Page 24 of Shielding Aubree

The brightly lit outdoors just beyond the glass.

Instead of taking the most direct path to her, he walked in a wide, sloping arc, keeping his gaze on her. Or rather, the areajust above her head. If or when she looked up, she would see his face, but even if she thought he was looking at her she wouldn't feel the full weight of his gaze on her.

"Aubree?"

He was halfway to her when he spoke, but she didn't move or even acknowledge his presence.

"Aubree? It's me, Ruben."

Her chin moved to the side, less than an inch.

Her eyes moved next, moving across the glass as if she was following something that was moving outside the glass.

She seemed a million miles away.

"Aubree-"

"Why... Why do they call you Leon?"

She finished asking her question and while he struggled to keep his own breath under control, he moved a little closer, bracing his hands on the back of another chair.

Aubree's eyes found him and looked up from his hands to his face. "Is there... a story behind it?"

He smiled and she mirrored the gesture in part. "There's always a story behind a military nickname. Sometimes it's for a good reason and sometimes because someone messed up so badly it earns them never ending shit from their team."

Her next breath didn't seem to cost her as much and as she was about to stand, she lifted her gaze and met his. "I'm sorry that you had to take time out of your day to come and talk me down."

He wanted to pull her into his arms, not just because she was beautiful and his heart wanted to hold her close, but because she needed to know that she deserved comfort. That it wasn't a sacrifice for someone else to give it to her.

Taking a breath and willing his heart to calm down, he spoke to her from his heart.

"I don't think you need help from me to do that. You found yourself a place to sit and relax. You're breathing in and out and you asked for help. I think you're well on your way to taking care of yourself."

She smiled and then it wavered just the littlest bit. "You sound like you know."

He nodded and held out his hand. "I've been there. And I've struggled to see the other side of panic and traumatic stress. Want to take a walk with me? We can just walk or talk or... whatever you want."

Her bottom lip pulled between her teeth, and she bit down into it, looking at his hand.

He didn't waver. Didn't pull it away or lower it to his side.

He didn't even ask her to make a choice in a certain amount of time. That wouldn't serve a purpose.

There could come a time when she would need to make things work on a clock, but while she was at The Refuge, that wasn't their concern.

Her wellbeing and health were.

She reached out her hand and grasped his.

The strength he felt in that touch filled his heart with joy.

She'd made a decision and done it all on her own.

Reaching out, she grasped the arm rest of her walker and got up on her feet.

He noticed how quickly she got her balance, and the light touch she had on the armrest.

She wasn't leaning on it or him for balance.

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