#what i wouldn't give to nurse him and then be lovingly held by him

[papsiguesss]

Hello, fellow Peter Cushing whump fans! I come bearing gifts!

Peter Cushing as Dr. Brian Stanley in Island of Terror

[charliedawn]

Hi! What would Slashers do If their child/teenager daughter go to a Coma by a accident or somebody and what would be their reaction as well? ( She's in coma for a week or a month)

Jack fell into self-loathing at the sight of you on that hospital bed and kissed your forehead lovingly before holding your hand.

"Y/N...I couldn't protect you. I can't protect anyone..I don't know why I thought this time would be any different.."

He already lost a child because he wasn't there and would blame himself for your accident.

He should have been more careful and not make the same mistake twice.

He had hesitated to be part of your life because he knew it would end in pain for the both of you. He just thought this time would be different, even though life had proved him many times over that he wasn't meant to be a father—he had decided to be stubborn and raise you.

He should have listened to his gut.

It would have spared you both.

He would then find comfort in his old habits and drink himself to sleep, numb his feelings...

Or, lose his chill and be angry at himself and at the world, spacing in your hospital room like a mad man.

"I FUCKIN' MESSED UP ! AGAIN ! HOW MANY TIMES UNTIL YOU GET IT, JACK ?! YOU AIN'T DADDY MATERIAL !"

He looked down at you and for a second, he found himself loathing you...Not because he didn't love you. Heck. He would give up his whole existence for you...But, because you made him think of the one thing he had done right and couldn't protect.

He couldn't look at you without being reminded that it was his fault.

He sobbed above your bed and even though he reeked alcool and was a complete mess, your unconscious still held his hand and smiled.

"...You aren't perfect, but I wouldn't ask for any other dad."

And as if he could hear you, he suddenly stopped crying and looked around, as if feeling your energy in the room.

He froze for a second or two before uttering your name.

"Y/N..."

Jack is stuck on earth, but he is still part spirit. He died and came back to life, so he would be able to sense you.

He would then try everything to reach you and bring you back, because Jack Torrance ain't no quitter.

Arthur was in the middle of a business deal when he got a phone call from the hospital about you.

He barely managed to catch the essential.

A car accident. You. Hospital.

He suddenly quit everything to rush to the hospital, cursing Batman for not being there the day you needed him and praying whichever god would listen to him that you would be alright.

When he arrived, he ignored the scared nurses who scurried off his path as he went into your room—not caring that someone may call the authorities on him.

He almost killed a doctor to get his answer on what room you were in.

He ran in and when he saw you laid down on the hospital bed, he stopped dead in his tracks and his breath hitched.

He almost failed to notice Batman next to you—waiting.

He wondered if he would let him see you before dragging him out and throwing him back into Arkham ? But, Batman only grabbed his arm and grimaced at the sight of his runny make-up before wiping his face with a piece of cloth.

"Don't let your child see the monster.."

There was an ironic gentleness in his gesture and Arthur decided to let him. He was right. You deserved his relationship face.

Once finished, Batman took a step back and Arthur approached the bed before holding your hands.

"I wish I could have been stronger for them.", he confessed to Batman who didn't answer.

They both wished they could have been fast enough. Strong enough.

Arthur never told you he was the Joker.

He thought it would be enough to keep you away from who he really was.

He never admitted to you his inner darkness, even though he suspected you to have always known deep down.

"...You did something right with that one."

Batman finally said and Arthur chuckled humorlessly.

Two bad fathers at the death bed of their only good achievement.

It could almost make him cry..

Michael read to you every night.

He couldn't do it when you were conscious, because he thought Myers would wake up.

But, he could now that you were almost dead—a thought that left him incredibly depressed.

He sat by your side and worriedly stared at you and glared at whoever would touch you in his presence or try to drag him out.

He had insisted on staying, and even though they had repeated multiple times that it wouldn't do any good for him to do so, he wouldn't listen.

He just knew he had to stay.

He had taken care of the drunk driver who had 'not seen you' and after that, he had only wanted to stay by your side.

He blamed himself for letting you go alone to school that morning.

He felt guilty and sorrowful as he looked at your sleeping face.

He had succeeded in letting the only real good thing in his life slip away from him and the sole notion of losing you was simply excruciating to him.

When one of the nurses came in and saw him, she stopped dead in her tracks and sighed.

"You're not going to help them by staying here, you know ?"

