Disclaimer: Totally don't own these characters, or this world. I just like to be a part of it.
Author's Notes: Heads up – time shift again.
Thanks as always to my beta, who is more than willing to read SEVERAL versions of this to make sure it's right.
Here's the promised Tuesday update!
Awake
His mouth felt dry. But that couldn't be right. He could never tell if his mouth was dry or not. He also had a dull ache spreading across his chest and into his abdomen. But again, that couldn't be right. Was he just imagining things? Most curiously though, he could feel a hand held tight within his own. That he could definitely feel. But how could that happen? He could only feel one person's hand. He had to be dreaming, but the name slipped from his lips, regardless. "Parker." His voice sounded strangled, like it hadn't been used in a few days, which made him briefly think this wasn't a dream. But it had to be, because he could only feel one person, and that person was gone, and that's why he could hear despair in his voice too. Utter, complete despair. Her leaving must have worked. The Troubles were gone. That's why he could feel this person's hand in his own. He didn't care who it was. No one mattered except for her.
"Nathan."
Nathan's eyes flew open at the sound of his name. The breathy voice sounded like it came from her. It couldn't have though. She was gone, and that's why he could feel the hand of whoever was sitting beside him, and that's why his mouth felt like the Sahara, and why his chest felt like it was on fire. But, maybe he was dreaming, and that's why he could feel everything. He almost didn't want to turn his head, because if it was just a dream, he at least wanted this dream to last as long as possible. At least she would still be with him in his dreams.
But then, a face came into his field of vision, and he felt his heart tighten in hope that this wasn't a dream, that this was in fact real - because that face belonged to his one true love. But it couldn't be her. She had gone into the Barn, she was gone. She couldn't be here. He must be dreaming.
And then he felt her hands on his cheeks, and watched her as she leaned down towards him. Her lips touched his, and sensations flared. It was her. He sighed in contentment, his eyes drifting closed, not even caring if this was a dream, and smiled as he felt her forehead lean against his own. "Parker." It had to be a dream, because she was gone. He knew she was gone.
He reached up to pull her down to him, and pain exploded throughout his body. This was not a dream. This pain was very real. His eyes flew open as he gasped in pain and the unexpectedness of it, and then flashes of memory struck him like a lightning bolt. He remembered fighting Duke as Audrey stepped into the Barn. He remembered pulling a gun on Agent Howard. He remembered falling to his knees, and looking down to see blood seeping through his shirt. He remembered hearing gunshots come from right above him as Duke shot at whoever had shot him. He remembered trying to get to Audrey, and Duke shoving him into the ground. He remembered waking up in the ambulance, screaming in pain as an EMT explored one of his bullet wounds. The Troubles were gone. Audrey was gone.
But she wasn't gone. She was here.
Nathan ignored the pain as he desperately reached out to her. He could feel tears streaming down his cheeks. He could feel them. He was clutching for her, desperate to have her in his arms. He didn't care what had happened. All he knew in that moment was that the Troubles seemed to be gone, and Audrey was here with him. "Parker! Audrey."
Nathan's eyes were wild, and Audrey was terrified he was going to rip out his IV with the way he was reaching for her. She quickly glanced towards the door, hoping to flag down a nurse or a doctor, but saw no one. Nathan was in shock, and she instinctively knew he needed to feel her. She leaned down into him as best she could from her awkward position beside his bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and held on tight, being careful to not press against his chest, which was still riddled with bullet holes. Troubles or not, he'd be able to feel it if she leaned against him.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck and sobbed, and she held him close as she breathed in his scent. He needed to feel her. To know she was real, and she needed to feel him, to know he was alive. "Nathan, it's me. It's really me. I'm here. I'm safe. I'm not leaving you. I'm here." She only hoped that her words would comfort him and make him believe that she was really here.
They were going to make it through this. They were going to do it together. As a team.