Mouse
Darkness all around, and the faint sound of something breathing. Mouse started to run, her sneakers slapslapping on the tarmac as she fled. A howl echoed through the night and Mouse's heartbeat quickened. Eyes watched her from the shadows as she ran panicstriken through the dark city streets. Alone. The breathing got louder and she heard paws, or maybe it was feet following her. The pace quickened as she tried to run faster, lungs bursting and knees going weak. She stumbled, and a hand was on her shoulder. She was made to turn, to look and hot breath blasted the side of her face as she slowly began to open her eyes-
Mamaaaaaaaaa! Daaaaadddyyy! The car became a twisted pile of metal, and she ran to hide. Scurrying under a table like a mouse. Her daddy's little Mouse. She hid there for over two days, not daring to move-
Fire. Burning heat blistering her face as she ducked through a doorway, coughing her lungs out. "Taylor!" She'd lost him somewhere in the flames, and she couldn't get out. "TAYLOR!" She screamed, then bent over coughing as the smoke scorched through her airways-
Sidhe's body twisted through the air, and this time Mouse leapt for the door and Christina's throat-
In her sleep Mouse whimpered and kicked out.
Taylor
Taylor shot up in bed.
He'd just begun to hear the voice again, threatening him, when he was jolted awake. Then he felt himself kicked in the leg, and his eyes darted to Mouse.
"Jane?!" he exclaimed softly, reaching over to shake her shoulder.
MOuse
Back to running in the darkness as she fell through the sunglasses on Christina's face. The slapslapslap of her sneakers on wet pavement, light drizzling rain falling down on her head. Cold, tired, hungry and alone.
"Get out! We don't want no freaks around here!"
Screaming started somewhere, and she knew if she looked in that window she'd see foster father number three, she couldn't remember his name. But she had enough small circular burn scars on her back to ensure she never forgot *him*-
Mouse tried to curl up into a ball as she was back in the room. The glowing cigarette end drifted closer to her face, before dropping to her chest.
She shot upwards in bed, crying out. "NO!" Then the shakes started.
Taylor
"Hey! Hey, it's ok, it's ok," Taylor rushed to calm her.
He leant over to hug her to him.
"It was a nightmare."
Mouse
"I have too many bad memories," Mouse said in a broken whisper as she held onto him almost desperately. "Why can't I just forget? I don't want to remember that kinda stuff." She could almost still feel the burning, the pain as he ground the cigarette out in the middle of her chest. Tears started to slip down her face.
Taylor
"I know, I know," Taylor closed his eyes with a gulp and he held onto her.
He sat back a little, pulling her with him.
"And I'm sorry it has to come back to you like this. I'd suggest Tanya block it, but... some memories..." he shook his head.
Mouse
"He put out his cigarette on my chest. I don't remember his name, or even his face really. I just remember how much it *hurt*." Mouse's eyes were almost blank, even though the tears were still falling. "That was the first time he did it..."
Taylor
Taylor's eyes darted from side to side.
"It's over, it's over ok?"
He made her lean back a little so he could kiss her forehead.
"It was just a nightmare. Dreams have this habit of unlocking unwanted memories. I should know."
He kissed her again.
Mouse
Mouse sighed in a rasping breath. "Yeah." She hid her face in his chest. "'M sorry I woke you up. Usually it's not so bad...but they were all mixed up tonight..."
Taylor
"Hey don't worry about me," Taylor ran his fingers through her hair and held her face, glad she'd calmed somewhat.
"Besides, I think I've done my share of waking you up. I don't mind a little payback," he chuckled.
Then he leant forward and kissed her on the lips.
MOuse
"I love you," Mouse told him quietly. "I couldn't find you in my dreams tonight, and it was all flames everywhere..." She shuddered. "I couldn't find you...and I was alone. Trapped. In the fire..."
Taylor
"Well I'm right here," Taylor hugged her again with a smile, then leant back and took her hands in his.
"And I don't plan on going anywhere," he raised his eyebrows.
Mouse
"I know...it's just in my nightmares I forget." Mouse squeezed his hands lightly. "I knew you were there somewhere, but I couldn't find you. Glad I woke up. My head is a bad place to be by yourself."
Taylor
"Well I'm willing to share it with you."
Taylor let his hands wander over hers, pausing to trace the diamonds in her ring.
"I don't want you to feel like you have to block me out or anything. Anything that's bothering you in the slightest... you know if you need to talk or anything, I'm here."
Mouse
"Same for you with me...don't know how much help I'll be though..." Mouse sat there silently for a moment, head bowed. "I can still feel her dying. It hasn't stopped. I didn't want her to place her mark on me but now...something's been ripped out and I...it aches." One hand went up and massaged the now dull eye of Horus Bastet had placed on her arm.
Taylor
Taylor lifted his hand for a moment, before placing it on top of hers in silent support.
He tilted his head to the side a little, as his thumb massaged her hand.
"One life is lost, and others are gained," he said softly, almost in a whisper.
"Kind of like the generations of humans and aliens. Not all Gods can live forever. If they could I bet Olympus would get pretty crowded."
Mouse
"Yeah...Nyx took her place. But she's not...secure yet." Mouse shook off her sombre mood, and kissed him. "I hate being alone. With you, I'm not. Not really. Je t'aime, mon cher."
Taylor
"I don't see myself as alone, even when I am," Taylor looked down.
"I'm not. Not when I have you. Not when I have my family. Not when I have the animals."
He looked up again.
"And I love you too. I can't stress that enough, so I just hope you believe me," he chuckled.
Mouse
Mouse smiled slightly. "Let's go back to sleep. You have a concert tomorrow, don't you?"
Taylor
"Nope, the day after," Taylor sighed, laying down and getting comfortable again, still holding onto her hand.
"Palo Alto. It isn't far from here. Same state at least."
MOuse
"Hmmm," Mouse said agreeably as she lay back down and got ready to sleep again. "I just hope Saku doesn't set any more fires."
Taylor
"No worse than a baby pyrokinetic," Taylor shrugged, putting an arm around her protectively.
He sighed and closed his eyes, before kissing her forehead again and laying back again.
"See you in the morning."
Mouse
"Love you," Mouse mumured, eyes already closing and slipping into sleep as she turned slightly to lay her head against his chest. His heart beat reassuringly in her ear and she entered a sleep without nightmares.