I’ve Got You

CHAPTER 6

Grimm sat at the Lieutenant General’s table. Despite how early it was, and the circumstances they were in, the Lieutenant General seemed to be in a rather chipper mood. The Doctor couldn’t understand how anyone could be in such a good mood in these circumstances, least of all the usually stern general.

Grimm however, was in a positively foul mood. That James Winter was really getting under his skin. Grimm had grown up with a father not too different From Mr Winter, he’d lived every day of his childhood and adolescent life watching his father destroy his mother until there was nothing left of her. And Mrs Winter, she was so young, and seemed so broken. He couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the girl and her son. Upon raising his concerns with the Lieutenant General, he was simply reminded that he couldn’t force the help on her if it was help she didn’t want. His rational mind understood that. But the more emotional part of his mind wanted to take James Winter’s hands, and break all ten fingers one by one.

He shook the thought from his head and sipped on the crappy coffee from the buffet line. He winced.

As he attempted to force himself to think of other things, the image of Mrs Winter’s pale, bare thighs willed its way into the forefront of his thoughts. She had a tattoo on the upper right thigh. He’d just barely caught a glimpse of it before she covered herself. A large moth of some kind. It had been a rather nice sight, the black ink in brilliant contrast with her pale skin. He shook his head, not understanding. She was young, and not at all unattractive. Perhaps a little on the thin side, but rather nice to look at. Grimm was sure she had other options open to her. A pretty face like hers could open a lot of avenues for escape. Her wide green eyes, small, pointy nose, high cheek bones, full lips and porcelain complexion would have many men -and perhaps even some women- ready to rush to her rescue. Was she really that frozen in place that she would willingly turn down an opportunity to escape?

As if his thoughts had somehow conjured her up, Grimm smelled the unmistakable scent that had captured his attention on the night of Mrs Winter’s arrival to the facility waft past him. The scent of fresh coconuts. He looked up from his coffee to be met with the sight of her swaying hips, her son rushing ahead of her, already eyeing off the breakfast items on display. “Now, now, there’ll be none of that”. Lieutenant General Yarran chuckled in good humor, noticing Grimm’s gaze still locked on Eris’s hips. Grimm rolled his eyes “no idea what you’re talking about, Sir”

“Not that I blame you, she’s okay looking, if you like that sort of thing”. Grim grunted, shrugging

“Hmph, hadn’t noticed”.

***

Eris, not feeling particularly hungry, skipped over some of the heartier options like eggs, bacon, and waffles and instead settled on a couple bits of buttered toast. The anxiety of this whole situation had her stomach in knots and she didn’t know if she would be able to stomach much. She eyed the multiple large pots of coffee and went to pour herself a cup when a voice close behind her said

“It tastes like dirt”. Eris -who’s nerves had still not recovered from being subject to husbands rage- yelped, almost spilling the coffee down her front. “I didn’t mean to scare you Mrs-” Dr Grimm trailed off as she looked up at him. Dark purple bruises dotted her delicate jaw and cheeks. His face fell and his complexion reddened almost instantly. “What did he do?” he demanded in a low voice, so as not to be overheard by anyone else in the mess hall, least of all Dorian. “Please leave me alone” she almost whispered, turning away from him. He grabbed her elbow. At first she stiffened, expecting it to hurt. What followed was confusion when no pain came, she looked down in surprise to see that Dr Grimm wasn’t gripping her arm with dug in finger tips, but merely cupping her elbow to hold her in place. “He hurt you again last night, Didn’t he?” Eris stuck her chin out, narrowing her eyes at him. “No thanks to you”. Dr Grimm dropped her elbow “I’m sorry. I didn’t meant to-”

“Yeah, well you did” Eris cut him off, waving a dismissive hand. Then, with a sigh added “But thank you for caring enough about me to check in on us. I know it’s just your job... But you put me in a shitty position. Thanks for trying and all... But next time, don’t”. She gave Doctor Grimm a weak smile, she was still more than a little annoyed with him, but it wouldn’t serve her to be unkind to the only person interested in helping her. Grimm seemed to relax a little, looking over his shoulder, he gestured to Dorian, who’s plate was close to overflowing.

