35: three words

Despite the doctor's attempts to treat the infection that had Camille do unwell, they had no choice but to go back into surgery which pushed her recovery time back. However, the second surgery seemed to have helped as the fever broke just a few hours later and Camille felt like she was getting better physically.

Healing emotionally was proving much more difficult.

Even though Camille tried to avoid thinking about the three Draygonians who turned her world upside down, Camille couldn't stop thinking about them. Despite how upset she was with them for playing her the way she felt they had, Camille couldn't deny she missed them. They had treated her like a person and she felt safe when they were around. She was certain she found all three of them attractive without the help of genes and pheromones. How could she not? They were gentle, they made her feel like the most important person in the room.

Sure, they had upset her but Camille couldn't deny that she couldn't imagine her life without them.

"Hello, Emma." The doctor's friendly voice broke Camille from her thoughts as he stepped into the room. "How are you feeling today?"

"Better." Camille replied.

"Well that's great news." The male smiled. "I think it should be okay to discharge you by the end of the week if things continue to improve."

"Really?" Camille perked up, blue eyes shining with hope.

"Really." The doctor nodded. "However, I need to discuss your x-rays with you."

Camille felt her stomach sink before it began to twist with anxiety. She wasn't so naive that she didn't realise that x-rays had been taken but she had no idea what they would have shown. She had hoped that the doctor would forget about them but, no such luck. It was only a matter of time before someone else found out anyway. It was just fortunate it was a doctor who was bound by doctor / patient confidentiality.

There was a very simple reason as to why Camille didn't know the extent of her ex's abuse; Nathan had never let her go to a hospital. He knew the police would get involved and he couldn't have that, not when he was so anti-police amongst other things. So, he had always sent one of his friends in to tend to Camille. Camille knew a couple of them were paramedics or worked in care. None of them had a decent bedside manner and none of them seemed bothered by the fact they were tending to a victim of domestic abuse. The long and short of it was that Camille had no idea just how deep Nathan's abuse went but she had no doubt it went deep. There was only so much someone could do with a first aid kit.

"It's safe to say that it's a miracle there is no permanent damage." The doctor began with a sad smile that Camille was certain was meant to reassure her but did nothing of the sort. "But the scarification and signs of healed fractures are classic signs of abuse so I have to ask, are you in danger at this moment? Do you need me to contact the police?"

Contact the police?

Not once in the years she was trapped with Nathan did a single person offer her help. Camille had been invisible. She had been cut off from the real world and Nathan was always careful about when or where he'd leave marks.

"No." She managed to get out whilst her cheeks burned with humiliation. "That was a long time ago. I am no longer in that relationship."

The doctor didn't reply immediately as he studied Camille looking for any signs of a lie. "Well I'm glad about that but take this anyway." He handed over a pamphlet. "It's not just about escaping the abuse but the healing as well."

"Thanks." Camille smiled as the doctor headed for the door.

"Oh, you also have a visitor." He added. "Shall I send them in?"

"Uh, sure." Camille nodded.

Camille assumed it was Charlotte coming to visit her again despite the fact she was meant to be working so when Tina walked in, Camille was somewhat surprised before guilt seeped in. She hadn't spared a single thought towards Tina since the explosions but now seeing her, Camille realised it wasn't just her that had been affected by what had happened. By first inspection, Tina looked like she had fared pretty okay. She had a bruise and a long cut on her right temple that still looked painfully fresh but was walking and looked like she had been able to go to her new quarters and get fresh clothes.

"Tina, Hi." She greeted the other woman and sat up a little more in the bed. "This is a surprise. How are you?"

"I'm okay." Tina smiled as she took a seat near the bed. "I heard you had to have a second surgery. You look good for someone who had half their apartment sticking out of them."

Camille couldn't help laughing at the mock over-exaggeration of her injuries. It was nice to have someone around making her laugh instead of mothering or dropping bombshells on her.

"Yeah, I feel much better." She replied with a smile. "Hopefully I can get out tomorrow. Not that I have any idea where I'm going to go."

