Over the next few weeks there were no more major disputes between Tyger and Mark. Besides the good natured arguing over the music she listens to. If anything the two had become closer. Tyger found herself more often than not at night sitting beside him watching TV with him. Mark would often slip his arm around her and rub her back or just hold her next to him. Tyger had started to be comfortable with his touch. She no longer flinched or jumped when he touched. Mark found himself very attracted to Tyger but knew better than to act on it. He held back from making a move on her. He knew a relationship with her wouldn't go anywhere after all when they got out of here he was taking her straight back to Virginia where she was wanted.
Tyger sat propped against Marks arms trying hard to keep her eyes open. Mark grinned she was sleepy as hell. "Lay down Tyger before you fall over." He said. He got up and turned off the TV. "I'm not sleepy." She said rubbing her eyes. Mark laughed. "Yea that's why your eyes have been closed for the last half an hour." He said. "Your bossy as hell." She complained. "Yea I know now go to bed." He said. He walked over and put a blanket over her. "Night." He said. "Goodnight." She answered.
Mark heard a loud scream and jumped out of bed. It was Tyger and she let out another loud piercing scream. He was going to throw on a shirt but she let out another scream. To heel with it he thought as he ran out to the living room. Tyger lay twisted up in her blanket kicking and struggling in the grips of a night mare. Mark sat down and tried to shake her awake. "Tyger come on wake up honey." He said. She kicked out at him and started yelling. "Stop, your hurting me." She pleaded. Mark picked her up kicking and screaming and sat her in his lap. "Tyger it's me Mark, wake up." He said holding her close to him. Tyger opened her eyes and seen Mark. She burst into tears. Mark pushed her hair back off her face. "Shh its okay, baby it was just a dream." He said. She cried even harder and burrowed in his lap. Mark patted her back. "Come on honey." He said picking her up. He took her back in the bedroom and laid her in the bed. He got in beside her and pulled her to lie against him. He held her and rubbed her back while she cried herself out. When she had quieted down Mark tilted her face up to his. "Tell me about your dream it will make you feel better." He said. "It's real Mark, but you won't believe me anyway." She said. "Try me." He said. She started out slowly telling him the whole story from her abuse by her aunt through childhood. How she had graduated from high school 3 years early because of her IQ. How she was just bidding her time till she was 18 so she could go in the army and get money for her college education. "Then all that was destroyed in one afternoon. That bastard had been trying mess with me ever since he married my aunt. Then that after noon he busted into my room and raped me." She said. He watched as tears coursed down her cheeks again. "I was a virgin and he just took it like I was a whore or something." She cried. Mark held her and wiped her tears with his fingers. "Then my aunt came in and shot him. She had on gloves and she pressed my hand to the gun after she was done. I was so out of it I couldn't think straight. She told me this way she could be rid of both of us. She had a big life insurance policy on him. When she went to call the police I threw my clothes on and took off." She said. Tyger looked up at him, but she couldn't read his expression. "You don't believe me do you?" she said sadly. Mark knew what his instincts were telling him, they had never steered him wrong before. "I believe you honey." He said. Tyger threw her arms around his neck and hugged him finally some one believed her. Mark was angry how someone could do this shit to a kid practically a baby when it happened. "Thank you." She whispered. "Tyger listen to me. You still have to turn yourself in. Let's do this the right way. I'll hire you a good lawyer and we'll talk to witness who know you, build a strong case for you. We may even be able to trip your aunt up, she thinks she can't be caught that's when people start making mistakes." He said. Tyger looked at him she was scared. "Do you trust me Tyger?" he asked. She looked up at him. "Yes I trust you." She said. "Good cause I'm going to take care of you I promise." He said. Tyger curled up in his arms feeling safe and protected. Mark didn't care anymore if his feelings about her were right or wrong. He was going to clear her and give her back her life. He tightened his hold on her and watched over her as she went to sleep.