Posted on Tuesday, 21 December 2004

Despite the pain relievers and the remnants of the local Anesthesia given early that morning, Elizabeth still found it hard to sleep through the constant aching of her newly broken leg. Tossing and turning as much as she could, she couldn't find a comfortable position no matter what she did.

The hospital ward was near-silent with only light beeping emanating from various beds surrounding her. From the nurses' office down the corridor, shreds of light filtered through the darkness and, being a person who could only sleep in pitch black, Elizabeth found in lieu of adding a source of security, the light added to her discomfort.

Hissing when she made the mistake of wiggling her toes, the brunette blew out a long breath before resigning herself to an unwelcome lively night.

"Can't sleep?" Came a croaky yet very masculine voice from the bed to her right and she looked over, assuming he was a recent addition to the House of Horrors as she so fondly called it.

Cracking an unimpressed smile, Elizabeth shifted a little more until she was able to look at him. "Unfortunately not" she muttered, though her smile stayed. The dim light coming from the office enabled both to see the other, their smiles widening when they saw each was sporting a white case of plaster on their lower extremities.

"I would offer to come sit with you," William offered weakly, still feeling the effects of his own medication, "But as you can see, I'm in the same boat."

A dry chuckle of amusement passed Elizabeth's lips, earning herself a one in return. "Just a shame neither of us seem to have a paddle!" Her quick reply got another chuckle that was soon followed by a gruff cough. "Should I call a nurse to bring you some water?"

Clearing his throat once more, William refused and couldn't help but be touched by the genuine concern in the stranger's voice and tone. "As a child, I was told not to take things from strangers..." Leaving his sentence drifting off, he hoped she would take the hint and introduce herself.

"I wouldn't be the one giving you the water, it would be a nurse and surely you know your nurse's name." In lieu of taking up the point, she deferred his question and prompted him to reply with his name.

Chuckling, William gave her a point for that one. "William" was all he said, not wanting to mention his surname.

"William..." Elizabeth let his name roll off her tongue, enjoying the way it sounded. "William what?"

Shooting her a sly glance through the dim light, he merely quirked an eyebrow. "And you are...?"

"Elizabeth or Lizzy, whichever you prefer" Elizabeth stated with a smile that he felt rather than saw. Shifting around on the bed, she sighed when the blankets became tangled around her foot.

The sound of the man shifting brought a knowing and sympathetic expression to her face, she wished she could help him if she couldn't help herself. "Which do you prefer? Elizabeth or Lizzy?" He quizzed after giving up himself.

Shrugging softly, she didn't comment for a second or two. "As long as it isn't Eliza, I have no personal preference. So, William, how long are you in for?"

"My friend and business partner is visiting tomorrow and no matter what the consequences, I will be leaving with him." His words and tone made it crystal clear that hospitals were not on his top ten list of places to stay. "And you? When do you get released?"

"Tomorrow, I have no intention on staying either. The mere thought of gracing the place with my presence doesn't fill me with excitement." Elizabeth shuddered, staying in a hospital wasn't exactly how she pictured celebrating her sister's wedding. Thankfully, the wedding wasn't until Saturday and by then, she would have some control over those crutches.

"I entirely agree with you, Elizabeth... Yes, that's what I prefer. Elizabeth." William mused, liking the way her name sounded in his voice. "My God is an oath, or in some places, my God is abundance." He quoted easily, his mind filled with memories of his mother relentlessly searching for the perfect name for his sister.

For the first in what felt like an age, Elizabeth grinned widely, teeth gleaming white and hazel orbs sparkling with delight. Following on from where he left off, "William. Wilhelm. Will and desire, helmet and protection. Germanic, I think." Thanks to the unwanted attention of one William Collins and his efforts, she knew the meaning of his and prided herself on that. "I've always liked the name Cordelia, it means heart"

"Cordelia" William tried it out, "That is a nice name. Not common and not one of those fashionable names." The last words were more or less said with unmistakable distaste.

"Ah yes" she said, her face and voice agreeing with him. "Apparently, fruit is the latest trend. I pity the poor mite who turns out to be called Mango." Fighting off a long-overdue yawn, she smiled softly and laid her head down, hand under the pillow and white leg above the blankets. "It seems, William, as though we are the only sane people"

Though he laughed quietly, his tone was rich, low and melodious, comforting and soothing. "So it would seem, Elizabeth." Raising his head somewhat, William bit his lip and wondered is she would agree to have coffee sometime, perhaps tomorrow. Shaking off the thought, he lowered his head and sighed heavily.

A short while past in which he managed a few moments of comfort before curiosity got the better of him. "Are you still asleep?"

Tugging on her lips, a smile formed as she opened her eyes and peered at the man. "Not really, just closing my eyes and denying the reality of being in here. Are you alright?" The question came naturally, if he had asked what he did, then perhaps he did need a nurse. Frowning a little, Elizabeth wondered why she wouldn't mind being the one to take care of him.

Just the thought of one those nurses, in one those uniforms turning sweet, kindly smiles his way didn't seem appealing. "If you don't want a nurse, then maybe I could..."

