Shaken(Geoff)

[Christine Montgomery]

She nodded finding that hard to believe," And he's the last person in the world I'd figure who would ever settle." she laughed bewildered. She supposed it was her turn then to think of something else that would happen to them in the next ten years, "Alison will be leading you a merry chase." she teased, " And you'll let her because you love her." Christine sighed a bit wistfully.

" How is she doing these days?"

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

"He couldn't help it," Geoffrey said. "Andrea swept him off his feet, and he fell head over heels in love with her."

But his smile faded as Christine mentioned Alison. He had hardly seen her lately, since Riley had moved into the mansion. And then there was that encounter with her at the Ministry while he'd been under the Imperius...

"I don't know," he said quietly. "I ran into her when I was under the Imperius.... I was completely under its control, and it caused me to be rude to her. Again, it was like I was watching outside myself and I couldn't stop it. I don't even entirely remember what happened, I just know it wasn't good. At least I didn't hurt her, but that's the only good thing I can say about it."

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine nodded but she couldn't say much. She knew how devastating all of this was to Geoff, and yet a part of her was still happy that he was still alive, as horrible as it was that he had tried to kill Riley, at least nobody was hurt... perhaps that was just her being optimistic. She really would have died were her brother to have been harmed in a physical way, as it was just this emotional pain was hurting her deeply.

"I'm just happy everybody's okay...that is a blessing you know. That you all made it through this."

"

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

"I guess Riley's got someone up there looking out for her," Geoffrey said. "It really was just luck that I didn't succeed. Ted pushed her out of the way and blocked her with his body. And Hayden stopped me. If they hadn't been there, I can't bring myself to think about what could have happened."

He sighed. He had thought about what could have happened, but he didn't want to tell Christine that. It had all been there in the horrible dreams he had whenever he closed his eyes. It usually took him a while to remember that they were just dreams, and to sort out what was real and what wasn't. There were still some things he wasn't sure about.

[Christine Montgomery]

She nodded unable to soothe away his grief, or his guilt. All she could do was be there for him now and hope that he could move past the tragedy. Squaring her shoulders she decided to move off that gloomy topic, "I've decided that I've met a guy." she told him with her chin high, " He's a wonderful guy actually, and he lets me have my way in most things" she nodded, "Except he's rather like dad and makes sure that I never go and do these things without somebody nearby. It's rather annoying actually and I plan to break him of that habit." all this said in reference to their game.

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

Geoffrey smiled. "I bet you will, too. After all, what he really loves about you is your independent spirit and love of adventure. And by being so overprotective, he's in danger of changing you, and he wouldn't want to do that."

Yes, any man who was lucky enough to win her heart would surely have his hands full with her. And if he had to take bets, he'd definitely lay odds on Christine.

"I'd like to think... in ten years... the death eaters and this Voldemort guy... they would all be gone. That we could be living in peace, the way things were when we were kids."

[Christine Montgomery]

She tilted her head a little thoughtful, " Actually...I think he'll be able to handle me." she said with a small smile. "You know I'd never settle for any less than my match." she smirked then and laid back with him, " He'll indulge me because he loves me."

Then when he talked about the war being over Christine had to sigh.

Merlin she hoped so, her hold tightened on his arm, " Geoff...I'm scared." she never would have admitted that if it hadn't been so quiet and dark in the room. Something about the moment seemed sacred and untouchable and she could finally let down a bit of her guard.

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

"Of course you wouldn't," Geoffrey replied. "You never would accept anything less than the best."

His smile faded, though, as she admitted being scared. He reached an arm up, wrapping it around her and holding her close. "I'm scared, too. I don't want to lose anyone else that I love. What can we do? How do we keep everything together.... keep everything from falling apart? These people... people like the guy who did this to me... they don't care who gets hurt... how many families are torn apart. Our family is really just starting to come together... we can't be torn apart now."

[Christine Montgomery]

He expanded more on her fears but she found that her own words wouldn't come. She didn't know what they were supposed to do, even holding one another close and cherishing family and friends didn't guarentee their safety, it only meant that if said cherished ones were to leave by unnatural means, or really by any means, that it would simply hurt so much more. Christine didn't know how to handle the hurt, or the fear, it was too deep inside her.

Witnessing the attack against Sam, and Roland's subsequent death terrified her, more than terrified her, now with Geoffrey in the hospital she felt like she was going mad herself.

"I just feel so helpless Geoff...like I can't even breathe...I don't know what to do anymore."

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

He wished he had the answers for her, but he didn't know what to do any more than she did. Until now, he'd been relatively untouched by what had been going on around them, as had Christine. He at least had known about it, but he had still believed it wouldn't affect them and that the death eater movement would be quickly squashed. When Sam had been nearly killed, it had been scary, but he hadn't been there, like Christine had. Roland's death was harder for him, because Roland had always seemed so tough and invincible. But then the threats against Riley, and now this... it was all too much for him to take. It felt like the world was falling down around them, and there was no where to take shelter from the storm.

