Tumblr fanfic

New challenge (Part 12)

"Bring me a beer!" His voice boomed through the filthy apartment. She scurried to the kitchen fetching him his beer as fast as she could.
She put the bottle on the coffeetable, awkwardly standing next to him.
"What?!" He asked annoyed, taking a long drag from his cigarette.
She knew she was making a mistake, but her hunger prevented common sense, "I... I'm hungry..."
She didn't even have time to prepare for the slap. The man struck her so hard across her face that she fell down.
She quickly scrambled back up, hoping to get away from him.
But he was faster, he always was. He grabbed the back of her t-shirt and flung her on the ground. Her head banged against the floor. Tears sprung in her eyes, but the man ignored them, kicking her hard.
"You shut up!" He shouted, "Don't you talk to me bitch!"
He pulled the cigarette from his lips. The girl knew what was coming.
"No, please don't," She begged to no avail. There was an evil glint in his eye, a perverse satisfaction from causing fear.
The cigarette inched closer to her skin. The pain shot through her like a bullet. It seared her skin, marking her like cattle.
She could do nothing but scream.
***
Hannah jolted awake. Alex was screaming again, another nightmare.
She slipped out of bed and headed to Alex's room.
The girl was still asleep, her sheets completely entangled with her legs, and she was desperately trying to kick them away.
Hannah softly pulled the sheets off of Alex. She crouched down next to the bed and brushed her hand through the girl's sweaty bangs.
"It's okay baby," she whispered, "You're safe here."
Alex woke herself up with another haunting scream.
She sat up in the bed with wide eyes.
"It was just a dream, Alex," Hannah comforted, "It's all fine."
Alessandra clutched mr Bun-Bun close to her chest, tears streaming down her face.
Wordlessly, Hannah wrapped her arms around the girl, picking her up and carrying her to her bedroom. She settled Alex down, and gently tucked her in.
Alex fell back asleep soon, but Hannah spent the rest of the night watching over the little girl.
***
Something was off. Something was incredibly wrong and Hannah had no idea what. Alex was clingy.
Sure, the girl had learned to accept touches, and to seek comfort. And yeah, they cuddled sometimes. But this was something else entirely.
Alex was following her around like a puppy. When Hannah went to the kitchen for a drink, the child followed. When Hannah checked her Tumblr tags, Alex sat on her lap.
When she went to the bathroom, and found Alex standing outside the door waiting for her, Hannah knew she had to say something.
"Alex, it's talky-time." Hannah announced, sitting on the floor crossing her legs. Alex sat down across from her, so close that their legs were touching.
"Is something wrong sweetheart?" Hannah asked, "You're not being yourself today."
Alex looked down ashamed.
"I'm not upset," Hannah assured her, "I love your cuddles. But I'm a bit worried."
The girl didn't respond.
"Is there something you want to tell me?" Hannah asked gently.
Alex shook her head.
"Are you sure?"
Tears started to form in the girl's eyes.
"Hey now," Hannah soothed, "why are you crying?"
Alex shrugged, looking absolutely miserable.
"Come here," Hannah pulled the little girl on her lap, "It's alright baby, you can tell me anything, don't be afraid."
Alex took a shuddering breath, "It hurts."
"What hurts baby?" Hannah asked concerned.
The little girl pointed her finger at her own throat.
"Ow, my sweet little girl," Hannah pulled her in a tight hug. It broke her heart that the child was embarrassed about feeling ill.
"You know what can help? Ice cream!" Hannah tried to cheer her up. Alex cracked a small grin.
Hannah stood up, swooping Alex up, and brought her to the kitchen.
***
Hannah found herself in a waiting room again. Alex had gotten a slight fever during the night and the blonde had decided to take the girl to the doctor's first thing in the morning.
They got called into the office quickly and Hannah carried Alex in.
The little girl didn't even bat an eyelash at the strange man in the room. Alex was normally more alert. Quiet and complacent, but always hyper aware.
Hannah was beyond worry. She knew it was irrational, but as she saw how the girl barely reacted when the doctor started his examination, she couldn't help but feel scared.
The doctor lifted her shirt up, to listen to her lungs, and Hannah could see him cringe slightly as he saw the girl's scars.
"Would you mind a more thorough examination?" He asked Hannah, "To get a more complete view on her health? Weight, height, the basics really."
"Uhm, no, go ahead." The man wasn't easing Hannah's frantic mind at all.
The doctor mumbled to himself as he kept examining Alex, Hannah watching his every move like a hawk.
So this is what it's really like to be a mom, Hannah thought, worry threatening to overwhelm her.
"Okay, I think I'm done here," the doctor smiled, "She has a bit of a cold. I'll prescribe something for her throat, and something to bring that fever down. She'll be better in a few days."
"Thanks doc," Hannah smiled, relieve flooding over her.
"She's underweight though, and that's a big blow to her immune system," the doctor commented, "I suggest you give her four meals per day, until she starts to put on some weight. Nothing too heavy, soup perhaps."
He made a few notes in a file.
"If she hasn't put on 10 pounds by next month, you should come see me again." He smiled gently.
Hannah thanked the man, and brought Alex home.
***
Mamrie burst through the door, "WHAT UP FUC... uh.. riends? What up friends?" She cast a nervous look at Alex, but the girl was oblivious.
Hannah laughed at the awkward recovery, while Mamrie grinned sheepishly.
"Thanks for coming Mames," Hannah said.
"No problem. I didn't have anything to do anyways." Mamrie shrugged.
Hannah knelt down next to Alex, who was snuggly settled on the couch in her onesie holding mr Bun-Bun close.
"Alex, baby, I'm gonna go grocery shopping, but Mamrie is gonna stay with you for a while, okay?" Hannah whispered to the sick little girl.
The girl whimpered, and reached her hand out for Hannah. The blonde woman grabbed her hand and gave it a soft kiss.
"I'll be back before you know it," she promised, "And Mamrie will take good care of you, I trust her."
Hannah stood up, and Mamrie could see the hurt in the younger woman's eyes.
"There's popsicles in the freezer for her throat, and the doctor's number is on the fridge," Hannah said, "Call me if something happens?"
"We'll be fine Hannah, we'll watch a movie and I'll feed her too much ice cream," Mamrie smiled, "We'll have fun, right Carrot?" Mamrie held her hand up for a high five that Alex weakly returned.
"Okay, I won't be long," Hannah repeated again, "Behave, both of you!"
Hannah grabbed her phone and wallet and left the house.
Mamrie grinned at Alex, "Okay Tiny, what movie do you want to watch?"