Love Thaws: Melting

Too Late

Elsa swallowed. "What do you mean critical?"

Jack clenched his jaw and fell silent.

Elsa took a step forward. "Jack, you need to go see her."

He shook his head adamantly. "No, Elsa. It's too risky." He ran his fingers through his white hair.

"Jack, she's dying. The least she deserves from you is—"

"Enough! Okay?! Abitha understands the situation, unlike you—"

Elsa inhaled sharply. "I understand just fine," she spat before storming out of the room. 

She threw herself onto the couch and blinked several times until the tears cleared from her eyes. Her stomach twisted into nervous knots as her anger cooled. She mulled their conversation over several times. Jack was hurting. And she'd made it worse. She let out a low moan and buried her head into the couch pillow. She had a feeling Jack wouldn't want to see her for a while. I sure have a knack for messing things up. 

Her frustration suddenly turned on herself. She flung a pillow across the room before sinking into the couch cushions in exhaustion. She was anything but Jack's perfect match. Heaven knew why he bothered helping her. Elsa felt her anger and frustration heat up again, coupled with utter helplessness. She needed an outlet to let it go. Her hands tingles with cold, but she knew that wasn't an option.

She stood and strode into the bathroom, her hands trembling with concealed anger. Her eyes flashed when she glanced at herself in the mirror, an utter self-loathing filling her. She glanced at her healing lips. They still looked awful. Anger swelled within her as memories swirled inside of her head. She hated herself for letting Hans do that to her. She hated herself for leading Jack into a trap. She hated herself for not being good enough for him. And she never would be. 

Elsa snatched a wash rag and furiously scrubbed at her lips, the external pain helping her deal with her inner turmoil. Her lips stung and burned all at once. Elsa's hand balled into fists and she threw the rag across the bathroom. She numbly sank to the floor. The tingling in her hands increased, begging to be released. Elsa curled up tightly and placed her fisted hand next to her chest. She would much rather freeze herself before she froze anything else. She snatched the wash cloth from the floor and slowly rubbed her lips until they were numb with pain. The door creaked softly.

"Elsa? What are you doing?" Jack squatted on the floor next to her and tilted her chin up. His eyes flashed, and he snatched the rag away. "Stop it, Elsa. Stop it." Jack tightly cupped each side of her face and forced her gaze to meet his. "Elsa, I never ever want to see you doing that to yourself again, do you understand me?" His eyes bore into hers, as if he was trying to drill the instructions into her head. He pressed his forehead to hers. 

Tears welled in her eyes. 

Jack's expressions instantly softened. "Do you understand?" he asked softly.

She sniffled, and her stinging bottom lip quivered as she desperately tried to keep the tears at bay. 

Jack stood and wet a clean rag with warm water before seating himself next to her. He pulled her onto his lap and gently dabbed at her raw lips. "Shh, it's alright, Elsa."

She sniffed and single tear ran down her cheek.

Jack brushed it away and smoothed her hair. He spoke slowly and in that soft voice. "Do you understand?"

She hesitated before shaking her head, releasing a few more tears.

His knuckles brushed against her tear-stained cheek. "Elsa, what happened wasn't your fault."