Chapter Text
***
On days when they can't see each other, they talk or facetime every night.
It's almost dark outside when his phone flashes with her name. He smiles. It takes him less than two rings to pick up.
“Hi, sweetheart. I missed you.“
Within seconds, his reality is turned upside down.
“Blake... he found us. He's been here,” a weak half-sob, “I need you to come over.”
She sounds disoriented, scared. Like too many things at once to make sense of.
“Gwen, where are you? What happened?”
“I'm home,” a mere whimper, “he-... he just came to the house. He got so mad when he couldn't see Kingston. Please, can you come and get me?”
She needn't have asked, he's been out of his seat the instant he heard her tone.
“Are you hurt?” Please, no. Please let her say no.
His stomach drops when she doesn't answer. He needs to steady himself.
“Gwen,” he tries again, hoarsely pleading, “did you get hurt? Please talk to me.”
“Yes.“ She's crying now. “He pushed me. My head hit the door.” More silence, except for her ragged breathing. “It hurts...a lot.”
He thinks he's going to be sick. This can't be happening, he barely knows what to do first. Only that she needs help. Hyper-focused he switches into full-on survival mode.
“Sweetheart, I'm getting into the car right this second. I need you to keep talking to me, alright?” He speaks to her like he would to a wounded animal. Softly, infinitely caring.
“Okay.” He hears relief wash over her.
“Where is he now?”
“I don't know. He left.“
Blake hopes she's right.
“Can you call the police, Gwen?”
“I... no-! I can't, I,... Blake, please just hurry.” Scared. She's so scared. It breakes his heart.
“Shhh, it's alright, sweetheart, you're doing so good. I'm gonna be there really soon. I'm going as fast as I can.”
He's pretty certain she's going into shock and not able to think straight. He can't panic now.
“Keep listening to me, sweetheart.” Another plea, his, this time.
“I am.” A promise, but a weak one.
“Can you get up at all?”
“I think so...” Okay. Good. He needs her to try.
“Can you go and lock your front door?” He waits and listens for the sounds.
“It's locked.”
“Okay, that's really good, sweetheart, really good.” If he can help her stay calm, they can do this.
“Are any of your windows open? Can you check?”
He wishes it wouldn't take so long to hear her reply.
“They're all closed.” She sounds so tired.
“Alright, sweetheart. I'm getting closer every minute.”
“Okay...” her voice trembles.
“I'm here with you, Gwen. I'm with you. You're safe, darling. Let's get you comfortable, okay?”
“How...?”
“Can you grab a pillow and the comforter, and go into the bathroom?”
It seems odd, he knows, but part of him remains desperate. Blake doesn't know this guy, if he's truly gone even. The tiny room is the safest place in that house, its single window small and high up, barely big enough for a child.
All he hears are some dragging sounds.
“Gwen, are you still there?” So soft, still so worried.
“I'm in the bathroom. I locked myself in. How much longer Blake? Please...?” She's so close to loosing it.
“A few more minutes, baby. I'm almost there. Keep breathing. Breathe with me, and listen to me.”
“Okay...”
“Just stay with me, darlin', you're doing so, so well. Stay with me.”
It takes him ten more minutes in which he says anything he can think of to keep her calm and with him. If her head's injured, she needs to stay awake.
The traffic-gods at least have mercy on him, he's been able to rush through like never before. Still, the last stretch of the way has never felt so long.
“Sweetheart, I'm here, I'm pulling into the driveway now, I'm gonna use my key.”
“Blake, … I...” her voice breakes off.
He stays on the phone, uncertain if she still is.
“Stay where you are. You'll hear me knocking three times in a second, that's me, darling.”
His phone falls away the moment she opens the bathroom door.