The Jackabeth Chronicles

"Sleepless Night"

[[So im pretty sure this part is shorter than the others but i still thought it was sweet enough to leave as is. Hope you like it. - Elizabeth]]
•
Elizabeth awoke in a cold sweat, waking Jack as well who lay beside her. Lending a comforting hand to her shoulder, he asked
"...is it the nightmare again?"

Elizabeth held her chest tightly and kept her eyes shut, attempting to erase the images, but she couldn't. She never could.
The man
The ace
The word
"Lobotomy"
"I...i.. Fine- im fine. Just, let's go back to sleep."
Elizabeth scoffed tiredly as she threw her head back onto the pillow and turned over. Jack sighed loudly at her, and when no reaction came, he threw an arm around her waist and sighed louder than before.

"Jack go to sleep."
The disgruntled woman said quickly and bluntly.
"Nope." He replied, pulling her closer to him.
"Hey, that's your choice why can't i sleep either?"
Elizabeth asked as she struggled to undo his arm from it's hold.
"Because, you made this bed -quite literally- so now you have to lie in it, with me."
Giving a snakelike grin, jack moaned and groaned at The sleepy woman.
"Elizabeeeeeeeeeth. Come oooon. How can you sleep at a time like this?"
Elizabeth rolled over, squinting one eye open,
"You mean... The night time, Jack? Of course... What waaaas i thinking..."
She finished and rolled back to her side of the bed. Jack huffed and crossed his arms, accepting defeat... Then came an idea.
He hated seeing Elizabeth suffer through her nightmares, but he knew nothing good could come out of him keeping her up all night.
So, the sleep therapy would begin.

Jack rolled back over with a grin and pulled elizabeth into his arms.
Reluctantly she placed her arms around his back and burried her face in his strong chest, the all too familiar scent forming a smile across her face.
"You better not try anything stupid."
"Stupid?" Jack chuckled.
"Why, of course not! This is the smartest idea i've ever had!"
Elizabeth furrowed her brow and heaved a great muffled sigh.
"...What. idea."
Jack placed his hands gently on elizabeths arms and held her closer.

"Elizabeth... I want you to imagine something- Keep your eyes closed."
"No problem."
Elizabeth said sarcastically, as she planned to drift off.
"Now... Imagine... Atlas, standing over you, needle poised..-"
His words struck Elizabeth like daggers in her back. How could he summon such thoughts to her mind?! After all that had happened to her...

Pushing against his chest and rustling the sheets in attempt to flee his embrace she exclaimed,
"What the hell, Jack?! What are you trying to do to me?-"
"Shhhh, sh its alright,"
Taking her head in his hands, Jack looked into her wild and misty eyes, speaking in a low voice.
"Keep your eyes closed, Love."

Elizabeth looked on for a moment, her eyes sparkling with tears poised and ready to fall at any moment. She closed her eyes and held onto his hands that still cradled her soft face.
"Tell me... What's Atlas doing now?"
Elizabeth's eyelids squinted harshly, her grip tightening.
"Ugh, he... He's got the tool-- It's right above my eye.
...Lobotomy."
She whispers as the tears were set free, rolling down either side of her pale yet perfect face. Jack calmed her again, passing a hand over her hair.
"Sh, we're almost done, darling. Now before Atlas ever has a chance to use that thing on ya, i want you to imagine something new... Open your eyes."
Just as Elizabeth opened her eyes and no longer saw the cruel images flash before her, she felt a pressure lift from her body. Jack's eyes... Those wonderful eyes in which she found comfort, a home. She could gaze upon those eyes forever. A sheepish smile spread across her face as she took his head in her hands and ran her fingers through his hair. She giggled, prompting a chuckle out of Jack as well.

"Promise me that whenever Fontaine's coming at you with whatever he can manage, you will summon me. I'll be there; just say the word and i'll be there, Love."
Elizabeth smiled even more this time, her face instantly illuminated by such beauty.
"I promise."
She said pulling him by the chin to meet her soft lips, stained with bitter tears.