Second Chances

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Although she was dreaming, Casey could hear Miguel's voice as though he were there next to her. "I fixed the steering, querida. Now you will no longer have your ex-husband or your son to distract you." Again and again, she had to watch as the car broke through the barrier and she could hear Carter's scream of agony. Finally, she managed to make a sound, sitting straight up in bed.

"CARTEEEERRRR!!!!!"

Carter flung open the door to Casey's room. But the dream was so engrossing that Casey didn't even realize he had come to her. She just kept rocking back and forth on the bed. As he stood framed in the doorway to her room he could see the moonlight glinting off the tears in her eyes. When she screamed his name again, the hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up.

"CARTEERRR! Don't leave me!!!"

Carter rushed to her bed, leaving the door open. "Casey!" he crooned, trying to take her into his arms. "It's me -- Carter! You're just having another bad dream!"

But this time, all of Casey's desperation and feelings of failure at winning his heart came bubbling to the surface. She pulled away from him, swatting blindly at him with her hands. "Leave me alone!!!" She broke down on the bed, leaned forward and sobbed even harder. "I can't do this! God, why can't You understand that I just can't do this!"

Carter frowned in confusion. He tried to take her in his arms again. "Casey, *what* can't you do? You're dreaming -- it's me, Carter!"

She pulled out of his embrace again but looked at Carter with wild, tear-filled eyes. "Carter?"

He finally smiled at her, trying to pull her into his arms again. "Yes, it's Carter. I'm here and everything is going to be fine."

But suddenly she pulled away from him again and sobbed harder, pressing her fists to her mouth. "No, it's NOT going to be fine! Nothing's ever going to be fine again!" She moved towards the bottom of the bed, rocking back and forth and crying louder than before. "She won't believe me -- I told Her that I couldn't do this, but She won't let me go back!" Carter tried to inch closer to Casey on the bed, putting a hand out to her, but Casey just kept rocking and crying. "I can't do this anymore!"

she whimpered. "I just want to go back to my own room and my own bed!"

Carter was becoming really frightened by Casey's lack of response to his presence. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Robin appear in the doorway of the room, looking as concerned as he was. He finally managed to take Casey into his arms and pulled her to the top of the bed with him again. "You *are* in your own bed, sweetheart. I'm here and nothing can hurt you."

Casey was mumbling as she finally rested her head against Carter's chest. Sobs still racked her body. "I tried -- I really tried, but I just can't get through to you. You'll just never believe me. You won't give me a chance. Why can't She understand that and just let me go back?"

Guilt was written all over Carter's face, and when he glanced at Robin, he could see she commiserated with Casey. "I'm sorry, sweetie," Carter crooned, "I'll give you a chance...."

Casey shook her head vehemently and punched her fist against Carter's chest softly. "I don't want a chance anymore. I just.... I want to go home. I want .....I www....want Princess. I mm....miss Princess."

Robin had been approaching the bed quietly as Casey kept stuttering. When Carter turned questioning eyes to her, Robin motioned that he should keep her talking. "Princess? Who's Princess?"

Casey finally seemed more peaceful, her eyes still shut, her hair tumbling across Carter's chest as she settled against him. "Princess is my .....my ddd...dog.....she's a ccc.....cockapoo. She's got black fur, and she's soooo pretty, and ssss...soft......"