Okay, this is a story not just drabbles, folks. It's been fermenting a while, not quite finished yet, but hopefully this part at least is ready to serve.

It references some of season 5 which I'm not sure I remember completely correctly and have lost access to. The story falls during the last episode (not movie) between the cemetery scene and Christmas at Blake's. Constructive criticism is welcome, particularly for being out of canon and my lack of Ausie-ness.

Many thanks to the writers and actors who established these characters and let us play in their world.

OoOoO

Matthew heard Lucien shouting and stumbled into the hallway toward his friend's room fast as his leg would allow. What the hell was going on?

"No! Jean! NO! Get down, Jean! For God's sake, just stay down! No, Jean! Behind me! Please, not Jean, not my Jean. You don't have to … please, Jean! No, Jean, it's me he wants. Please just stay behind me, Jean." Something crashed behind the door.

Matthew called through the door, "Blake? Blake! You alright in there?"

"Don't! NO!" The cries on the other side of the door dissolved into pleading sobs, "Jean, don't go. C'mon, Love, stay with me. Please … Please."

Charlie caught his superior's hand just before he started pounding. Sleepily, Charlie tugged him toward the kitchen, "It's alright, Boss. Just his night terrors. Jean says they're triggered by something that reminds him of the war, but they hadn't bothered him in months, not even after that Walker stabbed him, at least not after he came home. Did hear a coupla nurses say they'd had to sedate him the nights he was in hospital though, to keep him from pulling out his stitches and from keeping the whole place wide awake. Y'want tea?"

The older man asked, "So you've dealt with that before then?"

"Really, Boss, it doesn't usually get as loud as that, and most don't last more than a minute." While they sat at the table waiting for the water to heat, Charlie continued, "If they do, Jean comes down and sees to him. But I think Doc slipped a mickey in her sherry tonight; after all she went through this afternoon, I imagine he wanted to see her get a good rest. Too bad he couldn't get one, himself."

"But that didn't seem to be war related."

"What d'ya mean?"

"He was yelling as if someone were after Jean."

Charlie poured the tea into the cups Matthew had gotten down. "But I thought Baker was after Doc this afternoon, and Jean was just nearby."

Matthew corrected him, "Baker came upon Jean in the cemetery. Blake found them there. He tried to convince Baker to let Jean go, but she wouldn't leave without Lucien. Wish I'd arrived earlier to see more of that exchange. Even sounded like he might have mixed those events with what happened to Munro."

Charlie nodded toward the doorway where a sheepish and disheveled Blake stood. "Matthew, Charlie, I am so sorry I disturbed your night." He rubbed his face sleepily and motioned to the teapot, "Enough left for one more?"

"Well, it is your house." Matthew poured what remained into the fresh cup Charlie handed him.

"Jean says it's bad form to scare the guests and boarders. And … she'll be upset she missed the tea party, if she finds out."

"Well then, we won't say a thing," Lawson glanced pointedly at the younger man who nodded, before studying his friend's face again. "You alright, then, Blake?"

"Yes. Well, I think so, anyway." He scratched the back of his head nervously.

Charlie took his cup and saucer to the sink and began to draw water to wash up.

"Leave that for me, Charlie. I don't think I'll be sleeping any more tonight."

The younger man closed the tap and headed for his room. The doctor stepped over to take his place at the sink.

"Lucian, are you sure that's wise?"

"What? Washing up? I'm sure it'll be fine. I'm not quite that hopeless."

"Foregoing sleep, on top of all the drunken mess you've made of yourself this past few weeks … "

"Of course it's not, Matthew. But when the alternative is either more whiskey or more nightmares … well, I think you see my dilemma? And Matthew, after the last few days, I think the whiskey and I have done enough damage here."

An uneasy quiet had just settled between them when Lawson prodded, "So, when will you be back at the station?"

"I won't, Matthew. I can't, not now."

"You know I'll still need your statements, yours and Jean's, about Baker."

"Then you'll need to take mine now, and you can get Jean's later, after breakfast. Now give me that cup, please," Blake growled.

"Surely, you don't mean to keep me up with you … Some of us do have to report for work as usual."

"I'm sorry, Matthew, you're right." The doctor finished drying the teapot and set it gently in its place and hung the towel to dry. "I'm going to my study for a while. If you think you can trust me, you'll find a complete account on my desk when you're ready for it."