GL - A FEW DAYS AWAY - Chapter 24
TITLE: A Few Days Away
FANDOM: Guiding Light
PAIRING: Otalia
SUMMARY: Set mid-friendship, this is a hurt/comfort piece as I'm a hurt/comfort junkie. Olivia, Natalia and Emma decide to have a few days away...hopefully more interesting than the summary suggests. Please request before archiving.
RATING: PG for mild violence
Author's note: This is my first ever attempt at fanfic so I'm having to gather a lot of nerve to post it. With very deep thanks to my Canadian Buddy, Critic2000, who beta'd and prodded for this story to see a conclusion and provided insightful and useful comments throughout. I know most of Europe loves her for providing us with Otalia clips as soon as possible but to me, she's my very dear friend. (Course, the clips help ;o))
ADDITIONAL NOTE: Apologies if this isn't everyone's cup of tea but huge thanks again for those that are sticking with it, even if it's not going in the direction most probably hope or want it to go... but I have stated it's a hurt/comfort piece and it will remain in that vein throughout - you have been warned ;o)
Thank you for your continued interest, I know there is a lot of very good fic out there so I'm touched when you stop by to read mine. You've all been very kind - huge thanks
DISCLAIMERS: I do not own Guiding Light or any of the characters.
( Chapter 1 ) ( Chapter 3 ) ( Chapters 4 & 5 ) ( Chapter 6 ) ( Chapter 7 ) ( Chapter 8 ) ( Chapter 9 ) ( Chapter 10 ) ( Chapter 11 ) ( Chapter 12 ) ( Chapter 13 ) ( Chapter 14 ) ( Chapter 15 ) ( Chapter 16 ) ( Chapter 17 ) ( Chapter 18 ) ( Chapter 19 ) ( Chapter 20 ) ( Chapter 21 ) ( Chapter 22 ) ( Chapter 23 )
Chapter 24
“Natalia?”
Olivia had stopped briefly to follow some movement up in the trees, hand shielding her eyes like a sailor looking for dry land. Having pinpointed a squirrel as the origin of her interest and maintaining a visual on its antics as it scampered up one tree bark to then hop and jump over to another, she was about to point it out to Natalia, when she turned back to find herself alone.
Instantly worried, she’d called out.
“I’m here! Over here!”
The acoustics within the trees bounced Natalia’s voice around and had Olivia running at best guess to where it came from. When Natalia still wasn’t in view, she called again, “Where? Natalia! Where are you?”
“Down here. Mind your step.”
Down here? Where? Off to her left, close by and still no sign.
Olivia could feel her heart rate accelerating. Cautiously edging forward through tall, thick grass, Olivia peered over into a gully, a natural channel where the river obviously poured through when seasonally flooded. Looking back up at her with an expression best described as embarrassment tinged with pain, was Natalia.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt? Natalia...”
Her friend wasn’t moving, just lying there looking back up at her, a thin line of blood running from her forehead down past her eye. How bad must Olivia’s reaction look that her friend was trying to reassure her that she was alright before she began to push herself up.
Olivia’s heart sped up again, not a good thing for a woman with her condition, and while her eyes were drawn to the very present red line, she was aware that any type of fall could have unseen injuries. Allowing her mind free rein to imagine the worst possible scenarios, she advised she was coming and that Natalia really shouldn’t move.
Natalia stilled her efforts and waited while Olivia carefully lowered herself into the trench.
Finally next to the fallen woman, Olivia took Natalia’s face in her hands and inspected the cut. Knowing that head wounds were prone to bleeding, she found a tissue and with slightly shaking hands, dabbed at the injury.
Now that she’d ascertained it wasn’t serious and just a scratch, her heart began to slow and she ran her eyes up and down Natalia’s body, feeling both relief and frustration when Natalia took matters into her own hands again and began to sit up. Insistent that she take it easy, Olivia moved behind her and was surprised by the invective ‘ow’.
