Flicker ~ newt

4. Trust

Newt
The sun is already high in the sky when I walk out of the homestead, I slept in late by accident so I limp quickly to the garden before anyone notices I'm late.

"Good morning sleepyhead," a soft voice speaks I look up seeing Elaine planting seeds on the opposite side of the garden.

"Don't tell Alby." I say rubbing sleep from my eyes

"I wouldn't dream of it. Here," she said passing me a shovel and pointing to where she wanted me to dig.
I plunged the shovel into the earth pushing the dirt to the side so Elaine can put a phew seeds in the hole, then I re cover it with dirt as she pours a small amount of water onto the soil.

"Why did you sleep so late?" She asked while I dug another hole.

"I was awake for a long time last night, talking with Alby." I say as she puts seeds in the hole I just made.

"Makes sense." She nods, we work in a comfortable silence for a bit.
Elaine stand pulling a face and grasping her hip with her hand gently as she breaths in sharply.

"You okay?" I ask moving around to her side.

"Yeah yeah it's fine," she says grabbing the bottom of her sweater and pulling it up over her head, I see her singlet coming up with it so I without thinking gently hold the bottom of her shirt to stop it from coming up anymore.
Once the jumper is off she looks at me with her big green eyes I'm stuck, I'm still holding the bottom of her shirt and I really should let go but I can't I'm hypnotised by her.

"Thankyou," she simply says I let go of her shirt as she kneels down again to the dirt.

It's been hours of working when finally the bell rings for dinner.
Everyone starts walking to the homestead not caring if they were leaving in the middle of a task. I stand too slower because of my bum leg, Elaine is slow to but she grimaces as she stands again her hand moving to her hip.

"Elaine. You have to go see Jeff." I say sternly her eyes look up at my with confusion.

"What no it's fine." She protests back away from me like I'm going to physically take her there.

"Please don't be stubborn." She takes another step away.

"Please don't make me see him, look it isn't that bad it's just healing and itchy it's really not that bad, I don't think he will even do much, Its not infected or anything so what is he even gonna do" she's rambling "And I know your like the boss guy but I would consider you my friend so if you could please just trust me on this-"

"Lane..." I step forward she is breathing heavily, picking at her finger nails "please." I say I make sure I'm not to close to her to make her feel claustrophobic or uncomfortable, she doesn't meet my gaze staring at her hands as she nervously twists a ring on her finger. I wonder where she got that ring?
I gently put my finger under he chin lifting her head to mine so that she has to meet my eyes. "Just to be sure it's not infected," she slumps her shoulders eyes slipping away from mine as she nods.

We walk in silence the med-jacks I know she doesn't want to go but I just want to be sure it's not infected or something.

"Hey Jeff." I greet as we walk in

"Hey Newt, hey greenie." He says "who do I have to stitch up now," he roles his eyes but with a smile showing he doesn't really mind.

I look to Elaine but she doesn't look like she is going to say anything I do "can you check and see if this cut Elaine has is infected?"

"Yeah sure you can wait outside if you want," I nod about to walk out when a small voice stops me

"Can you stay?" She says I turn she looks so nervous like she is going to bolt at any moment

"Yeah alright I'll stay."

"Where is the cut?" Jeff questions

"It's on my hip and it's not exactly a cut." She says he gestures her to sit on the bed and she does unbuttoning and pulling down waistband of her jeans so expose the letters they have started to scar but there is something white in one of the letters.

"What's the white thing" I ask moving from my standing position on the wall to sitting on the chair beside her bed.

"I think it's the bone" he says "I'll grab some disinfectant and a bandage for you give me one second," she nods once and he moves away.

"The bone?" I question "it must have been a deep cut." Jeff re-enters with bandages and disinfectant once they are on he nods and she re does the button on her pants standing up quickly.

"Thanks Jeff," she says he gives her a smile.

"Come back if it gets too painful," with that she turns and makes her way out.

"Elaine?" I call softly behind her she turns to me as I stand walking to where she is almost out the door. "Why did you want me to stay?" I ask genuinely curious

"I don't know your someone I trust... a little," she adds on the end I smile and follow her out of the building.