those hands pulled me from the earth || ethan winters x donna beneviento

x: aftermath.

february 14th, 2021.
12:23pm.
bsaa facility, usa.
———

it had been a little over half past noon when ethan finally showed up at donna's door.

if she was being honest, donna had spent the entire time curled up in a ball, reliving everything she had done in the last year. the ball at castle dimitrescu, the yearly family dinner, movie night with moreau, the few weeks where miranda had left, rosemary's kidnapping, ethan's appearance, and now... she was here.

not only was she having night terrors about claudia— but now alcina was in them, too, and apparently, so was mother.

i need your help. kept echoing in her ears. what did she mean? why did she mention ethan? why was she even there? everything was so confusing.

"donna?" ethan's voice asked as the door clicked shut behind him.

donna had heard him knocking, but honestly couldn't get herself up to answer. she was surprised he let himself in— not upset, just... pleasantly surprised.

when his blond head appeared from the corner, a concerned moon in his eyes, donna wiped the tears she hadn't noticed that had been there. she pulled the blanket over her, sniffling and then clearing her throat.

"i'm sorry." she said quietly.

ethan cautiously approached her, dressed in blue jeans and a white button up shirt. his eyes stayed glued to her as he sat down in chair beside the bed. "what... what happened?" he asked in the same volume, his voice soft.

donna swallowed the lump in her throat, taking a deep breath. "i had a nightmare. alcina, my sister was there." she started, looking at ethan. she expected him to think she was crazy. "she said she needed my help,"

ethan tilted his head, breaking eye contact for a second to think. "the vampire?" he asked.

"kind of, yes." donna nodded, dropping her knees from her chest and picking at her fingernails. "she mentioned you, and then she was gone. i started falling and then— then i started drowning," just talking about it was getting her heart racing and causing her breath to go shallow.

within seconds, ethan was sitting on the bed next to her, taking ahold of her shoulders just the way alcina had. "listen to me: everything is going to be okay," he said softly, loosening his grip, but still resting his hands on her arms. were her shoulders small or were his hands just abnormally big? "i'm right here, okay? so nothings wrong."

donna wiped her eyes, leaning into ethan's touch. she felt so weak, so exhausted, so fragile. "i was so scared. i thought i was going to die..." she trailed off for a moment. "i should have." she squeaked.

as soon as the final words escaped her lips, she found herself pulled into a hug by ethan. her head was on his shoulder and his arms were wrapped tightly around her, his chin pressing against the back of her shoulder. "don't say that, donna." ethan said, a hint of sadness in his voice as his hand rubbed up and down her back. "i couldn't have made it out of there without you," he pulled away and held her shoulders. "you saved my life. you saved my daughters life."

donna let out a shaky sigh, feeling tears well in her eyes. she tried to desperately to avoid looking at ethan, but it was so hard since he was right there. she found herself making direct eye contact instead, staring deep into his worry filled blue eyes.

"thank you, mr. winters," donna said in an airy voice, as if she was unsure of her own tone.

"hey, i told you. it's ethan now," the disheveled blond offered her a reassuring smile. he rubbed up and down her arms maybe once more than he should have before letting go, awkwardly setting his hands on his lap.

"sorry, ethan." she said sheepishly as she looked over to him. she felt ice cold the second his touch left— like her entire body temperature had dropped. she could almost still feel the slight pressure from where his hands had been on her shoulders.

"don't apologize, it's okay. some stuff just takes... practice." he said to her, awkwardly picking at his jeans as he sat on the bed a few inches away from her.

"ethan?" donna asked, staring straight ahead.

"hm?" he hummed in response.

donna swallowed once more, hesitating before asking the question she had in mind. "do you... ever think i'll be able to leave this place..?" he voice was quieter than usual, almost strained as she asked.

ethan's head spun in her direction, his brows furrowed. he opened his mouth, as if to say something, but quickly shut it and just let out a sigh.

donna decided to speak again. "the doctor... i heard him speaking with your friend in the hall earlier. i believe that they aren't going to free me, and this place will become a prison." as if it wasn't one already. she wanted to add, but refrained.

ethan looked over to her, his dull blue eyes searching her face. "i'm not leaving until you do, how does that sound?" he offered with a half smile.

"that's a foolish thought." donna blurted, then immediately covered her mouth as she avoided eye contact. "i meant... you have a family. you need to leave when you get the chance." her tone grew quieter.

"are you kidding me? i told you that i'd be with you every step of the way, right? this is a step. there's still gonna be more after that, too." ethan said, pausing for a moment before continuing. "your village is a few hundred years and an industrial revolution behind... the entire world, pretty much."

donna knew that the secluded village was behind almost everyone else, but over a hundred years? there's no way that miranda would have let that happen when she took control— she was a scientist, after all. wouldn't she know about all of the newest technology?

the again, miranda had never been completely honest.

"do you want to... go for a walk?" ethan asked donna after a few moments of silence.

donna looked over to him, her brows furrowed. why had he been so persistent on spending time with her? it didn't bother her, but it almost felt like he had to watch over her. she wondered if chris or the doctor had suggested he stay by her side.

she accepted the offer with a nod anyway. "let me grab my shoes."