✿ Aileen's POV

Itʼs a bad dream. Itʼs a bad dream. It is a bad, bad dream.

But when I open my eyes and Iʼm still in the cellar, I immediately feel another wave of anxiety washing over me. The walls seem to close in, and the air begins to feel heavier. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.

“Okay, Lee, you can do this. Just try to breathe. There is air in here. Itʼs not Siriusʼ fault that his ball fell in here. Blame the earth and itʼs quaking. You got the ball, now breathe. Theyʼre going to get you out of here.”

I look around, trying to see if I can find another exit, but the cellar is dimly lit and filled with shelves of wine bottles. The musty smell fills my nostrils, making me feel even more trapped.

“I need to find a way out. I canʼt stay in here.”

But there is no other way. There are no windows I can crawl out of either.

“Lee?! Weʼre moving the bookcase okay? Weʼre going to get you out. Just breathe. Youʼre not going die. We wonʼt let you.”

Landon!

“Okay,” I whimper, clutching Siriusʼ ball close to me. “Hurry please.”

I close my eyes and press myself into the corner Iʼm now at. About two minutes later, I hear my name again.

“Lee, we moved it! Weʼre getting you out!”

I immediately get up and start walking up the small stairs, my footsteps echoing in the confined space. But as I reach the door and try to open it, itʼs locked.

“No, no, it canʼt be locked!” I scream.

“Lee?!”

“I have to get out of here! Please! Open the door!”

“Why the fuck is it locked?!” Reid bellows.

Oh my God!

My heart races, and I can feel the panic creeping in again. I try to control my breathing, but it becomes increasingly difficult.

“I can't breathe... I need to get out!” I start pounding on the door, hoping itʼd open somehow. “Please get me out! Open the door!”

My voice echoes through the cellar, and my fear intensifies, making tears well up in my eyes.

“I canʼt stay in here anymore. I canʼt! Please!” I jiggle the doorknob as fear consumes me completely. “I donʼt wanna die! Please get me out of here!”

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Reid's POV

Claustrophobia?

So all the crap about not believing in shortcuts. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Open sky. Rolling down the windows in the car.

Itʼs really because sheʼs claustrophobic? God.

We finally moved the bookcase. And the stupid door just had to be locked.

As I stand outside the wine cellar, I can hear Aileenʼs cry for help grow louder and more desperate. My heart races with worry, and I know I need to find a way to free her as quickly as possible.

With determination in my eyes, I search for any tools or objects that could help me unlock the door. As I scan the area, my eyes land on a nearby toolbox. But Landon beats me to it and rushes over and opens it, hoping to find something useful.

He quickly grabs a sturdy crowbar, thinking it might be strong enough to break the lock. Holding it tightly, he approaches the door, ready to put all his strength into freeing Aileen.

“Lee?! Lee! Can you hear me? Are you doing okay?!” Landon calls out.

“I canʼt breathe, Lan! Please, help me!”

Bonita is still a crying mess.

“Donʼt worry, Miha! Theyʼre going to get you out of there. Just hang on!” Nora says before Tracy pulls her back from the door.

“Lee? We found a crowbar. Weʼre going to try to break the lock. Just please try to stay calm, alright?!” Hernan calls out.

“And move away from the door!” Matthew adds.

“I canʼt... I canʼt handle this! I canʼt breathe. I...”

Her cries stop. I move closer to the door and I hear panicked gasps for air. My heart sinks with a mix of concern and guilt. I had no idea about Leeʼs claustrophobia, and I feel a sense of responsibility for not considering it before.

Shit!

I donʼt even realize when Iʼm yanking the crowbar out of Landonʼs hand and attacking the door.

“Lee just take slow breaths, okay? Reidʼs getting you out!” Asha calls out.

With each gasp of air, my sense of urgency intensifies.

How did I not realize this?!

The adrenaline courses through my veins, sharpening my focus and my heart aches at the thought of her fear and desperation.

Repositioning the crowbar against the lock, I channel every ounce of strength I possess. The metal groans in protest as I apply pressure, my muscles straining with the effort.

Time seems to stand still as I battle against the stubborn lock. Fear and doubt creep into my mind, but I quickly push them aside, focusing on the sound of Aileenʼs breathing.

