Levi's Protection

TWENTY-THREE

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I woke up feeling sick, my hands tied behind my back and tied to the post behind me. The rocking of the ship had woken me up, and I could tell conditions were not good from the violent waves I could feel crashing up agains the helm.

"Let me see her!" I voice was shouting from outside the dark room I was in, and I immediately recognized it at Levi's.

"I was told she would not be hurt!" His deep voice bellowed, and a softer voice responded with something I couldn't distinguish.

"Then prove it! Prove she's in perfect condition." I chuckled at that. I was drenched in sweat from the hot conditions, and had not been given food for water since we set sail. I could feel my lips cracking from dehydration and my throat burned. Every so often since we had boarded the boat, Levi's voice could be heard from outside the door. He would shout and cuss at them to try and persuade the guard to let him see me. At first I shouted back, but I was too tired now, and raising my voice above a whisper was too painful.

The click of a lock sounded, and Levi's exasperated voice could be heard hissing, "Finally." Light filled the room burning my eyes and I struggled to adjust so I could see my savior entering.

He entered the room in a rush and scanned shelves and junk until his wide eyes landed on my weak figure curled up against the post.

"Willow." It wasn't often he used my real name, only when he was upset and serious.

My heart soared as he rushed to me immediately reaching behind me to release my bindings.

"You said she wasn't going to be hurt!" He all but screamed in a tone so angry his voice was almost unrecognizable behind the viciousness.

"We haven't touched a hair on her head." The guard chuckled, "It was your fathers orders."

"I don't give a damn about my father. I agreed to come to save her life, not have her be left for dead once I agreed." Levi's fumbling hands finally released my wrists. He pulled the rope away and tossed it far across the room as if it had burned him.

He scooped me up into his arms and cradled me tightly. "She'll be spending the rest of the trip with me, and will not be leaving my side." He spit and he rushed out of the room and into the hallway where I had been dragged away from him when we first boarded.

"Levi." I reached up and touched his face. My vision was dancing in and out of focus. I needed to tell him thank you for saving me, again. By my throat felt like sand paper.

"I know." He shushed my quietly. Walking into a room with a bed, sink and fridge he placed me gently on the bed. He disappeared and I could hear the sound of multiple locks being turned into place.

He grabbed a towel from where it lay on the floor and quickly covered it with water, then rushed to where I lay staring at him on the bed.

"I'm so so sorry, Willow." He placed the cold towel on my forehead which almost made me melt with relief. My body temperature had soared and I was still sweating.

"Water." was all I could manage out desperately.

"Oh my god, of course." He grabbed a bottle from the bedside table and tipped my head up to help me drink it.

I chugged the water like my life depended on it, choking multiple times.  Once my throat no longer burned and I could feel my stomach protruding with liquid I finally lay back again with Levi's help.

"I tried to reach you." Levi whispered to me, "I really did. But they wouldn't-"

"I know." I breathed out to him, my eyes drifting shut, "Don't worry, I'm just going to sleep."

The last thing I saw was his worried face as I sunk into a deep sleep.

~

Levi sat on his knee's next to the bed for a long time. The girl he loved was laid on the bed in front of him. She had almost died for what felt like the dozenth time since they had met, and it was all his fault.

He had tried time and time again to make sure they could be safe, and she would be out of harms way. But he now realized that would never be possible while his father was alive. For the first time he realized what he had to do to end it, for good.

Levi stood up and strode to the cabinet that was stocked with food. He grabbed what he could fit in his arms and placed it all on the small shelf that sat beside the bed. Grabbing two more bottles of water as well he resumed his position beside Willow and stared down at her as if it were the last time.

"I love you so much, baby." He could feel himself becoming choked up and pushed back the tears that threatened to spill.

Levi stood from his position, squared his shoulders, and walked out the door.

He was ready to make another deal.