The entire gang was asleep, sprawled on the bank of the trolley lake. They sometimes met there, and were never sure if it was supposed to bring back good or bad memories. Still, it was their special place.
The entire gang was deeply asleep. All except for one of them. Gabumon was not asleep. He couldn't sleep. Not right now, not with her right there. Not when she was shuffling, muttering and kicking in her sleep like that.
The rest of the gang was peacefully asleep. All except for one. Tailmon's sleep was hardly peaceful. The feline was turning around, scratching, fighting an invisible enemy. Her worst nightmares still came back occasionally, even after she had crushed them.
Finally she bounced up awake with a muffled scream. Tears rolled down her face as she shook from the visions. Gabumon moved over and placed a fur-wrapped paw around her. She jumped slightly until she realized who it was.
"Oh... Gabumon," she sniffled. "I'm sorry I woke you up."
"It's nothing. I don't mind," he answered. "You were having a nightmare about Vamdemon."
It wasn't meant to be a question. Not even an hypothesis. It was a mere statement of fact.
"I was Plotmon again. And I couldn't do anything. I could never do anything against him. Not without Hikari. Without her, I am nothing."
She whimpered slightly.
"Let me help you," Gabumon requested.
"You can't," Tailmon said softly. "I must deal with this myself."
"That's true," Gabumon answered softly.
His paw moved to catch one of her tear as it left the corner of the adult digimon's eye.
"These are your experiences to outgrow, not ours. But there are still things we can do."
He sat next to her and hugged the cat digimon.
"We can still be there for you when you need us."
Tailmon nuzzled in the lizard's neck. Her breathing softened as she began to fall asleep again. She felt Gabumon's arms move around and a furry skin being wrapped around her.
"Gabumon! What are you..."
The horned lizard shushed her.
"It's been my own little protection against the world for a long time," he explained, "but tonight, you need it more than I do."
He smiled. She smiled back and leaned against him.
"Thank you," she whispered.
"Sometimes, the only things we can do seem so useless. But we'll do them out of love," Gabumon added for himself.