Finally, with one last surge of determination, the lock gives way and I drop the crowbar as the door creaks open, revealing a disheveled and frightened Lee, lying eyes closed in a fetal position, tears streaming down her face.

My exhaustion melts away as I rush to her side, embracing her tightly.

“Lee? Hey, itʼs okay. Itʼs over now” I whisper.

But she doesnʼt move.

“Lee?” I call again and gently shake her.

Her eyes are still closed and sheʼs not...

“Aileen!” I panic, shaking her shoulders again.

No movement.

Shit!

“Aileen! Wake up!”

“Call an ambulance!” I hear Asha scream.

This canʼt be happening.

“No, no, no!” I howl. “Fucking fuck, Aileen, don’t you dare die on me! You hear me?” I shake her bodily.

This can not be happening! 

“Reid?” There’s a touch on my shoulder and I shake it off. “It's Matt, let me take a look at her.”

“No” I shake my head, refusing to relinquish my hold on her.

“Reid, let me help her. Iʼm EMT-P. I can help” Matthewʼs words cut through the chaos in my head.

I glance over into his calm features.

“Please.”

I nod and I lower Aileen a little. He grabs her wrist and checks her pulse.

“Weʼve got a pulse but itʼs faint. We need to take her in. The ambulance is already on itʼs way.”

“Aileen, wake up” I whisper and gather her close, turning my back on the rest of the audience, blocking out the room... everything else... the world.

Why did I have to find out about this now? That this wasnʼt just about the sex? Hell, this had nothing to do with the sex. I had feelings for this woman. And now that I was sure, she was going to just die on me?

“Reid?” Asha squats down next to me, “The ambulance is here.”

There is a commotion behind me, then a paramedic looms over us.

“We need to look at her, Sir.”

“No” I let out.

“Reid.”

“I said no, dammit!” I lower Aileen and Matt takes over.

“But Sir—”

I spring to my feet and grab the paramedicʼs collar.

“Don't you fucking touch her!”

“Reid,” Hernan hauls me back, “They need to help her!”

“Aileen,” I swallow, “My Lee.”

“Yes,” he grips my shoulder, “Just let them examine her.”

The paramedic reaches for her and I shove away his hand.

“No. Please,” I beg, “Don’t take her away from me.”

Asha grips my other shoulder, “I promise, they won't. They just need to examine her okay?”

“No,” I growl. “Theyʼre gonna take her away!”

“Oh for the love of God!” Landon joins and he and Hernan drag me away.

Matthew steps back and the paramedics move in. The guys keep ahold of me and I watch as one paramedic checks her pulse like Matthew did while the other fits an oxygen mask over her face.

They strap her onto a stretcher and begin to carry her away. Hernan coaxes me to follow and I force myself to put one foot in front of the other.

I donʼt even register the flashes till Asha cusses.

“Ugh, the paparazzi! Uncle Eros?”

“Reid” my mother stops me.

“Fuck the reporters,” I growl.

“Let’s not alienate the press,” Clayton cautions.

“Fuck that, Clay!” I snap, “My fiancée is unconscious. I could lose Aileen and you think I care about the world?”

I shake my head and move towards the ambulance, supported by Hernan and Landon on either side, like the fucking loser that I am.

I can’t even walk on my own, it seems.

I twist away from their grasp and they don’t protest. I stalk forward, my friends in tow, past the few remaining guests, out the open doors, down the steps, toward where the paramedics are loading in the stretcher with what felt like my life, my heart...

How am I even breathing right now?

I stumble and Hernan rights me, “You okay?”

No, I donʼt think I will be until my Leeʼs fine.

I reach the ambulance and grab hold of the handle to pull myself inside when my mother stops me.

“What are you doing?”

I stare at her like sheʼs grown two heads.

“Not now, Mom. I need to go to the hospital,” I snap. “I need to be with Aileen.”

She shoots me a warning glare and I hold her gaze.

“Iʼm going, Mom.”

“But Reid—”

A paramedic interrupts, “Sir, we need you to get in so we can close the doors now.

“Bye Mom,” I say to her as I pull myself into the vehicle.

I sink into the seat next to Aileen and hold her hand.
As the doors begin to close, Hernan calls out, “Weʼll be right behind you.”

✯✯✯✯✯✯

✿ Aileen's POV

The sound of a gunshot rings through the air and my head is pressed down.

“Itʼs okay, baby. Everythingʼs okay.”

