Author’s Note: This is the sequel to The Calm After the Storm. Both stories are post-Red Storm. I have decided to make a trilogy, which hopefully works if time permits it, so this one, as was The Calm After the Storm, is a cliffhanger. I know I’m being evil with all these cliffhanger stories, but it’s what I like to write!

Caught in the Eye of the Storm

By Kimber

She saw him walk into the room, saw him close the door, and walked towards her. She pulled the sheets around her tightly; hoping that if she remained completely still he wouldn’t see her.

“Angie…” He called. “Angie come on, I know you’re there.” He walked toward her.

She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to ignore him, trying hard to block out his voice, and words.

“I know you want it,” he said.

“No!” She shrieked, pulling the blankets away from him. “No! Loubar, get away from me. No!!”

The room fell silent. Angie removed the covers, peeking slowly from behind them. She saw him there. Rollie. Loubar as Rollie.

“Get out!!” She screeched.

“Ang, listen it’s me, love, it’s only me.” He walked towards her.

“I don’t believe you!”

He reached toward her and grasped her hands. “Angie, it’s me.”

Suddenly she stopped fighting, and she threw herself into his arms. “Oh, Rollie, I was so scared. He … Loubar was here, he threatened me again, he…”

“Shh,” Rollie held Angie tightly to him, rocking her slightly. “It’s alright now, I’m here. I’ve been here all along, Loubar’s not anywhere near you, I promise.”

“But Rollie, it … it was so real!” She sobbed.

“It’s okay,” he kissed the top of her head. “I’m here now.”

* * *

Rollie was seated in the workstation, sipping a mug of tea, when Angie came down. He saw her linger at the top stair.

“It’s alright, come have some tea.”

As she walked down the staircase, a memory flooded Angie’s mind…

The morning after, and Loubar, sitting in the station as Rollie, sipping his tea…

“Oh,” Angie felt her knees give out and she tumbled to the ground.

Rollie, seeing her fall, ran toward her, catching her in his arms as she tumbled.

“Angie, what’s wrong? You okay?” He asked.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on tightly. “Oh god, I can’t do this Rollie. I can’t be here, he … he’s here, he’s watching me…”

Rollie lifted her up and carried her to the couch. He lay her down and sat beside her. “Angie, who?”

Angie was silent before answering. “Lou,” she sobbed. “Loubar.”

Rollie sighed. He didn’t know what to do, didn’t know how to assure her that she was safe. “Angie, I…” He stopped, deciding against what he was going to say.

He was about to tell her about Mira’s phone call earlier. She had told him her boys had almost finished dragging the lake, and they were still coming up empty-handed.

“I have to go home, my cat…” Angie began.

“No,” Rollie shook his head. “I really don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“You’re doing it again! You’re giving me orders, and I don’t want to take them!” She sat up straight. “I’m twenty-four and I can run my own life.”

“I know that and I’m not trying to run your life for you,” he said, softly.

“Well I don’t want to stay here because you want to monitor me.”

“Angie, I’d like you to stay because I want you to. Because I care.”

Angie, who’d been looking at the floor, glanced up into Rollie’s face. His hazel eyes sparkled, they appeared to be taken over by a different emotion. She could have sworn she was seeing something in him that she hadn’t seen before. Compassion and … love.

“Rollie, please.” She began.

“No, you have to hear my out, Angie. I mean what I’m saying. I … I do care about you … a lot. And I know that Loubar hurt you, but it’s something that I can’t erase. What’s done is done, and we have to learn to deal with it.”

“But I can’t,” Angie complained.

Rollie was silent. “Give me your hand,” he said suddenly.

Angie felt herself pull back. “What?”

“Give me your hand,” Rollie repeated.

Angie cautiously reached out her arm, placing her hand in Rollie’s.

“Now,” he began. “You can do it Angie. And do you know why?”

She shook her head.

“Because I believe you can. I know you can pull through this.” He drew her into his arms.

“I…” A memory began to flood Angie’s mind. Loubar ... asking for a hug after the wrap party … feeling “sentimental” … knowing…

She began to shiver. “Rollie, it’s not going to work. It won’t be okay. It … he…”

“Angie, Loubar’s gone for good. He’s probably lying at the bottom of the lake right now.”

“What if he isn’t, Rollie? What if he did survive? And then,” she reached out and put her finger on his chin. “How do I know?”

He pulled her back towards him. “You will, Angie; you will.”

In the moment of stillness he permitted her, she thought about the terrible thoughts that had been running through her mind. The flashbacks of Loubar … as Rollie. He had been right. Every time she looked at Rollie, she saw Loubar, and she was forced to once again see the horror and pain he had caused her.

She knew, sadly, that she couldn’t control the memories, couldn’t stop them from returning. But Rollie’s words brought her back ... “I believe you can do it.” If he believed in her, then maybe … maybe he was right? Maybe she could control the memories…

He pulled her in closer, and leaned toward her.

As his lips met hers, Angie felt a total sensation of freedom. “I’m doing it!” She thought.

No sooner had she spoken, than another memory began to rush into her mind…

THE END … FOR NOW!!!