Through Pain We Survive

Chapter 24

***TRIGGER WARNING- drugging implications***

Nate heaved a sigh just before opening his door.

"About time. I was about to send in a search party for you." Nate was realizing how rude she could be to him and others.

He started the car and headed back towards her house. "That's enough. Now, I want to know what happened in there."

"It's simple really. I heard that server saying some inappropriate things, so I just talked to her about it."

"What did she say?"

"Well, as I was walking to the restroom, I heard that floozie saying how you were cute, and how if you were hers, she'd try to make you a 'real man.'"

Nate raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure that's what you heard?"

"Well of course! You'd think I'd make something like that up? I'm hurt!"

"All I'm saying is that's not what Cat told me she heard. She heard you threatening Mira Lynne, and she stepped in."

"So she says. Cat had no business interrupting a private conversation."

Nate took a breath to keep his anger under control. "Sara, I've noticed some things. You were upset and jealous I helped Becca. You were upset and jealous I stayed at the hospital with AJ and Gwen. I've told you multiple times, I detest those who cheat. I will never put someone I care about through that. I've been cheated on. I know how bad it hurts. I never want to be the cause of that. You can put those doubts of me out of your head. If I'm dating someone, I'm only going to be with them."

Sara faltered for a minute. "Okay, fine. I'll try to stop being so jealous."

"Thank you. Please remember just because someone talks to me doesn't mean they like me or are trying to steal me away. I have my sights only set on one woman." He smiled at her, even though his heart twinged. He knew that wasn't right. He knew he loved Becca, but pushed his feelings aside, for Sara's sake.

"I'm sorry. I really do know you. I know you won't cheat on me." She grabbed his hand and intertwined her fingers with his. "Could you ever forgive me?" She pouted a bit, looking up at him.

"I forgive you." He picked up their hands and kissed hers.

"I will try to work on it. I just— I really like you, and I like where this," she motioned between them, "is headed. I guess it's just because I don't want to lose you to another girl. You're a great guy. Anyone can see that."

"Thank you. You're not too bad yourself." He smirked over at her.

She playfully nudged his arm.

They returned back to her house, and Sara told him to sit.

"I have something for you, wait here."

She went into another room. Returning, she handed him a wrapped present.

"Open it!" She smiled gleefully.

Opening the package, he saw a framed poster of his favorite game, Zelda: A Link to the Past.

"Oh, wow. Thank you." He smiled at her.

"I actually have something for you too. I was going to wait to give this to you, but I think now is a great time."

He handed Sara a small box. She opened the package and saw a key inside the box. "Is this...?"

"My house key. I want you to feel you can come over anytime you need to. This shows how much I trust you."

Sara smiled. "Thank you."

Nate leaned over and kissed her. "Now, I actually had better get going. I have some work to finish up on."

"Okay. I'll walk you out." Sara got up and followed him to the door.

Seeing him out, Sara got a large smile on her face. Getting their key was better than she could have expected. She could put another part of her plan into action.

Nate came home and went into the kitchen. AJ was in there, fixing a snack. Gwen was in the living room, waiting on AJ so they could resume their show.

"Hey, how was your date?" AJ asked.

"It was... well, it was weird." He recounted the evening, ending with the gift she gave him.

"That gift was sweet." Gwen had joined them in the kitchen. "Although it sounds like she still was really weird in the restaurant."

"I know I talked to you guys about it before, but I did give her a copy of our house key." Nate looked at his phone, missing the look of concern that passed between AJ and Gwen.

"But it was a good evening after we left the restaurant at least. She did promise to  work on being so jealous towards other women in my life."

"That's good," AJ said. Neither he or Gwen were so sure about that.

"Well, I'm heading to bed. Night!" Nate turned and started upstairs.

"Night," AJ and Gwen called in unison.

Gwen looked to AJ. "I don't know how comfortable I feel with her having a key."

"I know. But it is Nate's decision. We trust Nate, and Nate must trust her enough with our key," AJ tried making the situation better.

They sat on the couch, Gwen leaning into AJ. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her head. He knew her mind was going in a million different directions, all about possible outcomes of what could happen since Sara now has a key.

"Baby, I'm worried. I get a bad feeling from her. Now she had a key to our house..."

AJ hugged her tight. "I know. I'm uneasy with her having it too. You don't need to worry though, Honey. I don't think she would try anything. We would know if she did, and she would lose Nate."

"Does she truly care about losing Nate?"

AJ wanted to say yes, but he didn't know.

Gwen's phone rang. "Hello?"

There was silence on the other end.

"Hello?"

She could hear them breathing, but the caller didn't say anything.

"I can hear you. What do you want?" She was getting annoyed with the spam calls they all had been getting.

"Wednesday was just the beginning." A strange garbled voice came over the phone.

Gwen's brow furrowed. "I'm sorry?" She put it on speaker so AJ could hear.

"Wednesday was just the beginning. I have much more planned for you, Miss Gwendolyn."

Gwen's eyes went wide and she went pale.

"You can run, but you will never hide from me. I will always find you."

"Who is this?"

The line went dead. Gwen looked at AJ with fear and panic in her eyes.

"This is a joke, right? It has to be a joke. No one else knew what happened. No one else..." she trailed off, looking to AJ for comfort.

"I think whoever they are, they are playing a very disgusting prank on us." AJ was ticked. How dare they threaten his wife. If anyone tried anything to hurt his love, they would have to go through him. But he couldn't show that to her. He had to be strong for her. He had to let her know everything was going to be okay. "Why don't we just head on to bed. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow, editing the musical. If we need reshoots, we need to be able to call Becca."

Yawning, Gwen agreed. "Okay." She still was uneasy about that call. If it is a joke, it is too close to her dream. If it's not, then she could be in some serious danger.

Looking into the window watching the couple, Damien smiled to himself. Checking his phone for the time, he walked to his car and drove home.