The Key To Support
She awoke…
He was gone…
Stretching out her hand, she felt the warmth of him waning from his side of the bed. It didn't matter how careful he was, she always knew when he left.
She sat up and reached over to her bed-side table and turned on her scanner. It cycled through the police, fire and paramedic channels a couple of times before it stopped on an apartment fire.
Swinging her feet over the side of the bed, she slid them into her bunny slippers. Standing, she didn't bother to straighten the flannel shirt, she had worn to bed, as she walked through the open door onto the balcony. Leaning against the railing, she looked out over the city…
Twelve million souls, a million stories, a thousand emergencies, and one super-hero: How he hadn't cracked, she couldn't understand. Well, that's not exactly true. While his physical strength came from the sun, his true strength came from the people he loved…
Feeling a presence beside her, she reached a hand out and stroked his head and scratched behind his ear.
"He doesn't fool you either, does he boy?" She asked the Golden Retriever beside her.
He answered with a stifled bark that out sounding like, "Harrumph."
With a laugh, she went through the bedroom and into the kitchen. The scanner was still on, letting her know that he was still busy, as she filled a glass of water. Sipping, she listened to the fire chief detail his efforts in knocking out the blaze, with a little help from a friend. The Paramedics were asking for assistance and she knew he would stay there until every injury had been cared for.
Leaning over, she poured some of her water into Shelby's dish and watched him take a few laps before placing his head onto her lap. Not even noticing his wet snout, she petted his head fondly while looking into his big brown eyes.
"Tell you what, Shels. You don't tell him that I worry and I won't tell him that you worry – deal?"
He gave her a small whimper before padding off to wherever he had dragged his bed that night.
Getting up, she placed her glass in the sink and went back to bed.
--
Sitting in bed, listening to the scanner, she could tell by the routine chatter that he had left the fire. Knowing that he would fly a couple of circuits of the city before coming back, she slid down and turned off the scanner. She closed her eyes and with a mischievous smile, rolled over onto his side and allowed her breathing to become more relaxed.
She heard him come in, stopping a moment to talk to Shelby. Then a quick shower, to get rid of the smoky smell, and he was standing beside the bed looking at her sleeping figure.
Gently, he moved her over and crawled into bed next to her. Lying on his side, he watched her for a few minutes before she gave a sleepy moan and rolled over into his arms. Laying her head against his chest, she settled in.
He knew she was awake. She knew he knew she was awake. He knew she knew that he knew she was awake. But for just that moment, she gave him what he needed – a normal, supportive wife.
XxxxxxxxxxxxX
The End
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