#willowridge

You asked her what city life was like, and was surprised to learn that a lot of Orcs were business types rather than manual laborers. Perhaps it was the curse of small town life, but the Orcs you knew in town only ever worked as labor, security, or military. She mentioned that one of the women she translated for in the accounting firms was, in fact, an Orcish matriarch of an entire legion of business-oriented children and grandchildren, and you found it weirdly encouraging.

While eating dinner with her on Thursday, the door to her room opened to reveal a sharply dressed woman carrying a briefcase. She looked mostly human, but the greyish tinge of her skin and sharpness of her features made you think she might be at least part goblin.

“Hey Elena,” She said, sweeping by you to hug the woman in the bed.

“Hey Karen,” Elena replied. “Got good news for me?”

“Boy, do I ever,” Karen said, but stopped when she saw you. “Who’s this?”

“This is my friend, Varik,” Elena said, gesturing at you and smiling.

“Ohhh,” Karen purred with a sly grin. “So this is the cute orc guy you never stop talking about.”

“How ‘bout you shut your noise-hole, Karen,” Elena said loudly, putting a hard edge on the K in Karen’s name. You chuckled softly and Elena glared at you.

Karen smirked but changed the subject. “Well, bad news first: he got the mistrial.”

“What!” Elena exclaimed. “What the hell, Karen? I thought you said you had good news.”

“I do,” She said, handing Elena a document. “The judge made the determination that the jury couldn’t possibly be non-biased after witnessing the attack, but I’ve been in chambers with the judge and Russel’s lawyer going back and forth for days. The law is clear. We were at recess when the attack happened, meaning…”

Elena’s eyes lit up. “We don’t have to file separately. It’s admissible in this case.”

“You’re damn straight it is,” Karen said. “His lawyer kept arguing emotional distress, but he’s a fucking moron of he thinks he can call that provocation, considering you were literally giving a witness account across the room from him and you had no way to defend yourself. He’s finally dug himself a grave he can’t get out of.”

Elena lay back in the bed and closed her eyes, breathing a sigh of relief. “We got him.”

“We got him,” Karen agreed.

“So what does this mean?” You asked.

“Well, it means we have to wait for the next trial to begin. There’s motions to be filed, a jury to be selected, affidavits to be signed. But we’re finally taking this bastard down.” She looked down at Elena sympathetically. “Sorry, dear. It looks like your going to be stuck in town for another month at least.”

Elena looked down at her lap in thought, and a shy side smiled tugged at the corners of her mouth.

“That’s okay,” she said, looking up at you. “I don’t mind.” You smiled back widely.

“Mhm,” Karen said, looking between you and Elena with a knowing smirk. “I bet not. How much longer they keeping you in here for?”

“As far as I know, ‘til Saturday.”

“Mkay,” Karen said, making a note of it in her phone. “Well, call me when you get out and we’ll go over our plan of attack, okay? And for gods’ sake, call Stucker, will you? He’s been up my ass trying to get a hold of you.”

Elena sighed. “Yeah, my phone died and I couldn’t get back to the apartment for my charger. I’ll call him.”

Karen bid farewell and left.

You frowned. “I’d have gotten your charger for you.”

Elena smiled, using the back of her hand to touch your arm. “You already do so much for me.”

You snorted. “Bringing you lunch and dinner so you don’t have to eat the garbage they serve patients here isn’t doing things for you. I’d be insane to leave you to the hospital cooks’ mercy. You can rely me if you need a hand, you know, don’t be afraid to ask. I’m here if you need me.”

“I appreciate it,” She said with a sweet grin.

“Who’s Stucker? Old boyfriend?”

She laughed out loud at that one. “God no! He’s over three times my age. He’s a pediatric surgeon specializing in burns; he was my doctor until I turned eighteen. He can’t treat me anymore, but we’ve kept in touch. He’s a good friend.”

“Sounds like a good doctor, if he made such a big impression on you.”

