Part 11

"I... Luke... I..." Echo tried to form a coherent sentence as she stared up at Luke, who now looked like he would tear her apart. He looked over her, making her remember just how powerless she was. 


"I've been very patient and very forgiving with you, Echo." He sneered. Echo was still, completely frozen in place. What had she done? What in the world had she been thinking? Still, she raised her chin, feeling like she was incapable of cowering before him. She had no idea what was going on in her own mind, she only knew that she could not, would not look away from him. What a ridiculous time to grow a back bone!


"Have you?" She said, feeling she would die at how easily the words slipped from her mouth. "Easy to be patient when all you do is bark out orders."


She watched as the scar on his cheek ticked. He was angry and for some reason she couldn't fathom, trying very hard to control his temper. 


"Tell me, Echo- if you were me, what would you do? Shall I tell you what I usually do in a situation like this?" He asked, his voice low. 


"If I were in your situation..." She managed to say, unable to understand where the words were coming from. "I would sit down and try to get some rest instead of running the risk of further hurting myself."


Luke sneered at her and her heart nearly stopped. She waited, her lips trembling... and then, just as quickly as he rose, he turned.


She watched, still holding her breath, as she moved back to the sofa, slowly taking a seat. They were silent for a moment, both entertaining themselves with idle movement. Echo wondered why he had let her get away with that... What would he have done? She looked over to him, watching his hands from beneath her lashes, wondering what type of damage hands like that could inflict. 


She'd been brave, much too brave but then again, something deep inside her told her that he would not hurt her.  She couldn't explain it, she just knew. 


"I'll change your bandage." She said, moving to the sink and pouring out some clean water. 


"I think they'll be fine." He said, looking to his arm. 


"They might be but why take the chance? We don't want to risk infection or your fever returning." She said, walking over to him. 


"I don't remember having a fever." He said, watching her. 


"You had one all night." She muttered, approaching him and beginning to cut through the bandage.  "Be still, I don't want to cut you by accident."


"How do you know I had one all night?" He asked. Echo was still, damn it. She didn't want him to know she'd spend the night watching over him. 


"I assumed." She said but he smiled. 


"You were watching me sleep." He said with some humor returning to his voice. Echo shook her head. 


"Look at you. I don't know how you manage to move around with all those bruises and your arm... there was also the rain, you were drenched. It's only natural to assume you had a fever." She said, trying to ignore him. 


"You watched me sleep. Admit it." He said.


"I did not." She insisted but he reached out, gently grabbing her by the chin and turning her face towards his. 


"Thank you." He said, liking the idea of Echo sitting over him. It was strange- moments before he'd felt like he might turn her over on his lap and spank her, shake her for daring to speak to him like that... for throwing that ridiculous plate and now... he couldn't help but be amused by her.


"Don't thank me. I just don't want a dead man on my conscience." She said, trying to convince herself that was the only reason she'd come back. 


"Or have to deal with the inconvenience of disposing of a body?" He said, teasing her. 


"I've watched a few crime shows, I'd figure it out." She said, making him laugh. "There... how does that feel?"


Luke watched as she tucked in the ends, her fingers gently smoothing out the bandage before grazing his arm as she pulled away. There was light coming in through the curtains, lighting up the room and touching her hair, making it shine brightly. She had dark hair, straight and until just then, seemingly dull. But now, in the light, the rich, brown color enhanced the smooth quality of her skin. It was such a deep, dark color...


"Wonderful." He said without really thinking about it, making her blush once again. Echo stood abruptly and began to pack things up. 


"I'll bring a broom by later, to sweep up that mess." She said nervously, looking over to the broken dish in the corner.  "I have to go now, my sisters will notice if I'm gone."


"I'm sure you have a lot of work to do." He said, settling back down onto the sofa, wincing once again pain. 


"You shouldn't have moved around so much, I wouldn't be surprised if you made it worse." She said with a frown. Luke agreed- he was sorely regretting having been so rough but he wasn't about to admit it to her. 


"Go away, Echo. I'm not fond of women scolding me. Unless you plan to fuss over me lovingly, I'd rather be alone and get rest." He said, a little surprised at himself but pleased as he saw her turn bright red again. 


"I'll see you tonight." She muttered, picking up her things and storming off. As she made her way back to the house, she put her hands up to her face. She was burning up- how in the world was she the one with the fever? fuss over me lovingly...  What the hell had he meant by that?


Luke lay back with his eyes closed. 


fuss over me lovingly... What the hell was that supposed to mean? Scratch that, Luke knew exactly what he meant by that but he hadn't mean to ask her for that type of thing. Of course, he knew she hadn't taken him seriously. He hadn't meant it seriously... not actually.


