Thanks to Monster_Slayer for the editing help and guidance on this chapter!
*****
After a solid night's sleep, Jessica woke feeling considerably better. Apart from a few bruises on her wrists and ankles, she'd escaped relatively unscathed. Samantha had stayed by her side, and was fast asleep in the arm chair at the side of the bed, one hand resting on top of Jessica's. Figuring she was best left to sleep, Jessica carefully slid out of bed and out of the room, without waking Samantha.
It took some pleading with the nurses, but eventually she found out that Tessa was out of surgery and doing well. Jessica slipped into the room with her, crying at the sight of the battered woman on the bed. She had been beaten black and blue, four broken ribs, broken collar bones, one fractured wrist, dislocated hip and multiple tears to her vagina and anus.
She kissed Tessa gingerly on the forehead and whispered, "I'm so sorry, this is all my fault," before heading back down to her room. As she came back in, Samantha stirred.
"What time is it?" she said, scrunching up her face and looking around.
"Umm, it's coming up to six, maybe five forty-five?" Jessica said.
"AM?" Samantha groaned in despair.
Jessica chuckled. Samantha definitely was not a morning person.
"I am begging you to find me a coffee!" Samantha pleaded, so the two ladies headed off in search of the cafe.
*******************
"So, what happens now? The nurse said I'll get released this morning, once the Doc gives me the final once over," Jessica said nervously, as they sat nursing their hot drinks.
Samantha studied her for a moment. "That, my dear is up to you. I'll understand if you need a few days away from all this, or even if you decide not to stay in the city anymore with me. I hope that you choose neither."
"I can't go back to that hotel, not after..." Jessica trailed off.
Samantha reached over and reassuringly held her hand. "All of your belongings have been packed away and are in my car, there's no reason to ever go back there."
Samantha gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Can I be honest with you Jessica?"
Jessica looked up to see Samantha, looking at her hopefully, and nodded.
"It was my hope that in the near future you would come live at my place. There are lots of reasons I could give regarding working hours, blah, blah, blah, but the truth is I want you—have done since the moment I met you in that diner. I don't just need a work assistant, I need a like-minded companion, and I think you're it. That offer is open to you now."
"Really?" Jessica said. It seemed too good to be true. "You really mean that? I can move in with you?"
Samantha chuckled. "Of course I do after all, it's not just at work I need personal assist—" Samantha stopped herself. "Sorry, this is not the time for jokes like that."
Jessica reached across and touched the side of Samantha's face. "We both know that wasn't a joke, Mistress. I'd be delighted to come live with you."
"Really? Thats great! I'll drop you off if you like, once you're discharged, so you can rest for the day." Samantha stood and smiled, surprised at how easy that had gone,
"I don't need rest Mistress, it's Tessa that will take the real time to recover," said Jessica sadly.
They spoke about Tessa for awhile, the only interruption occasional visits from nurses and doctors. Samantha told her the tale of how she and Tessa had met a few year before at a convention, and had since then remained close friends. How Samantha had used her from time to time to support various activities, such as photo shoots and articles.
"You know that perfect behind on the front of Mistress of Cruelty?" Samantha said, smiling. "That's hers!" She chuckled.
*************
It didn't take long for Jessica's release papers to be signed off. They popped up to the intensive care unit to check on Tessa one last time.
"She's going to be out until after lunch, maybe even mid afternoon," the duty nurse told them. Leaving her contact details Samantha led Jessica out the hospital and towards her car.
It was mid morning, and despite Samantha again offering to take her home, Jessica was insistent on Samantha taking her straight to work.
"You've already missed one call I set up, that rather rude Mr Grey." She sighed as the elevator went up, from the garage under the office block. "I guess I'll have to call him and apologise."
"Don't you bloody dare say the word 'sorry', young lady. If Mr Grey calls, you put him through to me—I'll set him straight." Samantha said pointing at her and winking.
As they stepped into the office Jessica set her bag down beside her desk, and turned to find a bemused Samantha looking around in shock. With everything that had gone on in the past 18 hours, she'd completely forgotten how the office must look compared to the week before.
"Oh I forgot Mistress, I hope it's ok?" she said worryingly.
"Ok?" Samantha stammered. She opened the door to her office and inhaled deeply, there was a faint smell of lavender in the air.
"OK?" Samantha said again coming out of her office.
"This is most certainly not OK Jessica," Samantha was staring at her now. Jessica's heart sank, it was not the response she was hoping for.
"Ok does not sum this up, this is simply amazing!" Samantha said breaking out into a huge smile. "Unbelievable, I don't think it has ever been this clean, even when I moved in!"
Jessica breathed out a sigh of relief as Samantha hugged her.
The phone interrupted them and before Jessica could even introduce herself Mr Grey started shouting at her. It was so loud that Jessica had to pull the phone away from her ear.
"I think it's for you Mistress, I can't be sure but I think it's Mr Grey," Jessica said sarcastically. "He might be a little upset that there was no meeting this morning as scheduled."
Samantha stifled laughed as she took the handset and walked into her office. Within moments Jessica could hear Samantha shouting back down the phone, berating the man.
Jessica spent what was left of the morning typing up notes from the pile of papers organised on the reception desk. As it approached lunch time Samantha just managed to pop her head out of the office between calls.
"Get lunch will you, there is a great deli downstairs." She said throwing a card onto Jessica's desk. Jessica picked the card up and was about to say something, but Samantha had already shut the door to her office.
***********
Jessica must have stood at the deli counter for over 5 minutes, studying the menu on the wall, before a member of staff said anything.
