Shadows of the Past

Always

Jake wasn't sure at first what had roused him from the sound sleep he had fallen into, but it quickly became apparent as the heavy rain made itself known. Sitting up he rubbed a hand over his face before dragging himself from the bed. He had become accustomed to being a light sleeper during his time in the military but especially when it came to storms. Y/n had long ago expressed her fear of thunderstorms and thus the reasoning for Jakes wakeful state now. When they were married the sounds of heavy rain would wake him and he would in turn pull his wife's small form onto his chest to make sure she knew he was there, and that she was safe in his arms.

Hangman quickly pulled on a pair of blue jeans and threw on a random shirt from the floor of his bedroom, shoving his feet into shoes and allowing his feet to carry him out to his truck. He hadn't given much thought to what he was going to do when he arrived at his old house so the first few minutes was spent sitting in his truck outside contemplating how crazy he was acting. He decided he would move onto the porch and linger for a few minutes just to be sure none of the lights came on in the darkened house and then he would head back home. His plan went out the window as he stepped onto the porch and heard a blood curdling scream of his name come from upstairs.
He threw caution to the wind using his key he still possessed to be used in the event of an emergency which he classified the current situation to be. The front door bounced off the wall as he flung it open in his haste to make it to the distressed voice above. He took the stairs two at a time until he arrived at their bedroom door and shoved it open, he was met with the sight of y/n sitting up in bed taking rapid breaths. He cautiously approached the side of the bed and seated himself on the very edge, holding his arms out and palms forward in what he hoped was a calming gesture
"Y/n? Baby, it's me. It's Jake, can you look at me honey?" He tried to meet her gaze but she only seemed to fall deeper into the panic she currently found herself in, her breaths huffing out impossibly faster.
"Baby if you don't try to regulate your breathing your going to pass out. I'm going to touch you okay? It's just me, just Jake.." He slid himself close enough to gather her trembling form into his arms and press her against his chest. She hiccuped with her effort of trying to take a normal breath and her eyes met his, allowing him to see the sheer terror looking back at him. He began to gently rock them both back and forth, quietly humming I Say a Little Prayer by Aretha Franklin.
Slowly but surely with his coaching Shadow was able to start taking normal breaths on her own and she laid bonelessly against his chest.
"You with me Bug?" He reached out to swipe a damp piece of hair back off her forehead and was met with her deep blue eyes looking back into his striking green,
"You haven't called me that in a long time.." he offered her a smile and kissed her forehead,
"Too long. Are you okay?" She nodded,
"Yeah, just the storm and..I..I was dreaming about that night.." He carefully tightened his grip around her waist that held her against him,
"Do you want to talk about it?" She shook her head,
"No but..would..can you..stay?" He kissed her head again before letting her go and replying,
"Of course I will. I didn't, I don't have any pajamas though.."

Y/n scooted off the bed and went to the chest of drawers, turning back with a pair of his sweatpants. Jake took them from her with a chuckle,
"I wondered where these went. I guess I forgot to pack them with the rest of my stuff. Speaking of my stuff, isn't that my Navy shirt your wearing there Bug?" He gestured at the gray shirt y/n currently dawned although it fit her small self more like a dress,
"Old habits die hard I guess." She offered him a smile before climbing back into bed on her side. Jake shed his blue jeans and tossed them onto the chair in the corner, replacing them with the black pants given to him and climbed into bed next to her. The flash of light that filled the bedroom caused her to flinch and wait for the impending boom of thunder. Jake wordlessly lifted his arm and she slid over to fit herself against his side. Once she was safely nestled against him she let out a deep sigh and rested her head on his chest just above his heart. She was just about to drift off when she murmured out quietly,
"Good night Jake, thank you for coming for me." He rested his chin on top of her head,
"I'll always come for you Bug..always."