Control

Title: Control
Chapter Eighteen
Author: Angelsdee
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Mikaela’s nightmare continues and Dom witnesses it first hand.
Author’s Note: This chapter contains mention of rape. ~~Depicts dreams. *Depicts subconscious thought.

~~ Mikaela knew she was hurt badly and needed medical attention but she was unusually happy that she wasn’t in a hospital. She tried to move and found that she couldn’t. When she focused past the darkness in her vision and peered through her swollen eyelids, she found herself naked and tied spread eagle to a cot.

He came in a few hours later and spoke to her like nothing had ever happened. He told her how much he loved her and he was sorry he had to do this but she had to be punished for her disobedience. He kissed her on her forehead and left for work.

She was in and out of consciousness all day from the pain. When he walked into the room later, he told her about his day at work and told her how beautiful she was. He said he wanted her and she belonged with him always. Then he stripped off his clothes…and raped her.

Several times a day for a week, he would force himself into her dry body, tell her how much he loved her, and that she belonged to him. She couldn’t even scream because of her broken jaw. All she could do was cry while he ravaged her broken body. On the morning of the eighth day, he came into the room, untied her, and told her to get the fuck out. ~~

Lying in her bed, tied up, gagged and blindfolded, Mikaela relived every torture that he visited upon her body. She was beyond terrified and sweating profusely. Her body thrashed around with every hit she took and pain shot through her core with every forced thrust she received. She had never felt such excruciating pain before and she fell further into the abyss.

Dom was in the shower, leaning his head against the cool tile, and letting the water run his anxiety out of his body. He knew she loved him. He could feel it in her. In the short amount of time they had known each other, he knew they completed each other.

As he turned to get out of the shower, he was struck with a bone-jarring pain and fell to the floor. Unlike Mikaela, who was physically gagged and mentally sporting a broken jaw, he was quite capable of voicing the pain he was feeling.

*This is the first part of the double header. You’ve got to focus past this, recognize that it isn’t your pain, get your ass up, and go help her!*

‘It…fucking…hurts!’

*If it feels that bad to you just imagine what it is like for her. Get up!*

Dom rolled over onto his knees, forced himself to his feet, and staggered out into the bedroom. He could barely open his eyes but he saw her convulsing on the bed. He reached out to untie her restraints and pulled his right arm back in pain. ‘Hers. It’s hers. Get your shit together! Your woman needs you!’ He quickly removed the restraints, gag, and blindfold.

When he touched her face he could feel her skin burning. Her entire body felt like it was on fire. ‘Fever! Shit!’ He ran into the bathroom, filled the tub with cold water then turned and ran downstairs.

The door that led into the garage was in the kitchen. As he ran through, it dawned on him that the garage was the only part of the house that he hadn’t looked in during his exploration. He opened the door, saw the freezer with the much-needed ice, and raced to it. He grabbed about 4 bags, shut the door, turned and noticed her car. ‘She wasn’t kidding about that shit at all.’

The car forgotten, he ran back into the house and shut the door behind him. On his way through the kitchen, he noticed the dogs barking at the back doors and dismissed them in his urgency to lower Mikaela’s body temperature.

He vaulted up the stairs and ran straight into the bathroom not even sparing a glance at the bed. He tore open the bags of ice, poured them into the cold water and turned off the faucet. It was freezing and he knew it would hurt like hell on her hot skin.

With this accomplished, he ran into the bedroom to retrieve his lover’s burning body. Panic gripped him instantly when he found her gone. “Fuck! Mick!!” He ran downstairs and checked the library and the dojo. She wasn’t in the house. ‘The dogs!’ He ran to the french doors and saw her.

She was still naked and staggering towards the ocean. He ran out the door after her equally as naked. The dogs ran out ahead of him and kept a defensive circle around her. It was a private beach and pitch black outside so her modesty would remain intact. Dom didn’t care about anything but her. It was their 3rd night together and he didn’t want it to be the last.

When he was about 20 feet from her, she fell, and started to crawl towards the ocean. He came up on her and went to grab her waist when she rolled over and fell to her back.

When he looked at her face, he saw her eyes squeezed shut in pain and she seemed to be favoring her right arm because she held the knife she was carrying in her left hand.

“You said for me to get the fuck out.” She barely opened her mouth when she spoke and her words came out slurred. “Did you change your mind?” She was dragging her body with her right arm while holding the knife out at him with her left. “I need water first. You must have forgotten to bring me food and water while I was…getting better in bed. Or was it part of my punishment?”

Tears flowed from his eyes at seeing her worst moment. All the things that monster did to bring her to her lowest level ran before his eyes and he saw her at the exact time that he broke her.

The instant he saw the knife he knew it wasn’t to be used against her assailant. She was offering it to him. She thought if she pissed him off enough, he would end her torment and kill her. Dom knew it was the old Mikaela that was asking…fighting…for him to release the new Mikaela from her pain.

