I'm Holding On {TAG: Lucas]

Her eyes stung with tears as she sat on the edge of the hospital bed alone just staring at her lap both stunned and destroyed. Oliver had come home drunk after going out with his team for drinks. He was going off about something or another and Amelia (apparently something had been said at the outing to piss him off), after having a bad day herself, had made the stupid decision to back talk. She had been 'rewarded' with a swift spell sending her into the kitchen counter then a pot had slammed into the side of her face causing bloode and bruises. Her lip split and before she even knew what was happening she was lifted into the air by an invisible force holding her by the neck. She hung in the air, choked, and helpless as Oliver screamed at her. It wasn't fair that he was so good with magic and she wasn't. It was a weird thing to be bitter about in the moment but she was.

She assumed her number was up that is until the door opened to reveal Lucas who got in the middle and saved her. Why had he come? How did he know to? Next thing she knew she was in the hospital, a doctor examining her (Amelia refusing to say anything) and then she was all alone silently crying to herself. That is until she heard the door slide open and looked up. Lucas. Mister Hero. But she couldn't give him that could she? "I... I would like to go home but they say I have to stay here for a little longer." She did her best not to sniffle and quickly wiped at her eyes like she could pretend that she wasn't crying and that nothing bad had happened. "I just want to go really." She gave the weakest, almost sickly of smiles before it faded just as quickly. "How are you?" Ok she hoped. Hopefully Oliver had behaved.

What a turn the evening had taken. It had started with the whole Puddlemere team heading to have some team bonding outside of the pitch over some drinks. Well that's what they called it anyway. It was just time to have some fun and relax with the players they all spent several hours with every week. Sure it meant more time with their teammates, but it was for some fun outside of all that. It had started out fun, with some dancing and joking around. But as they had gotten more alcohol in their systems, it seemed not everyone was out to have fun. Wood had become sour the drunker he had gotten, and at some point he had gotten pissed off by one of the jokes. Lucas couldn't even remember what was said. He just knew something had been said, and Wood had stormed out.

It had taken a little bit, but when it had clicked in Lucas' mind just where Wood would be heading, and what he had learned in the bowels of the stadium during preseason, he knew he had to get to Amelia's before anything happened to her. They may not be speaking, but that didn't mean he didn't care if she got hurt or not. So he had gone to where she lived, knowing that from that party ages ago. He had found the door open and when he went in and saw Wood magically hanging her in the air, choking her, he immediately disarmed Wood. She had dropped to the floor and it had gone to physical blows with Wood. But eventually he had knocked the guy out and managed to grab Amelia and escape.

He had taken her to the hospital, to make sure she was alright. The staff had taken her from him and took her back, but made him stay out in the waiting room to check her out. He had several cuts and bruises on his face, but there wasn't anything serious. Eventually they came and told him he could go back and see her. So he went to her room. He took a deep breathe before sliding open the door and slipping in. He closed the door behind him before turning to look at her, keeping a distance. They still hadn't been talking. But he couldn't stay quiet now. "They just want to make sure you're okay. No head injuries or anything." He had been through this before. A blow to his head caused by his dad, and yet explained away by a quidditch injury or falling from a tree. "I'm sure it won't take too much longer." he said moving to a chair in the room facing her. "I'm fine. Don't worry about me." he said giving her a small smile. He had had worse. The bruises on his rib cage and face would heal, as would the cuts on his face.

"If I want to go home they should let me go home." She argued weakly missing that signature bite and strength that she had in her voice most days. And why wouldn't she? If Lucas hadn't shown up who knows what would have happened. But how had he known to show up? How did he know what the medical staff was looking for? Unless... He had been through all of this before. He saw the signs. He knew the procedure. If this has actually happened to him.

"Oh my God..." Came the quiet muggle phrase from her lips as she looked up at the bruised and bloodied Lucas seated across the room from her. "You were telling the truth." A year or so ago. When he had confided in her that his father had beat him. He hadn't been lying. He hadn't been making that up just to get into her pants. She winced, and not just from the pain of her injuries. How could she be so stupid? Now she wanted to do what she always did in situations that didn't involve Quidditch and she felt overwhelmed: She wanted to get away. And so she would try.

