| Brian took Sue down the back of the bus and helped her change into her nightwear, then settling her into the bed. "I have to go take a shower, will you be okay while I do?" "Yeah. I'll be okay," she said to him, as the bus started moving. "Okay, as long as you're sure," he said and collected a few things before heading out the door. She heard Brian talking to someone at the entrance to the door and realised even in the supposed safety of the bus, he had someone watching out for her. When Brian came out of the shower, still towelling his hair dry, he thanked David for listening out for Sue. But he hadn't expected to find her the way she was when he walked back into the room. Sue was hiding under the blankets, no sign of her visible when he walked in. Fear raced through him, then he realised she was under the covers hiding away. He reached out to her and she lashed out. "Sue, it's me. Calm down Baby. I won't hurt you." Tentatively she poked her head out from under the blanket and Brian realised he was going to have to work with her to help her overcome the trauma she had gone through. He considered getting someone to join them on tour, someone she could talk to about it, who had experience in this field. He didn't know if he could do this alone. "I'm sorry Brian." Her eyes darted around. "I got scared lying here alone. I had to hide." "That's okay. Come on. I am here with you now. Time to sleep." "I need you to hold me Brian." She said timidly. Brian hated to see her feeling so dependant so scared out of her whits that she couldn't lay there alone. "Of course Baby. Just let me get rid of this wet towel, and get dressed," he said and he saw her eyes widen at the thought of him leaving her. "It's okay, I'll give the towel to David. I won't walk out," he finished and opened the door to call David to take the towel. He walked back to Sue and pulled her into his arms as he lay down next to her. "Shhh," he soothed. "It's all going to be okay." Sue nodded and instantly relaxed into his arms. She fell asleep, the effects of the painkillers forcing her to sleep. It pained him to see her so scared. Three times through the night she woke with nightmares, and every time, he was there to hold her and soothe her. ********** Every time Sue had woken with her nightmares Brian had been there for her, holding her close to him, crooning softly to her to calm her down. She took great comfort in his arms and the fact that he was there for her. When she was in semi sleep, she knew he was there, but when she dozed off and the dreaming would start, he wasn't there when she needed him. She would become frantic and kick and scream, waking Brian and the cycle would begin all over again. She couldn't pinpoint the dreams, just that they troubled her. Early in the morning it began again. And this time she remembered. She woke up screaming out to Brian, calling him to come to her. Then with a blood curdling 'Nooooooooo', her legs thrashing out, her arms flying wildly, hitting anything she could connect with, she woke again, a film of sweat all over her body. Brian was dodging her flying arms and legs, especially the plaster encased arm, at the same time trying to hold her tightly to him to calm her down. "Sue, wake up. Sue I am here for you. Baby, please wake up," Brian was saying over and over again. Finally she woke up. Sue threw her arms around Brian and cried. She couldn't help herself. Tears just flowed and she wrapped her arms tighter about him almost choking him. She didn't know why she was behaving like this she couldn't help it. She sobbed into his t-shirt, soaking a wet patch into it, all the while Brian was trying to calm her with soothing words and kisses to her forehead. Finally the sobbing slowed down and she hiccupped every few seconds, still burying her head in his chest. Brian put his finger under her chin, trying to get her to look at him but she resisted. She knew it was Brian, but she was scared to look up, after the nightmare she had had. Scared she would see Spencer, knowing how unreasonable that thought was. She knew Brian's safe arms were around her, there was no reason to believe otherwise. Except the subconscious mind playing tricks on her. Brian got her to lift her eyes to him after he tried again and she saw the concern in his eyes. She sniffed again and he ran his fingers through her hair. Every time he touched her she calmed down a little further, his presence and touch exactly what she needed. "I'm sorry Brian." Sue said looking away again. She started to roll away but Brian pulled her back. "Don't apologise Sue. None of this is your fault. I want to help you through this." "I don't deserve you Brian. You're too good to me," she said and he felt his heart aching. He pulled her into his arms tightly, his lips on her forehead. "Sue, don't say that. Don't put yourself down over this. You were the victim but that is no reason I would think any less of you and I was always going to be here for you. I love you Sue, I'll always be here for you," Brian said and Sue was crying again. He sighed and let her cry. This was going to take a lot for her to get over. "Do you want to tell me about the dream? It might help if you talk about it." She shrugged. "He was there. He had me in his arms," she started with no more encouragement. "He wouldn't let me go. Then I saw you in the distance and you couldn't reach me. You were walking the other way," she continued, getting worked up again. "You turned and looked at me and held out your arms and you kept moving further away. I tried to get to you, but he was holding me. I reached out my arms to you, and the next minute they were tied up. I looked up at him, so much like you, and his eyes began to glow red, his features turning evil." She sobbed loudly. "That's when I woke up," she finished. She looked up at Brian. "I don't want to go back to sleep Brian." "Sh! It's okay, you don't need to." He looked at his watch. "We can't be far from reaching the next hotel now anyway. Would you like to sleep there? I'll be right there with you?" he asked, noticing how very tired she still looked despite not wanting to sleep. "I don't know. I'm scared to fall asleep." "Oh Baby," Brian sighed. "What can I do to help you?" he asked, wishing he knew the