The sheer volume of the screaming made Alex's body act on instinct alone; her mind was blank and buzzing with static and sleep. She flipped out of the bed, nearly tripping and falling to her knees when her foot caught in the sheet. Clawing the long hair from her eyes, she whipped around and her breath seemed to violently disappear. Olivia was backed up against the headboard, her knees tight against her chest and her hands outstretched defensively. She sobbed in between her wailing screams, begging someone unseen to get off of her.
Alex's heart fell. They had been doing so well in the days and nights since their experiments with the handcuffs. Alex had almost talked herself into believing that the nightmares were a thing of the past. Tonight, however, brought her crashing back into reality; they were still on the upward slope of a long climb. Her suddenly tense body betraying the terror she struggled to smash down, Alex quickly crawled back onto the bed.
Alex forced her breath to remain even and her movements slow. Every nerve in her body screamed for her to jump to Olivia's rescue, but she knew better. If she were to move suddenly, to lay hands on the terrified brunette without warning, it would only send Olivia spiraling deeper into her nightmare. This was not the first time she had woken to Olivia's wailing and shuddering. Instead, she crept nearer and nearer, her hand extended and her voice murmuring calming nothings.
Once she was within arms' reach, Alex knelt carefully on the mattress. "Liv," she said emphatically but softly. "Liv, wake up. You're having a nightmare, darling. Open your eyes and look at me." As she spoke, she measured her words, maintaining a slow, steady pace and enunciating clearly. To her minor relief, Olivia's screams lessened to mere wails and moans of fright and exhaustion. Reaching out, she gently laid her hand on her girlfriend's forearm. Olivia flinched, but did not pull away entirely.
Encouraged, Alex crept a fraction closer, touching Olivia's shoulder with her free hand. With agonizing slowness, she led her fingers caress upward, trailing over the brunette's collarbone and throat until she cupped her cheek. Pressing gently, she turned Olivia's face to hers. Olivia's eyes were wide and blank, looking through the blonde disconcertingly, though her sobs were increasingly hiccups and soft groans.
Alex ran her fingertips over Olivia's cheekbones soothingly. "Come on, Liv. You're okay, sweetie. Just please wake up, please." As Olivia continued to shudder and tremble, Alex's voice took on a note of desperate pleading. She only wanted her lover to feel safe and calm; the look of sad fear on Olivia's face broke the blonde's heart all over again. Carefully, she moved even nearer and let her arms drape loosely around Olivia's body. She leaned close and nuzzled her nose and lips against the brunette's cheek.
Olivia flinched and whipped her head around to look at Alex. She stared blankly for a long moment before gradual recognition gave life to her brown eyes. "Alex," she whispered shakily.
"Hush, darling," Alex whispered back. "I'm here and you're safe." Olivia lunged with surprising suddenness to embrace her slender girlfriend, clinging to her shoulder and waist with panicked desperation. Alex just managed to maintain her balance, soon settling herself again and holding Olivia with equal tightness. "Shhh, shhh," she whispered over and over again, pressing her lips tenderly to the crown of Olivia's head and doing her best to convey a sense of security to the still-trembling brunette.
Moving gingerly, Alex unfolded her legs in front of her, bracing her back against the headboard so that she could more easily gather her fiancé into her lap. Olivia complied with Alex's every movement, silent but persistent in her grasping for the blonde. Finally, they were comfortable. Alex continued to murmur and hum soothingly as Olivia rested her ear on her girlfriend's chest and let her weeping ease to hitched breathing. They remained that way for a long time, Olivia taking strength and comfort from her lover and Alex all too glad to be in a position to give her those things.
Alex had no idea how much time passed as she held her girlfriend and she was unpleasantly startled when obnoxious knocking reverberated through the apartment. Looking down at the tired brunette in her arms, Alex made a split second decision to remain with her lover and ignore the knocking. After all, it was – she glanced at the glowing clock – four in the morning. Whoever it was, it had to be a mistake. She had just returned her full attention to Olivia when the pounding on the door resumed. "Police! Open up!"
Alex nearly started from her skin at the shouts from the hall. She quickly quenched her violent reaction, moving instead to ease Olivia from her lap before leaping from the bed. She padded rapidly through the apartment, dashing away the tears of frustration and aching tenderness from her eye as she yanked open the door. "This had better be good," she began in a furious whisper before the uniform pushed past her into the apartment.
Face flushing in anger, she whipped around to face the unwelcome intruder and reached to flip on a light. "What the hell," she began again only to be cut off by the man's brusque voice.
"Ma'am, we received reports of screaming and loud noises coming from this apartment. Is there any one else here?"
"Yes," Alex spluttered. "My girlfriend. She's in the bedroom. Listen, I can explain…"
"We need to see her, please." He fell silent when Alex suddenly glanced over his shoulder. In the doorway stood Olivia, her hair wild and her eyes red-rimmed from exhaustion and tears. "Ma'am," the officer barked. "Are you alright?" Olivia nodded slowly, her hand clutching the doorframe for support and her eyes searching Alex for answers.
The officer, recognizing distress, stepped closer to the brunette but stopped short when she flinched violently away. He paused, taking in the brutal scars crisscrossing the skin visible in her tank top and shorts. "Ma'am," he said in a more quiet tone. "You can tell us if you're hurt." His partner stepped near to Alex as the officer spoke, hands ready to grab at the blonde in case she made any sudden moves.
"No," Olivia whispered, her voice barely audible. "I'm not hurt." Striving to save her traumatized lover any further stress, Alex broke in.
"Listen, I can explain this. She's a police officer. You can see her badge if you wish. She has nightmares, intense ones. I'm sorry that the noise disturbed the neighbors, but it's not her fault. Now, if you need anything else, I can come by the station house tomorrow morning."
The officer hesitated for a moment and then turned his attention back to the silent brunette. Moving slowly, he took two steps towards her and extended his hand, offering her his card. "Alright, miss, we'll leave you for now. But, take my card and call me anytime. I mean it." Shyly, Olivia accepted the card, glancing up briefly to meet his eyes.
"It's detective," she said with a little more force. "Not 'miss'."
Taken slightly aback, the officer nodded and stepped away. He turned to Alex. "I'm sorry to have disturbed you ma'am." With one last glance at the detective, he turned and, beckoning to his partner, left the apartment.
As soon as the door clicked shut, Olivia moved unsteadily to meet her girlfriend. "I'm so sorry, Alex," she whispered sadly, repeating herself again. Alex shushed her lovingly, smoothing her short hair with her palm.
"Liv, you don't have to be sorry. You know it's that awful woman next door. She never did like two women living together in her neighborhood. Now come on, let's get back to bed. I'm freezing."
With a hand placed in the small of Olivia's back, Alex guided her girlfriend back to the bedroom and the comfortable security of their shared bed. As long as she could hold Olivia, Alex had no intention of letting anyone disturb the sanctity of their relationship. She loved the brunette and Olivia loved her back. That was all that mattered.