Rescuing Madison (Book 1)

Chapter Two

Jackson's POV

I watched as Madison slowly fell asleep. I told her that she could never make it through a movie. It was like her body started to shut down as soon as you pushed play. I chuckled to myself. Her blonde hair was fanned out under her on the couch. I wanted to run my fingers through it. I wanted to feel how silky smooth it was. She occasionally let me play with it & I loved those moments.

I watched half of the movie before I finally turned it off. I carefully moved her feet off my lap, & stood up. I bent down & carefully put one arm under her legs, & one arm under her head, picking her up as gently as I could. She was so light.

I carried her down the hall to her room. It only took a few steps to get there. She had a seriously small apartment. I wanted her to have something bigger, but she was comfortable in this small space. I laid her down on her bed. I was glad she was already in pajamas. I knew how much she hated sleeping in her regular clothes. I grabbed a pair of shorts that I usually left at her house, from the dresser, & put them on. Then I laid down next to her.

I couldn't help but watch her sleep. She looked so innocent, & she always slept so soundly. When she wasn't having nightmares, anyway. I hated knowing she had nightmares when I wasn't here. I didn't want her to be alone when they happened.

I've told her a million times that she could move in with me. But, I lived with one of my brothers, & she wasn't comfortable being around him a lot. She didn't have a problem with HIM. She just hated being around people in general. Other than myself. I made her go places with me so she could get out. I tried not to push her too much when it came to going places with a lot of people, though. Her anxiety would shoot through the roof. & I hated seeing her that way.

I started to fall asleep when I thought I heard her mumble something. I looked at her, but she was still asleep. I closed my eyes, but opened them again when she quickly rolled onto her back. She was clutching the sheets, & starting to move her head back & forth.
Shit, she was starting to have a nightmare.

Her face had a pained look to it. Just thinking of what she was seeing, made me sick. It made me think of the day she literally stumbled into my arms.

I had just left a friends house, & was walking back to my car when I heard someone running. I had looked over just in time to catch her. She fought against me & her fists had almost connected with my face a few times. I kept telling her I wasn't going to hurt her, & she finally calmed down. She looked up at me with her big blue eyes, & I saw fear in them before relief took over. Her hair had been matted & dirty. & She had a pretty big cut on the left side of her forehead. There had been blood all over her head & hands. She had been holding onto her stomach, & when I had briefly touched her ribs, I knew they were probably bruised badly, if not broken.

I had walked her to my car & tried to clean some of the blood off of her face. The cut on her head didn't want to stop bleeding, though. It scared me when she couldn't stay awake on the way to the hospital. She had practically begged me not to leave her when I got to the hospital. So, I didn't. I sat there day after day, waiting for her to get better enough to leave. We had gotten to know each other pretty well while she was in there, after she got over her surprise that I had actually stayed. She had become my best friend in that short time.

I was pulled from my thoughts when I heard her talking in her sleep. "No.. No, stop.. Please.."

I pulled the sheet away from her, knowing that she sometimes feels trapped while she's having a nightmare. I gently shook her shoulder, but she didn't wake up.

"Please stop. Stop.."

I shook her shoulder again. "Madison. Hey, Madison. Wake up."

She started kicking her legs & thrashing her arms. Then all of a sudden she screamed. I sat up fast & picked her up, cradling her in my arms. She grabbed onto my shirt, & started sobbing. I knew she was awake now.

"Shh. It's okay. You're safe now, baby." I told her over & over again.

She was shaking, & I think I even heard her whimper a little. I wanted to cry along with her. I hated seeing her like this. & I know she didn't want me seeing her like this. I had been with her through some of her nightmares, but this one seemed to be one of her worst ones.

She had finally calmed down for the most part. She wasn't shaking anymore, & she had mostly stopped crying.

"Jackson." she whispered.

"Yes?"

"I'm so sorry." she said.

"What are you apologizing for?" I asked.

"You shouldn't see me like that. You shouldn't have to deal with it."

I put my fingers under her chin to tilt her face up to look at me. "I want to be here for you, Madison. Through everything. You know that."

She didn't say anything after that. She cuddled more into my chest & I held her tightly. I'd do anything for her. I was completely in love with her, & I wished I could tell her. But the thought of her rejecting me stopped me every time.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Jackson.." she mumbled, then fell asleep.

That brought a smile to my face. I laid back & gently laid her on the bed. I pulled her close to me & finally fell asleep.