He looked up at her with such sad eyes that the nurse's expression itself softened. It was terribly difficult for someone to be on the verge of losing their child and she understood.

"...Fine. I'll bring you a blanket.", she finally indulged and turned around to leave.

The moment she was gone, he leant forward towards you and rested his forehead upon yourself before whispering.

"Please...Come back."

Michael spoke and Myers squeezed your hand gently.

For once, they both agreed.

Now, Freddy had a very intense reaction to the news, he didn't want to believe it.

He didn't cry.

He didn't yell.

He didn't even blink.

"...You better come back, ya hear me, ya little brat ? Ain't no way you go and leave me here on my own with all those crazy people."

He only laughed.

He thought it was another one of your pranks when he got the phone call, but then he realized that he couldn't enter your head. At all. It was as if your whole brain had shut down on him.

It left him dumbfounded. He didn't understand. His eyes widened and for once, Freddy was speechless.

He then knelt beside you and whispered to your sleeping form.

He laughed to himself and hoped his bad joke would wake you up and you would scold him or laugh with him, but you didn't.

You were still alive, as your chest was still heaving with the rhythm of your heartbeat, but your spirit was gone.

He gently tugged a loose strand/curl of your hair behind your ear and when he was sure you couldn't hear him, he started crying.

"Please, brat...Don't leave me.", he pleaded.

He squeezed your hand and lowered the tip of his hat so he may hide his tears from you.

Freddy may act tough and uncaring, but he would burn the world for you.

He didn't say a word afterwards and he didn't see where your spectral form took his hand.

"...I'm not leaving, dad. I promise."

He refused to eat, drink or sleep.

Jason stayed impassive on the outside.

But, every decision he took showed his inner turmoil.

He wouldn't rest until he was sure you would be alright.

He had followed nurses and doctors around until someone had finally cracked and told him where your room was.

He had stormed in and almost tear all the doctors off you to see you and check that you were still breathing.

The doctors had had to explain to Jason that they were doing their best to help you before he had finally allowed them to resume.

Jason had then sat patiently down on a chair, far away from you as not to infect you with his bad luck.

He was sure it was the reason for your accident.

Jason had never been lucky in life and it was the reason for his natural clumsiness.

He just didn't think it would be past down to you.

He watched silently as the doctors plugged you to the machines he didn't understand and wrote down things he couldn't read.

It was strange to him.

Him who had never had to come to an hospital before—unless it was to finish off one of his victims.

He then looked at you and even though Jason wasn't one to cry easily, he couldn't help the few tears from falling down his cheeks.

It wasn't fair.

He needed you.

They couldn't take you.

He tentatively approached the bed and took your limp hand into his shaking one.

He couldn't just hit, crush or slay his way out of this one.

He didn't know what to do—and it scared him more than anything..

Penny simply lost his smile.

He didn't even need a phone call.

He knew instantly that something bad had happened to you and was by your side in a heartbeat.

He was the one who brought you to the hospital and he looked so lost and panicked that even the nurses knew something was definitely wrong.

He didn't want to let you go, but at the same time knew he had to let them fix you somehow..

The problem with Penny is...He isn't human.

Once he finally released you, they immediately started testing and tried to figure out what was wrong with you.

He wouldn't be able to understand what is going on with you and would need other people to help...Human people.

Him who had never needed human help before in his life had to hand over his most precious creature to them.

But, he didn't have a choice.

When they knew you had fallen into a deep coma from which they weren't even sure you would ever wake up from, the doctor in charge feared for his life as he announced it to Penny.

His eyes simply lost their light and he asked them all to leave—which they promptly did.

But, Penny didn't react as expected.

He didn't scream or tear them to pieces.

Once you were alone, he approached the bed and confessed.

"I'm sorry..I do not know how to help you. I'm lost. I wish I could understand. But, you and I are not the same. I do not breathe. I do not have blood in my veins and I don't even technically have a brain. They tell me you're in a deep sleep, like me...But, you might never wake up. And, I do not understand. I'm sorry and I...*a few tears ran down his face*...I love you."

Penny had never been so serious and it brought tears to your eyes as you tried to embrace him, but fell right through him.

"PAPA ! PAPA, I'M HERE ! I LOVE YOU TOO !"

You desperately tried to reach for him, but couldn't touch him. He was miles away and you could only watch as Penny held your body close to him.

Penny was then painfully reminded of your mortality, and you knew it would never be the same ever again..

