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 ginger.pye@universe.pangea.ca (Ginger Pye)
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.
"Angiea" 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 a Loubar was here, he threatened me again, hea"
"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 a 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 minda
The morning after, and Loubar, sitting in the station as Rollie, sipping
his teaa
"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 a he's here, he's watching mea"
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, Ia" 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 cata" 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 a love.
"Rollie, please." She began.
"No, you have to hear my out, Angie. I mean what I'm saying. I a I do
care about you a 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.
"Ia" A memory began to flood Angie's mind. Loubar ... asking for a hug
after the wrap party a feeling "sentimental" a knowinga
She began to shiver. "Rollie, it's not going to work. It won't be okay.
It a hea"
"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 he 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 a as
Rollie. He had been right. Every time she looked at Rollie, she saw Loubar,
and she was forced to once again se 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 a maybe he was right? Maybe she could
control the memoriesa
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 being to rush into her minda
