Therapist's therapy

Short reunion

Arianna ached all over but she didn't pull away. He smelt and felt like home. When she cried out loud he pressed her deeper into his chest and stroked her hair. Although he was completely silent Arianna felt moist in the middle of her head where he buried his face. Call her foolish, cuddling with the enemy, a traitor or whatever she didn't careless. This moment was all that mattered to Arianna whatever happened in the past or in the future didn't matter.
"What do you think you are doing?" The doctors appeared minutes later replying to her emergency call.
Arianna hoped Jasper would just ignore them and let her stay like that forever. But her pulled away and rested her back into her the cool of her blanket.
"She wanted it off so I took them off." Jasper explained like that much wasn't obvious
"And who made you believe you had the permission to do that?!"
"I'm sorry I acted on impulse, please check and make sure she is alright" Jasper gave them space to their work. When Arianna gave him pleading eyes not to leave, he squeezed her hand and promised he would be waiting outside.
"You will experience minor inconveniences for removing the bandages inappropriately but a nurse will come by later with some pills to help with the reaction" the doctor assured her.

There was a loud bang on the hallway along with sounds of a small crowd gathering. The doctors looked towards the hallway along with a sigh before murmuring oh what is it now under his breath and leaving Arianna's ward. Clearly this was the most busy night they've had in a while. Since Arianna wasn't strong enough to leave her bed, she had to rely on her ears to get information. Was the hospital being attacked? She guessed not, there were too much murmurings and based on the chorus of the crowd, it had to be a fight. But between who and why. Was it related to her. Where was Jasper? He said he would be outside. A thought flashed her mind that maybe just maybe he was involved but she brushed it off. Jasper won't do anything dumb like start a fight in a hospital.
"You are worthless! You can't protect Arianna but I can so stay that hell out of my way!" The statement was so dominant it resounded through the hospital walls. Arianna heard it clearly like it was whispered into her brain. Arianna could guess but tried to lie to herself that the culprits weren't those she suspected. Jasper appeared in her ward minutes later, hair ruffled, lips cut. His shirt buttons had been pulled open leaving only loose threads in their place.
"Jasper what is.." Arianna began but he cut her off
"It's alright. Sorry for startling you." He bent over her and whispered into her ears "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I've never been able to protect the things I cared about. But if making a decision so heartbreaking is what would keep you safe then I'm no coward to make it" Arianna's eyes stung he hadn't said it directly but any idiot hearted it loud and clear. It was a type of good bye.
"What you are talking about? what you plan to do? Don't leave, i still want to spend time with you, i want to know more about you I haven't had the chance to yet so.." Travis appeared in the doorway as though alerting him his time was up.
"We will get a chance because I'm not giving up on you Arianna. The next time we see I would be able to protect you I promise. Then let's see another movie together this time around as a date " he planted a kiss on her forehead and left. Arianna reached out to grab his and stop him. Her gut screamed that if she let him leave she might never see him again or even if she did he won't be the same  but her grip missed him by centimeters. Arianna sat confused and watched the man she didn't know she loved walk away before he could even learn to love him.

Arianna sat staring into space. She couldn't think or feel anything. She didn't know if it was because of the pain killers or her broken heart. Travis sat beside her silent. He had showered and changed as he promised he would before returning to watch over her. He looked unshaken, buttons intact, clearly he was the only one throwing the punches.  He was restless clearly unfamiliar with awkward silences. Arianna had so much to say but remained silent. More than anything she wanted to throw anything she could reach at Travis and make him leave. What right did he have to decide who could be around her, she worked for him but he didn't own her. But then again she watched Jasper leave in silence giving Travis all the power.
"I know you have a lot to say let it out" he finally breath out unable to endure a minute more.
"Why? You've known Jasper for years."
"Jasper is not who you think he is Arianna!" Travis spat
"Yeah?"
"I didn't want to bring this up till you were fully recovered but you need to understand" he looked over his shoulder before continuing "that day when you went to Julianna's office i followed you. I saw him come out of that room, the one that exploded." Arianna didn't know how to feel about that. A coincidence? But there was the sound of the ticking. He couldn't have missed that unless he knew what it was.
"I know its hard to believe but with harry and then Jasper, there is no one to trust". Travis had gone home when Arianna insisted she needed time alone to let her brain think logically and not based on pent up emotions. There were three ways the accidents can be read. One, it was targeted at someone else and she was just caught in the cross fire. Two, it was meant to scare her into abandoning project either by choice or because she medically couldn't continue. Three, it was meant to buy time for a big event for which she wasn't invited. Her gut got drawn to the first and last more strongly but she needed more information and she needed it urgently.

Travis was back very early the next morning. But something was off, he was wearing all black and wore a stolen expression.
"What's with the get up" he looked surprised at the question
"Oh, of course you don't know" he grabbed a chair and sat beside her be as though he wanted front roll seat of her reaction to the news "Today was Mr. Benson's. Burial, he died from the explosion."
Even Arianna didn't see that coming.