InsaneJournal

Who: Harry Dresden and Alicia Tarot
Where: His offices
What: Alicia has a minor breakdown and Harry helps her deal
When: Monday afternoon, Part one of Harry's Crazy Week
Warnings/Rating: R for mentions of sexual crimes and offenses toward minors
Status complete


Harry was working, filling out some paperwork that needed the personal touch, and rubbing his face with tiredness as he did so. It had been a long week or so. He had his normal cases, his search for relevant Cerberus information, and his work for Emma. Not to mention little small things like trying to cure a magical curse on his brother. Damn dreams. He grinned though. The challenge was one he looked forward to.

And all of that was on top of learning that he was Corazon’s dad. He was pretty sure. The text wouldn’t come in until Wednesday, the next day, but he felt that he was sure of it, now. And he grinned and worried and felt elated all at the same time.

Alicia was having a hard time just keeping herself together. Sometimes she’d be fine, and then with no warning she’d feel afraid and sick. It didn’t happen as much around other people, and her work normally kept her pretty busy. She was wrapping up the last of the paperwork for Emma’s file when it hit her hard. She was knocked off her feet by a sudden wave of nausea. She flopped into her desk chair, making a small noise. She didn’t want to lose her cool, and especially not at work.

Harry heard that and ran for the outside office, and when he saw her, he skidded to his knees to her side. “Alicia? What’s wrong?” One hand reached out, and he changed his mind mid-move, putting it on the chair instead.

Alicia had her face in her hands, and she looked up in alarm when Harry moved toward her. She flinched a little when he reached his hand out, and visibly relaxed when it went to the chair. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Dresden. I don’t know what happened.” She smoothed her hair, trying to will away her fear and pain. Nothing had happened, it was over now. She needed to deal with it.

“Alicia, what’s going on? What’s causing this?” His voice was gentle, and caring, and he stayed where he was, at her feet, looking at her, concerned. Something had obviously gone wrong on her days off.

She chewed her lip. Mr. Dresden was a good boss and a good man. She couldn’t tell her mom, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to talk about it with Kitty anymore. Kitty was already blaming herself, and Alicia wanted someone she could cry on guilt free. “Last week, when I took Monday off, it was because I got caught by terrorists on Sunday night.”

Harry blinked, then swore in Ancient Sumerian before switching back to English and gently touching her shoulder this time. “Holy Stars and Stones, Alicia. What--- no wait. First, would you like some Coke? Second, come back and sit on my couch. Third, then tell me what the heck happened.”

“Yeah, I’ll take a drink.” Alicia stood and went back into his office, parking on his couch. She waited until he got her drink to start in on the story.

“I normally go out in the early evening on Sunday to pick up a roasted chicken for dinner. It’s the day we go to the farmer’s market, so we have fresh veggies and we’re pooped from being on our feet all day. Last Sunday we went to see a movie after the market, and I stayed home a long time talking to her. I didn’t leave the house until very late, almost too late to get to the store before it closed. I did make it, and I was on the way back on foot when a van drove up. I was a little wary, but I guess I just wasn’t careful enough. They caught me and stuffed me into the van. They gave me a shot of something that knocked me out.”

She took a long drink of her soda. “When I came to I was naked and strapped to a. . . well, those rotating things where you’re strapped in spread eagle and it turns all different directions. I don’t know the name of it. I was one of thirty girls on display, and the guards were oiling me up and complaining that they hadn’t-” her voice broke, and she looked down. “There wasn’t enough time for them to rape me before the buyers came.”

He got her a Coke, opening it and handing it over as he got one for himself and sipped, listening to her. He winced and growled under his breath when she spoke of what had happened and he gently moved to her side and caught her in a hug. “I’m so sorry, Alicia. That is a terrible thing to happen to anyone, and you never should have had to deal with it.” His hold was loose so she could break free if she wanted, but the hug was there.

Alicia hugged Harry tight. Beside her freakout earlier, she wasn’t afraid to be touched, or even of sex. She was just jumpy at the moment. “I’ve never been looked at like that before. I mean, people are jerks to me all the time, but I’ve never been just another item for sale.” She was crying now, burying her face into Harry’s shoulder.

He listened, and hugged her, gently stroking her back, her hair. "It'll be okay, Alicia. You're here and they will never bother you again. " His tone was gentle.

Alicia just cried for a little bit. She was still shaking when she pulled away, grabbing a nearby tissue. “I know both you and Kitty are fighting them, and I’m glad that you are. But I don’t think they’ll leave me alone if they figure it’ll hinder either of you in your work.”

He let her pull back and moved back a little, sitting up. “Then we’ll have to make sure you’re protected, and make it more expensive for them to attack you than to leave you alone.” His voice was, for a moment, as cold as ice, but then he softened and nodded to her. “I won’t let them hurt you again.” This was partially his fault then. And it was time to end these assholes, once and for all.

“I feel like an idiot for being so easy to capture.” Alicia mumbled, looking down at her tissue.

“Alicia. You’re not trained, and weren’t expecting something like this. You had no way to know. And no training to help you, but, if you like, we’ll change that.” He nodded. “And anyone can be caught by superior numbers, easily. Sometimes, you just can’t win, no matter how strong you are.”

She sniffled again. “In the dreams I’m a warrior, I fight evil. Here I can’t even save my own butt.”

“That’ll change, in time. I know that doesn’t help now, but it will.” He smiled a little. “How would you like coffee and ice cream? I know a place that delivers.”

“A lot.” She admitted. “Thank you, Harry. I didn’t tell my mom, because I didn’t want her to worry, and I don’t want to upset Kitty by talking about it around her. Sometimes I just. . . remember and it freaks me out.”

Harry nodded and smiled softly. “Hey, you can call me anytime. When I was... in my dreams, when i was sixteen, I was an apprentice to a wizard, and he enthralled me. It’s a way of taking over the mind and it feels like someone’s mind it crawling inside yours, like ants or other things. All over every intimate part of your mind. I freaked out and somehow, something else gave me the power to break free. I’ve never known what. But... I understand, a little. I still wake up sometimes, freaked out by that memory. If you ever need to talk, no matter the hour, call me.”

Alicia nodded. “You know how to get in touch with me, Harry, and that I’ll answer the phone no matter what I’m doing.” She giggled a little at that memory, smiling again. “You’re magic in your dreams too? That’s nice to hear.”

Harry laughed. “I am. That’s where the magic comes from. I was a normal lawyer and p.i., before that. Now I can sling spells that sometimes work.” He chuckled. “Thank you.”

“I’m a swordmaiden of the Goddess.” Alicia admitted with a giggle. “I apparently grew up as a witch, part of some super serious coven in Salem, of all places.”

Harry nodded and grinned at her. “Sounds like fun. Maybe when you dream more we can exchange notes on magic.” He dialed the ice cream place and ordered, asking her what she wanted and then hung up. Fuck work today.

Alicia was all about ditching work. “What’s it like in your world? I remember my entire magical education.” She was eager to talk about her dreams, they were a better topic of conversation.

And Harry started in explaining his world, and what he could remember.

Fade-FIN.