“He was. He is,” She said fondly. “He used to bring me cupcakes every time he visited. He made the nurses so mad.” She laughed again, and you laughed with her.

“When he found out that my family was gone,” She said, her face growing somber. “He made it a point to make sure I was taken care of. He couldn’t directly care for me beyond a medical capacity, but he made sure I had books and school work and things to keep me occupied. He even testified at the first trial, when I couldn’t leave the hospital to testify myself. He did as much as he was able to ensure I could still grow, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, too. I’m the person I am today because of him.”

“Well, as a person who deeply admires who you are, I think I’d like to shake this man’s hand,” You said.

She smiled at the thought. “Maybe one day you will.”

The day she was released, you drove her home in your truck. It was so tall that if you hadn’t lifted her to put her in it, she’d have had to jump. She was actually perfectly capable of driving, but she had left her car in the city.

Her apartment was small and bare, which wasn’t that odd, considering she hadn’t expected to stay in town for long. There was a couch and a T.V., a desk with a laptop, a kitchen table with two chairs, and that was pretty much it. You assumed there was a bed in the bedroom, but the door was closed and you didn’t go in there to check.

You didn’t notice any major modifications to anything that would make them easier to use. She apparently had found ways to do most things that didn’t require massive adjustments to be made.

“Do you mind if I make a call to Dr. Stucker really fast? Then we can eat.”

“No, not at all, go ahead.”

She took the phone out of her pocket, opened her contacts and pressed a button with the top knuckle of her index finger. The phone had a strap on it so that she could affix it to the inside of her wrist, since her fingers didn’t open wide enough to allow her to hold it the normal way. While she talked, you set a place for the both of you at the table and began sorting the take-out you had picked up for lunch.

“Hey, Will,” She said. “Yeah, I’m okay. I just got home. I’m doing okay, I’m back on my regular meds and the swelling is gone. No, I just need rest. Yeah. Yeah, they want me to take it as easy as possible for the next week or so, but after that I’ll see if I can come up for a visit. It’s been a while. How’s Teresa? That’s good. Okay. Yeah, I just wanted to check in and tell you what’s going on. Yeah, I’ll call you tomorrow, okay? Okay. Bye, Will.”

“Good call?” You asked as you sit down. You wondered a little about the fact that she just happened to have a chair built strongly enough to hold an Orc.

“Yep,” She said, picking up her fork. “I told him about you, you know.”

“You did?” You said, surprised. “Why?”

“He likes to know what’s going on in my life, if I’ve made friends, if I’m happy.”

“Are you happy?”

“I’m working on it,” She said with a smile.

After lunch, she said, “Thanks for bringing me home and treating me. I don’t want to keep you if you have somewhere else to be.”

“Where else would I have to be?” You asked. “It’s the weekend. I’m usually at home in my sweats eating cereal over the sink. I’d much rather be here.”

She snorted. “Well, I’ve got some new movies on my streaming service. Want to stay and watch a movie with me?”

“Does that mean cuddles and snacks?” You asked.

“Would it be a party if it didn’t?”

You grinned. “I’m in, dude.”

You both moved to the couch and she cuddled into your side, a sweet warmth against your body. You took the blanket on the back of the couch and laid it over her, putting your arm around her shoulder. She looked up the long range of your chest and smiled sleepily at you before picking a movie and snugging in.

You finished the movie, and then another. Halfway through the third, she fell asleep. You watched her for a few minutes as she slept, feeling a gentle smile crease your face. You felt a peace in your body that released all the tension that had built up from your week; all the stares, all the comments, all the frustration of it just poured out of your body as you watched that little fireball at rest.

After a time, you shifted carefully and picked her up, taking her to her room. You were surprised to see that her twin-sized mattresses had been laid out on the floor and had no headboard or footboard. Kneeling next to the bed with her on your knee, you pulled the covers back and set her down, taking off her shoes, replacing the blankets, and smoothing her hair out of her face. On the short night table at the head the bed, there was a seizure monitoring device attached to a motion sensitive pad under the sheets. Quietly, you turned it on.

