Autumn knew Cage needed his rest. She figured she could wait until tonight. She looked at Fredric and said, “Alright, this evening.”
Autumn left the room then and went about her day. She had her breakfast, worked in the garden, and did some free style dancing on her own so she could do better in her next dance class. After that she made herself some necklaces and bracelets until lunch. To keep her mind busy she made her own lunch using what she’d learned in her cooking class.
After lunch she worked on her painting some more and, before dinner, she went to see Cage. She was early and only got to see him briefly as Lane and Fredric kept him informed with what was going on. Autumn couldn’t believe he was still working with his injuries.
When Byron came in to change Cage’s bandages, Autumn moved so she could get a clear view. She wanted to see just how badly he was injured. But Cage dismissed her, telling her to go have dinner. When she came back from dinner, the bodyguards wouldn’t let her in. Fredric came out a few minutes later and told her Byron had examined Cage.
He said Cage needed more time to rest and, until he rested, no one was allowed to see him. Autumn didn’t think it was fair she was getting turned away. If anything, Lane and Fredric should be the ones not to see Cage after overworking him all day. All Autumn wanted to do was sit with him.
Autumn didn’t see Cage again until two days later. She kept herself busy with classes and cooking as she finished her painting. When she saw him again he still looked tired. He still had dark circles under his eyes. He also had a more noticeable five o’clock shadow, as he hadn’t shaved in days. But she had to admit he did look a little better than before.
Cage asked her how things were going and she showed him her finished painting of the balcony at the party. He liked it so much that he asked Fredric to hang it up right away so that he could see it. After that Autumn knew she should probably go, but she found herself offering to stay.
She asked him if he needed anything and he said she could read to him if she liked. He picked out a book and for nearly an hour she read to him before he fell asleep. When she noticed he was sleeping Autumn closed the book and quietly placed it on the nightstand near the bed before she stood over him.
Fredric was in the doorway, out of sight, and watched to see what Autumn would do as she stood over Cage. He was skeptical, thinking she would try to hurt Cage. But she just looked at him, worrying over what possible injuries he could have. She brushed her hand over his face and felt his stubble. For a few minutes she just watched him sleep before she quietly left.
She didn’t return for the rest of the day even though she wanted to. She knew Cage would probably let her in, but he looked like he needed the rest. Autumn played with Poppi for an hour before she rearranged her room and planned her classes out for the next few days.
The next day Autumn went to see Cage just before lunch. The machines were all gone and Cage was actually sitting up on his own. Several stacks of papers covered the bed as Cage looked over a few pages. As soon as Autumn came into the room he looked up at her and smiled. “Ah, good morning.”
“Good morning.” said Autumn as she looked him over. He looked better today, maybe even rested, but he still had not shaved or even brushed his hair. It was weird for Autumn to see him so unkempt. She got an idea but first she asked, “Can we have lunch together?”
Cage looked around the room wanting to see what time it was, but there were no clocks on the walls. “Is it lunch already?”
“Yes.” said Autumn as she sat in a chair next to the bed.
“Then yes.” said Cage before he set his paperwork down. He used his left arm to search through the piles of papers on the bed until he found his tablet. He quickly ordered food for both of them before he went back to work. Autumn watched him work for a few minutes before Fredric’s phone buzzed. Autumn turned to him again, forgetting he was there. Without a word he left the room.
A minute or two later he came back and began to set up a table next to the bed. Autumn had to scoot her chair back a bit so that it could fit. Part of it extended over the bed so Cage wouldn’t have to bend to eat. Once the table was set up Fredric left the room once more before returning with a tablecloth. Autumn watched as he set up the table for lunch and wondered if he’d done this before. Autumn had wondered how Cage got his meals in this current state. She'd assumed they gave him a tray or something.
As Fredric got everything ready Cage didn’t once look away from his papers. He’d scan a single page for several minutes, making notes before he’d move onto the next one. It reminded Autumn of when they were in the country. He never seemed to be able to take a break. Even now, injured, he was still working away.
