In the Middle of a Storm two people reach for each other through the rain. One needing to be pulled to safety and the other to be the savior

THE RAIN

Eric's Apartment

When Eric opened his eyes the only sounds he could hear is the rain and thunder outside. He turned his head toward the window in his bed room and saw the telltale flashes of lightning. Rubbing his eyes he reached over and grabbed his phone, checking the time. 3:08 am. He sat up rubbing his forehead, sleep had been difficult tonight. Try as he might he couldn't help but worry. Nell's experiences this last case in the Kill House had got to be getting to her. He could feel it. He didn't know how, but he could feel it. It had kept him up all night and was driving him crazy. He really wanted to call her, to make sure she was ok but he didn't want to seem overbearing. He swore in his mind and pulled up his contacts and called her. After a few rings she answered.

"Hello?" She said. She didn't sound like she was woken up but he could tell it was not her normal voice.

"Hey, it's me. Listen, I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you but I couldn't sleep and just wanted to see if you were ok." He said, trying to force the words out.

"No, Eric. I'm not ok." She said, her voice going up in tone like she was about to break down.

"Is there anything I can do?" He asked, standing up and pulling on a pair of shorts. There was a soft knock on his door.

"Yea, there is." She said as he walked over to the door and opened it a crack. He almost dropped the phone when he saw her. She was soaked due to the rain and looked completely different then the cheery, happy Nell he had come to know. "Let me in, please?" She almost whispered.

Eric hung up the phone and opened the door and pulled her inside. She was shivering, dripping wet. He took her into the bathroom and gave her a towel to dry off with, while he started to run a bath for her so she could warm up a bit. When the bath was full she handed him the towel. She looked up at him.

"Umm…can you turn around, please?" She asked, biting her lower lip.

"Oh, yea…sorry" He said, snapped out of his trance. He turned around and heard the sound of her wet clothes drop, then the sound of her stepping into the bath, finally the curtain being drawn. He turned around.

"I'll go toss these in the wash and get you some fresh, dry clothes. Let me know if you need anything." He said as he started to gather her clothes. He thought how under normal circumstances he should be going nuts with all of this. Her clothes on the floor and between two sheets of thin plastic laid the girl who was constantly in his dreams, completely naked. He shook his head, turning around to leave before he made an ass out of himself when he heard her call his name.

"Eric?" He looked over her shoulder to see her head from behind the curtain. "Thank you." She said, smiling a weak smile.

"Anytime, Rockstar." He said, smiling back at her.

Later that Night

After 20 min he heard the water drain, her steps out of the tub and her slipping the spare clothes he laid out. He was sitting on the bed when he came out of the bathroom wearing a pair of his pajamas and a large t-shirt of his. He stood up as she walked over to him.

"Feel better?" He asked, reached out and stroking her cheek.

"Almost" She said as she threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around his chest, laying her head against him. After getting over the initial shock he wrapped his arms around her, one hand holding her head against him. She squeezed him gently. "Now I feel better" She said.

He felt the tension in her body melt away in his arms. She finally let him go and stepped away, wiping a tear from her eye.

"So….I guess I'll take the couch and you can sleep in here tonight." He said as he made for the door to the bedroom when she reached out and grabbed him. He stopped and looked at her. She shook her head gently.

"No, Eric. I want you, please? I just feel so safe in your arms." She said. He nodded gently.

"Ok, Nell." He said as she led him over to the bed. He sat down and she sat down on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled against his shoulder. She sighed and closed her eyes.

"Thank you so much, Eric. I don't know what I would do without you." She said, kissing his neck gently.

"I don't know what I would do without you too, Nell." He whispered as he laid back, cradling her in his arms. He pulled the blanket around them, tucking it around them to stay warm tonight.

"Good night, Eric." She whispered to him as she fell asleep. "Good night, Nell" He whispered back, placing a gently kiss on her forehead before quickly joining her in slumber.

Morning

Eric woke up first to the sun hitting him in the face. He turned his head to get rid of the light and looked over at the time. It read 10:30. Thank God for Saturday He thought to himself. He then realized something was pinning him down. He looked down got a face full of red hair. When he realized who the hair belonged to he smiled. She started to stir before moving her head to look up at him.

"How long have you been awake?" She said, yawning slightly.

"Not long." He said.

"Then why are you smiling?" She said.

"Because for a brief second I thought that last night was another dream." He said. She smiled.

"You have dreamed this before?" she said.

"Something similar." He said.

"Did this live up to it?" She asked.

"It was better than I could have dreamed of. " He said, chuckling. She laughed.

"Very punny, Beale." She said.

Later that Morning

Eric poured them cups of coffee as Nell came out dressed in her dry clothes. She took the cup and took a sip of it.

"How about breakfast? I know a little dinner around the corner that serves some amazing Waffels." Eric said.

"That sounds great. Let me run home real quick to get some things and we will go when I get back." She said, smiling. She looked down at the shirt she carried, the one she slept in last night. "Um… so…random question. Would you mind if I….if I kinda keep this shirt?" She asked. "It's really comfy to sleep in...and it smells like you." She said, blushing.

"Uh…sure. Go ahead" Eric said, stammering.

"Last night I slept better than I have in many years, Eric. Thank you so much." She said as she grabbed him in a hug.

"Anytime, Nell. You are always welcome here." He said, kissing her cheek.

"I'll see you in an hour." She said as she grabbed her stuff and walked out the door. Eric just stood there for a few moments, a smile on his face. She was OK now. And that made him smile every time.

Post Kill House