“Your boy looks like hes setting out to stuff himself full before they implement rations.” Eris looked over her shoulder and laughed. A real laugh. A rather pretty sound that made Doctor Grimm’s lips tug up at the corners. “The coffee really is bad” he warned as Eris took her first sip. She shuddered “it’s really not that bad” she grunted, studying the contents of her cup “Y’know, if you like the taste of damp dirt and tears, its pretty okay”. A laugh from the handsome Doctor. “I was actually going to come see you for my X-Ray after breakfast... Would you mind if I Brought Dorian? He seems like he’s doing okay but he’s taking this whole thing pretty hard. I don’t want to leave him.” Doctor Grimm nodded “can’t see why not”.

“Thank you, Doctor... And I’m sorry for being a bit of an ass.”

Doctor Grimm shook his head, “Don’t be. I put you in a dangerous situation. I was concerned and not being very tactical about how I performed the welfare check. Poked the bear so to speak”.

“I appreciate the concern, Doctor... Even if I may not show it. Suppose I’m just not used to it.”

“Mrs Winter, call me Grimm. We live in the same building, practically neighbours”.

“I’ll call you Grimm if you call me anything but Mrs Winter.” Eris said, cringing. Grimm’s face softened a great deal.

“Be back in the medical wing in an hour, Eris”

Eris nodded, taking another sip of her revolting coffee.

Grimm walked in the direction of the mess hall exit with a grin on his scarred face. As he walked passed the Lieutenant General’s table, he caught Yarran wiggling his eyebrows at him.

“Shut up, Sir”

***

Eris sat on the examination bed in Grimm’s office within the medical wing. The same room where her admission into the facility had taken place days prior. But unlike the last time she was there, the office was a mess. Papers and files lay scattered over his desk, spilling on to the floor, desk drawers lay open and A shattered mug lay in the corner of the room. “Fire the cleaner, did you?” Eris joked as she waited for Grim to bring up the image of her X-Ray on the computer screen while Dorian sat next to her, flipping through some old magazines trying to find something that captured his interests. Grimm cringed at the mess “We aren’t allowed outside and the gym has lost power. I’ll admit I’ve started to go a bit loopy”

“So you took the time to redecorate? Nice. Love what you’ve done with it. Do my room next, I was thinking curtains, maybe a lamp...” Grimm managed a laugh

“I think this is the most I’ve heard you speak since your arrival”. Eris shrugged, looking at the roof. “Truthfully? I don’t really get to speak to many people... Aside from Dorian of course.” Grimm felt a small pang of something. Sympathy? “There was one family one level above our apartment that I used to spend slow days with. I spoke to the woman a fair bit. Her name was Cassidy, they didn’t-” she swallowed “they didn’t get out”. Grimm looked at her and she continued. “Do you have anyone out there?” she asked. Grimm shook his head “Wife left a year or so ago. She missed Memphis. Wanted to go back home. I didn’t. Dad’s dead. Mum’s dead. No kids. One brother, but we were never really all that close. With the state of things, I consider myself rather lucky. Not many people out there for me to worry about” Eris nodded dumbly, not quite sure what to say to that. She had many people out there that she was worried about. Her father, her mother three brothers and one sister. But they had all stopped talking to her the day she married James. And while she worried for them, she doubted they’d even given her a passing thought in the entire ten years that they’d been out of contact. Her heart ached at the thought of them being out there, she took the moment to hope that wherever they all were, that they were okay.

“Okay, here we are” Grimm announced, cutting through Eris’s thoughts. Eris studied the monitor, not quite sure what she was looking at. “So you have a small hairline fracture towards the back of your fifth vertebrosternal rib.” Grimm indicated to where on the screen Eris should be looking, she tilted her head. “Great. Now again, in English?” Grimm sighed.

