Restrained Recovery
Part Seven
By owelpost (drakkar@rogers.com) and windrider (chelm@netwalk.com)

All appropriate disclaimers apply.

– x –

Lara jerked awake to a shrill beeping sound. She bit her lip as an excruciating pain fired up her back in protest of her current sleeping arrangements. Lara had been splayed out in one of Danas chairs, one leg bent over an arm of the chair, the other foot planted on the floor and her back rammed against the other arm. She had pillowed her head on the back of the chair and regretted it now as her neck groaned angrily at her. *****, she muttered. What the ***** was that noise, anyway? She slid slowly out of the chair, trying not to jar anything else. Sounds like a cell phone, she thought.

Oh, damn. Lara looked over at the couch. Dana hadnt moved an inch since the previous night. Lara snatched Danas purse off the coffee table and dug around for her cell. She didnt want to risk waking Dana if she could help it. She carried the offending noise maker into the kitchen and flipped it open. Danas phone, she announced.

There was a long pause, then finally, Uh, is this Lara…?

Hi, Alice, Lara said.

I take it Dana found you last night? Alice sounded concerned, but also a bit stand-offish.

You could say that. Dana is well, Danas sleeping, is there something I can do for you, Alice?

Not really, I just wanted to make sure she was okay. She was pretty upset last night, this last sounded slightly accusatory to Lara and it made her feel guilty all over again. Actually, you know, Lara, its not really any of my business, but Dana told us that something was not right with you yesterday–

Of course she did, Lara thought, youre her best friend. And I blew her off. It was just a bad day, Alice, Lara said.

Are you sure? Because–oh, hey Shane. Listen, Lara, will you just let Dana know I called when she wakes up? I gotta go.

Sure. She would have said Bye, but Alice had already disconnected the call. Lara was pleased that Alice hadnt chosen to continue the conversation. She was in no mood to try to justify her actions to Danas friend before she even had a chance to have a decent conversation with Dana. Lara set the phone down on the kitchen counter.

Hi. Lara pivoted at the hoarse sound of Danas voice. Dana was leaning heavily against the door jamb, looking pasty and unsteady. Lara took a few steps toward her, but Dana merely slid down the wall and planted her ***** firmly on the kitchen floor. I feel like *****, Dana managed. What are you doing here?

Do you remember anything that happened last night? Lara asked. She rooted around in the fridge and pulled out two cold bottles of water. She offered one to Dana and then sat down in front of her.

Danas hand found her forehead and she massaged it, brow furrowing. She thought for a minute, decided that hurt and closed her eyes. She brought the water bottle to her forehead. The cold didnt seem to ease anything. I remember enough.

Lara didnt like the edge to Danas voice. She reminded herself that Dana wasnt feeling the best right now. Dana, I found you passed out in front of my apartment building.

Dana tossed the bottle away from her head and opened her eyes. Wide. Aw, *****! She tucked her arm around her stomach and hunched over, an agonized moan escaping her lips. Lara jumped up and grabbed the garbage can from the cupboard beneath the sink. She held it out to Dana, who snatched and practically buried her face in it. Behind her, Lara caught up locks of her sweaty hair and gently rubbed her back. Dana emptied herself into the bucket.

After Dana had finished retching, Lara sought out the water, cracked it open and helped Dana drink it. She seemed less than thrilled to be putting anything else into her stomach, but Lara assured her it would make her feel a little better. Dana leaned her head back against the wall and gripped her belly. Oh God, she groaned, I have practice today.

Dana?

Huh?

You cant even stand, much less hold a tennis racket, Lara observed.

Danas face darkened and she turned her head to stare at Lara. Her cheeks ridged out and she pointed an accusatory finger at Lara. Dont you think I know that? You think I did this on purpose?

Lara was taken aback. She merely stared.

Did you have fun last night, Lara? I saw you leave with–*****, whatever the ***** her name is! Was it good for you? Huh?

Lara felt herself getting angry. Dana had obviously misconstrued her hasty exit with the help of Letitia. It occurred to her that with the way she had handled things, Dana had a right to be frustrated and hurt. With that realization, anger slipped away as quickly as it had soared. I know youre hurt, Dana. I shouldnt have blown you off, but I promise you it was nothing like that.

Can you just go, Lara? Conrad is coming to get me, Dana said, planting both hands on the floor beside her and levering herself to her feet. You probably dont want to be here when he gets here.

