clean

Feeling her tense underneath his grip, Sebastian had found himself flinching also, apology ready to fall from his lips, and arm already beginning to pull away. Though, he stilled upon feeling her relax. He wished it had lasted longer, feeling guilt for sending her into a flurry of panic.

“Hey, hey…” He spoke in a whisper, tone nothing more than soothing and delicate, “They can’t get to you anymore. I won’t let them. You’ve done nothing wrong, and the information you’ve told us has helped immensely. You’re helping anybody else they could hurt. It’s okay.”

There was no hiding the surprise on his face at her question, even moreso at the hopeful look in her eyes. She trusted him. She trusted him even when she could stand nobody else. Sure he’d achieved many things in his life, but this…this might have been the one he felt most pride in. “It’s not exactly part of my job description…” He began hesitantly, unable to bear the thought of upsetting her further, “But I’ll see what I can do.”

He was too invested. At least, that’s what others would tell him. Their only job was to get people out of trouble, or into jail. Yet here he was, going above and beyond for a girl he knew nothing of. He swore to himself then and there that he would involve himself with matters to do with her in particular only until the last of her violators had been caught, but…deep down he knew that wouldn’t be the case. “Until then, just…tell me anything else you need, okay? Anything. I’ll get it sorted out for you.”

It probably wasn’t in the cards for Jane to be able to relax entirely, but his words put her slightly at ease. If he said he wasn’t going to let them get to her, she felt as though she could believe he would at least try. He was the one who had saved her in the first place, the one who had done what she had given up hoping for. She trusted him. Not the police. Him. 

The disappointment was evident in her face at the indication that he may not be able to be the security he’d promised her. Of course, she understood. Or, she knew that she should understand. He had more important things to do than to tend to her any more than he already had. However, the hope returned to her eyes at his next comment. “Thank you. Thank you so much - even if you can’t, um, do that for me, thank you for everything - thank you for trying.” Jane wouldn’t allow him to go even a moment without knowing how much she appreciated all he’d done for her. 

Jane really couldn’t ask anything else of him - he’d done so much for her already. What she wanted to ask was that he stay longer, continue to keep her safe and grounded in reality. Until he’d gotten here, she hadn’t been able to keep a firm grip on reality. Over the last several years, she’d gotten pretty good at dissociating under stress, the only way she could cope with everything happening to her. Jane hadn’t even realized she was doing it again until he made everything click back into place. Having him leave did not sound appealing to her. “I can’t ask you to do anything more for me,” she shook her head, looking down at her legs before back up at him. “Except, um, I’m sure they’ve told me, but I - I’ve been having trouble focusing. I just - I don’t know where I am. The city, I mean. I’m not, um, I’m not from here, I know that my family is trying to fly in soon, so I’m not - I’d just like to know where I am.” She’d been moved around constantly, but she never really knew where she ended up. Just how long the journey had taken. It had been years since she’d seen her hometown or her family, and the idea of them seeing her like this with no remnants of her former self had been weighing on her the last couple of days. “Oh! I never got your name either. Sorry I didn’t - I didn’t think to ask.” 

The sincerity of her tone, and the desperation behind her desire to show her gratitude had Sebastian’s lips twitching upward slightly, finding himself unable to d anything but to surrender; a nod of his head signifying his acceptance of her thanks, “I only wish I’d gotten there sooner.”

Brows furrowed immediately at her following question. If he hadn’t been mistaken, he swore there was a hint of…hurt in her tone. His head shook quickly, “No. No, I’m…I’m not actually meant to be here. Something about meddling with the investigation, and whatnot, but I needed to see for myself that you were okay. I couldn’t just go about my life knowing that you’re cooped up in here.”

He had been hesitant to answer the next of her inquiries, throat feeling constricted as he swallowed thickly. On one hand, he didn’t want to frighten the poor girl. On the other, lying to her would weigh far too heavily on his mind. She didn’t deserve that. Gaze soft, Sebastian’s eyes had met hers, hand reluctantly wrapping itself around hers in a gesture meant to be gentle and comforting, “There were some arrests made, yes. I assure you those bastards will get what they deserve. But, there are still more to be made; some that are still hiding.” A heavy sigh resonated between the pair, “I know that that isn’t going to sit well with you, but I’ll ensure the best security to accompany you once you’re discharged. You are safe, and I intend for you to be certain of that yourself.”

Sure, Jane felt bad that he was maybe risking being in trouble by coming to visit her, but more importantly she was glad he came at all. Though, she hoped she wasn’t disappointing him by not being entirely okay. She was free, she was relieved, but... okay? Not quite.”I really appreciate it. You coming at all, when you didn’t have to,” she told him sincerely, already dreading the moment he had to go. “I’m not really cooped up in here, you don’t need to worry about that. I don’t think I’d complain about being anywhere right now. I’ve got a bed and... and I’m okay,” she assured him quietly. The hospital wasn’t entirely ideal - too many people touching her, too many people wanting to ask questions, that underlying fear that at any point someone here would turn on her for what she’d done. But it was safe.

