Tommy's Night Terrors

Nick hasn't even taken off on his flight yet when Tommy starts to miss him. Her rational mind is bitching at her that she's being silly, that this guy has only been in her life four months, that, aside from lots and lots of sex, they've had barely any time together that a normal relationship would be built on. She reminds herself that they both have fucked plenty of other people just in that small time, that there's no rational reason she should be so **** for Nicki to leave, that he's a pro, that he'll probably be fine, that if he dies she will be wealthy, that it's just a few days, that she's strong enough to make it a few days without sex and Nick's affection.

She goes through all that, and then her emotional mind strangles the rational bitch and buries her under a mountain of anxiety and worry. That first night, alone in the hotel suite, she can't stop thinking about all the things that could go wrong. All the things that will mean the end of the only truly happy period in her short twenty years of life. She lays there in the dark, half the bed empty, and she realizes with sudden clarity that she can't lose Nick, and that, if she does, it may well destroy her. Tommy's aware that's crazy thinking, that it's unhealthy to be so wrapped up in Nick, but there it is.

She almost jumps out of her skin when the suite phone rings just after 2am. She almost breaks her neck crawling across the bed to get to the phone. "Hello? Nicki?" she gasps out, a mix of fear and hope.

"I'm afraid not, Miss Ryder," says a kind voice, deep and sonorous. "My name is Mal. Nick asked me to check in with you and keep you up to date. I'm sorry to wake you, but I thought immediate answers were better than letting you worry. I hope that's okay?"

"Is Nicki okay?" she says, then feels guilty for being rude. "I mean, thank you, yes, now is fine."

"He's perfectly fine, Miss Ryder," Mal assures her. "He arrived safely, and is working to get his business over as soon as possible. I'll call you again when I know anything more." Tommy can almost hear the man smiling on the other end of the line. "I've known Nick for fifteen years, Miss Ryder. I guarantee you this job is a cake walk for him."

"You can call me Tommy, if you want," she replies, thankful he's there.

"My pleasure, Tommy. Call me Mal."

She takes a few deep breaths. "Do you normally do this for Nicki when he's gone?"

There's a brief pause, as if Mal is considering what to say. "To be honest, Tommy, this is the first time Nick's ever gone to work and had someone he cared about back home."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure how much Nick has told you about his life before you."

Tommy sighs. "Probably not nearly enough. I know a little."

Mal laughs. "Nick's not big on explanation, is he?" When Tommy laughs also, he continues. "In the time I've known him, Nick has never had a relationship that lasted longer than the time it took to have sex and leave. He told me about your choice of gender, so I assume you know he's impartial as far as men or women."

"Were you one of those men?" she asks, curious.

"Oh, God, no," Mal guffaws, highly amused. "I'm as straight as they come, never had the slightest interest. But he's one of my oldest surviving friends, and I happen to agree with his 'you love who you love' viewpoint. In our profession, if you find someone special, you keep them. No matter who they are."

"And I'm special?"

Mal agrees. "I'd say you're the only person he's been with that he actually loved. My wife and I are happy to see our kids' godfather is finally with somebody good for him."

"Thank you, Mal," Tommy whispers. "Maybe sometime I can meet you and your family. If that's not too weird."

"I caught Nick teaching my eight-year-old daughter how to rapid reload an **** rifle. There is nothing you can bring to the table weird enough to upset us." He yawns. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get some sleep. It's four AM here, and I have to get the kids to school in three hours. Get some sleep, Tommy. I'll call you again as soon as I have anything to tell you."

"Okay, Mal," Tommy says, more relaxed. "You get some sleep, too." She hangs up and rolls over. Within a few minutes, she's asleep, and although her dreams are still disturbing, they're not as bad as before.