Looking almost horrified at the prospect of having Elizabeth do something for him when in her condition, William quickly cut her off before she tried something silly like attempting to get out of bed. "No no. I was just thinking that, maybe, if tomorrow's escape plan goes well, then would you like to join me for dinner? Heaven knows hospital food isn't cordon bleu"

For once in her twenty-four years of life, Elizabeth found herself suitably stunned into silence. Fingers toyed with the blanket hems, her good toes wiggled and lower lip was bitten.

"I didn't mean to offend or put you on the spot."

"No I, uh, I'm not used to being approached. But yes, I think dinner would be lovely but..."

Disappointment bubbled in his stomach as he mentally berated himself. Of course, a genuine woman like Elizabeth would have a partner and why should she not? "You are seeing someone" William finished her sentence.

Putting weight onto her hands, she sat up as much as possible and glanced over at him, eyes smiling and lips following suit. "Not at all, William. I was going to say my sister's wedding is on Saturday and tomorrow is a celebration dinner with her fiancé, Charles." Perhaps, he might like to join her and if anything, they would both prove an amusing sight.

There was a flicker of something in his gaze that, due to the dim light, she didn't see. "My friend and business partner, Charles, is also getting married on Saturday. To a..." he thought momentarily. "Jane Bennett"

"You know my sister's fiancé?"

Copying her in sitting up a little, he gave her a winning smile that was a tad drowsy. "Yes and you can be assured of him. He is a good man and will take care of her." Why he felt the need to comfort her with that fact, he would never know. It might have something to do with him having a sister and how he would move heaven and hell for her. Something told him Elizabeth was just the same.

He liked that and come to think of it, he liked her.

A sense of relief caused a sigh as a weight was lifted from her shoulders, Elizabeth looked at him with gratitude. "Thank you. Tomorrow will be the first time I've had the chance to meet him. Travelling Europe will make you the last to know everything! Jane is a sweetheart, he'll be looked after himself. Though he may want to think about a chef or cooking lessons, perhaps both."

Since sitting up, William hadn't been able to cease looking at her. Her hair was long and the colour of chestnut, the waves were tangled into a messy upheaval and her skin was a little pale, which was understandable. But in all honesty, he had never seen any woman appear so beautiful.

A hand lifted and felt her hair, an embarrassed chuckle sounded out as she tried to untangle it. "I must look atrocious." Seeing him staring at her made Elizabeth feel slightly uncomfortable, wondering if she truly looked so bad.

"No, not at all Elizabeth." Throaty and husky, William's words and deep voice sent a sliver of heat along her spine. The way he said that made her wonder if she was in fact dressed to the nines. "Take my word for it, you look very..."

Delectable? Enticing? Enchanting? Delicious? Gorgeous? Beautiful? Stunning?

"Nice" so many choices, he thought, and he picked something lame.

That lame choice, however, brought her eyes into large pools of hazel as her pout flickered with a shy smile. It wasn't what he said, but the way he said it and the way he said it made her feel nice. "Thank you, William"

The times he wished he was more like Wickham were next to none but, with this woman, he wanted to be charming and all that went with being charming. However, something told him she wouldn't be so open to false charm and meaningless promises.

"Since I've had to thank you twice, you have to allow me to repay you." As though she were planning something, Elizabeth's voice turned quiet and he could almost hear the clog machinations turning. "Tomorrow, I will cause a distraction and you will be able to make a clean getaway"

Grinning at her, William had to stifle his chuckle and loudly whispered a reply. "I won't leave you behind"

Fighting off another yawn, Elizabeth smiled through it and shook her head. He appeared like a little boy who was about to get a stern telling off for having his hand in the cookie jar at midnight. Tiredly rubbing her eyes, she glanced at him and felt a sudden need to giggle shyly and hide.

He wasn't boyishly gorgeous, but he was classically handsome with strong features and though it was barely light enough to see properly, she knew his eyes were the deepest shade of brown. Snaking her gaze down to the cast decorating his leg, she chuckled at the coincidence of it all. "How did you do it?"

"I tripped" William stated, slightly embarrassed that he had forgotten to tie his shoes in his haste to leave before his aunt arrived. "You?"

"I fell, I was hiding in my old tree-house and fell when coming down." Elizabeth replied with a shrug and smile. Another yawn signalled sleep might yet be a possibility.

Seeing this, the man acknowledged their conversation was about to come to an end. "Get some sleep, Elizabeth and tomorrow, we'll make our escape and have dinner." Help her escape from the hospital, most definitely, but escape from him was not about to happen anytime soon.

"Goodnight, William. Thank you for keeping me company, I'm looking forward to dinner. As you say, hospital food isn't exactly cordon bleu. Or McDonald's for that matter." Laying down, she shifted around momentarily until her position allowed her to keep looking at him.

Noticing this he followed and lay down but, unlike Elizabeth, he didn't sleep at all and in lieu took peace in watching her rest peacefully. Letting her slow breathing and occasional sniffles sooth him into contentment that eased his very soul.