Trial And Error

Chapter Thirty-Five

Madison's POV

"Night guys, I'll see you in the morning."

"You'll check on her right?"

"Yes, don't worry Lucas I got her."

In an effort to counteract the sadness and guilt they were all experiencing, he smiled. Olivia then took her husband upstairs and carefully closed the door to the spare bedroom.

Alone now, Madison took a moment to absorb the heavy silence blanketing the living room. Her eyes landed on the pictures decorating the walls - happier times of the four of them together before everything fell apart. The Kian smiling radiantly beside her in those captured moments was not the broken woman now asleep down the hall.

Madison's heart ached realizing just how deeply her best friend was suffering, right in front of her, without her even noticing. She thought back over missed signs, warnings she overlooked or misread. Guilt and sadness twisted Madison's stomach at the realization that Kian had felt so alone, carrying this trauma silently for so long.

She gathered herself, preparing for the possibility of another fight as she made her way to Kian's bedroom door. She hesitated before knocking softly. When she received no response, Madison carefully turned the knob and peeked inside the empty room.

Worry started to build within her as Madison scanned the room frantically. Spotting the broken glass Kian had thrown, she wondered where the troubled woman may have gone to find solace. The balcony came to mind, and sure enough, Madison found Kian's slumped form in the corner. Kian leaned against the brick wall, using the railing as a makeshift pillow. Madison's heart sank seeing her only in sweatpants and a t-shirt despite the cold night air.

Sliding the door open silently, Madison kneeled next to Kian's sleeping figure. Scanning the older woman, she felt relief wash over her seeing how peaceful and relaxed Kian looked - an expression she hadn't seen in so long.

She gently shook the older woman awake, murmuring "Let's go to bed, it's cold out here."

The taller woman blinked, seeming to reorient herself to her surroundings on the balcony. "I'm sorry," she said softly, closing her eyes again.

"It's okay," Madison replied, her heart softening.

"It's not, and we both know that."

Her hand caressed her cheek, watching the way Kian's body responded to it. The woman leaned into it, her body soon followed.

"I know. I'm here, I'll always be here," Madison murmured, placing a tender kiss on Kian's cheek. She wrapped an arm around the taller woman's waist, supporting her unsteady frame as they made their way inside.

The Lieutenant gradually woke and assisted the brunette by stumbling to her feet while attempting to regain control of her own body. Kian collapsed onto the mattress, clearly exhausted. The musician pulled the covers over her friend, breathing a sigh of relief now that she was safely in bed. She would get the couch since Olivia and Lucas were already tucked up in the guest room. Not that she minded, after all, she was the one that chose the furniture.

After venturing into Kian's closet she found a suitable shirt and some shorts she had left from her previous sleepovers. Walking over to check on the sleeping woman, scanning her face for any discomfort. Her hand found a falling piece of hair, pushing it out of her face. An action that she had grown so accustomed to, it was their thing, one of many.

"Night Ki" She whispered out into the dark room before departing

As she went to leave, Madison heard Kian's slurred, sleepy voice call out, "Can you stay, please?"