Forcing herself to her feet she went to grab her bag from the side table and moved toward the door not even having the courage to look at him. "I have to get out of here."

"Well yes, they're technically supposed to let you if you insist, but you should stay and let them make sure you are completely okay." It would do no good for him to get her out of that situation only for her to go home without being 100% cleared. What if there was something wrong and she ended up worse then she was now? At least here there could be a quick reaction if something did go south.

But then it seemed like maybe it had clicked as what he had told her was true. His eyes met her briefly, the pain that he had hidden from everyone for his whole life there. He looked back down at his hands as she told him he was telling the truth. "It doesn't matter Evans." There wasn't anything she could about it now. Even if she had believed him back then, what was she doing to change? She couldn't change the past. He was just glad he knew what it looked like to be abused. What an abuser looked like. It meant he had been able to get her out of that situation tonight.

He heard her get up before he saw it. He looked up and saw her grabbing her back and moving towards the door. He moved quicker and put himself in front of the door. He wasn't going to let her get out of there. "Evans you can't leave. You need to stay and make sure you're okay." Plus he had no idea where Wood was. He had just gotten out of there. What if he was still at her place and that's where she went. "I can leave if you'd prefer. You just need to stay here."

"I just want to go home, ok?" She tried to hide another sniffle, not even looking at him, as she wiped her face continuining on her way toward the day clumsily strapping her messenger bag over her shoulder. Fumbling with the bag she often wore when walking anywhere, instead of a purse, due to how frazzled and upset she was. She wasn't so much arguing with Lucas like she normally did as she was trying to just make a hasty exit. She just wanted to be out of there. Far, far away from anything that would make her remember what had happened just hours earlier. What had been happening on and off for years.

But there he was blocking the door. Teary eyes looked up and him and she sucked in her bottom lip mustering up the strength to be good and tough. She would need to be with a bigger man in the way and this was something she was used to on and off the pitch. "Move out of the way, Hart." It was hard to be strict with someone who had just saved her but she needed to try. "You can go wherever you want but I'm going. I don't want to be here." But he wasn't budging and that much she should have guessed. "You said yourself they can't hold me here and I want to go home." Forcing herself to look back up at him her bottom lip quivered despite her best efforts. "Please let me go." She hated hospitals. She always had. It was part of the reason she always played through a major injury making it worse. Her arm could be hanging out of her socket (and it had during a game) and she would still try and play through. People said it was admirable but really it was out of cowardice and stubborness.

"Lucas... Please... I don't want to be here."

"I understand." he said as he moved to block the door. He had an interesting relationship with hospitals. He hated what sent him to to the healers, and it always meant being in pain when being at one, but he knew while he was there nothing could happen to him. His father wouldn't risk hurting him at the hospital. Of course if he said the wrong thing the aftermath could be painful but while he was here he was safe. And in a sense he knew it was safe now. Wood couldn't come in and hurt her here with everyone around. Well he probably could try, but he probably wouldn't get very far. While she was here, she was safe right?

It was instinct to block the door. But her pitiful look just made it hard. They had never dated, but she still had some sort of spell over him. Her sad look wanted to either let her get away or hug her. But he managed to keep those feelings at bay. "Evans, you should really stay here." He wasn't going to budge, and she'd still need to open the door behind him. Hopefully he'd talk some sense into her. "If you go home and something happens what then? What if there is a head injury Evans?" He was trying to bring logic into it. Almost as a defense mechanism. She looked back up at him, with that same pitiful look. He was really struggling. "They told you to stay. I know it won't be much longer." He said quietly, trying to hold it together for her. Seeing her being choked by Wood had sent him over the edge. He had no tolerance for abuse like that.

"Amelia, I don't know where he is. I don't want you getting more hurt or go home and they not catch something." he admitted very quietly reaching up and gently wiping a tear off her cheek and then tucking some hair behind her ear as if they had actually been close. His knuckles were split from hitting Wood and even a wall, but he was gentle with her.

"If you understand you'll let me go." She snipped at him not rudely but rather ceasing any opportunity to be right so that she could leave. "I have to feed my dog and cat. They're at home." Amelia loved her animals, often times more than people, and it was just another excuse to get the heck out of there. Besides, she didn't want them home alone. They wouldn't know what was happening.

