It had been five months since that horrible wicked day, and she still dreamed about it as vividly as the day itself. Reba pulled herself out of bed, the covers starting to suffocate her. She walked around her room, her mind blank. It seemed to be all she did anymore, walking around anywhere she could. Her sleep schedule was completely off thanks to her nightmares. At least this time Brock hadn't come back to her. She hated those dreams the worst. Every time she would wake up only to find he was dead again. She started a bath, making the water as cold as she could. Hot water didn't seem to have the same effects like it had before. She took her time taking off her pajamas. The scar over her heart almost blended in with the rest of her body, but she knew it was there which helped to bring out it's form. She closed her eyes, feeling the rebellious first tear slide along her nose and down her cheek into the corner of her lips. She ran her finger tips lightly over her scar, trying to fight off the memories of the accident. She couldn't bare to remember anymore. Reba opened her eyes, and jumped at the man next to her in the mirror. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as he smiled at her. She smiled back and then he was gone. He was there in every mirror, puddle, thought, dream. He would not leave her alone, and a part of her was glad. She didn't want to forget what he looked like, forget what it was like to have him there. She loved him too much to do such a thing. "Come back for me, Brock. I need you." She whispered into the mirror. When nothing happened after a few seconds, her eyes glanced at the scar again. She wished it could all be that easy. She turned away from the mirror, watching the water fill to the top before climbing in. She closed her eyes, letting the water freeze her body as she slipped completely underneath it. With her mind still focused on her scar, she had no choice but to replay the accident. The accident that cost her everything.
"Reba Hart, you get back here! I am not done discussing this!" Brock stormed after her, knowing she wouldn't turn around or stop. He would have to chase after her. Reba rolled her eyes at her ex-husband. Who cared what he wanted to talk about? She wasn't in the mood for one of his stupid little excuses. She marched all the way to the front doors of the restaurant before Brock caught up to her. "Why must you insist on being so damn stubborn?" He kept a loose grip on her arm, letting go when she yanked it away.
"Because you insist on being so damn stupid!" Reba pushed the front door open, groaning at the pouring rain. She couldn't believe she'd have to run out in this. "Don't forget to drop Elizabeth off at her friend's house. It's the one that lives a block away from you. Ok?" Brock rolled his eyes, pulling her back to him before she could step outside.
"Will you quit babying me for once, and try talking to me like an adult! Now, why would you tell Barbra Jean I'm moving to San Antonio? You know I didn't want her to find out, yet." Reba took a deep breath, searching his eyes quickly before looking away. Brock waited for her answer, watching her every move. He had to be ready in case she darted for the door again.
"Because she's part of the family! She deserves to know before the last minute. Ok? Plus, I thought she could help me talk you out of it." Reba blushed slightly and looked down to her feet.
"Why on Earth would you want to talk me out of it?"
"The kids need you here!" Reba blurted out before he could say another word. She was tired of talking about this. He would eventually get to the bottom of things and find out her real reason of telling Barbra Jean. She knew the blonde could be annoying, and she had wanted to use that to her advantage. Feed the blonde the words she would need in order to convince Brock to stay, and then no one would know she couldn't think about having him so far away from her. The truth was she needed him by her side.
"The kids still have me, Reba! Besides that, they have you. You help them out way more than I do. So, why do I have to stay in Houston?" Brock watched her face as she searched for an answer. She glanced at him, placed her hand on the door again, and shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know, Brock. I just...have to go." She walked away from him, instantly being drowned by the rain. Brock ran after her, stopping when he got to her side. "What are you doing?! Go back inside!" Reba took a few steps away from him, the cars barely viewable. She squinted her eyes not only to keep the rain out, but to see the cars around her better.
"Do you even know where you parked? I can't see a dang thing out here. Why don't you give me your keys, go back inside, and I'll find your car." Reba shook her head, but Brock didn't notice. They could barely hear each other as they argued over who should go back inside to wait with the rest of the family.
"I found it, Brock!" Reba yelled as loudly as she could over her shoulder, hoping he would hear her. She quickly jumped inside the driver side, slamming the door shut as the passenger door opened. Brock sat down, slamming his door also. "Man, it's really pouring out there. I hope everyone makes it home ok." Reba started her car, turning on the heat. Brock didn't respond. He wasn't in the mood for small, happy talk. He had to know why she would be so upset about him moving when seventeen years ago she was estatic about the same move, and using the kids as an excuse wouldn't work anymore. They had all grown up.