But her heart is beating thrice as fast for it to be okay.

She lets go of me and kisses the top of my head.

“Iʼm gonna go look for daddy okay? Just stay here and wait for me to come get you hm? Iʼll be right back” She smiles and cups my tiny face in her hands, kisses both my cheeks, and crawls out of the small room, shutting the door behind her.

I play with the ruffles in my dress and smile at how they sparkle even in the dark. Then I hear her shriek.

“Ian! No! Please! ”

“Mommy?” I call out and move toward the door. “Mommy?”

I try to open the door but itʼs locked.

“Mommy?”

I hear her scream again.

“Mommy!” I twist the doorknob the hardest my two-year-old self can. “Mommy!”

Then itʼs like someone sucks the air out and I donʼt feel anything anymore.

✯✯✯✯✯✯

The darkness is so soothing. It envelops me, cocoons me. And I want to stay here, and yet, something niggles at my subconscious mind.

Him.
Where is he?

I reach for him and find nothing. Then panic grips me.

Iʼm not dead, am I? I can’t die now.

I don’t want to die.

Goddam it!

I snap my eyes open and the light blinds me.

“Ow,” I protest, “Jesus, I hate fluorescent lights.”

“Aileen?”

The light cuts out, to be replaced by his face, his chin, those cheekbones, the skin stretched across it, now pale and with hollows under those beautiful emerald eyes.

“Aileen?” His stern lips form my name and I watch, fascinated at the few grey hairs that thread his stubble.

“Who are you?” I cough, and my voice sounds strange, even to me.

The blood drains from his face.

“Lee... itʼs me. Armani.”

“Armani? Thatʼs your name?”

“No, itʼs Reid. But you call me Armani and God knows how much I love it when you do.”

I blink.

“Do I... do I know you?”

And youʼd think he couldnʼt get paler than heʼd already gotten.

“Lee... God, please let this be a joke” he briefly closes his eyes then opens them to look down at me. “Aileen...”

I shift my face away from his touch and itʼs like heʼs been shot.

“God no. Aileen...” his voice cracks.

And I canʼt hold back the laughter anymore.

I am a horrible person.

Reid blinks once.

Twice.

The look on his face read, “How can you laugh at a time like this?” before it hit him that Iʼm joking.

“Iʼm sorry” I cough again as my chest shakes with silent laughter, “I just couldnʼt help it.”

He sighs

“You’re back, Aileen” He turns my palm, the fingers of which are entwined with his, I now realize. He lowers his head and presses his lips to my knuckles. “Thank God, you’re back.”

“Where did I go?” I frown a little.

“Nowhere, Lee” he places his other palm over mine and presses our joined palms to his cheek, “You were right here with me, all this time.”

“Where am I?” I glance around, taking in the fixtures, the clean lines, the fluorescent lights above— I had been right about that—the screen that monitors my heartbeat...

Oh.

“I’m at the hospital?”

He nods, “Do you remember what happened?”

I turn to him, “I was inside the house... with Sirius. We had his ball with us. Then it rolled away and the wine cellar door was open. It fell in, he... he couldnʼt go get it...”

“So you went to get it for him?”

“Well yeah. It was a grab-and-go mission. I didnʼt know there was going to be an earthquake and that I was going to be trapped in there.”

“Why didnʼt you come to get me, Aileen? You shouldʼve.”

“For a ball?”

“Yes. And you wouldnʼt be at the hospital right now.”

“Well yeah, but Iʼm okay. Right?”

“More than fine” He cups my cheek and turns my face back to his. “And I promise you that I am not going to let anything happen to you. I swear it.”

His emerald gaze is clear, almost innocent. His hair is disheveled, and the dark circles around his eyes are more prominent. The tendons of his throat move as he, once more, presses his lips to my fingers.

“Damn it, angel, I thought... you were... That you were...”

“Dead?”

He winces.

“Donʼt say that. Please.”

I purse my lips.

“You scared the life out of me. Literally Aileen. I thought I was going to lose you.”

“Either way you still are. Have” I correct.

Not that I was really yours to begin with.

“Anikaʼs broken off her engagement to Reedus so technically our contract is over.”

He winces again and lowers his eyes.

“We need to talk.”

“Thereʼs nothing to talk about Reid—”

“Armani... please” he shuts his eyes briefly again, “Call me that. Not Reid.”

