All dialogue in italics belong to the writers of Murdoch Mysteries

I sat on the window seat, my knees curled up into my chest. I listened to Darcy's steady breathing and the crickets chirping outside. The moon was bright, lighting up the street and I watched as a carriage slowly rolled by. It was two o'clock in the morning. Once again, my own gasps for air had awakened me. It had been two o'clock every night for the last two weeks. I couldn't stand it anymore. I needed sleep.

"William! Help!" The memory played in my head over and over again. The gasping for breath and panic mounting as I pounded on the wooden box. It was so real I could feel my lungs tightening and sweat begin to form on my forehead. I rested my elbows on my knees and held my head in my hands. When would it end? There must be some way I can get this horrible memory out of my brain. I knew William would figure it out and come for me, but lying in that box was the most terrifying moment of my life, even more so than when Henry Orgill, aka Detective Scanlon, had almost stabbed me in my office at the morgue.

Of course! I thought with a jolt. Why didn't I think of it before? Dr. Roberts! He had helped William with that case and then again with the girl who had three personalities. Why wouldn't he be able to help me? Hypnotism was now a common method for helping people with recurring dreams. Perhaps he could help me figure out some way to finally get some sleep and get these dreaded nightmares to stop.

I thought back again and felt relief as I remembered seeing the sunlight and William's face in front of me as the lid opened and air rushed back into my lungs. His strong arm wrapped around me and pulled me closely to him.

""William!" I gasped and clung to him, frightened that it wasn't real and that I had died and imagined what I had hoped would happen. But as I saw George and the Inspector standing six feet above me, I knew it was real and I clutched tighter to William.

"I'm so sorry," he had whispered desperately.

"William," I laughed lightly, trying to get as much air as possible. "What took you so long?"

His resonating chuckle rippled into my ear and I felt comforted immediately, knowing that I was safe. I had always felt safe and sure in his arms and this was no exception, but rather a confirmation. I could think of nothing but his arm wrapped around me and his body pressed tightly against mine. Once my breathing had slowed, I felt like time had stopped. It was only until I heard him say that we had to go that I realized we were still holding each other. I nodded slightly and he pushed himself up, still keeping his hand on my back. I knew that he wouldn't let me go until he had to. He put his hands on my waist while George and the Inspector took my hands and pulled me out. I was still shaking from lack of air and my knees gave out as soon as they let me go.

"I'm fine," I breathed and motioned for them to help William out of the grave.

When he had emerged, he came over to me and helped me stand although I was still weak.

"Can you walk?" he asked gently, his arm holding me up.

I nodded, but when I took a step, I dropped slightly again. He didn't hesitate this time and scooped me up into his arms, his strong legs striding away from the cemetery and to the carriage they had arrived in. George and the Inspector climbed in shortly afterward and sat quietly across from us, looking from William to me every so often. Although I knew it wasn't proper, I leaned into William and he put his arm around my shoulder.

After a few moments of silence, I suddenly remembered. "Darcy," I said worriedly, straightening up.

William stiffened, but said quietly, "He is on his way home from Montreal. I'm taking you home and he will be informed as soon as he arrives. But first, I insist you see a doctor."

Not wishing to argue with him, as I knew it could last a while, I simply nodded and relaxed into him again.

We arrived at my house and William helped me out of the carriage. I was able to walk now, and he escorted me through the door. It seemed that Darcy had yet to arrive and I immediately started up the stairs to my room, wishing to get out of my clothes and into a hot bath as soon as possible.

I turned on the stairs to see William watching me in the doorway. I went quickly back down to him and hugged him tightly. He seemed shocked at my action, but soon softened and wrapped his arms around me, holding me to him.

"Thank you William," I whispered softly.

"I'm just so glad you're safe Julia," he replied.

I touched his arm and looked into those deep brown eyes that had always been so soft and full of love. Now, however, there was something else hidden there as well and I recognized the pain I had seen there too many times before. It had been there when I told him of my abortion, my sterility, that I was moving to Buffalo, that I was engaged to Darcy, and then when I would no longer be working at the morgue. How many times had I broken both of our hearts and how many times had things been left unsaid between us? Two long years had passed and as each instance came flooding back to me, tears filled my eyes as they had on each of those occasions as well. Now I saw it as a reminder that I was married to Darcy and that he would be home any minute to comfort me and hold me, as I knew William so desperately wanted to do, and truthfully as I, too, wanted him to.

As I sat watching the stars, still curled up on the window seat, I thought of how Darcy had come running up the front steps at that moment, having been informed by the Inspector of what had transpired. He quickly pushed past William, not acknowledging him, and grabbed me into a crushing embrace.

"Darling!" he held me away from him, holding my face gently in his hands as though his gaze would yield answers. "Are you alright? Inspector Brackenreid just told me what happened? How did this happen? Why?" His questions flooded out and I was overwhelmed and suddenly felt claustrophobic, like I was back in the box.

"Darcy, please," I said gently, pushing myself away from him.

"I'm sorry Julia," he said, calming down slightly. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, Darcy I'm fine now," I replied. "William saved my life," I looked past Darcy and smiled slightly at William who was still standing in the doorway, watching silently.

"Oh, yes, of course," Darcy said, suddenly aware of William's presence. "Thank you Detective for finding and saving my wife," he said honestly, although it was strained.

William shook Darcy's outstretched hand and nodded. "I must be going," he said quietly. "Julia, please get a doctor to examine you."

"I will," I said, moving to him to take his hand in both of mine. "And thank you."

He nodded once more and then tipped his hat to Darcy and left. I watched him walk down the pathway, his purposeful gate carrying him quickly out of sight. Too quickly, I thought to myself.

"Detective Murdoch is right, Julia," Darcy said from behind me. "You should have a doctor look at you."

"Could you do it, Darcy?" I asked. "I really don't want to deal with anyone else right now."

"Of course," he said, surprised, as though he had forgotten that he was a doctor.

"I'm going to have a bath first," I said, moving away from him and toward the stairs again.

"Julia," he said, stopping me with his hand on mine. "How did this happen?" he asked for the second time.

"Please, Darcy, I don't want to talk about it right now. Tomorrow," I said, turning away.

I had locked myself in the bathroom, turning on the tap and dropping my skirt at my ankles. I removed my corset as the room filled with steam and I was finally able to take a fulfilling deep breath without the constraints. I climbed in the tub, ignoring the scalding hot water and sank down. What I hadn't realized was how cold six feet beneath the ground had really been. The water was soothing and I relaxed. The tension I had been holding ever since James Gillies had abducted me was finally being released. I shuddered at his name, but forced myself to concentrate on the water and the sound of it rippling over my skin and dripping from my fingers.

I heard a knock at the door and Darcy's voice from the other side. "Julia? "

"Yes, Darcy?"

"You should come to bed now, you need to sleep," he said in his doctor tone.

"Yes, all right, I'll be out in a moment," I called back.

The water had cooled anyway and as I stood up, wrapping a towel around me, I saw that night had begun to fall.