Jet Black Heart\\M.C.

+12+

+Hannah+

I sink into the bed, sad its empty, but I smile none the less as my phone rings Michael. His face takes over my phone, looking sleepy, but his front teeth peep out from under his lip as he grins endearingly at me.

"Hey, Babe," he says softly.

"Hi," I giggle, feeling so stupid at how happy I am just see him.

"Are you blushing?" He teases me and I put Daniel over my face, making him chuckle.

"I'm happy to see you too, Babe."

I drop Daniel and put him next to me, where Mikey lays and my eyes water, "I hate you not being here, but I'm so excited for your gig on Monday."

"I miss you too," he says gently, looking sad.

"How have you been passing the time?" I ask.

"Uh," he sighs, readjusting, "We've all been talking a lot actually. But otherwise, listening to music. I took a nap. Or two," he chuckles, "Cal agreed to play some Magic so I thought that was pretty fun."

"It wasn't!" I hear a yell and Mikey rolls his eyes.

"Also, look," he turns the camera around and I see his bunk before it pans to where the opening of his bunk is. "I made that!"

I bring my phone closer to look at his makeshift curtain, "is that a blanket draped over a shower rod?"

"Yeah! Privacy!" He smiles with his jaw dropped as he turns the camera back around to his cute face.

"Nice," I giggle.

"Yeah, now Calum can wank it without us knowing about it," he jokes and I hear Calum yell something before Mikey shakes his head, "toeir than a roman sandal."

"I don't have a girlfriend who gives me gobby's in the shower," I hear Calum say and my jaw drops as Mikey's face goes red, staring at me.

"Michael!" I exclaim before I cover my face and die of laughter. "You told him about that?"

"He told me about all of them," I hear Calum better and Mikey shakes on the other end.

"Get the fuck out of here! You're going to get me in trouble," Mikey playfully growls before he screams, "He just bit me!"

"Thats what you get Michael Clifford!" I tease before he lays back down and settles his phone.

"How was your day?" He asks, changing the subject and I sigh.

"It was okay. Shannon called me."

"Oh?" He says his eyes becoming concerned as they dart around the screen to assess me.

"She said pretty much the same thing," I say quietly, "She said she is working hard to get all the documents prepared to be served so we can this started and hopefully over with."

"I'm sorry," he says quietly and I see the genuine care in his eyes. "But maybe it will get postponed long enough to when this is over so I can be there."

"I would like that," I say as I think about it, him holding my hand in the courtroom as I sit before my abusers less daunting. "But I also just want it over with so I can move on and live my life."

"I understand," he remarks, "but Hannah this is a part of you too. You can't just erase it. You have to grow from it, not just wipe it away."

"Why not?" I counter him, "Like dirt on your pants you just brush it off."

"No you don't," he shakes his head, "You wash it."

"Or it will stain," I feel my eyes water, the metaphor leaving a hole in my chest as I acknowledge the truth that this is something I can't just run away from. Again, I will have to walk through the fire to exit renewed or forever suffer.

His brows push together as his jaw slightly trembles, and he nods, "Yeah."

"I'm scared," I admit in a whisper, hugging Daniel tight to my chest.

"Me too," he whispers back and a tear cascades down his cheek, "But we'll do this together." I nod as I squeeze my eyes shut, fighting back my sob of fear before he comforts me, "It's going to be okay. Hard. But it will be okay."

I nod again and swallow, opening my eyes to a gentle smile on his face, his eyes tired, "Do you want to go to bed?"

"I can stay on a bit longer. I've missed you," he grins tiredly, making me feel warm.

We stay on, talking more about his day and the shenanigans with the guys before I share the very dull day after brunch with Tannar, the only real highlight that I called his dad to come put those extra locks on my door, until we both begin to yawn. He tells me how much he loves me and we then we say goodnight. I stare at my phone for a long time after his face disappears, too afraid to really settle into bed without him or with the thought that he won't show up like he normally does if I go to bed before him.

I eventually I do get prepped for bed, brushing my teeth with a sigh when find my brush sitting in the drawer nuzzled next to his. Afterwards I double check the two locks on the door, turn on the hood light above the oven and then turn on the fairy lights in the bedroom. Daniel's mane tickles my nose as I cuddle him tight and sink down low into the blankets, pulling Mikey's pillow with me. I toss a blanket over my head, cocooning like Mikey showed me, and breathe in his scent from the pillow. My breathing slows as my mind releases and I'm able to picture him with me, holding me as I fall into sleep.

++++

"NO!"

I fling up in bed, my arms thrashing and pushing away the hands that grabbed onto my body. Our bed comes into view and I recognize my surrounds before I reach out to Mikey, needing his warmth as my body sweaty body begins to shake. My hand lands on the mattress and my head jerks to his side of the bed, finding it empty.

My breath comes rapidly as tears well and pool over, my whole body shaking in fear of the imagines that assault my mind. I search for Daniel and hold him to my chest, crying hysterically. It's only the first night and I have to endure thirteen more.

I grab my phone with a shaky hand, remembering him telling me to call him anytime I need him; and I need him. My heart races in anticipation to hear his voice but it rings one too many, my breath stopping even before his voicemail sounds in my ear, "It's Michael, leave a message."

I hang up and drop to his pillow, weeping loudly and wildly. My body shakes in anguish and sorrow, needing my protector to calm me. My nails dig into the pillow as I cling to it for dear life, begging just his scent to help me. Tears wet his pillow as I gasp for breath, but my body shakes none the less, the devastation of his absence more than I can bear and I plead my crying to just deplete me quickly so I can sleep.

I search for Daniel again when my phone lights up and begins to ring, Mikey's adorable face taking over my screen. My hands fumble with it, hurrying to get to him as my breath stops with the prospect of hearing his voice.

"Mikey," I croak.

"Are you okay?" He asks, his voice groggy but concerned and the sound of it in my hear relieves me immediately. I press Daniel over my mouth as I cry to save his hearing before he replies quietly, "did you have a nightmare?"

I nod my head, forgetting he can't see me and he says my name, reminding me so I answer, "yes."

"I'm sorry," he whispers and I can hear the frog in his throat before he sniffles. "Shhhh. It's all over now. You're home. You're safe." I nod again as my breath shakes and he continues to gently shush me, my eyes closing to focus on his voice and breath while I place the blanket back over my head.

"I'm sorry to wake you," I whisper.

"Don't be," he whispers and sniffs again. "I will always be here. I promise."

"I know," I whisper already feeling better as his voice in my ear mixes with his scent from his pillow.

"Want me to stay until you fall asleep?" He asks.

"Please," I whisper, already fading away, my body spent.

"Okay. Only two weeks, Babe. Only two weeks."

Two weeks.