CHAPTER SEVEN
Mike jolted awake a few hours later to a scream. He half fell off the couch as he tried to untangle himself from the blanket twisted around him. His brain was groggy and having trouble focusing. He heard garbled yelling and stood up. He was confused as to who would be screaming in his apartment but then remember that Ginny and the boys were there. He hurried to the boys' room and peeked in. Ty looked at him groggily.
"What's going on?" he asked. Wyatt was still curled up against his brother fast asleep.
"I'm not sure. Go back to sleep, it's going to be okay," Mike said as he realized that it was Ginny and not the boys.
He closed their door and turned for his bedroom. He opened the door slowly and quietly stepped in. She was in a restless sleep, twisted in his blankets, mumbling. Mike approached her and sat down on the edge of the bed next to her. She yelled again and he reached down and gently shook her shoulder.
"Ginny, wake up, you're safe," Mike said quietly. She jumped and pushed away from him, taking up a defensive posture. He stayed still and didn't say anything, not wanting to frighten her any more than she already was. She blinked and looked around confused. Mike smiled at her. "Hey, it's okay."
"I…was dreaming," she finally said.
"Yes, it sounded like a nightmare," Mike said gently as he eased his legs onto the bed and leaned against the headboard.
"Reliving earlier tonight," she mumbled. Mike crossed his arms over his chest and leaned his head back.
"He can't get it here," Mike said softly. Ginny looked at him then nodded slowly.
"Sorry I woke you," she said.
"It's okay, wasn't having the best dreams myself," Mike admitted.
"Is that common?" she asked as she shifted onto her side and stared up at him.
"Most nights," Mike shrugged. "That's when the ghosts like to visit."
"Must be hard," she said softly. Mike looked over at her, giving her a sad smile.
"I'm told I have survivor's guilt."
"Must be a hard thing to live with."
"It wasn't that bad when I was still in the Navy. I had the mission; I had the crew. But I got tired. There was always the next mission, the next catastrophe, the next round of trouble, the next person to die."
"Sounds like a lot of stress."
"Sometimes," Mike nodded. "Sometimes just pain. Sometimes…" Mike trailed off. He was remembering those he had lost, those that had died because of decisions he made. There were too many of them. They were clouding his mind and he jumped a little when he felt Ginny slide up next to him. He looked down as she settled her head on his thigh. He dropped his arm and laid his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm impressed you can deal with all the pain. I'd be destroyed if I lost my boys."
"It hasn't been easy. Being with your boys, it helps. Then Ty found out who I was."
"How long has he known?" Ginny asked, sounding like she was falling asleep again.
"Since the beginning of the research project. They showed them pictures of the crew of the Nathan James, including mine."
"He didn't say anything," Ginny mumbled. Her breathing was evening out. Mike smiled.
"I asked him not too. I wasn't sure how you'd take that. I was scared you'd take the boys away."
"I wouldn't do that to you," she whispered. Mike ran his fingers through her hair. She didn't say anything more and he was sure she had fallen asleep. He sat there for a long time, watching her sleep, and trying to clear his mind of all thoughts. Finally sleep overtook him.
At some point in the night Mike had scooted down to lay on the bed. Ginny had curled herself into his side, her head on his chest. When he glanced at the clock and saw it was just after four in the morning. He shifted a little to get comfortable and then let sleep take him again. The next time he woke he was alone in the bed, and he saw it was just before six in the morning. He got up and went out to find Wyatt sitting on his couch, spinning the wheels of a car while watching television. Ginny was at the counter looking in his cupboards. She looked at him over her shoulder. Mike walked into the kitchen and paused.
"I was looking for the coffee," she said with a smile. Mike nodded and went to the cupboard that held his coffee. He started a pot but still hadn't said a word. His mind with filled with all kinds of thoughts that he wasn't expecting, and he was trying to clear them. It wasn't going to do him any good right now. "Thanks."
"Welcome," he mumbled as he rubbed his neck. He looked around. "Ty up yet?"
"No, I was about to wake him," she replied. She paused for a moment looking at him. "Thank you for last night."
"Yeah, sure, no problem. Hopefully it's the last we see of Jeremy. I'll talk to management and see if we can get the locks changed on your door today."
"That would be great, thank you. I don't think it will be the last of Jeremy, unfortunately."
Mike nodded his understanding. He was afraid of that too. "You guys can stay here until the locks are changed. No big deal," Mike replied as he crossed his arms over his chest. Ginny nodded. "I'll get Ty up."
Mike walked over to the guest bedroom and opened the door. He walked up the bed and gently shook the boy's shoulder. Ty groaned and rolled over away from Mike, clamping his eyes tighter. Mike chuckled and sat down on the edge of the bed. He shook Ty's shoulder again.
"Hey, Ty, it's time to get up," Mike said in a gentle voice. Ty groaned again.
