Title: The Air you Breathe
Author: GEM
Date: 7-2-10
Pairing: AD/MM
Rating: T
Word Prompt ~ Air
Minerva woke the next morning wishing the nightmare she was living was just that a nightmare. It was however reality and as she sat in Albus' rooms staring into oblivion she wished it was all a dream. She felt worse today than yesterday. Shock is the human body's first reaction. Minerva had now moved on to misery. She felt as if the air had been knocked out of her lungs. She couldn't stay still. She didn't know where to start. The air around her was heavy and she couldn't breathe. She was staring out the window hyperventilating and didn't even realize it. She was living in a fog.
Albus watched her from the doorway and realized she was fighting a normal human react to trauma and was hyperventilating. He came up behind her and gathered her in his arms. Her head found a place on his shoulder. "Breathe, Tabby, breathe."
Albus felt her breathing even out and then looked into her eyes. "oh, my kitten, I wish I could make this go away with a wave of my wand." He kissed her lovingly. When the kiss broke Albus wiped away a new stray tear.
"If I didn't have you with me right now, I don't know where I would be Albus. I don't know what to do first. You are my guide in this horrific time. You are the air that I breathe."
Albus led her to the chair she left by the window and helped her sit without letting go. He knelt down in front of her and spoke. "The first thing you are going to do is arrange for you brothers and sister to remain with the family friend they are with until the end of term so you can finish. You've come this far your parents wouldn't want you to give up." Albus wiped fresh tears away once again.
Minerva nodded. "I don't think that will be a problem."
"Then we are going for a walk. You need to leave these rooms for a while."
"Albus." Minerva began to protest but he shot her the famous Dumbledore glare and she acquiesced. She could use some fresh air.
