"Time" After Time

Chapter 9: Comfort

Walking into the parking lot Juniper wrapped her sweater around her body, suddenly she felt fragile as if she was a feather in a tumultuous wind whistling through her soul. She spotted Nicolo's car as she scanned the rows of vehicles

Seeing his smiling face in the window, Juniper gingerly placed herself in the seat. Nic looked at her and smiled, wrapping a big arm around her shoulders.

"What's the matter Juni? Had a bad day?" he asked warmly.

And a lot like the fragile glass she saw herself to be at that moment. She shattered. Juniper felt herself slowly falling, then breaking apart as tears ran down her face. On one level she was aware that Nic had no idea what was going on inside her head. Hell, he'd only known her for a month! But on another, more base level Nic represented warmth and safety and that's what she needed.

Nic awkwardly slipped his other arm around Juniper and attempted to comfort her, "Juni? Juni?, he crooned, "What's wrong? What happened?".

Sniffling and attempting to turn her face away from Nic's shoulder to face him Juniper tried to get it out, "M-m-my fath--", she choked out, "Father-- here... can't go back. Noooooo...", she wailed.

Infering what the problem was Nic attempted to piece his facts together, "You father is going to come and get you?".

"No! No!" she yelled, "He's here! He, his younger self... he was at the school!"

"It's okay, Nic said confidently, I'll protect you. "

Juniper snuggled into his embrace, "Can we please go home now?" she covered her eyes.

Keeping one hand around her shoulders and using the other to shift into gear, Nic finally pulled out of the parking lot and got on the road to his home.

The ride there passed by in what seemed like seconds, because of the state each both Nic and Juniper were in.

His nuckles white on the gear shifter, his face clenched tight into a frown, Nicolo made it to his home, where he picked Juniper gently up and carried her inside.

He couldn't believe how broken she was, it was like she'd shut herself down... Wondering to himself, Nic couldn't think of a reason for a child to be so afraid of her parents, no father... he corrected.

Placing her on her bed, he sat down beside her, the bed creaking under his weight and bowing towards him so that Juniper's body was snuggled tightly to his. Sighing he decided to attempt to lull her to sleep with a Ukrainian lullaby his grandmother had taught him.  

Ya lyublyu tebe

koly y̆de doshch

, koly y̆de snih

Ya budu tam zavzhdy

yak sontse , pokazuye,

Translation

I love you

when it rains

when it snows

i'll be there always

as the sun shows

It'd always put him to sleep anyway... he thought. And using the doctor part of his mentality he instinctively knew that's what she needed.

Looking at her face Nic saw the streaks that the salt water of her tears had caused, yet he said nothing somehow knowing she wouldn't want them mentioned right at that moment. And, unknown to Nic, by doing nothing... saying nothing; he did everything for Juni.

Gently stretching out beside her Nic closed his eyes... in an hour... a few minutes and he would talk to her, but for now... peace.

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Juniper awoke to the smell of home, her face dry from the tears she'd cried, her body strangely warm despite the chill in the air. She looked over and saw Nic's sleeping face, relaxed in sleep. Although he was virtually a stranger to her in many ways, she was glad that she found comfort, security... in his arms.

Suddenly, she heard a knock on the door. Once, twice, thrice someone knocked on the door. Stretching out her muscles and the kink in her neck her got out of bed and walked into the hallway... Then there was a crash, and a bang and the sound of footsteps running throughout the house.

Her Plasto! Juniper thought in alarm. Running back to Nic's room to wake him up Juniper slipped on the floor landing sprawled everywhere, and making a big thump. The the footsteps were coming towards her and she was gingerly getting to her feet.

Quickly she made it to Nic's room and literally jumped on his sleeping form in the bed. "Nic, Nic! We have to get up, someone's in the house!" she whispered as forcefully as she dared.

"Mmmm, not yet babe. Don't wake me up yet... we can watch the sunset together.", Nic mumbled out his line. Most likely perfected on a string of girlfriends Juniper thought with a sad smile.

"I mean it Nic!", she pleaded, Someone's here!"

Nic opened his eyes fully and looked at Juniper... "You mean there's--."

And at that moment the door forcefully swung open, easily allow them to see who the intruder was...