ALEX TURNER IMAGINES

Safe & Sound (Drabble)

warnings: brief description of an accident, injury, blood, accident-related trauma

finally you're done for the day. after another stressful day at school/uni/work, you gather your belongings and walk out the building. you're already anticipating coming home to alex, who certainly has a cuppa tea and some sweet treat waiting for you on the coffee table. you can't wait to snuggle up to him on the sofa while you both tell each other about your days.

you're daydreaming a bit as you walk down the road, the sunshine warming your face, cars driving by, people chatting, the occasional chirp of a bird.

suddenly, you hear a loud noise. tires screech, and before you know it, a car hits a cyclist. the woman is thrown from her bike with a scream, hitting the ground with a thump. car parts are scattered everywhere, and the driver rushes towards the injured woman.

automatically, you run there, too, dropping your bag and kneeling down next to the woman. her head is bleeding, she has scratches all over her arms and legs. the car driver asks you to stay with her while he calls an ambulance, and you nod and reach out to hold the woman's hand. her hand is cold, but her eyes are firmly trained on you, as if begging you to stay with her. you consider what to do, but decide it's best to let the paramedics handle it since you don't want to worsen the situation.

you don't know how much time passes until someone gently grabs your shoulder. two paramedics are taking over, and you thank them and slowly stand up. your knees are wobbly, you feel a little dizzy, someone asks if you're okay.

you nod, although you know you're not.

somehow, you manage to get home. it's not far from where the accident happened, and your legs carry you home on autopilot.

when you want to unlock the front door with your key, it slips from your shaking fingers. you pick it back up, already on the verge of tears. eventually, you manage to get the door open and step inside the house, letting the door fall shut behind you. the familiar smell of your shared home with alex greets you. there's soft music playing somewhere.

"hey love!" alex's voice calls out for you, but you just stand there in the hallway, not able to move. the shock is clearly written across your face and your limbs won't move an inch.

alex wonders why you're not coming in after a minute or so and goes to check what's going on. when he sees you standing there, your face as white as a sheet, he frowns and rushes to your side.

"what's wrong? are you okay?"

you don't speak. instead, alex watches in worry as your eyes find his, tears daring to spill over your waterline and your bottom lip quivering.

"oh, love, come here." he wraps his arms around you tightly, pressing you to his body, impossibly close.

you gradually relax against his chest, his scent and voice and the tightness of the hug doing wonders to slowly improve the state you're in.

"come, let's sit." alex whispers, and leads you to the sitting room with his arm around you. you follow, clenching his hand in yours for dear life so he won't let go of you.

as you settle on the sofa, a sob leaves your chest. a single tear rolls down your cheek, and you stare at the wall opposite from you.

you begin to tell him, "there... there was an accident," another sob, "a woman on a bike got hit by a car."

alex waits patiently to continue, stroking the back of your hand with his thumb.

"i was the first to see it, and i... i held the woman's hand, i... i didn't know what to do, there was blood and she wasn't moving and..."

your voice cracks at the end, and you sob once more, numerous tears now streaming down your cheeks.

alex's arms wrap around you again and he pulls you onto his lap, "shh, shh, you're okay now," he coos, rubbing your back and holding you close.

you nod, knowing you're safe and the poor woman is in the best hands and gets taken care of.

alex cups your cheeks in his hands and studies your face, "you're not hurt, are you?"

you shake your head, and you can see the relief in his eyes.

"good," he pulls you into him again, cradling you against his chest.

you spend the rest of the night cuddling, talking, and him taking care of you. he runs you a bath and sits by your side, his deep voice telling your stories and jokes, occasionally singing a tune or two. he makes dinner and you eat it together, hidden under blankets on the sofa, watching a silly movie.

"what would i do without you?" you ask him, almost tearing up again. he truly is your anchor, your rock, the person who can comfort you and calm you by just looking at you with those big brown eyes.

alex responds with a warm smile, tapping your nose with his finger, "no need to worry about that, my love, because i'm not going anywhere."