It's easier to overcome past trauma with someone to hold on to.
Jane was abruptly awakened by a loud yell.
Striker was awake. Her husband looked scared out of his wits, pale and covered in sweat.
"Clayton?" her voice seemed to snap him out of his frightened state.
"J-Jane...!" he quickly wiped the sweat off his brow and looked away. "I'm sorry I woke ya up, I... I just..."
Jane sat up and tentatively placed a hand on his shoulder. He was trembling.
"Another nightmare?" she said, though she didn't really need to ask.
"Really, doll, I'm fine..."
She squeezed on his shoulder sternly. They'd talked about this. He didn't need to keep secrets from her, and vice-versa.
After some time, Striker sighed as he ran a hand through his hair.
"...I don't know why this keeps happenin' to me, Jane... Every single time I believe I've put it behind me, it comes back... Her icy touch, her claws piercing into me, her eyes as she..." the cowboy closed his eyes shut, body stiffening. "It almost feels like she's still findin' ways to keep hauntin' me."
Jane ran a hand down Striker's back. Her fingers traced some of the long-inflicted scars. She couldn't even imagine what he'd gone through during that time under the Blood Countess's service. He hadn't wanted to tell her at first, and even when he finally told her he didn't go into details.
But she could tell from the terrified look in his eyes whenever he spoke of her that it hadn't been pleasant.
She pulled Striker close, bringing his head to her chest as her hand stroked his hair.
"She cannot hurt you anymore, love. She'll have to go through me if she ever thinks about it."
Under other circumstances, he would have laughed at the comment. But for now, he relaxed in his wife's embrace, losing himself into her touch as she whispered comforting words to him.