Chapter 37: Bad Dreams and Showers

"Instead of a bad dream, one day... i want a good one. I'm gonna get it. I'm gonna have a good dream. And my dream's gonna be about Fabian because... well, he's good to me."

Jaimie-mae woke up to a small hand shaking her shoulder. She slowly turned over and was immediately met with the teary eyes of Mason.

"Mason? What's wrong buddy?" She asked groggily.

"My mommy isn't back yet."

"Oh." She didn't really know what else to say. She wasn't normally good at holding conversations.

"Jaimie? What is it?" Fabian groaned as he rolled over the pillow seperation right onto her.

She winced. "Fabian, you aren't light."

"Oh, sorry," he said tiredly, however he didn't move. "What happened?"

"Mommy isn't back and i can't sleep."

"Oh Mason, it's you." He yawned and rubbed his eyes. "Go to dad then."

"I wanna stay here and sleep with Jaimie-mae like you."

Fabian's eyes widened and Jaimie-mae giggled a little.

After a few seconds of Mason's puppy dog eyes, Fabian caved in.

He scooted over to make room. "Fineee. Get up."

Mason eagerly climbed onto the bed and found a spot next to Jaimie-mae. He placed his head on her arm but Fabian pushed him down.

"You don't get to hog her all night," he said through a yawn.

Fabian placed his head on Jaimie-mae's chest and Mason lay sideways on the bed and placed his head on her thigh.

Jaimie-mae lay stiff at first but then she relaxed when she realized her movement wasn't going to disturb them a lot.

Not too long later, the boys had fallen asleep against her, completely passed out.

It made her realize how much the boys depended on their mom for certain things. It was a different kind of bond that they had. It was sweet.

Soon after, Jaimie-mae fell into a calm, quiet sleep.

***

Fabian sat up in bed after feeling someone hitting his chest.

"Dangit Mason. Let me sleep," he said tiredly as he collapsed back into his pillow.

Jaimie-mae nor him had gotten a proper sleep yet and the sun would be coming back up in about an hour.

He hadn't noticed he had rolled off of Jaimie-mae during the night. He secretly thought her chest was a very comfortable place to rest his head.

"But what about Jaimie? She doesn't look so good."

"What do you mean?" He asked as he rolled over and squinted his eyes.

"Look."

Fabian sat up and had to hold back a loud choke. "Oh sh- Mason get out."

"What why? What's wrong with her? Why is she sweating like that? Does she have a fever?"

"No. I think it's just a bad dream."

Jaimie-mae whimpered and a frown visibly appeared on her face. Her chest started to rise and fall at an unatural pace.

"Mason get out. I mean it."

"But-"

"I promise i'll come back and get you after."

Mason reluctantly got off the bed. "Okay."

When his little brother was gone, Fabian got up and smoothed the hair away from Jaimie-mae's face.

He didn't know if her nightmares were similar to her panic attacks and he didn't know if he could touch her or not.

"Jaimie-baby, whatever it is. It isn't real. It's just a dream. Wake up. That's not real," he said into her ear softly.

She started writhing around in the bed and muffled whimpers came from her throat.

"Jaimie, wake up. It's Fabian. It isn't real. Please, wake up," he said in a panicked voice.

He started shaking her out of pure panic. He hated seeing her so scared and helpless.

All at once, Jaimie-mae shot up straight, bumping heads with Fabian and he fell backwards in pain.

"Fabian!!!" She screamed loudly.

He winced. "Jaimie, i'm right here."

He sat up and rubbed his head. Jaimie-mae was shaking and looking at her hands and arms.

"Ohmygosh, ohmygosh, ohmygosh. Fabian. Fabian. Fabian. Fabian. I'm so sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. Not you too," she said with a shaky voice.

Fabian looked at her with furrowed eyebrows. To him, it didn't even seem like she was aware he was there sitting right there next to her.

She started wiping her arms with the sheets.

"Jaimie-baby. What's wrong? What's going on?" He asked cautiously.

She continued to wipe at her arms, still completely unaware that he was right there.

"So much blood," she muttered as she wiped her arms. "I'm so sorry Fabian."

She immediately burst into tears and Fabian sat there, confused.

"Jaimie?"

"Jaimie? Tell me what's wrong so i can help you."

He gently rested his hand on her shoulder and she finally turned to him. She stared for a couple of seconds then rubbed her eyes. It was like she didn't realize who he was.

