Surprise, It's Anxiety

Millie’s eyes snapped open as she shot up in bed, her little heart hammering in her chest as she tried to catch her breath. It had been a truly terrible dream this time, one that had the little girl trembling in her bed. It had been the first really bad dream she’d had since she’d moved in with Pa after him and Dad had finally gotten married. Actually it was probably the worst dream she’d ever had as her vision began to blur as tears began to well up in her eyes. When she was back in the old house if she ever had a bad dream she normally just had to lie in bed, waiting for the feelings to pass as there was no one she could run to. And even if she did it usually just had her being scolded and sent back without any sympathy or an ounce of comfort. Would it happen this time too? Would Jack and Steve send her back to her room, telling her to stop bothering them? Millie could only clutch at the hem of her nightgown, her thoughts racing as the dream was still so fresh in her mind it wasn’t showing any signs of disappearing anytime soon. So taking a deep breath she threw herself from her bed as she darted out of her room, tears flowing freely now.

“Daddy! Papa!”

Slamming into her new parents room, there was a moment of fear causing her to hesitate as her mind went back to all the times she’d just been sent back to bed. Would it happen again? But of course she had nothing to fear as Steve and Jack were up like a flash, Jack hopping out of bed as he darted over to her, Steve flicking on the light as he just stared in confusion which soon turned to worry as he followed after his husband.

“Millie?! Millie, you okay kiddo? What happened?” Jack was frantically looking her over, checking to see if she’d gotten herself hurt. Millie tried to get her words out but there was a lump in her throat, one so big that she could only let out a little sob as a fresh wave of tears spilled down her cheeks.

“I-I had a b-bad d-dream!” Both the mice sighed in unison, grateful it wasn’t something serious however whatever had happened had certainly scared the little girl terribly.

“Oh sweetheart, it’s okay. It was just a scary dream, you’re okay, you haven’t got anything to be scared about now.” Steve dropped to his knees, pulling Millie in close as she clung onto him for dear life, as if he was going to be yanked away from them. 

“Y-you guys got h-hurt and ended up like Daddy a-and I was all a-alone and stuck in t-the old house and n-no one came to g-get me! Papa it was s-scary! I don’t w-want you to d-die!” 

Jack and Steve exchanged looks before they pulled their daughter into their arms, giving her a great big bear hug as they softly hushed her.

“Kiddo, we’re not going anywhere. Me and your Pa are always going to be here for you, you don’t have to worry about things like that anymore. You’re safe here. We all are, so no more crying alright, you ain’t got anything to worry about.” Jack nuzzled the little girl as she sniffled, burying her face against his pajamas

“Your Dad is right, Millie. You’re not getting rid of us that easily, so no more tears.” Steve planted a soft kiss on her hair as he continued to rub her back. Millie was slowly starting to calm down as she nodded, still refusing to let go of either of them for fear her dream would become reality. It was then that another pair of footsteps came pounding down the hall as Tammy burst into the room, her hair a mess as she looked at the three of them, trying to pull her dressing gown back over herself.

“I heard yelling! Is everyone okay?!” 

“TAMMY!” Jack could only frown as Millie started up again, the half shrew grabbing towards her sister as she looked up at her adoptive father as Jack sighed, petting Millie’s hair.

“Bad dream. She’ll be okay, just give her a cuddle and reassure her you ain’t going to conk out on her anytime soon.”

“Millie, you poor thing…” Silently Jack and Steve pulled the pair into their arms, holding them close as they sat on the floor, reassuring their youngest that none of them were going anywhere.

It took a little bit but eventually Millie began to calm down, after using all the mice as a tissue of course, but soon she was standing by herself, a few sniffles escaping her every now and then.

“Sorry I work you up, Dad and Pa.”

“You don’t have to be sorry about that, you can wake us up for anything you know. Neither of us are going to be mad at you, so don’t worry about coming to ask for us if you need us. That’s why we're here after all.” Millie nodded as she looked down at her feet, she did feel a little silly now for the whole thing but she was very grateful that Steve and Jack were much nicer to her. They even said she could come get them if she needed anything at all which was much different than what it used to be like. Saying that she wasn’t really ready to go back to bed yet. Not alone at least, the thoughts were still there…

“Um, could I ask one more thing?”

“Course you can kiddo, what is it?” Jack just smiled down at her, ruffling her hair as she shifted shyly.

“C-can I spend the night with you guys? I kinda don’t wanna go back to bed…” Jack glanced over at Steve who just chuckled softly to himself.

“Course you can, Millie. Just don’t kick your Dad out of the bed this time, apparently waking up face first on the floor is a horrible way to start the morning.”

“That wasn’t my fault! He rolled over!”

“You were sleeping horizontally and kicking me in your sleep!” Tammy couldn’t help but giggle as Jack huffed, Steve scooping Millie up into his arms as he just shot his husband a somewhat sympathetic look.

“Well I’m sure she won’t do it this time. Now say goodnight to Tammy, Millie.”

“Night, night Tammy!” 

For now at least Steve seemed to have found some cards to entertain himself with as Cornelius busied himself with restocking the artillery on their side, ready to return fire the first second they got their order.

“Jack, pick a card.” Jack could only roll his eyes as Steve brandished a handful of cards at him, all splayed out ready for him to make his choice.

