hiding

Everyone run, it's Izo

"What were you thinking? You're on a heavy does of pain medication, you shouldn't be walking around!" Doc ranted, as he changed her bandages and evaluated her.

"I was thinking about food. I'm tired of laying around, I want to move!" Alexia rolled her eyes.

"You weren't even awake for 30 minutes before you took off!" Marco exclaimed.

"Not true."

"Wait when were you awake, how long have you been awake?" Doc looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"I don't know, a while I guess. I couldn't open my eyes or move, but I could hear everything." Alexia shrugged, "Speaking of which Thatch, did you really dump your division's paperwork on Marco again?"

"Hey how did you even?" Thatch sputtered.

"You told me, laughed about it even you big jerk." Alexia glared.

"You were supposed to be asleep!"

"As far as I can see, you should be okay to be on your feet IF, you take it easy." Doc stressed to her, "No training, no rough housing, no fighting, nothing even slightly extraneous."

"No promises..."

"And Marco," The Doc gave him a harsh stare, "I am holding you personally responsible for her wellbeing at this point. If anything happens to her that sets back her recovery, I will personally put you on a spit."

Thatch and Alexia laughed as Marco growled. Doc just looked annoyed, knowing Alexia and Thatch weren't listening to him.

"And since you seem to handle solid foods without issue," Doc continued, "You can eat normally, but small amounts. I don't need you messing up an internal stitching."

"Yea yea yea, same rules as always." Alexia sighed, "But I can go?"

Doc nodded his head yes, not looking up from the clipboard in his hand. Alexia grinned childishly as she got up and walked towards the door, Marco and Thatch just behind her.

"What do you plan on doing with your freedom girlie?" Thatch smirked as they walked.

"A shower obviously, and my own clothes. God why do you guys keep putting me in these stupid hospital gowns?"

"Don't spend too long! We missed you! You owe us a lot of company!" Thatch waved at the two, heading off.

"Yea and you owe me my meals you didn't save for me." Alexia muttered under her breath, remembering how hungry she still was.

"Are you okay?" Marco spoke up, suddenly aware she was too content for her situation.

"I'm good!" Her voice was overly chipper, almost fake.

"Lexi, don't lie yoi." Marco shot her a knowing look.

"Honestly Marco, I'm fine. Mentally and emotionally I'm fine, and these pills Doc has me on has me feeling just fine physically too." Alexia sighed, pushing past him lightly to enter the room while she quickly grabbed some of her clothes; leaving him alone as she showered.

As much as Alexia loved her showers, the warm water sent waves of pain from her injuries radiating through her body. She still felt dirty no matter how much she scrubbed. As much as she didn't want any of the men aboard to see her naked body, surely at least Doc had heard of a bed bath. Alexia felt disgusting after sitting in two weeks of dirt and grime.

Alexia gasped as the water suddenly changed temperature to a drastic cold. She cried out, dropping to the ground, hugging her knees against her. Her mind flooded with images of Akainu, and the many people who experimented on her. Her thoughts were fresh with the pain they inflicted, feeling as though she was drowning, and her chest was going to explode; similar to when she was water boarded.

Alexia was too far gone in her mind to notice the door open. She also didn't pay any notice to the voice calling out her name as she shivered on the floor, tears spilling out her eyes while she whimpered. She jumped at the sudden contact on her upper arm. Her tearful eyes landed upon Izo's concerned ones.

"Alexia honey, what's wrong?" Alexia could finally hear him talking to her as he draped a massive towel around her, shutting off the water. Alexia could only shake her head at him, "I'll go get Doc and Marco..."

"No please...stay." Alexia pleaded as he turned to leave.

"What would you like me to do?" Izo knelt down next to her, rubbing her back.

"I don't know...just please, don't tell anyone about this. Especially not Marco." Alexia was starting to tremble less.

"They just want to help you sweetie. This doesn't seem like something you should keep to yourself."

"I'll be okay, I just got caught off guard. I know they mean well, it's just..." Alexia looked down in guilt, "I'm tired off being so weak in front of everyone. It seems like that's all I'm good at."

"Okay, but only for now, if this stuff of yours gets worse..." Izo looked unsure.

"Thank you Izo, I know it doesn't make sense, but I need to do this... for me." Alexia admitted, "I don't want to be weak anymore.

"Come honey, let's get you put together then." Izo held out his hand, helping her up, "Besides I've been wanting to do something with that dreaded hair of yours since the first day you woke up on this ship."

"Oh god Izo, nothing to ridiculous please. I hate sitting still for too long." Alexia said defeated, knowing Izo would get his way in the end. When it came to her hair or clothes, Izo always had his way. Izo hugged her against him, as he drug her out the door to his room, ignoring her protests that she was still only in a towel.