This chapter is a bit shorter than some of the others, but I wanted to get something out for everyone. I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up...I have ideas, but just don't have the time right now to write them down. You may not see another update for at least a week, maybe longer...please be patient with me. Please keep reviewing and I'll try to get another update up as soon as I can.
Jen had been told that time heals all wounds and it was going to take time for all of hers to heal. With that time also came the growing relationship between her and Garret. For the first time she knew what it felt like to be loved.
The two grew closer…Jen became more comfortable with Garret touching her…allowing his hands to linger longer on her body. With those lingering touches she found her body responding more and more. At first it scared her…it brought back flashbacks to what her uncle had done to her. As much as she was coming to grips with her past, she was frustrated the way intimacy made her feel.
Stiles had told her that she was trying to do too much at once. At first she didn't believe him, but the last flashback she had scared both her and Garret.
One evening as Jen was cleaning up the dishes from dinner with Garret…he came up behind her and started kissing her neck. She almost jumped out of her skin at his touch and screamed at him to let her go. When he did, she hurried to the nearby corner…kept screaming at him to leave her alone…not to hurt her again. That was when he saw the blood all over her hand. It took him a good five minutes to calm her down before he could bandage her hand…she didn't remember the glass she had been holding, breaking it when she panicked.
After finally getting her to calm down and her hand bandaged, Garret called Stiles and asked him to come over. When Stiles arrived, he spoke to Jen for awhile, then gave her the number of a therapist who could help. After he left, Jen looked at her bandaged hand.
"Maybe I should take you to the hospital?" Garret walked up to her slowly, trying not to startle her.
"No…I think it will be ok…it just throbs a little. I'll take some aspirin and that should help." She flopped down on the couch. "I can't believe this is happening now."
"What?"
"The flashbacks…I'm sorry if I scared you." She threw her head back against the couch and closed her eyes. "You're getting so much more than you bargained for out of this relationship."
Garret took a seat next to her. "You heard Stiles…sometimes they happen to people at different times. I guess us getting closer are causing them. You'll get through this and I'll be here to help." He kissed her forehead and took a deep breath…his voice quiet when he spoke, "I think though…I should probably go."
She looked at him…somewhat disappointed. "Why?"
"I…I just think its best." He got up and walked to the door.
"No!" Jen quickly stood up and made her way to him.
He turned around and saw how upset she was. "Look…its best if I just go…give you some space."
"You just said you would be here for me…now your leaving. I won't let this happen." She grabbed his hand and held it tight. "I need you now…I need you to tell me its going to be alright…to hold me safely in your arms." Her eyes filled with tears as she tried to blink them away.
Garret moved closer. "Are you sure you want me here…after what happened?"
"That was not your fault. Aren't you the one that told me I shouldn't blame myself for what happened…now look what you're doing? I want you to stay." She moved her arms around his body and held onto him. She felt his arms move to hold her.
Just as he had done many nights before…Garret stayed…this night in particular he held her close to him as they slept…his arms wrapped protectively around her.