She continued to haul herself back to the water. “Maybe you could let me get cleaned up a little. Please. I know you say you love me and that I am beautiful but I must look awful. I’ve been in that room, strapped to that bed for over 7 days now.”

Her speech deteriorated further from her fever and she faltered on her bad arm. He rushed forward to pick her up out of the incoming tide. “Honey, please let me have some water and get cleaned up. I smell like blood and…and sex. You…you couldn’t…possibly want to…take me again…” Her eyes closed and the fever overtook her.

He cradled her as gently as possible against his chest as he ran to the house. The dogs surrounded him like Secret Service agents following him back to the safety of their home. Her body was burning his everywhere they touched flesh. He knew she hated hospitals so he prayed that the ice would break her fever. In her fragile state he knew a hospital would do more harm than good. “Hold on, baby. I’ll fix everything. Just hold on, Mick.”

A set of eyes followed his passage into the house carrying his precious charge in his arms. ‘There’s my girl. And it looks like she still knows whom she belongs to. Although it also looks like someone thinks he has the right to touch my woman. Almost had her before he came running out of the house. Fucking idiot. The bitch is mine!’ And the silent watcher stalked away to formulate his plans on getting his property back.

The dogs were growling savagely at something out the back door as Dom raced by them. “Boys! Nyet! Door!” They took up their positions, sitting at attention, and standing guard over their mistress’ home.

He was up the stairs and in the bathroom in seconds. “Baby?” No response came from her. “Mick, I know this is gonna hurt like hell. God, I’m sorry.” And he lowered her limp form into the freezing water.

As soon as she submerged into the ice, she shot up screaming. He grabbed her shoulders and tried to keep her in the tub. “Mick! Baby! You gotta stay in the water!” She fought him, swinging her fists wildly, connecting with his face and chest, and trying anything possible to escape the pain. He grabbed her wrists and held them in one hand. “Mick, love, please stay!”

She kept screaming, her voice was getting hoarse from it and she kept struggling against his hold. He finally dropped into the water, sat behind her, and held her tight against his chest. He could feel her shivering from the cold and she was losing her voice but her cries continued.

“Shhh! It’s okay, love. I’ve got you.” He scooped some water in his free hand and poured it over her head. Her body shook from the cold but her cries tapered off. She grasped his arm that was wrapped around her upper body and leaned her head back to rest against his chest. He continued to run ice cold water over her forehead until he was satisfied the immediate danger had passed.

He picked up her weakened body and walked up out of the tub. He placed her on the vanity chair, grabbed a towel, and wrapped her in it. “I’ll get you dry and put you in your warm bed. Okay?” His teeth were chattering, his body was shaking but he couldn’t think of anything but her. He dried her body, wrapped her robe around her, and then carried her out to put her in bed. Her eyes were glazed over and she was unresponsive to everything he said.

‘Damn it, Rob! Tell me what to do! Have I lost her?’

*Dom…I don’t know. I’ve never been around for the fevers just the migraines. I’m not in her head anymore. I can’t tell you what is going on in there.*

‘Can’t you take a look?’

*Are you afraid to look? It’s your fucking job now. She’s in there. No matter how bad it got, she is still in there. You need to make your presence felt so she can come back.*

He sat beside her and placed a hand on her cheek. He closed his eyes and thought about how much he loved her. ‘Mick, baby. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere. I love you. Come back to me.’

When he opened his eyes, hers were closed. As far as he could tell she was breathing okay and had just drifted off. He was hesitant to leave her side but he was freezing. So he got up and went to dry off. When he came back he had put on a pair of black sweatpants and a white wife-beater.

He sat down in the leather recliner and watched her. She slowly sat up and looked at him with sleepy eyes. “Baby?” She did not answer but inched over to the side of the bed closest to the chair. She wrapped the blanket around her and tried to get to her feet but stumbled. She fell forward into his waiting arms and he pulled her onto his lap. She was lying across his lap with her back against the arm of the chair and her legs hanging over the other arm. Her head was leaning against his chest and she started to mumble. It took until her voice rose in volume for him to realize that she was singing along with a song that started on the CD player.

As I sit here
And slowly close my eyes
I take another deep breath
And feel the wind pass through my body
I’m the one in your soul
Reflect the inner light
Protect the ones who hold you
Cradling your inner child

I need serenity
And a place where I can hide
I need serenity
Nothing changes days go by

Where do we go when we just don’t know
And how do we relight the flame when it’s cold
Why do we dream when our thoughts mean nothing
When will we learn to control

Tragic visions
Slowly stole my life
Tore away everything
Cheating me out of my time
I’m the one who loves you
No matter wrong or right
And everyday I hold you
I hold you with my inner child

I need serenity
And a place where I can hide
I need serenity
Nothing changes days go by

Where do we go when we just don’t know
And how do we relight the flame when it’s cold
Why do we dream when our thoughts mean nothing
When will we learn to control

Where do we go when we just don’t know
And how do we relight the flame when it’s cold
Why do we dream when our thoughts mean nothing
When will we learn to control
I need serenity

“I love you, Dominic.” She whispered softly, then closed her eyes and slipped into darkness.