"I don't know, either, Chris," he said softly. "I just don't know."

[Christine Montgomery]

In a teary voice she managed a tremulous smile, " Things like this aren't supposed to happen to Montgomeries." she told him with a sniffle. It would have come off haughty if it weren't for the tears coming through her voice, she missed the days when nothing could touch them. When they could simply drop their name and all would be well. They were afterall privledged in this society...so why was it that this still happened?

Sighing she loosened her own grip on him and turned so he was more holding her, then she retightened her hold on his arm, quietly laying there for a moment she confided, "I haven't felt this safe in a long time..." but then again, who would harm her when she was in her brother's arms?

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

Geoffrey sighed. "I think that's the worst part about it. These people... they don't care who they hurt. Innocent civilians, children... they don't care. In fact, I think they like the idea of tearing families apart and making as many people suffer as possible. How can you fight something like that?"

It was true. The people who had died in Hogsmeade had included men, women, and children, from all different types of families. Purebloods and muggleborns alike. They treated people as collateral damage and not as living, breathing human beings who had hopes and dreams and feelings and families that loved them. Geoffrey could never understand that kind of violence.

But right here, in the hospital, with Christine by his side, it truly did feel safe. He wished he could hold on to this feeling forever.

"Me too. Let's just never move," he said. "We'll just stay here together, OK?"

[Christine Montgomery]

"I'm game." she said with a light laugh. She was surprised she could laugh at a time like this, but it did wonders for her spirit. Finally she sighed and nestled closer to him. Since it was dark and she wasn't looking directly at him, she could imagine he didn't see her as she made her confession, "I haven't been sleeping at all since the attack..."

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

He wasn't surprised. Her exhaustion showed on her face, adding lines where there never used to be any. There were dark circles under her eyes, which seemed sunken into her skull. He imagined he didn't look much better.

Sighing softly, he squeezed her a little tighter. "I wish I could tell you that the worst was behind us," he said. "That everything was going to be OK. I just.... I feel so helpless. I'm your big brother, I'm supposed to be able to protect you and keep you safe from things like this. Turns out I can't even protect myself from it, and that's pretty hard to deal with."

[Christine Montgomery]

In a way he was right, he was supposed to protect her from things like this. So was her father, and they both had in the past. Her father was always looking out for her much to her annoyance, she never realized how naive she had been. Perhaps now it was her turn to watch over him.

"No...everything is going to be okay Geoff. I promise...we'll make things okay again." her fist clenched his shirt unconsciously as she was vowing to herself to fix their lives.

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

He smiled softly and leaned his head closer to hers. "When you say it, I actually really believe it," he sighed.

She was his baby sister, and she wasn't supposed to have to take care of him. But then, maybe they could take care of each other. Maybe that was what they were always supposed to do. Maybe that was the real reason why she needed to come back home this year, instead of sailing all over the world with Christopher. He hated that some of her innocence was lost, with the attack and Sam's injury and Roland's death.... but maybe it needed to be, so that they could be there for each other.

"I think I want to try and sleep now," he said at last. "Stay with me?"

[Christine Montgomery]

She nodded her eyes already closed as a smile played on her lips, it was the only thing that even came close to being sleep in the past few days. It was the only time she could close her eyes and not see a death eater nearly take a life. She shivered a little before settling more comfortably.

"I'll be here." she promised before drifting to sleep.

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

Geoffrey's eyes closed and he tried to take several deep breaths. This was what he had tried to teach Riley to do when she was staying at his house and had a nightmare. Until now, he had never realized how trite it sounded.

Still, it was all he could think of to do. Just close his eyes and breathe deeply while trying to clear his head of negative thoughts. While Christine fell asleep quickly, it took a while for Geoffrey to fully relax enough to sleep.

It was not a peaceful sleep, however. Soon after he drifted off, the dreams started. This time it was an incredibly vivid dream reliving the actual attack. He could see everything, including the face of his attacker, and the faces of his friends as he practically mowed them down to get to Riley.

The worst part, of course, was that the ending was different. In his dream, he walked into the room, and Riley was alone. He fired the curse.....

"NO!!!!"

He sat bolt upright in bed, his heart pounding rapidly.

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine was jolted wide awake and she jumped with her brother. Her mind went blank for a moment before her automatic response was to grab for the wand at her side. When she finally calmed enough to think, she set her task to calming her brother down, while trying to get her own heart to do the same.

"Shh.. Geoff It's okay." she soothed, "It was only a dream...only a bad dream" she promised him.

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

But it wasn't a dream.... not completely. It had actually happened. Everything except the very end. And that didn't really make it any better. It was really just a simple twist of fate that the ending hadn't been tragic. It was mere luck that Hayden and Ted had been with Riley when he walked in and fired the killing curse at her. If they hadn't been there, or even if only one of them had been there.... Merlin only knew what could have happened.

The thought sent chills down his spine that seemed like they would never go away.

"I almost killed her, Christine," he said softly. "I really could have killed my best friend. How am I supposed to live with that?"