Sadako had immediately felt your departure from your body and even though your body was still functional, your spirit had gone to another existential plane.

She had to bring you back.

"Ancestors..Hear my prayers. Give me the power over life and death. Give me strength to reach beyond the unknown and bring my child back..."

Sadako possesses a link with the spirits. She is neither alive or dead. And she would use everything in her power to wake you up, even deal her own soul.

She plunged her hand into this gap only the neither-dead-or-alive could reach and screamed as her skin burnt.

This place wasn't for evil spirits.

But, she kept going until she heard your voice.

"MOM !", you cried out as a vivid light seemed to surround you both .

You didn't want her to do get hurt and ran to her, but were restrained by forces beyond your control.

They kept you there and you looked up at your mother as she screamed in pain.

"MOM !", you cried once more and this time, she heard you.

Her eyes settled on you and it gave her strength to save you.

She screamed so loud that the other spirits had no choice but to met you go. You finally succeeded in getting free and didn't hesitate before jumping into her arms.

You both fell back and suddenly, you were back in the hospital room.

You smiled, but your smile immediately fell when you saw the state your mother was in. Her skin was dark with burnt marks and she could barely breathe.

You fell to the floor beside her and cradled her face lovingly before screaming.

"HELP ! HELP !"

A soul for a soul. She had stepped into the light and the sight alone had rendered her blind. Her punishment for fighting Nature.

But, she would gladly do it again to save you.

The worst part about being your brother was...When Morgan saw you being rolled in his department on a stretcher, he froze. He never froze.

It wasn't in his nature.

He was the calm and collected brother who never panicked, never wavered.

But, seeing you like this, realizing you were mortal and could die at any moment..It shocked him. It even made him angry.

He thought you were like them. He thought you would never get hurt or die.

He didn't say to his colleagues that he knew you. He took care of your wounds and carefully settled you in one of the room in perfect silent.

So, just the sight of you covered in bruises and scars made him realize...You would never be the same.

And, it hurt him more than anything.

He didn't say a thing, not until nobody else but the two of you were in the room.

He then looked down at you with an unreadable expression and his jaw twitched at your peaceful face.

How could you remain asleep ? How dared you make a fool out of him and not be there to take the blame ?

He leant forward and grabbed your shoulder tightly before whispering in your ear.

"I forbid you to leave me, Y/N. Do you hear me ? I know you can hear me...You better come back. I won't allow you to leave me. They might think you have no power over it, but I know you do. So, hear my words very carefully. Wake up. Wake up now. We aren't done. Fight. Keep fighting.."

After a moment, he then added.

"Because, I won't allow you to be the first person I wasn't able to save."

He had never lost a patient, he wouldn't start now.

Not here. Not now. And especially not you.

They all stayed silent and wanted to let Morgan finish his private conversation with you.

He refused to lose you and would make sure to make you wake up and face him.

You wouldn't get off the hook so easily.

He didn't hear the rest of the family come in until they were all in the room.

But, he wordlessly stood up and left.

He had said everything he needed to say to you.

He wouldn't let you leave.

You were the light of this family, and he refused to let your light vanish.

He would find a way.

He would...

Morgan fell to his knees the moment he was out of the hospital and clenched his teeth before screaming.

"DAMN IT !"

...The whole hospital heard his scream, but by the time anyone could walk out, he was already gone..

[starneko123]

Butterfly Effect

Star's Note: So I finally got around to putting my main OC in the MK 2021 movie storyline and the first part is like a...songfic? Yeah so prepare for that and also Korë Nagako X Liu Kang is a crack ship, in general, please don't take it seriously lol.

OC Characters Involved

Nova Nagako

Mileena walked through the foyer leading to Shang Tsung's throne. Kabal and Goro were joining her it wasn't like she needed assistance for this. She preferred to do this one alone but the iron lung and royal brute refused. The trio reached Shang Tsung and once he gave Mileena the signal she spoke "She was spotted in Earthrealm far from Raiden's Temple as we speak. She seems to have...a different life with others around her. A caregiver." Mileena finished with an aggravated sigh "A caregiver?" Shang Tsung echoed in question.

