Running Through The Garden

I'm So Afraid

"Stevie that's insane, he's dead."

She didn't say a word, pulling the note out of her purse and handing it to Lindsey. His eyes scanned over the familiar scrawl, recognizing the handwriting instantly. "Son of a bitch."

He ran a hand over his face, shaking his head. "Maybe it's an old note, it got lost in the mail."

   Stevie shook her head. "Lindsey we already tried to track the notes, there's no return address. They were hand delivered."

    "Then it wasn't him."

   "Lindsey that man said the same things he did in the notes, he's the one who attacked me."

  "Maybe he was hired by someone, to keep the real creep's name a secret."

   She shook her head again. "Lindsey that's insanity, who would risk their life like that."

  "Some sick fan who wants to get close to you, this whole situation is insanity Stevie!"

   Tears had welled in her eyes, wrapping  her arms around herself. "I just want this all to end."

   Lindsey reached out his hand, Stevie taking it and he pulled her in close, wrapping arm around her waist and laying his head against her stomach as he tried to comfort her the best he could from the hospital bed. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you Stevie."

   She nodded wishfully, her fingers running through his hair.

   Their moment was interrupted by the sound of a door opening, Stevie looking over her shoulder and tensing. Lindsey followed her stare, gritting his teeth. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

   Michael held his hands up in defense, shutting the door behind him. "I come in peace. I don't want to cause any problems, I came to apologize."

   Lindsey glanced up at Stevie to make sure she was ok, her giving him a slight nod of her heard. "Carry on."

   "I've been under a lot of stress, as we all have, and there was a lot of mixed signals."

    "There was no signals sent on my part." Stevie spoke through clenched teeth, Lindsey squeezing her hand.

   "My judgment was clouded, the situation we're put in at the moment clouded my judgement, and I truly do apologize."

  Stevie let out the breath she'd been holding. "Thank you."

   The room was filled with silence, Stevie tapping her foot.

   "Lindsey I really need to go check on Sulamith, Karen's running errands all day and she's been home alone for hours."

  "I don't want you going anywhere alone."

  "I'll be there and back, it won't take me long."

  "Stevie," Lindsey let out a heavy sigh.

  Michael cleared his throat, making his presence known in the situation. "If it would make you both feel better I could accompany her."

  "You'd do that?" Lindsey raised an eyebrow.

  "It's the least I could do."

     "Are you ok with that Stevie?"

  She nodded, shrugging slightly. "That's fine."

   Stevie grabbed her purse, leaning over his bed and giving him a kiss. He smoothed his hand down the side of her face. "Come back soon."

   "I will." She kissed him again. "I love you."

  "I love you too." He squeezed her hand, watching as she walked out the door, Michael following close behind.

   The ride to her home was tense and silent, Stevie not saying a word as Michael asked her a few questions. Pulling up to her home, she didn't wait for him, leaving the door open  for him to follow.

  Upon entering her home she was instantly met by Sulamith, crouching down to take her small dog in to her arms. "Did you miss mommy? Mommy missed you! Let's get you something to eat baby girl."

   Michael watched as she carried the tiny terrier in to the kitchen, discreetly locking the front door behind him. He trailed in to the kitchen, seeing her bent over as she set Sulamith's food bowl down on her mat. He admired her backside, his teeth sinking In to his lower lip.

   "Michael I'm going to go upstairs and change in to something more comfortable for the hospital, I'll be right back."

   "Not a problem, is there anything I could do for you?"

  "Would it be too much trouble to ask you to make me a cup of tea?"

   He shook his head. "Of course not, I'll have it ready for you by the time you get done."

  "Thank you." She gave him an appreciative nod, passing him as she left the kitchen.

  Michael reached for the mugs she had sitting on the counter, filling the kettle with water then setting it on the stove. Placing the tea bag in the bottom of the cup. Pouring the steaming water over it, he let it deep before pulling the bag out. Glancing over his shoulder, he made sure he was all alone before reaching in to his pocket, pulling out a capsule and breaking it open, stirring the contents in to her drink.

................

         Lindsey wore a frown as he studied the note over and over, his thoughts scrambled. Why did it look so familiar? He'd obviously seen the writing before in the previous notes, but he was noticing something different about it. Reaching for the get well cards on his side table, he flipped through them, finding the one he was looking for.

   Pulling the card out of it's envelope, his stomach churning seeing the exact same handwriting on the card that was on the note. How had he never noticed it before, how could it slip past him?

    Tossing it aside he frantically reached for the phone, punching in her number and holding it to his ear.

  It rang and rang,  going to voicemail. He swore, redialing the number getting the same response. "God damnit Stevie! Pick up!"

........

   "Here you are." Michael handed her the cup of tea, sitting down on the opposite side from her on the stools next to the island.

  "Thank you." She took a sip, sighing out in content.
 
  "Is there anything else you'd like me to do?"

  "You've done more than enough, I'm fine thank you."

  Michael nodded, watching as she drank her tea, seeing her set it down. He was satisfied to see the cup was already half empty. Watching her do mindless little chores, he gaged her coordination, watching it become less and less precise.

  "Stevie are you alright?" He asked as she stumbled a bit, getting up and rounding the counter.

  "Umm, yeah..." she held her hand to her forehead, clenching her eyes shut. "I just feel a little light headed."

  "Maybe you should lie down."

   She shook her head. "No, I'm fine."

  She went to take a step, her leg buckling out from under her. Michael caught her before she could hit the floor, holding her up. "Stevie you should really lie down."

   Stevie nodded reluctantly, letting him guide her in to the living room, his arm firmly around her as he helped her lay down on the couch. Her head was spinning and she was feeling blurry, watching Michael move around her as if he were almost in slow-motion.  Her vision was becoming heavy, her thoughts even heavier, too much to think clearly. She watched through half closed eyes as Michael walked over to the windows, pulling the drapes shut.

  He wandered back over to her, the room a lot darker now. He sank down on to the coffee table in front of her, reaching out to stroke her hair from her face.

  "What...what are you doing?" Her voice was weak, slurred as she spoke.

   "Making sure no one interrupts us Angel."