One little song chases away the demons of the night

NIGHTMARES AND A SONG

Nell felt the vibration from her phone through her pillow. Failing to stifling a yawn she sat up and looked at the time. It was 2 in the morning and she was wondering who was calling this early. She fished her phone from under her pillow and looked at the caller ID. When she saw who it was it made sense. Normally she hated being woken up but with who was calling she had a completely different stance. She flicked the phone and brought it to her ear.

"Eric? Are you alright?" She asked. Mentally she smacked herself at asking a stupid question. He almost got killed today, or frelted as everyone started to call it.

There was silence on the other end which started to make her worry. "Eric?" she repeated.

"I'm sorry, Nell. I shouldn't have called you." Eric said, sounding like he was going to hang up.

"Eric, wait. It's OK. I'm glad you called." She said, leaning against the headboard.

"You...you are?" He asked, caught off guard.

"Yea. Let's me know that you are still breathing." She said.

He just gave an acknowledging sigh.

"Can't sleep?" She asked.

"No. I've done everything I can to wear myself out but every time I close my eyes I feel that chamber" He said.

"I'm so sorry, Eric. I wish I could have done more." She said, meaning every word

"It's not your fault, Nell. You are doing more then enough just being there to listen to me in the middle of the night." Eric said.

An idea popped into her head. "I may have something that can help you sleep." She said

"What is that?" He asked, eager to try anything to get to sleep. He was exhausted.

"When I was a little girl and would get scared my mother would hum to me until I fell asleep. Maybe it can help you." She said.

"I think I'm a little old for that, Nell" Eric said.

"Just trust me, Wolfram. Now, lie down and put your phone on speaker next to your head." She said.

"OK." He said, his shifts heard on the other end of the line.

"Close your eyes and breath deeply. In through your nose and out through your mouth. Take slow deep breaths" She instructed. She heard him start to breath like she told him.

She started to hum a tune. She wasn't humming anything in particular, just whatever came to her mind. She brought her knees to her chest and rested her cheek on her knees as she continued to him. After 5 minutes she could hear a difference in his breathing. She could tell he was finally asleep.

"Good night, Eric." She whispered before hanging up

The sound of a Super Mario 1-Up sound echoed through the quiet apartment. Eric reached over and grabbed his phone off the dresser, setting down the book he was reading.

Hey

He smiled a bit as he typed out a response

Hey there Rockstar. How are you doing?

The response was quick

About as good as one can expect with having a brush with death

I know how that goes. ;) But I'm serious. Are you ok?

The response was slow

I can't sleep. I'm exhausted but my brain won't shut off

Want me to come over?

No, not right now. But I appreciate the offer :)

You know that offer is always open, anytime, anywhere. You call, I'll be there.

I know :) Only I know that mild mannered Eric Beale is in fact a Super Hero :P

You flatter me, madam

They sat in silence for a few moments before he texted her again

I'm glad you're Ok.

Well, that is a matter of perspective

You know what I mean, silly :P

I do :)

Eric couldn't help but smile as he sent her a file that he had prepared earlier that night for just this occasion

I figured you could use this. Just listen to it on repeat. Hopefully it will work for you like it did for me. ;)

After a few minutes she replied.

Are you kidding me, Beale? :')

Just doing what I can. How about I pick you up tomorrow for breakfast?

I would like that. Thank you, Wolfram

Anytime, Rockstar. Sweet Dreams

I'm sure they will be...now ;)

Good night

:*

He sat back and in his mind pictured Nell putting in a pair of earbuds, lying back, and slowly falling asleep, smiling listening to the sound of Eric humming the same tune she did for him months ago.

Eric opened his eyes, the soft cries waking him in an instant. He sat up to see her curled in a ball, softly crying.

"Nell?" He said, quietly, not wanting to startle her. She didn't respond so he reached out and touched her shoulder gently.

"Nell, it's all right. I'm here." He said as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Why? Why did I have to do it?" Nell said between sobs.

Eric turned her to face him as he cupped her face in his hand.

"You did what you needed to. It was you or him." Eric said, softly stroking her cheek with his thumb.

"Everytime I close my eyes I see his face. I hear the gun shot, the blood." He said before breaking down again.

Eric pulled her in and placed a long kiss on her forehead. "It's over now, Nell. It's all over." He whispered.

"I always wanted to go out into the field. Now I'm not sure." She said.

He ran a hand up and down her back. "You will make an amazing Agent." He said.

"You are just saying that to make me feel better." She said.