Kabal cut his way into the conversation "She means her mother but with the description you gave it made it more difficult to find her. No white streaks in the hair, no pink eyes, and no magical powers. The reincarnation is shit." Kabal spat gesturing behind as if she was there. "Nova-" Shang Tsung began and Kabal cut him off once more. "News Flash she doesn't even go by Nova over there! Who the hell would name their kid Nova in this modern day. Her name is Korë. Not any better but it's different. Not fucking Nova." Now he was finished, and he put his hand on the hip for added flare.

"She's not our Lady Nova but still she stands out." Prince Goro mentioned. Mileena may have sniffed her out but Goro tracked her down. He found her first his chest swelled with pride. "She has companions." Mileena groaned half-heartedly "A friend and a consort." Shang Tsung leaned forward standing up from his throne altogether. "A consort?!" Kabal spoke again, "Yeah, not very good looking or the sharpest tool in the shed but they're around each other." Too bad they couldn't see Kabal rolling his eyes because he was doing so every few seconds. "Are you the better option?" Kabal asked genuinely "She is my Queen, my better half." Shang Tsung's voice echoed dreamily and again Kabal rolled his eyes "That's what they all say." Mileena then stepped closer to Shang Tsung as if it was just the two of them. "She had the marking of a Chosen One." Shang Tsung smirked "All the better." He then snapped his head to the side to look over at Nitara perched on a block of stone petting her wings. "Kabal and Mileena...Nitara will assist you in retrieving Nova." Mileena had no problem with that, she got along with Nitara so far. "Yes, master." Nitara said slyly as she sashayed towards the two said kombatants.

"Kill or injure beyond repair whoever stops you from bringing back my wife!" His voice echoed into the maroon sky.

Korë herself was sitting in a chair next to her close friend and housemate, Soleil. "You know what I think I did a really good job on my eyeshadow." She said brushing it a few more times and facing Soleil to show her eyelids covered in white eyeshadow and silver outline. She also had glitter on her face it must have been from the perfume or another form of body glitter. "I think you did really good this time, you're getting better." Soleil put her brush down and stood up fixing her dress in the process. Korë and Soleil were wearing the same dress it was a short pure white dress with lace at the ends and at Korë thought it was plus since it also wasn't strapless.

"Korë Nagako and Soleil Zaveri... five-minute call out. Almost showtime." It was their manager, Soleil responded with an 'Alright' and Korë an 'Okay'. Soleil stood up from her rolling chair as she finished her winged eyeliner and Korë followed her as she finished putting on her lip gloss.

"Yeah, I'm at the place it's like this, singer stripper bar or whatever, I don't know but she's here," Sonya said as she entered the bar and took a seat in the back, and ordered a drink.

"Now, blessing us with their presence is the femme fatale duo is Korë and Soleil!" The response to the statement was scattered cheers. The duo walked onto the stage and the atmosphere itself changed when she saw Korë. Korë had a slight headache that she had been nursing for a couple of days and Soleil knew that but Korë was convinced that it had gone away and she was just dealing with the aftermath. They both cleared their throat and as the stage light shined on them, Soleil started harmonizing as the beat started playing and Korë started singing.

It's like you got superpowers

Turn my minutes into hours

You got more than 20-20, babe

Made of glass the way you see through me

You know me better than I do

Can't seem to keep nothing from you

How you touch my soul from the outside?

Permeate my ego and my pride

"I love you." Shang Tsung said as he wrapped his arms around Korë twisting her around so she was facing him and she gazed at him lovingly as a teasing smirk spread across her obsidian lips. She leaned in until their lips were ghosting over each other "Do you want me to say it back?" She asked jokingly "I think my heart will truly break if you don't." Shang said dramatically and she giggled "I love you."

I wanna love me (ooh)

The way that you love me (ooh)

Ooh, for all of my pretty

And all of my ugly too

I'd love to see me from your point of view

I wanna trust me (trust me)

The way that you trust me (trust me)

Ooh, 'cause nobody ever loved me like you do

I'd love to see me from your point of view

"If you stop moving it would hurt less Prince Goro." He growled again at her statement and she returned it with a cold, unmoving stare. His growls then calmed down to huffs and puffs "Thank you." She said to him as she finished wrapping the bandage around his arm. "The wound isn't too bad, you'll heal fast either way." She said as she stood up and gathered her healing equipment and before she left she was grated with a rumbling "Thank you." at least he had manners she'll give him that. Before she closed the door she sent him a smile. A kind smile. One to remember.

