Trial And Error

Chapter Forty-Two

Kian's POV

Throbbing pain coursed through Kian's body as she awoke for the 5th and final time it was 10 and Madison had stuck to the doctor's instructions of checking on her every couple of hours. The brunette beside her was knocked out, Madison had tended to the Marine despite her anger, bringing cold compresses and medicine for her bruises.

Kian gingerly pulled the comforter higher and brushed a few brown strands from Madison's face. She slowly got out of bed, wincing at the fire raging through her battered body. Turns out human flesh doesn't handle pavement impacts very well. Glancing in the mirror, she looked a mess - they hadn't bothered putting a shirt on her last night since it would've been too painful to take on and off. So her mottled bruise was on full display. Seeing it now, she understood Madison's fury.

The contusion on her forehead from the helmet impact didn't help either. For the second time in her life, Kian realized she had almost lost everything again. But this time, she had no one to blame but herself. A shower was in order. She wrapped her bandaged arm in plastic wrap to keep the dressings dry and stepped under the hot spray, watching the events of last night swirl down the drain.

Kian allowed the darkness within to consume her last night, failing the one person she never wanted to hurt again. When would she learn? She pondered now, realizing there was no way she could let this happen again. Any lingering doubts disappeared - tomorrow she would make her therapy appointment, setting it for a week out to ensure her concussion was healed.

Kian got out not wanting to risk getting her bandages went. She threw on some shorts and struggled to get into a bra, there was no way she would be able to put a shirt on. Everything hurt so bad it was hard to even breath right. After she finished Kian stood there trying to catch her breath. That was when the door swung open revealing an extremely pissed off Madison.

Her hair looked like a birds nest and she looked more like an angry kitten in just Kian's t-shirt. Her eyes blazed with a rage that made it clear she could kill if looks could. Despite that the woman still managed to look absolutely breath taking.

"Bed. Now." Madison demanded pointing a finger furiously

"I was just grabbing a quick shower-"

"BED"

"Please Madison you know I can't stay tied to a bed all day."

The artist's eyes widened in disbelief as she stormed out towards the living room. Kian followed, scared of what was coming next. Madison grabbed her purse and phone, clearly on a mission. Kian rushed over, realizing exactly what she planned to do.

A hand to the face is what stopped her efforts completely, "Okay! You win, but please let me at least lay on the couch instead." she pleaded, slowly lowering herself down with hands raised in surrender.

Kian smiled tentatively, testing the waters. That obviously didn't work because the next thing she knew Madison dialed anyways. Her mother's voice rang out as Madison talked to her sweetly, explaining everything that happened in the last 24 hours. Once she was done recounting everything the brunette bitterly smiled handing the phone to Kian who took it with a scowl on her face.

"This will teach you not to test me again Shepard"

Kian took a deep breath and brought the phone to her ear. The moment she spoke, it was game over. For the next hour, her mother berated, lectured, and yelled at her. Then she cried, and that hurt more than anything. Kian apologized profusely, reassuring her mom that she was fine and Madison was there to help care for her.

Madison showed back up some time ago her hair fixed and dressed in actual clothes. She sat on the opposite side of the sectional when Kian finally got off the phone. The two just sat there in silence.