Survivor

No, Just No

Harper grimaced as the hot water showering down on her ran into the exposed gashes. "You okay?" Riley questioned gently sliding the curtain so that she could set eyes on Harper. She gave the nurse a curt nod and then slowly moved her hand to pick up the washcloth given to her. Harper winced again as the soap seeped in the wounds and the washcloth scratched at her bruised skin. She didn't remember when the nurses at the clinic had cleaned her the first time, but she knew that she wasn't as filthy as she was before. It did feel good to have the warm water running against her sore flesh and through her tangled hair that was in dire need of some conditioner.

After getting clean, Riley helped her out of the tub and Harper took the towel she was offered. Riley kept a tight grip on her arm as Harper carefully ran the towel through her wet locks and then over her body. She was then moved to the sink and held onto the counter as Riley left to grab another robe for her and some undergarments. Harper tilted her head away from the door and looked up at the fogged-up mirror that hung against the wall above the sink, and reached out a hand to wipe away some of the moisture.

Her eyes began to water as they landed on the features of her face and exposed body that was reflected back to her. Her cheeks were sunken and dark bags were present under dark eyes, her lips were chapped and her bottom lip was busted. She slightly stepped back and gasped as her eyes trailed over her thin, broken body. Her left shoulder was painted with a nasty bruise and she could see a gash that ran from her right shoulder down to the top of her left breast. There were smaller gashes that were carved into the soft flesh of her stomach and when she shifted her exposed body slightly she could make out the multiple slashes that lined her backside.

Her grip on the counter tightened as she registered the damage done to her body and she could hear the marble counter cracking due to the amount of stress she was putting it under. Riley quickly returned and noticed her in distress, quickly grasping Harper's arm and startling the woman. She released her death grip on the counter and met the worried eyes of her nurse before hanging her head.

"What happened?" Riley questioned and watched as the woman glanced up briefly at the mirror before dropping her head once again. Riley looked to the mirror and then shifted around Harper to grab another towel. She spread the towel and tucked it over the mirror, completely covering it and blocking out Harper's reflection. "Come on, now." Riley smiled, holding out the robe to Harper. Harper merely stared at the woman with surprise at her actions and then flashed her a small smile as she took the robe from her nurse's hand.

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Gabriel sat before her, his legs crisscrossed as his eyes bore into hers. She imitated him, sitting up straight with her legs crisscrossed underneath her covers.

"You need to eat." He said firmly, holding out a pack of crackers he had snatched from her tray before she pushed it away. Harper frowned and held up her yellow notepad, tapping the capped pen repeatedly against a written "No"  that had been traced multiple times to create a bold look. "It's just crackers, Harper." The man sighed at his stubborn mate, who once again tapped her pen against the word. Frustrated, Gabriel ripped open the packet containing three crackers and snatched one from it, holding it up for Harper to see. "It's food, Harper. It's not gonna hurt you." He took an angry bite of the cracker and chewed it for a bit before reaching for a napkin, and spitting the bite into it.

Riley chuckled from where she sat in the chair next to Harper. "Yeah, that'll definitely get her to eat." 

Gabriel looked down at the packet of whole-grain crackers with a look of disgust as he rolled his tongue around his mouth, trying to get rid of the remains of the bite. "No wondered she won't eat, this shit is disgusting."

A soft laugh escaped from the woman before him, who failed in holding it back, and he looked up at her in surprise as her brown eyes sparkled while the sweet sound echoed through the room. Gabriel watched her in awe as her laughter died down and a small smile pulled at her lips.

"That has got to be the cutest damn thing I have ever heard." Riley smiled, leaning forwards in her seat. Harper's sunken cheeks turned red and she hung her head, her dirty blonde hair covering her embarrassed look. Gabriel smirked as he watched his mate's flustered state and knew that he would do everything in his power to hear the sweet sound of her laughter again.

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Harper looked to where Gabriel had taken over the seat near her and shoved the covers off her leg, swinging them over the side of the bed. Gabriel continued to scroll through the phone in his hands, muttering something she couldn't interpret. Frowning, she scooted closer to the edge and then slipped off, her feet hitting the floor and her knees giving out from under her. Immediately, Gabriel was out of his seat and had latched onto her arm, pulling her into him. She looked up at him and saw him staring down at her with a dark look. "A little warning would be nice." He growled lowly, careful not to startle her.

Her hands rested against his chest and she glanced down at the hand gripping her left wrist before her eyes widened and she glared up at her mate as she realized where his other hand was.

Gabriel's darkened look turned to one of confusion when Harper glared at him and he didn't have enough time to react as a yellow notepad was brought down on his head repeatedly.

"Ow, Harper. Harper, stop." As he gently tried to pull away from her attack, he realized why he was being beaten to death with a notepad. His hand had landed on her ass when he had pulled her to him and held her close.

"Alright, Alright. Stop." He grabbed the wrist of the hand beating him with the notepad and placed some distance between himself and his mate, who continued to glare at him. "It was an accident, Harper. I didn't mean to touch your ass."

She pulled away from his grasp and quickly caught hold of her bed, using it as a support. She narrowed her eyes at him and then slowly relaxed as he stuffed his hands into his jean pockets.

"Even if it is a nice ass." He quickly dodged the notepad that flew towards his face and glanced at where it clattered to the floor, lightly chuckling. He turned back to see her clamber back into the bed, her backside once again revealed to him.

"Definitely a nice ass."

Harper shot him a venomous look over her shoulder before she got seated and began to fidget with the IV line in her arm. "Don't pull it out." Came the husky instructions of her mate as he returned to his seat. She rolled her eyes before staring up at the ceiling and slowly drifting off.