you can take all the time you need. You know that?"
Ava took a sip of her coffee, of course she knew that.
"Have they set a date for the trial? Connor doesn't like discussing it with me, he doesn't want to upset me"
"They haven't no, it could take weeks, months even to get all the documents together. No one expected to break such a big case"
Ava nodded slowly and took in the information.

"And How are things at home?" He asked cautiously.
"Fine" she said shortly, avoiding Daniels gaze.
Daniel paused and looked to her waiting for her to go on.
"It's nothing, Connor", she began, "Connor and I, we had a fight- no it's wasn't a fight, it was just me" she rambled.
"I was just upset, it's stupid really" she brushed it off,
"All your feelings are valid, Ava" he reminded her.
Ava took a deep breathe, "I was annoyed that I'm not allowed dye my hair back to blonde before the trial "
She tapped her fingers against her hot mug, feelings a soft sting through their ceramic.
"That's understandable. Your hair is part of your identity, and it was changed without your consent"
Ava felt the weight in her chest, that he understood what she felt like, "I just feel as though it's a constant reminder of what happened"
Ava rested her head in her hand, closing her eyes as her head began to throb.
Daniel pulled out a packet of tissue from his coat and handed them to Ava.
She took them gratefully, wiping tears she didn't even know she'd cried.
"I just want this all to be over"
"You know- Sometimes I do wish I'd never woken up" she whispered, saying the things she was too afraid to say in front of Connor. She ran a hand through her hair, feeling the guilt of her words wash over her.
"You did a good thing Ava, all those women are safe because of you. That is something really admirable, that cannot be denied" he touched her hand briefly.