Going back out to the living room, you wondered if you should just leave her to rest, but that felt abrupt and impolite. You could leave a note, you supposed, but at the same time, you really didn’t want to leave her alone. She was still recovering and the potential for another seizure was high.

So, instead, you thought you might make her dinner. You were a decent cook, although you only cooked for yourself anymore. You looked over her fridge and pantry, which was admittedly pretty sparse, but that wasn’t surprising. Cooking was hand-heavy work, and even though she managed to do most things very well, you thought maybe cooking was just one of those things outside the barrier of possibility for her.

She did have chicken, marinara, cheese, pasta, and some green vegetables, though, so it looked like Chicken Parmesan was on the menu for this evening.

She woke up two hours later with her alarm going off. You had just drained the pasta and set it aside while the chicken baked. You turned and saw her standing in the doorway of the kitchen with a shocked look on her face.

“You’re still here,” She said.

“Yep,” You replied rightly. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

“You made dinner?” She asked, smiling and sniffing the air.

“Chicken parm and pasta with stovetop-grilled green vegetables,” You said. “Sound good?”

“That sounds amazing, thank you,” She said, pulling a plastic cup out of the cabinet with both hands and a straw from a drawer. “But you don’t have to do all this, Varik.”

“Remember what I said about spoiling you?” You said, laying your cheek on the top of her head. You could feel her giggle. “Why is your bed on the ground?”

“Safer,” She replied simply. “If I have a seizure in my sleep and fall out of bed, it’s better if I don’t have a long way to fall.”

“Ah, that makes sense,” You said. “What about a bed with rails?”

“I have quite enough of hospital beds when I’m in the hospital, thank you,” She replied, putting a pill in her mouth and sipping the water. She flung her head back and swallowed hard.

“Do you want me to cut the meat for you?” You asked.

“If you cut my meat, I will stab you with a steak fork,” She said dryly.

“Message received,” You said, laughing.

After dinner, you couldn’t put off going home any longer but you were still hesitant to leave.

“You’ll call me if something happens, won’t you?” You asked as you put a foot out the door, halfway in the hall and halfway in the apartment.

“I promise I will,” She assured you. “The monitor in my room is set up to call an ambulance if I have more than two consecutive episodes, as well as send a text to a preset list of people. I can add your number to the list.”

You nodded in acceptance. “And if you need anything, you’ll call then, too?”

“Yes, Varik, I will,” She replied, laughing gently. “I’ve been doing this a long time now. I know what to do. You don’t have to fuss over me so much.”

“I know, but I can’t help it. I’m a fusser.”

She smiled. “It is nice having someone to worry for me. I’m used to doing all the worrying myself.”

“Well, not anymore.”

The way she looked up at you, all soft and sweet, made you step back into the apartment and take her face into your hands, careful not to put too much pressure on the left side. You lowered your head and kissed her lips. You’d been dying to do this for weeks. You were pleased to feel her arms wrapping around your waist, gripping you tight. The kiss was long, but she kept it light, as if unsure how far to take it. You yourself were reluctant to deepen it and risk hurting her. She was still healing, after all.

You broke apart, and she looked up at you with the widest smile you had yet to see on her face, bright and happy. You felt your expression might be mirroring hers. With a last quick peck on the lips, you departed.

The new trial started less than a month later. As promised, you went with her when it was time for her to testify. As you entered the courtroom you caught sight of the son of a bitch who hurt her and murdered her family: a shortish, smug-looking human with brown hair named Jacob Russel. You growled. He looked around at the sound and paled when he saw you. However, when he noticed Elena standing next to you, he grinned at you, baring his teeth and snapping his jaws at Elena.

In Orcish culture, this was considered a direct threat to an Orc and those in his care. It set you on edge and engulfed your body with a cold fire. You felt your foot raise involuntarily to start toward him, your hands balled into fists.

