Freedom Train

April 7, 1963

April 7, 1963

Terry could feel Annabeth marching behind him. He hadn't said anything to her since he'd been released from jail that morning, but from what he heard she had been present at the April 5th sit-in at Lane Drugstore. She also marched the day before, on the 6th, with Fred Shuttlesworth, Dr. King and Ralph Abernathy.

He was proud of her, even if he was too stubborn to admit it.

The more time that passed, the more he missed her- the more he felt like an idiot for trying to send her away. He had thought that he was protecting her. He thought that she was something breakable, fragile. But she had been fine without him. More than fine even. And it hurt to know that their separation seemed to only be affecting him. It was almost like she didn't care at all.

How could it be so easy for her?

"How long you think they'll keep them for?" Henry asked from beside Terry.

Henry was referring to the previous days arrest of Martin L. King Jr, Ralph Abernathy and Fred Shuttlesworth. The three of them had been leading the march when Bull Connor confronted them. Instead of resisting, the men knelt to pray- only to be arrested moments later.

"As long as they want," Terry replied. "Hopefully this current protest of their arrest opens Boutwell's eyes and he orders their release."

Currently, they were walking from St. Paul Methodist Church toward City Hall, protesting their leaders unfair arrest. In front of the brigade of at least 1000 protestors, Reverend A.D King, Reverend Nelson Smith and Reverend John Porter marched forward, leading their people to justice in the only way they could in the moment- by uniting as one force.

By marching.

"I'm hoping all these cameras help our cause," Henry mentioned as he spotted a news truck across the street, it's camera man standing to the side and recording the progression of people.

"It's definitely not going to hurt," Terry said.

"But those might," Henry gulped as he stopped in his tracks, his eyes wide as he took in the sight of large police dogs followed by large police men who were beginning to walk toward them.

Terry stopped, his eyes immediately looking behind him for the one person he couldn't seem to get off his mind- the one person he knew who was deathly afraid of dogs.

**flashback. February 14, 1963**

The basement was chilly and damp, but neither Annabeth or Terry cared. Just the fact that they were alone, together, was more than enough to keep smiles on their faces as they cuddled on the blanket and traded anecdotes about their lives.

"...and that's how my biggest fear became sailing," Terry concluded as Annabeth laughed at his story.

He squeezed her to him gently and laughed along, pressing his lips to the side of her head.

"What about you?" he asked. "What's your biggest fear?"

"Besides failure and becoming my Mama?" Annabeth teased. "I'd have to say dogs."

"All dogs or just the big ones?"

"All of em'," she said. "But especially the big ones."

"Why? What happened?"

"It's not a funny story like yours but when I was little, probably around 4 or 5, my Mama brought me over to a girlfriend's house. She had two dogs, both big dogs- Germen Shepherds, I believe. Anyway, I was playing on the rug with my doll and one of them walked up to my side and tried to take the doll from my hand. I pulled my doll back, trying to protect it from the beast, but it wouldn't let go. Then, the other dog came up behind me. I didn't see it coming until it bit my leg. Surprised, I dropped the doll and the dogs ran off with it. I screamed for my Mama and she came in rolling her eyes until she saw the teeth marks on my calf. Luckily, the dog didn't bite down too hard and there was only one little drop of blood and a few scrapes. But it was enough to make me never want to go near another dog in my life. And those little bastards destroyed my doll."

"I'm sorry that happened to you," Terry said. "If it makes you feel better, I'm not a big fan of dogs, either," Terry admitted to Annabeth.

"Then it's settled," Annabeth laughed as she picked her head up and off Terry's chest to look down at him. "We'll buy our kids a cat instead. We can name him Jojo."

With that, she giggled lightly at her own joke before lowering her head to kiss his lips.

***flashback over***

"What do we do now?" Henry asked as the officers pet the dog's heads, telling them something that Henry couldn't hear through the massive crowd of people.

"You march," Terry answered.

"What about you?"

Terry was still looking behind him, searching for her in the crowd that continued to march forward. Finally, he caught a glimpse of blonde hair bobbing through the people. She hadn't seen the dogs yet, but she would. Any second.

Terry turned back toward where the line of police stood, watching as the men leaned forward to release the dogs from their leashes.

"You march," Terry repeated as he headed backward to get to her.

Terry locked eyes with Annabeth through the crowd as they neared each other. She was more than just a little confused by his presence in front of her, which was clear by her shocked eyes and half smile.

Bobby and Sandy continued to march forward, debating something so animatedly that they didn't even notice that Annabeth didn't continue forward with them.

"Terry? What are you..." then, her eyes looked behind his shoulder and she saw the dogs, her face taking on a look that Terry had grown familiar with- Fear.

Terry's eyes scanned their area, looking for an escape. Annabeth stood frozen in place, watching as the barking dogs were set free to tackle the protestors.

"Let's go," Terry said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her forward.

Annabeth had no choice but to follow him, her eyes trained on the dogs as Terry led her forward.

**

A/N:

Fact- The Kneeling Pastor statue was resurrected in 1992 and currently resides at Kelly Ingram Park in Birmingham, a reminder of April 6, 1963 when Dr. King, Reverend Abernathy and Reverend Shuttlesworth were approached by Bull Connor and knelt in prayer before being arrested. This led to a march the following day to City Hall in protest. All facts in accordance to this is 100% correct

Fiction: The News Camera... Well, I do believe this was around the time when the protests in Birmingham began to get more National news coverage... I think.. So this may just be fact even though I have yet to find a video proving such for this specific date.