“Reid—”

“Please” he whispers before opening his eyes again.

But thankfully thereʼs a knock on the door and none of us get to say anything else.

“Hey, man. Iʼm going to go get some coffee do you want...” Hernan trails off as I lift a hand and wiggle my fingers at him. “You bastard!” he frowns at his best friend.

“Relax. I was going to tell you.”

“Like hell you were.”

“I was.”

“Yeah, when you felt like sharing her... not that you were ever going to feel like it. Weʼre all out there worried out of our minds, waiting to hear that Leeʼs awake and you just wanna keep her all to yourself.”

“Well yes, but I was going to come tell you sheʼs awake...”

“Shut up. Iʼm going to get her family. No coffee for you” then he smiles my way, “Good to have you back, Lee.”

I smile back at him. A tired sigh leaves Reidʼs lips and I look at him.

“Aileen we really need to talk.”

Not this again.

Why was he making this harder than it already was?

“Thereʼs... thereʼs something important I need to tell you and... Iʼm not sure how long it can wait.”

Something important?

“What is this about?”

He watches me expectantly... as if waiting for me to call him 'Armani'. When he realizes Iʼm not, he opens his mouth to talk.

“Aileen I—”

“Lee!” Camari bursts into the room throws herself on the bed, and is climbing on top of me before I can even blink.

My eyes widen.

“Jesus Christ, Camari. Itʼs almost midnight. Why are you still awake?” I ask as she nestles into my chest and I put my arms around her.

“You seriously expected any of us to sleep after the fright you gave us?” my uncle smiles a little at me.

“But Papi... ella es una niña (she's a child)” I sigh.

Camariʼs head snaps up and she frowns at me.

“Am not!”

“Are too” I challenge.

“Am not!”

“Are too.”

“Am not!”

“Okay enough!” Bonita scolds and we turn to her. “You should be resting” she points to me, and then to Camari, “And you shouldʼve been asleep three hours ago.”

Camari pouts.

“We had a deal, Cami. When Lee wakes up, you say goodnight and we go to bed.”

Camari clutches onto me and I know how itʼs going to go down.

“I wanna stay with Lee.”

Wait for it...

“Cami.”

“I wanna stay with my sister” she whines and presses her face to my side, clutching onto me even tighter.

And there it is.

And I canʼt help but shake with laughter.

“Youʼre never going to win when she plays the sister card, Bon” I giggle.

“Itʼs a hospital, Lee. She canʼt stay here.”

Camari makes a small sound before lifting the sheet Iʼm under and joining me.

“Yeah, I donʼt think she really cares” Hernan chuckles.

Bonita sighs.

“Itʼs okay, Bon. Iʼm fine. We can all go home now” I direct at Camari who looks up at me.

“Are you okay now, Lee?” she whispers.

I nod.

“Yeah. Super okay now” I whisper back.

“So no more going in dark rooms?”

“I promise” I lift a hand.

“Pinkie swear?”

“Absolutely” I smile and hook my pinkie to hers.

“Great” Tracy smiles and moves up to the edge of my bed.

I help Camari adjust herself beside me.

“Now that thatʼs out of the way, do you mind explaining to us what you were thinking going inside a wine cellar all by yourself?” she frowns. “Do you have any idea what you put us through?”

“Tray...”

“Shut up Lan” she snaps at her brother, still looking at me. “Do you have any idea the amount of emotional damage you caused us? You made Sophie whiter than she already is! Bonnie was an absolute mess. Matt and Lan were pretending to be okay but we both know they suck at that when it has to do with you. Mom? Her blood pressure shot up the roof we had to send her home. Iʼm not even going to talk about poor Hank here. And Reid?”

I canʼt help the way my body responds to his name.

“He nearly killed the poor paramedic because he tried to touch you.”

He what?

“He wouldnʼt even let Matthew near you to check your pulse. Emotional damage right there Lee. A huge one! What were you thinking?!”

I purse my lips and look around the room.

“Iʼm sorry... everyone” I hold Bonitaʼs gaze. “I just went to go get Siriusʼ ball and well...” I cover Camariʼs ears, “... shit happened.” I let go of Cami. “Iʼm really sorry Matt. Lan. Papi. Bon. Whereʼs Fifi?”

“She didnʼt want you to see her cry so...” Landon replies and I sigh.

