Page 32 of Rue

“Sleep. Now.”

She sighed but curled up in the blankets, closed her eyes, and immediately opened them again, terrified. Still, sleep refused to come for her. She knew he’d fallen asleep, she could hear his steady breathing. She knew when the party ended, the building going silent and still. She lay there alone, next to her nightmare, and refused to consider sleep.

An hour turned into two, then three, then four.

Geo woke up, slipped out of bed, and then out the door just as quietly. Sailor saw a man standing in the hall when the door opened, and he gave Geo a nod.

Geo came back in a minute later and got back into bed. The room lit up blue, and she stayed perfectly still as she listened to him barely moving.

He snorted suddenly. “You ain’t been to sleep yet,” he accused angrily, then the light went out.

Shit! She’d forgotten about the night vision camera and showing the reflection on open eyes.

“Can’t sleep,” she mumbled.

“Nightmares?” he asked irritably.

“Yeah.”

“Come ‘ere,” he demanded, then pulled her close.

Sailor whimpered, but he wasn’t trying to pull her clothes off or do anything, he just pulled her in close and spooned her from behind.

“Sleep,” he ordered her. “You don't fuss or have fits when I have a hand on you. No nightmares. Sleep.”

“You are the nightmare,” she whispered.

“Fuckin’ right I am. I need more sleep, so unless you want me given’ you more nightmares, you bes’ be closin’ your damn eyes and goin’ to sleep too.”

Sailor closed her eyes, clutching his arm fearfully. He fell back to sleep almost immediately, but it was a lot longer coming for Sailor. She didn’t know how long it was before her thoughts began becoming fragmented, and she drifted off.

Sailor groaned when Geo shifted, turning to look over his shoulder.

“You said wake you this mornin’?” Mig spoke softly.

“Yeah. Fuck. This lil’ bitch wouldn’t fuckin’ sleep,” Geo grumped, letting her go and rolling out of bed. “Get up, Rue. Get dressed. You get her them clothes?”

“Yeah, right here,” Mig agreed, brandishing a bag from her house. Probably the one Davon had gotten for her.

“You got mine?”

“Already in the bathroom.”

Geo stood up and left without looking at Sailor.

She got up more slowly, reaching for her bag sleepily.

“Nah, go get a shower,” Mig demanded. “I’ll get you some clothes out.”

“Are we going somewhere?” she asked, yawning and stumbling out of bed.

Mig didn’t answer, following her to the bathroom.

Sailor hesitated at the door, staring wide-eyed at Geo as he stepped into the shower with absolutely nothing on.

“Hurry up!” Mig demanded, pushing her into the room. “Get your clothes off and get in the shower! You make us late, and he’ll gladly motivate you, bitch.”

Sailor pulled her clothes off, her face red. Even more than the shame of Geo seeing her, it was Mig staying in the room like he was making sure she didn't try to club Geo with something. Slipping into the shower, she huddled back, but Geo moved so the water would reach her and handed her the soap.

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