What is Needed But Unexpected

Happenings in the dark

Jane wasn't sure what woke her up at first, at least until she became aware of the hallway light shining into her room.

"Umm...Jane? I had a nightmare ...Can I maybe…" 

Jane couldn't help but smile at the awkward tone of voice that Katherine was using as she stood, half hid behind the door frame.

"Of course." 

Jane could feel the girl trembling as she crawled into bed, prompting her to draw the teenager closer to her side.

"Want to talk about it? Sometimes that helps." She asked, only to feel Katherine shake her head negative.

"Okay, just know that no one is going to hurt you here because we won't let it."

Jane felt the teen curl against her then, making herself small beneath the blankets.

"I know. You all are more than I deserve, really." 

Jane froze as she heard this before lightly nudging Katherine.

"Katherine, you've been through more than anyone your age should have been. If anyone deserves to be cared for and loved its you."

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Katherine knew it was stupid of her to want to be near someone, after all she was by far old enough to deal with the nightmares on her own, but what was even stupider was the reason she had chose Jane out of everyone else.

Even if she usually retreated to Anne or Anna's side—and had even summoned up the nerve to go to Aragon on a few occasions—Jane had a more calming presence. Katherine didn't want to admit—even to herself—the way that the woman's careful approach reminded her of things she had long forgotten about.

She wouldn't admit that it felt nice when Jane held her as they lay there, how Being so close to Jane made her feel both an odd sense of safety as well as a deep longing that she hadn't felt since living at her step-grandmother's.

   No, it was best if she didn't start thinking like that and get herself used to an idea that would just end with her having her heart broken later—even if Jane did care. 

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"Yeah, that was a big pile of nothing." 

Bessie commented, however, very much like the night that she herself had woken up in the strange world, clouds began billowing overhead.

Maggie grabbed onto Bessie's arm, obviously not remembering the conditions of that first night as she had woken up hours later, gasping and nearly in a panic.

But exchanging a look with Maria, Bessie realized that the younger woman also recognized the electrical storm that was surging overhead.