Prologue - Morgan (Part 3)

“ Mr. Sullivan?” a surprised gasp sounded from across the room, followed by the dull thud of something heavy hitting the floorboards; most likely a body, what affliction tightens his throat even more.

“Are you okay?!” he asked once more, this time not being able to bother keeping his voice down as he tried to turn the doorknob, only to find it locked. "Are you hurt?"

"No... I'm fine." Charlie murmured and it was with relief that he realized that the hoarseness in her voice seemed to come much more from the fact that she was more embarrassed than anything else “I'll open the door, just a second.”

Surprised with himself, he found himself containing the seconds, literally, until she opened the door, to try to contain the urge to see her with his own eyes and check if she was really all right. Which was ridiculous, of course, since not only did her voice make it pretty clear that nothing serious had happened, but they'd only known each other for just under an hour. Which made that heightened sense of protectiveness within him all the more unnecessary and incomprehensible.

Still, even knowing all this, he had already counted down 38 seconds when the door finally opened and Charlie spied him across the threshold, wearing a robe similar to his and her hair still a little damp spread over her shoulders. Her big brown eyes were full of curiosity, but also a little bit of joy that she seemed to be trying to hide for some reason.

"Did you come all the way over here to scold me for getting you wet?" Despite the teasing tone, Morgan clearly sensed real apprehension in the question.

Apparently, not only had his sense of protection been heightened after meeting Charlotte Manson, but also his perception in general. He wondered if the others also found this girl to be an adorable open book, unable to disguise her expressions and hide her feelings, or if it was something that only he had noticed.

“No, I didn't come here to fight you, dear.” the affectionate expression slipped from his tongue before he could control himself, influenced by the tightness in his chest when he realized that that reaction must mean that she was very used to reprimands “I came here to see if your foot was okay and if you I wasn't in need of help.”

“ Oh...” she widened her eyes, totally stunned for a few long seconds, until finally the blush took over her face “I... I'm fine... I just did a bandage” saying that, she lifted the ankle was a little covered in loose bands that, seeming to be just waiting for the right moment, unraveled completely and fell to the floor, leaving the purple and swollen mark on the exposed pale skin “Traitor ...” Charlie grumbled at the bandages “I thought we agreed that you weren't going to fall anymore…”

“Let me help you with that.” with a gentle laugh, he walked over and took her in his arms, in a movement so natural and thoughtless that he only realized he had committed it when he had already entered the room, closed the door behind them both and placed her on the bed “Is there any bandage left?” he asked, trying to hide his own embarrassment.

"They're in the bathroom…" she answered automatically, her cheeks flushed a deep pink. "But really, you don't have to…”

Before she could finish, however, he had already walked quickly to the bathroom counter, picked up the first aid kit that was on it and knelt down in front of the place where he had left her sitting on the bed. With extreme gentleness, he covered the wound with gauze and bandage, taking care to keep it tied with a knot tight enough to keep it in place but not tight enough to risk injuring her.

He would never forgive her if he ended up doing something that hurt her, even if it wasn't intentional.

"Wow, you're good at this!" she opened a huge smile in the direction of the bandage “This certainly won't come off so easily! As hard as I try, I can't learn to do one that well.” Charlie was still distracted, looking at her ankle, when he frowned, uncomfortable with what that phrase meant.

“Why would you need to do so many bandages? Do you get hurt a lot?”

“ No, it's not that...” she stammered, disconcerted “ It's just that I want to start volunteering at an institution that helps stray animals, so I have to practice some dressing techniques...” she hesitated for a moment , before sighing “And, since Samantha is very likely to spit venom about it... Let's just say that I... Sometimes...” Charlie made a point of pointing out, which forced him to tell a laugh “I have some decisions... A little impulsive. Which, most of the time, get me into some trouble.”

“Oh, you mean like jumping off a balcony after a rabbit?” he joked.

“Waffles could have been hurt even more if I hadn't protected him.” She let out an embarrassed snort, avoiding his gaze. "I regret nothing."

“I'm not saying you should regret or be ashamed of it.” He smiled fondly “Just promise me that the next time you find yourself in situations like this, you'll consider asking for help before giving in to those impulses.”

“Ask for help? To whom? The walls?” she scoffed.

"Your parents aren't very attentive, are they?" Morgan questioned slowly, though already knew the answer.

“They're not really my parents, period.” Charlie shrugged, unconcerned. "But don't worry. I'm used to taking care of myself, even if my healing skills aren't fully developed yet. I don't need not having someone to ask for help.”

“Well, I guess it doesn't matter anymore, since now you have someone to turn to for help.” He smiled, slowly reaching out to stroke the top of her head.

“ What you mean?” she questioned him, sounding as if the breath was caught in her throat.

“Well, as your father's new partner, I'm going to need to come here constantly. Then you will have to get used to not only my presence, but also my help.” despite that being a lie, the glint of joy in her eyes let him know that he would move heaven and earth to make it come true “And I'll also try to talk to your parents so they realize how remiss they are being with you.”

“ Good luck with that.” Charlie snorted, ironic “Actually, you know what, don't even worry about it. This will not work.” she hesitated for a moment, before smiling shyly “I much prefer a sincere friend than a responsible partner trying to fix Anthony and Samantha.”

"Do you want us to be friends?" He smiled, delighted.

“ Well, I think it's a good name for someone who cares to bandage the girl who left him completely soaked, no?” Charlie joked, before biting her lip, unsure “But what about you, do you want to be my friend?”

“Absolutely, Charlie.” once again, he touched her head, this time allowing his fingers to linger a little longer in her hair, feeling its softness “From today, I promise you'll never be alone again, as long as I'm around.”.