Bringing Them Back- An R5 Fanfiction

Chapter 6- Nightmares

I woke on the couch alone in the middle of the night. The storm was raging on, and Riker had stopped snoring. In fact, I don't even think he was in the house. I turned on TV, and in seconds it was R5 performing in Times Square on New Years' Eve. Ross was flirting with girls all around, winking and smiling for every camera that caught his eye. Rydel was in a cocktail dress, barely long enough to cover herself. Rocky cut his hair, and he had girls swarming him. Security knocked fans off the stage but they were just getting back up and fighting for more. Ross was pulled over for an interview after the show and he was half drunk, and slurred the words "We got here all by ourselves. We didn't need no help." I couldn't take anymore. I threw the remote at the TV and the impact broke it, only repeating the last few seconds of the broadcast. "All by ourselves. All by ourselves. All by ourselves." I stood up and unplugged the TV but it still wouldn't stop. Over and over it repeated in my head. The images of the future R5, the crazy fans, Ross. A voice in the back of my head spoke up above the noise. "They need you. This is them without you." I was shaking, breathless on the couch at this point. I buried my head in a pillow, as far as I could go, and screamed until my throat was raw. I buried my face more, until I was pushing my head against a tough, solid object. It was no longer a pillow I was burrowing into, but Ross's chest.

He didn't push me away, just kept repeating my name until I snapped out of it. "Hey. It's okay Sarah. It's okay." I wiped away the tears rushing down my face and looked up at him. He was staring at me with a genuine look of concern on his face. "It's okay. C'mere." I was still shaking, and my throat was so raw that I couldn't talk. It was around five in the morning, and here I was, clutched to my boyfriend's chest, silently watching the storm with him. "You okay now?" I nodded. "I won't let anything hurt you, I promise." He kept reassuring me that it was just a nightmare, but in my mind I knew the general message was true. R5 needed me more than I need them. I'm the main reason they're out here.

"Come with me. I'm gonna make you some tea for your throat." He stood up, and held out a hand to help me off of the couch. I walked unsteadily with him to the kitchen, clinging to his side. He turned on the light and filled a kettle with water, then put the kettle on the stove. On our way back to the couch to wait for the tea to heat up, I let go of his side. I still held his hand, but I was starting to get over the shock. He sat on the couch, and I laid down with my head in his lap. He reached for the remote to turn on the TV and I almost smacked it out of his hand. "Okay then no TV..." He trailed off, watching the storm. The rain pelted on the roof of the empty apartment above ours. "Well I have another idea." He held up my head, and got up, walking over to the guitars piled around the table area. He grabbed his acoustic and walked back over. I sat up and he sat next to me, strumming the chords to If I Can't Be With You quietly. He sang the lyrics the softest you have ever heard him sing. I smiled, because that's all I could do. The whistling kettle made him stop, and he ran over into the kitchen to make tea. He came back with two music note mugs, set them down on the coffee table, and sat next to me again.

"Wanna know who drew the music notes all over the place?" He asked. I shrugged. "Well, I did. I was a little lonely, you know? It was about a month before I met you that I moved out here. Now I have so many people to talk to I'm not so bored anymore. The notes inspire me too, so I guess that's a plus." I nodded and sipped my tea. There was a long silence while we watched the storm and sipped tea.

"I love you Ross." I managed to crack out.

"Sh. Rest your voice. You don't wanna hurt it."

"But-" My voice cracked, and he held his finger to my lips.

"Sh." The door to my room opened and Rydel walked sleepily to the kitchen, turning on the coffee maker, and heading for the shower. "She really likes getting up early. It's only seven." I nodded. He ran his fingers through my hair and smiled. He picked up his guitar and started to sing again. He sang until Rydel came out of the shower, which was almost twenty minutes later. She was surprised to see us awake, but even more surprised to see us with tea this early.

"How long were you guys up?" She asked.

"Since...I think five."

"I think that's the earliest I've ever seen you up without having to wake you up myself."

"Well she had a nightmare and I'm making her feel safe again."

"Awwww. You're such a good boyfriend." Ross blushed.

"I guess I am." He smiled at me and pulled me closer. "I'll protect you from anything. I promise."