His Prisoner

The Drunken Truth [15]

Meredith

I wake in a daze as the purr of the engine dies out and it falls silent. I struggle to open my eyes as I hear a door open and close, then the passenger door is opened and someone leans over me and unbuckles my seat-belt. 

"Eliot?" I croak sleepily as my eyes finally peel open. 

"Shh, go back to sleep." 

Eliot slides a hand under my legs and the other around my back to lift me out of the car. Somehow he manages to close the door while cradling me against his chest. My blurry eyes make out the front of the house as Eliot walks up the porch steps and the door opens. It's Chase. I close my eyes tiredly as they speak quietly.

"How was it?" I hear Chase ask Eliot as he walks past him into the house.

"Heartbreaking." His voice vibrates through his chest into my ear. I groan softly pressing my face into his shirt covered chest. My head is pounding against my skull and my eyes are so heavy.

It's quiet for a moment and I feel Eliot press his lips to my forehead. I wince at the contact.

"My head hurts." I murmur into his shirt. I use my hand to grip a portion of his shirt tightly in my fist. 

"We'll get you something for it." Eliot replies softly and then I'm gently being placed down on something soft.

I reluctantly open my eyes, squinting at the brightness of the room until my eyes adjust. I recognise the living room and I'm sitting on the sofa. 

"I'm going to call Amber and ask her what we can give her for a headache. I don't want to give her anything that could harm the baby." 

"I'll do it. You stay with her."

Chase leaves the room just as Emily enters and she smiles warmly at me. I return the gesture the best I can without wincing in pain. Crying always gives me a headache. I bet I look a mess too with puffy red eyes and a swollen face. Eliot sits down beside me and helps me out of my now slightly damp coat. It was soaked when we first got in the car after the rain so I guess it's an improvement that I've almost dried fully.

Just as I'm getting my shoes off, there's a harsh pounding on the front door. We all exchange confused glances and wait silently for a moment. The pounding happens again and Chase pokes his head into the living room frowning.

"Who the hell is that?" He grunts with a puzzled expression on his face.

"I'll go." Emily volunteers. Almost immediately Chase stops her.

"No babe, stay here. I'll get it. It doesn't sound good." 

Chase disappears and it's silent as we all listen for any indication as to who could be pounding on the door. I make eye contact with Eliot, frowning while trying to strain my ears for any sound. I hear a growl of annoyance and then a voice that turns my insides into ice.

"Where is she?" 

My breath catches in my throat. Emily looks to me in shock before narrowing her eyes. One minute she's standing in front of me and then she's out by the front door yelling. Eliot closes his eyes as he takes a deep breath. When he opens his eyes, I gasp at the darkness of them. He's angry. He's trying to control it. I grab his hand desperately when he goes to stand.