Hospital was never a pleasant experience. Liesel laid on a starch white bed, resting her head on thin pillows, while the room itself was shrouded in a low gloom. She'd drawn the curtains. The sunny weather of the afternoon was adding insult to injury. The weather was cheery, she was not. That wasn't fair. Shutting her eyes she sniffed slowly, she'd spent most of her time here crying. She couldn't help it. She hurt. Physically and emotionally, she was in pain. Turning slowly onto her side, she curled into herself. She squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face into the stiff and pathetic pillow.

Hearing the door slowly push open, she slightly hiccuped to try and calm her breathing. It didn't exactly work because she kept hitching her breath to try and keep herself from crying again. The door silently shut again and then all she heard was a simple mechanical sound before something, someone suddenly appeared at the side of the bed, looking at her sadly. Charles. It would typically be no one else but him. Liesel's face pulled to one of sadness again and she pretty much vaulted from the bed and reached forwards to hold onto him.

It was a sudden action and so un-Liesel like that Charles looked about with wide eyes. He did not expect this. Yet he reached up and patted her gently on the back. After all, he didn't exactly know where she was injured, he didn't wish to accidentally make her wounds worse. "They're going to call the authorities on you." He whispered gently, "The story you told them, whatever it was, they don't believe."

"I said I was in a motorcycle accident." Liesel said while hiccuping again.

Charles couldn't help but smile. "You can't drive, can you?"

"Not that point." Liesel pulled away and wiped her eyes. "I am sorry."

"Think nothing of it."

"How can you still be so reasonable?"

Charles sighed and looked at her with a gentle look. "Because you thought you were doing the right thing. I can't be angry at you. Yet, I can be angry at the one who allowed this to happen to you."

"He...just stood and watched...and I thought I had inner sadism problems." Liesel mumbled with a pout, she shut her eyes as she felt tears forming again. She fisted her hands in the hospital trousers she'd been given, only to look down when one of her hands was grasped onto.

"But you're going to be okay."

"How can one person hurt someone who cares for them so easily?!" Liesel asked desperately while holding in a sob, Charles just looked at her sadly. "How? How could he just stand by...Azazel narrowly missed severing an artery...if I laid bleeding on the floor would he still just stand there?" Liesel asked getting slightly hysterical.

"There's so many 'what if' scenarios, Liesel. You won't ever get an answer for your questions, I don't think. And I know, trust me," Charles said while patting her hand to get her to stop glaring off to one side. Her watery gaze turned back to him and he smiled reassuringly. "I know how much that'll drive you mad, but you have to move on. Dwelling on what happened isn't going to do you any favours."

"I have nothing to move on to." Liesel stated plainly, she had a life, which she gave up on. She couldn't very well return to it now, because that life didn't exist anymore.

"What if I said you did?" Charles asked hesitantly while looking at her, Liesel frowned and looked rather confused. "Your sister," he started, not missing the look of pain which flashed across her face. "I saw her in memories, do you know what happened to her?"

"She died."

"Did Erik tell you that?"

Liesel frowned, "We were in the middle of a rebellion! There was a squad, and they shot at us...at us all! Erik saved me, yet Gretchen...she wasn't with us, and she died."

"What if I said she wasn't?"

"Then I'd call you a liar." She seethed and glared at him. It wasn't enough that his sister had reminded her of this pain, but also he was dredging it up too?

"She isn't dead, Liesel." Charles said simply, she looked at him darkly. He just looked at her honestly. "Peace treaty. I'm sorry for telling you to leave. But I come with an address, with thanks to Cerebro's help. She's alive, Liesel, and she's even over here."

"Where?" She whispered in a broken tone. This was too much to take in.

"Washington."

She let out a breathless sigh and shook her head. "So close...all these years she's been here...and I didn't even know?" She looked at Charles with teary eyes. "How?" She asked while trying to not start crying again. "How, Charles?"

"Because you weren't kept in the loop." He said while watching as she shook her head, clearly not agreeing. "You weren't told, and Erik clearly believed she was dead too. So even if you wished to find her, or to find out what happened to her, you'd get denied that."

Sniffing and nodding she looked at him. "Thank you."

He smiled, "You're welcome."

Liesel nodded some more and ran a hand through her hair while letting out a shaky breath. "This is all such a mess, Charles...things really didn't need to end up like this, did they?"