She was growing increasingly frustrated with every single one of his reasons of why she would stay (probably because he was right) and like a tea kettle her frustration boiled right over. "Why do you even care, huh?!" Her hands clenched into fists and she glared up at him even through the tears. Strangely, she regretted it instantly once she saw his face, as well as how he gently wiped the tears from her face, and forced herself to take a slow inhale looking away. "Listen, I appreciate what you did. It was very nice and all and I'll get you back but I just want to go home. That's all. Heck, I just want to go anywhere but here." It didn't even matter at this point. She just hated hospitals and didn't want to waste another second.

"You're more beat up than I am. If anyone should stay it's you." She stated quietly, shifting her feet awkardly in her flats.

"I understand, but I also understand why they want to keep you..." It wasn't a strong argument, but he knew too much about what could happen. Even without having been through it all, he had read enough to know what they were looking for. "He might be there too Evans." He was trying to not be so protective, but he couldn't help it. Even if she wasn't the girl he had crushed on since back in school, the girl who's kiss had taken his breath away, she was someone who had been abused. He wanted to protect her like no one had protected him.

He was being logical because it helped him disconnect his personal feelings a little. Logic dictated she stay and do what the experts in their field said. Feelings wanted to get her sad self out of there. "I guess old habits die hard." he said with a shrug. The habit of making sure his friends were okay. The reason he had gone to the dock that night in the first place. He listened to her inhale then speak as he let his had return back to his side, realizing he had reached out like that. "You don't need to get me back or anything. I'm just glad you okay. But you shouldn't be alone tonight." He was softening on it, but he didn't want her to be alone. Just in case something did go wrong or if he came back. He didn't know if she could handle another onslaught by Wood that evening. "Maybe you could have Alicia come over?" He said softly looking down at the floor. He didn't want to intrude more than she was comfortable with. After all they hadn't been on the best of terms.

"I'm fine Amelia. This is nothing." He might look awful, and it did hurt a little, but it wasn't bad considering. Considering he was pretty sure everything was still intact. No broken bones. That was a huge improvement over past visits to the hospital.

He might be there too... Lucas' words had her freezing as her head snapped up with widened, tear glistening eyes. She was scared and it was rare the American Keeper ever felt that way. His suggestion of Alicia coming had her looking down again sadly. "We don't really talk much. In fact I don't really talk to much of anyone from school anymore and nobody stays in touch with me unless they want, like, ring side tickets or something. Except the Weasleys but they're on holiday in Egypt and I don't want to intrude." She felt like a big baby still crying like she was and trying so desperately to hide it. She felt weak and stupid. She didn't want anyone to see her this way least of all Lucas. It was embarrassing.

"I'm not staying here, Lucas." She finally stated in a very firm voice looking him dead in the eye. "I'm going. You can stay here if you like." She continued staring at him right on knowing that he might try and fight her on that too. Mustering up the balls she spoke again. "Don't you think we've been through enough today and that we shouldn't have to fight each other too?" Again? Like they had been the last few years. "You can move out of the way or come with me Luke. Those are your two choices."

He could see the fear in her eyes. He was sure that same look had been in his eyes too many times to count. She deserved so much better than Wood. No one deserved to be abused like that. It had taken him a long time to realize that. He still hadn't understood why anyone would do that. He didn't understand why he had been through it. "I didn't realize you guys had lost touch." He said. He had lost touch with most of his school mates, except the ones in the quidditch circle. But part of that had been distance. Part of it had been just a general growing up. It hurt him to see her crying like this. He just wanted to comfort her, but that would be weird right? Probably not advised given the situation between the two of them.

She continued to insist she was leaving. He sighed before saying with a sigh "Fine." He couldn't keep fighting her. His heart was telling him to let her leave. But it was also telling him to stay with her if she'd let him. "I don't want to fight with you." Not talking and having this coldness between them was enough. "Stay here. I'll be right back." he said, hoping she'd keep to it. He ducked out of the room, and found a doctor and told him they were going to leave, but that he'd bring her back if anything changed. At least that was something right? He headed back into her room and said "Okay your place or mine?" he asked giving her the option. Either way he'd probably take the couch if she wanted to get some sleep.

