A Kind Girl In A Cruel World (Grey's Anatomy AU)

Chapter Twenty-Two

-George-
I woke up in the middle of the night when I heard Lara screaming and crying, and I wrapped my arms around her tight.
"It's alright, sweetheart... it was just a nightmare."
"Seeing Eric really screwed with me."
She brushed her hair back and wiped her tears.
"He can't hurt you anymore. I'll keep you safe, even if it takes every breath in my body."
"I couldn't make him stop, George..."
"Shh, don't talk... it's alright."
I already know what happens. She's had night terrors about Eric before too. She dreams that he's raping and beating her, and she can't make him stop no matter how hard she fights back. He's almost killed her in her dreams, and no doubt in real life as well. Sometimes he'll choke her or almost beat her to death, and sometimes he'll even have a knife in his hand and he'll be trying to cut her up. Lara says it gets worse every time, and I can't even pretend to imagine what that must be like for her. I think she might have post traumatic stress disorder, because this has been going on long after she broke it off with him. Sometimes she'll just start crying and screaming out of the blue too, like she's having some kind of breakdown. It must've been pretty horrible, what this Eric guy did to her. I think she might need professional help, because there's only so much I can do for her.
"Lara...?"
"Yes, George?"
She turned over, and she still had tears in her eyes.
"Oh, how do I say this?"
"It's okay, what is it?"
"I-I think you need professional help."
"No. No, I can't."
She got up and started walking away, but I grabbed her by the hand.
"Why not?"
"Because, George... Eric said if I ever told anyone, he'd kill me."
"Sweetheart, that's in the past. Please... please get help, for both of our sakes."
I got down on my knees in front of her, held both of her hands and kissed them. She got down to my eye level, and she ran her fingers through my hair.
"Okay, Georgie... if it means that much to you, I'll get help." Lara sighed.
"I think you have PTSD, Lara." I told her.
"Yeah, right." she scoffed.
"With all the night terrors you have, waking up screaming and crying in the middle of the night, and having emotional breakdowns out of the blue? I think there's something seriously wrong there. Obviously Eric did something to you that scarred you for life."
"I just can't move on from it, George."
"It's okay, I know."
I held her tight in my arms.
"Why are you so good to me? What'd I do to deserve you?"
"I'm good to you because I love you. Honestly, I don't think I've ever cared about or loved anyone else this much."
I kissed the top of her head, and she sighed.