"My dear, I believe things were heading this way for longer than you realise."

"It wasn't all bad though, right?"

"No."

"It hurts, really, really badly."

"I know."

"He wasn't and isn't all bad."

"We can both live in hope Liesel, that the man I called a friend and the man you grew up with and love are still in there. But truthfully, I do not know anymore. As you said, a friend and a loved one wouldn't do these things to those that are close to them."

"Are you better?" Liesel decided to ask instead of dwelling on his words, though he was ultimately right.

Charles smiled and nodded stiffly. "I'm getting there."

"Can I ask something of you? You can decline..."

"What is it?" He asked, easily dismissing the latter part of her sentence with a wave of his hand.

"Can you come with me? To meet Gretchen, I mean? I don't want to go alone..."

He smiled kindly and nodded slowly, "It would be a pleasure."

"I think she might like you. From memory recalls, Gretchen was always up for telling me when I was wrong, and when I was perhaps in the wrong."

"When have I ever told you such things?" He laughed quietly.

Liesel smiled, shrugging she threw her legs over the bed. "Never."

"And I hope I won't have to." He said with a smile. Being the one dishing out 'I told you so's' wasn't really something he took pleasure in.

"So! Are you ready to break me out of hospital?" Liesel placed her hands on her knees and smiled down at him.

"I started as soon as I found out which hospital you were in, and what lies you told the staff. You've been free to go since we started talking." Charles said while she unsteadily slipped off of the bed. She looked about with a sigh, "Ready?"

"Ja." She placed a hand to the wheelchair handles and walked stiffly with a limp behind him. "Charles?"

"What is it?"

"I hate to point this out now, but I have no clothes." The staff had either disposed or taken her clothing away. All she had was the white hospital trousers and t-shirt, as well as the really idiotic disposable slippers which were at the bedside.

He looked slowly over his shoulder at her with wide eyes. "Oh." He simply said while looking back to the door. "Sorry, you're going to have to make do with the hospital clothes until we get back home." He said while Liesel walked behind him with wide eyes along the corridor, half expecting someone to stop them, yet none did. She did half wonder what lies he had told them, or what mind tricks he was even playing to make them not even glance their way.

The welcome home was much to be expected. Liesel was awkwardly welcomed back, hesitantly at that. It was clear Alex was highly suspicious of her, he hadn't seen her crash land in the foyer, but he had been told about it by Hank. Whereas Hank seemed to innocently believe she was seeking aid, Alex believed there was ulterior motive. He couldn't help but be a little suspicious. He'd always found her a little strange, if he was going to be honest here. So it was for this reason really that when she came shuffling awkwardly into the manor again he merely nodded her way.

Sean slouched his way over and looked her up and down. "Bet the other guys are worse, huh?" He commented with a smile.

"Ah...well...yes, sorry, Charles." She looked down at him awkwardly, Charles looked up at her confused. He didn't quite know why she was apologising to him for; after all she had never really attacked him, and he dearly hoped she never would. "I sort of beat your sister up..." Liesel said quietly, Sean's eyes widened and he even let out a quiet: "Oh," which he dragged on as Charles looked somewhat unhappy by this.

"Self-defence," he commented while turning and deciding to make his way down to the study. "Follow me, Liesel. If you are to stay here for a day or so to recover, I feel like there should be some ground rules set."

"Prepare for a lecture," Sean whispered while sticking his hands in his pockets and moving out of the way as Liesel smiled slightly and shook her head.

She didn't mind, to be honest if he didn't say something serious on the matter of her being here she would be concerned. Awkwardly limping her way down the corridor, she listened to the quiet track of the wheelchair against the wooden flooring, along with the flip-flopping sound of her idiotic slippers. They were ridiculous. Yet they served a purpose. "Before you start, can I ask if Darwin is okay?" Liesel asked while shutting the door behind herself and moving into the room. She sat slowly down near the desk and watched as he moved around to sit opposite.

"He's fine," Charles said lightly with a smile. "He's spent most of the time asleep."

Liesel twiddled her fingers and nodded, "Good...that's good, I am glad." She smiled sheepishly and frowned gently. "Ground rules?"

"Yes, though to be honest I am sure it's more things of common sense." Charles rested his arms against the desk and looked at her seriously. "I do not expect you to, but if the thought crossed your mind, I feel like I shall have to ask you to avoid outside communication."

