Maddie walked through the door almost hesitantly but it had nothing to do with her leg. She’d been away so long it was weird to be back, in her apartment, in her own space again. She put her keys down on the counter, ditched the crutches and walked through as if she needed to affirm to herself that she was really there, that she was really back.
She’d been in the hospital three weeks in total. The pain was almost gone, it was like a dull ache now as long as she didn’t do anything to provoke it. A dull persistent, annoying itch that she couldn’t scratch, that she couldn’t do anything about.
She was dying to shower, dying to properly wash, but they’d made it more than clear that she wasn’t to get the stiches wet, that she pretty much had to sponge wash herself for the next god knows how long and the very thought was driving her mad.
She sat down on the couch, feeling like she needed to be doing something, anything, but there was nothing she could do. She got up again, walked almost aimlessly around and then headed to the fridge. There was nothing inside, she’d thrown everything out when she’d left with Cole and internally she groaned knowing she’d have to order stuff in, have to fix it.
She pulled a bottle from the wine rack, sure they’d advised her not to drink but they hadn’t said it was definitely off limits she reasoned, and besides one glass couldn’t hurt could it?
She sat back down, glass in hand and stared down at the river. Sipping almost absentmindedly. A small tug boat was sailing along and she watched it slowly move from under one bridge, all the way along until it disappeared from view.
Burke had shot her, she thought, he’d actually fucking shot her and if Aidan hadn’t have killed him she knew he would have shot her again. She shook her head still confused, still so confused as to how she’d missed it all, how she’d been so stupid. For a year she’d cosied up to him, socialised with him, looked up to him as almost a mentor, and yet that whole time he’d been planning, scheming, manipulating her.
And she’d not noticed a god damn thing. She’d been an idiot, an actual fucking idiot.
She sighed, trying to fight down the emotions, the anger, and the shame too because she was ashamed at the heart of it. That it had been so easy for him, that she had been so easy, to target, to play, to use like that.
She heard her lock click and she frowned, suddenly alarmed, and she got up moving quickly to see who the hell was there, wincing as the sudden movement sent a shock of pain through her leg.
“What the fuck?” She said narrowing her eyes. “Why are you here?”
“Sometimes the mountain has to go to wind.” He replied and she shook her head.
“So you’re the mountain are you?” She retorted and he smirked in response. “What do you want Cole? I’m tired, and in pain, and not in the mood for your shit.”
He raised an eyebrow and walked towards her.
“How did you even know I was back?” She added.
“Becky told me.” He replied and Maddie mentally cussed her. But of course Becky had, she thought, she’d been going on about him nonstop every time that she’d been to see her.
“What do you want?” She asked again.
“What do you think Maddie?” He replied irritated and she huffed.
“I told you already. I told you how it was.”
“No you told me what you thought and then you ran out of my house before I could get another word in.” He stated.
“That’s not what happened.” She replied scowling.
“That’s exactly what happened Maddie. You ran, just like you always do.”
“I saw the look on your face Cole.” She said and he frowned.
“You saw what you wanted to see.” He stated.
“Does it matter? I can’t change it, I can’t change who I am.” She said.
“What does that mean?” He asked.
“It means that what you want I can’t give you.”
He laughed. “That’s not exactly true though is it?” He said with a tone that unnerved her.
“What?” She snapped.
“You said you didn’t know how to love but I looked it up, like you said. I did some research.”
“Right.” She said.
“It turns out you’re right…”
“See…” She began but he cut across her.
“Right except for one detail. One convenient detail that you missed out.”
“And what’s that?” She asked.
“That your brain can learn.” He stated.
She stared at him like she didn’t understand the words he just said.
“Your brain can develop new pathways, new emotions. You can learn it Maddie.” He said.
She shook her head, stepping back, stepping further away from him.
“It’s not possible.” She muttered.
“Maddie…”
She turned her back on him, stepping further away even as he moved towards her.
“Get out.” She snapped.