For the first week at Rhett's, everything seemed surreal. Jet felt barely alive as she alternated between sleeping, and just existing. Rhett checked on her every few hours, even waking her gently in the middle of the night for the first few days at the doctor's orders. For Jet, it was all a dream. She pecked at any food Rhett sat before her, but barely spoke to him. He watched her, assuring she was okay, and he gave her all the space she needed.
The second week, Jet started to slowly come out of the fugue state. She found herself doing a little work here and there, and even engaging as Rhett watched TV. It wasn't too bad, although, she was starting to understand why her mind had hidden behind the clouds for a while.
That was the week when the nightmares started. Like clockwork, she would wake up at 2 a.m., just as her dreaming really started. The same nightmare came to her night after night. It started with the sound of Mitchell's footsteps, and then that diabolical look on his face as he asked her about the orchids. Her terror was only interrupted as her dreams flashed between that night and happy moments she remembered between them. Each time she would wake with a start just before he raped her. In none of her dreams did the guys come and save her. It was dreadful. Then, she would spend the next 3 or four hours trying desperately to get back to sleep.
By the fifth day of the same thing, Rhett noticed. It was really their first conversation where he asked her about it. Jet brushed him off, unwilling to talk out loud about the things plaguing her. Talking out loud would make them all real somehow and that was something she couldn't take. Instead she suffered again that night. As she ghosted through the next day, she couldn't help but wonder when her brain would catch up and realize that Mitchell was gone. That part of her life was over.
Throughout all of this, Rhett never spoke about their relationship. He talked to her a little about work and whatever they did at the studio after he came home from work. He caught her up on Link, telling her every time that Link asked about her. Rhett even talked to her about Tierney. He never breached the biggest topic though, and Jet was truly grateful for that.
When Jet went to bed at the end of the second week, she already knew the nightmares would come. Her brain was exhausted as she lay down in bed and closed her eyes. Sure enough, a few hours later, Jet was up and in a cold sweat. Mitchell had been after her from beyond the grave once more. This time, Jet felt tired, bone tired, and she just couldn't do it anymore. In her exhaustion, the only thing she knew for sure was that there was one thing she hadn't tried to bring her peace.
Still half asleep, Jet got up from her bed slowly, contemplating if this was a stupid decision to even consider. Was she ready to open this wound? He said he wanted to be here for her, offering to do anything she needed. Maybe it would be okay. Just maybe Jet could turn to him for comfort and not think about what he had done. With a deep breath, she opened her door, leaving the guest room.
Jet made her way through the house in the darkness. It was quiet, lit only by slivers of moonlight that came through various windows. She knew the house; she'd been here so much that walking in the dark was nothing. Softly, she opened Rhett's bedroom door and looked inside. He was sprawled out on his back, mouth slightly open on one side of his bed. She smiled softly; remembering the many mornings she had woken up to him just like that. Rhett had changed with her from sleeping in the middle of the bed, to sleeping on one side, but just like tonight, he always erred towards the middle. It was his way of inviting her to sleep on him, although often he would just roll and curl up behind her.
Her heart started to beat a little fast, and she forced herself to calm and consider one last time if this was a good idea. As her brain tried to work it out, her legs made the decision for her, and before she realized, Jet was standing at the side of the bed, her side of the bed. She leaned down and pulled back the covers and slid herself in. The comfort was immediate. This bed felt like home to her as much as her own. Rhett's smell was all around her and she inhaled deeply as she looked at him. He was beautiful and her heart felt too large for her chest as she lay there taking him in. When she closed her eyes in the next moment, sleep came quickly and deeply for the first time in what seemed like forever.
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The next morning, Jet felt soft fingers on her skin and she opened her eyes slowly. Mossy green orbs stared at her and she realized that Rhett was running his fingers over her arm. Jet looked at him, not sure what to say.
"Good morning." He said the words softly as she watched him.
"Hi."
"It's so nice to have you back in my bed." His eyes got a little moist as he spoke.
"I was having trouble sleeping, so I..." She started to stammer out an explanation.
"You don't need a reason. You can sleep in my bed anytime you want to." He cut her off and his fingers went to her face, brushing back her hair.
"Thanks." She gave him a small smile and Rhett searched her eyes as he leaned forward towards her. He was so close when Jet closed her eyes and then the image popped into her brain as his lips touched hers. It was of him in bed behind Jesse with a stupid drunk smile on his face.
"Stop." Her hand reached out and pressed to his chest.
"What?" He pulled back a little to look at her.
"I can't."
"Is...is it Mitchell? He's gone; you don't have to worry about him anymore." Rhett's huge thumb brushed over her cheek as his hand cupped her head.
"It's not just Mitchell. I just keep picturing you with her, and I..."
Rhett let her go at those words and rolled to his back with a sigh. "Oh. I understand." That was all he said as he laid there.
"Do you want to go make breakfast together?" She asked the question simply, not sure what else she was supposed to say at this point.
"Sure. Let me just go to the bathroom and I'll meet you there." He stood up without looking at her again and made his way to the bathroom.
After that, they make breakfast and talked a little, but not about what had happened. It was clear waking up in his bed was a change though; Jet felt her heart opening to him at least a little. She started to hope that their relationship could be put back together some day. Right now, though, she would take the comfort he offered.
That night, Jet awoke at the same time, and again made her way into Rhett's room. This time he awoke when she came in. Jet wondered if he was going to stop her, fearing that the only place that brought her peace wouldn't anymore. She approached the bed and Rhett lifted the blanket and she slid under it. He didn't move closer, but at least Jet knew she was welcome.
Jet awoke roughly the next morning to his alarm. It was Monday and the start of the third week since her release from the hospital. Rhett leaned forward as he left the bed and kissed her head softly. Jet smiled at him and rolled over. It felt normal in her half-sleep daze. This felt like before everything went bad. His goodbye kisses were yet another piece of her life coming back together.
After that second night, Rhett started to just invite her to come to bed when he went. He didn't seem bothered by the fact that there was nothing intimate about it. It seemed so normal, and Jet needed just that from him. Perhaps he knew that was what she needed, or maybe he would take anything that brought them closer at this point. As Jet curled into her side of the bed, she listened for Rhett's even breathing. It had helped her sleep each night, and she assumed tonight would be no different.
