Template:Featured Articles/30-2016

From XPwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
MoA Dagger.png
Moment of Awesome - Tandy Bowen/Dagger: When her boyfriend has nightmares relating to a mission, Tandy draws on her own experience to comfort him

"Want to talk about it?" She got back into the bed and cuddled up to him.

He was a bit more composed upon her return, but was still holding his knees to his chest on the bed. Her boyfriend took the water, leaning against her as he took a trembling sip. "D-different, door," he took another sip, centering himself like he'd learned in China. "DeMattis, dreamed about...about him again," he paused, "finding him." In truth, it hadn't been Devon DeMattis in the chair beyond the door, but he wasn't ready to talk about that yet.

"Did you find him?" She knew it must had been terrible, if the floating objects, shaking bed and Julian floating like he was possessed by the gatekeeper. "I'll keep the light on for you as long as you like."

"I just..." he wasn't certain that he was ready to talk about it. Taking a moment to breath deeply, and down another gulp of water, he exhaled sharply. "There's a hallway, with a door on the end, and I can't stop myself from opening it and he's dead on the other side." It had all come out very quickly, he looked to her to see if she had heard clearly.

Tan was silent for awhile as she let it process for a moment. Moving her head up towards him, "I am sorry. It is over now. Back in your room. Nightmares suck."

Julian looked away from her, ashamed, "It felt so real." His voice trembled as he spoke, he felt weak...unworthy. He'd failed his friend in Saint Louis, how long until that happened again. "Yeah, just a dream," he forced a smile and reached out, shifting so he could wrap his arms around Tandy and not have to look into her eyes.

"Julian. There is nothing too be ashamed of. If anyone understands nightmares and how terrifying they are, it is me." She reached up to touch his chin. "They do feel real. And that is what makes them terrifying."

In all the time that had passed since they'd first met, Julian had nearly forgotten that Tandy had similar troubles just before their first encounter on the roof. He smiled, weakly, but genuinely, "Well if anyone would know..." He hugged her again, pulling her tightly and trying to forget as he whispered in her ear, "Thank you, Bow."

She snuggled more into the hug. "is this a bad time to say that the alarm clock is probably broken?" She leaned over and kissed his cheek.