Elena put her hands around your wrist, turning you to face her and away from Russel.

“It’s okay,” She said, drawing herself up in a dignified way, her face neutral. “Don’t let him get to you. It’s what he wants.”

“I want to snap his fucking neck,” You said in a harsh whisper.

“I want to let you,” She replied. “But I’d much rather he were in prison and not you.”

You took a deep, calming breath, looking back up at the sick human man with a snarl. She reached up and pet your cheek with the back of her hand, redirecting your attention back to her. She held your face between her damaged palms, your skin tingling under her touch.

“He’s just a man,” She said softly. “He’s not worth the energy it takes to hate him.”

You had to smile at that. Taking her hands in your own, you said, “How many therapists had to say that to you before you believed it?”

She smiled. “I’m still working on the believing part.”

“All rise,” The bailiff bellowed. You and Elena went to find your seats behind the prosecution’s table. Karen turned to look at the both of you encouragingly before facing the judge’s bench. “The Honorable Judge Rita Short presiding.”

“Be seated,” The judge said as she took her own seat. “Has the jury been sworn in?”

“Yes, your Honor,” The bailiff said. You looked at the jury, mostly human, but there was a Tiefling, a Goblin, and what appeared to be a half-Fae there as well. You were surprised at the Tiefling there; they generally did whatever it took not to get involved in the affairs of others. Well, maybe they couldn’t get out of jury duty.

“Very good,” The judge said, looking down at her papers. “Let’s get started.”

Karen stood and gave an opening statement that she had apparently given almost a dozen times, modified slightly with each recital. The defense did the same. Then it was time for witness testimony.

She stood up, her back straight as a rail, and she passed the defendant’s table without missing a step. She didn’t look at Russel once, instead keeping her eyes on Karen. You could tell when she was feeling uncomfortable because her eyes would drift to yours for a split second before she continued. You gave her a grim nod, and she returned a small half-smile.

“How extensive were your injuries?” Karen asked.

“Very,” Elena responded. “It caused the epilepsy I now live with and severely limited my ability to use my hands.”

“I’d like to present for the jury’s consideration exhibit E-7. Elena, if you would?”

Elena stood from the witness stand and walked to the jury's box, presenting her hands for their examination. She encouraged them to touch as well as look, and although most of them were shy of touching her, a few reached out and gently moved her hands this way and that, frowning in horror. When they were done, Elena climbed back onto the witness stand and sat down.

“Is there any possibility that the mobility in your hands could be improved or the epilepsy could be cured?” Karen asked.

“No, none whatsoever,” Elena replied. “The damage is permanent.”

“I see,” Karen said. “No further questions, but I reserve the right to recall this witness again in the future.”

“Noted,” The judge said, penciling something down. “Does the defense have any questions for the witness?”

“Yes, your honor,” Russel’s lawyer said, standing. You saw Elena roll her eyes lightly as the defense approached the witness stand.

“Miss Halvorsdottr,” The defense attorney began. “You seem pretty confident that my client was the perpetrator, yet in all your accounts, it appears you never actually saw him a single time during any of the events that took place. Is that true?”

“I saw him attack me,” Elena said sharply. “It was pretty hard to miss.”

“Yes or no, Miss Halvorsdottr,” The lawyer said.

“In that case, yes, I did; he assaulted me.”

“But you never saw him light the fire. And you didn’t see him in the hospital.”

“No,” Elena said. “But plenty of other people certainly saw him with the bottle full of gasoline.”

“I’m not asking what other people saw, I’m asking what you saw. And you didn’t see him, did you?”

“No.”

“You didn’t see him set the fire?”

“No.”

“You didn’t see him in your house?”

“No.”

“You didn’t see him in the hospital at all?”

“How many times are you going to ask the same questions?”

“Yes or no, please.”

Elena sighed. “No.”

“So everything you just told us, about my client being responsible, is just hearsay, correct? Someone told you it was true so you believed it? I mean, it’s not your fault, you were just a child.”