I'm gеtting used to receiving

Still gеtting good at not leaving

I'ma love you even though I'm scared (oh, scared)

Learnin' to be grateful for myself (oh, oh, oh)

You love my lips 'cause they say the

Things we've always been afraid of

I can feel it startin' to subside

Learnin' to believe in what is mine

"I wouldn't recommend it Mileena," Nova said as she closed her spellbook and stood to face Mileena and they were roughly the same height. "But to ensure my knowledge of it-" Nova sighed and grabbed Mileena by the shoulders "I don't want you to learning just yet, you must stick with the powers you were born with for now. I will teach you myself when you have elevated your powers. Understand?" Nova asked tilting her head for the effect and Mileena nodded. Nova brought her in for a hug and kissed her on the forehead and at that Mileena purred in comfort and delight for the slight praise she got.

I wanna love me (ooh)

The way that you love me (ooh)

Ooh, for all of my pretty

And all of my ugly too

I'd love to see me from your point of view

I wanna trust me (trust me)

The way that you trust me (trust me)

Ooh, 'cause nobody ever loved me like you do

I'd love to see me from your point of view

I couldn't believe it or see it for myself

Boy, I be impatient, but now I'm out here

Fallin', fallin', frozen, slowly

Fallin', got me right

I won't keep you waitin' (waitin')

All my baggage fadin' safely (my baggage fadin')

And if my eyes deceive me

Won't let them stray too far away, I

I wanna love me (ooh)

The way that you love me (ooh)

Ooh, for all of my pretty

And all of my ugly too

I'd love to see me from your point of view

I wanna trust me, ooh (trust me)

The way that you trust me, baby (trust me)

'Cause nobody ever loved me like you do

I'd love to see me from your point of view (oh)

Yeah

As they finished their performance they got a fresh round of applause and Korë finally let out a breath as she always did after a performance and smiled alongside Soleil. After giving a wave they went backstage and collected their money. Since they didn't feel like staying at the bar anymore that night they decided to head home. "Good night KoKo," Soleil said with a yawn as she kissed her on the cheek and closed the door to her room. Korë was outside on the back porch humming and looking up at the sky, enjoying the night breeze. Until she heard whispering and then shuffling in the bushes 'The fuck?' she said under her breath as she quickly grabbed the steel bat near her that they used for protection.

She walked closer to the bushes and beat them with the bat a few times before staring at them again. She sighed, maybe she was just tired that was more than likely the case. She let out another breath as she turned but then yelped as she was met with a woman who was roughly her size and height. Her eyes glowed in the night and her mouth was covered in blood and it looked almost stained on her face. "Mommy Nova! I have waited so long for you!" She grinned widely showing off her razor-sharp teeth and reached for a hug arms opened wide but Korë moved a couple of steps back, her back bumped into someone and she turned to see a man taller and lankier.

"Hey, sweetness." It sounded like a man, a man who had trouble breathing and could barely compose his words. Korë wasn't thinking straight that's all she could of. She swung her bat wildly at the two intruders causing the man to speed away and the woman teleport back a few feet away from her. But she knows that she has hit one of them by the blood on her bat and the scar that was made on her stomach. She shrieked as she held her stomach and she did a full 360° but she couldn't see them. She felt like she was going to faint from the loss of blood and the lack of sleep. She then heard gunshots and she fell to the ground hoping that nothing else would wound her.

"Get up and get in the car!" She didn't have to be told twice since she was living off of adrenaline at the moment. She ran past the woman who was still letting off gunshots as she got in the car and slammed the door as she leaned into the seat protectively. After letting off a few more shots that the duo continued to dodge Sonya ran back to the car as well and got into the driver's seat starting the car and zooming off as she saw beady red eyes staring at her in the rearview mirror. "Who the hell are you?" Korë asked with a hiss as the woman started looking at her up and down when she suddenly asked "Where is the marking?" She asked indignantly "What fucking marking?! What the fuck are you talking about?" Korë spat and Sonya rolled her eyes as she tugged Korë's hoodie upwards and ghosted her finger over the Mortal Kombat marking.

"You wanna explain that?"

[ayanacam]

Stand Still

:04

A Month Ago

December 17th, 2022

3:12 AM

Christen screamed. Her vagina had expanded to 10 cm and she was now pushing. Dallas, her mother and father were in the room. They had all banded around the top of her bed while nurses and her obstetrician were making sure her vitals stayed stable through the delivery.

Dallas whispered in her ear, "She's almost here baby, keep going."