"It's too early. I'm tired," Ty whined. Mike felt bad for the kid. He knew it had been a really rough night. He looked back over his shoulder at the partially open door. Mike sighed.
"I know, Ty. I'll give you ten more minutes," Mike replied then he got up and walked back into the main area. Wyatt was doing his running skipping routine and Mike walked around him. He sat down at the table. Ginny was cooking some eggs. She glanced over her shoulder at him and frowned.
"Where's Ty?"
"Still asleep. I told him ten more minutes. He's really tired and I think last night took more out of him than we think."
"You really think so?"
"I do," Mike said as he leaned back in the chair, crossing his arms over his chest. Ginny stared at him a long time until she refocused on the eggs. "Maybe you should let him stay home from school today."
"You really think it's that bad?"
"Ginny, he was terrified last night. He thought Jeremy was going to kill you guys."
"He knows Jeremy wouldn't do that."
"I don't know that," Mike said a little bit of anger in his voice. He sucked in a breath through his nose to try to calm himself. He felt like Ginny was downplaying a very serious issue. She glanced at him a frown on her face.
"You don't know Jeremy," she replied quickly.
"I know guys like him," Mike countered. She looked at him again and he gave her a forced smile. "I was a cop before I was full time Navy."
"You still don't know him."
"Why are you defending him?" Mike asked incredulously. He was shocked to say the least. Ginny didn't turn around again. She concentrated on stirring the scrambled eggs she was making. She also didn't answer him. He sighed and rubbed a hand down his face. "Ginny, I think you need to take this a little more seriously," Mike said and the look she gave him made him regret it.
"Well, it's not really your concern. We can go home tonight even if the locks aren't changed," she said coldly. Mike felt his heart sink. It wasn't what he had meant to happen. He felt stricken. He had a bad feeling Jeremy was going to make a second appearance.
"That's nonsense. Stay here until it's safe," Mike said softly, before he blew out a breath harshly. Ginny moved the eggs to a plate then turned around and leaned against his countertop. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.
"You've only been in our lives for two weeks. Don't try to be the expert and tell me how it is."
"I'm not trying to do that. I'm just concerned for your boys…and you."
"We can take care of ourselves. We have for a long time now."
"But you don't have to," Mike said without thinking. Ginny looked at him for a long moment and he thought he may have crossed a line with her. He looked down at the table and picked at a napkin. "Sorry. I just want to see you guys stay safe."
"Thank you," she said flatly, before pushing from the counter. "Ty," she yelled loudly, "time to get up!"
Mike sighed and got up from the table. He went over to the couch and sat down. It didn't take Wyatt long to crawl up with him and settled into his side, Wyatt's hand going to the hem of Mike's shirt. Mike wrapped an arm around the little boy and kissed his head gently. He worked to keep the tears at bay. He was afraid he'd pushed Ginny to hard and she would find a different solution for the boys. Ty came out of the bedroom bleary eyed and cranky.
"Eat your eggs, Ty, it's time to get ready for school."
"Mom," he whined and looked at Mike for help. Mike gave him a sympathetic smile and then shrugged his shoulders before turning his attention back to the television. "Can't I stay home today?"
"No, you have school, Mr. Mike will watch your brother for today," she replied. Her words hit Mike and he looked over at her, but she was pointedly not looking at him. He hoped it didn't mean he wouldn't be watching Wyatt going forward. She was just mad at him right now, he thought. She'd cool down and it would all go back to normal. She looked at the clock and sighed.
Ginny got Ty moving and, on the bus, just in time before she came back to his apartment. She gave Wyatt a kiss and then disappeared down to her own apartment, presumably to get ready for work. Mike sat with Wyatt for a while watching television thinking about things. It was late morning when Wyatt fell asleep, and Mike got up and took his phone into his bedroom. He called the management office.
"Management," a bored male voice sounded in Mike's ear.
"Hey. This is Mike Slattery in 205," Mike replied.
"Yes, Sir, Mr. Slattery," the man said sounding like a sailor snapping to attention. "What can we do for you today?"
"I was calling to ask a question. It's concerning another apartment."
"Okay, do you have a complaint? We can address it immediately. What's the problem?"
"Not a complaint. I've been watching the boys from apartment 215 while their mother works."
"Ms. Higbee?"
"Uh, yeah," Mike said as he realized he didn't know their last name. "Ginny. She's got two boys," he continued hopefully the information tracked.
"Right. How can I help?"
"She recently broke up with a man who has a key to her apartment," Mike began.
"She really shouldn't have done that," the man said sounding a bit angry.
"Look, he still has it, and he came in last night and roughed up Ginny."
"Oh my, is she okay?"
"Yes, her son Ty came and got me, but I'm calling to see if the locks can be changed on her apartment today?"
