Chapter Nine The police came... and ambulances. Heidi wasn't dead, much to Bobbie's chagrin. Bobbie refused treatment until Lea was cared for. Lea they sedated and carefully healed the long cut down her back and the one on her belly. They assured her there would be no scars from her ordeal. Bobbie stayed with her the whole time. They set her nose as Lea slept. She didn't feel the pain really. All she was worried about was Lea. The police asked question after question. But finally they believed Lea and left after getting her testimony and her assurance that should Hedi recover charges would be pressed. Bobbie barely thought to have them stitch her arm up. She wanted to get Lea out of there and to her place. She knew Lea would not want to go home until the place was cleaned up. She got Lea's keys from her and called a close friend to come take them and get Lea the things she would need for an extended stay away from home. Bobbie sat beside Lea, stroking her hair and simply trying to reassure her that she was safe. Lea for her part was silent. She leaned against Bobbie, shivering and unable to form more than the occasional coherent thought. All she knew was that Bobbie had become her anchor to reality. Bobbie helped Lea get dressed in a loose fitting dress and soft soled shoes. Lea's things were packed in Bobbie's car and ready to go. The ride to Bobbie's small house was done in silence. Lea looked into space, eyes blank. Bobbie feared that the assault had done more damage to an already fragile emotional state. ~Please, stay with me Lea... don't leave me.~ Lea let Bobbie guide her into the modest home. The doctor had said no shower or bath for Lea that night, so Bobbie gently, lovingly gave Lea a sponge bath, using the sandalwood soap she liked and applying soothing lotion after. Lea accepted all this without a word. She was lost in a living nightmare. When Bobbie gave her more of the pain meds the doctors had sent home with her she swallowed the pill and looked at Bobbie as if just seeing her. "Hold me. Don't leave me alone." Bobbie touched her face. "Let me get cleaned up okay? I'll be right back, I promise." She showered quickly, donning a night shirt before slipping into bed with Lea. Lea clung to Bobbie, her head resting on Bobbie's chest. She began to shake, then to weep. Bobbie held her carefully, letting her release all the tension and fear. Lea's sobs faded as sleep took her, but she never once moved away from the safety and warmth of Bobbie's side. Bobbie laid there, tears in her eyes as she watched over Lea. She was angry that once more someone had hurt Lea and angry that she had not gotten there sooner. She dozed off and on, waking whenever the nightmares would make Lea restless. Bobbie soothed her and lulled her back to sleep with soft words and gentle hands. Finally even Bobbie had to give in to exhaustion and as dawns muted light flickered over the windows she sank into slumber. They both slept late into the day. Bobbie woke first, groaning at how stiff she was. Lea was curled up against her, face pressed to her breast, arm around her waist. Bobbie smoothed the tangle of curls back from Lea's face and sighed. ~This is so damned wrong. I wanted her here with me like this... but for far happier reasons that her being hurt.~ Lea woke slowly. She looked up at Bobbie with red-rimmed eyes. She gazed at Bobbie for several minutes, and then raised a hand to touch her cheek. "You saved me... and took care of me." Bobbie kissed the palm of her hand gently. "Of course I did Lea." She hugged her gently, mindful of Lea's back. "Feel up to breakfast after I check on your cuts?" Lea nodded. "I'm sor..." Bobbie put a finger to her lips. "Uh-uh. You did -nothing- wrong sweetie. So don't even go there. Let me get the stuff to change the bandages okay?" Lea nodded, still feeling so very ashamed. ~It was -my- fault. I should have let Heidi kill me the first time, then Bobbie wouldn't have gotten hurt.~ Bobbie changed the bandages and applied more of the ointment the doctors had sent with Lea. She took care of the smaller cut on Lea's belly too. The back wound looked awful, swollen and red. The thin butterfly strips holding it together looked obscene somehow against the rest of her tender flesh. The front wound was no more than a thin cut, already looking better. Only then did she tend to herself. Her face hurt like hell and a glance in the mirror made her wince. She looked like she had gone a few rounds with a boxer. Her face was black and blue and her nose was huge. Her arm ached and the stitches itched. She gave them both pain meds and with a careful smile looked to Lea. "Let's get food... then we will decide what to do next okay baby?" "Okay. Bobbie?" Bobbie paused in the doorway. "Yeah baby?" "Thank you for caring." Lea moved to her side and leaned against her, sighing softly. Bobbie hugged her carefully. "None needed baby." ~None at all baby... just letting me do it is enough for now.~ Breakfast was interrupted by the vultures collectively known as the press. It took threats and the police to shoo the filthy beasts away. Lea agreed to give an interview to one reporter she had dealt with before and knew would be truthful and respectful. The reporter was an older woman, compactly built, hair a vivid silver. She had no one with her, just a small tape recorder and a note pad. Bobbie sat close to Lea, a protective arm around her shoulders. The reporter seemed a bit surprised, but to her credit said nothing. The questions were kept to the incident and how Lea was feeling about the whole thing. Not once was the reporter rude nor did she ask about the relationship between Bobbie and Lea. Lea spoke quietly, leaning against Bobbie for support. When the reporter left Lea hid her face against Bobbie and sighed. "I'm tired Bobbie. But there is still so much to do." Bobbie stroked Lea's hair. "I'll handle things baby. Why don't you just relax and watch a movie or something while I make some phone calls." Lea shook her head. "I can't. I have to do this Bobbie. I can't crumble like this. But... will you help me?" ~I am so proud of her....~ "Of course baby." First order of business was getting someone out to clean the mess. It took some doing, but they found a company that would do it. Then Lea got a locksmith to come and change all the door locks from front to back. Lea began to feel better as she struggled to regain her sense of self. Her housekeeper was sent to oversee the clean-up and the replacing of the locks. Lea would not go back there until all was put to rights. She and Bobbie were snuggled together on the sofa when she looked at Bobbie and asked the question that had been sitting on the tip of her tongue all day. "Bobbie? Would you move in with me? I'm not saying I am ready for anything sexual... but I would feel better having you there. I have a spare room and I wouldn't ask for any help with bills." Bobbie stared for a second then smiled. "Are you sure baby?" "I'm sure. Please say yes." Lea had admitted to herself that she needed Bobbie, needed her strength and affection. ~Please say yes....~ "It's a deal baby. I was getting tired of this place anyway. I can rent it out and use that to make the payments. I have a friend that would jump at the chance to live here." Lea smiled and rested her head on Bobbie's shoulder. "Thank you. I... I feel safer with you around." ~Oh Lea... do you have any idea how happy this makes me? I wish I could tell you... tell you how I really feel.~ Bobbie just rested her head against Lea's and sighed contentedly. They ended up dozing for a bit then Bobbie began to make plans for the move. Between the two of them they got things in gear. It would take Bobbie three weeks to have everything ready. She marked things down in her planner while Lea made them dinner. ~Let's see. Get packing boxes... pack, sort and finally clean out my closets.... Store my furniture, except for my bedroom stuff and some gotta have decorations. Transfer my phone and DSL.... Change my mailing address.... Jump for joy... oh and get a lawyer for the rental agreement for this place. What else? Hmmmm.~ She was interrupted by Lea's soft voice telling her dinner was ready. She stood and stretched a slight smile on her lips. ~I like this already....~ They found out in the middle of the move that Heidi was not capable of standing trial. The blow to her head had left her a drooling vegetable. Bobbie had no remorse over that. Hedi had finally gotten what she deserved. Lea sighed and rubbed her face. "It's over, it's finally over." Bobbie nodded and touched her cheek. "Now you can get back to living baby."