As his hand wrapped around hers, her fingers twitched, curling up in his grasp instinctively before relaxing, unharmed. Tentatively, she reciprocated the movement, her hand wrapping around his slowly as if she had no idea how to be comforted. She wasn’t comforted for long, however, her eyes growing large and terrified at his words. “N-No,” she murmured, knowing she absolutely wasn’t safe. Not if they were still out. Her hand gripped his tighter, though her grasp was still weak, she held him like a lifeline. “If they find me - If - I - I’ll be in so much trouble. I’m not - I’m not supposed to talk to the police,” she stammered an explanation, er expression conveying just how worried this made her. 

The offer of security... Jane wasn’t sure if that made her feel reassured or even more nervous. Even with him here, the police weren’t to be trusted. She had that trained into her. If she went to the police, she’d be the one in trouble. She was the one breaking the law. “Security,” she repeated, her voice still nervous. “Security, like - like you?”

Bas had never been one to bend the rules. Trained and disciplined by a father in military ranks, he, himself had been similar to a soldier; doing what he was told, when he was told, how he was told. He dared not even be caught walking out of time.

Yet, in this particular situation, he found himself deaf to the demands that ordered him to detach from the situation. It just didn’t… sit right with him. After all, had he not joined this line of work to be a catalyst of safety? There was no doing that without being present. Yes, he scoffed at the headlines and reports that dubbed him a ‘hero,’ but it didn’t convince him any less of his duty to her.

Ignoring the nurses’ and doctor’s discouragement of his visitation, Sebastian had directed himself to her room. He knocked once, twice, three times, and received no response. Worry washing over him, he pushed the door open just a crack, sticking his head in; finding himself relieved at the sight of the girl, as okay as she could have been, given the circumstance. Mirroring the expression on her face, the male had offered a slight curve of his lips, careful not to be too loud or quick in his movements as he stepped into the room. “Hey…”

Truth be told, he was unsure of what he was doing. What more could he say that others hadn’t already? He was certain she would order his departure, and so there was no hiding his shock at her warm invitation. Hesitant steps were taken to seat himself, yet at her sudden movement, he found himself reacting instinctively; hands hastily, yet still delicately, steadying her movements, “Easy, there.” Wanting to ensure her comfort, he had taken it upon himself to rearrange the positioning of the pillows that supported her, pausing only as she spoke once more. He shook his head. “There’s really no need for any of that. I didn’t do anything more than what I was required to. I’m just…I’m glad to have gotten you out of there sooner rather than later.”

Jane watched his every move as he approached her, eyeing him curiously as he reached behind her to fix her pillows. A smile appeared more prominently at her lips; not only was this sort of gentleness foreign to her, but this was the closest she had allowed anyone to her in the last couple days unless it was absolutely necessary. He was already associated entirely with safety in her mind. It had been years since she had had any sense of safety, now there was him.

At his dismissive attitude toward what he had done, Jane nodded earnestly. He had to know that he had done something absolutely life-saving for her. He’d rescued her. “There is a need for that. I’ve wanted to thank you more than anything. Even if you were required to do it... you still got me out. No one else came looking for me.” She paused, trying to decide whether she should voice the question that came into her mind or not. “Were you required to visit me?” Jane asked softly, her voice hesitant. 

Even though she had just asked him something, another question came quickly in her head - one that felt more pressing than the first. “And, um - um were any arrests made? Is there any chance of - I don’t know if you’re allowed to tell me anything like that, I just don’t want... I don’t want to go back.”

Mostly untouched food sat next to her this morning, finding it difficult still to retain a normal appetite. She was finding it difficult to retain any sense of normalcy, actually. It was driving her insane to be touched so much, even if she knew she needed the treatment. And when it was suggested to her that she could watch something, since she could use a little escapism, her attention had settled on the news. The photo that had been spread around news sources for days - the cop who had saved her and the terrified, half-naked girl in his arms clinging desperately to him. Even if it was hard to register that that scared, haggard girl was her, he was the one piece of reality she had allowed herself to cling to day after day in this hospital bed, wishing she was able to thank him for what he had done for her. For rescuing her.

At the sound of someone approaching, Jane’s attention snapped to the door and away from her thoughts, nerves flooding through her as she noticed the male frame. However, it took only a moment for everything to click into place, relief written all over her face as she identified the man coming to visit. A small smile appeared at her lips, life returning to her eyes. He had come to see her. 

“Hi,” she murmured, her voice hoarse. Despite the haze that had been cast over her memory, his face was clear to her. Embedded permanently in her memory. “Come sit? Please?” Jane suggested, gesturing to a chair near the bed. She pushed herself up further in the bed into something resembling a sitting position, wincing slightly as she disturbed her various injuries. “I haven’t gotten a chance yet to thank you. I - I wanted to, I just didn’t know how to reach you. But you - well, you know what you did. I can’t ever thank you enough.”