"Reba, I need to know." He turned towards her, a serious look on his face. Reba avoided looking at him, immediately regretting not just locking the doors and making him walk back to the restaurant.
"No, you don't. I've already told you why you can't leave. Can you not just leave it at that?" Reba used the same technique she had always used when people were getting close to busting her. She got mad. "What does it matter what I think anyways? I already told you I didn't think it was a good idea, and you still decided to move. I mean, I'm the ex-wife as in excuse me get out of my car." She stared out the front window, watching the only thing she could. The rain. Brock took a deep breath, crossed his arms over his chest, and shook his head no.
"Why do you always have to get mad? It's getting a little old, Reba." Reba glanced down to her hands, which rested in her lap, before shooting him one of her famous glares.
"You're getting a little old." He rolled his eyes, sighing out of frustration. "Always having to cause some type of trouble. You just can't get that little apartment I told you about. You just have to move four hours away! So far away that if something happened it would take you forever to get back! Or worse, Brock, it could take us days to find out something happened to you! I just don't want the kids to go through that. If something horrible happened to you, they don't deserve to feel like it was their fault for not getting there on time!" The car was silent as they both let her words sink in. She hadn't thought of that until now and wanted to be proud of herself, but she couldn't with the realization that something could happen. No matter where he was something could happen. Brock cleared his throat.
"Do you mean the kids...or you?" Reba closed her eyes, taking deep calming breaths. Why did he have to know her so well?
"To a point, yes. Now, please, will you go? I need to get home." Brock thought for a moment, wanting to ignore the whimper in her voice. He wanted to leave her alone like she was asking, but there was just too much of him that could not leave her. He knew he'd never be able to move, and the fact she was fighting so hard for him to stay intrigued him.
"Are you sure you want to drive in this stuff? It doesn't look like it's gonna let up anytime soon." Reba swallowed the lump in her throat, nodding her head yes. "I think I should go with you. It's not safe driving in this by yourself." Brock reached for his seatbelt, and Reba followed his lead. He wasn't planning on letting her go home alone. She had known that from the second he followed her to the door. Why did she have to know him so well? Reba took a deep breath, pulling out of the parking space. When she almost hit the car in the space behind her, Brock told her to let him drive. She quickly switched places with him, and they drove slowly to her house.
"Brock, I can't see a thing. How do you know where you're going...or where you're at for that matter?" Reba tried listening for anything dangerous, but all she could hear was the rain hitting the hood of the car.
"It's ok, Reba. Just be quiet. I can't concentrate if you keep asking me the same questions." She folded her arms over her chest, and look towards the stoplight. It was green, and she tensed when Brock drove through it. Just like she had done the past three. "We're almost home. Don't worry. It's just one more stoplight...then four blocks before we're at your house. I'll get you there safe and sound. Just like you were when..." Just then a big truck ran the stoplight, crashing into the driver side. Both adults were tossed around as the car was pushed several feet. Brock was never able to finsih his sentence, and Reba would never get to tell him that she knew he would. They were lost to each other. Within the next hour the storm let up and they were all rushed to the hospital. Reba was able to leave with only a slightly deep cut on her chest and a few bruises, but Brock wasn't as lucky. He had died on the way to the hospital.
They had spent their last day together arguing over something so stupid. A part of her was glad she had been the last thing he was looking at when that car ran into them, but the other part hated that she had not told him she loved him when he had asked. Maybe they wouldn't have left the parking lot until the next morning. Or maybe he would have gone back inside and she could have just sat in her car until the storm cleared. But of course things had gone much differently. He had spent his last few minutes trying to keep her safe, and he had done that, just like he always had. The only thing left of that night was the scar. She placed her hand over it, feeling it underneath her fingers once again. She would never forget the words that would have ended his sentence...you left... Simple words that hurt her every time they were used. Reba cleared her mind, focusing on the water around her instead of that horrible night. How much longer until she was able to laugh again? When could she turn on a song and not cry? The one thing she knew though, the only thing she didn't have to question anymore, was she had found the place that made her feel so close to him again. Where ever there was water she swore she could feel his arms wrap around her. When she was under the water, like now, she could feel him there with her. Whenever it rained if she went outside he was there with her. She chalked it up to her imagination, but still a part of her believed it was really him, looking out for her even in death. Pushing out of the water, she took a deep breath. When would she be able to hold her breath for at least a few minutes longer? She looked upwards, wishing for him to come back. She missed talking with him, fighting with him, playing games with him, being able to touch him. She just missed him period. She closed her eyes, going back under the water.