Secrets and Sins

Chapter 26

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~Ava~

Ava rolled her shoulder with a slight wince as she stood, once again, at the front of the OCS strategizing room. The Halo bearer had just painstakingly described what had happened after she blacked out; everyone was staring at her shell shocked.

"So yeah...that's what happened." Ava said awkwardly into the silent room.

She walked back to her chair beside Bea, taking a seat while she waited for everyone to process what she had told them. Ava smiled a little when she felt Bea lace their fingers together under the table, her thumb stroking along the back of Ava's hand. The sister warrior had been very touchy since they had woken this morning.

Not that I'm complaining.

"So you have no idea where this portal is?" Vincent questioned, first to break the silence, he had been taking handwritten notes since Ava had started her story.

"No. I couldn't see anything except the walls of the pit. It's deep, there was no daylight above me." Ava replied, watching as Vincent nodded a couple of times, scribbling more notes.

"What do you think they were waiting for? The wraiths and tarasks?" Camilla asked, Ava just shrugged.

The table dissolved into speculation about where the portal was and who was commanding these armies. Ava glanced at Bea, even though her thumb never stopped moving against the Halo bearer's hand, Ava could see how hunched the other woman was, she must be suffering from her ribs after sitting for so long. Ava frowned, Bea needed to see a doctor but every time she brought it up the sister warrior assured her, she was fine.

Time for some guilt tripping.

"Mother Superior, my shoulder is giving me some grief. Can I please be excused to see a doctor?" Ava interrupted.

"Of course Ava. Beatrice, please escort her."

"Yes Mother." Bea let go of Ava's hand and rose stiffly from her seat.

They exited the room, heading in the direction of the medical wing. Bea reclaimed her hand as they walked down the corridor.

"So, your shoulder is pretty sore?" Bea glanced over at her, concerned.

"Yes, but your ribs are what I want checked out."

"Ava." Bea began dismissively. Stopping in the hall, pulling the Halo bearer to a halt as well.

"No Bea. I want to make sure you don't have any broken ones. They should be splinted if they are." Ava cut her off firmly.
Softening her tone, she reached up to cup her cheek, "Please Beatrice. I'm worried about you."

The sister warrior sighed before leaning into Ava's hand slightly. She nodded.

"Okay come on then." Ava smiled; relieved Bea had agreed.

~Beatrice~

Beatrice stood in front of the door to the exam room nervously. She was worried, worried that her ribs might be bad enough to be stood down. That was the reason she hadn't seen a doctor about them yet. Beatrice didn't know if she could cope if Ava was sent on a mission without her, a mission where she couldn't protect her.

"Hey Bea, I'm sure it'll be fine. I'll wait out here okay." Ava sensing her apprehension, smiled gently.

"No!" Beatrice said, quickly grabbing the Halo bearer's wrist, the other woman's eyes widened in surprise.
"No, please come in with me."

Ava raised her eyebrows, but acquiesced, "Okay."

The younger woman opened the door for her, shooting her a winning smile, Ava performed a little curtsy, "After you, milady."

Beatrice let out a huff at the Halo bearer's ridiculousness but felt her mood lift slightly. Taking a seat on the bed, Beatrice waited patiently for the doctor. Ava on the other hand, wandered around the room literally touching everything, she was miming out using a stethoscope to entertain the sister warrior when the door opened.

"Ava please put that down." Dr Salvius sighed.

"Dr Salvius, I wasn't aware you were a doctor of medicine." Beatrice remarked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm not really, but when Dr. Green found out Ava was here too, he politely asked me to see you, just in case."

Beatrice nodded, Dr Green had been one of the people Ava had accidentally blasted that fateful day, it made sense he might be a little reluctant to see the other woman again so soon. Speaking of the Halo bearer, she managed to accidentally drop the stethoscope on the floor causing a loud clattering in the middle of Dr Salvius' sentence, 'Sorry' Ava mouthed at Beatrice, carefully picking it up and putting it away.

"Well let's take a look at these ribs then. Shirt off please." Dr Salvius turned away to rifle through a drawer in search of something.

Beatrice attempted to pull her shirt over her head. Ava awkwardly hovering in the corner, watching her struggle before she finally moved forward to assist.

"Thanks." Beatrice murmured, blushing slightly, now free of her shirt.

Ava grinned, until her eyes darted towards the bruising, her expression changing to one of concern.

"Right." Dr Salvius announced turning back to the women and holding up what was in her hand.
"This is a tuning fork. I'm going to knock it against the table and press it on each rib where they attach to your spine. The vibration will travel through the bone, if you have a break, well, we'll know pretty quickly. Ready?"

Beatrice reached out for Ava's hand, the Halo bearer immediately entwined their fingers, squeezing comfortingly. The sister warrior took in a deep breath and then nodded. Dr Salvius tapped the tuning fork and carefully pressed it to each rib. For the top two ribs nothing happened, but when she reached the third, Beatrice nearly collapsed.