They sit in silence for a bit after they leave. The horror of what Tavish had went through still lingers. After a bit of quiet, he covers the small space between them and places his arm around her. She relaxes into him.
“I know what you need.”
“Thanks Michael. But I can't right now.”
“Oh not that. I couldn’t either, truly. No, I meant a distraction. A mate from class has a cat that had kittens eight weeks ago. I was thinking we could go pick one out.”
“You want to get a kitten?” he can't see her face and can't tell from her tune if she is happy or not.
“If that pleases you.”
“Oh yes Michael! I've always wanted... My Uncle Loren was allergic. Then well…” she doesn’t want to discuss him anymore. “So yes please.”
“Awesome. Come love.” He slips her shoes and jacket on and they walk out. His friend lives close so they walk to remove the alcohol haze and to try to shake off some of the horror.
They are lead back to a basket full of grey fluffiness. Chloé cries out in joy and falls down beside them. “Oh the darlings!” she calls out as she softly strokes them. Michael kneels beside her and takes a picture of her joy filled face. Followed by the kittens.
One seems particularly attached to her hand. It keeps coming up as she strokes them. Rubbing up against her.
“I think that one choice you.” Michael says with a smile. She smiles back and lifts the little thing up. They both hear the purrs.
“Yes. Is it a boy or girl?” Michael gently spreads it's legs. It meows, protesting such an intrusion.
“Sorry little man.”
“A boy. What shall we name him?”
“Butterfly.” He promptly says.
“Oh perfect. Would you like to come home with us Butterfly?” In reply, the cat curls up against her chest and closes his eyes in contentment.
“I take that as a yes.” Michael helps her up. She tucks Butterfly into her jacket, they thank his mate, and leave.
The stop at a shop on the way home and shop for supplies for the kitten as he sleeps contently against her chest. He was right. It was just what she needed.
***
It hits her later, in the shower. She stops letting the bath mat hit the floor as her heart pounds and she breaks into a cold sweat. Her head lands on the shower wall as waves of nausea wash through her.
“They’re not here.” She whispers to herself. It doesn't help as the panic attack has already began.
He doesn’t notice at first. Playing with the kitten and a string toy. It was only when Butterfly curls up in exhaustion that he realizes the shower has been running way to long. He stands. “Chloé!”
The thoughts running through her mind are unable to be tamed. They are interchangeable between the two bastards. She sees them both, hears them both screaming in her head. She isn't even able to cry out frozen in terror.
“Chloé honey, you okay?” He waits a second. Only the sound of the running water answers. He opens the door and walks over to the shower. “Chloé?” He sees the outline of het but she doesn’t move or answer him. He pulls the shower door open. The chill from the now cold water, greets him. “God Chloé. You must be freezing.” He gets the water off. She still stands motionless except for her body’s reaction to the chill. The shivers and goose bumps tell him she is alive. With a muttered oath, he wraps a towel around her and lifts her out. He dries her unresisting body and wraps her in her thick robe. “Chloé, you are safe. I am here and he isn't.”
She still is stiff so he leads her into her room and gets her laid down, joining her, holding her tight. “You are safe.” He repeats. Butterfly comes in search of his people. Michael calls him up on the bed and places him against her chest. He curls up and starts purring. She cracks then, shaking and crying.
“You are home. No one is here but us.” He softly says.
“Oh God Michael. They were in my head. Both of them. Screaming. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t do anything.”
“Panic attack.”
“Yes. First in years. God.”
“Tavish’s story. I am sorry baby.”
“Not your fault. Glad you were here”
“Me too or you might have froze to death in the shower.”
“That is why I am so cold.”
“Yes.” He wraps more of his hot body around her.
“I pray Tavish isn't going through the same thing.” She worries as she sinks against him.
“Me too but Rose is a kind girl. She will see to him.” She gets quiet as she strokes Butterfly. He is quiet with her, just holding her.
“Rose. You would have been better off with her.” She says as she watches the sun set out of her window.
“Chloé, do you really believe that because I sure don't. I love you. Adore you. All of you. I wish you hadn't went through what you went through but only because it is hurting you so much not because your panic attacks are an inconvenience. Christ girl, I would take them if I could. You are everything to me. Bloody everything.”
“But Michael…”
“Everything. There is no other girl I could possibly want now that you hold my heart. No one. We will get you through this. A team eh? Always.”
“She will have children.”
“So. I have you. A million kids couldn’t take your place.”
“Michael!” Her tears land on his hand. “God I do love you.”
“ Convenient that as I can't imagine one moment of my future without you in it. I love you Chloé. So bloody much.” He holds her the rest of that night.