If you can catch one specific reference in this chapter... You have good taste :)))
A month had passed, Siobhan refused Vivian's offer for a checkup at the hospital. There was something scary about that, Siobhan felt that, if she went to the hospital and got her injuries looked at, she was admitting that it had happened. And she had no idea how she would explain the new bruises and cuts on her body.
Siobhan was at the nursery, something had come up meaning Marjorie and autumn took time off. She didn't mind covering at the nursery though, if it meant she would be on her own in the office all day. If she didn't have to talk to anyone then she didn't have to lie.
Vivian, on the other hand, was on her way out from dropping off Jamie. She took the long route out of the nursery in hopes of running into the blonde. She stopped outside the office and saw Siobhan looking down at her desk.
She knocked the door gently, causing the blonde to jump a bit.
"Hey stranger, thought I would have seen you sooner than this" Vivian said, letting herself into the office. Siobhan's eyes darted around nervously.
"I'm sorry" she breathed "I know you said I should come back to the hospital for a check up but I've just been so busy" it was true, she was barely able to spend any time away from roger when she wasn't working.
"It's okay love" Vivian said warmly "you haven't called or text me since the coffee shop, are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine" Siobhan nodded at the question. She had taken to picking the skin around her perfectly manicured nails.
"I can see, you've piled on the makeup around your black eye" Vivian whispered, careful not to draw any attention from any passerby's. "It should have healed by now"
Siobhan felt the nerves jump to her throat.
"You need to have someone look at it love," Vivian said sitting across from Siobhan, "if you can't get to the hospital, that's fine, but I'm here now if you want me to have a look?" Siobhan was lost for an answer.
"It's all procedural, I'll check that head wound for you and make sure it's not getting infected. I want to make sure your okay, will you let me take care of you?" Vivians hand was now on the desk, allowing mere millimeters of her fingertips to touch Siobhan.
"I've worried about it, I'm not sure if my body's been given proper chance to heal yet" Siobhan whispered. The constant battling with roger meant that her body was always trying to fight something, it meant her previous wounds weren't properly heal.
"It's okay, I'll be gentle and you can tell me to stop if you need a break okay?" Vivian said. "Can you promise me you'll say stop if you want me to?" Vivian took Siobhan's hand in her own at this point, as a quiet reassurance.
"I promise" Siobhan managed to get out.
"Hm good girl" Vivian said standing up, Siobhan was glad she stood up and moved around the table as she is sure it was those two words that made her go red.
"Ah ah, stay sat down darling, I can see what I need to from here" Vivian said, her voice commanding but not in the slightest threatening. Her fingers trailed through Siobhan's hair until she found the stitched wound, she felt Siobhan flinch at the contact on her skull, which made her wonder if she was tender headed.
"Are you okay love? Is your head tender" Vivian had taken her free hand and started lovingly stroking the girl's back.
"I'm okay" Siobhan croaked.
"Hmm, it's healing really well, it's not infected or anything I just thought it would have healed a bit more, you shouldn't still be experiencing any pain though" Vivian said going back to sit ahead of Siobhan.
"Are you okay darling?" Vivian asked cautiously, she knew better than to treat Siobhan like glass, but she was scared that something in Siobhan was about to snap.
She knew better than to get attached. But Siobhan was worth attachment. If it helped the girl feel safer she would continue doing what she was doing. The encouragement and praise, the gentle touch and voice. She would give it all to Siobhan.
Siobhan nodded meekly at the question. Vivian looked around the world quickly before locating a bean bag in the corner. She walked over before flopping down on to it, causing herself to laugh. Siobhan actually cracked a smile watching the silly moment.
"You look shattered my love" Vivian said sitting up a little. "Come here, I'll hold you for a bit if you want." She said gesturing to the bean bag she was sat in.
Siobhan got up and walked over to the older woman, "only for a bit" she said as she sat beside Viv on the beanbag. Viv, wrapped her arms around Siobhan, bringing the smaller woman into her lap.
"You did so well today baby," she said stroking the girl's back "I'm so proud of you" Siobhan looked up at Viv and gave her a sad smile, before nestling herself into the woman's chest. She couldn't help but feel the need to be so physically close to Vivian right now.
"You were such a good girl for me today darling" Vivian basically cooed in Siobhan's ear. Siobhan was glad her face was hidden, there was no way she could hide the blush coating her face right now.
Siobhan felt safe in another persons company, it had been so long since she had felt that. She had been trying desperately to be alone recently, but being with Viv- she knew that not all people were bad, she knew it was possible to feel safe in vulnerable moments.