Christen almost killed him, he had no idea how hard this was. She had opted for a natural birth. She didn't want her baby coming out drugged, she had heard too many horror stories of how epidurals had affected the baby. She was in agonizing pain, hoping her little one would take it easy on her but she had been in labor for almost thirty hours and finally her bundle of joy was ready to come out.

"Alright Christen, I need you to give me a big push. One last one, Miss Angela is crowning." Dr. Nichols had yelled over the voices in the room.

Christen breathed in as best as she could before pushing with everything she had. A few seconds later and the cries of her baby girl had greeted the room. Dr. Nichols held her up for a few seconds so that Christen could catch a glimpse. Sweat, spit, and salty tears covered her face as she saw her newborn. She was the most perfect little thing she had ever seen.

Dallas smiled, himself crying as he saw his little girl wailing. She was here. So many months of anticipation, where Dallas and Christen couldn't sit still with all of the thoughts of everything they wanted to do.

He looked towards Christen who was getting handled by the nurses, wiping her face and adjusting her so no further complications could happen. Christen's heart rate had started slowing, almost losing her before .

She looked tired but content, watching Angela from across the room as the other nurses had cleaned her of the blood and minerals of Christen's amniotic sac.

"Alright Daddy, would you like to cut the umbilical cord?"

Dallas leaped into action, bringing himself in front of his angel. Tears wept and breaths were stolen as he looked at her full head of brunette tufts, her cheeks rosy and tummy big as if she had just fed. He gripped the scissors that Dr. Nichols had handed him, moving in once Dr. Nichols had stretched the cord and guided him to cut accordingly.

The rope was thick, only departing from her after the third snip. Dallas smiled, Angela looking up, but quiet. She hadn't said anything after the nurses had washed her off and somehow he knew this baby was going to be the easiest thing to handle.

"Do you want to hold her?" A nurse asked suddenly, he had been too entranced by his own daughter.

He nodded, his words not coming through. The nurse carefully placed her into Dallas's arms as he immediately walked to his wife. She was watching the sight lovingly. So long they had wanted this and now they finally had their wish granted. Everything in her life was making sense somehow again.

Dallas crept over, watching Angela and Christen as best he could. He leaned over Christen and let her have Angela, before settling in beside her encasing his wife and child. He whispered sweet nothings to his family, Christen's heart full. They had just looked at her, staring at the life they had created.

Present Day

January 18th, 2023

Christen's eyes pulled apart, slightly crusted together from the protein released in her sleep. The window had streamed in a small light, giving some room to see into the overall darkness. Andrew, on the other bed, was sleeping comfortably on his side, breathing steadily. He was still dressed in his suit from yesterday, shoes still on and on top of the comforter. Christen's heart pulled as she knew he probably had a hard time sleeping, he was always up at the crack of dawn. He never slept in, it was one of his "things". She slid the covers from over her body and out of the bed, tiptoeing to the door. She needed caffeine, as much of it as she could get. In luck, a Keurig machine graced the kitchen counter with multiple pods in the carrier next to it.

She popped one in, the machine whirring before pouring it into the cup she had found in the cabinet. She breathed slowly, trying to make right of her mind. Everything was still so new, only a week into everything happened. She didn't even know how to think or even what to say. She simply existed at this point.

Andrew stirred about an hour later, joining her in silence with a cup of joe of his own. They sipped quietly, afraid to break the silence. Somehow he knew if he broke the silence, she would break again, crying maybe even screaming as the hurt took over the entirety of her body. However, what he had to say had to be known.

"I was given her address from the station yesterday. When do you want to go?"

"How far is she?" Christen responded with her own question.

"About eight hours, maybe seven if I drove fast enough." Andrew answered.

She nodded, "Then we'll go today. We'll get there at night time since it's ten right now. But we can find a place to stay until we can see her."

"I have the number, do you want me to call her? Let her know we're coming?"

To that Christen shook her head, "She might not answer if she knows. What mistress wants to own up to her discretions willingly?"

Andrew agreed to that, he had read the file before passing out on the bed. All of her information and pictures included. She had three kids, one from another previous spouse while the other two were Dallas's. One was five, the others were two. The thought disgusted him as she knew he had a wife, had been married and they chose to have an affair. It rubbed him the wrong way as he thought of Dallas cheating on the woman he had grown so close to. He didn't know how he could do that to Christen, she was the complete package in his eyes. It's what had made him fall so hard for her that night.

