Journey Series: Ellick

Nightmare (I'm Here)

She felt it in the middle of the night. A small tremor that shook her. It had emitted from Nick. She was groggy, not really sure where she was. But she quickly realized that she was in Nick's apartment. Sleeping on his couch. Um... sleeping on his chest, on his couch. She carefully rose and could see that he was fighting. His face was twitching, his hands were clenched. After a few moments, the movement became more erratic and more violent. Ellie quickly got up and crouched by his head. Her common sense had kicked in. She was familiar with PTSD, but had only ever read of the effects of incredibly traumatic events. She wasn't sure what would happen if she tried to wake him. But she couldn't watch his suffer in silence either. "Nick," she whispered. Nothing. "Nick," she tried again, a little louder this time. Still nothing. She took a deep breathe, steeling herself for the risk she was about to take. She said his name loudly while shaking him by the shoulders. It got her a reaction.

His eyes flew open and in one swift moment, his hands were around her neck. His eyes were clouded. She clenched his wrists, "Nick," she gasped. The clouds cleared and made way for shock as he realized what he had been doing. He collapsed on the couch, head in his hands. Ellie's knees locked and she fell to the floor beside the couch. She could see the perspiration streaming down his face. And was he? Yes, he was shaking. She crawled and sat in front of him. Gently, gently, she grasped his wrists. He stiffened. Slowly, she moved them away from his face. She snaked her way in between his legs and extened herself on her knees and forced him into a hug. Her chest burned with sobs as he burrowed his face into her neck. Stroking his hair she whispered the only thing she could: "I'm here."