She’d been dreading returning to the room so much since Jacob handed her the letter from Allison’s father that she’d spent the day wandering the town aimlessly. She was soaked to the skin and chilled to the core, though she’d done a fair job of ignoring her discomforts. The streets were still fairly empty, some sailors and a couple of thugs the only people visible in the dreary afternoon light. Morgan shifted her shoulders a little as she passed the thugs heading in the opposite direction, feeling their eyes on her back. The hairs of the back of her neck stood up in reaction and she laid her hand on the hilt of her long knife. Glancing over her shoulder she met the eyes of one of the scruffy men briefly before he turned and continued on, apparently realizing that she was far from easy prey. Morgan stopped into the common room and picked up some dinner before heading up the stairs to her room. She cradled the crock of soup in the crook of her arm and rapped on the door with the back of her hand, trying not to crush the fresh loaf of bread that John had given her. She frowned as no answer came from the room and knocked again.
"Allison?" Morgan’s brows drew together at the continued silence and tried again, this time a little louder. "Allison, it’s me, open the door?" Finally she heard some rustling from inside and the distinct sound of the bolt sliding back before the door opened. The room was dark, lit only by the failing light outside and the flicker of the fire on the hearth and she watched with confusion as Allison walked back over to the chair in front of the fire and curled back under the quilt. The captain nudged the door shut behind her and locked the door, then carefully carried their dinner over to the table and set it down. Concerned, she moved over to kneel in front of the chair, gazing up at the green eyes that stared blankly past her into the flames.
"Allison?" she said softly, drawing the eyes towards her with a brush of her fingertips. The redhead gazed at her quietly for a moment, then her eyes focused and she frowned a little.
"Morgan, you’re soaked," she said huskily, reaching out to touch a strand of wet hair. Morgan nodded and resisted the urge to lean into the light touch.
"Allison? What’s wrong?" she asked again, worrying about the haunted look shadowing the redhead’s deep green eyes. Allison glanced at the window then looked back down at Morgan.
"You should change before you catch your death, Morgan," she said softly. Morgan opened her mouth to ask her question again and stopped, her eyes widening a little as Allison reached out and laid her fingers softly across her lips. "Please change," she pleaded. Morgan’s brows drew together in concern, and she got to her feet slowly and moved over to her trunk. She stripped out of her damp clothes and kicked them into a pile next to her trunk, goosebumps traveling across her chilled skin. She reached into the trunk and pulled out a dry pair of breeches and a shirt, gratefully tugging them on. She lit the lamp on the bedside table then returned to Allison, once again kneeling in front of the chair. Allison looked down at her as she leaned her elbows on either side of the redhead’s legs, a small smile curving her lips.
"Will you tell me what’s wrong now?" Morgan asked softly. Allison nodded slowly and licked her lips, her eyes taking on a hunted look.
"I wasn’t imagining things yesterday, Morgan." The captain frowned. "They were there again today, and made sure that I saw them." Allison’s fingers plucked at the quilt nervously and Morgan reached out and grasped her hand in both of hers. "Then, after Jacob stopped to check on me they started walking down the hall, slowing in front of the door, then going on." The young woman gripped Morgan’s hand tightly and her voice shook a little. "If I looked out the window one or both of them would be there, even when it was raining, watching for me. If they saw me they’d smile really nasty or wave or something." Allison’s eyes started to fill with tears and Morgan’s heart twisted. "Morgan, why are they doing this to me?" The fear in the young woman’s voice cut right through Morgan and she sat back and pulled Allison down into her lap. Wrapping her arms around Allison she pulled her close to her and leaned her head against the red one tucked against her chest.
"Shhh…shh…it’ll be alright. I won’t let them hurt you, I promise," Morgan whispered, rubbing Allison’s back soothingly. Morgan slowly let out a soft sigh as Allison relaxed into her arms. Carefully she shifted them around so she could lean back against the chair Allison had been sitting in, and Allison wrapped her arms around her waist and cuddled closer. Morgan pulled the quilt around the both of them and rubbed Allison’s arm softly. "Better?"
"Mm…yes…much," was Allison’s soft answer. Morgan felt the redhead relax against her and smiled gently as her breathing slowed and deepened. She gazed into the dancing flames beside them for a long time, the dull ache that had filled her since that morning ebbing a little. Her mind rolled Allison’s story of the watchers over and over, trying to figure out how to get them to leave the young woman alone. She had no doubt as to whose employ they were in, nor was she surprised, though she had to admit that she had been expecting them to harass her, not Allison. The woman in her arms stirred a little and tucked herself closer, her breath puffing softly against her neck. Morgan sighed softly, seeing only one solution to the situation, and that was one she wasn’t comfortable doing. Morgan closed her eyes and relaxed in the warmth of the fire and the body draped over her, giving the exhausted woman in her arms a chance to rest.
The fire crackled and snapped as the logs shifted in the darkening night, urging a pair of blue eyes to open and look around in confusion. Morgan shifted a bit, her back complaining about the position it was in and Allison murmured in her sleep. Morgan glanced out the window, her eyes widening in shock. Gently she nudged the slumbering woman in her arms.
"Allison….Allison, wake up," she said softly. A pair of bleary green eyes blinked up at her, her eyebrows drawing together.
"Did I fall asleep on you?" she asked in confusion. Morgan nodded, smiling gently into Allison’s green eyes.
"Mmm, we both fell asleep. The sun’s set, would you like to having something to eat with me?" Allison hid a yawn behind her hand and nodded. Morgan chuckled softly and urged Allison to her feet then pushed herself up. Allison carried the quilt back over to the bed as Morgan headed for the table. Opening the crock she found the soup still warm and started dishing it out into the two waiting bowls.
"Allison?"
"Mmm?" Allison answered from right behind her shoulder. Morgan gestured at the package still sitting where she’d left it that morning. Allison dropped her eyes and shrugged in answer to the silent inquiry.
"That was for you," Morgan said softly. Allison nodded slowly.
"I know." Morgan shot a confused look at Allison as she sat down in the chair across from her.
"So why didn’t you open it?" Allison shifted uncomfortably in her seat and pulled her bowl in front of her, stirring the soup idly.
"I…I guess I didn’t want to open it since I didn’t get to see you this morning." Morgan looked at Allison in confusion as the redhead continued to toy with her soup. Allison’s eyes flickered up to meet hers, a shadow of hurt lingering in the back. Morgan cocked her head a little.
"I’m sorry I left before you woke…but you were sleeping so deeply I couldn’t bring myself to disturb you." Allison smiled crookedly at her and a blush colored her cheeks.
"Wake me next time?" Morgan nodded in response then gestured towards the soup.
"Get some of that into you before it gets any colder," she teased. They ate in silence, the soup warming them from the inside out. The bread was delicious and crusty, complimenting the soup wonderfully and between the two of them they ate all of it.
