@devouetā asked: Ā ā you feeling all right, baby? ā
Heaving a slow, protracted breath through her nose, the cool evening air and the hand smoothing warm, soothingĀ circles into the back of her neck enough to temporarily distract her from the roiling insurgence of unwelcome nausea, Alex offered an assuaging nod, albeit against her better judgment.
ā Considering I almost got blown up, ā Ā she breathed, the fingertips thatād been pinching the bridge of her nose --- a reflex, useless to stop the foggy, murky ache still blooming behind her eyes --- seeking out Nicoleās hand, instead. Ā
The blow sheād taken to the back of the head ( to say nothing of her bruised ribs ) hadnāt been the worst sheād been dealt out in the field, but itād sucked nonetheless. Ā Returning home to her apartment, her partner --- girlfriend --- by her side, insistent that she needed someone to keep an eye on her, as per the BBDās explicit protocol... thatād certainly been a perk of getting caught in their targetās crosshairs, if not the only one.Ā ā This isĀ definitely not the first time Iāve beenĀ concussed.Ā And IāmĀ okay.Ā But I appreciate you taking care of me. ā