By Laura Davies aka. Bratling <Brightfeather1.geo@yahoo.com>
Rated: PG
Submitted: May 2003
Summary: Late one night, Clark comes to the rescue of one of his children. A vignette set in the Forever and All Eternity universe.
All Standard Disclaimers Apply.
Author's Note: Thanks to my wonderful beta readers, Jenni, Wanda, and Avia for looking at this. It fits somewhere in the Forever and All Eternity continuity, but I'm not exactly sure where. <g>
***
The world is spinning, swirling into a deep, dark abyss. All of the light in my world has been blotted out, leaving darkness in its stead. I recognize this scenario and cringe in fear for what I know is coming next. I don't want to see it, I would give anything for it not to happen. I cover my face with my hands, knowing the gesture is futile in the darkness, but instinctively trying to shield myself from the awful terror. I hold my hand in front of my face, but it might as well not be there. There is no light. I am alone.
The thick, black darkness presses close, suffocating me. Dreading what will come next, I scream in silence, for even sound is muffled. A small point of light appears and begins to expand, showing me images I dread to see. My father and I are walking down a dirty, litter-strewn sidewalk when we hear a loud noise. A gunshot! He falls, clutching at his chest while blood gushes from beneath his hands. A steely grasp yanks me from his side. They've hurt him! The faceless images have shot my father. They pull me towards a dark car and the cloying, smothering darkness closes in around me once again.
"Daddy!" I scream, sitting straight up in my warm, soft bed. "Daddy," I cry again, sobbing hysterically. I grope for the small teddy bear that should be beside me under the blankets, but I can't find it.
I hear footsteps and a large shadow snaps on the small lamp that sits on my dresser, flooding the room with light and chasing away the demons. "What's the matter, sweetheart?" he asks gently. My father gathers me into his arms. "Did you have another nightmare?" he asks, stroking my hair gently when I bury my face in his chest.
I nod slowly, using the gray cotton t-shirt he's wearing to dry my tears. "I'm scared," I whimper.
"Shhh…" He presses a kiss into my hair. "It's okay, sweetie. It was only a dream, Kiley." He rubs my back soothingly and pulls me into his lap. "It never happened and it won't, I promise." He caresses my hair gently, trying to calm me out of my nightmare. Slowly, I quiet, relaxing as the images of my nightmare finally begin release their hold on me.
I cuddle closer to him, finding comfort within the confines of my bedroom.
In his warm, familiar embrace, I am safe at last.
Finis.