Her Melting Point

If You Need Me

The old skills - alertness and risk assessment - kicked in right away. Jackie moved, placing herself between Alexander and Bernie. A second later a shocking understanding came that she aimed to protect him, to shield him.

"Josie!" Bernie cried out and once again grabbed Jackie's arm.

From the corner of her eyes, Jackie caught Alexander's slight movement. She could almost sense his anxiety as her own. He was all raw nerve right now; she could guess by the shudders running through his body, the grimace on his usually composed face, the little twitches of his lips, and his darting eyes. She remembered the literature she'd read on his neurodivergence, and wondered if someone touching her felt to him like being touched himself. Since he was focused on her and due to their history, he'd had trouble separating himself from her experiences. From her body. He shifted towards them; his hand flew up - to push someone else away from Jackie; but then he withdrew.

Jackie twisted from under Bernie's hand.

"Alexander, do you need to go to A&E?"

She assumed he wouldn't be comfortable in the dentist's car, and she pulled her phone out of her pocket to order a cab; when he shook his head.

"I'm sorry I came," he rasped out. "I didn't think you'd be with someone. I'll go."

"No!" Jackie cried out. "It's OK. Let's go inside, and I–"

"Josie, can I speak to you for a second?" Bernie asked in a tense voice.

"It's alright," Jackie repeated, turning to her. "I'm sorry about it, but I have to take a rain check on that cuppa. I'll call you, alright?"

Bernie took a wide step towards her and leaned in. "Are you sure? He doesn't look stable." The dentist threw a dark look at Alexander.

"I'm sure," Jackie answered firmly. "Thank you for the lovely evening. Alexander," she addressed the man. "Let's go inside."

He stumbled back, away from her.

"You've got plans," he whispered. "I thought you'd be home."

She suppressed the desire to rush to him and to wrap around him. Instead, she stretched her hand to him.

"C'mon." She kept her voice soft. "Let's have a look at your bruises."

He hesitated - and then swirled and headed to the backdoor. Jackie rushed after him.

"Night, Josie," the dentist called after her.

"Night," Jackie answered without turning.

While she fumbled with the key, he stood, hunched, his hands pushed deep into the pockets of his black jeans. She could see dark stains on the front of his jumper, of blood probably.

They walked inside, and Jackie turned on the lights. He cringed and made a noise in his throat.

"Would you like a shower?" she asked. "If you don't need stitches, you can just go wash; and I'll get the first aid kit."

He was staring under his feet.

"Alexander?"

"Is it OK that I'm here?" His voice wobbled.

She opened her mouth to squawk and confirm that it was, half-ready to start faffing about around him, and offering different solutions, and bringing him medical supplies, and making him tea - and then she remembered with whom she was dealing.

"Yes, it is completely OK. So, shower?"

He nodded and walked out of the room. Before he turned the corner towards the bathroom, he started pulling off his sweater and his tee in one go; and she caught a glimpse of his bare back. There was a red bruise already blooming on his latissimus dorsi.