“The ribs are grouped in to three sections. Vertebrosternal -or true- ribs, vertebrochondral -false- ribs, and floating ribs. Your fifth true rib has a minor fracture towards the back where you were kicked, structurally the ribs are weakest at the back. It’s not a break, but frankly I’m surprised you are even up and walking around, as even small fractures or bruising to the ribs can leave one only capable of the most limited range of motion.” Eris shrugged “I mean it hurts. Even just breathing hurts sometimes but I don’t really have the luxury of being incapacitated”. Grimm rolled his eyes. “If I were to advise you to stay in bed for at least a few weeks, you wouldn’t listen, would you?”. Eris shook her head. “I thought as much”. Turning away from his monitor and sliding his chair closer to the bed, he put his head in his hands. “In an ideal situation I would prescribe you something strong. Like Tapentadol or Oxycodone... But as it is, with being locked up here for the foreseeable future, rations being enforced within the coming weeks and having to rely on scout groups for any new supplies, all the stronger stuff is being reserved for emergencies. The best I can do is Panadol and a compression bandage... Which will do little for the kind of pain you are in.” Eris frowned, Grimm look stressed, and quite tired. Eris took pause to ask herself why she cared. But then scolded herself, of course she cared, the Doctor had been nothing but kind to her since her arrival, although he may have inadvertently landed her in hot water with James, he had only done what he did out of concern. He was probably the only person within this facility, or the entire world for that matter, other than Dorian who cared for her safety, even if only a little bit. “Scout groups?” she asked, Grimm nodded, face still in his hands “You mean, they are actually going to send people out there?” Grimm pinched his nose

“Yeah, they’ll have to, won’t they? Otherwise we will eventually starve out.”

“You really think we’re going to be here that long?” Dorian piped up, putting his magazine on the bed beside him. Grimm smiled sadly “I’m sorry... But yes”.

Grimm’s words hung in the air uncomfortably. “Dorian, would you mind stepping out for a moment so I can fit your Mum’s compression bandage? There’s a chair just outside the door”. Eris gave Dorian’s hand a quick squeeze and he kissed her on the cheek. When he left the room Grimm turned his attention back to Eris , he motioned for her to remove her shirt while he rummaged through one of his drawers for the bandages, pins, and tape. In a cautiously low voice he said “I’m sorry about last night... Really. I shouldn’t have left you there after that”. Eris shrugged

“He wouldn’t have let you take me anywhere, it’s not your problem”. Grimm cringed

“Yeah, see, I kinda feel like it is my problem” Eris laughed

“All things considered I was expecting worse”. Grimm pressed the bandage to her side and instructed her to hold it in place while he wrapped the length of the bandage incredibly tight around her torso. He worked slowly, hunching down to her level and avoiding her gaze.

“I could have him thrown in the detention cells on the lower levels for that. All you have to do is say the words”. Eris’s jaw dropped. The offer was beyond tempting, but could she really go through with it?. Grimm finally looked up at her “Eris, I don’t know why you felt like you had to stay with him before, but I’m telling you now, you don’t need him. We can keep you safe here, Eris. You just have to let us”.

“I stay because I love him”, Grimm snorted

“Do you? Or is that just something you tell yourself every night because you think he’s a good father to Dorian?”. Eris clamped her mouth shut, her cheeks turned a deep red colour. Finishing with her bandages, Grimm picked up her shirt and tossed it to her, he stood uncomfortably close, towering over her. “I am not a threat to you, Eris, I’m trying to take care of you. The Lieutenant General is trying to take care of you And I want you to consider letting us. Say the words”. Eris sighed pulling her shirt on.

“I can’t do that to him... Not now”. Grimm rolled his eyes, huffing in exasperation he opened the door for her. “At least let Yarran and I give you daily excuses to put some distance between you. We won’t leave you stuck there with him 24/7. Rotating chore rosters among civilians will be handed out next week while army personnel are out scouting. A way to make everyone staying here do their part to keep the place going. We can roster yourself and Dorian away from him whenever possible. At least let us do that much”. Eris smiled despite herself.

“I think I can manage that”.