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the side of her head. He got his wish. She admitted she loved him…but at what price to herself?

He was startled awake by the sound of ringing. Looking down at his love’s face, he saw she was still in a deep sleep. He lifted her gently in his arms, careful not to wake her, and put her on the bed.

He found the cell wrapped in the sheets, grabbed it and moved towards the bathroom before he answered. “Hello.”

“Dom? It’s Mia.”

“Hey. What time is it?” He stretched his stiff body.

“It’s a little after 10 AM.”

“No wonder. I feel like I slept forever. What’s going on?”

“Umm. Nothing much. Is Mikaela there?”

“Mia. I’m your brother. Is there some fucking reason why you can’t talk to me?” He was getting angry that she seemed to only want to speak to Mikaela.

“Well when you put it that way, yes!”

He smiled. His sister seemed to pick up some fire along the way. “Okay. I’m sorry. Now, will you talk to me?”

“Fine. Brian is due here in about 30 minutes. I’m going to the airstrip now and we are leaving as soon as the plane is refueled. We should be there by 4 PM.”

“That’s…good, Mia. I’m glad you’ll be back so soon.” He had a hesitant tone in his voice that his sister picked up on immediately.

“Dom. You will behave, right? I know you aren’t happy about this but there are some things you should know. Brian not only lost his badge for letting us go but he is up on charges for it. He’s been running from the law just like us.”

“Oh.” He didn’t know what to say.

“So…will you try to let it go? Please Dom. For me.”

“I’ll…try, Mia.”

Her voice took on a teasing tone. “Well, that wasn’t so hard, was it?”

“Don’t push it, Mia.”

“Oh! Guess what? We might even be able to return to the states sometime soon.”

His curiosity was definitely peaked now. “How’s that?”

“Her family is…connected on both sides of the law. I think she was right. Enough money can get anyone out of trouble.”

He looked at Mikaela’s still form on the bed and raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be damned.”

“Dom, can I speak to her now?”

“Not now, Mia.”

“Why not?”

“She’s…sick. She’s real sick.” He didn’t know how to explain last night’s events.

“What do you mean? I just talked to you both last night and she was fine! Except for you being on top of her for some reason! What happened? What did you do?”

“I didn’t do anything!” He was enraged that his sister was accusing him of hurting Mikaela and he wasn’t sure if her fever wasn’t his fault. He took a few deep breaths to calm down and continued. “She…has this condition. Her body temperature normally runs higher than 98.6 and when she gets upset or overworked it makes her run high fevers.”

“And how did she get upset or overworked?”

“It wasn’t me!” He responded to her accusatory tone but was unsure if he was telling the truth. “She had a nightmare! A bad one and she got…sick.”

“Did you take her to the hospital?”

“No. She has a thing about hospitals. She keeps ice on hand here for emergencies. I gave her an ice bath.”

“You gave her an ice bath! My god, Dom! Okay, so she might have a problem with hospitals but what if you didn’t act fast enough? High fevers can mess up your brain or something.”

Dom could hear someone talk to Mia in the car. The man told her there was no way in hell a hospital would help Mikaela and that he did the right thing.

“I did what she wanted, Mia. She’s asleep. I haven’t left her side.”

“Dom, what is going on between you two? What about Letty? She’s bound to be pissed.”

He got quiet for a moment trying to decide if and how to explain his relationship with Mikaela. It happened so fast that most people wouldn’t understand but he felt like they had been together for a lifetime.

“Mia. Letty left with Leon right after you went to the airport. Mikaela came over to the house while they were leaving. She woke me up to give me your letter and to tell me that they split. She said…she didn’t want me to wake up and find myself alone.” He edited out some things that occurred during their meeting not wanting his sister to know. “We…kind of…hit it off as soon as we set eyes on each other. I don’t know how else to explain it.”

Mia got a wide smile on her face. “Dom, does she make you feel whole?”

“Yeah. She makes me feel whole.” His voice got shaky with emotion while looking at his sleeping lover. “She completes me, Mia.”

“You found your other half, big brother!” She heard his concern and it brought down her enthusiasm. “Are you okay, Dom?”

“I’m…um…just worried about her, Mia. It got bad and I’m…scared.”

She was thrown by his words. Someone humbled her big brother and it took her by surprise for a moment. Then she thought about Mikaela and knew if anyone could do it, it was her. “I’m sure she’ll be fine. I told you she’s a hell of a woman.”

“Yes. She is. Mia, I need you to hurry back, ok? We both need you here.”

“We’re just getting to the airstrip now. I’ll…we’ll be there soon. Will you pick us up at that little airfield that’s about 10 minutes from the house?”

“I know where that is. Yeah, I’ll pick you both up. See ya soon…baby girl.”

She laughed when she heard him use Mikaela’s endearment for her. “Love you, Dom. Bye.”

He hung up the phone and returned to maintain his silent vigil over his mate.

~~Song “Serenity” by Godsmack~~