Aviva's car skidded into an empty parking space. It had taken her twice as long to get to the hospital since she was stopped for speeding, even longer when the cop clearly suspected her of something she wasn't doing. Eventually though she managed to get away, her heart like a stone. She ran into the hospital, her breathing heavy, and looked around, not sure where she should go. Bobby was waiting there. He waved at her and beckoned her over. Aviva sighed and power walked to him, questions sitting on the tip of her tongue. Bobby didn't answer any of them. He simply led her into Selene's room, his face dark, his fists clenched. Aviva sobbed softly as soon as she laid eyes on Selene.
Selene was battered and bruised, her top lip bulging, one of her eyes bruised shut. There were bandages around her skull and arms, her right forearm in a cast. Her right brow was busted open and a small amount of dried blood was visible. Aviva didn't want to think about the damage that she couldn't see.
"What- what happened?" Aviva whispered. She stepped up to Selene's bedside and touched Selene's hand as gently as she could. Selene groaned and Aviva could see her eyes moving underneath her lids. Aviva turned to Bobby. "What happened?"
Bobby sat down in one of the chairs around Selene's bed. He locked his fingers together and squeezed his hands so hard Aviva was surprised that nothing snapped. "She was hurt. Obviously."
Aviva started to get angry. Better that than uncontrollable hysteria, she thought. "I see that. What the hell happened?"
Bobby dropped his head into his hands. "I couldn't get there fast enough. I'm so sorry. I tried. I really tried."
Aviva sighed. Clearly the man was beating himself up. She couldn't make him feel worse when he seemed to be the one that came to Selene's aid. Aviva dragged a chair next to Bobby's and sat down. "Please, tell me what happened," she said, softer.
Bobby lifted his head and said, hollowly, "Disgruntled customer."
That was the answer Selene had given the first time she was hurt, Aviva remembered. Before she could grill Bobby, Selene groaned and muttered something inaudible. Both Aviva and Bobby stood abruptly and were quick to be at Selene's bedside.
Selene opened her good eye and looked around frantically. "Bobby? Bobby?" Her voice was hoarse. She licked her lips but didn't have enough saliva to wet them.
Bobby grabbed a bottled water by the bed and slowly slid the bent straw into Selene's mouth. She drank greedily and didn't stop until she was spluttering and spitting water all over herself. Bobby wiped Selene's mouth and chin helpfully. Aviva felt jealousy well up inside her but she squashed it down, knowing that this wasn't the time to be feeling that way. It was about Selene, not herself.
"Aviva?" Selene croaked, her head rolling, her eye trying to find Aviva's face. "You came? No way. I thought Bobby would get cold feet." She tried to laugh but she ended up groaning in pain.
Aviva chuckled, sympathetic, and clutched Selene's hand. "God. You look terrible."
"I wish I could be offended." Selene shifted to try and sit up, but she couldn't manage it. She sighed and remained on her back. "But, hey, you're probably right. You look good, though."
Bobby slipped out of the room to give the women their privacy. Aviva noted his departure but didn't comment on it. She sat down next to Selene without touching her. She was afraid there were bruises or cuts or something underneath the hospital blankets.
"Hey, hey," Selene prompted. "Don't look so sad. I'm a fast healer, remember? This may look like a month of work but I'll be out of here within a week, maybe two, just you watch. I'll be as strong as ever."
Aviva smiled and tried to make it sincere, but she was just too worried to make it believable. "This is the second time I've seen you hurting," she whispered. "What aren't you telling me?"
Selene swallowed. She didn't want to tell Aviva what had actually happened, but she had the right to know. They were dating, they were intimate. Selene figured Aviva had earned the truth. But how to tell it? Come out with it hard? Let Aviva in on it slowly, delicately?
Aviva stood and rubbed her arms. "Forget it." She begun to walk out. Selene tried to stop her but when she lifted herself, her side ached like hell and the pain made stars blast behind her eyes. She laid back down and hoped Aviva would come back.
Bobby stood at attention when he saw Aviva come out of Selene's room. She looked agitated, upset. Bobby approached her with caution. "Are you okay?"
Aviva didn't look at him. "You're close to her, right? You know what happened." When Bobby didn't respond, she growled to herself. "Tell me the truth. Tell me what happened to her."
Bobby scratched the top of his head. "I can't."
Aviva turned on him. "Tell me." She was puny compared to Bobby, but she scolded him as if he were were a little boy of five. She didn't give him the pleasure of knowing he was so large by keeping her face forward and only raising her eyes.
Bobby respected Aviva, then.
"You tell me what happened to her," she said again.
"I can't, okay? It's not my place."
Aviva snarled with rage to keep herself from sobbing like a child. Everything was hitting her hard. Selene's first incident, discovering her harsh past, and now this. It was too many bad bricks stacked. She liked Selene, so, so much. It hurt her when Selene was in pain. "It isn't fair!"
A nurse narrowed her eyes in the direction of the outburst. Bobby raised his hand and smiled to put her at ease. She looked away when Bobby gently led Aviva back into Selene's room. Selene was out like a light, she even snored softly. Bobby slid the glass door shut just in case Aviva cried out again.
"Look, Aviva, I'm sorry." He sighed and fought to find his words. "This must be hard for you. I've heard from Selene how close you two have gotten. I can understand that you need to know the cause of this. But... I can't tell you. Selene will, I know she will. She likes you. A lot. Be patient with her." Bobby turned his head in Selene's direction. His lower lip quivered. "Please, be patient. I promise it's worth it to get to know her. Just... wait for her."
Aviva was surprised at the love in the man's voice. It didn't sound like sexual love, no, it sounded like Bobby considered Selene a part of his family. Shattered by her own emotions, and taking on Bobby's, she hugged the hulking man, and wasn't the least bit surprised when he broke down and cried.
