Disclaimer: Not mine

Notes: Written for prfic100 (the theme is #21, Haunted). Spoilers for up to 'Future Unknown'

--

Trip was listening to Lucas. He wasn't reading minds anymore. However, this didn't mean he could stop himself from picking up the occasional stray thought. That wasn't something he could control, but rather one of the more unpleasant truths of being a telepath on a planet of non-telepaths. Another truth was that the stronger the thought, the more likely he would hear it whether he wanted to or not-- and for Humans at least, thoughts tended to be strongest in their dreams.

It happened whenever they turned in for the night: quick flashes of images, never enough for him to understand what was going on, but always so intense it jolted him out of his own sleep. 'Luckily' for him, his friends dreamed enough that after awhile he was able to piece together some of it.

Wes's father, looming over him. Alex falling, over and over. A green-skinned mutant yelling at Lucas that it was all his fault.

... Katie being ripped away from her family.

Trip's fingers tightened around the screwdriver as he tried not to notice the young woman napping, her head resting against the table. Katie's dreams (who was he kidding, they were nightmares) were definitely the worst. Not because what of what she dreamt of, or because he had to catch his breath when he woke up from them. Because out of the four of his friends, she was the one who wasn't dealing with it.

True, it wasn't like the others were trying to solve their problems (or even acknowledge them), but they had all learned ways to deal, at least for now. Wes had his jokes, Jen had her mission, and Lucas had the image of himself that he presented to the rest of the world. Katie just pretended nothing was wrong.

She pretended that her heart wasn't breaking.

He flinched as another image hit him (alone in the library, dust collecting on the books because Mom's not there to read them). He couldn't take it anymore. Carefully, Trip made his way to her, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Katie." She stirred, but didn't wake. "Katie." He shook her, gently.

Katie bolted upright with a yelp, quickly enough to make him jump backwards. Once she got her bearings, her grin was a mix of embarrassment and cheer.

"Sorry-- did I startle you?" She came over to him, patting his back.

"I'm fine. I just... you didn't look too comfortable."

She beamed at him. "Well, anyways, I'm hungry. How about I make dinner early?"

Trip nodded in reply. It wasn't until she was halfway gone that he finally worked up his courage.

"... You have any interesting dreams?"

There was no change in her expression. "Nah. You know me; I go out like a light." She turned back towards the direction of the kitchen. "What do you wanna eat?"

Someone had to do something. He had to do something. He just couldn't let her dreams continue to haunt her until it was too much for even someone of her strength. He... he cared for her too much to do otherwise.

He just didn't know what.