40.

                                    

                                          
Burkhardt and I take off, running out of his room and down the hall. But I'm faster-I'm always faster and stronger and devoted when it comes to Sidra-and I'm at her bedroom door in a heartbeat. It's open, I didn't leave it open. I stumble and crash into the doorframe. Ignoring the pain on my side, I rush inside to find Jackson trying to wake my still screaming Sidra. Burkhardt, being a few seconds late, bumps into me. "Get him out," I tell him. 
                          
He nods and runs to Jackson. "Hey, we got this!" He yells at Jackson as he tugs at his arm. Light on my feet, I move around them, put my knee on the bed, lean over my Sidra, and cup her face. 
                          
"What the hell's going on?!" Jackson demands to know. But his voice is getting farther and farther away as Burkhardt yanks him away. Well, I guess Burkhardt just saved himself from another punch. 
                          
"Sidra, baby, I'm right here," I whisper to her. But it doesn't work, she can't hear me. I glance back at the same time Burkhardt shuts the door. I sigh in relief. They're gone now. "Sidra?" I turn back to her and lean down. "It's me, baby, wake up!" Her screams painfully transform into sobs, and I wince, my own tears filling my eyes. She's covered in sweat and trembling. I was only gone for two minutes yet she seems like she's been stuck in this nightmare for two hours. How is this possible? My poor Sidra...and it's all my fault. "Please, come back to me," I whisper, cupping her cheek again. Like a jack-in-a-box, she abruptly jolts up and throws her arms around me. Startled, I hesitantly hold her still shaking body closer. 
                          
"I'm right here," I promise her. "I'm so sorry I left you." 
                          
"Sam," she whimpers, ripping through me and breaking my heart even more. I shut my eyes to stop the painful tears from forcing their way out. Then, almost like someone had sucked whatever energy she has left, Sidra collapses, going limp in my arms. 
                          
"Sidra!" Pure fear fills me. I bring her lips to my ear. Her breathing is slowing, nothing dangerous, just a sign of sleep. Relaxing a little, I pull her away and try to catch my own breathing and slow my racing heart. That. Was. Fucking. Terrifying. I gently release her on her bed again and pull the covers up. The beams of sweat that are still rolling down the side of her face are out of fear, not heat. She begins to stir then her eyes abruptly open. 
                          
"Sam?" She croaks, her voice rough and hoarse from all the screaming. I climb off the bed and stand on my knees so I'm eye-level with her. 
                          
"I'm right here, Sidra. I'm so sorry." I move to keep her from sitting up, but she does it anyway and kisses my head before pressing her forehead to mine. "I'm so sorry." I don't think I'll ever be able to say that enough. I begged her not to leave me then I leave her. I shouldn't have risked a nightmare for my own needs. 
                          
She draws away to look at me. "Are you okay?" She whispers, brushing my overgrown hair behind my ear. Her soft eyes are filled with much concern and her now gentle voice is somehow comforting. If anyone were to walk in and saw and heard her, they would've thought I was the one who've just woken up from a nightmare and she was calming me. And probably because I'm doing such a bad job at it with my own self-guilt. 
                          
"Yeah, baby, I'll be fine. Are you okay?"
                          
She suddenly looks drained and her eyes roll to the back of her head as she falls back on her pillows. I panic for a moment, ready to jump up and wake her again, but she grabs and squeezes my head. "Tired. Can you shut them up?" She groans. 
                          
"Shut who-" then I heard it; Jackson and Burkhardt arguing in the hall. I was so distracted and scared, I never heard a pep out of them. "I'll be right back." I jump up, placing a kiss on her forehead in the process, then I hurry across the room and into the hall. 
                          
"I want to see her!" Jackson rushes out before I'm through the doorway. Burkhardt and I shove him back as I close the door behind. "What the hell's going on?!"