After everything was set up Fredric stood guard against the wall once more. When his cell phone buzzed again he left. This time when he came back he had a cart of food. He wheeled it in and set the food on the table before he poured the wine. Cage looked up for a moment, thanking him before he went back to work.
Autumn wondered if she should wait for him to finish or start eating. She watched him work for several minutes before he set his paperwork down. He took a sip of wine before he took some pasta up in his fork. He ate it over the table and Autumn began to eat, thinking he would take a break. However after a few bites of food he went back to work once more. Every so often he would pause to eat, but for the most part he just kept working.
Autumn sighed as they ate their meal in silence. She thought she might as well be eating alone at this rate. When they were both done Fredric came over and began to clear the table. Autumn realized he no longer had the bandage on his head. She felt silly for having missed it earlier. She looked at the cut on his forehead and thought it would indeed scar but it wouldn’t be so bad. If anything, it just made him look meaner. And in his line of work that wasn’t such a bad thing.
Once the table was cleared and put away Autumn stared at Cage. She thought about leaving but instead cleared her throat and said, “Can’t you ever just take a break?”
“Hmm?” said Cage, looking up from his paperwork.
“You’re always working. At least it feels like that. You don’t take days off. You don’t take vacations. And now, here you are, injured in bed. What does it take to get you to take a break? Have you ever just let yourself relax?”
“I can’t afford to.” said Cage, looking back at his paperwork.
“I think you can’t afford not to.” said Autumn looking at Cage sternly. “Take a break. Let yourself relax for a few days, a week. You’d recover a lot quicker. If this work needs to be done, delegate. You have enough people. Let them help out. And let those around you take care of you. I’ll even help out. Can I shave you and brush your hair?”
Cage was only half listening to her as he went through his paperwork. He looked up, surprised by her last comment. He pondered it for a moment before he asked, “Have you even shaved another person?”
Autumn smiled slyly at Cage before she leaned forward and said, “Are you afraid I’ll mess up your pretty face?”
“No…I…” said Cage, looking frustrated. “If you want.” He snapped his fingers, getting Fredric’s attention. When Fredric stepped up to the bed Cage said, “Get Autumn a razor and some shaving cream.”
Fredric didn’t move. He looked at Autumn and then to Cage before he cleared his throat and said, “If you want a shave, I can do it.”
Cage laughed for a second before he said, “Now, now, Autumn asked first.”
Fredric sighed before he left the room. He came back a few minutes later with some shaving cream and a razor. He also had a few other things for shaving like a barber cape, a towel, and a brush to lather the shaving cream on. He put them all on a small table near the bed before he wheeled it over to Autumn.
Autumn stood and thanked Fredric. He mumbled something before he went to stand with his back against the wall. Autumn looked over everything before she looked at the bed. It was full of papers and she didn’t want to get them dirty. Without a word
of warning she began to gather them up.
Cage quickly protested. “Hey! Hey! What are you doing? Stop it!”
Fredric quickly darted forward and grabbed hold of Autumn's arms as she held the papers in her hands. She turned to Cage and protested, “What? I don’t want to get shaving cream all over your paperwork. Besides, I don’t need you being distracted while I shave you. I think you can take a break for a few minutes. Half an hour, at most."
“You’re going to take half an hour?” said Cage, raising his eyebrow. “I can do it in fifteen minutes.”
“I could do it in ten. Maybe five.” said Fredric, still holding Autumn’s arms.
“Yes, well, I’m doing it. And it will take longer if you don’t let me get started.”
“Fine, but don’t mess up my work.” said Cage. “I have a system and I don’t need you messing it up. Don’t touch anything without asking me first. Now, give those papers to Fredric.”
Autumn sighed and nodded before Fredric let her go. He took the papers from her, looking them over before he put them back where they belonged. He seemed to know Cage’s system. Cage set the paper he was working on down before he said, “Move them back just a bit. Arms length should be enough. I don’t imagine she’ll need much more room than that.”
