Title: Safe In My Arms
A/N: Hello ladies! I haven't had a chance to write much lately - dang life for getting in the way :D This was a piece that I had written a while ago that I found on my computer. I had thought of making it into a story a while back, but for now I guess it'll be a one shot. Hopefully I'll have time to write more soon! Hope you're all doing fabulous! Enjoy :D
Scary. Amazing. Frightening. Breathtaking.
All those words and more encompassed Tim Riggins' mind as he stood motionless in front of Crestview Grocery Store staring at the gray sky, the wind whipping his long hair into his face. The tornado sirens howled around him, loudly signaling for him and everyone else to take cover, but for those few seconds, he was unable to take his eyes off of the monster headed his way, getting caught up in the fierce power of the tornado.
He had lived in Dillon all his life. Tornadoes were a common thing in Texas, and he had definitely seen his share. But that didn't stop him from watching as the large funnel-shaped disaster whipped through trees and power lines, making a beeline for the very spot where he stood. But more importantly, making it's way toward someone far more important – Julie Taylor.
Quickly thinking of the petite blonde he had left behind in the store, Tim rushed back inside to find her still standing at the check-out register holding her basket of items, looking both scared and confused as she watched the tornado through the large glass windows at the front of the store.
For a split second Tim thought of how small and fragile she looked. And scared. The look on her face reminded him of a little girl who had been frightened by something, a scary movie or a monster under her bed.
Only Julie wasn't a little girl, and there were no monsters under her bed. The only monster around was a damn big tornado headed straight for them, and Tim knew that he had to do everything in his power to protect Julie from harm.
"Hey Taylor….give me your hand…leave it!" Tim all but yelled the words, grabbing her small hand in his own, making her throw down her basket as he pulled her roughly behind him, knowing that they only had seconds before the worst was upon them.
"Get down." Tim ordered, pulling her behind a large display of kitchen utensils, out of the direct path of the large glass windows.
As Julie crouched on the floor, Tim wrapped his arms around her tightly, placing his head on hers, using his whole body to shelter her from danger.
Just in time, as the force of the tornado bursts through the windows, sending glass and debris flying into the store, the strong winds knocking over display cases and seemingly shaking the entire building.
Tim felt Julie shaking in his arms, her nails biting into the skin of his forearms as she held on tightly to him. Tim quickly tightened his hold on her, instinctively trying to let her know that it was going to be okay. Letting her know that he would never let anything happen to her.
The roar of the tornado was deafening, but Tim was certain that he heard her sobbing, the sound causing something inside him to ache as he pressed his cheek tighter against her head, again pulling her even closer to his body.
It seemed like it lasted for hours, but in reality it was over in a matter of seconds – the monster leaving as quickly as it arrived, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.
Tim loosened his hold on Julie, but not letting go as he turned to look around, making sure that the threat was truly gone.
"You okay?" She nodded quickly, a jerky shake of her head. "You sure?" He asked.
"Y-yeah."
Tim slowly lowered his arms from around her as he stood on shaky legs, reaching back down to help her stand as he watched her struggle to stand on her own. Her nervousness was apparent through her jerky actions. The storm had definitely given her a scare. Tim could feel her heart rate beating out of control as he held onto her slender wrist, turning her toward him.
Tears.
That was the first thing he noticed as she looked up at him. Julie was crying – or had been. It was apparent that she was trying to get herself under control now, but Tim could see the tracks of her tears on her white cheeks.
The sight was enough to almost do him in. Tears were bad on anyone, but on Julie Taylor they were doubly bad. The sight sent another ache to his chest – the second ache in a matter of minutes.
"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked, instantly regretting the harsh sound of his voice. He didn't mean to sound so rough, but the sight of her scared and crying was unsettling.
"Y-yeah. Yeah, I'm okay." She replied, wiping her hands over her face. She looked up at him with a look that he couldn't read – part fear and part gratitude. The gratitude part scaring him a hell of a lot more than the fear.
"Come here." He murmured, pulling her closer, and once again wrapping his arms around her. This time for comfort instead of protection, noticing how good she felt pressed against his body.
Tim knew that this was an experience that he would not soon forget. He and Julie had survived a monster, and whether she realized it or not – that was a big deal. He knew that he wouldn't be forgetting the feel of her in his arms, his body wrapped around her much smaller one, anytime soon.
Tim rubbed his hands up and down her back, trying to soothe Julie like he would a small child, once again reminded of her big eyes looking scared, much like a little girl.
"It's okay now, Jules." He pulled back to look down at her, giving her a small smile.
He felt like he'd been slugged in the stomach when she lifted her head to meet his gaze, a beautiful smile on her sweet face. "Yeah it is. Because of you."
Tim could feel his face becoming warm as his arms unconsciously tightened around her. She was looking at him with a look of pure adoration – a look that he sure didn't deserve, but that he thoroughly enjoyed receiving from her.
Scary. Amazing. Frightening. Breathtaking.
Tim once again felt himself bombarded with those emotions as he stood there motionless, Julie smiling sweetly at him, their arms still wrapped around one another. He felt a sense of something coming over him.
A sense that something was beginning, a something that he couldn't wait to explore.
To explore with Julie Taylor.