He still can't get her to stay out of his dreams. Maybe it's because it's the only way he can see her face but each night, he sees her burn. Her blonde hair turning into ash, blue eyes in fear, her pretty white dress going up in smoke and her lips emitting the most horrible scream he can imagine, only to be cut off abruptly as her house collapses on her.
Gale wakes up with a start, her scream still fresh in his ears and his body filled only with the thought of saving her. He jumps out of bed and is about to start running when he is restrained by a pair of arms.
While those arms may not have a lot of brute strength, they are more than enough to stop his progress out of his bedroom. He turns around, not willing to believe his eyes but he sees her anyway, her tiny frame holding him in place, not allowing him to leave.
He manages to croak out her name but she shushes him immediately, putting her finger to his lips. As she lulls him back to sleep, he holds her tightly, not willing to let her go. Just before he gives himself over to Morpheus, he asks her if she'll stay.
Her laugh is melodious and tinkling as she answers, " Of course I will, silly. I never left. "
Gale falls asleep with her gently caressing his face but when he wakes up, he realizes that she's not there. She never is.