“I may have been a child, but I wasn’t stupid.”

“I’m not insinuating you were, Miss Halvorsdottr. Just misinformed, perhaps.”

“How misinformed am I if he felt the need to attack me in open court?”

“Yes, I’d like an answer to that question myself,” Judge Short said, knitting her fingers together and looking at the defense with a dry expression.

He cleared his throat. “No further questions, your Honor.”

“The witness may step down,” Judge Short said, nodding at the bailiffs. They escorted Elena back to the gallery, their hands on their weapons. The defense attorney gripped Russel’s arm, whether in warning or to restrain him, or both, you weren’t sure.

“You were amazing up there,” You whispered to Elena as she sat down.

“Lots of practice,” She replied, winking.

Next, they called up a juror who had witness the attack on Elena during the previous trial and showed pictures of the aftermath, including Elena's injuries. Then the coroner who had done the autopsies on Elena’s family and other families that had been murdered took the stand. There were pictures, which Elena looked at with a stony face, her jaw set. She was passed the point where any part of the trial bothered her anymore. You’re sure she’s seen all this a dozen times.

Finally, at around four, the judge called an end of the day recess, to be reconvened the following morning. Elena didn’t need to be there after giving her testimony unless she was recalled by Karen. Otherwise, she’s only need to return for the verdict.

Relieved it was over for now, Elena happily accepted a ride back home with you.

“How are you doing?” You asked when you got into her apartment? “How’s your stress level?”

“Better now that I’m home,” She said. “The hardest part for me is done. Now it’s just a matter of waiting for the other expert witnesses to finish with their testimony and then let the jury deliberate. As long as he doesn’t do anything to cause a mistrial again, that is.”

You put your hands on her shoulders, feeling the muscles knotted underneath. “You still seem a bit tense,” You said in a low, seductive voice. “Maybe I can help you with that.” You heard her breathe a soft laugh through her nose.

You and Elena had yet to be intimate, mostly because of her injuries, but you also thought she might be holding back for some reason. You hadn’t asked why, hoping that it would just happened naturally when she was feeling ready for it. She was going through enough right now without you hounding her for sex.

She seemed receptive now. As you kneaded the flesh of her neck and shoulders gently, she let her head fall back against your chest, leaving the soft skin of her throat exposed. You lowered your head to it and kissed it softly, and she sighed shakily, biting her lip.

She spun and reached up for you. As you bent down, she placed her arms around your neck and pulled you close. Your lips connected, your tongue flicking over her lips until she opened them and let you probe around inside. She giggled as your hands roamed her body, gliding down over her back to squeeze her bottom. She squealed a little and her body arched, pressing her breasts against your chest, the clothes in between them rubbing against your skin. You felt the heat in your body flare and pulled your hands back to tug at her shirt, your breathing coming faster. Hers was just as uneven.

And then her phone rang.

You groaned. “Let it ring.”

She giggled against your lips. “It could be important.”

You grunted unhappily, but let her go, hands trailing across her belly as she moved to grab her phone.

“I’ll make it quick,” She said, a frisky sparkle in her eyes. Grinning widely, she reached for her phone and pressed the answer button.

“Hey, Karen, is this important? I’m in the middle of…” Elena trailed off and furrowed her brow. “Slow down, Karen, what are you talking about? What? No, say that again, but slowly, I can’t understand you.”

Karen repeated what she said in a slow, deliberate voice, and Elena went white as a sheet and stopped breathing.

“Honey, what?” You asked. “What is it? What happened?”

She sat heavily at the table, ending the call and putting the phone down. She let her head fall and began to hyperventilate, gulping in air desperately.

“Elena, what happened?”

She looked up, her eyes seeing through you. “He’s gone,” She said in a strained whisper.

“What? Who?”

“Russel,” She said, tears pouring from her cheeks as she tried to breathe through her panic. “He’s gone. He's escaped.” She grabbed you and held on for dear life. “He’s coming for me.”

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