"Fabian?"

"Yeah Jaimie-baby. It's me."

She immediately tackled him into one of her suprisingly strong and suffocating hugs. He fell backwards into the bed with an oof and he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her waist.

"What happened Jaimie?"

"You were there at s-school. And then the man came. He got y-you. And then there was so much b-blood. And then they took you away and i couldn't s-save you. I'm s-s-sorry."

"What. No no no. You did save me Jaimie-baby. And you did so so good," he said and then placed a light kiss on her forehead.

"There's still so much blood," she mumbled into his chest.

He furrowed his eyebrows. "You can still see it?"

"Yeah. And its everywhere."

"You wanna wash it off?"

It was strange asking if she wanted to wash off blood that he couldn't see. But that was something he had to work with. He had to do things he wouldn't normally do with other girls. And he was fine with that.

He felt her nod into his chest so he helped her up and pulled her through the dark room to the bathroom.

When they were in the bathroom, he turned on a dim light.

"Take a nice warm shower, i'll bring you some clothes."

He went to leave but Jaimie-mae caught his wrist. He stopped abruptly.

"Can you stay in here please. So i can see you."

He raised his eyebrows. "In here?"

She nodded in reply.

"With you?"

She nodded again.

"While you shower?"

"Mhmm," she said with a small blush.

"I'll be just outside the door though. I need to get you some new clothes."

"No! Stay here. Please," she begged.

His will immediately dissolved and he gave in. "Fine."

He leant against the counter and crossed him arms. She just stared at him.

"Go ahead then," he said with a wave of his hand.

"Can you turn around please? I just need to see you. So i know you're okay."

Fabian almost melted into the floor. He was beginning to see how much of fanboy for Jaimie-mae he was.

He slowly turned around.

"Promise you won't look?" Jaimie-mae asked shyly.

"Yup. I promise."

Jaimie-mae trusted his word and immediately stripped and hopped into the shower. She scrubbed herself until her skin was slightly red.

"Oh my gosh, there's are mirror right there," Fabian said out of the blue.

"Fabiannnn," she whined.

He laughed. "Don't worry. I didn't peek. I had my eyes closed the whole time. I keep my promises."

She poked her head out and sure enough, she could see his eyes were shut tightly through the mirror.

"Hey Jaimie?"

"Yes?" She said as she looked over at him in the mirror.

"I can feel you looking at me," he said with a cheeky smile.

She blushed and went back behind the shower curtain. "Sorry."

"No no. You don't have to be sorry. I like when you look at me, makes me feel all tingly," he said with a husky laugh. "And not gonna lie, when you look at me, it makes me feel like i'm hotter than i already am."

Jaimie-mae's laugh echoed around the bathroom. "Cocky much."

He smiled brightly. "Yes, much coc-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," she said seriously.

He chuckled. "Okay."

After she finished washing her hair, she peeked out of the curtains again.

"Hey Jaimie?" Fabian called out.

"Yeah?"

"Are you sure this isn't just an excuse so you can look at my toned butt without me noticing. Because, i mean, i wouldn't mind if you did."

Jaimie-mae immediately choked on her spit. "What no!"

"Okayyy, whatever you say," he said with a laugh that made Jaimie-mae's heart flutter.

Jaimie-mae reached out and grabbed a towel, pat herself mostly dry than wrapped the towel around herself. She then stepped out and grabbed Fabian's large hand.

He jumped in shock and then quickly recovered and followed her out of the bathroom, trying not to let his eyes stray to far.

"Turn around please. I need to change."

"O-okay."

He turned around and squeezed his eyes shut. The thought that just behind him, in his room, Jaimie-mae was naked for a few seconds made his blood rush faster.

He listened to the ruffling and then there a few thumps. And then a 'woah' and then a huge thump.

"Jaimie, are you okay?" Fabian asked without turning around.

The sound of her giggling floated to his ears and immediately reassured him that she was okay. He chuckled.

"Did you fall trying to put your pants on?"

"Yes," she squeaked out.

He laughed loudly. "Can i turn around to help you?"

It was quiet for a second. "Umm, i don't have pants on."

"And? I've seen you without pants before."

"Oh right... i guess."

He slowly turned around and looked down at the heap on the floor. He soon burst out laughing. "Sorry. Here, give me your hands."

She reached her arms up to him and he easily picked her up off the ground.

"You need a shower now," she said after pulling up her pants properly.

He gasped. "Do i stink?"

