The Way We Burn

Nineteen: Sully

The pounding on my front door at two in the morning, startled me, but it didn't surprise me. Despite the fact that I'd told her numerous times that I was fine and that she could finish her girls' weekend in Chicago, I knew she wasn't going to listen. I rolled my eyes as I groaned, rising from the recliner I had fallen asleep in, but I couldn't fight the smile that curved the corner of my mouth at my girl's concern, not to mention her protectiveness.

My little fireball.

"Oh my god!" Gigi gasped, the second I opened my front door. As her hands flew up to cover her mouth, I sincerely wondered how bad I looked. It was starting to bruise when I'd arrived home and taken a look, but judging by the look on her face, I was beginning to wonder if it had fallen completely off during my nap.

"What are you doing here?" I reported with a sleepy smile. "I told you I was fine. You didn't need to come back early for me." 

"That does NOT look fine," Gigi argued, pushing past me and into the house. She immediately marched into the living room like a woman on a mission, tossing her purse and a giant Walgreens bag I hadn't noticed at first onto the sofa. "Sit down."

"Gi, I'm fine."

"Sit. Down."

Her tone told me there was no use arguing, so I obliged, sinking onto the sofa as she dug into her sack of goodies. She pulled out one of those med kit ice packs, snapping it and immediately holding it to my face.

"I was icing it when I was talking to you, babe," I stated, flinching ever so slightly as the cold pressed against my sore jaw.

"Yeah, that was five hours ago. Hold that," Gigi stated as she rooted around in her bag, digging for some other pain inducing tool, I was certain. However, once again I listened, not wanting to make her any more upset than her body language already told me she was. She'd yet to even make eye contact with me and it was beginning to worry me. Had I done something wrong? I hadn't thought so, but...

"Hey," I said softly, placing my hand over hers and stopping the rustling of the sack. "Look at me."

Gigi's hand clenched into a fist as she shook her head. "I can't..." she whispered, her emotion causing her voice to come out heavier than usual.

"Baby..."

"I can't believe he hit you," she stated as her voice cracked. "I can't believe..."

"Hey, hey, hey." I swept her onto my lap as she broke into sobs. She immediately curled into me, her tears falling onto my shoulder as she trembled. "Baby, shhh," I soothed, rocking slightly as I held her tightly. "I'm okay. It's okay. I've taken worse."

I felt her wave her head. "It's not okay," she croaked. "None of this is okay. That's not my dad! My dad doesn't hit people!"

"Alright. You're right," I stated before brushing my lips against her temple."None of what happened is okay, you're absolutely right. But I'm going to be fine, Galena. I've taken worse. A lot worse." 

Gigi sat up, waving her head from side to side as she wiped her palms down her face. "Stop playing tough guy with me," she commanded, her voice still wobbly. "I know that hurts like a bitch."

"I mean, it doesn't tickle."

Gigi rolled her eyes, raising one hand and gently cupping the injured side of my face. "I just... I can't believe my dad did this. I can't believe he hit you. What the fuck was he actually thinking?!"

"He was probably thinking "This mother fucker is banging my little girl."

"That's not funny," Gigi snapped. "I just don't understand it. I can't understand it."