"I don't want to fight with you either." She replied quietly, looking away again. She didn't know much other than Quidditch but she did know that she was tired and didn't have the energy to fight him even playfully like they once did. When he gave into her she bit down on her bottom lip and looked down. "Ok." Again she was too tired to disagree otherwise. If he wanted her to stay here an extra few seconds just so that she could eventually leave she would do it. Whatever it took to get the heck out of this hospital. And besides, Lucas had never lied to her before (that had just been proven) so she doubted that he would start now.

And so she stood there when he left. Crossing her arms protectively around herself she waited. She hated to admit it but it made her anxious just to stand there and wait not knowing who would be the next person to walk through that door. Luckily it was Lucas and he was letting her go but apparently only with him as a chaperone. "You don't have to..." She told him quietly. She didn't need to be babysat but at the same time she did want company. It was probably best that she didn't spend the night alone. Concussion or not. "Mine." That was probably a safe bet. She wanted to be back in her own bed but she also had a dog and cat to feed. Going to his place, if anyone found out about it, would probably send tongues a wagging.

Luckily Lucas was more skilled with magic than she could ever be and they were soon apparated back to her flat. Quietly she opened the door into the dark home that he would find familiar as it was the very one he had saved her at earlier. The dog and cat were no longer locked away by magic and immediately came racing to her the tuxedo cat brushing against her legs and the sprightly border collie raced to lap at their hands then stand with wide, suspicious eyes looking at Lucas taking a step forward and then two back awkwardly. "It's ok buddy. This is Lucas. He's a friend." Amelia knelt down scratching him behind the ears. The dog whimpered with confusion then looked to Lucas again.

Her admission that she didn't want to fight sent his mind wandering a little bit. Maybe she was just saying that because she was hurting and had been through a rough night, and the next day things would return to the way they had been for the last couple of months. He had no clue. "Well then we won't fight." he said, still quietly. He just wanted to be able to talk to her like they used to back at school. They had drifted a small bit when he had graduated with the distance, but it had really been her thinking he had hidden his trade from her as the thing that drove them apart. So he went to go find the doctor to tell him the plan. He didn't want to argue with her to make her stay.

He didn't want the night to be awkward with him 'chaperoning' her, but he also didn't want anything else to happen to her. He could at least use magic to help defend her if Wood came back, or if he was still there. There was also probably some cleanup to be done, including possibly the wall he had hit when he missed Wood (he didn't know if he had dented it or not). He could help get everything back in order while she gathered her thoughts. "I want to..." he said. She had asked him the night they had spent together what he had wanted. Well it was just another thing he was telling her. "Okay your place it is." At least he had managed to rig a system to feed his dogs when he was away. It helped with the traveling.

So they apparated back to her flat. As she opened the door, his hand was on his wand just in case. But it seemed as though the guy wasn't there. Or at least Lucas didn't see him there. What was there was a dog and a cat who came bounding over towards them. The cat seemed to just brush against her legs, but it was clear the dog was hesitant. He listened to her reassure the dog. Was he really a friend? he questioned it in his mind, but he just offered the dog his fist for the dog to inspect. "It's okay." he said before saying "What's his name?" Dogs he was comfortable with. He had two of his own at his own place, and he spent many evenings with them.

The dog sniffed his offered hand for a few seconds, as if thinking deeply about it before finally accepting Lucas' presence and allowing the Quidditch player to pet him. His allegiance was clear though as he soon returned to Amelia's side keeping an ever watchful eye on Lucas which she either seemed to ignore or didn't notice. "You still have dogs?" She asked. It seemed clear that he had experience with them plus she briefly recalled him mentioning it in one of their conversations int he past. Then again who knew how much changed since they had last had a cordial conversation. The possibilities of what had transpired for him were endless.

What was his name? "Hart." She said flatly but immediately further explained once she saw the look on Lucas' face. "That's a joke." Perhaps this wasn't the best time for joking. Man, she really should have read the room better. She sighed returning her full attention back on the Border Collie who licked her hands as she rubbed either side of his face. "Chips. Because when I first brought him home he went into a grocery bag and ate a whole bag. I had to take him to the vet within two hours of getting him." A faint smile as she remembered that time but it was gone as quickly as it had graced her features. "He's a good boy. He keeps me sa-" Safe. But again probably not the right thing to say. "He's just a good dog is all." She settled on those words standing up with the tuxedo cat under her arm.

