Just the Way you Are

Comforting her husband

From my Whumptober 2021 collection

Hetty woke up to her husband crying out 'No No!', she shook him awake, he was relieved to see her.

'Shh shh. You're just having a bad dream.' Hetty soothingly said.

'Didn't feel like it.' Granger replied, sadly.

'Can you get back to sleep?'

'I think I need to be up for a while.'

Hetty made him some hot milk, which he appreciated very much.

'How bad was it this time?' She asked.

'Held captive, this time you were with me, and I had to watch you get beat up.' Granger replied, trying to fight back tears.

Gently rubbing his arm. 'It's just a dream. It didn't happen.'

'I've been having these nightmares for 3 days now! Is there something wrong with me?'

'No! No no, there's nothing wrong with you! You're probably just going through something, or you need to talk to someone. But dear, having nightmares like that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you!' Hetty said, trying to cheer him up.

'I'm glad you think so.'

'Look, you drink the milk. It may help you sleep.'

Granger went back to sleep soon after.

Early afternoon

Granger woke up to seeing Hetty waiting for him in a chair.

'Oh good. I thought you'd be sleeping all day.' Hetty said. 'Sleep good?'

'Yeah. Surprisingly. What'd you put in the milk?' Granger asked.

'Nothing. Just something that I know helps me sleep when I'm feeling restless.'

'Well, can you make some for tonight? I'm most likely going to need it.'

'If it makes you feel any better, I've sometimes have had nightmares of seeing people that I love get beat up in front of me.' Hetty said.

'Figured as much.'

'Look, if you're still feeling down, we can talk to someone. But, as bad as the dreams are, it doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you.'

'Then, why do I feel so guilty?' Granger asked.

'Maybe, because you care? I feel the same whenever I have those kind of nightmares. As for how I deal with them, I go to work, I see our team working, healthy as can be, and it puts my mind at ease. Because it was just a nightmare. Ask anyone on the team, I'm sure they'll tell you that they've had similar nightmares.'

'How did I get so lucky to have such a wise wife?' Granger thought.