Patricia rolled over in her bed so that she was facing her bedside table. The sound her phone made as it vibrated on the wooden surface had woken her up as it had more and more lately. She blinked against the bright light the screen was giving off, sheltering her eyes as she tried to read the message. Her heart sank when she saw that it was from Fabian, already disentangling herself from the sheets as she unlocked her phone.

'Eddie.'

She pulled one of her boyfriend's oversized shirts on over her sleep shorts and tank top, easing the door open and avoiding the floor boards she knew to creak. Quietly, with an occasional glance at Victor's dark office, Patricia crept down the stairs and through the hallway. Without bothering to knock, the red head slipped through the boy's door, met with the sight of Fabian sitting on the edge of his bed, watching helplessly while Eddie thrashed in his bed, fighting another nightmarish vision.

"How long's he been…?" she waved her hand explicitly, kneeling down beside him.

"Couple minutes, I'd guess. Didn't wake me up until a second ago." Fabian muttered tiredly. Patricia didn't reply, gauging just how absorbed and just how bad the night terror was before deciding on her plan of action. Fabian laid back down, turning towards the wall to give Patricia and Eddie as much privacy as he was willing at three in the morning, falling back asleep almost instantaneously.

Patricia's hand hesitantly hovered over his bicep before shaking him gently and wincing at the fist that immediately connected with her stomach. She watched him with unmasked concern as he pushed up against the head board, dropping his head on his stacked arms. Sweat rolled down his bare arms, curving around his outlined muscles.

"Never try to wake an Osirion with…" he started, trembling voice betraying his snarky comment.

"with stealth. I know, weasel. Situation sort of called for extreme measures." She murmured sarcastically, worried gaze still trained on her boyfriend.

"I'm fine, Yacker." He muttered into his forearm.

"Yeah, and I like pink." She scoffed. "Eddie, look at me." She snapped sharply. The blonde American knew that tone. It was the tone she used when she was angry, scared, worried and pretending she wasn't. It was the tone that Eddie had only defied once and had seriously regretted it later.

The pain, exhaustion, and fear were evident on the blue eyed boys face, causing Patricia's façade to drop all together. She crawled onto the bed beside him, kneeling in front of him and resting her hands on his folded arms. He reached out and cradled either side of her face in his palms, brushing his thumbs over her cheek.

"What are you doing, Sweet?" she insulted, halfheartedly.

"You're ok?" he asked in relief.

"What are you…" she responded. "What was your nightmare about?" she asked wide eyed. "No more of that 'lets just say-'crap. Eddie, you're being pushed beyond what you can handle. I'm watching you get worse everyday. So shut up and spill." She growled angrily. Eddie sighed, letting his hands fall into her lap, fumbling with her hands.

"You." He answered angrily. "They're about you!" he continued louder. "I can't protect you and its always my fault!" he spat through gritted teeth.

"Everything ok, mate?" Fabian muttered sleepily, running a hand through his disheveled brown hair.

"Yeah, man, sorry." Eddie replied with forced coolness. Fabian squinted in the dark, making out the tremors running through his roommate and stumbling out of his bed.

"I'm going to check on Nina, make sure she's feeling better." Fabian lied quickly, nodding at his friends before closing the door behind him and leaving the dorm room. Patricia turned back to her boyfriend, willing him to continue. He took a deep breath, finally meeting the redhead's eyes.

"I can never protect you." He finished, tugging her into his lips. Patricia obligingly kissed him back, feeling some of his tension melting away. "And I can't lose you." He grumbled against her mouth.

"Fat chance of that, weasel, you're stuck with me." She promised, holding his gaze unwaveringly.

"Think you can handle me, sweetheart?" he teased, smirking. The banter made Patricia's worry ebb only slightly. The smirk didn't reach his eyes which were already occupied by exhaustion.

"I'm sure I can manage." She replied, pushing him backwards with a hand against his bare chest. "You've got to sleep now, Miller." She chided, moving to get off his bed.

"Hey." He snapped, eyes narrowing as he caught her arm, sitting up again. He fingered the growing shadows under her blue eyes. "I need to tell Fabian to stop waking you up every time I have a nightmare." He muttered, already flushed cheeks reddening in embarrassment.

"Oh, please." Patricia scoffed, moving to pull away.

"Don't, Yacker." Eddie called with an almost pleading tone, tightening his grip on her hand. Patricia cocked her head, observing the terrified look in his eyes. She swallowed thickly, nodding in allowance as she pushed her boyfriend down against the pillows again. He yanked her down beside him with a firm grip on her waist, he through his other arm over her abdomen and nuzzled the curve of her shoulder with his face. Patricia laughed internally at Eddie's cuddling, threading her fingers through his dirty blonde hair.

"I'm not going anywhere, slimeball." She murmured sleepily.

POSSIBLY MULTI CHAPTER IF PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED.

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