"Do you want something to drink?" She asked making her way through the dark home, trying her best to be brave, as she turned on the light switch and entered the kitchen. "Soda... water... juice..." She had some muggle gatorade too but she doubted he knew what that was. The lights switched on in the kitchen and her breath caught in her throat. There was a dent in the wall. Cracked ceiling at the corner and her kitchen island was in disaray. She froze. Thoughts of what had happened earlier in the evening flashed and she felt tears sting her eyes. Chips could sense something was wrong and whimpered licking her hand worried.

Lucas let the dog sniff his hand, waiting for the dog to give him some sign it was okay. Eventually the dog relented and Lucas was able to give the dog some scratches behind the ear. Soon enough the dog was back by Amelia. The dog was protecting her, he could tell. "I have two. A Boston terrier mix, and an Australian Shepard mix." He replied with a nod. Really they had been his only real companions for the last several years, even back in Australia. They were the constant in his life. They didn't expect too much from him, or think he only had what he had because of his father. No they were content with food, a couple walks, and a comfy spot on the couch.

When she initially said his name, he gave her a quizzical look. But then she explained it as being a joke and he said "Ah." He hadn't gotten the joke at first, but he didn't think she was back to that. He watched her with the dog, enjoying the loving relationship between the two. It reminded him of his pups. He smiled softly when she told him the name and the story behind it. "Chips as in the American name for Crisps?" He had traveled a lot to know there were slightly different words for things. He just wanted to make sure he could picture the story. He heard the hesitation in her voice. He could almost feel the questioning. Maybe it was because he had been there so many times. "I'm sure he's a very good dog." he said with a nod, trying to keep it light.

Then she asked if he wanted something to drink as she made her way through the home. He wanted to say no, warn her not to go in there until he'd had a chance to clean up, but it was too late. The light was already on, and she had frozen. The light revealing what damage had been done. It seems he had dented the wall, although by the bruising already forming on his hand where the knuckles were split he wasn't surprised. There also seemed to be a couple of blood drops from either him or Wood, he didn't know. He knew some of the damage done had been what Wood had caused on her as well. He went and stood on the other side from Chips, his hand barely touching her, unsure of if she wanted the comfort he so wanted to give her. "I'm so sorry, Amelia." he said quietly before adding. "This should never have happened to you." She deserved so much better. She certainly didn't deserve to live in fear. "I can get it all cleaned up and fixed if you want. You could just go sit with Chips." He was giving her an out if she wanted it. To get away from the scene of the attack. Plus it would give him a chance to maybe clean up some of his own injuries.

His fingers were reaching out barely touching her hand at her side. So finger light that she didn't even notice it. She could only gape at the mess around her. Her home. Dented, some blood... Sure it could be fixed and washed away but now this memory would always be there. She could never forget it. Could she? Man, this sucked. Her fists, unknown to her and on their own accord, clenched up and threatened to draw blood. Lucas' apology broke her from her thoughts and she finally remembered to breathe actually inhaling with a quiet gasp before turning away from the kitchen so not to look at the disarray any longer.

"You don't have anything to be sorry for." She covered up in a rushed, quiet voice her eyes darting to the tiles that made up the kitchen floor. When he offered to clean she looked up at him confused, still lost, but shook her head ever trying to be the independent and strong, American woman. "No, no, you don't have to do that. I can do it." She fumbled with her words and turned to the kitchen bending down to scoop up some sugar from a sugar bowl that had been knocked over and spilled. She was so caught up that she didn't even seem to register that there was a broom a few feet away from her choosing instead to scoop it up with both of her hands, tears stinging her eyes as she did her best to desperately not sob. "It's my... house so... so... I need to clean it.. up..." She struggled, her hands and arms shaking as the tears began to fall something Chips noticed right away and began to bark at her worriedly while her cat leaped onto the kitchen island stool and tried to headbutt her.

"It's all ruined..." Tears were now falling and she hung her head crying quietly, her back to poor Lucas giving up on her cleaning for now. That attempt was short lived. Maybe she wasn't as strong as she thought. "You can go home if you want..." She muttered weakly, still not looking at him.