Fredric nodded and began to move the paperwork around. Autumn asked for a brush when he was finished, but he didn’t get it until Cage told him to. When he came back with it Autumn brushed Cage’s hair back before she put the barber cape on him. She moved the pillows so that he could lay back in bed.
He tilted his head back and closed his eyes as he allowed her to do what she needed. Autumn lathered the shaving cream up before she smeared it all over his face. When it was ready she reached for the razor. Fredric glared at her. He was only a few feet away from her and looked as if he were ready to pounce her at any moment.
Autumn didn’t like him breathing down her neck. “Can you step back a bit and maybe not stare so much?”
Fredric didn’t move and didn’t stop staring until Cage sighed. Without opening his eyes, and in a commanding tone, he said, “Leave us.”
Fredric clenched his fists but left the room. He stood just outside the door, leaving it slightly ajar. Autumn held the razor in her hand and looked at Cage. She realized how much he trusted her in this moment. If she wanted to, she could exact her revenge right here and now. All it would take was a simple slice to his throat. In Cage’s current state and position, he wouldn’t be able to stop her. And Fredric was too far away. Autumn paused, looking down at him. She’d be lying if she didn’t admit to herself that she was tempted.
She pursed her lips together, but she wasn’t a murderer. As she drew closer to his face she paused again and wondered what would happen if she cut him on accident. She’d only ever done this once or twice before with a boyfriend. Even then, it had been just messing around. They had always finished the job. Autumn sighed and swallowed hard as she wondered why she’d volunteered to do this. She’d wanted to help out, but surely there were other ways of doing so.
Autumn thought to call Fredric back in the room but Cage opened his eyes and said, “What’s the matter? Afraid you’ll mess up my pretty face?”
Autumn glared down at him before she smiled. She began slowly, gently at first, until he grasped her hand with his good arm. He chuckled and said, “You’ll only pull the cream off at this rate. Go a little harder. Trust me, I’ll let you know if you go too hard.”
Autumn nodded and then slowly began to shave him. He taught her the directions she was supposed to shave in, and to be careful around his chin and cheek bones. For the most part she was gentle, but there were still a few places she nicked him. Whenever it happened he insisted she continue until the job was done. When she was finished he had several small cuts on his face with small patches of hair here or there. Autumn was almost grateful that Fredric hadn’t brought a mirror.
“I’m sorry.” said Autumn, “It didn’t exactly turn out.”
“It’s fine.” said Cage, even though he hadn’t even looked yet. He added, “I’m sure you’ll do better next time.”
Autumn smiled and blushed for a moment before he asked her to go so he could get back to work. He called for Fredric. He knew Fredric wouldn’t be far. As Autumn left the room the two passed each other. Fredric glared at her and she glared right back.
After Autumn left, Fredric stepped up to Cage and looked at the work Autumn had done. He shook his head and Cage just shrugged his shoulders. Fredric sighed before grabbing the razor and shaving cream. As Cage went back to work Fredric removed the small patches of hair, until Cage was cleanly shaved.
**********
Later that night Autumn returned to read to him. She noticed Cage’s face looked a lot better. She wondered if maybe she hadn’t done that bad or if, most likely, someone had fixed it. She looked at Fredric. He had a slight smirk on his face. She scowled at him and Cage insisted she start reading. Either he hadn't noticed the exchange, or he didn't care.
A few minutes after she started reading, Byron came in to change Cage’s bandages. Byron insisted Autumn go, but she asked Cage if she could stay. Cage told her to leave and Autumn slowly walked to the door. However, before she opened it she turned to Cage. “One day we’re going to be together again and I’m going to see them anyway, so what does it matter?”
Cage looked at her and sighed before he motioned for her to come over. Byron and Fredric didn't speak, but their expressions were none too pleased. Byron got to work and Autumn watched as he changed the bandage on Cage’s right arm first. Autumn saw that he had a nasty gash on his arm. There must have been two or three dozen stitches. It looked deep and she was pretty sure it was going to scar. Bryon examined it closely before he treated it with some medication.