He shook his head gently. "Nope. I know for a fact you will." He said.

Nell was too tired to fight him on that.

"Let's get some sleep. Tomorrow let's go to the beach and relax for a bit. You need to talk to Nate about this but you can't right now." He said.

He laid down on the bed and gently pulled her onto him. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her gently.

Then he did something that surprised Nell. He started humming. The same song from years ago. He could feel a smile form on her face pressed against his chest as he gently rubbed her back, continuing to hum until he could feel her finally give out. He brushed a lock of hair out of her face and kissed her forehead gently.

"Sweet dreams, Nell" He whispered to her as he fell asleep soon after

Nell felt the bed jostle but then fell back asleep. After a few moments she reached behind her on instinct but felt empty bed. It was still warm but empty. She sat up and saw the light on in the bathroom. She sat up and climbed out of bed when she heard him vomit into the toilet. She went into the kitchen and poured him a glass of water. She walked in and opened the door to the bathroom. He looked up at her and it was obvious he was having a nightmare. The events of the day weighed heavily on him

She handed the glass to him. "Thanks" He said as he took a drink. He was covered in sweat and was hot to the touch.

"You're burning up." She said as she ran a washcloth in the sink and wrung it out. Gently she ran it across his shoulders and back. He closed his eyes and sighed

"Feel better?" She asked, re-wetting the cloth and doing it again. He nodded.

"Nightmare?" She asked him as she wiped his brow.

"Yea. It's the closest I've ever come to that kind of situation before." He said as he flushed the toilet and sat back against the wall. She put the toilet seat cover down and sat down. She took the wash cloth and ran it over his chest.

"I was so scared for you today." She said.

"Me too." He said.

"Even if you wake me at 3 am, I'm still glad you are here." She said, giving him a smile. She took his hand and squeezed it gently.

"Me too." He said. She gently pulled him to his feet and led him to bed.

"Lay on your stomach." She said. He did as she instructed, settling into the pillow.

She started to rub her hands over his back and shoulders, slowly working out the stiffness underneath.

"Does that feel good?" She whispered to him.

He nodded gently."It does." He whispered back.

She put a little coconut oil in her hands and continued to work on his shoulders and back. After a bit she started to hum the song. A smile crept on his face as he realized what she was doing. Her hands touching him combined with her voice started to calm him and after a few minutes he fell asleep. Nell laid down next to him and gently kissed his temple.

"Good night, Eric." She said as she pulled the covers over them both and closed her eyes

Eric could feel the tiny fingers gently shaking his shoulder. He instantly opened his eyes and flicked the desk lamp on low. He pulled his glasses on and looked into the green eyes of a young 3 year old girl.

"What's wrong, baby girl? Did you have a bad dream?" He said.

She rubbed her eye with one hand, the other clutching the stuffed bat that she was given at birth by Abby. She nodded her head.

"Come here." Eric said as he scooped her into his arms and leaned back against the headboard. She laid her head on his shoulder as he softly stroked her back

"It's ok, baby girl. Daddy's got you." Eric said.

Nell rolled over and sat up.

"Oh honey. Are you alright?" She asked.

"Rachel had a bad dream is all." Eric said. Nell leaned in and kissed Rachel in the forehead. She brushed a few locks of the same red hair that her mother had out of the way.

"You know Mommy and Daddy won't let anything happen to you, right?" She asked.

Rachel just nodded, sniffing a bit.

"And neither will your aunts and uncles. We are all one big family, right?" She continued.

Rachel nodded again.

"You are safe with us, baby girl." Eric said.

"Can I sweep with you?" Rachel said, her voice barely audible.

"Of course, honey." Nell said, softly stroking her cheek.

Eric looked over at Nell and met her eyes.

"I know just the thing to help chase your nightmares away." He said with a smile. Nell smiled back, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

She pulled the sheets back as Eric laid down, still holding Rachel in his arms. He settled down against the pillow as Nell tucked the sheets around all three of them. Nell turned to her side and wrapped an arm around both Eric and Rachel.

"Close your eyes, baby girl. Mommy and Daddy both got you" Eric said.

Rachel closed her eyes and Nell started to hum, Eric joining shortly after. Both of them continued to hum the same song that they hummed to her while she was still in the womb. The same song that got both of them through their sleepness nights now serenaded their daughter into her dreams and away from her nightmares.

Fear not. I will be making Part 2 of the Drought, but I had this idea pop in my head last night and really wanted to get it out before I forgot it.

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