Page 2 of Shielding Aubree

One look into the side of the room that wasn't flooded with sunlight was enough to freeze air in Aubree's lungs.

It only lasted a minute before Aubree stood up a little taller and opened her mouth to exhale.

She was putting on a show of strength which wasn't a bad thing.

Knowing when you're weak is the first step to turning the tables on fear.

On the painful instincts that came with the natural instincts of fight or flight.

Looking at Aubree, Henley would bet that the officer standing before her was a fighter.

Which was good.

But only so much as it helped you through a challenge.

Henley had seen people 'fight,' strike out at others, instead of looking inside of themselves and fixing issues where they lived.

Aubree looked at the outer office, her gaze moving over the walls and windows. The open doorway kept drawing her attention, but not in a good way.

"Would you like to go for a walk and talk to me while we're outside?"

Aubree's face changed in a heartbeat.

Relief rushed across her features and color rushed into her cheeks, but the skin across her forehead and down along her nose paled in comparison.

When Aubree's mouth moved, there wasn't any sound at first.

Still, Henley could see that it was the word YES. She didn't want to call attention to the silence. Aubree very well could collapse physically or emotionally with too much of a challenge at first.

They didn't have a rapport that Henley could call on if Aubree pulled away.

Instead, she gestured to the outer door. "There's a nice, leisurely walk that we can take. The trees will give us enough shade that we won't overheat."

Aubree nodded, her lips almost smiling.

"But if you're hurting at all, just say so and we can stop. Take a break. Or a breath." Henley wanted to physically reach out to Aubree, but she didn't think it would help at all. In fact it could hurt. "You tell me how you're feeling. And we'll go by that. Okay?"

Aubree nodded, her gaze moving across the room to see a family picture on a side table.

"You have a baby?" She swallowed. "I mean children?"

Henley smiled as her whole body filled with joy. "Two girls. One is a baby."

Aubree nodded again. "Okay, we'll walk slowly. Take our time."

"I'd like that." Henley gestured at the door. "Do you want me to go first or would you like to take the lead."

Aubree let out a slow, shaking breath. "I... I don't want to be in the room when you step out, the door..." Aubree swallowed audibly. "I'm... I don't want the door to close and... lock me in."

Henley kept her expression neutral. Smiling might be construed in the wrong way. "I'm glad you told me that, Aubree." She kept her hands at her sides instead of reaching out to Aubree. She didn't want to startle her. "I can assure you of one thing, right now."

Aubree's gaze moved to her face and fixed on it.

"Here at The Refuge, you will never be locked in, ever."

Aubree's expression didn't change, but her gaze remained fixed on Henley's face. She was listening to her words, but she didn't quite believe them.

Trust, Henley knew, would come in time.

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