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Lara heaved a sigh of relief when Sam opened her eyes.
“You saved me,” Sam barely breathed out. Lara’s heart pounded. Just barely , she thought. “I knew you would.”
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Lara gave a humorless chuckle, the cold rain pelting her back endlessly. “I made you a promise.” They smiled at each other, barely feeling the rain letting up ever so slowly. The sun’s rays poked out through the clouds, basking both women in a golden glow. The brunette glanced up, surprised, then looked back down at Sam in her lap. She smiled. “Let’s get you home.”
The trek down the mountain was a rough one, but Lara was determined. She’d survived this entire island of murderous inhabitants; she wasn’t about to let walking down a slope stop her. She had Sam in her arms, bridal style. The black haired woman was light enough, but Lara’s arms were tired. She was so, so tired. Deep down, she hardly thought about her own health. Food, water, shelter; it didn’t matter to her. She had to save Sam.
And she did.
The two didn’t speak a word while Lara carefully stepped over debris, spotting the boat with Jonah and Reyes waiting for her and Sam. Sighing in relief, she hoisted Sam up, holding the Asian tighter against her. Lara knew she took out every damn Solarii member, but her heart raced at the thought of one appearing from nowhere and hurting the woman in her arms. Lara’s side flamed up almost unexpectedly, and she winced. Sam never took her eyes off of the brunette, but she never said anything either.
Once Lara shakily walked up to the boat, Jonah held his arms out, prepared to carry Sam. The adventurer flinched, a hard look in her eyes, before hesitantly handing her over.
“Let’s get off this bitch.” Reyes murmured, starting the engine and hightailing it out. Sam rested on her back, Lara sitting next to her.
She didn’t look back at the island.
It had been a few hours before a nearby ship spotted them. Jonah was luckily able to convince them that they weren’t threats, and when the crewmen saw the state of the survivors, they immediately took them aboard.
Reyes climbed the ladder first, followed by Jonah. Sam, who had finally awakened, stared up. Lara softly gripped her waist, edging them both towards the ladder. The black haired woman shakily, obviously scared, grabbed the rope and began climbing up. Jonah and Reyes reached down and pulled her the rest of the way. Lara was the last one up.
“Jesus Christ!” The captain exclaimed once he saw their state. He had a gruff voice, and with sadness, Lara realized he reminded her of Roth. “What the hell happened on that island?” Everyone looked away, feeling slightly awkward. Lara stared at her feet, feeling lightheaded and sick. She was too warm she was too dizzy she was too traumatized she was-
“Hell.” Lara finally murmured, eyelids fluttering. “We found Hell .” She collapsed.
The Croft opened her eyes, groaning. Her entire body felt like she was on fire- she should’ve taken Sam’s place should’ve been burned alive shouldn’t have survived - Lara coughed. She decided to try and process her surroundings. The brunette recognized a cabin on a ship, and the bedsheets she gripped beneath herself. Glancing over, she saw another bed positioned beside hers, and Sam occupied it.
Unmoving.
Dead dead she’s dead I failed her she’s gone I can’t get her back why didn’t I try harder why wasn’t I faster - “Sam?” She croaked, trying to sit up. Lara cried out in pain before falling off the bed, a sob escaping her lips. Vaguely, she heard the door open with a deafening slam, and Jonah’s voice.
“Little Bird!” He shouted, hands on her shoulders to help her up. The brunette’s injured side flared in protest of the movement, making Lara’s bottom lip quiver. Jonah quickly and carefully helped her sit on the bed, giving a glance of her wounds. Blinking, Lara looked down at herself, her eyes growing wider.
The hole in her side was oozing and full of pus; it was clearly infected. Parts of her clothes were ripped or completely cut away, leaving behind threads and strings and exposed skin and blood, oh god, so much blood, was it even all hers?
“Lara?” Jonah murmured in front of her. He was kneeling, examining her hurt body to make sure she was okay.
