Unchained Melody (Daniel Ricciardo)

Hopeful

Daniel had maybe an hour of sleep when he wakes up from a muffled sound.
He rubs his eyes and sits up to figure out where the sound is coming from.

He turns his head towards his bedroom where Ayla is sleeping. She wanted to go back to the hotel after they talked for a while, but he then reminded her of Seb and Melissa. Her face dropped when she thought about having to listen to them, so he offered her his bed. His couch is comfortable enough so he made his bed in the living room, giving Ayla some space after her big revelation.

He was sleeping quite alright even though his head was full of all the things that he heard today. First Kendra who cheated on him, then Ayla who confided in him and then there is the fact that his career is going downhill fast.

When he called Kendra after seeing the pictures she tried to deny it at first, but he called her out for her bullshit.
So she admitted that she was having a relationship with that other guy and then she even said that she needed somebody who was successful.

It was an extra kick in the guts for Daniel. Hearing Kendra pretty much tell him he was a failure hurt him more than her cheating on him.
His confidence has been fading fast ever since he got in that car, even though he tries to put on a brave face for the outside world. Inside he has so many doubts and insecurities, that he isn't even sure if he should keep going with racing.
Maybe he is done?

He is just about to lay back down as it is quiet now when he hears it again. It's like a soft crying, whimpering even.
It can only be one person making those sounds and it sounds like Ayla is upset or distressed.

Unsure whether to go to her or not he listens quietly. But then he hears her scream and he jumps off the couch.
The door to his bedroom is slightly opened so he pushes it open further.

His eyes need to adjust to the dark for a moment, but then he sees Ayla's shape under the covers. She is restless, waving her arms and kicking her legs, it's like she is fighting something.

Then it dawns him, she isn't fighting something, but someone. She's probably having a nightmare about Axel and the rape.

He wants to run over to her so he can hold her, but he doesn't want to scare her even more. Maybe his arms around her will only make it worse.
But standing here, watching her struggle,is devastating.

"No! No! Please don't do this." She whimpers.
"Axel please! It hurts, please stop!" He hears her cry. He can feel himself get nauseous just hearing her go through the whole ordeal again.

He can't just stand here and listen. He has to try to wake her up even if that means she will be startled. At least then she won't be experiencing it over and over again.

It doesn't take him any time to get to the bed, Ayla has managed to kick the covers off. The shirt she has borrowed from Daniel has ridden up to just underneath her breasts, but he doesn't look.
There's a time and a place to admire her body, now it's the worst.

He puts his hand on her arm, which causes her entire body to jump from the mattress.
"Shh Ayla, baby it's just me, it's Daniel. Wake up sweetheart." He tries, but she is very much asleep and panicking at the same time.

He curses under his breath. How can he get her out of this nightmare without freaking her out even more.
"Ayla, baby wake up!" He shakes her arm a bit more.

It's not helping at all, Ayla is practically hyperventilating in her sleep, her breaths shallow and fast.
He is worried she will somehow have lack of oxygen if this goes on for too long.
Then he remembers how she was able to relax when he was holding her. She wasn't afraid to be in his arms.