“What? What is it? What ‘ow’? Where?” Olivia ranted, alarmed now that sitting up hadn’t been such a good idea.
When Natalia indicated her ankle, Olivia crawled to the offending body part and as delicately as possible felt around the area. Sprained, damn it! Olivia’s thoughts were already trying to work out how they were going to get back to the cabin with the minimum of discomfort to Natalia. Reaching for her cell, the panic which had been slowly rising since Natalia had first disappeared finally exploded in a frustrated expletive. Stupid cell, stupid walk, stupid weekend...
Knowing Natalia would disapprove and conscious she wasn’t really helping matters, she took a calming breath and apologised.
Natalia smiled at her and offered to try standing up.
Aware she needed to keep the foot elevated, Olivia did not think standing the smartest thing to do but having seen how Natalia was anxiously glancing round into the woods again, she knew her friend was considering the likelihood of her being dinner to some scheming mammal. It also meant that Natalia would probably not want to be left here while she went ahead and got some help, even if she just found an area where a signal could get through it could still mean several hours, waiting alone and feeding into her fear of what was waiting for her. No, Olivia did not want to leave her like that.
So if she couldn’t be left, there’d have to go back together.
Having established no first aid kit, she reached around to her t-shirt seam and tugged until she heard it tearing before removing a usable strip to bind Natalia’s ankle with. Glancing down at her new designer fashion and rapidly cooling abs she joked, “Crop top?”
Natalia laughed again.
Okay, now focus because this is going to hurt her a little.
Unlacing Natalia’s trainer so it would slide from her foot, Olivia began to tightly wrap the strip of fabric over, under and around the swollen ankle. She then slipped the trainer back on again for support, finally giving voice to the fact it should be iced and elevated, both things that would have to wait until they made it back to the cabin.
“You’re really good at this you know?”
Strangely shy at the praise, Olivia wondered if Natalia would need more time before continuing on, even though she knew the return journey would be slow going and wanting to be back there now.
“No, I’m ready.”
Standing, Olivia reached down for Natalia who took her hand and began to haul herself to her feet. When Natalia’s legs buckled beneath her from accidentally placing the swollen appendage on the ground, Olivia, who was still taking Natalia’s weight, felt her shoulder pull and couldn’t avoid the resultant grunt as her own injury made itself known again.
Concerned only with helping Natalia to her feet so they could be on their way, Olivia attempted take two and this time successfully had Natalia upright, if clinging to her for support as she hopped to maintain her balance.
Now what?
***
“Okay, keep your eye out for a big stick.”
They had been slowly trudging along for a good five minutes, Natalia leaning heavily on Olivia as she hop shuffled her way over the uneven woodland floor.
“I’ve been looking.” She retorted, finding her usually unending patience waning with each torturous step. “Never takes them this long to find one when they’re on TV.”
Olivia let out a snort. “Well, I hate to break it to you but we’re not on TV and there’s no prop guy about to place a handy dandy walking stick conveniently in our path.”
“Would be nice.”
“Wouldn’t it?”
“At least it’s taking my mind off the bugs.”
“Thank heaven for small mercies eh?”
“Yea...ow.”
“Hey, watch your step. I don’t want to have to carry you if you sprain your other ankle.”
“Do you think you could?”
“What carry you? Is that a genuine question?”
“Um...just considering my options.”
“I’m sure with the right motivation and level of adrenaline I could but for now, let’s keep it moving shall we?”
They continued on in near silence, each focussed on their own thoughts and both looking out for a possible walking stick to aid Natalia.
While her swollen ankle gently throbbed, both legs were beginning to ache, one from holding it in a position which prevented it from striking the ground and the other from constantly having all her weight on it. She leaned more heavily into Olivia for support, guilty for being an additional burden when she knew Olivia was still recovering from her ordeal but anxious to get back.
After persisting on and with no walking stick in sight, Natalia glanced at her companion and it was then she noticed just how much Olivia was perspiring and how each breath was short, puffed out in time with their slow progress. Knowing how driven Olivia could be, she decided to suggest they stop for a bit. “Olivia?”
