Tangled AU Fanfic

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Chapter 6: So... What Happened?

Cassandra wasn’t very talkative.

She fell asleep shortly after Caine finished sobbing on the infirmary floor and didn’t wake up again until the evening. When she did wake up, her eyes were glossed over and she wouldn’t respond to anyone, not even Caine who she’d previously perked up at the sound of her voice.

The physician said it was probably because of pain.

That didn’t comfort anybody.

He mixed some strong pain-killers in with that evening’s meal which Captain had to slowly feed to her, gently bringing each bite of food to her mouth and having to gently encourage her until she seemed to gain enough awareness to open her mouth, chew and swallow. As the pain-killer began to take affect she did seem to become a tad more aware, her eyes darted around, trying—but failing—to focus in on the stuff around her. The pain-killers were working, but they were also making her tired and confused.

Those closest to Cassandra got together to discuss next steps. Cassandra needed to regain some strength, eating and resting were a priority. She’d eventually need some physical therapy to help combat some of the issues being contained for so long might cause, especially helping with her wrist movements.

Finally, they had to figure out exactly what she’d been through so they could help with that.

All but Caine assumed this would be the hardest part.

“Cassandra wouldn’t even talk after the Great Tree,” Rapunzel complained. “And honestly, I don’t think she’d take kindly to me pushing her to do so again.”

“Yeah, she does like her privacy,” Eugene mumbled.

“Even as a child she was more of a listener than a talker,” Captain looked sad, perhaps wishing he’d established a more open-dialogue between them.

“I… don’t know what any of you guys are talking about… she’s always been open with me?”

Eugene rolled his eyes, and Rapunzel offered up a sympathetic smile, they thought Caine clearly just hadn’t asked the right (or wrong) questions and would soon find out.

-

Caine sat beside Cassandra as she struggled to eat her meal. It was a sandwich cut into the smallest bite sized morsels she could just pick up with her fingers.

“How’s lunch?”

“Amazing,” Cassandra mumbled, though she was biting her lip as she concentrated on picking up the slice without the whole thing falling apart.

“Guessing prison food wasn’t to your standards?”

“Wasn’t to the standards of the worst kept farm pigs,” Cassandra answered as she finally got the piece into her mouth, chewing happily as a reward.

“Slop?”

Cassandra swallowed. “Their meals put slop to shame.” Cassandra was already working to get her next bite. “The bread wasn’t just stale or bad, it was covered in mould. Had to work hard to eat around the damn thing.”

“That explains the lung infection,” Caine frowned.

“The water always had… stuff in it… I don’t want to think about what.” She got the slice into her mouth.

“That’s concerning, especially given you went there right after needing hospitalisation for dehydration…”

“I did my best to stay hydrated,” Cassandra reassured with a whisper. “There was also this, yes, slop… it had some water…”

“How many meals?”

“Hard to say. It was so dark there I kinda lost track of time. I think… twice a day?”

“So, two slices of moldy bread and some slop a day? No wonder you look like a walking skeleton.”

Cassandra nodded. “Once a guard got pissy and stomped on my food.”

“What a piece of shit human being.”

“Exactly.”

Caine glanced at the meal, she looked both ways before leaning closer. “Could I get you anything?”

“Aren’t I on a strict diet?”

“I won’t tell if you don’t.”

Cassandra smiled but shook her head. “This is great. But thanks. When I inevitably do get sick of infirmary food, I’ll let you know.”

Caine smiled. “Do. Though that’s not infirmary food. Your dad prepared it this morning. Said something about it getting you to eat as a kid.”

Cassandra laughed, then began coughing. Caine had to move the tray of food to stop it from falling and quickly adjusted Cassandra’s position to help her not choke on her own blood, pulling a tissue from the nightstand to help clean up the crimson dripping down her chin. “Fuck…”

“Yeah,” Caine hummed. Throwing the tissue away and helping her to sit back up. “You should have been here months ago, before this was an issue.” She looked angry, very angry.

Cassandra smiled softly. “It’s fine—”

“It’s not fine!”

“Safe rescues take time.”

“It didn’t need to be safe,” Caine looked away.

“I’m glad it happened this way. I’d of never forgiven myself if you’d done something stupid and died for me.”

Caine blushed. “I wasn’t… I wouldn’t…” but she couldn’t really argue against those words. She had been willing to go in there and risk dying for Cassandra. The reason she hadn’t had been first thinking this was the best thing for Cassandra and later being locked in a cell.

“I appreciate what you’d be willing to do. But I wouldn’t want anyone doing that for me.”

“I’m the reason you ended up there.”

“No. A storm is what landed me there. A storm is what landed me in Equis’ doctor’s office. You were just taking care of me.”

“Holding you hostage.”

Cassandra laughed, this time she managed to keep it quiet, and it only sounded slightly painful. “I enjoyed it.”

Caine smiled.

“How long you staying?”

“Long as you want me here.”

Cassandra hummed. “Long time then.”

“You enjoy my company?”

“You’re the only one who looks at me with anger for others rather than pity for me.”

“I don’t think pity is a terrible emotion.”

“No. No. Especially not from those who love you and hate to see you hurt but… it’s a lot when that’s all you're getting.”

Caine smiled. “I’ll stick around as long as you need. Although I should go get you some more water.” She picked up the empty glass. “I’ll be right back…” her voice faded as she noticed Cassandra’s eyes widening, they looked… fearful. “Or I can give this to a guard and ask them.”

“Please.”

Caine nodded. She saw Cassandra’s shoulder tense as she opened the door, and they only relaxed when Caine handed the glass to someone else and stepped back inside.

Caine remembered walking away from Cassandra in the infirmary at Equis.

She slowly made her way back to her side, watching how Cassandra smiled at her.

“I know I’ve said it a lot already, but… I’m so sorry I left.”

Cassandra hummed, reaching out for Caine’s hand. “You didn’t owe me anything. It’s fine.”