Logan

167. I Don't Trust You

*Ember's POV*

"Em, wake up!" I'm jostled awake and I find my glasses, tuck them up on my face and look to see Jax four inches from my face.

"Jax, what the-" he shushes me and I stop talking. I can hear the sounds of crying and pain. I stiffen and we both look at each other. I stand up and ignore the cold wood under my feet. Should've brought slippers, I think.

Jax has a blanket around him, "It's been like this for an hour. I don't know what to do." He has my shoulder, as if I'm shielding him from something scary.

As long as I can remember, Jax has had difficulties determining people's emotions, even more right now because he doesn't know Natalie well. We both don't, yet here I am tiptoeing around in the dark.

I walk up to the couch and the dim light of the lamp reflects on her face. Natalie's cheeks are flush and she's crying.

"Go get a washcloth, wet it, warm water." I say, and they speed off to the bathroom. I study her face and I hear her cry out quietly.

"Natalie," I nudge her a bit more urgently, and she opens her eyes, and quickly flinches into a ball. It takes a moment, but she opens her eyes a little more and then sits up. I hand her the cloth and she wipes her face.

"I'm sorry, I have troubles sleeping sometimes. If it happens again I can go home." She says, looking up at us.

Jax stands behind me but I hear him say, "You can't go home when you already are home."

I see her blush again, and she just smiles, "I think I'm going to try to go back to sleep. I didn't mean to scare you."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Jax asks.

Natalie nods, "Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry, you should go back to sleep."

I turn around and tap on Jax's shoulder, "Come on, let's go."

The door closes and I get back on my side, Jax is on his side, then of course they turn to me and whisper.

"What do you think that was? Do you really think she's okay? We should've insisted she take this room."

I shrug, "Not our business unless she feels comfortable telling us. I just know I don't want her to feel like she has to leave. This is her home too."

Jax nods, "Oh yeah, that part was really concerning to me."

"I thought so too." I say, and I close my eyes. "Nothing we can do right now, maybe we can talk to her in a few hours."

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I wake up first, the sun coming through the curtains. I look at the clock beside me and it's 9am. I shove Jax's arm off my chest and cover them back up. I get ready and see Natalie still asleep on the couch. I look back into the room and Jax has gone full cocoon mode, so I sit on the bed and read a little. I text my wife Daya updates on what's happening, occasionally Jax stirs, then rests again. Finally a voice breaks the silence.

"Em, I'm hungry."

"Too bad, Natalie's still sleeping. Maybe you can find something in the fridge." I say, sending one more text to Daya.

"Gross," Jax giggles, "I looked in there last night, all that's in there is a crusty cheese at the back of the fridge."

I look at my watch, "It's not even 9:30 yet, we should let her sleep."

"What time is it?"

"9:20," I say, then I hear a knock at the door.

Both of us look at each other and scramble for the door, Jax a bit slower and rushing up behind me as I open the door to the cold winter mist. I see a young man standing at the door, he's lean, black curly hair, wide eyes, wearing a blue Newton Fire Department sweater with a red parka over it. He looks at me with a curiosity, and another cold breeze blows through. The young man seems confused.