When it happened, it was a slice and dice job—just get them down, get her safe. He didn’t really feel anything until he heard Sandra scream, felt her struggle as he tried to free her, saw her eyes when she realized it was him…
This time Barney savored the sounds of bloodshed, the wet throes of death as his blade found its home in each soldier’s throat in turn.
When he faces Lydia, the stillness and the silence…
Even drawn in on herself she is the picture of bravery, in possession of a form of courage a woman like her has no reason to own. Seeing it just makes him angrier, as angry as he got when he held Ann in his arms, fighting not to cry against memories of suffering no young girl should ever know.
Striding over, Barney reaches out to lay a hand on her shoulder, spinning her away from him and pulling her back against his chest. He speaks quickly, hoping to calm her before trying to cut her loose—she’s more likely to get hurt standing as she is if she struggles and falls.
“Lydia, it’s Barney Ross—you’re okay, I got you, it’s Barney—it’s Barney Ross, I gotcha. You’re okay, you’re okay…”
CW: allusions to harm against children/young adults
This time Barney savored the sounds of bloodshed, the wet throes of death as his blade found its home in each soldier’s throat in turn.
When he faces Lydia, the stillness and the silence…
Even drawn in on herself she is the picture of bravery, in possession of a form of courage a woman like her has no reason to own. Seeing it just makes him angrier, as angry as he got when he held Ann in his arms, fighting not to cry against memories of suffering no young girl should ever know.
Striding over, Barney reaches out to lay a hand on her shoulder, spinning her away from him and pulling her back against his chest. He speaks quickly, hoping to calm her before trying to cut her loose—she’s more likely to get hurt standing as she is if she struggles and falls.
“Lydia, it’s Barney Ross—you’re okay, I got you, it’s Barney—it’s Barney Ross, I gotcha. You’re okay, you’re okay…”