Summary: Mel comforts Abby as she grieves the loss of her father
An: In this Au, Mel and Abby are dating, and they don't leave the hospital to join the WLF, they all stay there. The beginning starts off with younger Abby and Mel, and skips forward to them as adults.
"She hasn't left her room in weeks." Nora whispered to Mel. "I don't think she's been eating enough, either. I found the food I left for her yesterday in the same spot this morning. She barely touched it."
Mel nodded, a concerned frown on her face. She knew Abby was in pain, grieving the loss of her dad. Since the day he was killed, she hadn't left her room. She barely spoke to anyone, but people could hear her quietly crying if they walked past her room. After about a week, the crying had stopped, replaced with a sickening silence. Mel's daily check-ins were the only way anyone knew she was alive. Mel wished with everything she had that she could take her girlfriend's pain away, but she knew all too well that she couldn't. All she could do was be there for her. "I'll talk to her." She said softly. "She just needs time."
Mel knocked on Abby's bedroom door softly. "Abby? It's me." She said, listening for an answer. When she didn't get one, she opened the door a crack. "I'm coming in, okay?" She stepped inside, immediately finding Abby curled up in her bed, facing the back wall. Mel closed the door, sitting on Abby's bed slowly. She gently reached out, tracing her finger over Abby's puffy, tear-stained cheek. "Hey." She whispered.
Abby's eyes fluttered open, her watery gaze on the wall in front of her. She couldn't bring herself to make eye contact with Mel just yet. Her body ached, and she was pale. Her usually bright eyes were dull and cold, an icy atmosphere around her. She felt numb at times.
"Nora says you're not eating much." Mel brought up softly. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind Abby's ear. "I know you're hurting, and I know it's really hard to think about taking care of yourself right now, but... I'm scared." She whispered the last part. "I don't wanna lose you. I hate seeing you so heartbroken." Abby closed her eyes, allowing Mel to continue tracing her fingertips along her cheekbone. "You always take care of everyone else. Let me take care of you now, okay?"
Abby hesitated for a moment. But something in her made her nod, turning to look at Mel for the first time in weeks. She was beautiful. She was light. Abby felt bad for not seeing her for so long. They both knew it wouldn't be easy, but Abby saw a glint of hope in Mel's eyes, and that was enough for her to try. For her? Anything.
Mel smiled softly, something she hadn't been able to do in days. "Okay." She whispered, squeezing Abby's shoulder gently. "How about you take a nice warm shower, and I'll run to the cafeteria and bring you something good to eat after?" She suggested.
Abby nodded, sitting up slowly. She needed this; needed Mel's soft, caring nature to guide her to the start of her healing. "Eat with me?" She asked. Her voice was raspy and quiet, her throat dry from not speaking for so long.
"I'd love to." Mel nodded, smiling softly. She kissed Abby's forehead, taking her hands and helping her out of bed. "Want me to start the water for you?" She asked. Abby nodded, lacing her fingers with Mel's.
Mel got Abby set up in her bathroom, making sure she was safe and comfortable before leaving to get them food. When she made it back to the room, she could hear Abby sobbing. She opened the door quickly, setting the tray down as soon as she saw Abby sitting on her bed with hot, frustrated tears pouring down her face. Her hair was out of its usual braid, still damp from finally being washed. "Hey, hey... what's the matter?" She whispered, sitting beside Abby and rubbing her back.
"I can't do it!" Abby sobbed. Mel frowned, confused for a moment until she spotted the brush by Abby's pillow. "I tried to braid my hair." Abby sniffled, wiping her face in a poor attempt to dry the tears. "My dad showed me a million times... and I never listened. I thought- I thought he'd always be here to show me again!" Abby wrapped her arms around herself tightly, more tears falling as breathless sobs escaped her.
Mel's heart broke. She pulled Abby into her arms gently, running her fingers through her soft, damp hair. "It's okay." She whispered. "I know it hurts." Abby nodded, clinging to the back of Mel's shirt as she cried into her shoulder. Mel held Abby in her arms for what felt like hours, gently rocking the two of them side to side as she rubbed her back and whispered soothing words.
Eventually, Abby's sobs grew quiet, replaced with quiet sniffles. Mel moved to sit behind her, turning her gently. "Can I see your brush?" She asked with a voice so gentle Abby felt it wash a bit of the pain away. She handed her the brush, letting out a deep breath as she felt her carefully brushing the little knots and tangles out of her hair.
In the quiet solace of Abby's room, Mel braided her hair. She was careful, making sure she didn't pull her hair or snag one of the many knots that seemed to reappear immediately no matter the circumstances. She poured love into each strand she touched, a gentleness only Mel possessed making Abby finally relax. The tension in her shoulders dropped, the tight frown on her face relaxed, and she let herself breath. The moment wouldn't last, but there would be more to come. More hope, more reasons pushing her to get out of bed.
"There." Mel smiled, kissing the back of Abby's head softly. "All done." Her hands dropped to Abby's shoulders, squeezing them softly.
Abby turned around to face Mel slowly, wrapping her arms around her waist. "Thank you." She whispered, closing her eyes as she pressed her cheek against her shoulder.
Mel rubbed Abby's back, hugging her tightly. "You hungry?" She asked. Abby nodded, making relief flood through Mel. "Okay." She smiled.
"So every time you pass one under, you add a little bit of hair." Mel instructed. "Just like that." She smiled, looking in the bathroom mirror as Abby watched. Abby held a smaller mirror in her hand, using it to watch Mel's instructions. Abby's hair had grown quite a bit since they were kids, and maintaining it was something important to her. It was a reminder of her dad; a way to keep him with her. So, she asked Mel to teach her how to braid it properly.
"I think my hands are too fat." Abby chuckled. "I can't keep a grip on the strands."
"You don't have to hold them tight." Mel laughed. "You just separate them with your fingers. Like when you run them through my hair. Try it." Mel took the mirror from Abby's hands, guiding them to her hair. Abby carefully copied Mel's instructions, braiding her hair slowly. "There you go!" Mel smiled, kissing Abby's cheek. "That's my girl."
Abby smiled with pride. "Thank you." She said. She let Mel help her, feeling her soft hands following along with hers. Not long after, Mel secured the braid with a hair tie, kissing the back of Abby's neck. Abby turned to face her, hugging her tightly. "I miss him." She sighed into her hair.
"I know." Mel nodded, wrapping her arms around Abby's waist. "I do too. But I know he's very proud of you."
"For braiding my hair?" Abby joked, smiling softly.
"Sure." Mel chuckled. "But also for being so strong, and courageous, and smart." She added. "I'm proud of you too."
Abby's face heated up, her cheeks and ears turning red. She felt happy knowing Mel was proud of her, and so was her dad. "Shut up." She smiled.
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