The night watch felt long and as she walked back to her tent, she stopped before entering. Each nightâs fight with Larry seemed to be more daunting and taxing than the one before and Rachael couldnât handle another one. Â Her new group had lost a few people and with everything else going on, it all seemed to be falling on her shoulders.
Turning around towards Shaneâs tent, she stopped just before entering. He was her rock, the shoulders she had stood on for years and, more than her husband, the man she trusted with her life. Quietly unzipping the door, she looked in at the sleeping giant. A chuckle escaped her lips as she slowly moved beside him after pulling her Python from itâs holster. Within a few minutes, her eyes closed and fell into a deep sleep.
Rachael head a familiar deep voice rustle her out of the dark dream she was having and she looked up. She smiled up at him, shifting onto her side, pulling the pillow down a bit to hold her head up.
"I just wanted to get a good nightâs rest without being nagged. I donât knowâ- I didnât think you would mind. It isnât like I didnât sneak in your room almost every night when my dad was loaded and yelling at everyone."Â
Still suspicious, Shane glanced towards the tent's flap, making sure there wasn't anything or anyone else lingering out there. Â Nothing moved, no sound save for Rachael's quiet explanation. And then silence again, once she'd finished. Â With a soft sigh, Shane flopped onto his back again, rubbing his eyes.
"I don't mind," he replied quietly. "You just kinda scared me. Thought there had to be somethin' wrong for you to be in here this late."
She was right too - there were plenty of nights growing up where he'd end up with Rachael in bed with him, the both of them curled up under the covers, trading whispered stories in the dark until they drifted off to sleep. But that was then, when things weren't so complicated between them. Still, Shane didn't protest, instead scooting over to give her more room. Â "What's he on your ass about now?"
