He picked her up and carried her into his room. He laid her on his bed and then went into his bathroom and started a warm bubble bath. As the bath ran Serenity seemed to go in and out of consciousness. She tried to keep her eyes on AJ, but her vision kept getting blurry and she was sleepy.
�Serenity? Serenity, come on wake up baby.� AJ said softly wakening her up. �Can you walk?� He asked her.
�I think I can.� She told him as she put her feet on the ground. She stood up and almost fell over as she grabbed the side of the bed. AJ then picked her up and sat her on the toilet seat. �I�m just really tired, I can walk though.� She told him looking down at him. He had bent down on his knee and he was taking her shoes off. He then went to unbuttoning her shirt. �Can you take the rest of your clothes off?� He asked. �Yeah, thanks.� She smiled weakly.
AJ left the room and closed the door behind him. He sat on the end of his bed wondering if she was really okay. He felt as though he couldn�t breath, his stomach was caught in his throat. He was in a panic and he didn�t know what to do. He didn�t know how to react to all that was happening, he just wanted to protect Serenity. That was the only clear thought in his head. He wanted to help her. After a while he went to the door and knocked. �Are you okay?�
�Yeah, I�m good.� She answered back. �I just can�t reach my back.�
�I�ll help you.� He said back though the door.
�Okay.�
He slowly opened the door and walked over to the tub. The bubbles in the tub covered her. She looked up at him, her face still stained by tears. He reached for the sponge as she turned around.
He washed her back and noticed small bruises. He rubbed softly going down from her neckline. She winced a little as he went further down. �Sorry.� He apologized. �No, it�s okay. It�s just sore.� She replied back to him. As he came closer to the cut on her back she jumped and let out a small cry. �Sorry, but I have to wash it. It�ll get infected if it�s not clean.� He told her.
Then, without a word he went to washing the rest of her and then her hair. When he was done with her hair he told her to duck under water, so he could get the soap out. He then wiped her face clean.
When he finished he slowly stood. �All done. Here�s a towel you can dry off with. I�m going to go find something you can sleep in, be right back.� He said leaving the room.
AJ came back with a long T-shirt and underwear from her bag. She was wrapped in the towel as she took the clothing from him. �Are you okay to dress yourself?� He asked her quietly. She nodded slowly without a smile and sat down on the toilet.
AJ then went to the bathroom in the other room and took out a first aid kit. He brought it back to his room and sat on the side of the bed waiting for her.
The door to the bathroom opened as she stepped out. �Wait.� AJ told her as he walked over to her. He picked her up and brought her to the bed.
�I could have walked. I feel better now.�
�Well just didn�t want you to fall on your face.� He smiled at her. �Now stay still, I�m going to put some stuff around your eye. This should heal it faster.� He opened the first aid kit and went to work. After he was done he told her to turn around so he could put a bandage over the cut on her back. He lifted the shirt up and pulled out a bandage and some medication. �This is going to burn a little okay.� He warned. �Okay.� She nodded back.
�Sh!t!� She blurted out as he put the medicine on. AJ then leaned down and softly started to blow on it. The cool air soothed the burning pain she felt. �Better?�
�Yeah.� She told him softly, looking over her shoulder.
As he continued his work putting the bandage on and cleaning scars up, there was silence in the room. She was waiting for him to start asking her questions about who had hurt her and what had happened, but they didn�t come. Instead, after he had finished, he started to brush her hair without a word. They both sat in silence as he brushed it back and placed a ponytail holder loosely around it. When he finished he placed the brush and first aid kit on top on his dresser.
�You can sleep in the guest room or...�
�Is it okay if I sleep in here...with you?� She asked shyly, interrupting his sentence.
�Yeah, that�s fine too.� He nodded.
She crawled to the head of the bed and pulled back the covers and slipped inside. He got in on the other side and turned the light off.
�It�s so dark.� She whispered, her back facing him. �It�s okay, I�m here. I�m right next to you, your safe.� He told her moving closer. He knew she was secretly afraid of the dark, and he wanted her to feel as safe as possible.
�AJ, I�m sorry that I...�
�It�s okay. Everything is fine. I told you I would be here whenever you needed me. So whatever you were going to say, it�s oaky. I�m glad you�re here.� He cut her sentence off.
�Thank you.� She sniffed as she wiped tears from her eyes that hadn�t fallen yet. �Shh, everything is alright.� He assured her. �I know.� She told him as she dried her eyes. �Goodnight AJ.�
�Goodnight Serenity.� He answered back.