"No! You smell... like you. I like your smell. Its just, there's blood on you."

He looked down at himself. She was so dang convincing. He almost forgot that only she could see it.

"Sorry. I don't mean to do that. I can't... i don't know how to get rid of this."

"It's fine. I'll take a shower if it makes it any better."

She nodded thankfully.

"Okay."

He quickly grabbed a towel and ran off to the bathroom. When he was about to close the door, he realized Jaimie-mae's fallen face through the crack.

"Oh. Um, do you still need to be in here with me?"

She looked at his face for a second. "No, i'll just stand by the door and wait. Can you leave it opened a little bit? I won't look."

"Okay. I'll leave it opened a crack. Be right back."

Fabian quickly showered, dried off, threw his clothes back on then came back out.

Jaimie-mae squealed and stumbled back. She rushed forward and pressed just below his ribs which made him laugh.

"What are you doing? That tickles," he said through laughs.

"There's so much blood. It won't stop."

He looked down at her with worried eyes. He didn't know how to stop her from seeing things.

"How about you just watch me shower, yeah?"

She looked up him with wide eyes.

"I'll keep my boxers on," he added quickly.

"Um, o-okay."

He chuckled and brushed his fingers over her cheeks. "Aww, look she's blushing," he said playfully.

"Shut up."

The two of them entered the bathroom and Fabian started to take off his clothes. He noticed her trying to avoid looking at his chest and he had to stop himself from spluttering with laughter when she'd shift around uncomfortably on her feet.

As soon as he took off his pants she squeaked and spun around.

"How are you supposed to see me wash off the blood with your back to me?" he said, the smirk evident in his voice.

She cleared her throat. "Oh right."

She turned around and watched as he stepped into the shower with his boxers still on. He turned on the water and she watched, hardly blinking as he ran his hands over his skin.

"Is it gone?" He asked as he dipped his head under the water.

He got no reply so he turned and immediately snickered when he noticed her eyes follow a trail of water down his body.

"Hellooo. Jaimie! Your kinda staring."

Jaimie-mae snapped out of her trance and looked back up at his face. "Hmmm?" She hummed, her eyes slightly dazed.

"Is the blood gone?"

"Kinda. Most of it yeah."

He suddenly got an idea. "Do you want to wash the rest off."

"Huh?" Her eyes widened.

"Wash it off. I can't really see it. Only you can."

Her face fell a little.

"Oh Jaimie-baby. I didn't mean it l-"

"No you're right. Only i can see it." She ran her hand through her damp hair, frustrated. "Oh my gosh. I'm literally insane. I just made you get a shower twice to wash off something that isn't really there."

Fabian frowned. "No Jaimie. Listen to me. You are not insane. And besides if you need me to do something, i don't mind. Besides i probably needed these two showers to make up for the ones i missed. Your mind is just very good at making things seem realistic and vivid. I like that. That way you can draw pictures with amazing accuracy too."

Jaimie-mae smiled. "I never really thought of it that way."

He smiled back. "Come on. You can wash off the rest."

She hesitantly stepped forward and grabbed the mens bodywash from the side of the tub.

"Go ahead," he encouraged with a small smile. "Wash away."

She poured some of it into her hand and lathered it a little then placed her hand gently on the center of his chest. She smoothly ran her hand over his torso and Fabian noticed her shiver. He smiled to himself.

Jaimie-mae spent a little longer on his side where she most likely was seeing most of the blood come from. Fabian tried not to make it obvious that he was enjoying her small hand run over his body.

Her hand ran back up to the left side of his chest and stopped there.

"Fabian," she said quietly.

He looked down at the small hand on his chest. "Yeah?"

"Your hearts beating kinda fast."

"Yeah, you do that to me sometimes."

His voice had a kind of smokiness to it. The both of them shivered.

Fabian felt a little blood rush downwards and he cursed under his breath. The wet boxers that clung to the area was not helping with his situation either.

Fabian noticed Jaimie-mae's eyes subtly trail down his chest and down to his v-line and her face immediately lit up with a blush.

Her eyes snapped back up to meet Fabian's and he chuckled a little.

"Sorry," she choked out. "You can wash the soap off now."

She stepped back and watched as he rinsed off the soap, along with any traces of 'blood' that was there.

"All gone," he said as she stepped out and grabbed a towel.

She nodded and blushed then ran out of the bathroom which made Fabian chuckle and shake his head.