Shield

Five

She sat up feeling something warm and wet on her hand she lifted it seeing only red. She looked at Ryan as he was nealing on his knees.

"Ryan!" He fell to the side into her arms. "SOMEONE HELP PLEASE!!" Izzie moved the hair out of his face and tried to keep his eyes open."Ryan, it's okay. It's okay, stay with me." Izzie let the tears fall as Ryan looked up at her."You're going to be fine," she looked away again looking for anyone. "HELP!"

"It's okay.."He whispered. She looked down at him. "Iz...I..Love you." She held his hand. Felt the blood run down her skin. Felt as it bled into her clothes. His breathing grew faster for a moment as his eyes closed.

"No...no. No. No. Ryan please." He stopped breathing Izzie pulled him closer." No. Help, please! No no Ryan please!" Izzie put her hand on his face. "Please wake up Ryan please."

"Izzie, Izzie!!" Izzie opened her eyes. Iris near her hand on her chest and worry in her eyes. She felt the arms around her and looked behind seeing Barry. She was on the carpet on her knees Barry behind her keeping her arms close to her. "You're okay. You're safe." He said. Izzie took a deep breath and dropped her head but found herself holding onto his arm. She tried taking deep breaths before the tears grew in her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Izzie said. Barry let go and turned Izzie to him gently. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay. Don't worry about it. Are you okay?" Barry asked. Izzie nodded. "Okay. Come on, let's just go back to bed." He helped Izzie off the floor and back onto the couch. Barry draped the blanket back onto Izzie before going back to Iris and the two of them heading back to their room.

Setting back into bed wasn't easy. Iris felt worried just as Barry did. She wants to help Izzie but the moment she only felt helpless.  Barry moved the blanket up closer to him and looked to his wife. "It's going to be okay." He said. Iris quickly turned to him.

"Really? Because that girl was screaming in her sleep. I don't think we can help her alone."

"We'll get her all the help she needs Iris. We just need to take it step by step. Get her trust. Like you said we can do this." Iris nodded then turned over allowing Barry to wrap his arm around her. He kissed her cheek before laying back down closing his eyes. He hoped he was right. That they could help her in time.

***

Izzie was half asleep when she joined Barry and Iris in the kitchen. They had been up for a while and the coffee needed to start brewing so she was happy to wake up to the smell of Jitters. Even if she'd be spending over thirty hours a week there waking up to the smell of coffee could never be beat.

   "I could grab some pamphlets or info booklets on the university." Iris offered taking a large drink of her coffee.

"Maybe. I think I should focus on work for now. Besides I'm not exactly sure how easy that's going to be. I didn't leave school on the best of terms."
  
"What does that mean?" The reporter in Iris was catching onto something but then again every time she's been around her Iris can only feel for her. She was so young and had already been through so much. Had already had so much taken away from her.

"After Ryan died...it wasn't easy. I felt at fault and I had a lot of people telling me I was. One day I couldn't take it anymore and I kind of broke the star quarterbacks nose."

Barry brought his mug to his lips. Izzie could only find it in her to hurry her face in her cup. She was at central city high for her freshman and sophmore and a few short months of her junior year. She's supposed to be a senior but she would rather be done with it like she should have years ago.