Survivor

Chapter 4

I wake up in the middle of the night to Dan screaming in his sleep. He clutches me close to him, shaking and screaming.

"Please... Stop, no I'm not worth it!" He screams shaking violently. "I won't be able to live with myself if you die! Don't leave me!"

"Dan?" I question freeing my arm from between us, slowly placing it on his shoulder gently shaking him.

"Don't make me do it! Please don't" He screams.

"Dan!" I exclaim shaking him awake. His eyes burst open, tears running down his cheeks. He stares at me with terrified eyes, still shaking from his dream. "Are you okay, what's wrong?" I put my hand to his cheek and he starts sobbing, he puts his hand on top of mine, still freaking out. "Dan...."

"I..." He stutters, gasping for air inbetween cries.

"Hey... calm down, look at me.... just look." I say making him look at my face. "I'm here for you, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. Now tell me, how long have you been having night terrors?"

"I... Ever since my team died..." He says.

"They died protecting you.." I say looking away from his gaze.

"They didn't really die protecting me, I had to put them down..." He states. I look back up at him, his eyes are bloodshot from crying. "They all jumped out in front of a horde to protect me, each of them being attacked in the process. A bit cliche isn't it? After the Horde was killed they all turned to me, saying their goodbyes, telling me they loved me, and then dying before my eyes."

"Oh Dan..," I say, "That's not easy, I know how you feel."

"You do..?" He questions.

"I had to put my mother down..." I say, "She died protecting me too, that mothers instinct yeah?"

"Phil... I had no idea." He says.

"Just know you're not alone," I smirk, "I will be here for you, okay?"

"Yeah," He nods, "Thank you."

"I'll stay awake with you until you fall asleep okay?" I say.

"Uh... yeah.." He says.

"Hey, can you let me go?" I ask.

"Oh! of course, sorry..." He mumbles letting me go, although to his surprise I wrap my arms around him and pull him close to my chest. he wraps his arms around my stomach and cries into my shirt.

"I will never leave you..." I say my hand resting on the back of his head as he cries. His body shakes with surprise and he quickly settles back down burying his face into my chest, his tears staining my shirt. He cries himself a river, after a bit he calms down and he was out like a light. I hold him close, his breathing warm against my neck, I listen to his slow breathing and again fall asleep with him in my arms this time.

The next time I awake the sun is shining through the windows. I look around the room trying to take in my surroundings, my arms were still wrapped around Dan, but Viktor was now laying on top of us. I slowly take my arms off of Dan, who pulls me back when I try to escape. Holy hell, this boy is clingy.

"Daniel, not again." I sigh.

"Oh.. You're awake," Dan says removing his face from my chest and looking up at me.

"And you are as well? I thought you would already be up and out of here by this time." I state.

"No, I... I wanted to lay here for a little bit longer." He says letting me go and moving away from me, "When.. Uh, when did we start cuddling...?"

"...You mean you don't remember?" I question. "You pulled me in, and when I tried to get away you said no, because it was cold."

"I...I don't remember that.." He says, "I remember waking up in the middle of the night, like always, but this time you were awake as well."

"I see, so you didn't mean to pull me in?" I question.

"You're not my boyfriend, don't read into this." He says throwing the blankets off us and jumping off the bed.

"I never said I was?" I question.

"Just never mention this again." He says stuffing his face with animal crackers. Every time I think I've finally worked him out, he completely changes everything.

"So, are you going out again today?" I question, clearing my throat.

"Yeah.. Are you actually going to come along today?" Dan questions raising an eyebrow.

"Considering you woke up at the same time as me, yes." I say standing up from the bed, Viktor following after me as I walk to the table.

"Alright, get your shoes on and let's go then." He states sitting down at the table to put his shoes on.

"What? No break for breakfast?" I laugh.

"Do you want to come or not!" He exclaims grabbing his weapons and putting them into their holsters.

"Uh... Yeah sorry," I say quickly putting my shoes on, "What did I do to annoy you?"

"Nothing, Don't worry about it." He says standing up and walking to the door. He whistles and Viktor follows him out of the R.V.

"Well alright then," I mumble putting my knives in their respected spots on my thighs, and my gun in the back of my pants. I walk out of the R.V. shutting the door behind me, Dan is already at the gate waiting for me, he leans up against the fence with his arms crossed. "I'm coming!"

"Well, hurry up!" He exclaims impatiently. I meet him at the gate and we leave camp, quickly locking up the gate before heading towards the road into town.

"Dan are you mad at me?" I question, he stops in his tracks and turns to me. His face either red with anger or embarrassment.

"No, but I don't want to talk about it," he sighs continuing to walk down the road. I follow behind him, silently watching his every move. There's something quite beautiful about Dan, the way he walks, almost gracefully which I never would have expected from him. His curls bouncing with every step he took, what did I do to deserve him? I've barely known him that long, a week or so at least, but I can't help but find myself staring at him. Or worrying about him when he leaves without me, he says that he's okay but I feel like I know him. I know he's not okay, he needs me even if he doesn't understand it. And I...I need him.