It was a clear night, but there were no stars.

It was an open space, but she felt suffocated.

She had seen this before, but it wasn't the same.

She wanted to yell, but needed to keep silent.

She needed the one who lied, but she couldn't trust him.

"STOP!! No, no, don't hurt him, please. I need him!" She was yelling, frantically, trying to get a hold on the situation.

Then He turned on her. He stalked towards her with his eyes gleaming and his jaws slightly ajar. His paws were padding softly on the ground as He drew closer. She didn't know what He was, but he was dangerous and much, much stronger than her.

He was the Traitor.

It was an out of body experience, to see something of that size, with that level of ferocity, walking towards her. Maybe that was why I didn't think it was happening to me. Maybe that was why I think of it as a third person experience. I cannot use the first person to describe the sheer, unadulterated terror of that situation.

Am I boring you? Because I can tell you some jokes if you like? Um, how about, what's big, yellow and can't swim? Give up? It's a bulldozer. Adam told me that one. I can keep on going though, or I can tell you about this story that Mrs. Evans told me, I ran into her at the butchers, and she told me that….

Whoever is out there, the Divine One, the Holy One, the Any-Other-One, please let him wake up, please, I don't know your bargaining rules but if I can bargain I will, just, I'll do anything if you'll let him come back.

There was a shrill scream, the others in the waiting room looked at each other confused. There were jokes, 'Hope I don't get that guy.' or 'Well that's livened up the evening.'

Only one man in the waiting room knew, understood, because he had seen the spark go out.

I watched her run her hands over her swollen stomach and I wondered, 'will I ever get that sort of happiness.' She seemed so content, she was so trusting, the love of her life wasn't lost with no return in sight.

I sighed.

Come home sweetheart, let there be a sign that says 'HOME'.

A/N: im abandoning 'if you could' for a while. i know where i want to go, just not how to get there. so this was the prologue, it may not make sense but it will.

and please, please review. i feel kind of deflated when i dont get any.

jess007