「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(310) Stalk Me

Lynn's POV

While Hank busily contacted the White House to have their travel papers prepared, Raven exhibited extreme interest to involve me in her premeditated engagements. Although her whimsical plans seemed, on the surface, frivolous, I recognized her thoughtful intentions of providing direly needed distractions.

Undeniably, she was dearly missed and I would have acceded to her enthusiastic efforts under usual circumstances but I courteously declined her generous offer nevertheless, opting to pursue the wheels of my husband instead. Raven graciously relinquished her ideas, proceeding to surprise Kurt, while I awkwardly tailed Charles as he dotingly gripped my hand and expeditiously retreated to our room.

Upon entering our private haven, however, the first thing Charles did was not to settle his own essentials but swiftly drove himself towards my bedside drawer. My heart raced, recalling the unkempt and neglected situation within, but knowing the exact placement of my belongings as well as he knew me, Charles barely ransacked or even fumbled through the disorganized storage unit.

Arm sling, a canister of ibuprofen and a bottle of water balanced on his lap haphazardly, Charles rushed back to the entrance where he had inadvertently left me. Normally, I was adamant to avoid the attention-seeking accessory but without energy or mood to launch any sort of debate that could possibly preclude his conscientious attempts, I sheepishly averted his gaze.

"I understand you hate the brace, let alone this, and I really don't mean to impose but, it's been bothering you all morning," Charles noted in a vexed tone as he gently caressed my relentlessly throbbing wrist but I wretchedly returned no discernible response.

"I don't think I have to tell you how much my heart hurts every time I watch you go through this torture," Charles lamented anxiously, unintentionally wielding a slightly sterner voice that absolutely stung my ears, but I still sat mutedly without reaction.

"I just want you to feel better, Lynn," he asserted, kindly cupping my cheek, and slowly tilted up my chin.

"Would you wear it, please?" Charles appealed, literally begging as he stared those miserable crystal blue eyes at me.

Without another word, I began to tug on my jacket and his face, initially graced with a dazed expression, quickly brightened with an alleviated smile evoked by my unforeseen yet gratifying compliance.

As I struggled with my task, apparently difficult while minimising aggravation of the chronic injury, Charles conscientiously lent his assistance. Smoothly but carefully easing the sleeves off my arms, Charles meticulously guided my irritated joint into the fabric support and it naturally nestled into a comfortable cradle as he diligently secured the nylon belts around my neck.

Grateful that the white mesh and straps were not utterly conspicuous against my blouse, I smiled briefly but Charles probably failed to notice in his preoccupied state.

With my arm duly elevated, Charles removed the stash of pillows and attentively fitted my vibrant outerwear back on, albeit leaving the left side loosely draped over my shoulders, before dishing into my palm a couple of painkillers which I obediently flushed into my system.

"That's a good girl," Charles teased playfully and though I only giggled transiently, the genuine laughter clearly heartened him as he motioned to address the clutter atop his legs with a delighted grin.

"I'll get that," I volunteered, hurriedly floating away the mess.

"Just freshen up, and I'll have your things packed," I coaxed softly, flashing him a small smile.

"Thank you, love," he replied, pecking my forehead affectionately, and steered himself off to the bath.

It was uncertain if I had been overly efficient in gathering his belongings or that Charles was truly indulging in a luxurious shower but even after neatly arranging all the medication necessitated by our complicated conditions, I was granted with plenty of time to spare that I found myself completely zoning out to the equally confused sky plagued with dark clouds intermittently stabbed by glaring rays of sunshine.