Strong Isn't Invincible
By: Liv-x-Case-Benson & dcmasters
Chapter Twenty-One: Alert
Catherine left the house late one night to head to work. It was pitch black. She fumbled through her bag to find her keys as she headed toward the car. Placing the keys in the ignition, the car started quickly and Catherine put her seat belt on. As she looked down, she noticed a bump. She was four months pregnant. Catherine ran her hand over the bump with a smile when suddenly she felt something around her neck, pulling her back toward the seat as it was tightened. "Hello Catherine," a familiar voice whispered from the back seat, feeling some cool metal against her stomach, "If you want your baby to live, you'll drive until I tell you to stop."
It was then that Catherine woke, bolt upright in bed, gasping for breath and realized a few moments later that it had all been a dream.
Sara, feeling Catherine's sudden movement, turned on a light and sat up beside her. "Hey, you ok?"
As she attempted to catch her breath, Catherine nodded. "Bad...dream..."
Sara hugged her tightly. "Here, I'll get you a glass of water," she up and returning with the water not even a minute later. "Here," she said, handing it to her, "drink this."
Catherine nodded, taking the glass in shaky hands to sip the water slowly, her body slowly calming.
Sara wrapped one arm around her, the other hand around the glass, pressing a slow kiss to her cheek. "Shh. It's ok. If you want to tell me..."
Catherine shook her head. "It was just a stupid dream."
"But it upset you."
Catherine lay back down with her, cuddling into her. "I... I was leaving for work. It was dark. I got in the car and someone, with a voice I recognized, but can't place..." she sighed. "They tied a belt around my neck... fastened it to the seat and pressed somethng cold to my bump... I must have been like four months... they told me to drive or my baby dies."
Sara held her tightly, rubbing her back. "Do you feel like it was just a dream?"
"I... I don't know."
"Okay. Maybe it was just a bad dream. Can you sleep?" she asked, kissing Catherine's cheek.
"I'll try," Catherine replied, with a weak smile.
Sara cuddled her close. "You don't always have to be brave you know. Really. It's ok."
Catherine let out a shaky breath. "Sorry. I think I'm too shaken to sleep."
Sara sat them both up, scooting Catherine up a bit. "I'll ease you to sleep," she whispered in her ear. "Take a couple slow, deep breaths," she said, sitting behind her on her knees, resting her hands on Catherine's shoulders.
Catherine smiled before taking a couple of deep breaths, her eyes closing as she relaxed a little.
Sara gently rubbed her shoulders, kissing the back of her head, massaging a little deeper.
Catherine's body relaxed as she exhaled slowly, her head finally falling against Sara as she fell asleep.
Smiling, Sara sat behind her against the headboard, piling the pillows behind her as she leaned Catherine against her, turning out the light before covering them up, holding her close, kissing her cheek before falling asleep.
When Catherine woke she seemed confused. She couldn't quite remember how she ended up in the position she'd woken, but she had to admit, having Sara's arms around her was wonderful, even more so now they were married.
Sara woke slowly as she felt Catherine move a little. She hugged her tighter, kissing her cheek. "Morning baby."
Catherine smiled. "Good morning, my wife."
"Are you feeling ok?"
Catherine nodded. "Can you believe it? Our first morning together, married."
"Feels pretty amazing, doesn't it?"
"Yes, it does," Catherine smiled.
Review thanks to: Gardenia2 & csiaddict1982