Someone was touching her. She felt knuckles…the back of a hand gently caressing her face. It was soft and soothing. It was relaxing. She sighed and leaned into the touch.
"Abby"
The same voice that she had been met with on the other side of McGee's front door. The same voice that had been filling her voicemail. The same voice that she had never wanted to hear again. Her eyes shot open and there he was.
She panicked. How had he gotten in? The door was locked. And the windows. The police. They were supposed to be patrolling. And Morrison and Davis, they were supposed to be outside. He read her mind's next thought as he watched he fear build behind her eyes.
"He can't help you now, Abby."
McGee…. where was he? She looked to her left, but he wasn't there. She bolted out of the bed, expecting Mikel to grab her but he remained where he was.
"Abby, I already told you, he can't help you."
She rushed to the bathroom but he wasn't there. She ran out of the bedroom and looked in the living room, but he wasn't there. She made her way to the kitchen and again it was empty. He wouldn't leave her like this. He wouldn't let Mikel near her, not again.
And all of a sudden she felt a hand on her back. She turned only to be met with Mikel's sickly sad eyes and twisted smile. She was back in the bedroom, how had that…
"He can't help you Abby"
Mikel turned her around, and as she saw McGee's lifeless body covered in blood laying in his bed, she finally found her voice.
"McGee!!"
He was up like a shot, ready to reach for his weapon but she reached for him first. Her desperate clinging overpowered him momentarily. No one had ever held him that tightly or with that much urgency and need. Her panicked scream had terrified him out of a restless slumber and he soon realized that his heart was beating as hard and as loud as hers. He assessed the situation. Nothing appeared to be out of order in the room, so he came to the conclusion that Mawher was not actually there. But there was Abby. She was panting, shaking and drenched in cold sweat. When he finally composed himself, after thanking God that she was safe in his arms, he spoke in a gentle whisper.
"Shh, Abby, it's okay. It's okay, I'm right here, I promise."
Her grasp around his neck tightened and he held her as closely as he could, crushing her to him. She seemed to have a hold on her shaking, and shaky breaths, similar to the ones he'd heard earlier had replaced the rapid pants that she'd first awoken with. He stroked her hair lovingly, hoping the caresses would soothe her. When she finally spoke, she sounded childlike, her voice cracking.
"McGee,"
"I'm here Abs. Not going anywhere. I promise."
He didn't know how long he held her, but it seemed like forever. He whispered comforting words, assuring her that she was safe, that no one was going to harm her. And when she finally loosened her arms around him, and relaxed somewhat in the hug, he spoke again.
"It was just a dream. Just a bad dream. That's all. Just a nightmare."
"I know," she sniffled, sounding just as childlike as she had before. "I usually like nightmares."
He smiled against her ebony hair and rocked her gently.
"It's all over now, Abby" he said and quickly regretted his words when she pulled back and he saw the fear in her eyes.
"But it's not! He's still out there; it's not over McGee. He can still get to me!"
He cupped her face in his hands roughly and looked into the most beautiful terrified eyes he'd ever seen. He hated seeing her like this. He'd always known her to be strong and independent, ready to take down anything that stood in her way. But as he looked in her eyes, he didn't see the strong, independent woman that he had let himself fall in love with. He saw a scared little girl haunted by a monster that had given her nightmares.
"Not tonight and not while I'm around. Abby, I promise you, he will not hurt you." His eyes met hers, pleading with her as if to say 'believe me.' She threw her arms around his neck and held on tightly, her way of saying 'I do.'