Once it was all wrapped up again he moved to Cage’s chest, unwrapping it. There must have been at least a hundred stitches. It took a lot for Autumn not to gasp as she saw it. The skin around it was bruised and red as Byron treated it. Cage winced a bit, but otherwise held no expression of pain on his face. She wondered if this cut was as deep as his arm, or if it was deeper. She knew it would definitely scar.
Cage had a few scars on his body already, but they all seemed faint. Possibly from his childhood. After hearing that Cage’s uncle had beaten him regularly, she'd assumed that was how he got them. Autumn watched Byron bandage Cage’s chest up once more. She knew this scar would take years, maybe even decades, to fade. If it ever did.
When Byron was finished with Cage’s chest, he moved down to his left leg. Autumn had seen some blood drizzling down it when Cage had first returned, but had not been able to see the extent of the damage until now. When Byron removed the bandage it had some dried blood on it but it didn’t seem to be bleeding. The wound was circular and Autumn wondered if it was a gunshot wound.
Byron took extra care in treating it. He also took a bit longer looking it over before he covered it up once more. Thankfully, these seemed to be Cage’s only injuries. Autumn hadn't been sure how numerous, or serious, his injuries were. When it was all done Autumn kissed Cage goodnight before she walked back to her room.
As she got ready for bed Autumn couldn’t help but think over Cage’s injuries. She was pretty sure they weren’t from a car accident. From what she gathered the two cuts looked like they could have been caused by some kind of knife. The last injury had to be a gunshot wound. Autumn briefly remembered Penna’s wounds. She’d seen what a gunshot wound had looked like, and Cage’s wound looked very similar.
Autumn wasn’t sure just what had happened to Cage, but she knew he’d been lying to her and now she had the proof. Someone had obviously attacked him, even tried to kill him. She found the thought unsettling.
**********
The next day, when Autumn returned to Cage’s room, Byron was there giving him a checkup. She asked him to teach her how to change Cage’s bandages. Fredric didn’t seem too thrilled about this and Bryon told her no. However, when Cage
heard she wanted to learn, he insisted Byron teach her.
For over an hour Byron showed her how to do it and what warning signs to look for. Fredric also watched, taking notes. The next day when Cage’s bandages needed changing, Bryon let her assist him. The following day Byron and Fredric watched as Autumn changed Cage’s bandages. On the third day Autumn was in one of her classes when Byron came to her. He told her Cage wanted to see her.
When she got to his room Cage smiled at her and took her hand. “From now on I only want you to change my bandages.”
Autumn smiled at him and nodded before she asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” said Cage, kissing her wrist. “Your hands are soft and gentle. And besides, I enjoy your company, if not the amusement of your reactions.”
Autumn glared at him for teasing her before changing his bandages. Byron said he would check them every few days and Fredric insisted he would be there every time she did it.
For nearly a week Autumn changed Cage’s bandages. Every day she would brush his hair and every few days she would shave him. Autumn pointed out she wasn’t that good, but Cage insisted she’d get better. Slowly she was getting better and better, though there were still a few rough parts here or there. She learned not to nick him as much. Perhaps one day even Fredric might not see the need to tidy up after her. Though she had to admit she enjoyed watching Fredric squirm.
One day as she changed Cage's bandages, she found herself looking at the stitches on his chest. Cage noticed and said, “You can touch it if you want.”
“I shouldn’t.”
“It's fine. It's healed enough, and with as much medication as they're giving me it won't get infected.”
“I don’t need to.” said Autumn, moving to cover it up. Cage grasped her hand before she could and looked into her eyes. He said, “But you want to.”
Autumn looked at him and then the stitches. Slowly she ran her fingers over the long scar. For several minutes she curiously examined it before quietly asking, “Did it hurt?”
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