I’m not okay I’ll never be okay god why did I think-
“S-“ She coughed, harsh and dry. The man in front of her handed her a water bottle from the nearby table. “Sam.” She whined. Gulping the water, she tensed when she felt the coldness hit her throat. Drowning drowning couldn’t breathe needed air door not opening can’t hold on sinking sinking sinking arms lifting her choking on water can’t breathe can’t think just go go jump go-
“She’ll be okay.” Jonah whispered, pulling Lara out of her panic. Her head hurt like hell, and she knew she had a concussion. Several scratches and gashes made their home on her body, making her wince. All she wanted was for Sam to wake up, to make sure the Asian woman is safe and in her arms and not with Mathias or his fucking cult-
“Sam.” Lara choked out again. Jonah gave her a small pat on her shoulder before leaving.
She didn’t take her eyes off of Sam.
Hours passed, and Lara still had not moved and refused any medical treatment on the ship. If Sam wanted to drag her to a hospital, fine, but Lara wasn’t going anywhere without her friend. Instead, she sat, stiff and silent, and watched. Each breath from Sam indicated she was alive. That was all Lara needed to keep breathing herself.
Suddenly, Sam’s eyes fluttered open, and Lara stumbled over to her, her own eyes wide and desperate. Both women hesitantly smiled at each other.
“Hey,” Sam rasped.
“Hi.” Lara grinned for the first time since they crashed. The shorter woman glanced down at Lara’s side, frowning. Nervous, Lara held her side to hide the injury and the blood she hadn’t gotten cleaned yet, grunting.
“Lara.” Sam groaned, sitting up slowly. “You need to have that checked out.”
“I was worried about you,” Lara admitted, looking down sheepishly. Why was Sam focused on Lara? It didn’t make sense to her. Lara almost got them all killed, she got Grim killed and Alex killed and Roth-
“What the hell is this?” Sam asked, looking at her body. She was wearing a shirt that was too big for her, causing it to hang a bit off her shoulder, a pair of denim shorts, and some gray socks. “What a terrible fashion sense.”
“It was all they had.” Lara murmured. “I... I figured you’d rather wake with anything else than that dress... thing that bastard wrapped you up in.” She hissed, a dark look in her eyes. Sam touched her shoulder, startling the brunette back into reality. “I’m sorry.” She apologized, wincing slightly at the burning wound in her side. She was beginning to feel warm, clammy, scared, sick. Her vision spun, the back of her eyes aching. Sam jumped up from her bed and clung onto the adventurer, nervous. Lara just whimpered, her legs shaking and threatening to give out. Her face was buried into Sam’s neck, her arms gripping the Japanese woman.
I’m so scared I’m so cold I don’t understand why do I feel this way for Sam I’m so tired so so tired always tired-
“Help!” Sam screeched from the room, the door now open. Lara barely registered moving slightly with her friend, practically being dragged along. “Help! Please!”
Jonah, Reyes, and two crew members came sprinting their direction, feeling slightly crammed in the small hallway.
It hurts it hurts it hurts it hurts-
Lara squeezed her eyes shut, gritting her teeth. Tears showered down her cheeks and she flung her hands to her ever burning side, falling to her knees.
“ Fuck !” Lara snarled at herself. After everything, she refused to be taken down by a small hole in her side.
But that’s what was happening, apparently.
“Lara, what the fuck!” Reyes snapped, grabbing one of the brunette’s arms and pulling it around her neck. Lara felt beads of sweat dripping from her forehead. The crewmen had sprinted away, with one of them returning with a first aid kit. Jonah had left to go inform the captain that Lara wasn’t any better.
Reyes practically carried Lara into a separate, larger room that looked like a proper medical room. By the mess, Lara figured that the rest of the crew were in here before her.
“Listen to me, Croft,” Reyes snapped, sitting her on the table. “You may have pissed me off before, but I will be wrecking havoc if you die on me.” Lara coughed, her body involuntarily leaning on Reyes’ front. The black woman had her hands on Lara’s shoulders, steadying her. “Lara, look at me.” Hesitantly, reluctantly, Lara raised her head, feeling bile and blood in her throat. “You’re not dying on us today. You got that?” She didn’t wait for a response; instead, she opened the huge first aid kit that was set beside Lara on the table. The brunette barely registered Sam creeping up beside her, helping Reyes with Lara’s injuries.
