You shoved open the door, panting. Your breath is visible in the cold and your face has blood splatters on it, along with your knuckles being red. You stammered away from the door, breathing heavily. You were absolutely terrified. Terrified of what had just happened, and terrified of what will happen now. John was unconscious in the basement back there and you weren’t sure if he was going to wake up.

So, you were on your own.

You only got a few steps away from the building before someone grabbed at your arms. You instantly went into fight or flight. “No!” You cried, thrashing in whoever’s hold it was. “Get off of me!” The person kept a firm grip on you, not letting the thrashing get to them. “Get off!” You cried once more, fighting them. The person turned you around, arms wrapping around you as you started to collapse to the floor with cries. “It’s okay.” The voice said as you were slowly forced to stand back up. At this point you were hitting your hands against their shoulders as you opened your eyes, staring at the face you thought you’d never see again.

John.

You continued to slam your hands into his shoulders as you were breathing heavily, your movements slowly starting to stop as he brought his hands to cup your face. You reeled back, terrified. But he didn’t remove his hands, he kept them firmly on your face, even as you stared at him, looking like the scared little kid you are. “Yeah.. it’s me,” John nods slightly, keeping his voice steady and calm, even as your cries tugged at his heart. “It’s me.. it’s me.” He repeats in a whisper. You stared at him, taking deep breaths as he continued to whisper on how it was him and how it’s okay.

You said something incoherent before you engulfed him in a hug, face going to his shoulders and arms around him, fingers digging into his jacket. John’s hand moved to the back of your head in a comforting gesture. “It’s okay baby.” He said slowly, swaying slightly.

“I got you.”