You Are On My Mind

I Will Always Be Here

Linda didn't know if she wanted to sleep. She didn't know if she wanted to just lay with her husband. She didn't know if she wanted to take a bath.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that," Danny apologized for the umpteenth time. "I didn't know he'd do that. I thought you'd be safe."
"Danny."
"They're not going to hurt you again. Never ever-"
"Danny."
"I swear—"
"Danny!"
Danny looked at his wife, "what's wrong?"
She looked at him with tears eyes, her arms at her side, palms facing him. "Can you just hold me?" She closed her eyes as the tears finally fell, "please?"
Danny's heart broke into a million pieces as he held his wife tightly. He whispered his undying love and devotion for her, promising he was never going to let some sick bastard kidnap her again. 
**********
Danny had finally been able to convince Linda to take a short nap. While she napped, he quietly slipped from the bedroom to find whatever there was to snack on. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until he was testifying. He walked down the stairs, in search of something that would satisfy his hunger.
**********
"No," Linda mumbled softly as she slept in the big bed. "No. No, get off! No! No! Danny! Help! Get off me! No! Danny! Danny!"
The minute Danny heard Linda scream for him, he came rushing up the stairs. He saw her thrashing about on the bed.
"No! Stop! Stop it! Danny!"
"Linda."
She felt weight on her, "oh, no! No! Get off! Danny! Danny!"
"Linda! Linda!" He shook her, trying to wake  her from the nightmare. "Linda, baby. Wake up."
"Danny, help me! Danny!" She desperately called for her husband, not knowing he was the one calling her name.
Danny tried to wake Linda for a few more minutes. Once he was convinced she was going to wake up from hearing her name being called, he gently held her upper arms. Curses softly fell from his lips when she struggled against him. He bent his head and kissed her lips. He slowly felt her kiss him back, feeling the confusion behind her kiss.
Linda moved her head, awake, but not registering what was happening. "No!" She was crying more than she already had been. 
"Linda, baby. It's okay," Danny pushed her sweaty bangs back, "it's me. You're okay. You're safe now." He gathered her into a hug as she sobbed into his neck, clinging to his shirt. "I'm here. You're safe. It's okay."
"He was here," Linda babbled through her tears. "He was here. He hurt me. Oh, gosh, he hurt you too. He- he- he." She felt her chest tighten, and her breathing become restricted.
Danny knew what was happening. He remembered the first time she had a panic attack. He hadn't known what to do until she showed him in the anatomy book. Thanks to her best friend, he knew how to calm his wife down. He pulled back enough so she could look him in the eye, "okay, baby. You know the drill. Breathe with me." He took her hand and placed it over her heart. He had learned that when she felt his heart beat, felt his chest rise and fall, she calmed down quicker. "In...... and out."
Linda closed her eyes, focusing on the exercise. She felt the tears still falling, "can't do it. Can't do it!" She shook her head, scared she'd die having a panic attack.
"Yes, you can, baby." Danny tried to talk over her protests, but she wouldn't listen. He knew he could get her to listen with one word. "Sweetheart."
She looked at him, a blurry image in front of her.
"I need you to focus on breathing. Breathe in, count to four, let it go."
She closed her eyes, and tried it. She shook her head as panic continued to rack her body.
"Linda, look at me, sweetheart." Danny waited to continue until he saw her beautiful blue eyes looking back at him. "Keep looking. Don't close your eyes. Breathe. One.... two.... three.... four. Let it go. He's not here, he can't hurt you. I swear he can't hurt you." He observed as her breathing returned to normal with one last shattering breath. "Good job, Linda. Good job!" He hugged her tightly, kissing her cheek.
"Don't leave me."
"Never. Never ever." He shifted them so they were lying together, Linda's ear over Danny's heart. He held her tightly, "I'm right here. I'll always be here. Always." He forgot about his snack as he held his wife close, vowing over and over again he'd always be there to catch her when she fell; to be her light in the storm; to be her anchor, her life support. He kissed her head before falling asleep himself.