"I'll see what I can do. She really shouldn't have given the man the key. If he isn't on the lease," the man said.
"Look, it's done, okay? We can't change it. But I'm worried about her and the boys' safety. So can we change the locks?"
"I'll have to charge her for that. Twenty-five for the locks and sixty to install them."
"I'll pay it," Mike said immediately. "And don't tell her about the charge."
"Ahh, sure, okay. I'll have my guy do it sometime today. He's got a pretty full schedule but should be able to do it by the evening."
"Thanks man," Mike said. "Just have him bring the new keys to 205 when he is done."
"No problem, Mr. Slattery," the man said and then Mike hung up. If she was still mad at him when she got home from work at least he knew the locks wouldn't be an issue. He went back out and checked on Wyatt. The rest of the day went by, and Ty came home from school looking worn out. He was quiet and wouldn't talk to Mike, which concerned him. Mike let it go for a while. It was half an hour before Ginny was supposed to be home when Mike got a text.
I have to work late. I won't be home till after eleven.
Mike read the text and sighed. And thought about a reply. He had already fixed a quick dinner for the boys. He hit the reply button and sent her a text.
Ok. I haven't gotten your new keys yet. Should I keep boys here?
He sat down on the couch. Wyatt was on the floor sorting his blocks and Ty was slumped at the far end of the couch looking sad. Mike wanted to make everything better. He reached out and grabbed Ty gently and pulled the boy closer to him. He wrapped an arm around him, and Ty sunk into Mike's chest. He felt the boy shake as the tears overtook him. Mike held him close, squeezing him on occasion as the boy cried against him. His phone buzzed and he looked at it.
I guess keep them there.
Ok. You're coming here then?
No reply came to his text and Mike felt defeated. Was she just busy or was she still mad at him. Ty had quieted down but was still clinging tightly to Mike's side. Mike tossed his phone down and leaned his head against the top of Ty's. Wyatt saw them and climbed up, pushing between Ty and Mike half sitting on Ty's lap half on Mike's.
"You, okay?" Mike asked finally. Ty shook his head slowly. His lip was still trembling. Mike worked Wyatt to his other side and pulled Ty in close again. The boy melted into Mike and his heart broke a little more. "You know you're safe, right?"
"Yeah, we are, but Mom…she's out there at work. By herself. You can't protect her when she ain't here," Ty said quietly. Mike didn't have anything to come back with that. He knew the boy was right and that fear was legitimate. Mike had even had the thought himself. But there was nothing Mike could do about it. If he brought it up to Ginny, he'd be in even more hot water than he already was.
"I know, son, I know," Mike said. He felt Ty stiffen but then quickly settled back in. Wyatt stood up suddenly and gripped both sides of Mike's face turning his whole head to look at the little boy. Mike was a little stunned by the gesture.
"Mike," Wyatt said with a smile. Mike beamed back at the little boy and felt his eyes burn with tears. Ty shifted to look around Mike.
"Did he just say Mike?"
"Yeah, he did," Mike whispered. "That's right, Buddy, I'm Mike."
Wyatt seemed content with his admission. He jumped down and resumed his running skipping routine. Mike turned his attention back to Ty. He looked at the boy and tried to read him, but he wasn't sure what was going on.
"It's going to be, okay," Mike whispered to him. Ty looked at him and nodded very slowly. Mike could still see the fear and pain in the boy, and he wanted nothing more than to be able to sooth it away.
"I'm glad I met you," Ty said softly. Mike squeezed him closer and leaned down, kissing his head gently. The rest of the evening was quiet and eventually Mike put the boys to bed. They both went down easy, and Mike shut the door as he left them alone. He settled himself on the couch.
It was almost nine when there was a soft knock on his door. He looked up and pushed himself up from the couch. After he cracked the door and recognized the maintenance man standing there, Mike opened the door all the way.
"Hey," Mike greeted the young man.
"Hey, Mr. Slattery. Um, I changed the locks on apartment 215 like you asked."
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Mike replied as he felt relief wash through him.
"Yeah, here's the new keys, Mr. Hamilton said to give them to you."
"Yeah, I'll make sure Ginny gets them."
"All right. Oh, and Mr. H said to give you this part too," the young man said holding up a piece of paper. Mike took it and looked it over. It was the bill for the job.
"Yep, I'll take care of it all. Thanks again," Mike said. The young man nodded and then turned and walked away. Mike set the keys on the table and thought about what to do. He figured Ginny would go back to her apartment tonight, so he sent her a message.
Just got your new keys. Locks all changed out. I left them on the kitchen table. Boys are asleep. Can leave them overnight if you want.
He tapped the keys, then sighed and headed towards his bedroom. He stopped by the couch and thought about staying there, just in case Ginny didn't want to go home, but decided it would be better for his back if he went to his bed.
To Be Continued…