answer to that. "Just be with me like you are." ********** Later that morning, after a warm bath on arriving at the hotel, she finally fell asleep for a peaceful rest lying in Brian's arms. He knew he had to be somewhere, but took the phone off the hook after ringing Kevin to explain what was going on, and sleeping with her. He woke with a start before her and once he was familiar with where he was, he lay quietly, just holding Sue. He wondered what he could do to help Sue and knew it wouldn't be till Newman was caught that she would get over this. Hopefully each day she would get better, and he would be there with her all the way. When she woke, she smiled at him, stretching herself lazily. "Feeling better now," he asked her. "Yes, thank you. I had no dreams this time." She looked up at him. "You have been so patient with me Brian. Thank you." "No need to thank me," he told her. "Come on, you feel like a walk or something? I'll get David to take us to some far away park, somewhere no one would expect us." "Shouldn't you be somewhere Brian?" "Yeah, but I told Kevin I wasn't going to be there. He'll make some excuse. I want to spend the day with you." "I'd like that." Sue felt like a little child being given a special present, but right now, she was happy with that. She didn't want to be an independent adult right now. So twenty minutes later they were on their way to a private animal reserve that David had tracked down for them. The kitchen staff at the hotel had put together a picnic lunch, complete with blanket and basket full of delicious looking food. For some reason, Sue felt like they were beginning their relationship all over again. Not because of what happened, and not because they needed to, but it was just a feeling. She knew Brian was holding back, and he had told her it was only so he wouldn't frighten her or remind her of her ordeal, even though she had told him it wasn't necessary. In a way it was nice too, quite romantic. It also showed her how much he thought about her, how much he loved her to be taking things as slowly as he was. He made her feel very special to him. Sue was sitting back on the blanket between Brian's legs, leaning back into his chest, his arms loosely around her from behind. "Brian," he murmured a reply close to her ear, sounding tired. "I'm okay you know. I feel better now." She could feel him smile. "I'm glad. You know I will do everything in my power to help you, keep you safe." "Yeah, I know." She was quiet for a while. "Brian," she said again and he made the same reply. "I wish the bodyguards weren't here now." "Oh? Why's that?" he asked but he had a fairly good idea. He was smiling again. "Because I want to kiss you, and hold you in my arms and do whatever we wanted to do." She answered him, wiggling her bottom back to him. Brian threw his head back and laughed. "Oh Baby, I would love that too. How about we head on back then? We have loads of time before the concert tonight." "Hmm, no, I wanted to do it here in the open." She heard his disappointed sigh and laughed. "I'm just kidding Brian. Lets just walk for a while, and then head back. Then there won't be any bodyguards watching our every move in the hotel room." She turned and winked at him boldly. He smiled and believed she was slowly returning back to normal. Hopefully the nightmares would disappear too. They walked arm in arm around the reserve admiring the scenery and watching the animals that they had there. Ducks were the most prevalent animals there, and they fed them some of the left over bread they had with them. They laughed non-stop at some of the ducks trying to get as close as they were game, to get the bread. Sue noticed how this simple day together was relaxing and making her forget about her problems. It also made her suddenly long for Brian and she turned in his arms, lifting her lips to his, catching him off guard. "Kiss me Brian," she said to him and she watched as his blue eyes darkened with instant longing. Brian's lips lowered down on hers and his arms wound around her to hold her to his body. Sue lifted both her arms around his waist, being mindful of her injured one. Neither of them seemed to mind that both David and Will were a safe distance from them, not being allowed to take their eyes off them. All that mattered was this kiss and getting their relationship back to the way it was 3 days ago. "I never did apologise to you about that argument we had the other day. I'm sorry Sue, I was trying to rule your life." "No Brian, it was no ones fault. I think we were both a little edgy that day." "But right now Sue, I insist on you staying with me all the time," he grinned down at her, "Even on the golf course." Sue groaned. "You aren't going to inflict that on me are you?" she asked him. He laughed. "Only kidding Baby. I won't do that," he told her, "Now lets head back for some other physical activity." He winked at her and they ran back towards the picnic basket, collecting everything to take back. It had been a day they needed, and both of them were prepared to face the stress of tour life and anything else that may happen. They were late to the concert venue that night, giggling as they pulled up. Kevin was waiting for them, a stern look on his face, but he couldn't help but smile when he saw them. "Good day you two?" "Yeah, it was a good day," Brian said looking down at Sue Smiling at her. "Thank you Kevin, for letting Brian have today off. It's helped both of us." Sue told him. "It was our pleasure Sue. All of us. We covered for him at the radio interview. No media has caught wind of what happened to you, so that made it easier. I'm glad to see you looking so well again." Kevin said dragging her out of Brian's arms to give her a hug. "Now you, go get ready for the show. I will watch this lovely lady while you get ready. I think Jac wants to see you too," Kevin told Sue. Brian leaned down and kissed her quickly and reluctantly left, telling her he would see her in the audience. She felt more refreshed this time, and despite having not long ago taken a painkiller, she felt she would last the whole concert watching tonight, before they had to head to the bus for yet another trip to yet another city. The bus was becoming more like home these days. |