Slow Dancing- Troy Otto

7

Madison couldn't stop herself from mothering the young girl, cleaning her face as best she could. Troy watched on longingly, seeing the maternal care he'd missed out on growing up. They'd moved into a hummer, Scarlett laid across Nick and Madison in the backseat while Troy sat shotgun, Blake driving.

"You're a lucky guy." Madison decided to speak up and familiarize herself with these people. Troy's confusion couldn't be contained not understanding what she was talking about since she literally tried to take his eyes hours ago. "She's pretty." Madison says brushing the hair that stuck to Scarlett's sweat covered face off.

  Troy now understood what she meant. "We're not together. She's part of my militia." Troy says with detest.

"Yeah but... your militia barely did anything to help you. This one was ready to shoot me dead in order to save your eye. Never said you were together, just that you're lucky." Madison concludes, Troy looks at the girl in Madison's arms wondering why she'd fought so hard to save him.

   This brings up the question of why she fought Jake even harder when he wouldn't let Scar near him. She continues to confuse him, he thinks back to the situation from earlier in the truck bed. No woman had ever aroused him he thought sex was pointless, every girl back home had either been warded off by Jake or just thought he was a monster.

  The bumpy terrain makes Scarlett groan in pain. Nick cautiously lifts her shirt, gasping at the bruising covering her stomach and the faint scarred line protruding just below it. Troy looks back at the noise seeing her in pain and the big purple splotches littering her abdomen. Once at the ranch Troy was told Jake hasn't returned yet, ordering the Clark's to wait outside the gates leaving Scarlett alone in the backseat as they drive in. Troy doesn't wait for the hummer to fully stop before he's out of his seat and moving hastily to get her out, carrying her in his arms to the medic tent yelling for help.

  Julie stumbles out ushering him inside, pointing to a table to set the girl on. Once she started cutting her shirt open Troy left, not wanting to disrespect the woman's privacy. Julie began working on assessing the damage and figuring out the issue. Troy stood outside while she worked, no one would walk in and see her like that on his watch. No one deserved to see her body.

  Julie came back out after an hour letting Troy know it was just from her moving around too much and lack of food but that she was awake if he wanted to see her. Troy wasted no time in rushing inside the tent seeing her in a fresh tank top standing, her legs aren't steady but at least she isn't still unconscious.

"Help a girl to her cabin?" She asks voice hoarse.

  Troy just offers a nod allowing her to climb into his back, silently carrying her across the ranch and into the small home. He had a lot to think about, not wanting to talk to the girl until he figured out what was wrong with him. He set Scar down on her bed and left abruptly, not giving her the opportunity to trap him into conversation.

Scarlett frowned at how distant he was being but decided to push it off and take care of herself instead. She showered, changed, and slipped into her bed inviting slumber to consume her.

Upon waking up she noticed Troy sitting on the edge of her bed scribbling in his journal, deciding it didn't bother her she closed her eyes and went back to sleep. When she awoke again he was gone, thinking her mind played tricks on her and that he was never actually here at all. It was nighttime now, Scarlett decided food would be the best thing for her sore stomach setting out to the eating grounds. The whole militia sat split between two tables as they talked and ate, Coop pausing mid-sentence to get up and help the girl to an open spot next to Troy.

"Let me get you a tray, be back in five." He rushes out leaving the girl with everyone.

"We didn't want to wake you, thought you needed the rest." Adam says softly.