"You think I really wish to contact Erik, after this? I'm not an idiot."

Charles still looked at her seriously, though he was glad she said this. He could see she meant what she said. "Also, when it comes to your sister, for her own good do not mention this place. She naturally knows what you are, but that does not mean she has to know about the rest of us. We're trying to keep a low profile, Liesel."

"Fine. I've got no problems with that." She shrugged painfully. "Is that all?"

"No, one last thing: go see Hank, not saying I don't trust the medical staff who previously looked you over, but a second opinion wouldn't go amiss, hm?" Charles smiled and nodded at her. "You're free to go, Liesel. Spend as much time as you need to rest up. We're not going to Washington until you've caught up on sleep and healed somewhat. Your sister isn't going anywhere, I know you wish to get to her as soon as possible, but travelling in your condition is going to do more harm than good. You don't exactly wish to find her only to then get possibly rushed to the hospital do you?"

"Suppose not..." Liesel mused and nodded slowly. "Thank you."

"You don't need to keep thanking me."

"I do," she slowly stood, stiffly she stretched her back and winced at the feeling of pulling joints and muscles. "I really do. I am indebted to you, and I don't even think you know that." Liesel smiled and crossed her arms loosely. "There is one thing I need to ask though."

"What's that?" He looked at her curiously while she seemed to think over her words.

"Can they find me?" Liesel asked simply, there was really no other way to ask. She couldn't sugar coat the moment, though she wished she could. "You said...last time, that you didn't want Erik's war bought to your doorstep, or something...so...is there a chance they could find me? I have no clue why they would want to...unless they want a rematch."

"No," Charles frowned and leaned his chin against his entwined fingers. "Emma is strong, but strong enough to find you here? That I don't think so. As long as you are here Liesel, you are under my protection. You are safe. Though I'm more than certain that Erik knows you're here." Charles said while she looked down at the floor with heavy eyes. She nodded slowly over what he said. "He's not likely to come for you, is he?" Charles asked hesitantly. 

Really he hadn't thought about it. He wished to aid her after he had realised that he was rather in the wrong with telling her to leave. He didn't wish to have the outlook of picking and choosing who to help. If someone needed aid, he would give it no matter who that person was. Hence why he decided to try and find her sister. He'd slipped into Liesel's mind only once and had spied the young girl from her memories. With this little snippet he managed to find her, though he was doubtful she was alive; low and behold, shock horror, she was very much alive and living happily in the capital.

But through this all, not once had the thought of Erik actually wishing Liesel to be with him regardless, had ever crossed his mind. Erik had stated rather seriously that he would protect Liesel at any cost, Charles couldn't help but think that by protecting her from himself, he turned his back on her. Though this seemed like a betrayal to Liesel, she may see this sense later on when she wasn't hurting and angry, but perhaps if you truly do love someone, you have to let them go so they can be happy. Charles was certain Erik didn't have the power of foresight, but he was a hugely perceptive, clever person, perhaps in the small amount of time the new group had all spent time together he could see she wouldn't be content; thus turning away and allowing her to go.

He wouldn't fight her to make sure she was unable to leave their hideout, or base, or whatever, Charles knew that much. He allowed her to leave along with Darwin. It was a small moment of remorse. Maybe the person they both knew was still there somewhere. Deep down. Hiding away. Regardless, if there was ever a chance that Erik had a moment of backtracking and wished for her to be with him, he'd come straight here, it was common sense really. The only safe haven for mutant-kind was the one place they had all stayed and trained in.

"Doubt it." Liesel said while putting her hands behind her back. "Don't see why he would want to." She said sounding distant as she gazed about sadly. Sniffing quietly she nodded slowly, "He's got other stuff to do than to waste time on me, Charles. It's okay, he won't come attacking your home." Liesel smiled, though it wasn't a happy one. It was meant to be reassuring but it just looked forced.

Charles nodded slowly and smiled at her. "Go find Hank, Liesel. Then go get some much needed rest. We'll talk about going to Washington when you're feeling better."

"Okay," she bowed her head and turned on her heels. Shuffling towards the door she grinned over her shoulder, "Thank you." She said while he merely rolled his eyes. He had a feeling she was going to be thanking him for years.

----

Edited: 13/June/2019

Reedited: 24/August/2021