Title: Does She Say My Name In Her Sleep?
Fandom: Cinderella Man
Author: Seryan Parks
Rating: K+
Disclaimer: I own not, you sue not.
"Max…" Mae groaned, rolling over on her side. "Oh, God, no…"
Jim was almost asleep, but his wide moaning his name made him sit up straight, wide awake. Mae was dreaming, obviously, tossing and turning in their shared bed.
"Jimmy… you can't," Mae murmured, before mumbling something unintelligible. "Baer," and again Mae said nothing intelligible. "Baer," and again Mae said nothing clear.
Bear's taunt from their fight months ago flashed through Jim's mind.
How 'bout that wife of yours, huh?
Jim wanted to wake Mae up, ask her about her dream… but he was afraid of what his wife moaning Max Baer's name might entail.
Mae was standing next to the ring in Madison Square Garden, dreading the fight that was to come. Jim stood in his corner, tall and confident. In the other corner was Max Baer, looking like he wanted to add James J. Braddock to the list of men he'd killed in the ring.
CLANG! The first round started, and Max tore into Jim, viciously pummeling his face and ribs, and Mae knew that Max was going to kill her Jimmy. Mae screamed, "Max, no! Don't hurt my husband!" Max continued to beat Jimmy down. "Oh, God, no," Mae prayed, "Jimmy, you can't lose! Win this match! Win it for me!"
"Win it for me," Mae said clearly, and for a moment Jim thought she was awake- but no, Mae was still deep in her dream. Mae clearly said "Baer" and "strong" before rolling over again.
Does she talk about me? Say my name in her sleep?
Jim could hear those taunts lucidly, as if Max were right in the room, as if Baer was saying it right into his ear. Jim got out of bed and started pacing. Should he wake Mae up? He was desperate to know what she was dreaming about- especially if it involved Max Baer! Jim's blood boiled at the thought.
How ironic, Jim thought, that even though he had won the title two months ago, he couldn't get rid of Max Baer. Jim could hardly believe that Baer's lewd taunt was coming true.
Baer was mercilessly pummeling Jim, and even though he tried, he couldn't fight back, couldn't get a single punch in edgewise in between Max's ruthless barrage. Max was too quick, too strong! Then Baer started punishing Jim's head severely. Mae bit back a scream; Max was killing him! He was killing her husband! Mae crumbled to the floor and wept.
When Mae began screaming and crying in her sleep, Jim couldn't take it any longer. He shook her awake and wrapped her in his boxer's arms, gently rocking her. Slowly, Mae's sobs subsided.
"It's alright, baby. Nothing's so bad. I got you." Jim whispered.
Mae sniffled. "I had a nightmare."
"Tell me about it," Jim said, even though he had changed his mind about wanting to know about the dream.
Mae took a steadying breath and began talking. "I dreamed of that awful fight against Max Baer. I dreamed he kept hitting you, and hitting you-" here Mae choked out a sob- "and he hit your head hard, and-" Mae couldn't continue. She folded up in Jim's embrace and continued to though she didn't finish, Jim could perfectly guess his wife's concern.
Jim felt guilty for even suspecting Mae was dreaming of a… different situation involving Max Baer. He kissed the top of Mae's head. "It's okay, Mae. Everything's okay. Baer didn't kill me, and I'm right here."
Mae fell asleep a little while later, still in Jim's arms. He loved Mae, and Mae loved him. All the Max Baers in the world couldn't change that.
The Cinderella Man silently thanked God for his princess and their fairy-tale happy ending.