Mickie has her nose in a book when she hears the front door unlock, then open, Alexa making soft clucking noses to the various pets who make their presence known, running in circles around her. She waits patiently, pretending to read the rest of the page she's currently stuck on, until Alexa frees herself and ventures inside.
Her gaze wanders from the Christmas tree in the corner, to the scattered decorations on other surfaces around the room, finally to where Mickie is sitting, sprawled out lazily upon the couch. Making a soft noise, Alexa kicks her shoes off and drops down on the side of the couch, crawling up to rest her head on Mickie's shoulder.
Mickie makes a soft noise, casting a quick glance down at Alexa, before shifting her hands around so one's free, which she promptly begins running soothingly through Alexa's soft blonde hair. "Everything ok? Thought you'd be on top of the world, being #1 contender and all."
"Tired," Alexa mumbles. She sits up and lightly tugs the book out of Mickie's hand, staring at her. "I think he's still in my head."
Mickie bites down her fussing about the book and stares back at Alexa. "What do you mean? Not... I mean, not... there's no way?"
"I feel him, sometimes," Alexa breathes. "Like a cold touch on the back of my neck. And tonight, I... I almost did Sister Abigail on Bianca. I... He's not done with me, Mickie, and it terrifies me." Tears on her cheeks gleam in the racing Christmas lights and Mickie's heart breaks all over as she reaches out for Alexa.
"It's ok," she says, tucking Alexa close to her. "We'll figure this out. I will not let him have you again." She'd made the mistake once, giving Alexa space, trying not to worry too much, and it had led them both down such a bad path. "I won't let it happen again."
Alexa sniffs, digs her nails into Mickie's shirt, and nods. "Please don't," she murmurs.
Mickie nods, rocking her back and forth, making sure she's tilted just so to look at the Christmas tree, since it always calms her. "Everything will be just fine," she promises quietly. "Trust me."
"I do," Alexa murmurs, eyes gleaming as she peers at the tree. "Always will. Thank you."