The Prisoner

Chapter 23

"Why?" She asked when they pulled away.

"What?" He asked while raising an eyebrow.

"Why did you leave me?" She could feel her lower lip trembling and she tried her best not to let a tear fall out of her eyes.

"I thought you would be happier with someone else" he mumbled. Rose's mouth opened and closed but no words came out.

"I don't care if you're sick but you, Javert, are a complete idiot" she said softly. He looked up at her and smiled a small smile that was barely noticeable.

"So you're telling me that you put me in 3 weeks of misery because you thought that I would be happier with someone else. Well I am going to explain this as clearly as possible and I won't repeat it again. I am never going to be happy with someone who is not you. I don't care that you're much older or that you don't really show affection much but I love you anyway and no one can ever replace you no matter what I am in love with you and only you, Javert" her voice was clear and she spoke slowly as if talking to a child. Their lips met once more and it was like they were falling in love with each other all over again.

"You better hold on because I am not going to live in this world without you" she warned, still inches away from his face. They were interrupted with a knock on the door and Rose hurried to open it. She squeezed when she opened and threw herself in Cosette's arms. Her stomach was enormous and she walked with a light limp.

"Oh Rose I have missed you greatly" she said when they sat down.

"Where have you and Marius been?" Replied Rose with a light smile playing on her lips.

"Marius has been sick with influenza he just recovered recently actually" she explained.

"Javert, he has influenza too please tell me how Marius recovered" her eyes were wide with desperation.

"Did you say Javert. As in Javert, the fearsome inspector?" Asked Cosette, her eyes twitching in a very odd way.

"Yes, do you know him?" Asked Rose, getting ready to defend him. Most people who knew Javert had nothing positive to say about him.

"Papa wrote about him in his letter. He's the one who hunted us down all these years. How could you Rose?" Gasped Cosette. Just then, Javert called out for Rose from the bedroom and she hurried to get to him as fast as possible.

"I want to leave the bedroom for a while if it is no bother" he said.

"Cosette is here" she said.

"I won't bother you but I am tired of the bedroom. I had a leg injury a couple of years back and I had to use a walking stick, I believe I still have it. Do you mind if you get it for me, I will try using it once more" he was already starting to sit up. Rose looked around for the walking stick until she found it under the bed. She helped him stand and he put his weight on the walking stick. He was not used to walking since he hadn't moved in nearly a month. He took a step with it and when he didn't fall they both made their way out back to where Cosette was sitting. Rose went back to sit with Cosette and Javert sat away from both of them but he could still hear every word they were saying.

"How could you?" Gasped Cosette. Javert's eyes ,which were closed a second ago, flew open and he listened intently to what they were saying.

"Not now, Cosette" hissed Rose.

"No Rose. He is the reason Papa is dead. Papa was very kind to you and this is how you repay him" tears were welling up in Cosette's blue eyes and Javert was still listening, silently waiting for the moment when he would be needed to step in.

"So am I supposed to be miserable because your father was kind to me?" Asked Rose, her green eyes flaring with anger.

"My father described him as one of the cruelest people he has met you must be crazy to be with him" Javert could see Rose clenching her hands into fists and he knew he would need to step in soon.

"At least Javert is an honest man" spat Rose. Cosette gasped and a single fear fell down her face.

"Rose" said Javert softly. She turned to him with a furious expression and he motioned for her to come to him.

"I will explain this as clearly as possible to you Madame and I am afraid I am still sick so listen to me because I won't repeat myself. You view your father as a saint. Well listen to this, he is not. He is a man who spent most of his life running away from the law. I won't deny he has done some kind deeds in his lifetime but he is a sinner just like you and I. He lied every time he said his name. A brave man, I won't deny it, but like I said he's a criminal. I hope you remember that this is still my house and you should treat everyone who lives here with some respect" Javert's voice was so quiet that Rose felt sorry for Cosette. Cosette looked at them both with wide eyes before getting up and walking out of the apartment with tears still falling down her face.

"You really hated him didn't you?" Asked Rose while pulling up a chair next to him.

"It runs a bit deeper than hate" said Javert while closing his eyes once more.

"If you aren't too tired would you mind explaining?" She asked him while putting her hand gently on his knee.

"Before I convinced myself entirely this the was truly the former convict when he was the mayor I actually thought that he was my friend, that was clearly not the case. Pathetic isn't it?" He chuckled darkly and reached out for the walking stick before walking back to the bedroom.

"Javert?" She asked while sitting next to him on the bed.

"You're not pathetic. You're the most amazing person in the whole wide world. Please don't hate yourself because I love you so much and I hope you love me too" she whispered.

"I love you, Rose. More than you'll ever know" he slurred before slipping away into sleep once more.