Work Text:
Melanie used to love the paranormal. So much so that she had dedicated so much of her life to it. She spent so many late nights researching ghost stories and haunted places for Ghost Hunk UK. She would spend days filming at a location and even longer editing the videos. She loved it.
And the archives had ruined it. It had taken one of the few things in her life that gave it meaning and stripped it from her.
She wiped her eyes in a futile attempt to make it look like she hadn't been crying and knocked on the door. What was she thinking? She wouldn't want to see her. Georgie had tried contacting her countless times while everything was happening, and each time, Melanie didn't respond. A lot was happening, and Georgie was so... good, she didn't deserve to get wrapped up in all of that. Also, during that time, Melanie wasn't herself, well, she was, but it was the worst part of herself. She didn't want Georgie to see her like that.
After a few moments, the door opened and she was met with the shocked face of Georgie.
"Hi," Melanie said. Georgie didn't even respond before she pulled Melanie into a hug.
"Melanie," Georgie said, like she couldn't believe that she was there.
Melanie raised her arms to hug her back and buried her face into her shoulder, not even trying to hide her sobs. Crying is pretty much all she's been able to do the past few days since Jon and Basira's impromptu surgery on her leg.
"I'm sorry," Melanie said.
Georgie's arms tightened around her. "It's okay, I'm just glad you're here."
After what felt like hours, but realistically it couldn't have been more than a minute, Georgie pulled away.
"You're not mad?"
Georgie shook her head, "No, no, of course not."
Melanie didn't know what to say. She didn't even realize just how much she missed Georgie until now. She had almost forgotten how how beautiful she was.
"Uh, would you like to come in?" Georgie said, breaking the silence.
Melanie realized she had been staring, "Oh, uh, yeah, sure."
Georgie led her to her couch and went to go get tea. While she was sitting there, Melanie felt the soft fur of The Admiral against her leg. She reached down and scratched his ears. He purred and jumped into her lap.
"He missed you," Georgie set the two steaming mugs on the coffee table in front of them.
"I missed him, too," God, she missed that cat. She reached forward and picked up the tea. Georgie remembered her favorite mug. It was blue with white spots and had little paw print designs scattered all over it. The mug felt warm in her hands and she couldn't help but smile. Melanie can't even remember the last time she smiled.
Georgie smiled back at her. Melanie always thought she had a pretty smile. But that smile slowly shifted to a look of concern. "What happened?"
Melanie told her everything. About the institute, the slaughter, the surgery, all of it. And Georgie listened. She didn't say anything. All she did was put her arm around Melanie when she started crying again, and Melanie leaned into the touch. She didn't even realize how much she needed this. How much she needed Georgie.
"Wow... that's a lot," Georgie said when Melanie finally finished speaking, "Maybe you should try therapy?"
"What would I say to a therapist? How would I explain all of that? 'Hey I'm stuck in an evil job forced to serve an evil entity and I can't get out.'"
Georgie laughed at that, Melanie loved that sound "I just think that it'd be good for you to have someone to talk to. That isn't me, I mean."
"Yeah, alright, I'll try it. You're right," Melanie admitted.
"I always am."
"Shut up," Melanie said, without any malice in her voice.
Melanie reached down to scratch under The Admiral's chin, then she looked up at Georgie.
"Georgie?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you."
"Anytime."
For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Melanie felt safe.
---
Melanie had started spending most of her time at Georgie's flat. However, whenever she spent too long away from the institute, she would start to get sick. and the longer she stayed away, the worse it got, and she would always end up coming back.
So, when Jon told that there was a way to escape, a way to finally leave, she immediately went to Georgie.
"Are you sure you want to?"
"No, but I think I have to."
"Are you sure? It's a bit... extreme. We can find another way."
I don't know if there is another way. This might be my only chance. I'm going to do it."
"Ok... will you need any help, or anything?"
"Well, I'll need a place to stay, when it's all over."
"You're always welcome here. You know that." Georgie reached down and pressed a kiss to the Admiral's head. "Besides, The Admiral loves you." Then she pressed a kiss to Melanie's forehead, "And I do too, of course."
"I love you, too."
---
Melanie was lying in the hospital bed. Her brain was a jumbled mess of thoughts. All she could hear was the sound of footsteps and the voices of the doctors, but she couldn't hear well enough to know what they were saying. She was cold. Her head hurt. The bandages around her head were extremely uncomfortable. What was she going to tell Laverne?
But worst of all, she felt like she was being watched, which really wasn't a good sign. She couldn't shake the feeling that it didn't work. That this was all for nothing. That Elias had won, and she will be his hostage for as long as she lived.
She heard the sound of footsteps get closer and closer. Then, she heard the door to the hospital room open.
"Melanie," said a familiar voice, and Melanie was immediately hit with a wave of relief.
"Georgie."
She felt Georgie's warm hand wrap around her own.
"Are you ok?"
"I-I'm going to be."
And she was.