Its the whimpers that wake her up. Chrissy glances at the clock on her beside table. Three in the morning. There's another small, scared noise from her left and she turns over, reaching for his hand.
"James? James, wake up. You're dreaming." That works sometimes. Sometimes that's all that's needed to get him out of whatever nightmare he's having. Not this time though it seems. He's not quite tossing and turning, but he's shifting restlessly about. Realising that this is only going to escalate, she props herself on her elbow and shakes her husband's shoulder firmly but gently. James wakes and is instantly sitting up, breathing heavily and gripping the edge of the bed. She reaches out to touch his back, to let him know she's there, and he jerks away, before his head snaps round to look at her.
"C-Chris?"
"Who else?" she says, smiling. "You were having a nightmare."
"Yes." He replies flatly, still breathing in slight shudders. Then he tenses a little and turns back to the window. "Go back to sleep. I'm ok." He lies back in bed, and makes sure he has his back to her. She knows him too well to think that he really is calm, or about to attempt to sleep again.
"You sure you're alright love?"
"Yeah. G-get some sleep." As if he thinks that she'll be able to just switch off and sleep, knowing he's lying there still scared, and probably feeling ashamed, despite how much she tries to stop him. She scoots a little closer, and snakes her hand over him to rest on his chest.
"If you're alright, someone needs to tell your heart to step down from red alert." Its pounding under her palm. If he was on her ward, there would be all sorts of alarms going off. It scared her to think of the effects of this happening as often as it does could be having on him in the long run. Before she has much chance to contemplate it however, he slips out of the bed. Its only when he goes to grab his pillow that she realises what he's planning.
"What are you doing?"
"Should probably go sleep on the sofa. Let you get some rest, while its still dark."
"Don't be an idiot James Hathaway, it doesn't suit you."
"You've got t-to get up for work in five hours...need your rest, nurses need sleep." She almost rolls her eyes at him, not that he'd be able to see it in the dark room.
"And you need me. Come back to bed James." He just stands there for thirty seconds, clearly debating whether its really ok for him to do what she says. Eventually he slides back into bed, facing her this time.
"I'm sorry Chris, you didn't sign up for this shit." She softly taps the side of his head.
"Daft git. You're forgetting, that we'd been together for a year and a half before we got married. I'd argue that I knew exactly what I was 'signing up for'." He nods and tries to bury his face into the pillow. She knows that its futile, but she asks anyway;
"Tell me what happened?" He just shakes his head, trying to bury in deeper, emitting a soft noise of protest. Chrissy has learnt that this means he's been dreaming about her, and something bad. Generic nightmares, he'll tell her about. But its rare that he'll share the dream if it involves her.
"Bad then." Its not a question, but he gives an answer of sorts anyway.
"Don't want to think 'bout it."
"Alright. I won't ask anymore. You can tell me though, if you ever want to."
"I know," he whispers. She gently turns his head to face her, and pulls him in close. He tucks his head into her shoulder, and she slides her arm underneath him, as close to a hug as she can get. Her other hand reaches across her body to stroke his short hair. She plants a kiss on the top of his head, and he lets out a deep, shuddering breath.
"Its over with now love. Go to sleep, I've got you. You're safe, me too. It's alright." He mumbles into her collarbone, and she smiles as she feels the tension leave him, sleep making its claim.
"I love you too James."