"Then we'll leave in half an hour." Andrew stood, placing his cup in the sink.

She nodded in agreement, moving to the room to grab a shower.

Her head was immersed under the shower head, steaming water pouring over her. It felt good to have some type of feeling, she was barely sore anymore. With all of the medications she had to take to keep the pain away, and the hot water cascading over her body, she almost...almost forgot who and where she was. She scrubbed the loofah over her body, cleaning ever nook and cranny she could find and then twice over. She somehow could still feel Dallas' hands over her body. She wanted the memory and the pain to disappear.

She sighed, bringing the shower to an end by cutting the water supply. She stepped out and rubbed the soft white towel over her body. The water being soaked in, leaving her body in a dewy state. She enclosed her body in the fabric and stepped out into the room, vacated. Andrew must've been in the living room, she could faintly hear the news playing in the background as she slipped some clothes on.

Leggings, a mauve sweater, and her beat up white vans would have to do as she needed to complete this trip as soon as possible.

She stepped out and Andrew looked up, Christen meeting his sight. Even in the bruised state she was in, she was still the most beautiful person he had ever seen.

"You should shower, it'll be a long drive until we can find a place to shower again." Christen voiced.

He stood, weaving around her to start his own shower. Christen turned and sat on the couch.

"More news regarding the Christen Collins' case coming up. We'll be right back." The anchor had called out.

She knew it wouldn't be in her best interest to watch this, so she took the remote and flipped until she found a more suitable channel. She chose Friends, her favorite past time. She had watched it her entire life, probably watching the show more than 100 times during the course of her life. She knew it like the back of her hand, and somehow the familiarity didn't squeeze at her heart as she heard Chandler's voice come through the screen.

Andrew had appeared after a short time, dressed in jeans and a Polo with a pair of Nike's on his feet. He looked good, too good. Part of her selfishly wanted him, but she knew it would only end in disaster. She wouldn't be alright in a few days, this would take months even years. She stood and grabbed her bag before they headed out. Check out was at 12 and the motel didn't have a checking out policy, so they immediately bee-lined for the car and got onto the road.

This woman lived in Manhattan, New York, and Christen didn't want to look at the address. She didn't want to know if the place this woman lived was anywhere Dallas took her during holiday or romantic trips. She just wanted this day to be a thing of the past, she wanted everything to be as it seemed.

The car ride had been mostly silent, the wavering of the radio coming in and out as they changed states and adjusted accordingly.

Christen had thoughts racing through her mind, asking questions she couldn't voice yet. She couldn't fathom any of the answers she could be granted with.

How did they meet?

Did she always know Dallas had a wife?

Did she care?

Why did the affair continue?

How did she feel?

Was she remorseful to anything she had done?

How old were her kids?

That was one thing she didn't want to know the answer to. That would give her a definitive timeline of when Dallas had cheated, conceived and birthed. Maybe everything would start to make sense, she would begin to piece all of his "business trips" and late night meetings. Her mind was in a horrid state, her thought process revealing if he cheated with her, were there more?

If you could cheat with one, you could cheat with multiple. That was what her mom said to her from the moment she found out her freshman year boyfriend Nick Anderson, a junior, had cheated. It had come to light from a friend. It hadn't been a good feeling and it still wasn't, knowing she had been cheated on during her marriage, possibly entirely throughout.

Andrew had spent the entire ride contemplating the closer they got. Was this a good idea to show up unannounced? Did Christen even need to meet this woman? Couldn't the insurance company handle the life policy while leaving her out of it? She was already broken enough, she didn't need more tainting from the possible answers they could receive. His mind was whirling by the time they had gotten off the exit.

He looked over, finding Christen sleeping. Her breaths were shallow due to the bruising of her ribs. Andrew hadn't needed to worry, but still he was. He wanted to make sure she was okay, he knew this was taking a toll on her and he had no idea how to make it better.

Andrew found a local 24 hour motel, pulling into the parking lot and walking in to get a room before he woke Christen up. Leaving her sleeping probably gave her more peace than he did and he didn't want to disturb that.

"I need a room with two beds please." He looked at the bored receptionist.

"We only have one beds, all of the two beds are rented out."

"That's fine." Andrew sighed. "How much?"

"A hundred and fifty for a night, add that to any other night." The clerk responded.

Andrew almost scoffed at the expensive room, it was run down and shady but they needed a place to sleep.

"One night please." He handed his credit card over.