"Hasn't the rehousing coordinator been to see you?" Tina tilted her head slightly, brow pinching in the middle. "How weird." She carried on when Camille shook her head. "Maybe they forgot. I can catch up with them for you if you'd like."

"Oh, no you don't have to do that." Camille replied. "You probably have enough going on without having to do things for me. I'll speak to Charlotte when I see her."

Just the mention of Camille's best friend had the atmosphere in the room changing and Tina's smile faltered, fading slightly to reveal worry and awkwardness. Instantly Camille picked up on it, her own smile slipping slightly but in confusion and concern. Charlotte and Tina had known each other for a while now. They got on as well as any pair of friends would. So, to see Tina go from smiling and joking to emotional and uncomfortable. It came over Tina like a dark cloud and sucked the air from the room.

"Everything okay?" Camille couldn't help but ask.

"Yeah," Tina was quick to reply, body tensing before she slumped a bit. "It's probably nothing but, don't you think it's weird that Charlotte wasn't home on the night of the explosions?"

"She had a date with that bartender."

"That late at night?" Tina challenged with a raised eyebrow. "Look, maybe you're right but I just have this feeling in my gut that Charlotte going out when she did and the explosion happening is more than just a coincidence."

"Tina!" Camille gasped. "That's crazy! How would Charlotte even be involved in something like that? She wouldn't hurt a fly!"

"I know! I'm sorry!" Tina sight, dropping her face into her hands with an exasperated sigh. "I shouldn't have said anything. I'm sorry. I just…" she sighed again. "It's not just this Emma. She goes missing for days and has no explanation as to where she has been. She's missed shifts at work and I know she has lied a few times about where she has been as well…I just don't know what to think."

"Charlotte would never get mixed up in stuff like this." Camille whispered angrily. "She's the kindest person I know!"

"I know and I'm so sorry for saying something. I was being stupid and paranoid." Tina shook her head sadly and stood up. "I should go before I say anything else stupid."

"No, Tina. It's fine." Camille protested. "Okay, it's not fine but I know you didn't tell me this for fun but, whoever bombed the apartments are horrible people with no regard for innocent lives. Charlotte would never get involved in something that could hurt other people. I know she wouldn't."

"You're right, I'm sorry." Tina mustered an apologetic smile, tears glistening with unshed tears. "But I do have to go. I have work in about an hour and I need to freshen up."

"Of course." Camille smiled and nodded. "And thanks for visiting. Truly."

In truth it was a relief that Tina left and didn't stick around. Camille didn't think she could handle anymore conversation after that bombshell. It was crazy to think Charlotte was behind what happened but she had been disappearing a lot lately, Camille just didn't realise that Charlotte was skipping work as well. Did that mean that she lied about seeing the bartender the other night as well?

Charlotte wasn't a secretive person but Camille also realised that while they were indeed best friends, they hadn't seen each other in years. They had both grown up and both changed. Charlotte had pretty much had a life without Camille being there and suddenly she had to move that life around to fit in Camille and all her baggage. Whatever the reason for Charlotte's secretive behaviour, it wasn't because she was conspiring with people to blow buildings up…

Right?

A sharp knock on the frame of the door pulled Camille from her train of thoughts and her eyes glanced towards the door only for her whole body to tense and heart skip a beat when her eyes landed on her new visitor.

"Hey, Emma." Jag spoke up in a voice so gentle that Camille couldn't believe it came from him. "I think we need to talk."

Like a knee-jerk reaction, Camille felt anger heat her blood and her gaze hardened as she glared at the male.

"I've not got anything to say to you, Jag." She retorted.

"Okay, then you can just listen." Jag replied calmly as he stepped further into the room until he was at the foot of the bed.

His eyes were like pools of flames and Camille could feel herself getting lost in them. It was so easy to drown in Their brilliance but she needed to focus. She wouldn't let him distract her with the damn bond and his good looks.

"Emma," Jag's voice cut through the tense silence. "I love you."

----

thank you readers for supporting me by giving my stories a chance. I hope you are enjoying Claiming Camille and I would love to get your feedback. New chapter will be out soon.