He pictured Echo as he had seen her the night before- wet hair loose around her shoulders, her soaked clothes matted against her. She was a strange looking girl, plain at first sight, with lips a little too big for her face- the bottom one seeming to curl endlessly over her small chin. She wasn't ugly, not by a long shot, but with those ridiculous clothes and her hair pulled back so severely, he wouldn't be surprised that she wasn't noticed often. 


He couldn't believe she'd thrown the plate at him. Just the thought made him chuckle... and then groan. He shouldn't haven't gotten up that morning, the pain was slowly coming back and maybe even worse that before. He reached towards the table next to him, taking yet another few pills from the bottle she'd left behind. She was right- he did have a fever and when he woke this morning it was to find he'd been covered in sweat from it. 


He'd almost regretted not waiting for her to help him wash up. Again, he chuckled and again, he groaned.  What in the world was going on with him? Was it the fever that kept bringing his thoughts back to that annoying, strange little woman? She certainly wasn't the type of girl he went out with and yes, Luke did have a very distinct type.


It had to be the fever. 


He had to admit, however; it was fun to see how she reacted to his teasing. He should be furious with her, but instead, he just wanted to see her squirm.  Again, he pictured her, completely soaked and staring at him wide eyed. Then, he forced the thoughts back and allowed himself to sleep.


---


"Just where do you think you're going?"


Echo stopped as the lights in the garage turned on and she found Maru standing behind her, Rocko nearby. She grasped her keys tightly and tried to be calm.


"What are you doing up?" Echo asked.


"What are YOU doing up?" Maru asked, crossing her arms and tapping her foot suspiciously. "and don't tell me you're letting Rocko out."


"I asked first." Echo said and Maru shook her head.


"No, not really. I asked you a question first." Maru said.


"You're right, you did." Echo said. "Well, gotta go."


"Ummm, no. It's 3 in the morning, where are you going?" Maru insisted. Echo looked at her sister and lifted her chin, summoning the courage she'd only just discovered she had.


"It's none of your business." Echo replied, gutsy and bold. She supposed it didn't matter at that point, after all she was helping nurse a criminal back to health.


"Right. Because you're a grown woman." Maru replied and Echo nodded.


"Yes. That's right." Echo relied.


"Sneaking out like a thief?" Maru said. "Alright, your choice but I wonder what I should say to mom and dad at breakfast..."


"That's enough, Maru." Echo said, "You don't have to tell them anything."


"Where are you going?" Maru asked. She was actually a little concerned. It would be concerning for her to find any of her sisters sneaking away at this hour, but it was a bit more because this was Echo. Good, innocent Little Echo.


"Maru..." Echo began, trying to come up with an excuse. 


"Oh my god... are you meeting up with someone?" Maru asked, her eyes widening. "A guy?"


Echo stared at her for a second.


"Yes." She blurted out. "I'm meeting a guy and he's waiting so..."


At least that wasn't a lie.


"WOW." Maru said in surprise. "Honestly, I kind of thought maybe... you like... girls."


Echo frowned.


"No, I don't. Not like that." Echo said.


"Sorry, it's just... the way you dress." Maru said. "But wow. Well, what's he like? How'd you meet him? Why are you sneaking out at this hour? Oh god, don't tell me he's married? You know Jessica date a married man once... I tried to tell her it was a bad idea but she wouldn't listen. Please tell me that's not what's going on here."


Echo shook her head.


"No!" Echo said but then stopped. "Well, I don't think he is. You really need to find other friends, Maru. Jessica is a terrible influence."


"Ewwww... how don't you know? and you're one to talk, sneaking away like this." Maru said and Echo frowned.


"Listen, he's waiting and I don't have time to explain all this." Echo said, going up to her sister. "I need you to promise not to say anything."


"I..." Maru began, wanting to ask a dozen more questions but she saw the pleading, almost desperate look in Echo's face. Echo had never had a romance before. Whatever the circumstances were, was it really right to cut it short? Shouldn't she just let Echo enjoy it... whatever 'IT' was? "I won't. BUT I want the full story tomorrow."


Echo smiled and gave her a tight hug.


"Thank you. Now, go back to bed. I shouldn't be long but if anyone asks, just say I went out early. To see my publisher." Echo said, running towards the far end of the garage. Echo's car was at the last door as it was the one that was least used.


"yeah... sure." Maru muttered as she watched her hop away. 


Maru stood watching as Echo pulled out of the garage and disappeared out of the driveway. She was absolutely amazed. Echo! Echo... then she smiled. This is certainly interesting- she knew something was up when Echo said she'd taken Rocko out that morning. Rocko and Echo didn't exactly get along and Echo was a terrible liar. She'd practically had to help her along with it. It was actually Maru herself who'd let Rocko out. She just figured that Echo needed a moment to clear her thoughts and so she'd helped her sister out by offering a plausible excuse. 


Maru turned to Rocko who was in turn looking at her. "I promise I'll tell you as soon as I get the story."

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