“Iʼm really sorry. It wonʼt happen again.”

“It better not” Tracy narrows her eyes at me before moving over to wrap me in a hug. “He was like a petulant child who wouldnʼt let anyone even take a glance at his juice box let alone consider sharing it” she whispers to me and I canʼt help but look at Reid.

Tracy pulls away and tucks my hair behind my ears.

“Weʼre just so glad youʼre okay, Lee” Papi sighs, hugging me next.

When he pulls away, I open my arms to Bonita who drops her firm look and rushes to squeeze me.

“I have never been so scared in my entire life” she exhales, then pulls away to cup my face in her hands. “Please promise me that you will never put yourself in that situation ever again. Promise me.”

“I promise” I assure her.

She nods and looks at Camari who shifts impossibly closer to my side.

“Iʼm still staying with my sister.”

“Ugh” Bonnie rolls her eyes with a smile and I chuckle.

“We all need a spa day tomorrow” Matthew sighs, slapping Landon on the back.

I smile at the both of them.

“Thank you. And Iʼm sorry” I mouth to them.

They smile at me and I know the worst is behind us.

“Lee?”

My eyes flick to the doorway and I see Sophie, the tip of her nose matching her red and puffy eyes.

“Oh, Fifi” I open my arms and the boys give her way to pass to get to me.

She hugs me and I caress her hair.

“Thank God. I thought this was going to be third grade all over again.”

I shake my head.

“No, no, Fifi. Barely three hours, not days. Iʼm fine, I promise.”

She sniffs and pulls away from me and I rub the tears off her face with my thumbs. She closes her eyes and exhales. Then she opens her eyes and wacks my arm.

“Ow!”

“Donʼt you ever put us through that!” she wacks me again.

“Ow! Okay! Iʼm sorry. I apologized!”

“You owe me a shopping spree and sixty cans of Mountain Dew” she glares at me.

“Sixty? Sophie thatʼs—”

She lifts her hand and I stop.

“Alright okay! A shopping spree and sixty cans of Mountain Dew. Done!”

She drops her hand and smiles.

“Good” She stands up from the side of my bed and Tracy high-fives her.

“And thatʼs how you do it. Nice Fifi.”

“Respect, white lady,” Landon and Matthew say and ruffle her hair.

I chuckle.

“Hey, I want stuff too!” Camari pouts.

“Youʼre getting free cuddles, shush,” I say to her and she giggles and hugs me.

I hug her back.

“So thatʼs it?” I hear Asha from the doorway, “Youʼre not going to speak about what really happened in there?”

I still.

“Ash, maybe nowʼs not the time to...”

“Yeah, yeah of course” she stops Hernan, then looks at me. “But I wanna know one thing. How did Reid not know youʼre claustrophobic until four hours ago?” she asks, “And youʼve been together what... two years?”

“I didnʼt wanna bother him.”

“With something this serious?” she frowns, “Lee you were almost.... if not, half dead. Do you realize how serious this is? You could have... God forbid... and thanks to Sirius. And Iʼm the last person in my family who cares about image and whatnot. But if Reid didnʼt catch on to what Sirius was trying to draw his attention to, and we didnʼt get you out of there fast enough... forget about what people would say, Lee. Do you realize how that could have ruined him?” she points to her cousin.

I look at Reid.

“Two years... and he didnʼt have the slightest clue his fiancéeʼs claustrophobic. And the ER type.”

“I didnʼt want to worry him,” I say and look at Reid, “I didnʼt wanna worry you. And itʼs not that serious. I manage it just fine. I always have. Tonight was just a... setback. But Iʼm fine” I look at Asha next, “Iʼm a hundred percent fine. I promise.”

“So if I locked you in my car with all the windows shut?”

I canʼt help but flinch.

“Asha thatʼs enough” Reid reaches for my hand. “She said sheʼs sorry.”

Asha Dalton nods.

“Okay. But next time, please tell him so he doesnʼt look like his lifeʼs been sucked out of him by dementors.”

Hernan cracks up and Tracy joins, slowly guiding everyone else to laugh. I just smile, my attention not on them laughing the worst away.

But on the way Reid Daltonʼs slowly rubbing soothing circles on the back of my hand.

What the heck is going on?!

Thank you for reading!
Please don't forget to vote.
Ciao
~the_atticwriter