Officially Cumberbatched? A sequel to 'Well and truly Cumberbatched'

Chapter 28

Oh Merlin, we can't die here

...

"Rosie! Rosie! It's okay, it was just a dream. Merlin it's alright! She's alright! Oh god she keeps kicking me, GEN! MIKE!" 

"Rosie, Rosalind, Rosalind it's mum, you need to calm down, you're okay, it was just a dream, you're awake now. Ben can you sit behind her and just apply some light pressure to her upper arms so she doesn't hurt her hands on anything. Michael can you apply some light pressure to her legs, if she keeps kicking like that she's going to badly hurt herself or one of us."

"When was her last counselling session Ben?"

"The morning we left hospital, next one's next Thursday Mike"

"We're going to need to change that, I'm going to call Lucy in the morning; something's on her mind and it's torturing her"

A few minutes later...

"Rosalind? Are you with us now?" mum asked as I rubbed my eyes. I just want this to stop happening, I'm tired.

Of everything. 

"Um yeah, I'm sorry I just, I. I'm sorry" I mumbled looking at her, I saw her sat by my side, dad was sat by my feet and it felt like I was leaning against Ben.

"It's okay, you're safe now. Rosie, did you take anything before you slept?" she asked.

"I don't know, I can't remember"

"Ben, did she take anything?" Mum asked

"No, she had fallen into a deep sleep and was fine, she sort of just woke up in a panic and thrashing about, she's had a few nights where she slept through the REM thing? Well yeah she seemed to manage that but then woke up in tears" he said and mum nodded, I touched my cheek and felt the dampness of tears before, I can't even remember crying. 

"Sorry" I mumbled again, it's almost embarrassing feeling like this. 

"Rosie you have nothing to be sorry for" mum softly said stroking my cheek and I nodded and dad faintly smiled, but it wasn't a happy one though, more of a 'my child shouldn't go through this' one, he always tries to smile even when things are bad because I know he'd cry otherwise, he's not a total softie but he does have his limits.  

"No, no sweetheart it's okay. I'm glad you've still got a fighting spirit, even if it was aimed at me, it's okay. Okay?" Ben said, pressing his cheek against mine and I nodded.

"It's just, it's not fair. I just want to sleep normally, I'm sick of having nightmares, I can't be bothered right now, I really can't, argh those horrible people, they did this! What did I do? I didn't do anything to them; it's, it's just not fair" I huffed and flopped back on Ben's chest, these are the moments I don't care about anything. 

"Rosie, are you alright to sleep now?" dad asked, a few minutes later. 

"Yeah, I'm really tired"

"Right, is it alright if I go in your drawer?" mum asked and I nodded. She looked at the different boxes of sleeping pills before holding up on box and taking one out.

"This one I'm going to break in half because as a female you eliminate zolpidem at a slower rate than a male and I don't want you to be a total zombie in the morning and too high a dose of anything creates more risk to you given the length of time you're going to be on these. Is that alright?" she inquired, she was in doctor mode now.

"Um yeah, that's fine" I lent over and took the pill with some water before resting back on Ben's chest.

"You should start to feel the effects of it in about 25 minutes, it could be sooner. Would you like a book to read or something? Do you want us to stay with you?" she asked, she looked so sad and I just felt helpless. 

"Um it's okay, you should get some sleep too" I faintly smiled as she and dad nodded. I simply moved my knees to my chest and buried my head there for a while, zoning out from everything. I just want this to stop, 'have I not been punished enough universe? Not quite done kicking me when I'm down?' I thought to myself. 

We simply sat there for a while and I began to think.

"What time is it?" I asked.

"It's about 4AM darling" mum said and I nodded before I came to my senses.

"Wait, aren't you working in two hours?" I asked.

"No honey, I have tomorrow off, I've just got a few case studies to work through tomorrow is all, I'll have my friend red help me do them seeing as I'll be in the study all day" she said and I smiled. 

"Red? Who's red?" Ben asked and mum giggled.

"Red wine Ben!" dad exclaimed and we all laughed a little. It felt nice to have something to laugh about. I yawned for a moment and moved away from Ben and rested my head on the pillow, my body sinking into the warmth of my soft sheets and even softer mattress.

"You ready to sleep now pumpkin?" dad asked and I nodded, I don't think I've ever appreciated how soft my pillows are till now.

"Okay we'll leave you two to get some sleep, sleep well okay?" he said and I nodded into the pillow, I felt someone stroke my hair and kiss my cheek before my bedroom door shut; I could hear Merlin getting comfortable at the end of the duvet, he doesn't usually sleep on the bed but I'm glad he's comfortable.

I felt the sheets move a little as Ben wrapped himself around me.

It might sound cheesy but I'm so glad I have him, even if we weren't together I'd still want him here with me if the circumstances that led me to feel this crap were the same, or similar. He's um...he's just so generous and loving and doesn't even realise it. He's never judged me either, he doesn't judge anyone, just lets them be who they want to be. 

"Rosie?"

"Hmm"

"It's okay, you're safe okay? You and Merlin. No one's going to let anything bad happen to either of you, the baddies will have to get through me first okay?" he whispered and I nodded.

"Thank y-" I almost said. 

"Nope, you're not aloud to thank me Rosie, we're doing this because we care, not because it's a chore." he lastly said, but my eyelids were so heavy I couldn't muster the energy to reply, hoping tomorrow would be better. 

I don't want to have an amazing day, just one that doesn't end like this. 

We all dream to escape normalcy and routine, yet when it disappears just like sand slipping through the gaps in your fingers it's the thing we crave the most. 

AN: Just a teeny tiny note to say I am extremely overwhelmed at just how many reads this has gotten thus far and every comment basically makes me burst into confetti so thank you so very much; thank you so so much to all my lovely regualr readers because you especially make it worthwhile writing, so for that...thank you :0) *puts down tray of pudding from 'Hiddlespudding Co for everyone*