Janey

Music pounds, echoing in her head like an unexpected guest. She starts up violently without warning her startled bed mate. Before she thinks to be aware of it her flailing arms are pressed firmly while still writhing against her abdomen, and just like that the weight of her terror presses heavy on her chest. Unlike so many times before the feeling fails to ebb immediately and Janey hears her scream-sobs vacantly as though they emit from a phantom radio transmission. Held tightly and unable to move, the tenseness in her muscles begin to throb their painful protests. The thump of them beating in her ears almost drown out the worst of the sounds.

"Love, love, love! Shh, be calm, be calm, everything's fine. Wake up now, love, open your eyes. Open your eyes, love... Thatta girl. There you go, there she is..." Clayton held her still a bit too tightly but now she was grateful for his grip. They sat on the bed with her in his arms while he looked both at her and as scared as hell, but his dark eyes were as intent as ever in their fixed gaze. "Hi," he finished with at last.

"Hi." She didn't even begin the string of sheepish apologies this time because by now she knew they had both outgrown them. Instead, she let her shaking arms wrap around his waist and squeezed with the last of her might. She burrowed her tangle-haired head into the the curve of his bent arm to press her cheek to his chest. Exhausted, she shuddered her gratitude into him and hoped that he understood.