Ace Of Spades (Complete Raw First Draft, Unedited)

Thirty- Three: Fourteen Hours

Clyde was frightening me.  When he was angry and upset, I knew how to react.  When the Queen slapped him, I decided to try and comfort him.  When he cut himself, I knew I had to stop him bleeding.

When he turned cold and emotionless, I didn't know what to do or say.  I didn't know how he'd react if I tried to help him.  I didn't know how to help him.  I knew Ace felt just as helpless, unsure what to do for his friend. 

The TV was on once more, but neither of us were paying particularly close attention to what was on it.  I was laying against Ace's chest, lost in my own thoughts, trying to think of ways I could have prevented this from happening, more reasons for why it was my fault, for leading Lucas here to Bonnie in the first place.

Ace would glance out the window every few minutes, but Clyde hadn't moved, hadn't even blinked, and I knew he was worrying over his friend.

"Should we bring him in?"  I asked, taking his hand.  "It's getting cold outside."

Ace nodded, and I sat up to let him up.  I watched him go outside and speak to Clyde for a moment, finally managing to convince him to come back in to the warm comfort of the house.  When he did, he passed straight through and locked himself in his room.

Ace sighed, raking his fingers back through his hair, watching after Clyde, looking hopeless.

"Maybe we should go to bed, as well," he suggested.  "I have a feeling that it's going to be a big day tomorrow."

I nodded in agreement, climbing up from the couch.

"You remember where the spare room is?"  He wondered, and I tilted my head questionably. 

"Are you not coming?"

"I was going to sleep on the couch," he told me, but I quickly shook my head.  I couldn't bare the idea of being all alone, with nothing but my thoughts to keep me company tonight.

"The bed is big enough for us both," I remembered, taking his hand and leading him to the spare room, the same one I was supposed to have slept in the very first night I met Ace.

I quickly changed into one of the oversized shirts I slept in while Ace pulled his shirt off over his head, shoving it into the canvas bag he'd brought with our things in it.

He climbed into bed beside me, slipping his arm beneath me and held me tightly to his chest.

"What a shit day," he sighed, nuzzling into my hair.  "Poor Bonnie, she must be terrified."

His voice caught and he clearned his throat.

"Ace I'm so sorry I brought Lucas to you-"

He cut me off before I could say what I was thinking, rolling me onto my back, pinning my hands beside my head and I gasped, my heart lurching as his body pressed down on mine, holding me in place.

"Don't say that," he said, sounding almost angry.  "It's not your fault that he's psychotic..."

Ace trailed off, quickly letting go of my arms, propping himself up above me.

"Shit, Jenna," he whispered, realizing the reason for my fear.

He sat up, letting me up as well.  I drew my knees toward my chest, wrapping my arms around them and breathed a deep breath.

I have nothing to be scared of, I reminded myself.  Ace would never hurt me.

"I'm sorry, darlin'," he told me, raking his fingers through his hair.  "I didn't mean to frighten you."

"It's fine," I breathed, tentatively cuddling up to him.  "It's been an awful day for us all."

I looked up at him as he nodded, brushing a soft kiss over his lips to reassure him.  He seemed to relax slightly, but he was still holding so much tension in his body, even more than I was.