Captive

Chapter Fifteen

Waking feeling a little stiff and confused, Juliet sat up and stared at the clock before she jumped from the bed in a panic seeing that it was four o'clock in the afternoon. She had completely missed lunch and wondered why he hadn't woken her. Panicked she quickly tidied her hair then went through to the bathroom to wash her face and hands and stared at her slightly puffy features, softened by sleep. Feeling a little sick she got herself some water and sipped it; she had missed her pills as well and needed them as her heart started to tighten a little. Rubbing a hand absentmindedly across her chest she made her way to the kitchen and took the jar from the cupboard, wishing she had the other one as well in the bedroom. She took the pills and then leaned forwards against the counter, her eyes tight shut as a spasm of pain rocked through her.

"Are you ok?" His voice behind her made her jump as she hadn't heard him come into the room and she opened her eyes, forced herself to straighten. She nodded wordlessly as she turned to face him. Bret's expression surprised her; his features were arranged in a sympathetic manner, concern etched across his face, his eyes soft with compassion. "That jar is running low. Do you need a repeat prescription?"

"My other jar is at the bar," she replied quietly. "And my appointment at the hospital is next week."

"I'll have your bag brought home from the bar."

"I'll be there in a couple of days anyway..."

"No. You'll need them before then," he said. "It's no trouble sweetheart." The sudden endearment made her head jerk in his direction, a wary expression on her face as she met his gaze. "Come and sit down. I'll make you a drink."

"I'm fine..."

"Do as you're told," he growled and she immediately obeyed him, sitting at the table stiffly, her body language telling him that she was uncomfortable. Doing his best to ignore that he went to make her a cup of tea and put a couple of her home made cookies on a plate for her as well as he knew she hadn't eaten anything all day that he was aware of. She watched warily as he took a seat opposite her with his coffee.  Bret was silent for a moment, looking across at her as she shakily lifted the tea to her lips but she didn't touch the cookies. "You need to eat something with your pills." The comment was made quietly but she flinched then reached out to take a cookie. Satisfied he watched her nibble it and then she went to stand but he stopped her. "I need to talk to you."

"Why?" she asked, sounding alarmed.

"You were dreaming again in the night, probably why you needed to sleep today. You were screaming."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you sir," she said quickly, once again going to stand.

"Sit down," he said firmly and she did, her hands automatically going to the raised skin on her wrists, rubbing them absentmindedly before she reached up to her throat,only for her hand to drop when the familiar chain was not there. He saw these actions and sorrow went through him as he realised what he had done with his behaviour the day before; it went so much deeper than just frightening or hurting her in the moment. He had destroyed all of her memories as well, the ones of them as children and young adults where he had been kind and protective. Now he was just an angry, bitter man who had hurt her. Another man that had hurt her. "What do you dream about?"

"Nothing," she said. He raised an eyebrow.

"Nothing? Pretty terrifying version of nothing that has you screaming like that."

"I... I don't remember when I wake up," she replied. He gave her a doubtful look.

"You talk in your sleep too," he commented. "Whoever you're dreaming about, you're asking them not to hurt you." He paused. "Last night it was me." She looked away from him, biting her lip.