Becoming A Spy

Chapter 7 : Nightmare

Chapter 7

Later...  

Rocky POV

Riker had gone to bed early. Something seemed off with him when he got home today, but he was grumpy and didn't want to talk to anyone, so I don't know what his problem is. I'm assuming it was just an audition that didn't go well since he's had a lot of auditions lately.

I was about to go to sleep when Riker sat up straight in bed and started freaking out.

"I can't breathe."

"Riker, it was just a nightmare."

He put his hands on his neck.

"No, I really can't breathe."

"Riker, calm down. Seriously. It was just a nightmare."

He started hyperventilating and panicking, so I got up and sat down next to him on his bed.

"Dude, breathe. Seriously, why are you freaking out like this? I know you get nightmares, but you never panic like this."

"It feels like I'm choking."

"I don't think you are."

"Well it feels like it. I can't breathe, Rocky."

"Riker, I can hear you breathing. It probably just feels like you can't breathe because you're all panicky and you're hyperventilating. Just try to calm down."

I put my arm gently around him. I could feel how hard he was breathing and I couldn't understand why a nightmare was causing him to act like this. This has never happened before.

"Riker, slow down. Do I need to get dad?"

"No."

"Ok, then calm down. You're kind of freaking me out."

"I'm trying to."

"Ok. Just slow down."

It took a couple minutes, but eventually Riker was calm again.

"What was your nightmare about?" I asked.

"Being choked."

"That's scary."

"I know."

"But why did you freak out like that when you woke up?"

"I don't know. It just felt like it was really happening."

"Ok, well it wasn't. So don't worry. Are you ok now?"

"I don't know."

"Well is there anything I can do to make you feel better? I know you get all shaken up when you get really scared of stuff."

"Can you just... stay here with me for a little while?"

"Yeah."

Riker laid back down. I got under his covers beside him and went on my phone. He tossed and turned for a little while and then sat back up again.

"Are you ok?" I asked.

Riker sighed.

"Hey. Talk to me. What's wrong?" I asked, nudging his arm.

"I don't know if I'm going to be able to sleep tonight."

"You're really that freaked out from your nightmare?"

"I don't know."

He climbed over me and got out of bed.

"Where are you going?"

"To the bathroom."

Riker left and came back a few minutes later.

"Everything ok?" I asked.

"My neck hurts. I was just checking if I had like any bruises or anything."

He got back in bed next to me.

"Riker, you didn't actually get choked. It was just a dream."

"No."

"No?"

"I mean, I know. I don't know why I'm freaking out. Does my neck look red at all?"

"No, your neck looks fine, Riker."

He sighed and laid back down.

"Seriously, what's making you freak out?"

"It just... felt real, I guess."

"Ok, well it wasn't."

Riker moved closer and turned on his side with his face touching my shoulder.

"Can you stay here all night?" He asked.

"Yeah. Are you sure you're ok? Do you want to talk about it?"

"I was just... choked from behind. Like someone put a rope around my neck and choked me and I couldn't breathe."

"Do you know why you got choked? Like did you get in a fight with someone? Or were you like out on the streets at night and someone was trying to rob you or something?"

"No. I don't know why. I was just... standing there."

"Were you like being kidnapped? Was it for an audition for a movie?"

"No."

"Well I'm sorry you had a nightmare. But I don't get why it's bothering you so much."

Riker sighed again.

"You really don't think you're going to be able to sleep tonight?" I asked.

"I don't know..."

"Do you want to go downstairs and like watch a movie or something? Maybe it'll take your mind off of it."

"Yeah, I guess so..."

Riker followed me downstairs. He sat down super close to me on the couch, which I'm guessing is because he's scared. I put on a movie to try to distract him. I picked a comedy, hoping it would make him laugh.

I could literally just feel how tense he was, sitting next to me. Usually if he has a nightmare, he freaks out a little, but then calms down and goes back to bed. This is weird for him.

But his nightmares usually come in waves. So he'll get a bunch all at once, and then almost none for a while. I'm wondering if stress causes them or if it's something else.

And I don't even know what he could be stressed about. I mean... maybe tour? That's not for a few weeks yet though.

I glanced over at him. He was staring at the tv. I was hoping he'd be trying to sleep. I'm tired and I want to go to sleep, but I also don't really want to sleep until I know Riker's asleep again.

But he can just wake me up if he needs something...