Dana–

No, Dana said through the clenched teeth, gripping the wall for support. She watched the look on Laras face turn from quiet understanding to an unsettled frown. Her rationale kicked in, fighting the still-somewhat-drunken haze to the surface. Look, Im sorry I want to see you later, I do. I just right now Im sick and Conrad hes got a hard-on for you and he will rip you a new one if youre here and hes sees the state Im in.

Lara wanted to say more, but relented. Now was not a good time to have the conversation they needed to have, anyway. Meet me at The Planet at two?

Dana lurched forward, grabbed the garbage can again and heaved what little was left in her system into it. When her stomach had finished roiling, she looked up at Lara with wet, sorrowful eyes. She nodded quickly and turned her attention back to the can.

Are you sure youre going to be okay? Lara asked. Dana dismissively waved her hand, face still hidden away. Lara leaned down and tenderly kissed the top of Danas head. Bye, she whispered, giving her back one last affectionate rub.

– x –

Dana stood in the shower, letting the water pound her back. After Lara had left she had collapsed to the floor again and puked every last fluid ounce of bile she possessed into that disgusting garbage can. She had lain there for at least twenty minutes, sweating and feeling sorry for herself. When she had finally managed to find the strength to make her way upstairs, it had taken an eternity.

Now with the water drilling pins and needles into her spine, Dana thought about the previous night. She had told Lara that she remembered enough, but the truth was she barely remembered having a conversation with Alice and Shane at the planet. Beyond that, she had no idea what had happened. Lara had said shed found her passed out outside her building. Dana frowned. What the ***** had happened?

She would have to wait to find out. Right now, she had more pressing issues. She had to figure out how the ***** she was going to survive practice.

Shutting off the valves, Dana stepped out of the shower and wrapped a fluffy terry towel around her dripping self. She grabbed a smaller towel and vigorously dried her hair. She decided to forego makeup this morning. Conrad would probably have some snarky comment to make. In conjunction with this thought, Danas doorbell chimed. She rolled her eyes, dropped her towels and wrestled with her robe.

At the door, Conrad peeled the sunglasses off his face. His eyes traveled up and down the length of Danas robed body, his mouth forming an unsubtle o of commingling shock and desire. Dana pulled an utterly disgusted expression and considered slamming the door in his face. Instead, she gripped the robe tighter around her, stepped back and pointed to the sitting room just inside the door. Sit down, she ordered, Ill be right back.

You look like *****, he hollered after her while picking up a magazine from the coffee table and absently flipping through it. Put some ***** makeup on, will you?

Dana made her way back up the stairs, teeth and hands clenched. She quickly dressed while silently fuming. She always thought she was prepared for Conrads sexually degrading behavior, but his brazenness still managed to throw her off. She was going to have to do something about him soon. The man was the epitome of men as pigs.

After dressing, Dana found Conrad perched on the edge of the couch, looking bored as *****. He leaned back and appraised her as she walked into the room. She didnt bother wiping the tight-lipped anger off her face, finding it an excellent way to combat the nausea which threatened to emerge once more.

What the ***** happened to you? Conrad asked.

I had a rough night, Conrad, thats all. She made her way to the chair next to him and sat very slowly down. Moving made everything hurt and she was sure the room would spin at any moment if she didnt grip the arms of the chair with all the strength she possessed.

Conrad noted how her knuckles had turned white from the strain and he stood up abruptly, his face suddenly dark. Are you still drunk, Dana?

Dana looked up. No.

You have got to be ***** kidding me! Conrad exploded. Whats the matter, Dana, do you have to be drunk to ***** women? Is that it? Tell whats her name to do you sober next time. Dana was stunned into silence. She didnt know what to do or say so she simply just stared at his blotchy red face as he put his sunglasses back on and stormed toward the door. Im going to cut you some slack today, Dana. But if you ever pull this kind of stunt again, you can find yourself a new manager. I didnt work my ***** off to get you into bed with Subaru only to have you ***** it up for us.

Danas mouth opened and worked, but no sound emerged. She gingerly rose from her chair and followed him. She watched mutely as he opened the door and walked through it. He stopped and turned back to her, contempt plain on his face. I expect you to be in top form by tomorrow, Dana. Also, I forgot to tell you: Subaru wants to do a photo shoot at the end of this week. Clean your ***** up, Dana, or there will be consequences. Im tired of picking up after you. With that, he turned and slammed the door closed behind him. Dana watched as he swaggered down the walk. She couldnt contain a snicker when she noticed a large white smear on the back of his dress pants.

– x –

End Part Seven