“Hm.”
“Um, can we stop for a moment?”
Olivia continued their forward movement.
Unsure if she’d heard yet knowing she couldn’t possibly not have, Natalia flashed back to the Olivia of two days ago, Emma in her arms, doggedly determined to make it back to safety. She tried again. “Hey, I need to stop a minute.”
Braking to an abrupt halt, Natalia steadied herself against Olivia again before lowering herself to sit, unable to prevent the cursory glance around the area before dropping thankfully to the ground.
“Are you okay?” Olivia asked as she began removing the water bottle and fussing solicitously around her again.
“I just needed to sit for a bit.”
An intense stare drilled into her and registered that Natalia was not about to break in half. Olivia lowered herself to sit next to the dark haired woman and took a sip from her own bottle.
Natalia regarded her, she had noticed the barely restrained wince as Olivia sat and now her own curiosity and concern forced her to ask, “What about you? Are you okay?”
“I’m good.” Olivia looked at her watch and then up to the sky. “Really think we should be making a move though. We still have a way to go and I don’t want to be out here when it’s dark.”
Natalia, happy to let it go for the moment, shuddered at the thought as her imagination sprang to life.
“You needn’t worry,” Olivia continued, “I told you I’d protect you.”
Oddly, Natalia found that thought highly comforting.
***
The slow advancement back towards their cabin with Natalia’s weight bearing down upon her side was becoming wearisome. Even though Natalia wasn’t exactly a heavyweight, the pressure on her bruised skin and aching muscles was starting to smart and Olivia didn’t even want to think about what she’d done to her shoulder. In fact she was resisting the temptation to look by doggedly pressing on and vainly hoping for a stick large enough to be used as a crutch so that Natalia’s weight could be transferred off of her.
Her shoulder had virtually screamed at her when she’d attempted to haul Natalia to her feet, only to be wrenched further when Natalia failed the first time to attain an upright stance. She was still trying to block out the noise from her memory of what sounded like skin ripping and was sure she’d torn the wound open again.
More concerned with getting Natalia back to take care of her ankle though, Olivia ignored the burning sensation and allowed it to dull into an aching throb that pulsed with every beat of her heart.
When Natalia had asked whether Olivia had the ability to carry her, her carefully worded response managed to hide her terror that Natalia actually needed her to but if pushed to do it, she had no doubt she’d be capable.
They had continued on, the ever elusive stick remaining hidden and Olivia’s shoulder was starting to feel numb. Even though her midriff had become exposed due to her earlier bandage requirements, the strain, coupled with her aggravated injuries was making her sweat.
When her vision blurred momentarily she wondered at first if she was going to pass out before realising it was sweat running into her eyes.
Natalia’s voice was distantly calling her name.
“Hm?” she responded.
Natalia was saying something again. Olivia kept moving, a vague recollection of trudging determinedly to the cabin once before flittered across her memory.
“Hey, I need to stop a minute.”
Olivia stopped. Too quickly, as Natalia’s momentum had her catching hold of Olivia to slow down.
Disturbed that she’d been so focussed on herself, she turned to Natalia now seated on the ground and asked, “Are you okay?” as she handed over a water bottle.
She stared intensely into Natalia’s eyes and happy with what she saw there allowed herself a moment of rest, the act of sitting bringing to life the dull aches of earlier to a prominent level again.
“What about you? Are you okay?” a voice beside her asked.
Damn. I can’t have her worrying about me. Get it together Olivia.
“I’m good.” she looked at her watch and then the sky to see if they were going to be in danger at their current pace of having to negotiate the area in reduced visibility. “Really think we should be making a move though. We still have a way to go and I don’t want to be out here when it’s dark.”
She felt Natalia tense beside her and almost chuckled again at her friend’s overactive imagination.
“You needn’t worry,” Olivia continued, “I told you I’d protect you.”
And it was a promise she was determined to keep.
TBC...