“Steve you can’t still be on about that magic nonsense can you? Aren’t you a bit old for that?” The mouse just brushed him off as he jostled cards, eagerly awaiting his comrades' choice.

“No way, people of all ages love magic Jack! I bet if I got good enough at it I could make a real killing as a magician on the vaudeville scene. And then you’d have to come see me and eat your words as I am showered with praise and women.” Grumbling Jack picked a card out at random, making sure Steve couldn’t see it. Said mouse could only grin as he realised Jack had finally given in.

“Okay so memorise it and then put it back into the deck, doesn’t matter where. Just don’t let me see it okay, ruin the magic if I do.” Jack glanced at the card, scowling to himself as he saw the ace of hearts, typical. 

“All memorised, The Great Bandel, now go, wow me.” 

Jack slipped the card back into the deck as Steve set about shuffling them once more. Cornelius by this point had noticed the little trick and came over to join them, that soft, dopey smile of his somehow still plastered on his face as if they weren’t sitting in a trench.

“You finally c-convince him to h-humour you again Steve? And t-there’s me thinking y-you’d sworn off m-magic after Steve managed to con you out of y-your last sweet bun last w-week, Sport.”

“Don’t remind me, if he pulls a stunt like that again I’m leaving him to do inventory by himself. See how he likes having to count every bullet for 5 hours straight.” 

“Come on, you knew the risks and I didn’t cheat before you say. It was just some slight of hand is all, can’t be mad at me for that can you Jack.” The look Jack gave him said it all as Steve just whined and pouted, Cornelius could only snort as he watched the younger soldiers fight amongst themselves. Oh the youth of today.

Finally satisfied that he’d shuffled the deck enough that Jack wouldn’t complain it was stacked, Steve proudly flipped a card to the top of the deck, ready for the big reveal.

“Now are you ready to be amazed by the greatest magician to be, Jack?”

“I’m ready to get this over with…” Ignoring him Steve flipped the card over with a flourish, smirking to himself as he awaited the anticipated praise.

“And is this your card!” 

“...Nope, that’s not it.” Jack couldn’t help chuckling as Steve frantically looked at the card, a seven of clubs and definitely not the ace of hearts that had been picked. 

“Better luck next time, Great Bandel. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of time to practise while we wait for this strike to be over with.” Cornelius meanwhile just sighed, giving Steve a sympathetic pat on the shoulder as the mouse flicked through his deck trying to find the right card.

“Don’t g-give up, Sport. I’m sure y-you’ll be able to get it next time.” That’s when a devious glint appeared in the mouse’s eyes as he gave Jack a smirk.

“You’re right Jack, this really isn’t your card. I must have misplaced it, Corny could you check your pocket please.” Now that caught both mice’s attention as the rat did as he was told, patting his pockets, which of course there were a lot of, until he reached his right breast pocket and felt something. Reaching inside his eyes went wide as he pulled out a playing card that obviously hadn’t been there before.

“H-how on earth…?”

“Now would you show the card to the audience, sir.” Steve was laying it on thick with the showmanship now as the rat did as he was told, flipping the card around revealing the ace of hearts.

“W-what?! How did you-what did you-?!” Jack could only snatch the card out of Cornelius' hand as he stared over it, flipping it over in his hands as he inspected it. This was his card alright. How the hell had Steve done that?!

Steve meanwhile was just smugly grinning to himself at both rodents’ flabbergasted expressions.

“And ta-dah! I told you I’d been practising~ You still think magic is just for little kids now Jack?” Well Jack certainly couldn’t explain this trick as just a slight of hand, so how the hell had Steve managed that? Is this what he did when he locked himself away at night while the others were either cleaning their weapons or writing letters. Jack really had no explanation for it, but Cornelius seemed to be thoroughly entertained as he began to applaud the mouse.

“B-Bravo Steve! That certainly was a p-performace, Sport. You must t-tell us how you did that.” Steve just wagged a finger, very entertained by now.

“Alas a magician never reveals their tricks, Corny. That’s rule number one!” The rat went to press until the radio suddenly sprung into life drawing Steve’s attention as he quickly answered, slipping back into his training.

“Yes? Yes, that’s right Sir. Yes, I’ll let them know and we’ll move out when you give the signal.” Seemed their brief rest bite if that’s what you could call it was over. 

“T-time to move out I suppose?”

“Yeah, higher ups said they’re going to lay down counterfire soon to give us a chance to move and try to clear out the artillery ourselves. Another suicide mission but eh I was getting bored anyway.” The mouse just shrugged nonchalantly as if they weren’t throwing themselves into the lion’s den again. At least Steve was right, they wouldn’t be bored any more. Sighing, Jack went to hand the card back but Steve just pushed it back, a sly smile on his lips.

“Keep it. Might act like a good luck charm and if not at least it’ll make you think of me when you look at it, Jackie.” The use of that name immediately made Jack’s face flush, the exact reaction the wannabe magician wanted as he chuckled softly, flashing the mouse a cheeky wink. He really shouldn’t be using that out here where someone could damn well hear! Thankfully Cornelius was there to wrangle the mouse in as Steve was unceremoniously dragged away by his collar, letting Jack to compose himself. 

“Don’t t-tease, Steve. Now come on, I-I need you two to h-help me set up the c-charges. You can play l-later if the operation g-goes smoothly.”