The clerk eagerly took it and charged it, leaving Andrew annoyed but still walking to Christen to transport her to the room.

He opened her side of the door and shook her shoulder lightly, calling her name. She roused quickly but tiredly. Her eyes peeled open and the sight that greeted her was an exhausted Andrew.

"I could only get a one bed, the two beds were all sold out." Andrew whispered.

She nodded, thinking it would probably be good to sleep next to a soul. She had missed it terribly.

She shakily got out of the car, her medication wearing off as she stepped out. She wanted to stretch but refrained, probably not wise to add more pain to what she was already feeling.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded, "I just need my meds. The pain is coming in."

Andrew immediately pulled out two orange pill bottles, dumping two of each onto her palm and handing her a water from the backseat. She gulped them down and immediately began to feel the effects, the pain was starting to wear off.

"You okay to go up alone or do you need a crutch?" Andrew asked while picking up their bags from the trunk.

"I've got it, just be patient please." She softly spoke.

He nodded and began to walk behind her, his hands at a ready to catch her in case her strength dwindled up the steps.

They got inside of the room safely, dropping the bags onto the bed. Andrew saw Christen go into the restroom, probably wanting to relieve herself since they had just spent the last eight hours driving. Six of which she was asleep for. Andrew quickly stripped down into his pajama pants and simple white tee before climbing under the sheets. Christen emerged from the bathroom, looking tired.

"You okay?" Andrew asked.

She nodded, "I just need to sleep."

She grabbed her clothes from her own duffel bag and quickly put them on in the restroom. She didn't want glimpses of her body, knowing that she was still bruised and beaten. She hoped her attackers never saw the world again for doing what they did. They had taken every inch of her supposed life and now she was silently filled with rage.

She emerged from the restroom and slid under the covers next to Andrew who was sound asleep. She sighed softly to herself, somehow uncomfortable sleeping next to her deceased husband's best friend but she needed rest and she was going to have to put that aside.

"Christen?" a voice quietly aroused her, a hand on her shoulder.

Her eyelids slid open shortly after and realized Andrew was dressed and ready to go.

"We need to go soon. Get ready." Andrew notified her and left to the living room.

She nodded to herself, silently bracing herself for the turmoil that could happen. She went over the questions she needed to ask for the insurance policy and for herself. A knot of uneasiness plotted itself in her stomach and she didn't know whether her decision to come here was a good one. It was too late now, she didn't have the choice of turning around.

She slipped on a thick, black, turtleneck sweater with blue skinny jeans and her trusty Vans. She never went a day without wearing them.

"Ready?" Andrew asked as she came out of the room.

She nodded, her throat clogged with fear of crying. 

He nodded, grabbing her duffel and walking out of the room, Christen following suit. Her heart was beating loudly in her own ears, her fear coming out slightly.

Entering into the car, she sat down waiting for Andrew to input the address into the navigation system. She fiddled and twitched as the drive began, Andrew at one point laying his hand on her thigh, giving her silent reassurance. Her hand slipped over his, her throat closing up and tears threatening her eyes. She had to do this, for closure. To get some semblance of peace from the tragedy called her life.

After almost an hour, they pulled into a nice neighborhood. Brick houses and green yards were seen for quite some time before pulling up next to a brick house that was littered with toys all over the yard. Bikes were parked in the driveway alongside of two cars, a BMW and a Hyundai Sonata. A small garden was in front of the porch, and a swing that covered the left side of it. They found no signs of life but there had to be, cars were home and it was a weekend.

"Are you okay?" Andrew asked once more for clarification.

She nodded, words still not coming to her throat. They were racing through her mind, she didn't trust herself to speak quite yet.

The car doors opened and her legs somehow caught the computation from her brain to move. Andrew caught up with her on her side and led her up the brick walk way, holding her arm and waist as they traveled up. With stairs, he handled her with extra patience, guiding her until they had reached the last step.

Andrew put forth his hand and hesitated before ringing the small circular doorbell that graced the entrance. After a moment of no response, footsteps finally sounded behind the door. The clicking of the locks ensued, and there stood Dallas' mistress, Caroline Davis.

"Can I help you?" Her voice soft and tired.

"You must be Caroline, my name is Andrew and this is Christen Collins."

A look of realization dawned on the woman's face, her brown eyes widening alongside of her mouth falling short.

"Nice to meet you Caroline." Christen softly muttered.