Timeless

8

Only once the others have gone does Grey allow himself to be sick. Ariele tries to pat his back in comfort but he shies away from her hand.

Hurt Ariele brings her hand back to her chest and holds it like it had been burnt.

Understanding dawns though when Grey heats the water to steam and jumps in and starts scrubbing. She lets the tears flow down unhindered but knows that Grey wouldn't like to see them so she climbs in her bed and goes as far over as she can.

When she can't stand to watch him scrub himself anymore she finally speaks up. "Enough Grey. You won't have any skin left if you keep it up and it doesn't work anyway. I'm sorry Grey, I knew you didn't want to do this and you did it anyway. I just never thought of it like that I guess."

Grey stops scrubbing at her words. She's right and she would know. He gets out feeling just as dirty and used as he did when he went in. "Is this how you felt all the time after..." Grey says sickened.

"At first yes. Then I was numb I guess I just felt like that all the time, felt dirty, filthy and used. At first like you I was sick after each incidence. My bath water would sometimes turn pink from the blood I would scrub so hard, but it didn't change anything." Ariele impatiently flicks away the tears.

Grey dries himself off then wraps the towel around him. He doesn't mind allowing her to see him so exposed but he's not sure that he could ever let anyone else see him like this again. He sits down on the bed and lets his head hang down.

"It gets better Grey. With time I mean. You're not in my situation. Chances are this will never happen to you again. You won't forget, it's not something you can forget, but it will soften and the hurt from the cutting edges of pain will dull. Life will get better for you again."

She truly wants to hold him but she just doesn't dare, not right now. But when Grey starts crying she knows she has to do something. So she crawls back over to the edge slow enough that Grey can decide if he wants to be near her or not.

"Grey, I'm here if you want me to be." Is all she can think of to say. And she is both shocked and amazed when he turns to her and buries his head into her shoulder and cries. She hesitantly pats his back and when he doesn't flinch she does so with more confidence. She just lets him cry himself out.

"Grey lie down here next to me. Your bed is in no condition..." Again the invitation is taken up far faster than she would have taken it had it been her. But had it been her Grey would have killed the man.

She tries to move away to give him more room but Grey protests so she stays next to him. She knows that this is no act as some men might put on to get into bed with someone. Grey is hurting she can feel it. And although he holds her to him that's all he does is hold her finding comfort in her presence.

And even though he's in her bed for all the worst reasons Grey's presence gives her even more comfort as well. She falls asleep and feels safer than ever before.

"Why are you changing behind the screen now? You never did before." Grey says still sleepy but not as filled with pain as the night before.

"I didn't want to tease you like that. It means nothing with the Aelven, but here I noticed it was hard for you. I'm sorry." Ariele says as she puts on the underclothing and chooses her dress.

"I don't mind." Grey rather liked it actually. Although he tried to be a gentleman and keep his head turned.

"If you're sure, then you can help me decide. Which dress the blue or the red?" She holds them both up.

"The blue one it brings out the color of your eyes and with your hair it looks like blue skies and sunshine." Grey says without even thinking and is rewarded with a smile as bright as the sun. He finds a little more of his pain eased and his anger lessened.