Night Terror

It was sometime around one, in the morning. I had finally dozed off about forty minutes ago, when I felt it. My hands, instinctly, went underneath my pillow, where I kept my gun. I felt a tiny hand tap me on the back. I flinch, awake, lifting my head from my pillow.

"Daddy." It was only CJ.

I relaxed, releasing my hold on my gun. I was really thankful I didn't pull it on her. That would have been bad. I reached up to turn on the light and rubbed at my eye. "What's wrong, kiddo?"

She was holding that stuffed dog of hers. "I had a nightmare, and I think there's a monster hiding under my bed."

"No, there isn't," I assured her.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Positive."

"Well, can I sleep with you, anyway?"

"Why can't you sleep in your bed?" I asked of her.

"I'm scared something's gonna get me. Please, Daddy?" she started to beg. "I promise I don't wet the bed."

Okay, I know I shouldn't, but I gave in. The kid is just too darn cute. I scooted over, and held the blanket up, so CJ could climb in. She struggled, a little, but I knew CJ could do it, as she's done it, a million times. Her bed's the same as mine, size and all. And, also, the kid likes doing things on her own, and I try to encourage that. It teaches her.

Once CJ was up, on the bed, she lied down, beside me. I covered her up with the blanket. CJ snuggled against me, which, I had to move Doug's huge snout from digging into my side. I reached up and turned the light off.

"Can you leave the light on, Daddy?" I heard CJ ask, as I tried to fall back to sleep.

"Sorry, kiddo," I yawned. "I can't sleep with the light on. Don't worry, though, nothing will get ya with me, right beside you."

"Okay," she said.

Things grew quiet. I, slowly started to fall back to sleep when I heard CJ ask, "Can I have a glass of water? I'm really thirsty."

I lifted my head, to look in her direction. "Now?"

"Uh huh. Please?"

I let out a sigh, as I reached up and turned on the light, again and tossed back the blanket. I had CJ slide off the bed, first, before I stood up, grabbing my robe on the way towards the kitchen.

I gave her a glass of water, letting her drink it down, before we headed back to my room. Okay, I know I said, I let her do things on her own, but I was tired and wanted to get back to sleep, as soon as possible. So, I lifted her onto the bed and tossed my robe across the back of the chair, at my desk. I laid back down, throwing the blanket, back over us, and turned out the light.

Soon, as my head hit the pillow, I was falling asleep. Not three minutes, later, I hear this, "Daddy, I have to pee."

I moan, half asleep, "Then, go."

"I can't see," she told me. "Can you turn on the light, for me?" Forcing myself up, off my pillow, I peer over to where the lamp is, and turn it on, for the third time.

CJ tossed the blanket off, and slid down from the bed. She ran for the bathroom. I took the chance to fall back to sleep for a bit. But, not fully, yet, I guess, because I could feel the bed shake when CJ got back in.

"Did you wash your hands?" I asked, without opening my eyes or lifting my head.

"Oh, yeah!" I feel the bed, shake some more and could hear CJ's bare feet run back to the bathroom. She returned, shortly after. Once she was back in bed, under the blanket, I reached up and turned off the light.

Not long, afterwards, I hear CJ, again. "Dad."

"I swear, if you have to poop, now, too..."

"No. I just wanted to play a game with you," I heard her say.

"And, I want to sleep. Now, please, be quiet and go to sleep," I scold her.

"But, I can't sleep. Can you tell me a story?"

"CJ," I scold her some more.

"Please? Just a tiny one?" CJ was begging me, again.

I let out another sigh, before I began. "Once upon a time, there lived three bears, who lived in the woods. One day, they decided to eat something. I think it was cream of wheat, or something like that. It was still hot so the bears decided to go for a walk to let their food, cool down. While they were gone, some chick, with curly, blond hair, broke into the bears' house, passed up the papa bear's food since it was still hot, and passed up the mama bear's food, because she put ice in it, or something. Apparently, the cub's food was just right, so she ate all of his. Then, there was something about chairs, and the blond chick broke the cub's chair, because she was a dick. And, somehow, that made her tired, which I can feel her on, right now, and so she went upstairs, to the bears' bedroom. Papa and Mama were, I guess, having marital issues, sleeping in two different beds. Either that, or they have two different sleep numbers. Either way, the blond chick ended up sleeping in the cub's bed.

The bears eventually return, and the parents somehow know someone had been eating their cream of wheat, and the cub sees all of his, gone. Instead of making more, they decide to go sit in their chairs. I guess their butts are sensitive, because they know someone's been sitting in their chairs, and the cub sees his, broken. Which, brings the bears up, to their bedroom. The blond chick must not of remade Papa and Mama Bear's beds, as they see someone's been sleeping in them, and the cub finds the blond chick in his bed. And, so, since they were hungry, the three bears decide to eat the blond chick, since she broke into their home and did all that crap. The end."

Not bad, for being half asleep, if I say so, myself. It was then, I noticed, it was quiet, except for some steady breathing. CJ had fallen asleep while I was telling the story. Wish I could have been paying attention with that, as I wouldn't have had to finish, but, oh well. I finally was able to fall asleep, my arm wrapping around CJ's already sleeping form.