The sheet twisted under Vince's grasp as the dream intensified, a low moan escaping him. Vince stood at the end of a darkened alley, the dark night surrounding him intensely. He stared down the alley way as his wife and son approached. Something felt off. Something was not right. Before he could move, men jumped out of the shadows grabbing hold of his family dragging them off into the darkness. He tried to move forward, do something, but was struck from behind. Falling forward, he could hear Trip calling out "Dad!"
Vince took a gasping breath, grapping hold of the wrist that was trying to shake him awake as he looked around wildly.
"Vince, its okay." Orwell said softly. "You've just been having a bad dream. Its okay."
Orwell watched as Vince's eyes lost the wild glaze they had held just a few moments before.
Vince blinked several times, finally noticing that he was still holding tightly onto Orwell's wrist. "I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?"
She saw the pained expression cross his face as he quickly let go. "No, I'm fine." she said as she gave him a reassuring smile.
"Are you okay?" she asked and he could see the concern in her eyes.
"Yeah, I think I need to get up." He said, sitting up and throwing the sheet off of himself. He tried shaking the image of his family being dragged away, but it lingered, playing at the edge of his consciousness.
Dana lovingly looked down at Tripp, who was walking beside her and finishing off an ice cream cone. "I'm sorry that we had to stay so late again tonight. I know that I have been working a lot lately. But, at least you got some ice cream out of the deal." Dana tried to sound peppy.
"It's okay, mom." Tripp said while taking his last bite of cone. "I understand. Things are going to get better." He said looking up at her.
"Yes, they are." She marveled at her son sometimes. After everything that has happened, that he could still be so positive, and mature. She had noticed that he seemed to be more upbeat in the last day, she didn't dwell on it. She was just glad he finally seemed to be happy. "I tell you what this weekend – no work. Just you and me. Why don't we go and see a movie. Your pick."
"That would be…." Trip's sentence trailed off as Dana followed his son's line of vision and saw two men exit a vehicle heading straight for them.
Vince stood in the shadow of the alleyway. A quick shiver went up his spine as he saw the men approaching and a flash of the nightmare he had had sprang to his mind.
"I see them too. Just get them to the car and I'll get everyone out of here." Vince's radio broke him out of his thoughts."
"Orwell?" Vince glanced down the street in the direction that his family was coming and saw a familiar sports car. "What are you doing here?"
"You didn't think I was actually going to let you go out on your own in your current condition, did you? Now, hurry and get them over here."
Vince watched the men approach and the saw the look of fear and apprehension cross his wife's face. He had to wait until they were close enough for him to strike. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as he could hear his heartbeat in his ears. He could tell which of the two men was the ring leader of the group just by his walk. He recognized the other man as the one from the construction site. As soon as the men stepped on the sidewalk he also saw the gun.
A second later, he whipped the Cape out, wrenching the gun out of the startled man's hand. He heard, "Hey, what the .." before he silenced the man with a strong blow to the jaw. He turned to the other man, who now looked as if he had seen a ghost. "Remember me?" he asked before placing a similar blow to him as well.
Vince looked over at Dana who appeared to be a bit shell shocked at the moment. "What's going on? Who are these guys."
"They're mob guys." Vince glanced over at Tripp momentarily before returning his gaze to Dana. He could tell she wanted to start peppering him with questions. He held up his hands in an effort to stem the tide. "I need you to come with me now, before they wake up. I'll explain everything later." He reached out his hand, hoping she would take it without any further questions. "I promise you will be safe."
"Okay." She nodded her head quickly as Orwell quickly put the car in place. "Get in."