Glancing over, Lara saw a small bathtub. Or, at least, she hopes it was. It was tiny, painted to look like an old bucket used on ancient pirate ships, but still a tub nonetheless. She didn’t realize how desperately she needed to bathe, but she didn’t move. Reyes bent down, quickly removing Lara’s heavy boots and light gray socks, tossing them to the side. Sam carefully removed the first tank top from Lara, apologizing when the fabric reopened the wound on her side.
I should be the one apologizing I almost got them all killed I did get them killed they’ll never be the same I couldn’t save them-
Gasping, Lara eyed Reyes as she slowly removed her trousers. The other woman glanced up at her, giving an apologetic look, albeit a bit awkwardly. Sam, on the other hand, removed Lara’s second tank, widening her eyes at the amount of injuries the adventurer gained on that godforsaken island. The British woman was left in just her bra and panties, her face tinted in the slightest red.
“I can get you patched up enough before we get you to a hospital,” Reyes explained, standing straight and putting her hands on her hips. “But you need cleaned up first. Get in the... bath thing.” She gestured awkwardly behind her.
“I’m not leaving you.” Sam whispered in her ear. Lara nodded absentmindedly and stood with the help of her friends.
You can’t call them friends you almost got them killed-
She could swear she blacked out for half of the bath-shower-thing. Her undergarments were gone and Sam was delicately washing the brunette’s hair. Reyes lifted one of Lara’s arms and inspected it, recognizing bullet wounds immediately. She took her time cleaning the holes and bandaging them, while Sam continued washing Lara.
After she was clean, the women helped Lara step out of the tub. Wobbling, the brunette slid to the freezing cold tiles, silently crying.
“Lara, sweetie, will you let Reyes patch up your side?” Sam murmured, stroking hair out of her eyes.
Why would she want to help me I got Roth killed and she resents me I don’t understand why why why-
“Of course.” She coughed out, leaning into Sam. A baby blue towel was wrapped around her, but Lara wasn’t sure who did it. Clinging to the sides, she tried covering her exposed body, but Sam gently held her hands, preventing her from doing so.
“Reyes needs to work.” Sam breathed. Lara only nodded, watching numbly as the other woman got to work. The second she pushed against Lara’s wound, the brunette hissed in pain.
“I’m sorry.” Reyes murmured, cleaning the wound the best she could.
She’s not sorry I’m sorry she should hate me they all should despise me I hate myself why am I alive-
Trembling against Sam, Lara forced herself to breathe deeply, in and out. Unfortunately, the pain became too much, and she lost consciousness.
Lara wearily blinked her eyes open, scared of what she’d find. Looking around, she realized she was back in that medical room, but now she was dressed in new clothes. She donned a crewman’s white shirt, looking more like a blouse or office shirt, and a pair of ripped jeans. Her feet were bare, and her clothes were discarded on the floor at the foot of the table. Lara knew better than to say she felt okay, felt more refreshed. It felt more like... clean. Her head was foggy and her senses were clogged up. Panicking slightly, she opened her eyes fully and saw needles poking in her arms and hands. IVs, she realized. She was being treated for her injuries. But why? Why wasn’t Sam being taken care of or Reyes or Jonah or Roth but no Roth is gone she got him killed she should’ve died instead-
“Lara?” A voice cracked through her scared brain. The brunette glanced over weakly, seeing Sam sitting in a chair beside her.
At least she’s safe. Physically.
Lara felt the tears trickle down her face before she could stop them, and she watched Sam give her a look of sympathy.
“Oh, sweetie,” The other woman breathed, running her fingers through Lara’s hair softly. “It’s okay. We’ll be home soon.”
Home, Lara thought, sniffing. More tears escaped her eyes, and she closed them. Sam shouldn’t be petting her head shouldn’t be here with this murderer I killed people I hurt them I hurt Reyes by letting Roth die-
Sighing, Lara allowed her body to relax and fall limp, leaning into Sam’s comforting touch.
I’m not going home.