Her father pushes past his wife to stand on the step below me, glaring up at me. "Move aside, son. She's our daughter."
I cross my arms. "No. Sorry. She needs to rest. Second she's awake and up for it, she'll call you."
Nina’s lip trembles. "Our baby girl was…she was attacked, Bear. I need to see that she's okay."
"Promise you, she's physically fine. Broken nose, meanin' black eyes. Roughed up a little. Seeing her right now won't make you feel better." I force myself to soften—this is their daughter, even if my protective instincts are raging at me to destroy anyone who comes within fifty feet of her. "She needs rest. Needs to get cleaned up."
Nicholas sighs. "The second she wakes up…"
I nod. "I'll tell her you want to see her. I swear."
They trade glances, and then Nicholas nods. "Okay. I guess it's good she has you to take care of her."
They get back in their Forester and back out of the driveway. When they're gone, I go back inside, lock the front door, peel my dirty, blood-crusted jeans off, boots and socks, too, and climb into the bed next to Noelle.
She mumbles in her sleep, sensing my presence, and wriggles toward me. I bring her onto my chest and hold her close.
Despite my own exhaustion, I know I won't sleep any time soon.
I'm shakenfrom my fitful, restless quasi-sleep by Noelle thrashing and crying out.
"No! Please—don't. Don't! No!"
I let her thrash, even when her fists bludgeon my face and chest and her feet kick my shins. "Noelle," I say, voice low and soothing. "Wake up, Noelle. You're dreaming. You're safe. Wake up."
“No! Let me go!" She thrashes again, fist smacking my nose hard enough to re-break it.
"Noelle!" I say a little louder, shaking her gently. "Wake up. It's a dream. It's not real. You're safe."
"No! Bear!" She twists and thrashes again, clocking me in the temple. Jackknifing upright, her eyes sweep the room frantically. “Bear?"
I wrap my arms around her and pull her to my chest. "You're okay. You're okay. You're safe."
A sob wracks her body, and she slumps into me. "Bear," she whispers, her voice tiny and lost. "I was back there. On the ground in the alley, and he was….he was—"
I squeeze her, nuzzling my lips against her temple. "Safe now. I've got you."
She sighs, the fight and the tension ebbing out of her. "Fuck."
The curse is shocking coming from her—it's one of fear, anger, and frustration, a million emotions all mixed up together into a Gordian knot of trauma.
I dab my nose with my wrist, not wanting to bleed onto her or the bed. I pinch the bridge of my nose and reset it with a soft growl.
Noelle lifts up. "What? You're bleeding. What happened?"
"Nothing. I'm fine." I wriggle and wrinkle my nose, wiping my forearm under it, and then the heel of my palm, and then my bicep, until the blood starts to clot.
She sits up further. "Bear—did I do that?"
I tuck a strand of her coppery curls behind her ear. "You were having a nightmare. It's okay."
Her eyes water. "I hurt you."
I smile. Shake my head. "No, you didn't."
"I re-broke your nose," she protests.
"You have any idea how many times it's been broken? Don’t give a shit, honey. All I care about is you."
