My Unexpected Saviors

Niykee

It's been a week since the lake and I have to say things are getting better by the day. I'm slowly starting to find myself under all this pain I have been through. Mark, from my brother's team, is a medic previously a therapist helping people with cases like mine and has helped me a lot by just talking to him. He's really smart and never questions me or presses for any answers. Dom has been there for me by helping me every step of the way through any bad emotion that goes through my body and mind. I told his mom about what has happened to me and she told me how she slowly got over the nightmares. I can't forget the boys that make me laugh all the time so I don't slip back into my shell of what if's and fear.

I have no way of knowing how they accomplished that but Amber and my brother have somehow convinced Amber's mom to let her move in with us which I'm very thankful for. Without her I wouldn't have lasted as long as I did; she was and still is my rock. She holds me together. I started getting a little closer to Derek after he told me about his life before he left for the army and how it was before I was born. He made me a promise to make up for everything from birthdays to brother and sister bonding. My life is turning for the better and although I may still have trust issues and I'm unwilling to let most people in, I'm happy to have a strong team behind me to help me in anyway.

I am brought out of my thoughts when someone knocks on my door. Yelling a 'come in', I slowly turn my gaze from out the window to my bedroom door.

I smile as Derek walks in, "Hey, kiddo, can I talk to you for a minute", he asks and I nod turning to face him fully.

"Yeah, sure. About what", I ask curiously.

"I've been thinking about this a lot and I ran it with the boys and they agree", he starts looking at me, "We are going to teach Amber and you how to defend yourself and how to handle guns", he says carefully. Guns?

I shake my head, "I'm not using a gun", I state firmly.

He sighs, "I'm sorry, Nicky bear, but you have to. Just in case you are face to face with one but I hope you will never have to use one", why will I ever come face to face with one.

"I don't know, Derek", I say feeling uneasy inside, "How about we work on the self-defense then cross the gun bridge when we get there", I add hopeful.

He nod, "It's a deal. We can start tomorrow but for now get some rest and eat something", he says standing up and kissing the top of my head. He walks towards my door but stops right before he walks out of my room, "Be up by 6:30 am. We have a lot to go over", my mouth lets out a gasp. Six in the bloody morning? I guess there is no arguing with him, he might go all lieutenant on me.

I decide to go bug Amber so I get out of bed and go to her room. I knock but I don't hear anything so I open the door to find her room empty. Pouting I walk downstairs and go to the dance studio that we created days ago. I am so happy that I have a dance studio now because I can dance all I want without leaving the house, my safe haven. I walk in and locate Amber laying in the middle of the floor. Raising an eyebrow I walk over to her and when I reach her she looks up at me and gives me a small fake smile.

I lay next to her, "What's up and don't say nothing", I warn her.

She sighs out, "I really don't know, Nike, one minute I have my heart on lock down then the next thing I know Nick comes and breaks down my walls", she explains to me. I turn my head to look at her and discover unshed tears.

I move closer to her and wrap her into a hug that she returns. When we were freshmen Amber got her first boyfriend and they were together for two years going on three when she caught him cheating on her with another girl who he was dating for a year. She was so heartbroken. The other girl broke up with him as well and told Amber she didn't know and that she would have never gotten with him if she did.