Rock Me

Chapter 9

Nicole had cried herself to sleep that night in Sabel's arms. She woke up with her throat sore and her eyes were puffy. She knew Bradley wouldn't want her moping around the bar, crying about the inveitable. He accepted his death and she should too. She got out of bed and took a shower, washing away the tears that had dried on her face. When she got out she slipped on a pair of shorts and one of Sabel's USMC hoodies. She left the room and saw him in the kitchen cooking breakfast. "Hey Bunny, are you hungry?" She nodded as she sat at the island. He placed a plate of food down in front of her.

He sat next to her and they ate in silence. "So what are you going to do?" He asked her after a while. "He wants us to spend what little time we have with him, having fun." She sighed and bit into a piece of bacon. "He also wants to meet you, so he knows for sure that I will have someone to take care of me after he's gone." Her throat burned as she spoke, but she refused to cry. She did enough of that already, and she'll do more once he's gone. For now they were going to celebrate what time they had left.

Sabel kissed her cheek, "I'd like to meet him as well as the others." She nodded with a small smile, "I'll invite them over to the bar one night." He nodded and picked up their empty plates. "What are your plans today?" She asked curiously. She would see Bradley but he was going Christmas shopping.

"Christmas shopping, and no you can't go because you're one of the people I'm shopping for." He told her. She pouted. She still needed to find him something for Christmas, but she couldn't figure it out. When he left she decided to go to her room.

Her eyes landed on the guitar in the corner. It's been a while since she's played last. She picked it up and grabbed her favorite pick. She went to the livingroom and sat on the chair and began to play.

Sabel looked around and didn't know what to get his Bunny. She was in a delicate place right now, even if she didn't know it. Dealing with the reality of someone you love dying soon is hard, especially when that time frame is so close. For all they know, he won't make the full four months and that's what's even more agonizing. He is proud of her for trying to be strong, but he has to get her to see that around him, she doesn't have to be strong.

Everyone else in his family was easy to shop for. His Bunny on the other hand wasn't. She has millions from being a rockstar, but she doesn't spend it on meaningless things like jewelry, cars, and other stuff. She likes gifts that mean things but for the life of him he couldn't figure it out. Sighing he gave up and left the mall.

He was driving when his eyes spotted his favorite tattoo shop. He remembered she had mentioned she wanted a new one. It's been a while since he's drawn anything. He was scared if he picked up his sketchbook again, the horrors he went through will end up on the pages. He didn't want to see them again, he couldn't see them again. His nightmares were bad enough. For her he would try.

Looking at the time he saw it was a little past one and was feeling hungry. He pulled up to one of the best take out places when his phone rang. It was his Father. "Hey old man." He joked with a smirk. "Boy, you're not to old for me to spank some respect into." Sabel laughed, "Save the spanking for Mom and Dad."

He could practically here his father's eyes roll. "So I heard there is a possibility you might not be coming to Christmas dinner." He said and Sabel wish he could hit Micha right now. Christmas meant everything to his mom because there had been so many she missed so she cherishes each one. When he was deployed his mother cried that Christmas and it hit him hard. "I had told Nicole, but she nearly panicked. Her past relationships it was strictly Dom and Sub, nothing deeper. She is trying to ease into it but she struggles. And then yesterday she found out one of her band members that she grew up with and sees as a brother is dying with only a few months left. She cracked yesterday and I don't want her to break by over pressuring her. And I refuse to let her spend the holidays alone."  Sabel explained to his father.

He stayed silent for a while and Sabel waited patiently. "If you both decide to come, even if it's last minute, there will be a place for you at the table. I understand and your mother and dad will too son." He said making Sabel's shoulders relax. "So what is she like?" He asked, hearing the smile in his voice.

Sabel smiled, "She's fiesty. Mom would like her very much." She was more than fiesty. She was a reason to go on. A reason to fight against the horrors of his past. She's fighting her's for him and he will conquer his. "I can at least say there will never be a boring day with her around."

"She sounds like a keeper." His father said. Sabel nodded. He knew he didn't love her yet but he was close to it. They haven't known each other long, but sometimes you just know. Seeing her cry, killed him inside and he wanted to make it better but he knew he couldn't. He just hopes he can catch her when she crashes. She may have cried with the reality of it, but he knows it hadn't fully slammed yet.

It took him months after his friend was killed in combat for it to fully hit that he was gone. She's going to want to call him one day, but he won't be here anymore for her to talk to. She knows he's dying but she doesn't know how empty it will make her feel and he will do what he can to keep her grounded. To keep her from falling into a depression.

After talking a few more minutes with his father he hung up. He got food for the two of them before driving back home. He was at the top of the stairs, about to enter the room when a beautiful voice caught his ears followed by the sound of a guitar. "I will not fall. The devil's at my door but I've got my sword ready. Ready, aim, go. Fight through the hell, fight through the shadows. Stand your ground, you will not fall." It was one of their songs from their Legion album. The video to this song showed many who were in depression, struggling, including soldiers. It was one of Sabel's favorite songs.

He stood there until the song was finished. He then entered and she smiled. "Oh how I love Chinese food." She said getting up with her guitar. "Let me just go put this up." She went to her room and put it on it's stand before going to the kitchen island. He handed her sweet and sour chicken with steamed white rice. She grabbed a pair of chopsticks while he opted for a fork. "Are your hands not skilled enough to use chopsticks?" She teased as she used them like an expert.

He smirked, "I have yet to show you just how skilled my hands are." She bit her lip before she ate another piece of chicken. "Can you show me tonight?" She asked him. "Only, if you're good." He told her with a smirk. To be good or not be good, that is the question.