Chris couldn't ignore the noises coming from the holding cell any longer. It made something deep inside her hurt. She dared to get out of bed, to leave him, to go and see their hostage. She slipped on Benz's shirt from the floor beside the bed, mostly to cover her tracks if anything went wrong, if she was caught out of bed there could be hell to pay.
Jamie didn't live on the assumption she was a free woman; she knew she was not. She knew what was expected of her and carried out her role without complaint. She didn't even mind the majority of the time, but when it came to moments like this where she was faced with the reality of her life - her choices were not her own - she found it was a bitter pill to swallow.
She made her way down the elaborate staircase and stepped onto the cold stone floor of the ground floor. Her bare feet were quiet as she made her way towards him. She was in darkness, shadows of objects surrounded her as she found her way around the unknown house. This place was much nicer than their usual hideouts, but she never questioned where they were staying, and therefore never had any information to hand about any of it. Where they were staying and how, were things that Benz didn't see the point in telling her
She retrieved the key from the kitchen, while rinsing and filling two glasses of water. She carried them carefully back to the locked door. She placed them on a side table beside the door and slipped the key into the lock. She clicked it open holding her breath listening for noise above her. It was all quiet and she eased the door open before slipping through the small gap with one of the glasses in her hand. She turned and locked the door behind her. It was even darker in the cell. Her eyes adjusted after a moment and she looked down to see their prisoner curled up on the floor. She moved closer to him so she could see him more clearly.
Sweat covered his face and his mumblings didn't stop as she stood over him. He was dreaming. The noise that brought her here erupted from his mouth and she jumped back from him startled. Jamie had never heard someone sound so in pain.
'No,' the word came out as a whimper. In the throws of his dream Street reached out. She'd taken his hand. An instinct reaction that she couldn't explain. Placing the water on the floor beside them she sank to her knees. Her presence eased his dream a little, but now she was close enough to see the expressions as they passed over his features. She watched a tear form from under his closed eyelid. She couldn't watch it fall, so lent in and used the pad of her thumb to brush it away. Once her hand was touching his face she couldn't let go. She found herself cupping his cheek and whispering to him that it was ok.
He relaxed almost immediately to her touch and voice, so she didn't question her own behaviour. She was glad she had managed to help someone for once.
'You're ok,' she spoke to him quietly, her face right in front of his. One of her hands was still holding his, and her other was cupping his cheek. She watched his features neutralise, and had no idea she was stroking his face with her thumb.
His eyes flickered open for a second before closing again. While they were close a smile tugged at his lips.
'Chris,' he sighed sleepily. It was the worst thing he could have said. She pulled away from him, putting as much space between them as the small room would allow. He frowned propping himself up on his elbows so that he could look at her. It took a couple of seconds for everything to fall into place in his mind. For that first moment while he was waking up he was the happiest he had been for months.
He looked at Chris with her back up against the wall. It had all been so perfect a couple of seconds ago.
'You were having a bad dream,' she explained to him having no idea whether he remembered it or not.
'Thanks,' he was nervous she noted, as he sat up placing his hands in his lap. 'Thanks for sitting with me.'
Street she finally remembered the name he gave to her in the hospital: 'Is your name really Street?' she used the name that her memory supplied.
'James Street, but you always call me Street,' he worried he had said too much again, but she seemed ok with it. They both realised at the same time her state of undress. She blushed, fidgeting with the edge of the black shirt which hung at mid thigh level. She was wearing nothing underneath it and now felt very exposed. Street how ever had mixed feelings about her attire. He couldn't help admiring her and think how great she would have looked in one of his shirts, but that was not his shirt and she looked like she had just left another mans bed. Street had to remind himself that Chris was free to be with who ever she chose.
'I brought you some water,' she nodded her head to the glass sitting beside him. Street was witnessing Chris shy for the first time. 'Thanks,' he smiled at her, reaching out and taking the glass to his lips. He took a sip before replacing it back on the floor in front of him. She'd watched him do the whole thing. She ducked her head nervously as he realised she was watching him.
'Can you not call me Chris, I don't remember being her,' she was still stood against the door fiddling with the edge of the shirt. Her eyes were full of worry as she glance up at him briefly after her statement. Street tried to keep calm; but she had just admitted that she was Chris. It didn't even matter that she didn't remember it. She knew it and that was enough.
'I'll try and remember to call you Jamie,' it didn't even feel like he was caving. It felt like he had just been tied to a hundred balloons. He could call her Jamie for a short time while she wrapped her head around it. As long as she knew, he would have chance to talk to her and get her to remember. 'I can't promise it will be every time,' he warned her. She looked happier and gave him a shy smile.
'Jamie,' Benz called her name from somewhere in the house. Street watched the dread creep over her face. Without a word she turned and slipped the key in the lock. 'Jamie,' the call came again. She moved into full speed, throwing the door open and practically jumping out into the corridor. Street could only worry as she disappeared and the door was closed and locked behind her.
